Living,Loving,Encouraging

I am a picky eater and grocery store shopper. On the weekends you can find me in the market with my list in hand, glasses on, head down, and reading the back of food labels. When looking at the food labels, I am searching for short ingredient lists with little to no preservatives, and checking the sugar and sodium contents per serving. Though this routine can take me about an hour or so, there are 7 items that I don't think twice about. 1. Egg-Land's Best Large Eggs- I love these eggs! They were suggested to me by my grandma and were the only eggs that my grandfather bought. For the past few years, I have purchased them for myself and like them because the hens are vegetarian- fed, the eggs are tasty and fresh, and they are affordable at $3.99 a dozen. 2. Grass-Fed Beef - I rarely eat beef but once a month I crave a hamburger. When giving in to my cravings in the past I would normally order a burger from outdoors, but after eating it my stomach would hurt. I believe it was...

As I write this to you, I am sipping on a glass of $3.99 Rose and Finch California Red Wine from Trader Joe's, with my $6 Climbing Rose Candle from Target flickering in the background. To be honest, I really enjoy expensive things but am learning to live on a budget. If you can relate and are in need of some lifestyle budgeting tips, keep reading for more. 1. Learn to take care of some of your “spa-care” needs yourself- I’m talking facials, pedicures, nails, waxing (underarms or below the waist if you feel comfortable but I recommend going to a waxing salon for that), and your hair. Paying someone else to do all of these things is nice but it can add up.  Before the summertime, I was spending almost $500 a month on these things. I have now lowered this amount to about $300. I do at-home facials (using the Glow Recipe Fruit Babies Bestsellers Kit daily and the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Facial Treatment once a week). I buy press-on nails and nail glue from Target and Fam...

My digestive system hasn't always been the best. In my early to mid-twenties I suffered from  acid reflux, stomach pain, nausea, and constipation, later being  diagnosed with  Gastroesophageal reflux disease  (GERD, acid reflux) and lactose intolerance. I wasn't surprised when my doctor told me because  t he foods that triggered my symptoms were dairy, citrus and processed. Before college, I had rarely eaten these types of foods. Once living on my own, I ate them because the of convenience and cheap cost. After a few months of taking  prescription pills and over-the-counter Lactaid pills,  I decided to take matters into my own hands. In my search for a holistic cure, I found the GERD diet, Mediterranean diet, and Alkaline diet. All of these diets contained similar foods, fruits, seeds, nuts, and whole grains. For many years I have been eating off of these food pyramids, and two foods in particular have benefited me in a mighty way, both of which contai...

In our journey of sustainable well-being, we want to make sure that the products we use make us feel good inside and out. This page is constantly updated with products we love and rave about. Products featured range from "Healthy Eats" to "Clean" to "Cruelty -free" to "Sensitive Skin" and "Hypoallergenic". Stay Tuned for more.  Panti-liners and pads causing irritation down there? It could be the cotton. Try Cora liners and pads made with certified organic cotton top sheets. Each product purchase provides a girl in need, period pads and health education. Cheers to giving back! $14 for a trial size bottle of dry shampoo may sound like a lot, but this product is a game changer for your gym bag.  OUAI Super Dry Shampoo  smells amazing and saves you a wash. It's also cruelty free.  These Trader Joe Organic Hemp Seed Bar's make a healthy snack and are low in sugar. With only 8 grams of sugar per bar, you might not feel bad having two...

A couple of months ago after a long day of wearing makeup, I got home and found out I was out of makeup remover wipes. To improvise, I used my cucumber-scented baby wipes to wipe off my makeup, and shortly after, my eyes began to sting. I quickly rinsed my eyes out and searched for makeup removing hacks. It was in my search that I found out about "Double Cleansing". According to Healthline , "Double Cleansing is as simple as it sounds. It involves thoroughly washing your face with two cleansers."   Founded in Japan and Korea, double cleansing is the first two steps used in  Korean Skin Care Routine . 1) Wash your face with an oil-based cleanser (oil, cleansing balm), 2) Follow up with a water-based cleanser (gel, foam, or cream). The routine helps to remove oil, bacteria, and heavy makeup. It also prepares the skin for the steps that follow (toner, serum, eye cream, moisturizer).   Since my skin is combination, oily, and sensitive, I fou...

For many of us around the world, wintertime is almost near. Though snowfall and holidays like Christmas are some things we look forward to, colds and flu season is something we do not. To get ready for the new season, we suggest you implement the vitamins below through your diet or supplements to help build your immune system. As always, before trying a new supplement, check with your doctor to make sure that it doesn’t conflict with any current medications.   1.  Vitamin C - Found in fruits and vegetables such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, strawberries, spinach and kale, Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, well known for supporting a healthy immune system. The body is unable to make it on its own, so it is important to get Vitamin C in your diet or in supplement form.  According to a 2021 article on eatright.org , Research shows vitamin C is “ essential for the growth and repair of tissue all over the body”. It also helps repair wounds and maintains strong bones and teet...

The title of this post could’ve gone another way. I was thinking of calling it “10 Tips for a Happy & Healthy Hoohah" (one of the many names I’ve heard women call their lady parts), but in my opinion, "Rose" sounds better.  It made sense for me to choose the name "Rose.” Growing up, my mom called a woman’s “time of the month," "Rosie". This; however, is not a period post , so let’s bring the focus back to our friend, "Rose." "Rose" is a birth giver, a lover, a pleaser, and sometimes even a fighter. We must make sure that “Rose" is taken care of at all times.Keep reading for tips. Washing Undergarments - We all like new clothes right? But even new clothes should be washed after we’ve bought them. Many of the products and clothes we buy are stored in warehouses, then transferred to the store. Some even fall on the floor, catching bacteria . Wash your new clothes before wearing them, especially your undergarments.  Drink Wate...

  For many years I felt like I was doing my part, contributing to Mother Earth by way of recycling. I recycled anything that was paper, glass, or plastic, making sure to separate the glass from the other two. Until a few weeks ago, I was corrected by my co-worker while in search of a recycling bin to recycle a few things.  “You know that can’t be recycled right? The bottles with the necks are fine but the plastic cutlery cannot go in the bin” she said. I looked at the items in my hand and then at her. I felt like my whole life had flashed before my eyes. “ Really ?” I said. “Yes”, she said. “ North Carolina has specific recycling regulations. Here at this store we only recycle certain things , others go to a recycling facility.”  I had been living in Charlotte, North Carolina for the past seven months and had been recycling on a consistent basis. Then while living in Boston, MA, I recycled there too. Later after work that day, I went home to do some research. I couldn’t b...

 So... If you didn't know, Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays ( new here? follow this link to find out why).  For the past few years I have been sharing ways to celebrate with you (whether you were single, committed , or entangled ha), and this year I am bringing it back with some budget friendly items to celebrate yourself or loved one from Trader Joe's Grocery store company. I love Trader Joe's because they have budget friendly grocery items and inexpensive prepared meals for those who live alone or don't feel like cooking. You also never know what you're going to find as they always have new  seasonal products.  This Valentine's day if you don't want to cook, make an appetizer tray or Charcuterie board, gift yourself or loved one a bouquet of flowers, pour up some wine or champagne, all on a budget. Below I have provided 10 items between 0.99 cents and $15 bucks to help  you not break the bank and still show some love (unless you want to)...