More Talk on Magnesium Defieciency

I've written before about my love for Magnesium oil in this blog post here...and click here to read a very interesting article about Mag deficiency and it's symptoms written on Green Med blog . Magnesium is one of the most important supplements you can take, and most people forget about it but if you read the symptoms of being deficient, you might think twice!

The Princess and the Pea

Beauty sleep is very important to me...here is an article I wrote about a natural sleep aid a few weeks ago...it helps restore my muscles after yoga, it gives my skin a chance to heal and it keeps my immune system up which is important for my lupus. On chill Friday nights like this, spent watching movies with Mona my dog, I feel like it's very relaxing and healthy to have that "me time". I'm very excited for the weekend ahead of me filled with yoga, hopefully a bike ride if the weather permits, and maximum chill time to catch up on my magazine reading :) I've included a few links to some interesting sleep study articles.

SELF Magazine's sleep benefits article
Lauren Conrad's tips to sleeping your way to skinny

JFDI: Oil Pulling

I'm not going to write a long post about oil pulling, there's way too much info about it on the internet....the skinny is to swish oil in your mouth, like mouthwash, for 15-20 minutes and spit it out in your trash, not down your drain because oil hardens. Coconut oil is antimicrobial and has a mild taste, so I use that. I've seen testimonies on the internet that this type of oral health practice has not only freshened breath and removed plaque, one person claims it cured an already formed cavity. I've also heard that it pulls toxins out of your entire body through your mouth, so it "cures" hangovers! Sounds pretty win win to me. Try it!

Repunzel, Let Down Your Hair!

 I've been getting tons of views per day on my post on how to care for YOUR hair, plus a few e-mails asking for more tips and one girl asked "you really aren't wearing extensions?" The answer, my dear, is no I'm not. This is au natural! I'm not above extensions, the clips ins are fun for a night on the town, but the sewn in weaves and the ones where they bond separate pieces of hair to your roots are harmful to your hair and will damage it...leaving you with less hair, when taken out, then you started with. The questions I've been getting are how do I grow my hair so long...most girls say their hair grows to a certain length, then stops. I'm not sure if your hair KNOWS how long it is...do the ends talk to the roots and one day say "ok it's time to stop producing more hair!". Nope. I reckon girls that think that probably just get frustrated at some point and eventually chop it. The key to long luxurious hair is one word: consistency. I take my Hair, Skin and Nails multi vitamin every night (the magic ingredient in those for hair growth is biotin, so find one with the most mg of biotin and you are set). I've also mentioned I have not used sulfates on my hair in years, I prefer Wen, a cleansing conditioner, but their are others out there as well as sulfate free shampoos that you can choose from. Something else I do is brush Moroccan oil or coconut oil into my hair at bedtime, which means I wash my pillows more frequently, but it keeps the ends strong and split end free. Also, I don't ever sleep with my hair in a bun or ponytail because that causes breakage where the rubber band meets the hair. I may braid my hair, then loosely fasten it with a soft ribbon hair tie because that's less stress on your hair. Castor oil, as I've also mentioned before for oil cleansing face washes, is known to increase hair growth. I put that on my eyebrows and eyelashes every night and once or twice a week, I'll rub some into my scalp at bedtime then wash it out in the morning. Don't be scared this will make your hair look greasy, oils don't cause build up like conditioners do. The most expensive thing I own for my hair is my hair brush. I use a Mason Pearson brush, which costs a whopping $200 but it's lasted me for years. Why is it so important thus expensive? It uses all natural bore bristles for one, which are thin and don't pull on hair too much to detangle. Secondly, it's rubbery base that holds the bristles is cushiony, which is meant to message your scalp AND spreads natural sebum produced by your scalp all the way down the shaft of your hair, which strengthens it. Sold? Thought so. 

{Selfie!}

How To: Use Aromatherapy in an Easy Way

One simple pleasure I enjoy in my home is an ultrasonic oil diffuser. I bought mine at Hi Health for under $40 and use it every night. This little dome uses high-frequency ultrasonic electrical vibrations, not heat, to create the aromatic mist. It not only turns off automatically after the water is gone, it cycles through colors and I love using it as a nightlight when I sleep, and all you need is to fill it with water and 10-15 drops of whatever scent you love. I use lavender at night to relax me and eucalyptus during the day to give me energy. It adds a tad bit of moisture to the air, which is needed in dry Arizona weather, but not as much moisture as a humidifier does which can sometimes be harmful to computers or tv's in the room. I use mine right beside my bed and it's just something that I love and wanted to share. Scents and aromatherapy can often be underestimated, or some don't know how to use them properly, but this gadget is well worth it and fills the entire room with wonderful smells! 

Beauty in the Buns

It's no secret that washing your hair too often will dry it out. I haven't used sulfates in my skin or hair care for a few years...it's what creates bubbles in soaps and shampoos, but it also is what dries out your hair actually making it produce MORE oil, making you think you need to wash it more often. I've said a bit about my hair care in this post, but here is another trick. On days when you are between washes, try getting creative with your style instead of the tell tail "I didn't wash my hair today" pony tail. Something fun and simple that I do is the triple bun. It's very easy but adds something extra when running around town. It looks best with a side part. Braid one side back, then create 3 low pony tails in the back { I like using these hair rubber bands because they are clear } then wrap all 3 pony tails into buns and secure with bobby pins. If it's messy, it actually looks better that way. Voila! You're finished!

 {Sweater by Free People}

{If you want to get REALLY funky, try this style I saw Rihanna rock once!}

Bon Soir

In the last year, I've developed problems sleeping. As an anxious person, if I have ANY additional stress, it keeps me awake at night. Or if I do fall asleep, I often have nightmares about whatever is troubling me and I wake up sometimes up to ten times a night, then having to try to fall back asleep is frustrating. I feel like I cant get into that deep sleep that lets your body heal and your emotions and thoughts you've had throughout the day disperse. I had recently had a rough couple of weeks, so I turned to a psychiatrist who prescribed me RX sleeping pills. They did not work. I started taking them earlier in the evening, thinking that maybe my metabolism was slow and I should give them time to kick in. That did not help. I'm just one of those people that doesn't respond to sleeping pills. I tried binaural beats with a sleep app on my iPad, but falling asleep with headphones on is uncomfortable to say the least. I still fall asleep to guided relaxation meditations I find on youtube, but I've FINALLY found something else that helps me sleep throughout the night naturally. Transdermal, or topical, magnesium has benefits such as relaxation, help sleeping, stress reduction and improved moods. Research shows that the American diet is very deficient in magnesium, but taking it orally can upset your stomach as it acts as a laxative. Applying it therapeutically as an oil on the skin helps it absorb into the cells more efficiently. Magnesium allows muscles to relax and decreases the discomforts of muscle cramping. It is known as the anti stress mineral. It is a natural tranquilizer, even used by some as a deodorant because it relaxes your arm pit glands that produce sweat. For sleep, I put it on my feet, then I add a few drops of jojoba oil and put socks on. I've had the best sleep in my life and it's much needed for me because if I don't get enough sleep I look horrible and my lupus symptoms increase. Hope this helps you, sleeping beauty!

xo, L