The BEST Of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is one of the few foods that can be classified as a “superfood.” Its unique combination of fatty acids can have profound positive effects on health. This includes fat loss, better brain function and various other amazing benefits including beauty uses.

I first bought coconut oil when my brother, a serious health conscious guy researched the benefits of coconut oil and alzheimer's disease, that runs in our family. I bought it and started to use it instead of olive oil and loved the flavor, I even spread it on toast like butter and found it to be delicious, it sounded weird but try it it's incredible.

 When I found out I had contact dermatitis and was allergic to some of the main ingredients in many moisturizers I started to use coconut oil and it didn't irritate my skin like almost every other oil or moisturizer had, I was becoming a true coconut advocate.

 

If you don't like the smell of coconut oil you will never like it, but if you love the smell like I do, its just glorious, I don't mind smelling like an exotic cocktail. I started to experiment by using it as a conditioner and my hair was so soft afterwards and less flyways too!

1. Heat up some water and add a teaspoon of coconut oil and mix well, Look for extra virgin that has not been hydrogenated, bleached, or refined in any way or [has] any fragrance or dyes added to it.

2. Put it in your hair after you shampoo and rinse, comb through and leave on for 5 to 15 minutes then rinse well.

"I also love it as a body scrub it works amazing at making my skin extremely smooth and dewy, and softens rough elbows miraculously."

3. Mix 4 tablespoon of very granulated raw sugar or regular sugar if you don't have the raw and about 6 tablespoons of coconut oil. Put the mixture in a glass container and cover for future use. This absolutely takes away the rough dry patches on my feet like nothing else.

"I've even used it to remove my eye makeup since my eyes are highly allergic to any eye makeup removers I've used, its amazing and doesn't sting a bit". 

Let me know if you have any other idea's and uses for coconut oil, even great recipes are welcome!

Highly Allergic To A Sanitized Life

Allergies, what is going on and what is making us more allergic than ever before?

I've had contact dermatitis for 6 years, I'll cover that in my next post, but my six year old was just diagnost with an airborn allergy, and one of the most frustrating conclusions is that his doctor said we don't cure the allergy since that's almost impossible we just take care of the symptoms so he can live a more symptom free life, what's going on??

According to UCLA Health The hygiene hypothesis states that excessive cleanliness interrupts the normal development of the immune system, and this change leads to an increase in allergies. 

Why are Allergies Increasing?

The occurrence of allergic disease is skyrocketing, and some estimates are that as many as one-in-five Americans have an allergic condition. Allergies are specific and reproducible undesired and unpleasant immune responses that are triggered by naturally occurring substances such as foods, pollens or other influences in  our surroundings. Overwhelming evidence from various studies suggests that the "hygiene hypothesis" explains most of the allergy epidemic.

THE HYGIENE HYPOTHESIS

The hygiene hypothesis states that excessive cleanliness interrupts the normal development of the immune system, and this change leads to an increase in allergies. In short, our "developed" lifestyles have eliminated the natural variation in the types and quantity of germs our immune systems needs for it to develop into a less allergic, better regulated state of being.

This diagram simplifies the immune system into two separate tendencies: TH1 and TH2 responses. On the left, we see that exposures to germs, "dirt" and certain types of infection are part of the natural development of our immune response from a "default" TH2-based system at birth to a "mature" TH1-based system. On the right, we see how some cultural choices can interrupt the course of the immune system, and allow the TH2 response to continue to dominate and promote allergic conditions. Therefore, many of the advances of modernization, such as good sanitation and eradicating parasitic (helmith) infections, may actually be fueling this epidemic of allergies.

Nature Reviews Immunology 2002 (2) 132-138 Larger image >>

Ok so what the study at UCLA Is saying is that here in the Western world we are too clean, too sanitized and too "urban civil".

So what are we supposed to do get a couple chickens and put them in our small yards, if we have a yard, have more children, use less antibiotics (I agree with this one), fire our housekeepers or clean our homes less often I also can live with that one! 

This study seems somewhat logical to me but who knows allergies can be increasing because of so many factors besides the fact we have grown into an ultra sanitized society which I will be covering all this week, next week I'll be posting about how to manage allergies naturally.

Ciao For Now, and Achoo!! 

Layering Your Bracelets Like A Pro

Spring/ Summer 2015 is all about that bohemian spirit and style and what better time than now to pull out those beaded bracelets you have and learn how to layer them with the ease of a fashion editor. 

You don't have to go out and buy a bunch of new arm candy but can probably use a lot of what you've collected over the years, and if you haven't visit us online for more ideas.

1. You can mix a retro 70's/ 80's silver and tourquoise bracelet with one two even three bracelets as a combination of beads and even a thin bangle thrown in for personality.

2. You know those FREINDSHIP bracelets the young girls are making and maybe your daughter has made you, wear it with another two or three bracelets, it gives your wrist personality and an all your own meaningful look made with LOVE.

3. Don't shy away from mixing metals silver and gold were meant to be together.

4. Layer with a watch, it's very French Chic

5. Get creative have fun after all that should be what fashion is all about!

How a To Get Your Child or Children Ready For School (without drama)

Before I was a mom, as I like to call it, my Mom Fantasy moments I saw myself getting my child ready in the mornings as a joyful time the two of us could share, talking about the day to come, making pancakes together, so much fun. Screech to a halt and wake up from that fantasy fast, my mornings are nothing like that, a complete opposite with daily screaming, punishing, and my blood pressure going through the roof just to get a kindergartener dressed, fed, teeth brushed and off to school on time. I had to find a way, I was determined if I were to make it through to high school.

I started to change some of my routines and slowly I began to see real improvements, not perfection mind you but a lot less yelling and a lot happier mornings for sure.

SOME TIPS THAT HELPED ME WITH THE MORNING ROUTINE: 

1. Before bed I lay out my clothes and his clothes for the day ahead

2. I wake up 45-55 minutes before it's time to wake him up, I have time by myself to either meditate, stretch, have my much needed coffee, check emails and just be, a rare moment as a mom.

3. I make sure I'm 80% ready to go for the day even before I wake him up which means showered, some makeup on and at least partially dressed.

4. I wake him up with a head massage and back tickle, ask him about his dreams and always I mean always can get him out of bed with a piggy back ride. About 5-7 minutes.

5. Our son is Not a morning guy it takes him a good 15 minutes to be civil, so I give him space.

Getting him dressed is a chore so I try and make a game out of it. 

1. Let's see who can get dressed faster mommy or you

2. If you get dressed before I get back with my shoes on you can choose the movie we watch this weekend

3. Brushing the teeth is the entire ABC's which he feels proud to recite and actually sings his way through.

*We also got him a Guinea Pig a few weeks ago so one of his new responsibilities is to feed this little creature named Beni whom we're all just loving. Guinea Pigs purr when they're happy and when you pet them sweetly, it's adorable. Responsibilities ( they like ) are a Fabulous way to get a child motivated to do things.

Good luck with the mornings let me know how you do!!

Help I Lost My Readers

That was me untill recently,I don't know how many pairs of glasses I lost but it was a lot! We're jewelry designers so it was about time we did something about the lack of modern ways to wear and protect your eye wear.

Turchin Eye Rings a necklace that holds your glasses are unisex adjust in length and are cool and modern looking.... Finally.

Check them out if you don't believe me.

http://turchinjewelry.com/collections/womens-eye-rings

Amethyst Gem Of Fire Necklace

Amethyst Dragon Empowered Necklace, a beautiful and powerful protection necklace designed with Amethyst, a highly esteemed gemstone known throughout the ages for its stunning beauty and legendary powers to stimulate and soothe the mind and emotions. In ancient civilizations it was known as the “Gem of Fire,” a Precious Stone worth at times in history as much as a Diamond. 

We have added our sterling silver protection dragon and inlaid the eyes with diamonds for clarity in decision making, for being able to see though to the truth in all situations. Our sterling silver elephant clasp holds this design together with love, Amethyst and sterling silver pendant drop sits perfectly at 23" and goes with almost any neckline.

Wardrobe Ideas: The Amethyst dragon empowered necklace would look perfect with a casual week end look, jeans or casual pants and shirt scoop, button down or v-neck, with a sharp suit or dress. Wear this necklace against your skin full the full energy of the amethyst.

10 Ways to Layer Your Jewelry...Part 1

I think I take it for granted that I layer my jewelry with the ease of a fashion stylist, I can actually go through my extensive jewelry wardrobe ( I'm a jewelry designer 😉) and choose 3-5 necklaces, 4-5 bracelets, 3 rings and magically layer them in the time it takes to brush my teeth! Ok I get it, not everyone understands the art of styling and layering ( if I may call it an art ) wether it be jewelry or clothing; this talent was conceived and nurtured from my early years as a model in the fashion capitals of the world, having been styled by the best of the best when I was seventeen and eighteen years old!!

 

Looking back it floors me to no end, how did this little Connecticut girl with little or no style get in such a position, but that's another story all that matters now is that I did and that's why I can actually give pointers on how to layer and style jewelry. 

The art of styling never changes, true fashion comes in and out, goes round and round, but if you learn how to style yourself this is a talent you have forever, haven't you seen those wonderful older ladies with style, full makeup, hair done to the max, head to toe dressed for God knows what, I love them for I understand their Love of fashion, their need to look put together.

Stacking Jewelry is not an easy thing to do but I have included a lot of images to help.

The silent rule with necklaces is that you want to create depth, flow, and either oomph appeal, laid back ease, or boho extravagance. You can mix tiny thin chains with long chunky beaded necklaces, make sure pendants don't lay on each other in odd positions but lay easily. I do mix silver and gold this is not for the novice though since you need to know what shades of silver go with what shades of gold.

Elle McPherson in Turchin jewelry's

            Long Necklaces

    From The LOVE COLLECTION

 

Metal Combinations

1. Shiny gold mixes well with shiny silver 

2. Antiqued silver mixes well with antiqued gold or bronze

Colors:

I like to stay in color families, that dosent mean I just wear brown with tan and chocolate, I will mix the colors of the sea, for instance turquoise with orange coral look delicious and summery, one of my favorite vacation combos!

 Ebony black looks rock in roll with antiqued silver, and down right chic with shiny gold!

Aqua marine pairs beautifully with other soft pastels like light green Peridot, rose Quartz, translucent Moonstone and magical Labradorite.

Lengths

 One of my everyday easy layered looks are my two tiny silver chains with my diamond half moon, star and T initial pendants, just below choker length, and one or two long flowing necklaces, one beaded for sure with a pendant and one with just beads or just chain.

I personally don't like mixing too many long necklace with pendants unless the necklaces are very light and delicate then it's easy and beautifuly boho to add two or three together.