heyitslulu

Nourishing Turmeric Cacao Face Mask

2020-01-04T08:45:00.000-08:00

With the cold winter getting even colder, my face and skin has been begging for some much needed TLC.

I will make this face mask in a large batch and use it once a week, storing whatever is left over in the fridge. Here's what you will need to make this super easy very nourishing face mask.

Disclaimer: As always, I am not a professional, simply an experimenter of natural ingredients, so please test this on a small patch of skin to make sure you don't get any bad reactions
Ingredients:

1 tbsp coconut oil (anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and moisturizing)
2 tsp cacao powder (high in antioxidants, helps protect and repair your skin
2 pinches of turmeric powder (contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components)

Mix all the ingredients together, and massage a thin layer of the mask onto your skin to avoid the oil from dripping off. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, before washing it off, but be careful as the tumeric might tint your skin. To wash off you can use a face wash, or what I like to do is use warm water to get as much off and then and old face towel to wipe off the rest let the remaining coconut oil absorb into your skin. Be careful you face towel will get stained.

This mask is very hydrating, I noticed my skin go from scaly to smooth right after.

If you try it, let me know how you like it.

Lulu :)

D.I.Y: Avocado, Vinegar and Honey Hair mask

2014-01-06T12:50:00.001-08:00

So I had to wash my hair the other day and thought why not apply a mask before the shower.
My original intention with this mask was to add something to my hair and scalp that wouldn't be too hard to wash off, as it usually takes a couple washes when I put oils in my hair, so I thought what could I use that technically is not an oil. And that was when I decided to use an avocado, but boy was I incorrect in thinking this would be lighter on my hair. Although in its solid form you can't really see the oils in this fruit, don't be fooled they are in there and they are just as nourishing and effective as olive oil or coconut oil.
Disclaimer: Since I am not a professional, please make sure to do your own research, and test this out on a small amount of skin to make sure you do not get any bad reactions.

Ingredients (enough for medium length hair):

1/2 an avocado (helps moisturize hair and scalp promoting healthy hair growth)

1 tbsp vinegar (helps remove product buildup allowing nutrients to get directly to the hair and scalp, also treats dandruff)

2 tbsp organic honey (helps absorb and retain moisture)

1 tsp organic coconut oil (helps condition dry hair, strengthening your hair and assisting in preventing breakage)

With an immersion blender, or fork mash up the avocado, and the coconut oil to a soft creamy texture. Next mix in the honey, and then slowly add in the vinegar. If you feel the mixtures consistency get too soft, maybe stop adding vinegar unless you do not mind having a bit of the mixture run down your neck as it sits on your head.

Work the ingredients into your scalp giving your head a little massage, and then through the rest of your hair especially the ends. Tie your hair up , and wrap it in a bag or with plastic wrap just to keep the heat locked in and get the ingredients absorbed by your scalp and hair. I kept this on my hair for about 2.5 hours, you can leave it on for as long as you feel comfortable.

With this mask, I washed my hair with water until it felt like all the mask was out, and then I needed 2 washes to get it all out, I was unaware how much my hair actually soaked up the avocado oils until I was trying to shampoo it out. After this mask my hair looked much thicker/fuller.

If you try this mask out, let me know how you like it.

Lulu :)

D.I.Y: Cinnamon, Coconut Oil, and Honey Hair Treatment

2013-12-22T11:01:00.000-08:00

So as I said in my last post, I really want to work on pampering myself this break, and so here is another at home natural inexpensive hair mask.
While searching for home ingredients that are great for dry skin, I came across cinnamon, with which I came up with this cinnamon concoction for repairing my skin. In my search I also read that cinnamon was great for your hair as it helps in increasing blood circulation on your scalp and therefore assists hair growth. So I knew I would have to give this a try for my next homemade hair treatment. So lets begin.
Disclaimer: Since I am not a professional, please make sure to do your own research, and test this out on a small amount of skin to make sure you do not get any bad reactions.

Ingredients:

1 tsp cinnamon (helps increase blood circulation to your scalp, assisting with a healthy scalp for continual hair growth)

2 tbsp organic honey (helps prevent hair from breaking, therefore assisting with hair growth)

1 tbsp coconut oil (assists with making your hair healthy, and shiny, also said to help with dandruff)

1.5 tsp plain yogurt (helps prevent frizz, and also assists with hair growth)

In a bowl mix in the yogurt cinnamon and then honey first. You can either melt the coconut oil over extremely low heat, or just mix it in directly it will be chancy but will melt once you rub it into your scalp/ on your hair so it is fine either way.

Once all the ingredients are mixed, begin by brushing your hair just so you don't have any knots. Then just massage your scalp with the ingredients, try and do this for 3 minutes or so just make sure to get your entire scalp, then use the left over ingredients on your hair especially your ends, the coconut oil will help moisturize any dryness. Leave it in as long as you feel comfortable. I am not sure if its okay to leave cinnamon in a long time, which is why I only mixed in a tsp, but I left this on my hair for 2.5 hours. After this you will probably need to shampoo your hair twice to get all the oil out, but you are left with soft, shiny and moisturized hair!

I loved this mask, if you are unsure about cinnamon, you can definitely remove this ingredient and just use the others without cinnamon, maybe add a little more yogurt. If you try this mask let me know how you like it

Lulu :)

D.I.Y: Natural Cinnamon, Honey, and Sugar Face Mask & Scrub

2013-12-20T17:34:00.000-08:00

Finally some time off work for the holidays! The last 4 months have been so incredibly busy, I could not even begin to explain the stress and work load, but thankfully that is all over and right now what's important is relaxing, enjoying time off, and spending time with friends and family.

Part of my plan for the next couple days I have off is to pamper myself. My hair is in desperate need for a mask, my skin needs some exfoliating and moisturizing, and my teeth are in need of natural whitening (due to the large volume of coffee consumed over the last few months). So my hope for the next few days is to take you along with me for the ride of d.i.y at home "spa" treatments we can all inexpensively indulge in and hopefully all enjoy.

So let the pampering begin with this homemade all natural face mask/scrub.
Disclaimer: As always, I am not a professional, simply an experimenter of natural ingredients, so please test this on a small patch of skin to make sure you don't get any bad reactions

Ingredients:

1 tsp organic cinnamon (helps bring blood to the surface, and exfoliate you skin, also said to help with acne)

1 tsp organic honey (helps absorb and retain moisture)

few drops of freshly squeezed lemon juice (helps exfoliate your skin, as well as soften, and brighten it up)

1/2-1 tsp organic sugar (helps exfoliate your skin)

Mix all the ingredients together start with the cinnamon, I did honey next but this was hard to mix together as the cinnamon just covered the outer surface of the honey and made this clay like formation, so I added the lemon juice 3-4 drops just to soften up the mixture, and then I mixed in the sugar.

Once I got to applying this on my face I realized that the texture was very thick, and so I had two options here, add more lemon juice (if you're just looking for an exfoliator/scrub), or use it as a face mask first, and that is what I did and I love this mask this way. So I covered up all my skin and sat with it on my face for about 10 minutes and this mask is not runny at all it just sat there, I did not have to wipe anything (this will depend on how much lemon juice you apply). So after the 10 minutes I applied water to the tips of my finger just to loosen up the mixture on my face and began to lightly scrub my skin for about 30 seconds. Then I washed it all off and thats it!

This mask/scrub made my skin just look and feel very clean. I was suffering from some dry patches and those were completely gone after this mask/scrub. However, since this scrub/mask unlike the others on my blog, does not contain any oils, depending you will probably need to moisturize after.

If you try this let me know how you like it.

Lulu :)

D.I.Y: Coffee Face Scrub/Moisturizer

2013-04-29T07:15:00.001-07:00

This weekend I finally had some time to pamper my self again, which was especially needed after seeing a picture of my face at a weird angle I realized that although not very visible because I have freckles and they blend in, I have a lot of bumps on my skin. They aren't any kind of acne. They look like white head because the tops are white but that is just because it is extremely dry skin (will go away when I moisturize) and if I try popping them nothing happens it just hurts my skin. I am not sure what they are, but I decided to use a scrub to help out with the dead skin and moisturize it.

I cannot say enough good things about the scrub I threw together below. The coffee grinds are so soft on my skin, I was able to add extra pressure to make sure to remove the dead skin. I really liked being able to push down with the coffee grinds and scrub away. With this being said your skin is sensitive be don't over scrub. (Just a little side note, my skin type is dry)

Disclaimer: As I am not a professional make sure to try it out on a little patch of skin, incase you get a bad reaction.

Ingredients:

1/3 tsp extra virgin olive oil (moisturizer), can be replaced with any natural moisturizer (Shea butter, coconut oil etc)
1 tsp organic honey (helps absorb and retain moisture)
1 1/2 tsp coffee grinds, I reused the ones I had from making my coffee that morning (helps scrub off dead skin, and exfoliate)

Make sure to wash your face first before applying the scrub, you don't want to moisturize over an unwashed face. Just mix in all the ingredients and gently scrub your skin for a minute or so. Wash your face ( I will just wash it with plain water ) and thats it.

My skin felt so good after this, obviously the bumps did not disappear, but the dry skin was off, and since I did not add too much olive oil I would have been able to put on makeup and leave the house with out my face looking greasy. It just made my skin feel and look much better.

Lulu :)

New Years Eve

2012-12-26T11:37:00.000-08:00

Finally a reason to dress up. It has been so long since I have been able to enjoy my time without worrying and stressing over the amount of work I need to have done. And I was passing through the mall the other day and saw a sequin skirt. I should have stopped to buy it but was running late. Now I have been searching the web for a reasonably priced new years dress/skirt/or accessory that is sequinned. I mainly looking for a dark, star-y night blue for this new years eve. Here is my inspiration before I go shopping in hopes of finding something this weekend.

Dress 1, Dress 2, Dress 3, Dress 4

Shorts 1, Skirt 1, Shorts 2

Clutch 1, Heels 1, Clutch 2, Heels 2

I am thinking of a blue sequin skirt, paired with a thin long sleeve v-neck sweater and some pair of heels. Hopefully I can find one, if not theres always a little black dress ready.

Hope you all enjoy boxing day shopping (I strongly dislike crowded areas, but I am working on it)

Lulu :)

Warming Up to Winter

2012-11-21T13:10:00.000-08:00

Are you guys as excited for the holidays as I am? I just can't wait to sit at home and not have to worry about any work for an entire week and a bit. However, I was not always this way. Winter is a season I only began to accept a couple years ago. I realized that I would just unconsciously dread this season, but I never really understood why, and when I came to think of reasons I realized I really love all the warm feelings that come with the word winter. Even though this season is usually so cold. There is so much to love once you get over all the shivering. The sun shining brighter than ever, the first snow fall, the fun christmas light, warm drinks, the nights always looking so much brighter, fireplaces, holidays, presents, enjoying time with your family, just so much. So I decided to do another group of photos that are reasons why I love winter, like I did for fall.

Disclaimer: None of the photos are my own. I got them all off of flickr using different creative commons licenses that are cited under each photo. I have also cited the owners under each picture. If you want to use these pictures you must cite the actual owners and not me.

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: peretzp

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Widerbergs

(CC BY-ND 3.0) Photo from flickr by:Jezz

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: jpctalbot

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by : Widerbergs

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from : flickr by: krystian_o

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Dominic's pics

(CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo from flickr by: *Ann Gordon

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by Shermeee

(CC BY-ND 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Ashley Coombs

(CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo from flickr by: DeaPeaJay

I hope you are all doing well, and I know this is exam period/ crazy work time for some of you so I hope you get a break this holiday season !

Love Lulu :)

Fun For Fall

2012-10-14T17:21:00.001-07:00

Where I currently live fall has already begun... months before the date it was due. With mornings below zero and afternoons barely at 15 degrees Celsius being warm is one of my most important things as I tumble out of my warm bed and shiver until I get into some warm comfy sweaters, and cardigans, and comfortable boots. Here are a couple fun looks that I will be wearing this fall/ get inspiration from.

Cardigan, Long Sleeve Top, Jeans, Riding Boots, Purse, Gold Necklace

Hooded Jacket, Basic Tank Top, Sienna Brown Jeans, Ankle Boots, Circle Scarf

Sweatshirt, Dark Wash Jeans, Dr. Martens, Beanie, Stud Earrings

Tribal Cardigan, Longsleeve V-Neck, Jeans, Combat Boots, Crossbody Bag, Beanie

Faux Leather Sleeve Army Jacket, Lace Dress, Opaque Tights/Stockings, Studded Biker Boots, Necklace

Oversized Sweater, Circle Knit Scarf, Corduroy Jeans, Dr. Martens, Satchel Bag, Ring Set

What is your favorite fall clothing item? This fall I am in love with all my cord pants, boots, and oversized sweaters/ cardigans. So just everything!

Lulu :)

Space Ice Cream?

2012-09-17T06:48:00.003-07:00

Back in middle school (ages ago) I remember visiting a science museum for one of our field trips, and at the end of the day we got to visit the gift shop. My two friends and I browsed around, and found this stuff that said ice cream on it but was not in the freezer (minds BLOWN). We obviously put all our money together and purchased the Neapolitan flavor. We slowly opened the packaging and put the chalky textured "ice cream" in our mouth, and for me that was when the magic began, it sat on my tongue and melted into warm tasting ice cream. I absolutely loved it, and you can imagine my excitement running into this variety of freeze dried ice cream.

The flavors I got were cookies and cream, ice cream sandwich , and neapolitan. I was so excited to try the new ones and re-live that memory of the neapolitan flavor.

This one was the Bearly Cold Polar Bear Freeze Dried Cookies & Cream Ice Cream Sandwich

This was the Astronaut Ice Cream Sandwich

This is still my favorite and it is the Mountain House Neapolitan Ice Cream

All the flavors were so fun to try. I would have probably enjoyed the first 2 more if they did not have the biscuit part, as I am the type of person who eats the filling of a cookie, but leaves the biscuit part for someone else to "enjoy". The flavors were all great, but of course the neapolitan was still my absolute favorite. I know some of my friends did not like the chalky texture, but I love how it goes from chalk to something that just melts in your mouth. YUM, I am making myself hungry for some. :) This is the perfect treat for colder days.

Have you ever tried this stuff? If so did you like it?

Lulu :)

Easy Homemade Loaf of Bread

2012-09-12T05:03:00.000-07:00

After a liquid fast, the only meal I was craving was some bread, brie, and wine. So since I was not going to do groceries for another couple days my friend gave me this awesome easy recipe for a homemade loaf of bread. It turned out so good, and with some margarine/butter it was delicious.

Ingredients:

5 cups of flour
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 packet active dry yeast
Water
Roasting pan

In a large bowl mix in the salt, sugar, yeast, and 1 cup of warm water. Once it looks like everything has mixed in well, begin to add the flour slowly. If the water was not enough, add in a little more as you go, you want a thick mixture. Once all the flour is in the form of dough begin the knead it for about 5 minutes. I added a little bit of olive oil to my hands to make this process smoother. Grease the bowl and place the dough in it for at least an hour to allow it to rise. I will usually cover the bowl with a plastic bag. After an hour remove the dough and slowly knead it to the shape you prefer. Mine was in too much of a ball shape so after baking it it rose upward, so flatten it out a bit if your prefer that. Once you have gotten the shape you want, sprinkle a generous amount of flour on a cookie sheet and let the dough sit there for 5 minutes. During this time boil enough water to fill atleast half of the roasting pan. After 5 minutes cut 3 stripes across the dough and place it in the oven. On a lower rack carefully place the roasting pan with the boiling water in it. Bake the bread at 400 Fahrenheit for about 35 minutes or when you pat it with a spoon it sounds hollow. Make sure not to take out the boiling water in the roasting pan right away. Wait until it cools down as it is VERY hot. That is all, I am excited to try it again, and fix my mistakes, but it was great that even with my mistakes it still tasted very good.

Do you have any bread recipes? I would love to give them a try.

Lulu :)

Fall In Love

2012-08-31T06:39:00.000-07:00

Although fall is a couple weeks away, the weather here has decided otherwise. The morning are cold, the nights are colder, and just waking up to grey clouds immediately triggers a little bit of sadness. Which should not be the case because as I remember the fall season I realize that I personally enjoy it. I love fall fashion, I love big sweaters, I love the way the grass looks when there is a mist in the morning, I love the fog, I love the tree colors, and that fresh moist smell in the air really early in the morning. So to get over the fact that summer is on its way out, and remember that I don't really mind the fall weather and in fact enjoy it. I decided to put up a couple pictures that are the reason I love the fall.

(CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Benson Kua

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: kelsey_lovefusionphoto

(CC BY-ND 3.0) Photo from flickr by: erin.kkr

(CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Looking Glass

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: quacktaculous

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: wuestenigel /Marco Verch+

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Lottie45

(CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Abaconda

(CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Matt Callow

(CC BY 3.0) photo from flickr by: Mourner

What is your favorite part about the fall/autumn season?

Lulu :)

Day to Night Look

2012-08-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

This is something I think all us girls have had to work with. I know that especially back in university, my group of friends all lived in an apartment close to campus, so on Friday's I would wear an outfit, or an item that I would want to wear that night. Then I would stuff my bag with the rest of the outfit. Hopefully these are relatable to you but I remember always working around black jeans, black maxi skirts, a dress, or especially a white t-shirt and shorts.

Day: Shirt, Purse, Heels, Skirt.
Night: blouse, Clutch, Heels, Skirt

Day: Fedora, Cardigan, Purse, Shoes, Shirt, Denim Shorts
Night: Jacket, Clutch, Crystal Ring, Bow Ring, Wedges, Shirt, Denim Shorts

Day: Shirt, Beanie, Shoes, Jeans
Night: Blouse, Clutch, Heels, Jeans

Day: Sunglasses, Denim Vest, Across-Body-Bag, Boots, Maxi Dress
Night: Blazer, Clutch, Bracelets, Stack-on-Rings, Wedge-Heels, Maxi Dress

I absolutely love all these looks, my absolute favorite is the first outfit's day look, and the third outfits day and night look. Which are your favorite?

Lulu :)

D.I.Y- Coconut Oil, Honey, & Yogurt Hair Mask

2012-08-06T09:43:00.000-07:00

I always try and treat my hair to fun masks, especially if I am already going to wash it that day. The other day I was looking online for hair growth ingredients, and somewhere I read that someone used monistat (??) and it helped. I personally try to keep all my ingredients natural, so after reading that the main reason it might help was because it is an anti-fungal cream, it would kill off any buildup and allow hair to get its required nutrients and grow. So I looked up natural anti-fungal food products or ingredients. From what I read coconut oil, yogurt, raw honey, and tea tree oil. Since I am not sure whether tea tree is safe on hair I decided not to use it.
Disclaimer: Since I am not a professional, please make sure to do your own research, and test this out on a small amount of skin to make sure you do not get any bad reactions.

Ingredients:

1.5 tbsp organic honey (helps prevent hair from breaking, therefore assisting with hair growth)
1 tbsp coconut oil (assists with making your hair healthy, and shiny, also said to help with dandruff)
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil (conditions hair, and helps prevent hair loss)
1.5 tbsp plain yogurt (helps prevent frizz, and also assists with hair growth)

Mix in all the ingredients. Gently brush out hair, and apply generously to the scalp, and ends. Massage into scalp, and wrap up with a bag to keep the heat inside. Keep on as long as possible, but at least 1 hour. Then wash out, and condition hair.

What has helped with you hair growth?

Lulu :)

Chewy Nutella Chocolate Cookies

2012-08-04T13:37:00.001-07:00

The last place you should ever be when hungry, other than at a supermarket, is pinterest. Yet that is where I always find myself drooling before deciding what I should make that day. While on the website I came across a Nutella cookie recipe that I knew I had to try. Even though I am not the best cookie maker, this time they ended up so good. I took my time and could not have been happier with the results. This cookie has a slight taste of Nutella which is not overpowering. I love the combination of a crunchy and chewy cookie and this was just that. Crispy on the outside and melt in your mouth chewy centre.

The recipe can be found here (click me). I followed all the same steps, but I decided not to put in the chocolate chips. With this recipe I was able to make 21 palm sized cookies.

Ingredients

½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
½ cup Nutella or other hazelnut chocolate spread
1 egg
½ tsp. vanilla
1 ½ cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F.

Cream the butter and both sugars. Mix in the egg, Nutella, and vanilla. Next add in the dry ingredients ( flour, salt, baking soda) to the wet. Once everything is mixed, you can fold in the chocolate chips. Make small ice cream scoop balls, and place them on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 6-7. I left mine in a 2 minutes longer, but you can decide how you like your cookies.

What is you favorite cookie recipe?

Lulu :)

Fun Japanese Candy

2012-08-01T14:46:00.001-07:00

About a year ago I came across a video on youtube of someone opening up and "making" this fun, yummy looking candy. One year later I finally convinced myself to buy some and try it. Since they are not very cheap plus shipping is quite expensive I was unsure what I should spend my money on. The candy that I had seen on youtube was from a brand by the name of Kracie and the candy itself is called Nerunerunerune Sticky Candy Kit in the grape flavor.

I got the Nerunerunerune Sticky Candy Kit, 2 in each flavor, grape, soda, and peach. The kit comes with 3 little packets, 2 which you mix with water to get the stick candy, and the last one is some sort of dip . When I saw the video and made the candy I actually thought the sticky candy was sort of like a marshmallow fluff, but it is actually just extremely foamy. Since I had the expectation of the sticky part being marshmallow fluff I was not really satisfied with the taste and texture of foam ( I in general do not like the texture of anything foamy/fizzy). However, the other person who tried them went through all 3 flavors in really quickly.

The next set of candy I brought was 3 of the Wata (cotton candy) Patchi in grape, and 3 of the Wata Gum Fizzy Cola Cotton Candy. I was really excited for these because growing up I had this cotton candy gum, and it was called fili folly gum and I just thought it was the coolest thing. The Wata Patchi in grape is actually not gum it just melts in your mouth. This one has pop rocks hidden inside. I really liked the grape. The Wata Gum in Cola was awesome the texture the taste just great but inside this one there are little white candies and this was the fizz which again is a type of foam which I just would have preferred not be there.

In general these were all really fun and enjoyable. I would definitely buy more of the cotton candy type candies. In case you want to buy any I believe you can find these on ebay, but I got them off www.napajapan.com. I paid for shipping via AIR and it took 8 business days to arrive, which was great.

Have you ever tried these candies? What is your absolute favorite kind of candy? I have recently really been wanting some fresh cotton candy right out of the machine.

Lulu :)

D.I.Y- Turmeric & Honey Face Mask

2012-07-31T06:41:00.004-07:00

Since I am going ahead and giving my hair and scalp a relaxing homemade banana and honey hair mask, I thought that I might as well treat my dry face to a soothing, hydrating face mask.

Since I am not a professional, please make sure to test this out on a small amount of skin to make sure you do not get any bad reactions.

Ingredients:

3/4 tsp turmeric (said to have anti aging properties)
1tsp honey (helps absorb and retain moisture)
1/2 tsp organic coconut oil (has antioxidant properties to help with skin looking young, and moisturized)

Exfoliate your skin so that the turmeric does not dye the dead skin on your face. Put on an old outfit because anything this stuff touches will be dyed yellow, also be careful when you are drying off your face after you have removed the mask to make sure it is all off or you are using an old towel.I just mixed all the ingredients together until everything had conbined. Then I added a thin layer of the face mask as to not stain my skin. I kept this on for about an hour before I hopped into the shower and washed it all off. I would try this face mask on a day where you plan to stay home, because there is a chance you might get stained skin although I did not have this problem you should always consider it. Althought the great benefits of turmeric make me want to walk around with a yellow face always to keep my skin in good condition.

When I was off this face mask my skin feels very soft. It feels tight (not because it is dry). It feels moisturized, but not oily. Just a perfect mask to get your skin in good condition.

What is your favorite face mask?

Lulu :)

Summer Outfit Ideas

2012-07-23T11:20:00.002-07:00

This summer, so many great new styles have come in and taken over. The city I live in is not very fashion forward, so to take part in all these awesome summer 2012 styles you have to subtly incorporate them into your outfit. Here are some outfits that I put together that hopefully inspire.

V-neck Shirt, Maxi Skirt, Ankle Strap Heels, Purse, Bangle Stack

Tank Top, Khaki Pants, Ash Gray TOMS, Nine West Checkbook Secretary,
Bangle Pack

Tank Top, Dark Wash Jeans, Flip Flops, Shoulder Bag, Coral Scarf

Peplum Top, Floral Pants, Heels, Across-Body Bag, Bracelets

Tank top, Studded Black Shorts, Cream Cardigan, Knee Socks, Combat Boots,
Cross Body Bag, Bohemian Necklace

Pastel Top, Faux Leather Leggings, Lace Bandeau, Pastel Bow Heels, Suede Clutch, Pastel Bangles

Which of the outfits is your favorite? Mine has to be the "Flirty Tomboy" just because it has been my go to casual summer look.

Lulu :)

Getting a Tattoo - The Entire Experience

2012-07-22T11:40:00.003-07:00

Around four years ago I decided I wanted to get a tattoo. Something small and meaningful, but as we all know they are permanent. I knew that it would have to be somewhere easy to hide, but still be able to enjoy. So when I decided on its location the fun really began.

Before I got the tattoo I read up on some side effects, and some bad experiences which really freaked me out. Things about diseases spreading from unsanitary tattoo parlours, and some parlours reusing the needle. The first most important thing is to find a reputable tattoo shop, not only will your tattoo look better, but you have less of a risk of catching anything. I read tons of reviews before I went to the parlour I chose. If you feel comfortable go to the tattoo parlour act like you want to book an appointment, but pay attention as to whether they use new needles, and how clean the shop is in general.

Once you have decided on a location the second part is signing away your life. I am not sure if they all make you sign this paper, but the place I went to gave me a sheet before getting my tattoo about if I get any reactions, or diseases it is not the parlours fault. This part really scared me and made me reconsider, but I chose to go through with it.

After this you either have a consultation with your tattoo artist, and depending on the size of the tattoo the artist will stencil out the picture and you can ask them to change it until you get the design you want. Since my tattoo was not very large, and just a word my artist cleaned the area, and drew it straight onto my body. After that, he opened up a new needle placed it into the little tattoo machine, he took out some black ink and the process began.

I am terrified of needles, I actually recently was at the dentist's office, and when he came at my mouth with the needle I began to cry like the world was ending. It was not very fun for any of us. However, because the tattoo needle is so short and small, I was not at all afraid. The best way to explain what the needle felt like is just a very intense vibration. The places it sort of hurt was where there was a bone very close underneath, or when he went over an area that was already tattooed. I know many people say certain places hurt more like on the foot etc. I talked to lots of people before getting mine, and everyone had different opinions, and in my opinion the tattoo actually did not hurt much (of course mine was very small), it was a weird feeling, but I can not describe it as pain.

However, whether it is painful or not, people always seem to forget that part when the end outcome is shown. Since my tattoo was only 2.5 inches long and about 1 in high the process only took 10 -15 minutes. Once he was finished he cleaned up the extra ink, placed some ointment, wrapped it up, and I was supposed to keep it wrapped for a couple hours. I brought some ointment that they suggested I buy, and was supposed to place on the tattoo two times a day. I was told scabbing would start in a couple days, but it took me a week and a bit before it began to scab.

Since my tattoo was in a location where it rubbed against my shoes and socks constantly, I actually ended up with a couple faded places. I also ended up with some ink of my socks one time because of the rubbing. However, most tattoo parlours do offer to fix them for free as long as you have the receipt and it is less that a year since you got the tattoo.

Hopefully this clears up some questions you might have, but since I am not a professional the best thing to do is call up the parlour and ask all your questions. Always be careful, safe, and do not be afraid to ask questions.

Lulu :)

Fourth of July- Outfit Ideas

2012-07-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

Finding the perfect outfit, for such a special occasion is always hard. Even when I have one planned out, I still change it about 10 times before I decide on something. So I put together some outfits, mainly for inspiring your own outfit idea. Like in the "Little Black Dress Affair" look I really love the collar, but it is way over priced, however making one from scratch would only take a couple hours. As well as the red jeans shorts. I could take an old pair of jeans bye some dye and get the desired look.

Blouse, Studded Shorts, Navy TOMS, Messenger Bag, American Flag Earrings

Little Black Dress, Heels, Suede Clutch, Necklace Collar, Red and Blue Rings

Blouse, Dark Jeans, White TOMS, American Flag Bag, Bracelet

Striped Shirt, Skirt, Mary Jane Heels, Clutch

Crop Top, Pleated Maxi Skirt, Cowgirl Boots, Messanger Bag, Bead Bracelet

My outfit is a combination of all. I have my navy blue maxi skirt, a plain white blouse, and some red mary jane heels. Which of the outfits is most like something you would wear?

Happy fourth of July.
Lulu :)

Dream Vacation Locations (Part 1)

2012-06-28T10:30:00.000-07:00

It's been years since I have traveled a distance that needs me to get on an airplane, and now that summer is here my suppressed love for traveling comes out again. There are so many beautiful hidden places on this planet that we never get to see. However, if I ever could have the opportunity, ( and money ) these are some places I would love to visit.

Disclaimer: None of the photos are my own. I got them all off of flickr using different creative commons licenses that are cited under each photo, and have also cited the owners under each picture. If you want to use these pictures you must cite the actual owners and not me.

Ohrid, Macedonia

(CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo from flickr by: tm-tm

(CC BY-ND 3.0) Photo from flickr by: elchicodelostrucos

Grindavik, Iceland

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: vestman

Mostar, Bosnia

(CC BY-ND 3.0) Photo from flickr by: faceymcface1

Blue Lagoon, Malta

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Jan Kucic

New York City (in the winter), New York

(CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo from flickr by: stephenhanafin

(CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo from flickr by: mastermaq

Raja Ampat, Sorong, Indonesia

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: pommekiwi1

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: lakshmioct01

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Christian Haugen

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: felixtriller.

Pamukkale, Turkey

(CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo from flickr by: ana_ge

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: smush12

(Guilin Reed Flute Cave) Guilin, China

(CC BY-ND 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Dmitry Sumin

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Bernt Rostad

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Andrew-Hyde

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It. World Tour

Manarola, Italy

(CC BY-ND 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Â°SimoÂ°

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: BRAYDAWG

Muir Woods, California

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: richshallcross

(CC BY-ND-3.0) Photo from flickr by: rexboggs5

Santorini, Greece

(CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Random_fotos

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: hozinja

Chapman's Peak, South Africa

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: martie1swart

(CC BY-SA 3.0) Photo from flickr by: HBarrison

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by:Alaskan Dude

(CC BY 3.0) Photo from flickr by: Alaskan Dude

This is just part one. The second part will come out as soon as I have some free time.

I am sure there are tons of gorgeous places I have never even heard of, so if you know or have visited any let me know in the comments. What is your all time favorite travel destination?

Lulu :)

How I Treated My Burn (UPDATED)

2012-06-20T07:57:00.001-07:00

After drooling off all the delicious pins on pinterest, I decided I will try to make this great recipe for churros. While cooking (about a week ago), the oil on the stove began to bubble far too much than I was used to. So in an attempt to get it off the heat and move it aside it began to bubble even more and splashed all over the place including my poor hand. I was in a confused/shocked state, but when I finally breathed in and calmed down I placed my hand under cool water and remembered I had a first aid book upstairs. So I ran up to read how to treat a burn. Since I knew it was probably a 1st or 2nd degree burn I wasn't too worried about calling anyone, but I just wanted to treat it and stop the pain. Obviously if you get a burn make sure you seek professional help as I am not a doctor but this is how I treated my own burn.

As I type up this update months later, if I have one piece of advice it would be do NOT pop your blister, I have had burn scars from years ago and they are still visible, but leaving the chemicals in the blister to heal the skin caused it to have almost no scarring. I will post a picture at the bottom to show off my back to normal hand.

Day1, only the 1st blister has formed.

How the first aid book said to treat the burn:

Place the burn under cool (not cold) water for 10 to 20 minutes. The water actually stopped the pain completely in my case, but after I took it out from under the water it would begin to hurt again.
It then said after cooling the skin to cover it loosely with a dry, sterile non-stick guaze. Since I did not have any gauze I remembered I had some lidocaine gel for a sunburn I had the summer before. I read the instructions and applied that to the area. This only temporarily helped ease the pain, so I placed it under water again.
I then added aloe vera gel and that helped as long as it was cool.
Since I was heading to bed soon, and the pain had not stopped yet, I dropped by the pharmacy where I was given the lidocaine spray which I was told only helped numb the pain. I sprayed a light layer of this on and after about 10 minutes the pain was gone.

The next day all I was left with was blisters. The blisters formed and luckily they went without being popped and deflated all by themselves. The dead skin is now beginning to peel, and the real treatment for the skin to repair begins. I apply aloe vera right when I wake up, and then before bed I apply vitamin E oil. After only two days I can really see my skin healing much faster. Hopefully in a month or two it will be back to normal.

2 weeks after the burn. Blisters have dried up and beginning to peel. This picture makes it look worse than it is. Vitamin E & aloe vera really helping with the healing.

4 weeks after the burn. The scabs have all fallen off, and all I was left with was a fully healed pink layer of skin that is leaving minimal scars due to not popping the blister and all the vitamin E it is getting.

My biggest advice is that if you have a burn that caused a blister to grow, try not to pop the blister. Let it dry up and fall off as the wounded skin underneath will be much easier to heal.

My hand a couple months after

As you can see from the picture above it completely healed and left no scar. However, I put my hand under warm water before taking this picture because that is the only time I will ever see a color difference, and even then it is very minimal. The damaged skin will get a bit more red than the rest. But if you were to look at my hand right now you wouldn't be able to spot any sign of scarring from this burn.

Incase you are wondering, I never made the churros!

Lulu :)

Shoe of the Week- Crocs Flats

2012-06-11T06:13:00.004-07:00

After realizing this summer will be filled with fun trips to lakes, rivers, and oceans I thought it was time to buy myself some water proof shoes instead of using my favorite flip flops that keep getting ruined. A friend brought up the idea of Crocs, but I personally do no like the look of bulky crocs on my feet as my feet are very small and skinny. So he lead me to their website where he showed me some of the
other kinds of shoes they sold. I told him a couple that I thought looked good, but said I would think about it. After I believe 4 business days a box showed up at my door. I had no clue what it was, but after I opened the box I could not believe how good these flats looked. I fell in love immediately. I did not even imagine the quality and appeal to look half as good. The style is called Adrina Flat II, which I got in the color black. They are comfy, soft, a perfect fit, and so feminine.

What do you think of the Crocs flats? Would you buy a pair?

Lulu :)

Shoe of the Week- Combat Boots

2012-06-04T15:58:00.002-07:00

I absolutely love combat boots. This is actually my 3rd pair of combat style boots. I began to wear them I believe 3 years ago, and have gone through a pair every year, and I cannot seem to stop myself from buying them. As much as I love heels, a good pair of boots are comfy can give a cute outfit some edge. I got this pair at an aldo outlet for about $100, but I do not believe they are sold there any more. My favorite look with combat boots, is a pair of black skinny jeans, and a plaid shirt. It looks clean and well put together, but casual and comfortable.

What is your current favorite pair of shoes?

Love Lulu :)

D.I.Y- Mosquito Bite Remedy

2012-06-01T07:03:00.001-07:00

After leaving my house for a hiking trip the other day, I thought I would outsmart the mosquitos by wearing pants and a long sleeve loose shirt. However, they clearly had their way with me by over attacking the regions that were showing which were my face, hands, and feet. Usually I do not mind the bites, but these mosquitos must have been on steroids. They kept me up most of the night scratching so I remembered an old remedy of rubbing salt and backing soda on them to scratch the bites, but also soothe them at the same time. I also remember using lemons, vinegar, and aloe vera too cool them down. I am unsure where the combination I chose came from but it did the job. If you try this, try at own risk, in a ventilated area, as I am not a professional just someone who was fed up with her mosquito bites. Also make sure not to apply it on an open wounds, and that you are aware of the chemicals that are formed.

However in a little container I added the baking soda, and some vinegar until the mixture began to foam then with a cotton ball I applied the foamed mixture onto my mosquito bite. I am unsure what happened but the itching stopped completely, while the vinegar gave a cooling effect as it began to dry.

Do you know any natural remedies for itchy mosquito bites?

Lulu :)

D.I.Y Dark Chocolate Face Mask

2012-05-10T13:00:00.002-07:00

This is one of the yummiest mask I have made. I was tempted to dip my strawberries in it. However, this mask was great for my dry skin. I did not use any soap to wash it off as I wanted to keep the olive oil and honey to moisturize my dry skin, and 7 hours later my skin does not have any dry patches yet, so I am very happy with this mask. Disclaimer: As I am not a professional make sure to try it out on a little patch of skin, incase you get a bad reaction.

Ingredients:

1/4 of a dark chocolate bar (I used 99%) (full of antioxidants, has been said to keep skin looking young)
1 1/2 tsp organic honey(helps absorb and retain moisture)
1/3 tsp olive oil (helps moisturize)
1 tsp yogurt (helps hydrate, and soothe skin)

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler, or over low heat. Once completely melted mix in all the other ingredients. However mix in the yogurt slowly just so the mask does not get very runny ( if that does happen I will usually add in some oatmeal to thicken it back up). Once the mixture is not too hot apply it to your face, keep it on for at least 15 minutes, then wash off with luke warm water. I will usually end by washing with cold water to tighten up my pores as well.

If you do try this out, let me know how your skin felt after.

Lulu :)