7 ways how to deal with anxiety

 

When I picture myself in a room full of people and everyone staring at me waiting for me to say something, I get anxious. Like the walls of my mind start closing in and I need to find an escape. Quick.

 People have told me before, "Oh, but you're so pretty!" 

"You need to stop caring."

"You need closure about your mom."

Yes, probably. And I know that they say those things because they care. But I have to live with myself and it's not easy without direction. I was diagnosed with depression, anxiety and PTSD after mom's disappearance. It's been five years. I've hired a private investigator to find her but this woman has no trace. I'm coming to the realization that maybe mom passed away and we just don't have the physical answers right now. But there's a God who loves her and she is somewhere in heaven with him if she's not walking this green earth.

So when I'm not pacing the walls of my mind waiting for an answer about mom, I pray. I pray for comfort to know about her and that she's ok. I pray for courage to face the day. And I try to remember I'm not the only one going through something no matter how easy it is to project the weight of one's problems as greater than another person's. I go through bouts of loneliness sometimes because I feel like I focus to much on what I don't know. I feel like I push people away. It's part of the greiving process, and you can read that here. 

Drink warm drinks. Another way, I try to cope with anxiety is I drink warm things. I like to drink coffee in the afternoon sometimes. I learned that people around the world drink coffee at different times during the day. Some have never even heard of drinking coffee in the morning until they have seen an American movie. I find holding a warm porcelain cup of joe between my chilly palms warms my heart as I slurp my coffee the way mom used to. Mom used to really love coffee.

Be grateful. I spend time thinking of things that I'm thankful for. I will search my heart and while I'm getting dressed, I think how thankful I am for my sweater. Its thick acrylic fibers against my skin keeping me warm. I'm thankful for the corner of my bed, where the sweet spot meets and craddles me at night providing a sanctuary for me. Most nights I can't sleep but its warm in my little corner of the world. I'm also thankful for my purse, because every girl needs one to accesorize with her shoes. Its brown and big and my camera fits snuggly as I pack my keys for a walk around the block.

Words of affirmation. Something my therapist told me to do is to try words of affirmation. Make a list of the things you're good at and tell yourself everyday that you're good at these things. 

• I am beautiful

• I am smart

• I am a good friend

• I am a good writer.

Now you try

Care less. I'm learning to care way less of what others think of me. This is really hard considering that's all I do. I assume people judge me because of my youth. And its true because I look ten years younger than my age. I'm tweny sometime and people never guess it. If I try to picture other's needs before mine and how I can help through my insecurities, then I just don't care. People are still going to do what they want to anyway. Might as well just let life run its course. 

I try to be happy. I still wake up in the morning -- or in the afternoon some days -- and take a shower, get dressed and put on perfume-- even if I'm not going anywhere. I like to feel fresh because I feel like I have been productive in some way. I clean my room and turn on music some days to set the mood. I look for funny memes on Facebook to make others laugh and try to find the bright side of life while I can.

I do something creative. I feel like doing creative activities because it destresses me and calms my PTSD. I like taking my mind off of work and just taking pictures. I try to look for a story in every picture I take, creating a narrative with a series of pictures. I like looking at other pictures that people take as well. I go on Twitter and Instagram and become inspired by the everyday pictures that people take. The soft pastel filters resemble film and like something eatheral. 

Another creative activity i like to do is blogging. There are so many helpful articles i could right in my niche. Plus, i enjoy writing the occasional personal journal to express myself creatively.

Watch a movie. Watching a movie is a great way of destressing. I like to stay I and watch movies at home. You can pop in your favorite genre and sit back and relax entertaining your mind. It's a good way of distracting yourself from other problems in life. 

Disclaimer: I'm not a professional doctor, these are just ways i deal with anxiety based on tips i got from my therapist. 

If you liked reading this and you found it helpful try signing up to my newsletter for more tips and an occasional update about this blog. 

Journal: a girl's day

Ever just wake up and get ready for the heck of it even if you have no where to go? Today I rolled out of bed and washed my hair. I hadn't dried it with the blow dryer in a while nor have I straightened it. I swiped some eye shadow on my eye lids and got dressed with the outfit I would wear if i were to go out on a date with my non-existent significant other. I think i looked cute with my brown criss-cross sandals and cream colored cardigan. I walked around home all day with a red lip and spritz of my favorite body spray from Bath & Body works, Wild Blackberry & Vanilla Fine Fragrance Mist 💙

Then after i got ready I ate so much i could fall sleep. I had Macaroni and cheese topped with bread crumbs and bacon bits. Then dad brought home donations of food. So I unexpectantly had two boiled eggs, with a mango yogurt drink and chocolate peanut butter cookies for desert. I felt really satisfied, so i had to lie down. After I scrolled through Instagram for an hour, i wanted to search for art in my room. 

I took a few pictures of this keyboard to document a story of song. I really like how the depth of field disappears into the background as the keys are photographed.

I put note stickers to help me find the keys when i was learning how to play.

I also took a picture of this basket to document all the things I'd cary in it. I thought of  taking a picnic with this basket but all it's ever gone with me is to the laundry mat because it holds my clothes.

I like the shadows it creates as the light falls on it through the window. 

After my day was over, i did some work.

Now I'm curled up writing this blog post. I had a good day. More satisfying than most. At least it was satisfying for being single, which isn't all that bad. Alone time is good. 

How to make friends during the pandemic

If you're like me and all of your friends are married with children than chances are you lack friends and need to make a few during this pandemic. I turned to Facebook to find a safe way, for me, at least to learn and make friends in the process. I've joined language exchange groups, art groups and photogprahy groups. 

By joining groups with similar interests you'll likely to find people who like the same things you do. You can strike up a conversation and get to know people from around the world. You'll learn about other cultures and pick up a few pointers from each other in conversation. 

I met a few people from my photography groups who are wells of knowledge. They know what they are talking about when it comes to techniques. They have been generous in sharing their knowledge with me and i feel smarter for applying the tips and tricks they have given me about photography into my own portfolio. 

One guy gave me pointers on long exposure. There are a few articles he shared that I'll link, here and here. After reading up on it I feel thankful for his grnerousity because I probably would have never found that information on my own. :)

Another friend helped me by sharing some books with me. I've been studying French and he has been learning English and German. He found some vocabulary books online and willingly shared that information with me. I'm grateful for that because I probably wouldn't have known about it otherwise. 

I've also had a lot of other encounters with people from France, Morocco, Belgium, Uk, Algeria, Honduras, Colombia; Venezuela, Spain and Italy to name a few. Each have exciting backgrounds and i enjoy listening to their stories as we each share something in common. 

So in conclusion, I've used Facebook groups to gauge my interests and find people to talk to and learn from from there. I've gathered greater knowledge from them and who knows, would even meet some of them in person in the future. 

How do you make friends or maintain your friendships during this pandemic. Do you have any suggestions? Leave them in the comments to grow in the community. 

Stay safe. Xoxo 

Why I love photography

Photography is a form of art where you paint a picture with a snapshot. If you ever heard the famous cliche, "pictures are worth a thousand words." It's true. You can tell so much with a single picture. I enjoy photogprahy because it's therapeutic, it's a form of self expression and because of all the good you can do with it. 

In a way, photography is my therapy. I have PTSD, I suffer from mild depression and anxiety. Taking photos is a great way to help me get my mind off of life's difficulties and concentrate on art, which relaxes my mind. I'm so thankful to be able to take photos and express myself creatively. 

Speaking of self expression, I like to use photography to express my creativity. There are countless stories you can tell with your camera and if you find the right shot, it's really meaningful because it's unique. You made something all your own. Some of my favorite art forms is nature photography and editorial peices. I love nature photography because nature is always changing and it always has beautiful scenes to offer. I love editorial photography because of the stories you can tell in one photo. For example, Henri Cartier-Bresson was a documentary photographer who was famous for taking candid pictures of his subjects. He was famous for taking pictures at the decisive moment. There's something natural about capturing photos in the moment. They're effortless and can tell a story with so many emotions. Editorial photography is also a great way to tell a story about an important cause. 

Editorial shots also tell stories for people who don't have a voice to tell them. I think it's a great idea to use photogprahy for the benefit of the community by doing volunteer work to help those people. For example, there are charities that help children get their education, who feed the hungry, and provide medical services for people who can't afford it. Sometimes these charities need someone to help them tell those stories and photography is a great way of doing so. I believe that volunteer photography is a great way of giving back to the community. I've been searching for different organizationd to volunteer for and have found countless of charities on InterAction-- a website that lists many charities for the public to search for. I hope to volunteer to some of these charities as s way to give back to the community and help others in need with my art. 

So, I really enjoy photography as an art. There is so many inspirations for photography as an art online and I look to other photographers to see what they're doing to be a better artist myself. This art is also a therapy for me as I pick up my camera each time to tell a story. It's a great way of expressing myself and I'm inspired by the good work that i can do eoth it. 

My writing experience

Sometimes i have posts upon posts written in my queue waiting to be published. I will write them one or two weeks in advance as ideas just come to me out of no where.

When I'm sleeping.

.... When I'm eating

...........when I'm out for a walk 

.................when I'm writing 

Sometimes i fear that I'll run out of ideas for writing. And I do sometimes. I'll go months without a word in my mind. 

Then all of a sudden a spark happens!

I've gotten more ideas as the new year rolled around and I strive to write 1000 words at least. It's good for SEO.

This post is shorter though. I'm just writing because I don't want you to think that I'm posting things willy nilly. I just have so many ideas lines up and i want the meaningful audience to know about what I've written. 

It's good for the soul.

.... And my portfolio. 

When do you get writing inspiration? What are some ideas that come to mind at random? Maybe we can chat about some topics that interest you. Let me know in the comments. 

Leave me a message in my Facebook inbox so we can know each other better, here. 

PTSD & anxiety update about my crappy life

I've noticed that when I take my medication for depression and anxiety my levels are lower and i can actually sleep. 

Usually i feel sad because I'm lonely or I don't know about mom. One piece of special advice a friend reminded me is that she is always in my heart, which is encouraging because it is true. She will always live on in my heart. 

Moreover, I'm not ready for close, personal relationships because I'm a piece of crap that misses out on nuances. I can't give 100% because I am not mentally or emotionally available. Until mom is found I fear I'm kind of spaced out. I can't do anything else because I've contacted the police and private investigators and they are searching with all the details I've given them. She's at a cold case. Faith is the only thing that gives me the light of hope to hold on. I could lose my mind not knowing what has happened to her. But all I can do is place it on God's hands and let him fight for me. (1 Peter 5:6-7; Exodus 14:14) 

I have many restless nights. Many times i toss and turn in bed thinking about what I've forgotten and remembering what used to be. By the time I realize the hour it's 2:15 a.m. and not 11 p.m. my medicine calms me down and helps me doze off to sleep. I usually stay asleep at that point but if I don't take it I will miss out on so much sleep and become a cranky pants. 

Speaking of cranky pants, I've been searching and searching for employment. I have student loans and debts to pay of.... Just like everyone else but no one is willing to take me. I feel like is so unfair. I can't take this too personal as dad says. Will anyone be willing to give me a job to help me pay off my college fees? I'm $800 under and need my official transcripts and my bachelor's diploma to prove my status and get into graduate school. I want to do documentary photogprahy.

I guess it's the system. Not to mention this pandemic and the Martial Law we're about to be swept under can make matters worse. I feel so sleepy. 

Most nights when i can't sleep, i realize i start to write a lot more. I've been writing more blogs and i have a book i want to write too. The only motivation i get out of it is if i approach it as a blog. Calling it a book is too formal and bores me, haha. It'll be a biography. People keep telling me to write about my life because I have a story to tell. Many times i thought my life was too boring to write about and so i never had anything to say when people asked me to talk about myself. I felt that was too humiliating. However, for the sake of being more relatable i will make a biogrophy. 

On another note, i want to write some novels. Those sound more attractive to me as i would write some Christian romance novels. However my romantic life is not where I want it to be. Obviously, there's no rush and i wouldn't blame him for leaving me especially if I'm in space all day. Honestly, i don't know what I'll do until they find my mom and i can have some closure. I was in love once but he left me. It's really a long story and not something I want to get into right now as I have so many problems in this life. I just need some closure and time to reflect. I know I have potential for so much more. 

Any ideas for some books? I like the idea of some romance novels, coming of age stories, singles adventures. It would be fun to invent some characters. There are some great free apps on the market, like Auctor, that help you invent characters. They are so specific it's eerie. 

Anyway, i digress. It's almost 3 a.m. and all I want to do is write. I might even make a photography book. Who knows. Any ideas? Suggestions are welcome. 

Sleep finally beacons... Good night 

6 ways to be kind to yourself

Here is a blog post to remind you that self-care is important. Part of self-care is being kind to yourself. You shouldn't let the small things in life bother you but you should look for the silver lining in the areas of your life that shine hope for better opportunities. I'm not a professional and I don't claim to be, here are just some observations that I have made as I set out on this journey of self-care in my own life/ Hopeuflly I can remind you to do the same.

Don't sweat the small stuff 

Oh no, you forgot to set the alarm and overslept again. Now you're going to be late to class or that meeting for work. What can you do to avoid running in late? Try getting your stuff ready the night before. That way in the morning you don't have to sweat the small stuff. 

Forgive yourself 

It's okay to make mistakes. Sometimes you can put your foot in your mouth or be forgetful. There's nothing wrong with you, you just make mistakes sometimes. Allow yourself to forgive yourself and put those moments behind you. You're not there anymore.

Use positive self talk 

Many times when you're performing a task you might find yourself talking yo yourself.. Sometimes self talk slips out in negativity and you have to catch yourself. Phrases usually beginning with "I am" and end with "stupid" or "not good enough" should be replaced with positive phrases such as "I am capable of learning this." You might feel stupid but you're not stupid. 

Go purse shopping 

Purse shopping isn't just fun but it is also healthy for your shoulders. According to this post, your purse can get heavy and weigh on your shoulders giving you back problems. It's a good idea to change your purse from time to time or try buying yourself a new one. 

Treat yourself with treats 

I'm all for eating healthy and exercise but every now and then you should treat yourself with treats. Don't make yourself feel bad for going a little overboard on the sweets. Just set a time to endulge and you will feel better about your weight and yourself the next time you try on those skinny jeans. 

Go on self care trips 

Sometimes when life gets too busy and you get too stressed it's a good idea to plan a self care trip to get your mind off of things. A self care trip such as to the beach or camping can be a good way to regroup before getting back to the fast pace of life. 

I love E.L.F. make up

In college, I needed quality make up at an affordable price. It's very hard to find good drug store make up but someone recommended E.L.F. cosmetics to me so I gave it a try. 

Some of my favorite thing about it are it's creamy lipstick, foundation and mascara. I really enjoy them because their application is flawkess. I found a foundation that fits my skin tone, I think I am porcelain and it feels so smooth in my skin when I apply it. I also really enjoy their lipsticks because they smell so good. They smell Kirk coconut oil and the application is so smooth. You can use it with a lip balm and it will leave your lips feeling so soft. Finally, I live their mascara because there is a lot of product on the wand. Whenever I pull out the mascara I get a nice coverage of mascara on my lashes and I feel so roetty afterwards. 

I think I will continue using E.LF. cosmetics even after college. It was there for me when I didn't have much money in my pocket and it still feels like a nice brand that I would use daily. I need to get a Rosy pink shade of lip stick the next time I go shopping for lip stick and I want to get it with E L F. My favorite drug store brand so far. 

My experience with PTSD, depression, anxiety and medicationr

When the tragic news reached my family, I didn't know how to cope. I was in and out of rehab seeking help for my mental relapses as I searched for peace in the storm. The doctors at first prescribed me Haldol and Risperadal which left me feeling disoriented most days to say the least. Then I became sober for two years after graduating with my associates degree in mass communication in 2016. However I began to develop a anxiety about what others might think about me and stigmatize me because of the trauma in my family's life. I developed a type of social anxiety that would make me feel the need to avoid public speaking as much as possible. I became depressed  because I couldn't concentrate at school and my support system was so far away from me; communication was terrible. I felt these feelings were affecting my performance at in school, my relationships and my goals because I get so tired so easily. As a result, I felt disadvantaged and and isolated by life's circumstances. Therefore, I took a step of faith by seeking professional help for trauma and anxiety.. 

Near the end of the program for my bachelor's degree in mass communication in 2029, I saught help and began speaking with a therapist assigned by the state of Florida, to tell them about my symptoms. They ended up scheduling teletherapy sessions with a professional and giving me Prozac and Risperadal for PTSD, depression and anxiety. 

My therapist gave me a sheet of paper to read, which talks about negative self talk and how to turn that around into positive self talk. I have to review it often to think about what it says and work on changing my thought patterns. Next, I feel my symptoms diminished to an extent as I'm taking medication but I do not feel dependant on them. I'm sleeping better at night and in having sweeter dreams. 

I realize I'm not the only one going through and recovering from traumatic events in life . I hope that my blog posts reach and inspire other young females to be brave and write their own stories with kife. And really I owe it all to my fait, which is the main reason why I'm still here. It is the reason that drives me to be a writer and it is the reason why I'm seeking help. In my family, we have history of depression and anxiety but we believe in God's love and power through Jesus Christ that we can triumph over all of that. I'm still a work in progress and I hope that one day I won't be dependent on medication and that I will receive closure about those traumatic life experiences while helping others overcome theirs one post at a time. 

Give yourself a girly self care day

I love a little mini girl's day to boost my self-esteem. I will take out my hair straighter, perfumes, and makeup to make myself feel like a princess. What a better way to spend some days inside being a girl as a self-care day to yourself.  I like to spend some of my days this way because afterward I feel better about myself, 

I feel relaxed and I feel more confident. 

Usually, when I start by pulling out my hair straighter, I begin to feel so much better because I know that by the time I'm done curling my hair I will look like a princess  I love to do the curly hair trick that I learned to do here on YouTube. It's a simple way of using the hair straighter to get bouncy curls really quickly. And ever since I cut my hair short, I have been flawlessly blending my hair extensions into my hair to enjoy long princess-like tresses  I enjoy using extensions because they extra volume the hair that you might not already naturally have. And if you blend them incorrectly, you can't even tell they are in your hair in the first place. 

By the time I'm done playing with my hair, I begin to look through all of my perfumes. I only have three perfumes that I like to use right now, midnight Dfantasy by Brittany Spears, Gabrielle by Chanel and wild Blackberry and Vanilla Fine Fragrance Mist from Bath and BodyWorks. Each of these fragrances I got on a discount on previous trips to Costa Rica but I'm sure you can get them on Amazon. Please click on the links to shop for yourself or a loved one.. 

Anyway, I enjoy these fragrances because they smell clean and remind me of the ocean in some way. Except for Gabrielle which has a pop of fruity fragrance like berries when you spray it on yourself. I feel that each of these leaves you feeling and smelling fresh out of the shower. 

By the time I finish my hair and chosing my fragrance I usually think about the make up I want to wear for the day. I've been using E.L.F. cosmetics lately and I really love it for its quality and affordability. Moreover, most days I try to go for something that accentuates my eyes; other days if I want to wear a red lip I will go softer on the eyes. But I always love to do my eyebrows. They always say that the eyebrows frame the face  When I don't want to do anything else really exciting in my make up I will usually just do my eyebrows to make me feel more confident about myself. 

When I'm done doing my make up, I will put on my favorite pair of skinny jeans and strap on a pair of my favorite high heels. Even if I'm not going to go out for the day I like to get dressed up just because its a fun girly thing to do. Immediately, I feel better about myself to become I took some time out of my day to get dressed and just be myself. Its fun walking away from the vanity looking and smelling amazing first thing in the morning. 

Then when I'm all done, I will sit down and enjoy a glass of Tampico orange juice, which is my favorite drink. Even if I don't have anywhere to go out to show off my hair and makeup I feel better because I even got ready for the day. What better way to lounge around than to curl your hair and wear some high heels around the house just because. 

Be kind to your skin

Sometimes I notice that when I take care of my skin, I am rewarded for my efforts. For example, sometimes when I take the time out if my busy schedule to wash and exfoliate my face, I feel the stress disappear and my outlook on life changes fir the positive. 

I let my stress wash right down the drain with my coffee scrub and hydrating avocado face mask. No more worries as I sit for a moment and soak in the moisturizing benefits of my face wash. Life treats me a little smoother fir just a moment. 

Try this scrub and face mask the next time you want to treat yourself 

Coffee and olive oil or honey 

According to Brit + Co follow these instructions: 

1. Cut 2-3 avocados in half. Discard the pits.

2. Using your hands, pull out the avocado and mash it up. Transfer to a medium bowl.

3. Add 1/4 cup of honey to your avocado mix.

4. Use a muddler or masher to blend the mixture together.

5. Scoop out of a bowl and into a jar to keep in the fridge. (Note: This mask mix has a shelf-life of 3-5 days.)

6. To use, rub onto your face with your hands. Leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

Now before we start mixing, let’s talk about the benefits of each of these two super ingredients.

Reflection of a tranquil evening

It's the end of summer in Florida, and it is still really hot outside. Most days I just stay inside and read or watch movies to escape the hot Florida heat. It gets closer to 100°F most days so the chill air conditioning is a welcome alternative to getting excersize outside. 

Some days it gets so cold inside that I hide under the covers and escape from the world in my bedroom. I just finished knitting a scarf; it's warm fibers warm the goose bumps that chill my skin.

Now it's 7:45 p.m. and the sun is setting. A light patter from a nearby rain shower tingles ASMR to my senses. Immediately I notice the soft light that passes through the windowsill. I had to capture this magical exposure before the sun set behind the horizon leaving me in dark silence near my guitar. 

What a beaufui way to escape the heat, by cozying up under a blanket listening to the light rain showers pass by. Moments like these make me wish I was in Narnia but it's only a fantasy. However I feel more relaxed as I take some moments to soak up this tranquility. 

The new (right) way of eating an Oreo

Do you remember as a kid how you used to eat Oreos? Some people would lick the cream while others were dunkers. I recalled this childhood phenomena as I had a little midnight snack in my kitchen. Could there really be a new way to eat an Oreo?

Well I tried it out. I started by licking the cream and biting half of the cookie with no cream. 

I then proceeded by licking the cookie with cream and pasting it back to it's twin. 

Finally for the grand finale I dunked the whole Oreo into my almond milk and bit into the exposed end of the creme cookie.

 It was delicious. 

So delicious infact I did it twice because I was so distracted by eating the first take that I had to take a picture of the second take for this story. 

What do you think? How do you eat an Oreo? 

By the way: my Oreo is chocolate creme filled. I wonder who milked the chocolate cow to get that creme.

Get organized: my routine

There are lots of different methods out there for how to get organized and stay organized. When I think about these methods, whether it be minimalism, or writing things down or creating a schedule I find it hard to keep. It's not that I don't like to keep a routine I just find it hard to keep up with one. 

That is why I only get organized when I have to. If you haven't already red my boost post about how to clean your room, you can check it out here. 

But when I decide to clean my room it's like an internal clock that tells me it's time to clean. I might feel groggy or annoyed as I feel papers, books and laundry begin to accumulate around me. When I lose my pens as I find myself taking notes or others in the house begin to complain. I know it's time to clean my room. 

So I will take my time and get organized in pieces. I will tackle the surfaces then that move on the that chair of the room. You know that chair. It's the chair that always ends up holding your laundry and knick knacks and my bed. Most of the time I just have papers lying around but it gets pretty bad being a writer. When you have papers and notes accumulating around you you always have to make time to reorganize. These things don't get done on their own. 

Therefore I will make a mental note as I feel my internal clock tell me it is time. 

organize your life: cleaning your room

My room is something personal. When I go into my room I like to read, get a lot of work done, play music and veg out sometimes. I find that at times my studying gets so cluttered that I have papers and clothes all over the bed and on the chair that sits at the corner of the room. You know that one chair. It's the chair where you dump all of your laundry and knick knacks after a hard lived in week. 

Anyway, when I clean my room I don't like to make it too much of a task because I know I can tackle it in pieces. I will breifly explain to you how I get organized and clean room to make it a little more  study friendly. 

I like to start organizing my room in quadrants. I will first start by cleaning off the surface next to my bed or the bureau. Once I clean off one surface I will move to the next. Then I will wipe them down to get the dust off of them. Then I'll move over to the chair and decide what is lived in and throw things away that are of no longer use. I will find a home for those knick knacks as they are likely pens, notebooks or boxes that find their way to the chair when I'm taking notes. 

Then I will move to the corner of my room where I keep all of my papers. Since I'm always reading and writing I will have to reorganize papers that I pull out for studying. Somehow that pile always because overly visible that I have to decide what papers are really important and what is worth throwing away. I will restack everything and out it nearly in its place then I will clean off the surface of my bed as I always have some extra clothes lying around. May it be a sweater or two that I use to keep me warm in the AC. Luckily I have a nice system for when the clutter gets too much that I just fold it up and put it it's in place before it gets too unruly. 

Finally, my favorite part is sweeping my room. My parents taught me to always sweep my room last because if I end up dragging dust from another quadrant I just have to start all over again. Therefore I feel satisfaction from sweeping my room when it's all done because every last bit is cleanwd up. 

Get organized with an electronic password saver

I am a forgetful person. Many times I forget names to faces, I forget what I wore last week, and I forget my passwords. Therefore, I need a password saver and I downloaded a free one from the Google play store. It saved my life. I have at least 20 passwords and I obviously can't remember everyone of them. I love using an electronic password savor and here are reasons why you should use it too. 

One of the reasons I like using a password saver is because it keeps you organized. If you have twenty passwords like I do it's a good idea to download one from the Google play store. I use a free version, "My passwords". It's really easy to use  you just download, create your own pass word and log in your username and password for a chosen password that you want to save and voilà. You get at alphabetized password saver. 

I also like that the password saver is private. When I search for a password saver on Google play I like to make sure it is password protected. You can choose any password you like just be sure it is something you can easily remember or else you will be locked out. That way you don't have to worry about anyone getting into your password saver without you knowing. 

Lastly, I like this password saver that I use because it generates passwords for you. If I can't think of something on the spot and I need a string password you can toggle the shuffle button to let it generates unique passwords for you. These are so hard for anyone to guess because they come with an assortment of capital and lower case letters with numbers and symbols. Moreover, you can also copy and paste the password from your password saver onto your loggin page so you never have to worry about having to remember your password. It's all right there for you. Just copy from the password saver and paste it into your Facebook loggin for example and you're in. 

Many times I have found myself forgetting my password to multiple accounts. It's not that in completely forgetful, it's just that I have so many accounts that I can't remember them all. I also don't want to write them down for fear of losing my notepad. I know that I always have my phone in me and a password saver works great because everything I need is already there. I'd you're forgetful Kirk me, have you tried the password saver? What do you think about it? How many times has it saved your life?

Feel free to leave an open discussion in the cimmebtens. 

6 face wash masks to smooth your skin

. 

With all the different types o skin problems out there it can get hard choosing the right mask for you. In this blog, we will cover a few different DIY face masks that will especially soothe and cleanse your skin. After following some of these tips your skin will feel so soft and clean. It's definitely worth a try.

1. Excema

Oatmeal and honey make a killer duo team for nourishing and fighting inflammation on the skin. You can try these ingredients to treat the excema on your face. According to Cosmopolitan, this recipe is even gentle enough to treat for your whole body. You can click on the link to follow along for the recipe. But all you really have to do is mix the ingredients into a bowl. Crush them up and slather it onto your clean skin and leave it on for 10 minutes. 

According to Cosmopolitan, Oatmeal is great because it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help calm dry skin while coupled with honey's nourishing affects will surely calm your skin.

2. Greek yogurt + Oatmeal + honey

When you think about all the calming benefits that oatmeal and honey have, you would bless your skin by adding greek yogurt to the mix. To treat dull dry skin, you can turn to Greek yogurt because it has great properties like lactic acid, which helps soften your skin and probiotics, which helps soothe inflammation. All you have to do is mix it together in a bowl with oatmeal and honey. Leave it on your clean skin for 10 minutes and rinse it off with warm water. Click here for the full recipe.

3. Aloe Vera + matcha powder

Another amazing anti-inflammatory treatment to leave your skin feeling calm is Aloe Vera and matcha. If you already didn't know Aloe vera is used to help calm and lightly moisturize the skin. While matcha is believed to have redness-reducing and anti-inflammatory properties, according to Cosmopolitan. For this mask to work on your face you can mix up the ingredients into a bowl, slather them onto your face and leave on for 15 minutes. When you're done rinse it off and moisturize. 

4. Apple cider Vinegar

Apple Cider vinegar is one of those ingredients you can easily find in your pantry. Little did you know that the acidic properties in ACV help to cleanse the skin. To use as a toner and face mask all you have to do is mix 1/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of ACV. Gently apply the solution to your face and let it dry. Click here for other ACV recipes.

5. Mayonnaise

 If you didn't already raid your pantry you will sure to find that mayo is another solution to smooth your skin. Whole egg mayo will surely leave your skin feeling clean after you use it since the properties in egg have cleansing powers. Gently slather the mayo on your face and leave it on for about 20 minutes. Then wipe it off and rinse with cool water.

6. Lemon.

Lemons are great for the face because they contain AHAs and BHAs, two types of hydroxy acid that remove dead skin cells and help clear up blackheads, acne, and discoloration, according to the Healthy. To create your mask all you need is the juice from a lemon with 1/4 cup olive oil or sweet almond oil. Put it on your face, and leave it on for 15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

4 moisturizing DIY lip balms

Previously I wrote a blog post about how to make lip scrubs DIY. Here is a great addition to add to those lip scrubs by learning how to make lip balm at home with natural ingredients. These are great for your personal self-care or even giving them away as a gift. Some of these recipes make a lot so if you want you can give some away to your friends and family.

1. 10 minute lip balm

This lip balm will only take you ten minutes to make. A great recipe especially for all of you lip balm lovers out there. You will be making your favorite lip balms in all different flavors. To begin we can cover the ingredients:

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp. Beeswax Pellets
• 2 Tbsp. Shea Butter
• 4 Tbsp. Coconut Oil or other liquid oil such as Almond Oil, Olive Oil or Grapeseed Oil
• Essential Oil (10-20 drops) or Flavor Oil (1/2 dram)

Instructions

You will need a microwave save container and a pyrex measuring cup to melt the beeswax, shea butter, and coconut oil in 30-second increments; stir well after each one.

Then you will need to stir in the essential oil or flavor oil

Finally, you can carefully pour into a pot or tube of your choice and allow to cool before using.

2. Lime lip balm

For a summery splash of citrus on your lips, you can try a lime lip balm. This lip balm is quick and easy to make. After learning how to make this lip balm at home with natural ingredients you will have so much leftover you can even share them with your friends and family.

According to Simply Stacie, the ingredients are: 

• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tsp cocoa butter
• 2 tsp beeswax
• 2 tsp almond oil
• 10 to 15 drops of lime essential oil

Instructions

Simply Stacie says, 

1. Add coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax and almond oil to a double boiler over medium heat. Stir frequently until melted. Remove from heat.
2. Add lime essential oil and stir. Pour into jars and let cool for one hour before putting on the lid. Use within 3 months.

3. Raspberry lip balm 

This raspberry lip balm is also a fruity addition to your lip care routine. Raspberries come loaded with vitamin C which help protect the skin from the sun and premature aging. Raspberries also come with vitamin E which gives off lots of brain-boosting power according to Hello Glow.

Instructions

First, melt your coconut oil and beeswax over low heat in a Pyrex if you so desire. 

 Next, finely ground the raspberries and stir them in.  As the balm cools and solidifies, the grounds will start to settle at the bottom. That’s when you want to turn the container upside down (with the lid on) or on its side to help keep it evenly distributed. 

Then you are ready to set your mix into a pot or tube and let cool before use.

4. Coconut rose lip balm

Try this aesthetically pleasing lip balm for a night out on the town or with the girls. It is a pretty DIY alternative that you can quickly make at home and take with you on the go. All you need is some rose petals from the garden (or any flower that you like)

All the ingredients:

• Coconut Oil, Beeswax, Shea Butter, Coconut or Vanilla Extract, Rose Petals (fresh or dried), feel free to substitute a different flower or herb here and Sweet Almond Oil all available online or in your local craft store

Instructions

Mix all the ingredients into a small saucepan or pyrex container. Put on low heat. Or if you put it in the microwave set it for 30-second intervals each. 

You can strain the flowers if you wish. 

Pour into a container of your choice and let cool before use.

That's it.

I hope you enjoyed reading about these four unique DIY lip balms. These are great for nourishing and moisturizing your lips during any season. Especially during those cold winter months or those parched summer days. Its a great idea to always carry around lip balm that leaves your lips silky smooth. What better way to do that than cary around DIY lip balm that you made at home. 

7 DIY lip scrubs so good you can eat

After spending so much time inside during this quarantine, there are still ways to self care and love your skin. Following are a few recipies for delicious lip scrubs that will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth. These lip scrubs taste so good you could eat them and they are so easy to make. These are great for your own vanity or to even give as a DIY lip scrub gift.

 1. Grapefruit lemonade lip scrub

 For the first diy lip scrub we have grapefruit lemonade. This is a refreshing lip scrub especially for the summer time when your lips are especially parched for moisture. Some of the ingredients you will find in this lip scrub are glass jars, which you can get from amazon, coconut oil, caster sugar, honey, lemon and grapefruit essential oils. We all know the great benefits of using coconut oil. It is a moisturizer so you can use it to hydrate your skin. Honey is also a moisturizer and it will nourish and cleanse your skin. You can click here for the recipe.

2. Chocolate butter lip scrub 

For the second diy lip scrub we have chocolate butter. This chocolately treat is quick and easy to make. It is so good you can eat it. The ingredients for this recipe are brown sugar,  Shea butter,  oil – you can use olive oil or coconut oil -- any oil that you want; cocoapowder. 

You will want to add your sugar and shea butter into a mixing bowl and mix with a spoon. Then you will want to add oil, you can use olive oil or any oil that you like. Finally you will add your cocoa powder to the mix. Here is the recipe for your lip scrub diy.

3. Bubble gum lip scrub

Here is a fun treat your pout. Bubble gum lip scrub diy is an easy one to make. All you really need is sugar, olive oil, bubblegum flavoring and pink food coloring if you like. As we all know sugar is a natural exfoliant and olive oil is a cleanser.This recipe is really easy to make. All you have to do is toss the ingredients into a bowl and mix them together. You're done. According to the blog Hairspray and Highheels, this recipe will last for two months as you store it in room temperature. Really easy.

4. Honey-sugar lip scrub 

A fouth and common DIY lip scrub with honey is sure to moisturize your mouth. As we know, sugar is a naturual exfoliator and honey is a great moisturizer. Combining the two, you will get a refreshing lip scrub that will leave your lips soft and supple in no time. According to Nivea, you will want to use one teaspoon of honey with two teaspoons of sugar. Then you will massage the mixture into your lips and leave for 10 minutes. You can wash it off your face with a damp washcloth and you're done. 

5. Green tea lip scrub 

I'm sure you haven't heard the of green tea lip scrub diy. This is one natural and nourishing lip scrub you can use to pamper your skin at home. According to live simply, you will need green tea, sugar, olive oil and honey. Olive oil has good antioxidants that will keep the skin from aging prematurely. It is also a good cleanser. Honey is also great for nourishing the skin while cleansing it. And it even helps to fight acne. You can click here for the full recipe.

6. Tangarine lip scrub

Try this citrusy tangerine lip scrub diy for a moisturizing affect. Its easy to make and all you need is a few ingredients: granulated sugar, almond oil, tangerine essential oil, tangerine juice and Vitamin E oil All you need to do is mix the ingredients into a bowl and then you can transfer them into an air tight container. Click here for the recipe. 

7. Ginger snap lip scrub

Add a nice taste of giner to your lips to moisturize them during cold months. This is a fun recipe you can try to keep your lips soft and supple for applying your favorite lipstick. All you need is brown sugar, cornmeal, maple syrup, virgin coconut oil, melted, ground ginger and ground cinnamon. Just add all these ingredients to a bowl and mix them together before you store it in an air tight container. When you go to use it. make sure your lips are wet with warm water. Apply the mix to your lips with just a teaspoon and massage it on your mouth in small circular motions. Once you have finished you can rinse off with warm water and pat dry before applying your favorite lipstick. Click here for the full recipe.

This blog uses affiliate links. So I could earn a commision from your purchases.