GlamityCalamity

Just a friendly reminder to turn your clocks back one hour tonight (October 31), where applicable.

Toodles!

Supernova

“Cleanse, Tone, Moisturize… is it important that I use toner on my skin?”

There is some debate as to whether the toning step is a necessary part of maintaining the skin’s health. Some people see this as an unnecessary step in a skin-care regime.

The purpose of a toner is to balance the skin’s pH after cleansing.  So purely from this stand-point, yes it is important to add a toner to your skin-care regime.

This is why:

The skin produces both oils (sebum) and sweat, which create a barrier on the skin’s surface. This layer forms a protective barrier against certain forms of bacteria and microorganisms and it may be a factor in the natural skin shedding and renewal process.

The degree to which a substance is acidic or alkaline is measured on a pH scale that goes from 1 (most acidic)  to 14 (most alkaline).

A substance is considered an acid if it has a pH value lower than 7, like lemon which has a pH value of just above 2
A substance is considered alkaline if it has a pH of higher than 7, like soap which has a pH value of 10. Most substances that feel sudsy or are difficult to wash off your fingers, because you wash and wash and wash and wash and your skin still feels sudsy even though it looks clean, are considered to be alkaline.

Pure water is neither acidic nor alkaline and has a pH value of 7 

So with this in mind, the skin’s pH varies between 4.5 and 6.2, so washing your face with even the purest water will change the pH balance of your skin as pure water (at pH 7) is considered to be more alkaline than the skin (average pH 5.5).

Imagine then washing your face with soap (pH 10)… the barrier of your skin is totally stripped, making it defenseless against those bacteria and migro-organisms that are ready and waiting to have a feast. It is for this reason it is not recommended that you wash your skin with very harsh cleansers in an effort to rid your skin of oil, as it will just make matters worse.

A cleanser needs to be more alkaline than the skin so that it can remove the dirt, but not so alkaline that it removes this protective barrier.This is why it is recommended that you use pH balanced skin cleansers rather than soap to cleanse your skin. *ooooohhhhhh*. Yes, it is more than just marketing, it’s actually scientific.

Toners then, are formulated bring the pH of your skin down after cleansing, closer to the skin’s natural pH (they are acidic in nature to balance the alkaline nature of most cleansers). This assists the skin in rebalancing itself after you cleanse, which makes your skin more prepared to deal with absorbing the moisture/ oils it needs from your moisturizer.

So from that point of view, yes toners are necessary. 

Toodles.

Supernova

Society would like us to believe that we are the problem. As a result we try our best to fit in, to cater to,  and to be something that we are essentially not. We play nicely with others, hold back that thought and be polite just so that everyone else can be happy. What’s really hood with that. What about me dammit? How about I be happy for a change.  Sometimes all the patience and smiles in the world is not enough and only a good ole’ swing of the cutlass will do the trick. *SLISH!*

We grow out of our clothing, habits, shoes, social events and dare I say we grow out of people. Interests change. WE change, and not everyone can keep up  or at the very least accept the sheer pace that comes along with greatness. 

As much as we may not like to say it aloud, all people aren’t created equal and as such not everyone was meant to be in our lives. 

There are times when certain relationships just don’t work anymore. Try as we may, there seems to be a disconnect somewhere and we wonder if we are missing something, some really big part of the puzzle. We make sure to carefully edit the things we say or don’t say, we meditate on the things we do and don’t do in their presence and even still we never seem to get it right. We don’t even recognise ourself in the relationship anymore and just being around the person is a chore because we aren’t allowed to be ourselves. We aren’t free to talk about our successes for fear of trampelling on their dream for themselves, because apparently only one dream in this life can be fulfilled and it ain’t ours!

We can’t seek inspiration from these individuals, because they just are incapable of dreaming the kaleidoscopic dream that we can. We want more for ourselves and they are content in reliving the glory days of the past rather than embracing the splendor of the present and the untapped potential of the future. Still, we kill ourselves bending backward to make it work because after all this relationship is part of who we are, it’s what we’ve known most of our life.

Or is it?

Relationships change. Just as there are relationships that take on a greater significance – like the long lost high-school friend you came to partner with to form a highly successful company, there are some that just slowly fizzle and become a dud. *pphhhssssshhhhh*

Just like our yards, apartments and ourselves, at times we need to clean our social/ personal circle. Keep the positive and release the negative vibes. There is something to be said for decluttering our personal lives. We ought to click the edit button on the operating system of our lives and examine the key players. Who are they? The ones who support us to become the person that we would like to be, let us cherish them for in this age of ‘instant friendship’, *social networking site names withheld*, this is not easy to come by.  Then, consider giving the ones who don’t that pink slip.

The fact that a relationship doesn’t work need not turn into a blame game. It can be as simple as ‘its not working’.

It’s not me, it’s you.

Related GC posts
Relationships | Deal breakers
Beauty | Flawless Face
What would you do?: Mistaken Identity (Pt. 1)
Vids| Baz Luhrmann “Everybody’s Free”
Live your life 

Ever think that your skin is playing tricks on you? You’ve finally gotten your breakouts under control and then ‘HELLO’ a congregation of zits greet you in the morning. Or perhaps one day your skin feels ‘oily’ and the other day it feels ‘dry’. STEUPS!

Several factors can affect the condition of our skins including:

~ Climate/ Seasonal changes
~ Environmental pollution
~ Diet
~ Stress level
~ Medication
~ Smoking
~ Ultraviolet Rays (UVRs), largely from the sun.

Lets look at these more closely:

1. Seasonal changes 

It is typical that skin feels ‘drier’ during cooler months and ‘oilier’ during warmer months. Just like you would not wear shorts and sandals during the winter months, it is wise to change your skin care products to adapt to the changing weather.

For example the harsh outdoor wind chill combined with the forced heat indoors create havoc on our skin. Usually we tend to purchase a thicker, more moisturizing body lotion and likewise we should do the same for our faces. This is especially important for people who have a more dry skin type. You may want to consider a cream cleanser (not sudsy, but rather a creamy texture) combined with a moisturizing lotion (contains a moisturizing ingredient like Vitamin E, Cocoa Butter or Shea butter for example as it’s first ingredient).

Likewise, our skins may feel oilier in the summer months. Persons with an oily skin type may find it useful to use an acne-fighting cleanser to help control breakouts, combined with a hydrating moisturizer (contains water or similar ingredient like Hyaluronic Acid as its first ingredient).

Tropical island inhabiters may not have these issues. 

2. Environmental pollution
From coming into contact with chemicals to inhaling toxic fumes, pollution can cause increased sensitivity in skin leaving it red, much like as in an allergic reaction. If you live in a metropolitan area, unfortunately there is not much you can do to avoid coming into contact with these fumes. It is therefore important that these pollutants are removed from you skin at night before bed. If not during sleep all the dirt and pollutants that were collected on your face during the day is further pressed into your pores while you sleep at night. 

3. Diet
So the jury is still out on whether chocolates give you pimples. Maybe this was started by someone who was anti-Valentines day or by someone who was allergic to chocolate, either way chocolate in your diet is the least of your worries. There are larger diet issues to worry about such as:

~ Foods with a high sugar content
Excess calories. Sugar, and not fat, is the bigger enemy my friends. Diabetes is standing right outside your door with this one.

~ Heavily fried and seasoned foods

~ High alcohol/ caffeine intake 
Dehydrates the skin. For every two cups of coffee two cups of water are needed to put your body back in balance.

4. Stress level
We’ve all heard that ’stress can kill you’. It can also result in breakouts. There are only 24 hours in a day for a reason. Prioritize and deal with critical items one at a time.

~ Medication
Certain medications can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. If you are on any medication ask your doctor about the possible effects of the medication on your skin.

5. Smoking
Accelerates aging of skin and aids in the development of fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth area.

6. Ultraviolet Rays (UVRs)
Contributes to the destruction of skin cells which accelerates aging. See Sunkissed Beauty

Hmmm!

Act like you know.

Supernova

Oxidized Platform | Gucci

There are few things in life that speak as loudly as these babies do. They signal to the world that the owner is well aware of who she is, what she’s working with and therefore ,*snap*, fall in line. No fooling around here. No ambiguity. Just the sight makes the world stand at attention.

Every woman should own one. Not because of what it says to the world but because of how it makes her feel. She is taller, curvier and more powerful. Invincible.

Noone is saying that it needs to be worn everyday; that is a different kind of profession.

To the average human they look uncomfortable because yes indeedy they are dammit.  But that’s because they weren’t meant for comfort, that’s what Birkenstocks are for. These shoes weren’t made for walkin’, no ma’m, they’re made for struttin’. Like performance machines, they were built to function and to function effectively. They are individually packaged with a personality entirely of their own, and as such have the ability to magically enable the wearer to find their inner fierce. Swag in full effect.

A friend of mine calls them her ‘look back’ shoes… and for good reason I’m sure. Yeah she’s that chick who steps into the office and on queue everyone’s response is “…*GASP* OMG NOOOOOO!! she did not wear FMPs to work!!!..”. Mhmmmmm. The one who is totally oblivious to casualties in her wake. Kudos to her! We appreciate, we don’t judge.

So might I suggest that every Sally find herself a pair.  If you already own one, (or a few… Alrooooight) then we salute you. 

If you don’t, no worries. FMPs speak all languages – style, design and  color, so find one that communicates with you and get in where ya fit in. It can make ALL the difference in your social life.

If you have no idea what I’m talking about then you are too young to be reading this blog. Where your parents at?

.

Related GC Posts
Sexy State of Mind
Frump to Fab in 10 steps
Dating | Me no speak Engrish
Lets keep it together ladies. 
Style | Shoe blues 

We are reminded to ‘eat right’ and to have a ‘balanced diet’. Mhmmm…
But what does that really mean? I can have chocolate fudge cake each and everyday bar none; that seems pretty ‘balanced’ to me, and ‘they’ always say consistency is the key, so double kudos I say. Definitely sounds like a plan that I can follow. 

So here’s what our friends over at Health Canada had to say about ‘balanced diet’ and food serving sizes.

Recommended Number of Food Guide Servings per Day

 Interesting…

While serving sizes are standard, the number of servings recommended for an individual will vary depending on his/her:
~ Age
~ Sex
~ Physical activity
~ Lifestyle for example

Some examples of what a ’serving size’ of each of the food groups looks like:

Veges and Fruits

- Fresh, frozen or canned vegetables – 125ml (1/2 cup)
- Leafy vegetables
Cooked: 125 ml (1/2)
Raw: 250ml (1 cup)
- Fresh, frozen or canned fruits: 1 fruit or 125ml (1/2 cup) 
- 100% Juice: 125ml (1/2 cup) - Juice cocktail and fruit ‘drinks’ don’t count

• Eat at least one dark green and one orange vegetable each day
  • - Go for dark green veges such as broccoli, romaine lettuce and spinach
  • - Go for orange veges such as carrots, sweet potatoes and winter squash

•  Choose veges that fruit prepared with little or no added fat, sugar or salt
  • - Enjoy veges steamed, baked or stir-fried instead of deep-fried

• Have vegetables and fruit more often than juice 

Grain Products

- Bread: 1 slice (35g)
- Bagel:  1/2 bagel (45g)
- Flat breads: 1/2 pita or 1/2 tortilla
- Cooked rice, bulgur or quinoa: 125ml (1/2 cup)
- Cereal
-  Cold: 30g
- Hot: 175ml (3/4 cup)
- Cooked pasta or couscous: 125ml (1/2 cup)  

  Make at least half of your grain products whole grain each day

- Eat a variety of whole grains such as barley, brown rice, oats, quinoa and wild rice
- Enjoy whole grain breads, oatmeal or whole wheat pasta – (not so bad once you try it the whole wheat pasta).

Milk and Alternatives

- Milk or powdered milk (reconsituted): 250ml (1 cup)
- Canned milk (evaporated): 125ml (1/2 cup)
- Fortified soy beverage: 250ml (1cup)
- Yogurt: 175 g (3/4 cup)
- Kefir: 175 g (3/4 cup)
- Cheese: 50 g (1.5 oz.) – about the size of your thumb! 

• Drink skim, 1%, or 2% milk every day
  • - Have 500ml (2 cups) of milk everyday for adequate Vitamin D
  • - Drink fortified soy beverages if you do not drink milk 

• Select lower fat milk alternatives
  • - Compare the Nutrition Facts table on yogurts or cheeses to make wise choices

*** A disclaimer on this one where it comes to the low fat business. In my experience ‘low fat’ usually means ‘more sugar’ as fat usually is where the flavour is (MMMMmmmmmmmm!). This for me is a bigger issue because sugar is calorie laden and converts itself into fat so, I usually compare the sugar content and go with whichever is lower, usually the one with the higher fat content. A personal decision so you can decide which is more important to you***

Meat & Alternatives

Cooked fish, shellfish, poultry, lean meat: 75 g (2.5 oz)/  125ml (1/2 cup)
Cooked legumes: 175ml (3/4 cup)
Tofu: 150 g or 175ml(3/4 cup)
Eggs: 2 eggs
Peanut or nut butters: 30ml (2 tbsp)
Shelled nuts and seeds: 60ml (1/4 cup)

• Have meat alternatives such as beans, lentils and tofu often

• Eat at least two Food Guide Servings of fish each week (do be careful and limit your exposure to mercury from certain types of fish)
  • - Choose fish such as char, herring, mackerel, salmon, sardines and trout

Select lean meat and alternatives prepared with little or no added fat or salt

• - Trim the visible fat from meats. Remove the skin on poultry
• - Use cooking methods such as roasting, baking or poaching that require little or no added fat
• - If you eat luncheon meats, sausages, or prepackaged, chose those lower in sodium (sodium) and fat. 

You worked hard for the honey.

You put forward your best self, remembered to be engaging, to smile, to stand upright and to endure those awfully painful shoes. You even read up on sports a bit, skimming the Sports section of your Internet homepage, the section you never ever read before. Your hair and nails were always correct, legs and otherwise hair-free and you maintained your form by remembering to consume your veges and followed tips from Bob and Jillian on the Biggest Loser. You are always happy now, because of course, now you’re ‘dating‘. Life is great, you are your best self.

So now you got him already. What next?

You soon realise that getting him is not even half the battle you thought it was. It is only AFTER you have him you look around and think… “well THAT wasn’t so damn hard. What the hell was all the fuss about”.

You realize that you’re not so shabby, as a matter of fact you are pretty freakin’ awesome. You got ish going on, why wouldn’t he want to be with you? And so comfort starts to kick in. 

Time passes, things happen… and don’t happen in your relationship, but that’s life. It happens to everybody doesn’t it.

You’ve read tips on various websites on things you can do or introduce to ’spice’ up the relationship. Positions that you MUST try, contraptions you MUST buy, stuff you MUST ingest to ignite that FYAH!!!. You read and think that the writer may be unto something, and that people’s relationships must really suck out there if this is what they have to resort to,  and you smile thanking yourself that your relationship isn’t that messed up. 

Then one day you find yourself staring in the mirror wondering just how you reached to ‘this’ point and where it went all wrong.

Being in a relationship is not an excuse to let all the chickens out the coop. Personality and inner beauty are great yes, this keeps the love alive, but there is more to an intimate relationship. Forever is a long time, the fyah needs to be kept ablazing. It’s pretty difficult to get the sexy on when your partner can’t remember that you have a waist under that there muumuu. A little upkeep goes a long way.

~ Make yourself your first priority
Schedule some “you” time for if you wait for it to find you, it wouldn’t. Take some time to relax, and find the time to groom. Schedule a pedicure or give yourself one. Get some dead sea salts or some shower gel and soak your feet for a bit. When you are finished give your soles a lil scrub-a-dub and pass some polish on those nails. It doesn’t have to take you whole day. With proper maintenance it’s just a quick fix every couple weeks. Pick up a body scrub at the pharmacy. Change your hairstyle. Try a new lip gloss. Remember that you have other friends and give your relationship time to breathe. The possibilities are endless. Customize yours.

~ Get measured and invest in good underwear.
It helps keep the girls where they are supposed to be and in the line of sight. It is said that most women wear the wrong underwear size. It also helps improve your posture and they way you feel. Get  at least one itiem in a pretty colour; it doesn’t have to be red and lace, but this combo would definitely help, but really anything but ‘nude’.

~ Keep hair levels under wraps
The season has changed not your partner. Whatever method you use, make hair removal a priority. Eyebrows, arms, legs, underarms… Customize it however you like.

~ Get your own clothes.
Yes it was cute when you wore his shirt when you spent the night by him back in the day. But as you guys are now living in the same house, the novelity has worn off. Get your own ‘comfy’ clothing. ‘Comfy’ doesn’t necessarily mean oversized, it just means comfortable; they don’t constrict but they FIT. I’m not a big fan of sweats in general, but I do understand the need for them during the winter on occasion and, so that we are clear, anything outside of the confines of your home doesn’t qualify as an ‘occasion‘. So by all means sure, but at least honey get your own sweats. Ones that fit so that your rear doesn’t look floppier than you already think it is, because then the question “does my butt look fat” is just an argument waiting to happen.

~ Close one eye
Pick your battles. Noone likes a kill joy party-pooper. Perfection is in the eye of the beholder and yes that also that refers to how you want those chores are done. Quit complaining already, it’s not very attractive.

~ Smile
Enjoy your relationship. It’s all that you ever wanted and now you have it.

Mhmmm, there is a laundry list of things that your man can attend to, like that gut for example, but as we run the ish up in this bish, let us lead by example.

Besides, they are now busy manscaping, so one hurdle at a time.

Just because there is a clause in the vow that says that you are in it for life doesn’t mean that you have to get too comfortable.

Related GC posts
Mood busters: Brillo pads
Manscaping
Live your life
Nova monologue: This is it 

Halloween. The time when we get to reveal our inner $2 hooker and disturbed serial killer. Interesting times. 

I never got this ‘celebration’ so I don’t have any supercool ideas of where to go, what to do, where to get the best costume. Therefore I’ll keep it brief and get it moving.

For us adults, we’ve read it numerous times that we ought to take even more precaution than we would any other club night that is filled with drunken stupour:

~ Arrive Alive, Don’t Drink & Drive
~ Keep in groups
~ Eat well before you drink etc.

However, for all my parents with young kids who participate in this activity, there are some pointers I feel compelled to share. For example:

On that note, why do some people come out looking like Lada Gaga everyday? It’s not even Halloween yet biatch.

Anyways, I digress, back to the kids

1. Children should be accompanied by an adult
2. Children should wear clothing that can easily be seen at night. Retro-reflective materials are best
3. Children should trick or treat in one well-known area and not wander into unknown neighbourhoods 
4. All candy should be inspected by an adult to make sure that no one has tampered with it. If it looks suspicious, the police should be contacted
5. Children should avoid stray animals (humans included)
6. Children should wear masks that do not interfere with vision. Better yet they can avoid masks my wearing makeup
7. Children should watch for moving vehicles when crossing streets
8. Costumes should be short enough that the child will not trip
9. Trick or treaters should dress appropriately for the weather and carry a flashlight
10. For extra safety, organize a Halloween party for your children in your neighbourhood.

An extra special shout out to all parents with young girl children…..HEEEEEEYYYYYY!!! *snap*

I know they may really want this particular costume since everyone else in their class thinks it’s ‘cool’… after all we are bombared with hyper-sexualized media hourly, so as a result there is the unnecessary pressure to be a ‘cool’ parent these days BUT 

*A 9 year old girl dressed as a dominatrix is not a good look, as the only people who really think this is a good idea are pedophiles and pervs.*

Read. Repeat. Recycle.

If during that process your mind flashes back to the costume that’s in your child’s closet, never fear there is plenty of time to get a new one. As Halloween is just a couple days away, there are plenty of sales to take advantage of. How smart are you!

Children depend on us for direction and safety so please let us take our responsibility safety. 

Consider this your friendly PSA

Have a safe Halloween!

Toodles,

Supernova