The weight loss challenge.

Yes Challenge. I say that with a sore heart and fat grabbing on to dear life on my body as it is a challenge to get rid of it. About a year ago I began a weight loss challenge without joining the gym. I went back to the cheap basics, Jogging, skipping and indoor workouts and green smoothies. Yes I was doing all that is needed and I loved every minute of it. It became a lifestyle to a point that if I wanted to have pizza I could but in moderation because I appreciated what it took to get me to the point that I was at. I lost a lot of good weight and my body toned up. Still was not at my desired weight but I could still rock a crop top like a carefree teenager. Then.. Sigh... love happened.

 Now hear me out, I always said I am not the type to let love get in the way of me and who I am, especially with my weight because I worked damn hard for it. I fell in love and the time that I use to spend on my body I had to compromise on the love of my life. Bit by bit. And bit by bit with the more time I spent with him I ate more and stopped completely exercising. Then we moved in together. Ahg...all hope was lost. And the tighter my clothes got the less I looked myself in the mirror. Then we decided to join the gym. I think in a space of four months I went like 12 times. Money wasted.

So. Here i am, back to a semi square one. I have started and got all my workout videos and then some. Aaaahhh Jillian Michaels! My hero!

 So I am beginning this weight loss challenge with him. Not like he needs it. He is still the same size he was since the day we met. So my challenge with him is that who is going to get a six pack first. A bit silly and farfetched I know considering he is much skinnier and a man! But it’s the only way to push myself and him. So I will try to be brave and share my before pics and progress pics when there are any with you. Along the way trying out what works and what doesn’t work for my body and digestive system with food. I will also try and report back with all quick fix natural weight loss remedies. Home remedies that is. I have been trying out some so I will be able to give feedback soon on them.  

So below are the before pictures! *cries and cringes*.

Gosh I look a bit on the expecting in 6 months side. But I promise, I am not. Lol. 

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Moment

The moment of impact. Good for change, has effects far beyond what we can predict. Sending some particles crashing together making them closer than before, while sending others sinning off. Ending where you wold have never thought you would never find them. But the thing about these moments it you can never control how they affect you. You just gotta let the colliding particles land where they land.... And wait... Untill the next collision.  

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Simple makeup steps for women on-the-go

It’s a fact; all women are symbol of beauty. But it is important for women to more beautify themself. Every woman wants to look beautiful. But not everyone have time to go to spas to beautify them and especially working woman’s run short of time while getting ready to office. So that woman’s don’t have time to go and find best beauty spas. Here are some easy tips to a simple  makeup to get ready to office or parties. 

Simple Home made  make up tips:

1.) Before starting your makeup you should clean your face thoroughly. Use your soap or face wash gel to wash your face.

2.) After washing dry your face with a soft towel. 

3.) Cleanse your face by using gentle cleansers. By cleansing your face you can remove the dead skin cells from the surface of the skin and it helps to clean the dirt deep inside the pores. But while selecting a cleanser you have to be very careful. Go for gentle facial cleansers that are suitable for all skin types.

4.) After cleansing wash your face with water and dry your face.

5.) Apply a suitable toner. Opt astringent toner to close your pores which normally opens after cleansing. Apply little amount of toner to the cotton sponge and rub evenly on your face. Leave it until pat dry.

6.) When the skin is cool and moist apply a gentle  moisturizer which is suitable for your skin type. For example if your skin is oily use oil free moisturizer. Moisturizer helps to keep your face hydrate and moist. 

7.) If you are using any eye cream apply that first.

8.) If you have any issues in your face like dark spots, age spots, acne mark, or hyper pigmentation you can use a concealer. But the concealer should be a lighter shade than your foundation. Select a concealer that suits the color of your foundation.

9.) Now apply foundation. There are two types of foundation one is liquid type and one is cream type. You can select the one which will work best for your skin type. The women with dry skin can go for cream foundation. Be careful while selecting the color of the foundation that will match your skin tone. Take little foundation in your finger tips and apply on your forehead, chin, cheeks and nose carefully and blend it evenly in your face or you can use sponge to blend.

10.) Use powder. Powder is not only useful for coating but also helps to set the concealer and foundation. It also helps the foundation and concealer to stand longer. You can use pressed or loose powder as per your convenience. But give an even finish you can also use a brush to apply powder evenly.

11.) You have to start with eye shadows for your eyes. Select a perfect eye shadow which matches your skin tone and dress. Take a soft eye shadow brush and wipe it lightly in the one which you have selected and gently sweep on your eyelids.

12.) The next step is to apply eyeliner. Now we can get eyeliner with a thin brush that is more convenient to use and give a good finish.

13.) Next after applying the eyeliner is to apply the mascara to the upper and lower lashes. You can get mascaras in all shades. But black is the color that suits everyone and all types and colors of dresses.

14.) Blush your cheeks it is much important. It makes your cheeks and your face bright. Select a natural color or light color like the color of your palm to blush your face.

15.) As final steps of your makeup process we are going to finish it off with the lips. While selecting a lipstick we should be careful that the lipstick should suite the skin makeup, your outfit and your skin tone. Use lip gloss it helps to protect your lips soft and to give a shining finish to your lips.

16.) If you need to apply a lip liner suitable for your lipstick after applying the lip glosses. But use a lip liner if your lips are thin.

These are very simple make up method, but the thing is you should select the suitable beauty products that are suited for your skin type. 

Author Busi Mbatha

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Physical Wellness

Most women's definition of wellness is what they look like from following a well balanced diet and exercising regularly. Though they are important, wellness goes way beyond those aspects.

The focus of this article is to teach you more about physical wellness and optimum physical health. As i have mention at the beginning of the blog that this is going to be a journey that we are both going to take and this part of the journey we are going to talk about taking care of the vehicle that is going to help you get to your destination and ensuring you have a safe ride and that vehicle is your body. As you know by now that great health is not just being free from a disease. 

However the strongest belief systems that can affect your health in a positive or negative way are  the beliefs you hold within yourself. Exploring and addressing your personal negative belief systems are at the core in achieving long lasting health and vitality.

Hidden belief systems can be one of the most powerful sources of evoking intense emotions that often will not make sense to the then present situation. It is these emotions that can cause our bodies to be in a constant state of alarm creating havoc on our physical bodies.

You might try to ignore these alarms by taking medications, smoking, overeating (obesity) starving yourself (anorexia), shopping, becoming a workaholic, an exercise addict, addicted to sex or any other addictive pattern you can think off.

The problem is that most of you are not realising that the majority of these destructive behaviors are based on outdated programs collected in your subconscious.

Obesity, depression, chronic fatigue, diabetes, cancer are unfortunately only a few examples of the diseases that are on the rise. It does not just affect the elderly but nearly every age group.

We are the first generation where the projected life expectancy of our children is less than their parents.

Every imbalance in your life, physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual does have a significant impact on your physical health and well being.

But for many of you it still starts with learning the basics. This means the importance of eating pure natural foods, the need for proper detoxification of the body systems, sufficient and proper sleep, fresh air, supplements and the importance of physical exercise, which more often than not is severely lacking in many of you.

Becoming aware of the deception of the food and pharmaceutical industry and the way they keep you addicted to their products while destroying your health is needed for you to take a pro-active approach.

You are unique in many ways, and that includes your nutritional requirements as well as the physical activities that make and keep your physical body functioning like a high performance sports car.

We at Optimum Wellness Solutions are here to assist you in identifying the specific needs that are right for you depending on your individual “genetic” make up, your present health, lifestyle and goals.

At Optimum Wellness Solutions we assist you in taking back the power and control of your own health. This includes educating you in the basics of good nutrition, exercise, as well as exploring any existing sabotaging behaviors. It will transform not only your body but your life.

(for more info click here)

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How to apply make-up like a celeb and steal some of their secrets

Below are a few tips on how you can get the celeb look...

Smokey eyes

Kim Kardashian

Firstly these are the things that you'll need...

1. An eye pencil or eye shadow (with brush) in any of the following colors: black, cocoa or charcoal

2. An eye shadow in grey, brown or silver

3. A sponge applicator or a cotton swab

4. An eye lash curler

5. Mascara

Step One:

Using the dark eye pencil or shadow draw a line along your upper lash line. On top of the liner brush a line of dark shadow, then smudge the lines using the sponge applicator or the cotton swab

Step Two:

Using the eye shadow brush sweep the second color of shadow from your lashes up to where your eye creases. Then, still using your eye shadow brush, blend in the shadow to just above the crease.

Step Three:

Along the lower lash line, brush on a quarter-inch thick line of eye shadow and blend with the cotton swab. You are trying to achieve a soft ring around your eyes

Step Four:

All that’s left is to curl your eyelashes and apply two coats of a good mascara.

In a hurry:

To create smoky eyes on the go try this little trick: Use a dark eye pencil (black, dark brown or charcoal) to line your top and bottom eyelash lines. Then take a cotton swab and bring the color out around your eye to create a soft haze.


Helpful hint:

To help keep eye shadow in place apply a bit of foundation and then apply a translucent face powder to your lids. This gives the eye shadow a clean surface to adhere to.

Rihanna's beauty secrets...

• Rihanna said that her favorite mascara isHypnose by Lancome. This mascara made the Best Mascaras list because it makes your lashes huge!

• She said that her favorite eye shadows are by Stila. She likes to put a dark brown shimmery shade in the crease of her eyes to make them pop.

• This natural beauty loves Nars Body Glow to make her skin glisten. This French Polynesian inspired chocolate shimmer lotion with the scent of tiare flower and coconut is a favorite of makeup artists and celebrities. Apply a sheer veil over the skin after sun exposure, or glide over medium-toned skin for a warm, fragrant, sun-kissed sheen.

• She says that her favorite fragrances areRush by Gucci and Chance by Channel.

• She is a fan of the T3 Tourmaline Wet or Dry Ionic Ceramic Styling Iron. The T3 wet-to-dry iron is a one-step ceramic iron that will eliminate the need to blow dry your hair before you straighten it. Water evaporates as it is converted into steam which is then used to make your hair silky and super-straight in record time for your most efficient styling experience ever.

• She has just become the latest spokeswoman for Cover Girl cosmetics. The makeup brand chose her for her “natural beauty and confidence”. You will see her commercials later this year.

• If you have a complexion like her's, makeup artist Ruby Hammer, advised Cosmopolitan magazine of some products you may like to try. A full coverage makeup like Ruby & Millie Liquid Base, will work well. Her shade is number 9. Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Chestnut is the perfect shade for her skin tone. A perfect blush shade is Ruby & Millie Cheek Colourin Brown. Note: Ruby & Millie is a United Kingdom cosmetics company and its product are currently available through UK websites.

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Must have new beauty products

Clinique: Super balm Moisturizing Gloss

This is a lip balm with a colorful twist to it. Besides the fact that its luscious, high-gloss shades it treats your most under moisturized skin to soothing shine. Instantly relieve dryness, protect with antioxidants and more. It has eight delightful shades root beer, ginger, apricot, mango, raspberry, grapefruit, lilac, and current. This lip balm can be worn by itself or over lipstick. I usually use it during the day and only occasionally in the evening to add shine to my lipstick. I mean all of that in a gloss?

It’s a definite must have.

IMAN Luxury Pressed Face Powder

The company brought about to cater to the beauty needs of women from all skin colour, race, culture and ethnicities. In 2004 they signed a distribution contract with Proctor and Gamble which has allowed them to come up with better and more innovative products such as their Luxury Pressed Powder that is so light and translucent to provide a matte finish or over your favourite foundation for that finishing touch. With more products that cater to all skin types, they are sure to have something to take away the strain of everyday life.

Their innovative products have won people such as Jessica Simpson their place in the spotlight due to their products that brings out the best in you. Definite must have!!!

MAC’s nail polishes

MAC is hitting us with a lot of nail colour this winter. Almost all the collections include nail polish and Riveting, MAC’s ode to 80s rocker chic, is no exception. They’re hitching their wagon on the matte polish train with three true, flat mattes. Unlike the Jin Soon polishes that were rumoured to be matte (they were crèmes) these are matte polishes as we’ve come to know them.

MAC’s matte polishes are 3-Free and behave as we’ve come to expect from the genre. They dry fast, are unforgiving when it comes to nail imperfections and become more satin over time due to water and oil exposure. In applying them I found that three coats work best if don’t excel in application. It’s not necessarily a pigmentation issue rather a case of evening out any rough spots. If you excel at application you can probably get away with two coats just like I did.

The compromise seems to be that if we’re talking matte polish vs. top coat, a shimmery matte is preferred over a flat crème. And since I have yet to come across a silver matte this light (most look charcoal) it’s a winner in my book.

Wham, Bam, Glam is a dark taupe along the lines of OPI You Don’t Know Jacques Matte. In fact, unless you’re really looking for the difference between the two, you’d swear they were the same. So if you’re looking for a matte this shade and don’t own the YDKJ Matte, this is another option.

Black Enough? Really needs no explanation. It’s flat. It’s black. It’s crème. It definitely fits in with the rocker aesthetic happening in Riveting but it’s not exactly a showstopper. It actually reminds me of a black chalkboard.

Bottom line: If you’re going to pick up just one of these polishes, I would suggest Studded.

One thing that is a bit different about the Riveting nail polishes is that, unlike other brands that included one finish per matte collection, Riveting has two cremes (think OPI Matte) and one shimmer (a la OPI Suede). If you still don’t have your fill of the matte look, take a peek at these after the jump!

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I can't laugh...i can't cry...should i tell you?

"Tears in my eyes but they not falling out as i listen to your every breath... A thousand thoughts going through my mind and i'm wondering if u r worth sharing them with?Time passes but the feelings don't fade... Days go by but the thoughts still remain.. Same as i asked you how should i show you how much i like you i ask you this...how the hell should i get over you... Should i as from this dreadfull night which is nothing more but a summation of my horrible day start calling you my past as i'm starting to believe you're as unsecure as it is? I wanted to put you as part of my future hoping that each day with you will be as bright as it is... Should i let you know how you make my heart skip a beat every time we meet be it at my sanctuary place or the streets? Should i tell you of how the mention of your name gives me butterflies? Same as how i poured out my anger feelings towards u, should i pour out my love feeling as well? I know what i've wished... as whimsical as it may have been at the time i meant it...."

I came across this note the other day when i was on my FB and damn it took me back, back to the days when i could write with no limitation and the pen taking over my hand. just thought i should share it with yall... Dang!!

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