This weeks favourite natural product is.....   Green Beavers: Natural Deodorant

This deodorant is amazing!  It has this wonderful lemon smell that I just can't get enough of! (I will occasionally put it on just for the smell, yum)  Good thing is, it's ok to apply this stuff more often because it is... 

Free From

ALUMINUM 
propylene glycol
Parabens and triclosan 

This is a long lasting deodorant and great for day to day use.  
sorry for not posting much this week. I'm really busy and trying to get through this week. I'll get lots of new stories and exciting ideas out soon! Sarah bee <3
The tea of the week is  Cranberry Pear from Davids tea.

This is fruity black tea.  It is low in caffeine so its great for evening relaxation.  The tea consists of large pieces of pear, cranberries and apple.  This has been my favourite tea of the entire week, I have been drinking it almost every day.  This is a must try for anyone who loves fruity teas.
Exotic Nectar - replenishing lotion by Live Clean

This product is free from..
-  Parabens/Phthalates/Phosphates
- SLS/Sulfates/DEA
- Petroleum
- Cruelty

The good
-  Biodegradable
-  Organic botanicals
- Vegan
- 98% Plant derived

These Products are wonderful.  The lotion is lightweight and moisturizing.  It is great to know what I am putting on my skin and that it is safe.  I would certainly recommend this product! :)

Exotic nectar body lotion
Photo from live-clean.com

Well, apparently it's spring, but not here...  Another snow storm hit my city and the gym was closed so I couldn't start my fitness challenge.  But I did decide to do a small workout in my living room. Meaning,...a few push-ups and sit-ups.  I am having a hard time getting motivated with school. So, I am hoping to hit the gym tomorrow to be able to get my mind ready to study for finals.
Boxed hair dyes are easy to apply and easy to find. BUT. They are not good for your hair.

Why?

Because box dyes generally use the highest concentration of hydrogen peroxide a.k.a developer.  This is used to remove the pigments of the hair and allow for the hair colour to enter. THIS CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO HAIR.  The Concentration range from 10vol (minimal effects) to 40vol (bleach).   It is important to choose the correct volume.  For example, this hair dye will tint hair from..


Black > Brown
Light brown > medium Brown
Blonde > Light Brown

This means that this product will work on pretty much every hair colour.  The concentration of hydrogen peroxide must be strong enough to lighten dark hair. This means a person making a minor change will expose their hair to much higher concentrations then necessary.

What would be better?

If you do your research and feel comfortable dying your hair and choosing all your products.  It is better to buy your own colour and developer. If not, go to the salon. This is avoid any unnecessary damage.

I am not a professional, use the advice provided at your own risk.
I have been colouring my hair wild colours for years now.  Its fair to say that I have some experience with hair dyes.  So these are MY OPINIONS about these two dyes.

                                              Manic Panic            vs             Special effects

Bright colours                             Yes                                              Yes
Long lasting                        No (1-2weeks)                            Yes(3-4 weeks)
Texture                                 Thick Paste                                 Thick Liquid      
Range of colours                        Many                                          Many
Price                                            $$                                                  $
Availability                            easy to find                                   harder to get

I've used manic panics ultra violet and electric blue on my hair and my boyfriends' hair.  For both of us, it was bright for a couple days and then began to seriously fade.  I know a few people who swear by manic panic; but it just doesn't work for me.

Special effects works great.  I have used blood red, deep purple and atomic pink.  These are very bright and long lasting hair dyes.  I would certainly recommend special effects to anyone who wants to use a semi-permanent hair dye.
Working out has always been extremely important for me.  Growing up, I have always been involved in a sport or two.  I've swam competitively for around 12 years.  This past year, I was forced to stop competing with my university swim team due to an old injury and an overload of school work.

I have been steadily recovering from this injury, and I have decided that I need to get back into shape.  With that said, finals are in 3 weeks and school is getting extremely busy, so I need to make sure that I am organized and motivated to work.

How I Will Succeed

1)  Make a Fitness Plan

I'm going to be busy. I need to schedule; when I will work out, for how long and which exercises that I will do for each day.

Using microsoft office, I am going to make a  a monthly schedule.  These calendars will include both my school and workout times.





When scheduling your week.  It is important to exercise multiple times a week but not everyday.  Your body requires rest so make sure that you allow your body a couple days a week to relax.  This will allow your muscles to rebuild and become larger as they do so. 

 This is also an important time to eat FAT and PROTEIN.  You need FAT, if your goal is to gain MUSCLE you need FAT.  The key is to get your fat from meat or healthy food such as nuts.  Avoid fast food and junk food because it is full of saturated fat which is the bad kind that does NOT help with losing weight or gaining muscle.

Then I made my own workout sheets with all the different workouts that I would like to do.  It is VERY important to have variety in your workouts.  This will help you focus on different muscle groups and avoid having a plateau (not improving or exercise not making an impact). 

Well I'm starting this schedule tomorrow.  Wish me luck! :D



For my oh so oily skin (ew) and my prone to acne skin, I need to use some strong products that can eliminate and prevent pimples.  It is winter, so my products need to moisturize my skin and deal with acne.  So, my favourite products are ....

Facial Cleanser 
Foaming acne cleanser by Clean and Clear ($7 Walmart) 




 This product work great for skin with acne and excess oil.  I spray two squirts of product into my palm and lather.  It lathers very easily and does not leave a layer of residue like other facial cleansers.


Facial Toner
Invigorating Toner by Garnier 


This toner does not contain alcohol, so it is not drying.  This product works great and leaves my skin feeling soft and refreshed.



Moisturizer
Daily Moisturizer by Aveeno ($15 Walmart)

Most of my favourite products are from Aveeno.  This moisturizer lasts all day and is made from natural ingredients.  It is a lightweight cream that contains spf.


Scrub
Facial Scrub by Aveeno ($6 Walmart)
More Aveeno! This facial scrub works wonders!  I use this 2-3 times a week or when my skin is feeling extra icky.  This scrub shrinks pores and removes black-heads!



Acne treatment
Spot Treatment by Clean and Clear ($12 Walmart)

This has been my go to product since I was 12. When applied to a pimple, it only takes a day or two for it to disappear.  It can also prevent pimples from surfacing when applied early.  I would recommend this product to anyone who has mild acne.
This is one of my favourite spaghetti recipes.  It is quick, easy and delicious!
Perfect for the picky eaters and can easily be modified to your own taste.
By Sarah Bee

Ingredients
-  Half a container of baby tomatoes
-  Olive oil
-  Your choice of Cheese (parmesan works great!)
-  Spaghetti (any kind of pasta)
-  Basil, Oregano, Thyme
-  Dried red pepper (optional)

"Longer" method
Boil water and cook the spaghetti.  In the meantime, mix all the other ingredients in a frying pan and simmer the contents until the tomatoes are soft.  Strain the cooked spaghetti, add the sauce and serve.

Super Quick method
(Great for leftovers or when pressed for time)

Cook the noodles.  Microwave the tomatoes for roughly 30sec, make sure to check them often.  Add cheese, spices and olive oil. Serve.
Tea of the week is Goji Pop from davids tea!!



I cannot seem to get enough of this tea! It has a fruity taste, but it's not too strong. It is made of, you guessed it, goji berries. This is a great drink for cold winter days, (it is still snowing and very cold where I live), or for a refreshing morning tea.
This tea would also be great served cold.

Goji Pop - Davids tea
I'm a natural blonde, ya, most people can't see it. The most important thing for us blondes to do for our hair is....

 PURPLE SHAMPOO!

What is purple shampoo you might ask?
Well, to keep it simple, it is used to remove the brassiness in blonde hair.  This type of shampoo is essential for keeping blonde hair looking healthy and not yellow.  Do not use this as a daily shampoo as it can be drying; use once or twice a week.
Rome !! <3







How to Maintain Red Hair

By Sarah Bee

Red hair is one of the most difficult hair colours to keep vibrant.  I have had red hair for 7 months now and these are the tips and tricks that I have learned over this period of time. Remember, I am not a professional but these tips are important to know and to follow.

1)   Avoid washing your hair as much as possible. WATER will be your worse enemy.  Try washing your hair 2-3 times a week. Yes.. I know that sounds gross.. but its the sacrifice you have to make.  (This does not mean don't shower, just don't wash your hair). 

 Once you reduce the number of showers per week, your hair will be able to adapt. It is actually not good for you to wash your hair everyday because it strips your hair from the essential oils that are released by your scalp that help your hair to be healthy. 

Use the coldest temperature of water that you can stand on your hair.  The cold keeps your hair follicles closed.  Also, rinse as quickly as you can, the less water you use the less hair dye you will lose. 

2) Use SULFATE FREE shampoo and conditioners.  Sulfates are responsible for the really bubbly lather of certain hair products.  It is not a required ingredient and it strips hair colour, a lot.  Sulfates are responsible for a large portion of colour loss associated with shampoos.  If you can switch to sulfate free products you will be saving yourself time and money by reducing the frequency of re-dyeing your hair.

3)HYDRATE-HYDRATE-HYDRATE ....  Red hair molecules are much larger than any other hair colour. So if your hair is damaged and breaking, these molecules will be removed easier and quicker.  USE a weekly protein hair mask and choose a hydrating and restoring shampoo/conditioner.

4)Avoid the sun and the pool.  I know summer is getting closer and a lot of people are going down south for their spring break, but if you have dyed red hair, your hair colour will fade.  Use UV protecting leave-in conditioner for your hair before going into the sun and wear a hat.  Cover your hair with a conditioner before entering a pool.  Do not go into the pool for at least 1 week after colouring your hair for best results. 

5) Hot hairstyling tools cause a lot of hair damage, to keep your hair healthy, try to avoid using any tools such as flat irons or curling irons and allow your hair to air-dry.

6) Use a vegetable mask to give a kick to your hair colour. 
-  Carrots to enhance copper tones
-  Red Berries to enhance red tones

7) Use a red depositing shampoo.  It adds a little bit of colour each time you use it. It makes a huge difference.    

How to dye your Hair RED

- By Sarah Bee**


Materials

Hair dye 
Developer
Gloves (2 pairs)
Bowl
Brush
Hair cap
towels (3)
Shampoo/Conditioner
Vaseline
A trustworthy friend (optional)


Pre-Colouring Steps

1) Buying the right SHADE of red.  Everyone can look great with red hair, its the shade that makes the difference between a nice hair colour and a disastrous hair colour. 

 You need to know if you are cool toned or warmed toned.  People who have a cool tone usually have olive skin tone and green or dark eyes.  Warm toned individuals are usually pale with pinky skin tone as well as brown or blue eyes.  Stick with your tone and choose your hair colour according to it. 

When choosing your hair colour, feel free to ask for help.  If you are new at colouring your hair, it can be hard to choose the right shade since there are so many possibilities.  It is good to go with a friend who can help you choose the right colour for you.

2) Choose the right developer for your hair and for the dye. Developers range from 10 to 40 percent peroxide.  This can damage your hair.  If you are making a drastic change, you may need a higher percentage of peroxide than if you are making a slight change.  MAKE SURE to look at the instructions, they will mention the correct amount of developer needed.

3) Purchase a hair cap, gloves, a dyeing brush and a PLASTIC bowl. Many dyes will react with a metal bowl so its best to avoid them completely.  

4) Do not wash your hair for at least 24hrs before colouring your hair.  The natural oils will cover your scalp and protect it from irritation.  Make sure that your hair is free from hairspray or any hair styling products.


Preparing your bathroom

-  Place a plastic bag on your counter to cover the area you will be placing your dye to avoid staining your counter.

-  Take an old facecloth and rinse it with tap water (this will be used to clean up any messes).

-  Wear an old t-shirt and shorts that you don't mind ruining (make it your dyeing clothing).

-  Take a large old towel and place it around your shoulders.

-  Set all your products on the plastic bag.

- Remove your shower curtain from your shower (to avoid staining it).

-  Place your shampoo and conditioner near the bath faucet for easy access. 

- Put vaseline around your hairline and your ears to avoid staining your skin.

-Put on your gloves!

Hair Colouring Steps

READ  THE INSTRUCTIONS

1) Mix proper proportions of hair dye and developer into the plastic bowl

2) Begin brushing hair dye to the ends of your hair. 

*If you accidentally stain your body or your bathroom, wipe it off with the wet hand towel*

3) Once you finish applying the dye to the ends of your hair, apply the dye to your scalp.  This is done by separating your hair into small sections by using the pointy end of the dye brush. Drag the pointed end from the front of your head to the back and push the hair to the side.  Apply the dye along the parting and repeat the process along your whole scalp.

*Your scalp takes less time to develop than the ends of your hair because the heat generated from your head causes the reactions to proceed quicker.*

4) Remove your gloves and place them inside the plastic bag to avoid staining anything. Let your hair process the recommended amount of time as stated in the instructions.  

5) Put on a new pair of gloves and rinse your hair.  Once the water begins to run clear; shampoo and condition your hair.

6) Dry your hair and clean up (put all the garbage inside the plastic bag for easy clean up).


** I am not a hairdresser, this is the process that I use to dye my hair.  If you are not comfortable with dyeing your own hair, go to a professional.  Follow these instructions at your own risk.