Showing posts with label LIFESTYLE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LIFESTYLE. Show all posts

Top 10 Essential Crafting Supplies

So lately I have been doing a lot of arts and crafts. The last few posts have been a bunch of DIY projects that mainly have to do with decor and organization. I made a pair of sunburst mirrors out of popsicle sticks, tumblr inspired canvas art, a ring dish, floral letters, a flower jar, and a necklace organizer. There are constantly some supplies we are using and I thought it would be handy to compile a list of essential crafting supplies. So here is a basic list of my essential crafting supplies:
  1. A GOOD hot glue gunDepending on whether you get a good one or a really cheap one, your hot glue gun will be either your best friend or your worst enemy. I think hot glue is the most convenient of glues because it dries quickly and provides a good quality of adhesion but it isn't permanent. I didn't realize how handy a good hot glue gun is and I use it often for many crafts.
  2. Spray paint Get at least your basic colors of such as black, white, and a clear overcoat. A good quality of spray paint will provide better coverage than a cheaper version. You can use spray paint to makeover anything from furniture to jewelry. You can spray paint basically anything to give it a new look!
  3. Painter’s tapeYou'll need this to mask off any areas you do not want to paint or spray paint. You can also create patterns, like chevron or stripes, with it. It's cheap and super satisfying to peel off a finished project.
  4. Loose glitterYou either love glitter or hate glitter. I love glitter. It's perfect for glamming up pretty much anything from shoes to a plastic toy.
  5. Mod PodgeThis product is great because it is an all-in-one glue, finisher, and sealer! 
  6. Paint/sponge brushesPaint and sponge brushes can obviously be used for painting. But they can also be used to spread glue, place glitter, and correct mistakes. 
  7. Glass bottles or jarsYou can save old candle jars or spaghetti source jars (or at least that's where I get them from). You can also buy Mason jars, they're pretty cheap. You can decorate them so they double as organizational items and room decor. You can also fill them up with goodies (from homemade sugar scrubs to hot cocoa ingredients) to give as gifts!
  8. E6000 glueI feel this is the holy grail of crafting glues. After this glue dries whatever you've glued together WILL NOT come apart, it's permanent. The drying time is longer than hot glue or Mod Podge but the quality of adhesion is far superior. It bonds together basically anything including wood, glass, plastic, ceramic, rubber, vinyl, and fiberglass to name a few things. A tube of this is pretty cheap and it also comes in black.
  9. A SHARP pair of scissors I think owning a pair of good sharp scissors is a basic necessity for just life in general. Who likes using dull scissors? When you're crafting the last thing I want to deal with is not being able to cut something because that pretty much kills my project and my motivation. 
  10. RibbonRibbon is both cute and practical. You can use ribbon in sewing projects as well as crafting projects. I've used it to do a lot of things from neatly package gift jars to hanging decor I've made. It's cheap, lightweight, and comes in a variety of colors, materials, and patterns!
Watch the video on our channel for more details!

Tell us what you think! Send us your photos on Instagram or Twitter using #decorateyou

How to Remove Makeup Naturally & Without Makeup Remover!


 You should really be putting in some time in taking off your makeup properly. If you spend 30 minutes putting it on, why not spend 30 minutes to take it off? Leftover makeup on your face can cause breakouts and leave colorful smudges on your pillow cases! You can buy makeup remover or you can just use sweet almond oil. I LOVE using sweet almond oil because it's cheap and EXTREMELY effective. I know some people use mineral oil but I don't because it's harmful to get in your eyes and it's been known to cause breakouts because of how it's processed. Sweet almond oil is great to use on your face because of it's many nutrients and benefits. These include it being:
  • moisturizing yet not greasy
  • soothing and an anti-inflammatory
  • restores the natural pH levels of your skin giving you a nice natural glow
  • reduces wrinkles and dark circles
  • reverses damage caused by sun exposure
So on top of all the benefits I just mentioned, you can use this to remove your makeup. All you need is a quarter sized amount of sweet almond oil (I recommend getting pure almond oil, not a blend), some q-tips (for eye makeup), and one makeup remover wipe (I use Burt's Bees).

Watch the video on our channel for more details!


If you try out this out send us your photos on Instagram or Twitter using #decorateyou

May 2015 BB Bag Beauteque Monthly Unboxing


Note: This is not a sponsored post, I paid for 100% of this box with my own money.

This is my BB bag from Beauteque Monthly for the month of May. This is the 3rd bag of my 3 month subscription, which automatically renewed. My subscription costs $24 a month but I had to pay the total 3 month fee of $72 at renewal. The shipping is included in your monthly fee and they are usually shipped out around the 16th of each month.

Items Received:
  • Black & white striped makeup bag (price not listed)- This is a cute bag and it's a good size. It's also made out of vinyl or some other material that is easily cleanable. But I think the zipper is pretty flimsy and I can see myself breaking it within a month.
  • Holika Holika Pig Nose Clear Blackhead Starter ($10)- This contains pink clay which his suppose to help absorb sebum and soften blackheads. Use this after cleansing your face. My boyfriend used this and was able to remove a bunch of blackheads after!
  • It's Skin Mini Bebe Mist ($11)- I'm not a big fan of body mist, I don't see the point. If my skin is dry why not just use lotion? If I want to smell good why not just use perfume? It smells like peaches though and that's nice.
  • The Face Shop Eyelash Curler ($7.60)- This comes with 1 replacement pad. It's also supposedly coated in 24k gold. I'm excited to try this out because I used the last replacement pad for my Shu Uemera eyelash curler and that company doesn't sell replacement pads. Both the Shu Uemera and this Face Shop eyelash curler use silicone based pads, not rubber like most other curlers. I feel like the silicone pads curl your lashes better.
  • Nature Republic By Flower Vivid Tint Bar ($8)- This contains SPF15 and jojoba oil. It's a bright neon pink color too! It has no scent to it, even though there's a strawberry on the packaging. 
  • Nature Republic Buglarian Rose Essence ($17)- This is my favorite thing in this month's beauty bag! I love essences, which are serums, and this one smells like roses. It's a small size though but that's useful for traveling.
  • Mikatvonk Auto Eyeliner Pencil ($15)- I'm not sure why this is double sided considering both sides are exactly the same. It's also not water resistant. I did a swatch on my hand and it seems to rub off easily.
  •  May Island Donkey Milk Skin Mask Packs (2 at $3.20 Each)- Donkey's milk? I've heard of using snail goo and starfish in beauty products, but donkey's milk is a first. I really like how these packs come with a cleanser and ampoule (which is essentially a serum). They're really convenient!
I'm excited to be using the Bulgarian Rose Essence, Pig Nose Clear Black Starter, and also to try out the Donkey's Milk Skin Mask Packs. I'm not sure about the lip tint, body mist, and the eyeliner pencil and don't feel that they are worth their retail prices. Overall I'm satisfied with May's BB Bag from Beauteque Monthly. 

Watch the video on our channel for my first impressions of these items!

If you have tried any of these items send us your photos and comments on Instagram or Twitter using #decorateyou

Foot Care Routine And Tips for At Home: How to Get Smooth and Soft Feet



After taking care of the skin on your face with all the cleansers and creams, applying makeup and doing your hair you're tired! Caring for your feet tends to get overlooked. Summer is closing in and people are started to wear sandals and cute open shoes. This is the time to get your feet in tiptop shape. I have made a simple and enjoyable foot care routine to get your feet pretty and ready for summer! Practice these 5 simple steps for smooth and beautiful feet!

  1. Choose and wear comfortable shoes
  2. Soak your feet at least once a week with epsom salts and essential oils.
  3. Soften your soles with a pumice stone, ped egg, or foot file at least once a week.
  4. Use a foot scrub (we have many DIY scrub recipes on this blog!) to exfoliate all areas of your feet to your knees.
  5. Moisturize your feet with lotion at least once a day!
Watch the video on our channel for more details!
If you try out this out send us your photos on Instagram or Twitter using #decorateyou

April 2015 BB Bag Beauteque Monthly Unboxing

Note: This is not a sponsored post, I paid for 100% of this box with my own money.

This is my April BB bag from Beauteque Monthly. I currently have a 3 month subscription and this is my second bag. My subscription costs $25 a month but I had to pay the total 3 month fee of $75 during my first order. The shipping is included in your monthly fee and they are usually shipped out around the 16th of each month.

Items Received:
  • Vinyl plaid print makeup bag (price not listed)- This is a cute bag and it's a good size. It's also made out of vinyl or some other material that is easily cleanable. But I think the zipper is pretty flimsy and I can see myself breaking it within a month.
  • Holika Holika S Body Jiggle Patch ($7)- This is suppose to help firm and rejuvanate your skin. I think it's like a sheet mask for your skin that you leave on for 30 to 40 minutes.
  • Mizon Water Volume Aqua Gel Cream 45ml ($12)- Ok at first I thought this was a shaving cream because of what was written on the included formation card. After some research I think it's just a lightweight moisturizer which is perfect because I needed one!
  • Razor ($8)- I don't see anything particularly special about this razor, there isn't even a moisture strip on the razor. It's neat that there's an extra replacement head but for $8 I think I can just buy a pack of Gillette razors.
  • Holika Holika Honey Sleeping Pack ($19)- I'm not big on sleeping packs because I sleep on one side of my face. A sleeping mask is what you slather on your face and leave on overnight. You wash it off in the morning for smooth skin!
  • Its Skin Macaron Lip Balm ($9)- The packaging of this lip balm is adorable! I love it!
  • Hanaka Camellia Powder Wash 7 pcs ($11)- These are super convenient for traveling, especially since there are 7 individually packaged powder washes. There also fragrance free!
  • 2 Hanaka Magic Garden Series Sheet Masks ($4 Each)- These might be my favorite items in this month's BB bag. One is rose scented and the other is marigold. The rose scented mask is to help with skin brightening and the marigold mask is to help with oil control.
Overall I'm not sure if I am completely satisfied with the value of April's BB bag. I am in love with the macaron shaped lip balm and very curious to try out the S Body Jiggle Patch. My Holika Holika Sleeping Pack also bursted during shipping and it was a mess when it arrived :(

Watch the video on our channel for my first impressions of these items!

If you have tried any of these items send us your photos and comments on Instagram or Twitter using #decorateyou

Asian Skincare Routine


The average skincare routine in America is a lot less complex than the average skincare routine in Asia. If you're spending 30 minutes putting on your makeup, why not spend the same amount of time taking it off?The Asian skincare routine for Nighttime is becoming more and more popular with magazine such as Elle and Vogue writing articles about it. At first it seems like you are using a TON of products and it's somewhat overwhelming. 

It's based on the idea of cleaning your skin thoroughly and then nourishing and moisturizing it. After cleansing your face you'll start putting products on from things that are more liquid based to cream based. Thats because the liquids will not penetrate the more heavy creams if you were to put creams on first. Wait 30 seconds between each application of products to give your skin time to absorb it. If you're not wearing makeup just start at step 2.

Step 1- Remove Your Makeup

  • Use a store bought cleanser or use sweet almond oil. For more details on how I use sweet almond oil to remove my makeup click the video at the end of this post!

Steps 2&3- Wash Your Face

  • Koreans use a double cleansing method where you wash your face with an oil cleanser then a foaming cleanser. Some claim that the double cleansing method is a gentle way to clearer skin!

Step 4- Exfoliate (2x a week)

  • Use a store bought exfoliating scrub or a homemade sugar scrub to remove any dead skin from your face. Your face will be soft and clean!

Step 5- Toner

  • There are many benefits to using a toner including reducing appearance of pores, acne prevention, brightening skin tone, balancing the pH levels of your face and more! 
  • You can also use all natural alternatives to store bought toners. Check out our video about toner alternatives here:

Step 6- Serum

  • Serums are jam packed with nutrients that'll nourish, hydrate, and treat your skin. The molecules in serums are smaller than those in moisturizers and creams. Therefore, they will penetrate into the lower layers of skin whereas moisturizers and creams sit on the top layer of your skin.
  • You can also use natural ingredients as opposed to store bought serums. For more details watch our video about 3 serum alternatives:

Step 7- Sheet Mask (1x a week)


  • You can buy these serum soaked masks at Sephora, Walmart, and online. I personally love the brand "My Beauty Diary". If you buy this brand make sure it's not counterfeit, it is a very popular item! Leave your sheet mask on for about 20 minutes. Most masks will instruct you to pat in the remaining serum instead of washing it off your face.
  • Do not substitute a sheet mask for a clay mask. If you decide to use a clay mask you should do it between steps 1 and 2.

Step 8- Eye cream

  • Depending on what issues you are looking to treat, you can buy gel or cream based eye creams. Use your ring fingers to lightly dab a bit of eye cream underneath your eyes. Your ring finger will put the least amount of pressure on the tender skin around your eyes.

Step 9- moisturizer

  • this is a lightweight moisturizer, you can use lotion but don't use anything with SPF or fragrance

step 10- Night cream

  • This is the last product you'll layer onto your face. Your night cream should be the most dense product in your skincare routine. The density of it will help to lock in all the super hydrating products you've spent all this time putting on! 

I used to just wash my face with one cleanser than but a moisturizer on it. Since January I've started this new skincare routine and my face feels less oily, more hydrated, cleaner, and it seems to be more even in tone. It took about 30 minutes at first but now I have this routine down to 15 minutes on the days I don't have to use a sheet mask. I love it and I definitely recommend giving this a try!

Watch the video on our channel for further details!

What's your skincare routine? Send us your photos or comments on Instagram or Twitter using #decorateyou

Music Festival Essentials: What to Bring to A Music Festival


With Ultra Music Festival behind us and Coachella happening this weekend, it's safe to say that festival season is upon us. I love going to music festivals with my friends. It doesn't get any better than weekend filled with great music, awesome friends, and good times! I went to my first music festival 8 years ago and since then I've realized that there are just some essentials I shouldn't leave home without. Of course you can go without these, but why would you if having them makes your festival experience more enjoyable? Here's my list of music festival essentials:
  • Chapstick
  • Hand Sanitizer
  • Kleenex Pack
  • Sunglasses
  • Battery Pack (for your phone)
  • Earplugs
  • Gum
  • Sun block
  • Mini fan
  • Refillable water bottle/backpack
  • Bonus item: Hair ties
Watch the video on our channel for further details!


What are your music festival essentials? Send us your photos on Instagram or Twitter using #decorateyou

March 2015 Beauteque Monthly Unboxing


Note: This is not a sponsored post, I paid for 100% of this box with my own money.

It's no secret that Asian women have great skin and I can thank my parents for mine. However, genes can only take me so far. I need to start taking the precautionary steps to care for my skin now so my skin will look just as great later on. The concept of beauty routines and skin care in Asia are very different from Western views. In Asia a lot more focus is placed on nourishing your skin and maintaining it from a very early age.  It seems that most beauty products in America focus on stripping the skin of oils/acne and covering it up with makeup. There are so many different kinds of moisturizers and skin care products that exist in Asia that don't exist in America.

I'm slowly transitioning my beauty products from Western companies to Eastern companies and feel that Beauteque Monthly is a good way to start this transition. I've been wanting to try out a beauty subscription box for a while anyway. The idea of getting new products to try out in the mail is really exciting! Also because I'm transitioning from Western to Eastern beauty brands it's the perfect time for me to try out new things. I know most beauty boxes send you sample sized items so I wanted to find a company that would send me FULL sized products and Beauteque Monthly does just that! This subscription box costs $25, comes with information cards, and you have to order in 3 month increments. They also send you an email a couple weeks before they ship out the boxes to ask you for your preference of scent or color for a couple items.

Items Received:

  • Lips print makeup bag (price not listed) Cute bag but it's pretty small and cheaply made. It's convenient for storing moisturizers on the go though and that's probably what I'll be using it for. I'm not sure if you get one of these every month, like Ipsy, but it's a cute bonus.
  • The Face Shop Rice Toner ($12) I LOVE The Face Shop and their entire Rice Water line! I've used the Rice Water Milk Cleanser and the Rice Water Brightening Cleanser and they both work so well! I don't expect any less from this toner and I'm so excited to use it. This full sized toner is 5.07 oz
  • The Face Shop Cucumber Herb Day Massage Cream ($12) I've never used a massage cream but The Face Shop's store brand products have never let me down. If you're unfamiliar with The Face Shop, it's like a Sephora or Ulta but stocked with Asian beauty products. This smells EXACTLY like cucumbers and it's a very thick consistency. In fact if you watch my video review you can see me holding the container upside down and NOTHING drips out of it. This contains 5.07 oz of cream.
  • A'pieu Take My Hands Avocado Nail Sheet Pack ($5) "What is this?" was my first thought when I looked at this nail sheet pack. These look like little finger gloves meant to moisturize your cuticles. I've never heard of nail sheet packs before so I'm definitely excited to try these out. But I don't know if I would pay $5 for these packs when I can just buy or make some cuticle cream.
  • Etude House Silk Scarf Damage Hair Cap/ Tonymoly Mini Bling Pocket Hair Pack ($3) From what I understand I think this is a cap that you put onto your head while using a deep conditioner or hair mask. The information card mentions that it will help retain heat, which will make the ingredients in your conditioner work better. I'm not sure how this will be different from just using a shower cap.
  • Beauteque Pore Control Blackhead Brush ($15) This is a brush to help you wash your nose! It's very soft and feels great on my nose, I love it! I can see how this will clean curves of your nose and I will probably use this a lot. I knew of face cleansing brushes but had no idea that brushes just for cleaning your nose exists!
  • Etude House Look at my eyes cafe ($9.50) I know Etude House is a popular Korean beauty brand and this is my first item from them. This neutral eye shadow is pretty cute and I'm excited to try this out.
  • Mizon Modeling Cup Pack/ Alica Modeling Gelly Mask Pack ($8) This is powder that you're suppose to mix with water. It is suppose to become a gel that you spread onto your face after cleansing and toning. I haven't used gel masks before since I'm partial to sheet masks. Sheet masks are a lot more convenient because you don't have to prepare anything and also there's no cleanup! However, I'm excited to try this out.
  • Total Value= $64.50

Overall, I feel like this was worth $25. I know you can find some of these items online for much cheaper than the suggested retail prices listed on the information card. However, $25 also includes the cost of shipping, the time an employee spent to curate these items, and gives you the opportunity to try new things. If you're interested into delving into Asian beauty products, which can be overwhelming, I suggest checking out the Asian Beauty thread on reddit.

Watch the video on our channel for my first impressions of these items!



If you have tried any of these items send us your photos and comments on Instagram or Twitter using #decorateyou

How to Organize your Jewelry



I love jewelry! I have way too much of it and after a while I realized that the one jewelry box I had was not able to handle all that I have. It became too full and was very unorganized. I decided it was time to reorganize my jewelry in a way that they could also be showcased. I made a ring tray and necklace display board. For my bracelets, earrings, watches, and sunglasses I found cute and cheap alternative ways to store and display them. Read on to see how I organize my jewelry for cheap!


I use these chic tiered stands to display and store my earrings, watches, sunglasses, and bracelets! The smaller tiered stand is from Ebay and the larger one is from Ikea (it's called the Ikea 365+). The small glasses I store my earrings in on the smaller tiered stand are from Ikea, they're called GLIMMA. The smaller GLIMMA I use for smaller post earrings cost only $1.99 for a 12 pack. The slightly larger GLIMMA used for my chandelier earrings cost $1.99 for a 6 pack.


I received this jewelry tree as a gift and used to use it for necklaces and bracelets. Since I made my own necklace holder I now use this as just a bracelet holder. It's actually the perfect height for just bracelets!


I made this cute DIY necklace display board. It also doubles as room decor. It was a really cheap and fun DIY project. Check out the video tutorial to make one of your own! The key that hold my longer necklace was from Claire's and it's really cute.


I wanted to make something fun to display my rings on. This DIY ring holder project only cost me $2 and was very simple. Check out the step by step video!


Watch the video on our channel for step by step instructions!


If you try out this out send us your photos on Instagram or Twitter using #decorateyou 

How To Fall Asleep Fast & Sleep Better! DIY Lavender Linen Spray


I'm having trouble falling asleep lately. I know lavender oil aromatherapy helps some people not only go to sleep but sleep well. I didn't want to just drop oil onto my pillowcase and leave small oil stains so I decided to make a bottle of DIY lavender linen spray. Read on the see how it's done! 


Ingredients:
  • an empty spray bottle
  • 1/2 cup vodka 
  • 1/4 TSP (about 40 drops) lavender essential oil
  • 1 1/2 cups of distilled water
  • a measuring cup

Watch the video on our channel for step by step instructions!


If you try out this out send us your photos on Instagram or Twitter using #decorateyou 

Uses for Coconut Oil: DO's & DON'Ts



Lately there's been a lot of talk about how beneficial coconut oil is. There are a variety of uses for coconut oil. I want to share some of the ways you can use it in your beauty routine and when to skip it.

Coconut Oil & Hair

  • You may use coconut oil as a deep conditioner for your hair. I recommend spreading the coconut oil evenly on your locks and wrapping up your hair in a hot towel. After 15 minutes rinse and shampoo if needed. If you have thick, dry, damaged hair this might work well for you. I do not suggest using it on fine hair that tends to get oily.
  • Use a bit of coconut oil on your ends to smooth hair and to tame fly aways.
  • Sooth an itchy scalp by using the tips of your fingers to rub some coconut oil into your scalp.

Coconut Oil & Your Face

  • Mix coconut oil and a fine sugar to use as a facial scrub. Coconut oil may clog pores, to avoid this you can use sunflower oil or olive oil which are less likely to clog the pores.
  • Mix some coconut oil with raw organic honey as a face mask for 5-10 mins. This might leave your face with a slighty red hue which should subside. Do a spot test before applying the mixture to your entire face.
  • Coconut oil makes a good natural eye makeup remover. Simply put some on a cotton pad, hold over the area for a few seconds and wipe away any makeup residue.
  • Use coconut oil as a lip balm! Simply spread some on your lips and enjoy its moisturizing properties.

 Coconut Oil & Your Body

  • Make a body scrub by mixing some coconut oil, fine salt and some essentials oils.
  • Massage the rough parts of your feet with coconut oil before bed. Wear some socks overnight. In the morning your feet will feel smoother and softer.
  • Coconut oil makes a nice shaving aid. Cover the area with a thin layer of the oil and shave as normal.
For more uses and tips watch our video on our Youtube Channel below that is all about Coconut Oil! 





How do you use coconut oil in your beauty routine? Send us a photo or message on Instagram or Twitter using the #decorateyou

5 Step Plan You Need to Beat Procrastination FOREVER


Let's not kid ourselves, procrastinating is something we're all guilty of. But sometimes it gets SO bad that it seems as if you'll (I mean I'll) NEVER GET IT DONE! I've been a procrastinator pretty much my whole life up until recently. Here is my ULTIMATE 5 step plan to beat procrastination forever! 

1. Energize


Whatever you’re concentrating on from cleaning to homework you'll need to be energized. Being hungry or thirsty won’t help you focus on what you need to do. So eat a QUICK healthy snack and hydrate, stay away from food coma inducing foods and sugary drinks that’ll leave you with a sugar crash. Don't spend more than 10 minutes doing this!

2. Re-focus & Prioritize


Re-focus by getting rid of the distractions. This means stop texting and get off Facebook. You can use http://getcoldturkey.com  to block yourself from accessing social network sites to a set amount of time. Now you'll want to prioritize your tasks by making a general outlining or checklist of what you need to do. Breaking down a huge task into smaller tasks makes what you have to do less overwhelming!

3. Get In The Zone 


This is where you build up momentum and really enter a consistent work flow. Start by taking baby steps. This means clean one area first. Focus on one thing at a time like start by sorting out your laundry. Or begin by making an outline for that essay before you start to do research.  

4. Take A Break 


If you've been working for a while you need to take a break. Don't take a break before you've been working for AT LEAST 45 minutes (you need that time to build momentum and get into the zone!). Once you've been working anywhere from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours give yourself a 10 minute break (NO MORE THAN THAT!). Taking breaks during long work sessions has been proven to prevent you from burning out, therefore making you more productive! Make sure you keep it to 10 minutes because anymore than that you might fall back into procrastinating. Also, this will keep yourself from getting overwhelmed and you are rewarding yourself for staying on track. Eat a snack or get some coffee! :)

5. Acknowledge Yourself For Getting It Done!


Yay you are the most awesome person EVER! YOU DID IT! Positive self reinforcement goes a long way in changing mentalities so congratulate yourself for getting it done. Check it off on a checklist, tell everyone on Facebook, or celebrate with some ice cream (or whatever makes you happy)!

Click below to watch our 5 Steps to Beat Procrastination video or view it on our YouTubeChannel.

Did this 5 step plan to beat procrastination work for you? Comment here or message us on Instagram or Twitter using the #decorateyou

10 life changing HACKS for EASY weight loss


It's a brand new year and that means it's time to resolve to lose some weight! In all seriousness though here are my 10 tips to lose weight without KILLING YOURSELF at the gym. They're mainly tips about developing healthier eating habits (accompanied by some awesome pics). Don't mistake healthier eating habits with eating healthy food HA! I hope these tips do help though :)

1. Eat SLOWER.


It takes your body 20 minutes to realize it's full, so slow down and savor your food :) Also, it's a safe bet to stop eating when you're 80% full because in another few minutes your body will catch up and realize it's 100% full.

2. Drink MORE WATER.


Drinking more water boosts your metabolism. Drink water:
  • IMMEDIATELY after waking up 
  • 30 minutes before a meal
  • before going to bed at night

3. Cut Out MANMADE SUGAR.



Sugar is RIDICULOUSLY ADDICTIVE but also highly addicting. This causes weight gain because of the effects it has on your hormones and your brain. There's a BUTTLOAD of sugar in EVERYTHING and it's really bad for you! We all know how sugar can cause cavities but did you know you can also get LIVER DISEASE and DIABETES from eating too much sugar?  Natural sugars found in fruits are fine but man made sugars is what you want to cut down on. This includes but is not limited to:
  • candy 
  • fruit juice
  • sugar (use honey instead)
  • soda
  • pastries (ok maybe save a few to eat for emergencies)

4. Eat With A SMALLER Plate



I like to trick myself into thinking I'm eating A LOT more than I am. By eating on smaller plates you'll train yourself to eat less. Plus when you overeat you're expanding the walls of your stomach and you get used to eating large amounts of food that you don’t need to be eating. Also, eating with a smaller plate allows more room for other things like beer or cocktails (that's how this weight loss thing works, right?)! No, just kidding...hmm or am I?

5. Eat More Times A Day!



Space out your meals to 3 small meals and 2 snacks. That way you’re eating less but more often. Plus eating more times a day is fun. It's like a fun chore, but it's not a chore because you're putting delicious noms into your mouth hole.

6. Eat More Veggies & Fruits 





Mom always said "EAT YOUR VEGGIES! (RAWR)" Now that you're a fully certified adult (the certification is the first real bill you paid on your own) you can enjoy fruits and vegetables! You can eat fruits and smoothies as snacks. I love parfaits, they're the best. Also add more veggies on your plate than grains or meat .

7.  Drink Green Tea Everyday!


Green tea is simply the best. It's not just for old people, hipsters, and the super health conscious. I could drink green tea all day every day. In fact, if someone bought me a box of green tea it's the equivalent of buying me socks, cause I need both of those everyday. You should drink more green tea because it:
  • is an amazing source of antioxidants
  • will speed up your metabolism and helps burn fat
  • lowers stress levels
  • rehydrates you
  • reduces high blood pressure
  • boosts your immunity
  • is frickin' uhhhmaazzzing!

8. Be Active For At Least 30 Minutes A Day


Whether you're working out to fit into that bikini or because you actually care about your health (or both!) it's important to be active everyday. You don't want your muscles to become jello do you? DO YOU? Nope didn't think so (I hope you said no). Here are some things you can do to be active, keep it fun:
  • Walk your dog 
  • Play a fitness or dance game on a video game console 
  • Go out to the club or bar and go dancing!
  • Walk around the mall (just don't spend too much!)

9.  Don’t Eat Large Meals At Least 2 Hours Before Bed


Eating before bedtime is a no no. Just don't or you may end up like this puppy (adorable for him, not so adorable if you're passed out at the restaurant right?). Also, eating a large meal close to bed can cause:

  • heartburn
  • indigestion
  • overeating
  • insomnia

10. Eat Breakfast & Don’t Skip Meals


Holy bananas I love breakfast. As a child I DESPISED breakfast but now it's the meal that powers me through my day (or at least the first few hours of my day). Honestly, breakfast should be the biggest meal you have all day so feel free to eat all the things! Maybe not all the things but load up your plate with some yummy fruits, eggs, toast, bagels, you know that kind of stuff. Also, don't skip meals because starving yourself WILL cause you to pig out later. 

Click below to watch our Weight Loss Tips video or view it on our YouTubeChannel.


What are your weight loss tips? Comment here or message us on Instagram or Twitter using the #decorateyou

Cuticle Care & DIY Cuticle Cream


If you want strong, beautiful and healthy nails you are going to NEED to care of your cuticles. Your cuticles sit on top of your nail beds' growth matrix, the part of your nail that grows. Moisturizing and maintaining your cuticles will lead to stronger and healthier nails. There are a few things you can do at home to care for your cuticles! I'll also show you how to make a DIY cuticle cream.

Nail Care & Cuticle Tools


These tools are what I use to keep my nails and cuticles looking neat! Watch our video below to see how they are used.
  • cuticle nippers
  • cuticle pushers

DIY Cuticle cream


Using a cuticle cream is an important part of caring for your cuticles because you don't want dry and cracked cuticles (which causes hangnails). Damaged cuticles also allow for bacteria and fungus to enter into your nail bed (yuck!). This DIY cuticle cream will nourish your brittle nails and leave your cuticles soft! Use this cream whenever you feel like your nails need moisturizing, I like to use mine right after a shower and before bed.

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 TBSP Beeswax
  • 1 TBSP Shea Butter
  • 1 TBSP Olive Oil
  • 1/2 tsp Raw Honey
  • 1/2 tsp Vegetable Glycerine
Steps:
  1. Melt & combine beeswax, oil and shea butter.
  2. In a separate bowl melt & combine raw honey with vegetable glycerine.
  3. Let both mixtures come to room temperature.
  4. Whisk them together until mixture is a creamy consistency.
  5. Pour into container and let harden overnight.
Click below to watch our Cuticle Care video or view it on our YouTubeChannel.


If you try this recipe out share it with us by sending us a photo or message on Instagram or Twitter using the #decorateyou