17 Tips For Straightening Your Hair!

I'm a natural girl, so the thought of putting a flat-iron to my bouncy curls makes me tense up! However,  it's something I do a few times a year; for change, an occasion or when I'm longing to run my fingers through my hair :). Hair care is important to me throughout, so I was happy to find the article "17 Useful Tricks For Anyone Who Uses a Hair Straightener" by Buzzfeed, by way of Pinterest, of course.

Staff writer Augusta Falletta offered some great tips. I'll list some of them below, but be sure to check out the full article if you'd like to see infographics & the list in full. Some people love images with every tip :).

So here goes!

1. Determine which size flat-iron is best for you. In other words, for pixie-cuts and bangs, use a 1/2" mini flat-iron, 1" flat-iron for short, fine hair, 1 1/4" is recommended for shoulder-length, medium-thick hair, 1 1/2" for thick, coarse, curly hair - passed your shoulders,  & finally 2" flat-iron for thick, very long hair.

2. Know the difference between the different kinds of straighteners.

3. VERY important: "Before you do anything, use a heat protectant spray." - says Falletta

4. "Set the heat no higher than 365 degrees. Hair burns at the same temperature as paper: 451°F. The highest temperature that you should use your flat iron on is 365°F. For those with fine hair, the temperature should be between 300 and 325 degrees."

Intrigued? See the remaining tips here. Happy & safe straightening! Have any suggestions? Leave a comment! Sharing is caring!

xoxo The Find Queen!

Top Fashion Bloggers Rock Overalls!

Good Morning/Afternoon, Loves! I hope that your Hump Day has been lovely thus far! I can't help but think of that commercial where the camel slowly walks through the office asking, "guess what day it is?". lol SO hilarious to me, and it never gets old!

Being The Find Queen that I am, which translates to being an avid web surfer, I found this fashionable article by Coco Rosa titled "Top 10 Fashion Blogger Denim Overalls", and kinda fell in love! It actually inspired me to pull out my favorite Frankie B denim overalls to rock with my Dr. Martens boots today. Such comfort! Such style freedom! So much cuteness in wearing a pair of overalls. Clearly, other girls agree. Hence the TOP fashion bloggers rocking them! It's a clothing garment that you can dress up, or down; and you can wear anywhere around town. Whether running errands, or heading to lunch, you're golden!

My favorite picks from the Top 10 are pictured above.

1. Hanneli rocks her overalls with a fitted, white crop top!
   http://www.hanneli.com/
   2. Tuula opts for a grey tee to casually complete her look.
   http://www.tuulavintage.com/
   3. Caroline's Mode gently cuffs her denim overalls & keeps warm with a long sleeve black sweater, and LOVE the accessories!
   http://carolinesmode.com/
   
   
   

Completing the list are top fashion bloggers: Danielle from We Wore What, Jules from Sincerely Jules, Rumi from Fashion Toast, Andy of Style Scrapbook, Annabelle of Vivaluxury, Zina of Fashion Vibe, and Leandra of Man Repeller. If you need inspiration of how to rock your overalls this Fall, who better to look to than these ladies? See the remaining looks here.

Have any other style suggestions for wearing overalls fashionably? Leave a comment! Post a link! Sharing is caring!

xoxo The Find Queen!

IKEA Heaven Is Where I Dwell!!

 

You GUYS! This is a new blog, but you'll soon realize my affection for Ikea! I go to this store and it's been said that pulling me out is like having to thread a thousand needles! My best friend, she tends to exaggerate! I do LOVE that store, and the one thing I stalk my Postman for is that glossy IKEA catalog! Viewing it online just isn't the same. Call me old school all you want! Ohhhh, how I love the feel and smell of that Ikea catalog! I love food more, but it's definitely a very close second. So, when I stumbled upon Refinery29's article on the "14 Styling Tricks To Steal From The Ikea 2015 Catalog" I dropped everything! Well, I wasn't holding anything, but my jaw dropped, and I clicked the link and begin to drool over the pictures shared from the catalog. Some of which I've shared here.  I've purchased some of the items pictured already, so I was excited to get some styling tricks!

Chloe Daley says, "It's filled with subtle tricks to make your rooms flow more smoothly and pop brighter. Canopies, colorblocking, and clever plant placement — we're obsessed. Ahead, all the rearranging and painting ideas to easily keep you occupied for the next five months." 

And I believe her! Although it's a dated article, & Ikea's already released the 2016 catalog, it's still 2015; shop, save & decorate! Then view the 2016 catalog here to prepare for next year!

 "White, natural wood, black, and mint all jive together in this dining area. And, splitting the wall with two contrasting colors make the ceilings seem higher."

"Take this image with you to the nearest home improvement store. Paired with mint light fixtures, an emerald-meets-kelley green hue stuns on a kitchen wall."

Who's excited?! I surely am! Check out the article for more tips and images. It's an older article, but still very relevant; and most the items still available will go on sale soon, if not already! You're welcome :)!

xoxo The Find Queen!

Healthy Hair AND Nails For Everyone!!

Did that headline excite you? GREAT! But listen, we know that we all receive different results when it comes to anything. So understand, I'm not promising you Rapunzel hair or the crazy lady with those long curled natural nails, nails! What I'm saying is, if you eat these 20 biotin rich foods regularly, you have a great chance of seeing some pretty awesome results. I personally, upped my intake of soy beans, berries, and sardines after finding the article "20 Foods High in Biotin for Healthy Hair & Nails" on pinterest about a month ago - with AMAZING results. I was already enjoying the others on the list regularly, except pork. I don't eat pork.

"A biotin deficiency doesn’t occur very often, but not getting enough can leave your hair and skin in less than optimal condition. Getting enough biotin can also mean an increased metabolism, balanced blood glucose levels, and is simply one of the B Vitamins that you don’t want to be without for too long. Luckily it’s pretty easy to stay topped up on it, and very rarely will the average person run a shortage." - bembu.com

Here's your POWER 20:

1. Mushrooms
2. Tuna 
3. Turkey
4. Avocados
5. Swiss Chard
6. Eggs
7. Salmon
8. Sunflower Seeds
9. Liver
10. Peanut Butter
11. Cheese
12. Cauliflower
13. Whole Wheat Bread
14. Sardines
15. Berries
16. Almonds
17. Bananas
18. Pork
19. Soybeans
20. Beef

Be sure to head over to the source for full details on serving sizes, if you'd like! Happy eating & here's to good hair & strong nails!

xoxo The Find Queen!

Tuesday Inspiration + Motivation!

I hope you all are having a terrific Tuesday?! If not, let me know. I seem to be a therapist to many; WITHOUT the degree. Just so we're all clear here.

OK, so, I love a good quote and the above definitely spoke to me! I've heard this quote in various ways throughout my life, and I haven't wanted to believe in it as much as I want to now. I'm experiencing some trying times, and although I'm the one who's able to cheer up & inspire those around me to get up and keep going; it's sometimes hard to take my own advice. Am I the only one who feels this way? Do you find it hard to listen to your good, sound advice? I mean, I know I'm telling myself the right thing. Who's going to look out for me better than me? Still, some people lie to themselves everyday, sadly.

I do know that this too shall pass. I do know that as cliche as it sounds: everything happens for a reason; but when you're in the mess it's sometimes hard to see how you'll dig your way out it.

So, as I type this post, I asked myself, what would I tell a friend if they came to me with this same dilemma. Without blinking, I said .. yes, I'm talking to myself; judge me! OK, I said to myself, that I'd tell them first, you have to understand that this moment is as it should be. Second, you're a praying person, so look up and not down for the answers. In other words, stop looking & being down, lift your head up, and look up and pray. And when you pray, listen. The answers are always there, sometimes we're so deep in trying to figure out the answer, or too busy pitying ourselves, that we miss the answers that are right in front of us. So what happens? You stay stuck. You stay in that trying time until you recognize the signs, until you understand what brought you there, until you decide to fight your way out, instead of wallowing in your circumstances.

Whew! Let the church say amen! Having said all that, I already see that this difficult road will take me to a beautiful destination. How do I know that? Well, I'm a little bit wiser now, and I have a better understanding of what got me here, so I'll be better equipped to avoid it moving it forward. When you're in a dark place, any light after that is a beautiful destination!

This wasn't a 'Dear Diary' post, I PROMISE! I just wanted to motivate anyone traveling a rough road. You're not alone. Stay the course. YOU got this!

xoxo The Find Queen!

Sugar Scrub Heaven!! 10 DIY Exfoliators!

Let me just say Y’all, I am in scrub heaven! I can’t get enough of facial, body and lip scrub recipes! The article “10 DIY Exfoliators and Sugar Scrubs - So Good You Could Eat Them”  by Alexandra Evans, drew me in, for sure! Looking at the images I could almost smell them through my Mac Pro screen! No, really!

Being that I’m on this whole detox train now; see my previous post on the detox bath for proof, I dove right into making and trying these sugar scrub recipes. I made up the "Green Tea Sugar Scrub” right away, and it left my skin feeling completely exfoliated, soft and it smelled good too! Check out the ingredients below:

Ingredients:
    •    1 1/2 cup of Suger (in my opinion brown coarse sugar)
    •    2tsp Green tea powder
    •    2 Green tea bags
    •    1 cup Coconut oil

Click here for instructions from Inspire Beauty Tips.
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There so many benefits to exfoliating our skin, and the results are fantastic! Rough skin and dry patches, be GONE! “There are so many exfoliating scrubs on the market, but some can contain plastic microbeads, which are no good for the environment. They don’t break down and they’re too tiny to be filtered out by sewage systems. So what happens? Fish swallow them. Read more about why California proposed a ban on these beads here. You wont miss the exfoliating sensation by ceasing to use those beads.”

I love the idea of making various scrubs, putting them in cute little (or big) jars, and gifting them to friends, family, coworkers, whomever! We can all benefit; just be sure when you share, that you provide the ingredients. Natural doesn’t mean it’s safe for everyone. Some people are allergic to certain ingredients. So doing a skin test is recommended. OK, so be sure to check out her article for other scrub recipes such as: the Baby Rose Sugar Scrub, Coffee Scrub for Fading Stretch Marks, Pluot-Pear Body Exfoliator, Pumpkin Spice Body Scrub (yum!), Vanilla Pumpkin Body Scrub, and more!

Happy scrubbing! Be sure to share any tips in the comments on exfoliating, detoxing or sugar scrub recipes! Sharing is caring!

xoxo The Find Queen!

Image: One Green Planet

Happy Monday! Be Awesome Today!

Good morning, loves! It’s Monday, and you know what that means right? The start of a new week! Another chance to do it all over again, and do it bigger and BETTER!

I personally love Mondays! I believe that it sets the tone for the week. In other words, if you start off great, you’ll end great. It’s all in your head, people! Start with a good attitude, keep that feeling going, and I can almost guarantee that you’ll have an amazing day!

So, have a cup of joe, and let’s go!

Everyone wasn’t blessed with another chance. If you don’t do it for yourself, do it for them!

xoxo The Find Queen!

Health IS Wealth! Detox, Anyone?

I have a confession, I just now carefully hopped onto this detox train! Yes, without telling my age, I’ve gone quite some time NOT detoxing. At least, not knowingly. As I said before, I’m a pinterest addict, and you can’t miss a pin on some form of detoxing while scrolling. I even created a board dedicated to detoxing and cleansing! Have I done it yet? I’m slowly beginning to practice techniques. I started with ‘dry-brushing.' I’ll post on that shortly.

Today, I plan to begin practicing this ‘detox bath’ thing. So, it was fitting that I came across and clicked on the pin “Why & How To Take A Detox Bath”. The authors Vanessa & Tom of the ‘Healthy Living How To’ website helped me understand how to, and the benefits of a detox bath.

The comment, “In this day and age, our bodies are subject to more toxins than ever” pulled me in immediately, and noting that, “a detox bath encourages the body to efficiently flush out toxins” kept me reading!

“Detoxification is the body’s way of removing and metabolizing these dangerous compounds. It is a process the body does naturally without us even knowing it. However, the capacity of the body’s detoxification process is not endless.”

Interesting.

“Our toxic burden is a result of the toxins we are exposed to and our body’s ability to naturally detox. The more toxins we are exposed to, the harder the body has to work at eliminating these toxins.”

To learn about the endless list of toxins that could harm our bodies is terrifying! Before even leaving our homes, we’re exposed: “many start their day with a hot shower, the water is contaminated with pollutants, the soap and shampoo is full of chemicals, the toothpaste has fluoride, from there we may have breakfast where the food has been treated with pesticides or even genetically modified.”

The good news is we have several options to purify our temples; our bodies! Detox baths is just one of the ways.

“Taking a detox bath, not only boosts our health and well-being, but it also strengthens our immune system and prevents disease. A detox bath is one of the easiest healing therapies that can be done to facilitate and enhance our body’s natural detoxification process.”

Epsom salt is the main ingredient used in a detox bath; something that most of us keep in our homes. Adding 5-10 drops of an essential oil like lavender just amps up the benefits! They mention that, “If your bath water is not filtered, add 1 cup of baking soda as this helps neutralize the chemicals, primarily chlorine, as well as increase mineral absorption.”

So, dump in 2 cups of Epsom salt, your choice of essential oil(s), 1 cup of baking soda (optional), dive in and soak for at least 20 minutes! When you’re all done cleansing your lovely body, climb out of the tub slowly (you’re wet & slippery from the oils & you may feel lightheaded), and once you’re dry, apply a natural moisturizer (my faves: coconut oil & shea butter). It’s suggested not to eat immediately after taking a detox bath. Bummer, I know. But hey, you’re free to drink some filtered water to hydrate, and to take time to rest and rejuvenate! You did well! Ahhhhh toxins be gone!

Check out the full article here! As always, be sure to leave comments and share your tips on detoxing. Sharing is caring!

xoxo The Find Queen!

Image: healthylivinghowto.com

Slow-Cookers, You MUST Clean Your Life Saver!

Hey loves! So, I posted about some pretty awesome slow-cooker recipes earlier. Clearly, if you read that, you plan to whip out the appliance and be a slow-cooker Queen, OR King this Fall!

What’s that saying, ‘if I cook, you clean?' Something like that! It actually really doesn’t even fit what I’m about to say. If you’re putting that life saver of a slow-cooker to use daily, you MUST learn how to clean it, right? Right. So, I found this great pin, and when I traveled over to the article, I found it to be quite helpful. Oh, get this, I enjoyed cleaning my appliance for a change. NO, I’m being honest, guys! Changed me life.

In her “How to Clean Your Slow Cooker: Vol. 2. Day 34” article, Nicole offered the brilliant tip: buy a can of oven cleaner! Yes, oven cleaner! I’m not sure why I hadn’t thought of that. Like her, I bought mine from the dollar store and it worked like a charm. Those crock pot cracks didn’t stand a chance!

Check out her article for a step by step if you need! Happy eating, AND cleaning! Oh, feel free to leave any comments if you have more cleaning tips! Sharing is caring!

xoxo The Find Queen!

Image: 365ishpins.com

Fall is Upon Us! Slow Cooker Season!

“Cuddle Season is upon Us”, as my immature friends would say :). Who wants to spend time slaving over the stove when it’s cold outside, and cozy inside? Although this single gal has no one to cozy up to, I still love to cozy up on the sofa with a heavy blanket and watch netflix. Netflix and chill? Anyone? I kid. OK, I came across this post on Buzzfeed, “21 Fall Dinners You Can Make in A Slow Cooker” and my eyes almost popped out of my head! SCORE!

I’ll tell you now that I’m a Pinterest addict, so I’ll post & share most of my ‘finds’ from there. My recipe folder is so fetch! Is that word still never gonna happen? My ‘Mean Girls’ fans know where I’m coming from with ‘fetch.'

Back to the subject at hand, I tend to ramble. So, Melissa Harrison curated this awesome article, which features 21 delicious looking dinners; including the ‘Beer Braised Chicken With Tomatoes and Chiles’. YUM! I’ll admit when I read ‘beer’ I immediately pictured an ice cold corona; but the recipe (below) actually calls for pumpkin beer, but you can sub it!

prep time: 5 Minutes cook time: 8 Hours total time: 8 Hours 5 minutes serving size: 4

Ingredients

    •    4 boneless skinless chicken breast or chicken thighs [or breasts]
    •    2 andouille sausage links, quartered
    •    1 onion, finely chopped
    •    2 red peppers, chopped
    •    1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
    •    1 (4 ounce) can diced green chilies
    •    2 tablespoons hot sauce
    •    1 tablespoon chili powder
    •    1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    •    2 teaspoons dried thyme
    •    1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    •    1/4 teaspoon salt
    •    1/4 teaspoon pepper
    •    1 (12 ounce) pumpkin beer (or whatever you have on hand or love!)
    •    1/4 cup water mixed with 2 tablespoons cornstarch
    •    cooked white or brown rice, for serving
    •    beer bread, for serving

Instructions

Scatter the onions in the bottom of the crockpot. Add the red peppers, andouille sausage, tomatoes, green chilies, hot sauce, chili powder, paprika, thyme, cayenne, salt and pepper. Add the chicken and beer. Submerge the chicken.
Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4 hours.

30 minutes before the chicken is done cooking, add the corn starch mixture and stir to combine. Cook on high for 20 to 30 minutes more or until the sauce thickens. If the sauce gets too thick, too fast you may add water or chicken broth to thin. If the sauce is not thickening enough, leave the lid off for 30 minutes.

Serve with rice, beer bread and garnish with fresh parsley.
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There more awesome meals, even some for you vegetarians (salute) in the article! I think I’ll try the slow cooker sweet potato chili, crock pot buffalo chicken tater tot casserole, vegetarian red lentil dal, slow cooker apple cider chicken sandwiches, and DEFINITELY the Bourbon-Maple slow-cooked baked beans!

Check out the article on Buzzfeed for the full recipes! Eat up, Cuddle up! And ummmm, wrap it up! Haha ;)

Enjoy!

xoxo The Find Queen!

Image: http://www.halfbakedharvest.com

UPDATE: Check out this quick & easy clean tip for your life saver here! xoxo

Depression, a Mental Illness? Naaah!

OK, so I was originally going to start this post off by apologizing for kicking this blog off with “such a somber” subject; however, my words have changed! It’s a very relevant subject; and being that this blog is all about living your best life, it fits! I came across this article, “Depression Is NOT a Mental Illness”,  on HuffPost UK Lifestyle, and I’m glad that I did!

So, let me just say, BRAVO to the author: Jamie Flexman of Huffington Post UK! His analogies are so awesome, and although I understand a lot about depression, I left that article feeling a bit more informed and with even more empathy towards anyone who suffers from depression, anxiety or addiction.

“With food poisoning you can phone in sick to work and your boss will allow you to have a day or two off with no questions asked. Have you ever tried to phone in sick with depression? I bet most of you haven't, mainly because you just KNOW that your boss won't believe you, let alone be ok with it.

So you make up a 'real' illness - you know, one that everyone can relate to."

Understanding depression seems to be taboo for some. “Unless you have experienced it, you can never truly understand”, says Flexman. I happen to agree. “If it's something that you have never experienced then you can try as hard as you want, but you will never truly know what it feels like.”

Depression isn’t simply ‘having a bad day’. Depression isn’t being ‘bummed out because that girl/guy you like has just rejected your advances.” Depression isn’t “a change in mood related to a trivial life event”. It’s the feeling of your entire world being turned upside down and not being able to do anything about it. It’s being misunderstood by everyone around you. It’s wanting to live, but you’re finding it hard to simply exist.

You cannot just 'snap out of it' or 'pull yourself together', says Flexman.

I encourage you read his article. Again, his analogies, though entertaining, will have you walking away a bit more educated on a subject that the media loves to mislabel. In my opinion.

Feel free to come back and leave your comments on the subject! Do you think Depression is a “Mental Illness”? This blog is an open forum. All opinions are welcome!

xoxo The Find Queen!

I’m not a doctor. These are the opinions of my own. Get educated & get help if you’re suffering from Depression or any mental illness! Visit Mental Health America.

Source: Huffingtonpost.com

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xoxo The Find Queen!