FRIDAY IS HERE

My style maven, Olivia Palermo

Happy Friday my loves! This last week had me spinning.... Thursday was tough for me, there wasnt  enough coffee in the world to wake me up, I felt like I was floating through the morning. Today however, Im ready to tackle the weekend and find some time to squeeze in a new book, Entre Nous. Have you read it?

This past week I shared some personal finance posts with you  I hope you were able to take something out of them for yourself. If you missed, here they are:

Trimming Down

How I Trim Down

oh & some

Words to inspire....

I came across a few articles that have inspired me this week. Id like to share them with you......

~ A beautiful post and poem on one of my favorite newly found blogs....

~ A simple and delicious Roast Chicken Recipe

~ Swooning! Check out Cameron Diaz's NYC Apt... Her kitchen is a dream!

In the meantime, I hope you find some time to relax, rejuvenate and savor some simple yet meaningful enjoyments this weekend. Until Monday.....

Xo

Meems

COO COO for COCONUTS

COCONUT OIL

Back in 2013 I posted on my natural hair DIY which included Almond Oil and Peppermint Oil for a hair and scalp treatment. I just recently added a new oil to my hair routine, Coconut Oil, and I want to tell you all about it. 

Coconut oil has a plethora of uses, here is how I personally use the oil in my beauty routine:

• Hair treatment -  melt 2 tablespoons apply  as a hot oil 
• I also used it straight from the jar and combed it through my hair for an overnight treatment along with almond and peppermint oil routine - click here for post
• Rub the oil straight from the jar onto your cuticles for a hand and cuticle treatment
• Use the oil as an overnight under eye cream and lip balm
• I also use it in my decollete and neck at night for an overnight moisture surge
• An all over body moisturizer straight from the shower when you are still wet  (my skin hasn't been this smooth in ages)
• Facial Massage, Cleansing & Overnight Moisturizer (using the Clarisonic) - lather your face with water and gently rub your entire face with the oil (the coconut melts instantly when placed on skin). No need to wash it off, keep it on as a deep moisturizer for night.

Coconut Oil has endless uses, not just for a beauty routine. You can use coconut oil ....

• As an eye-makeup remover
• To lighten age spots when rubbed directly on the skin
• To prevent stretch marks during pregnancy
• As a naturally SPF 4 sunscreen
• It’s high Lauric acid and MCFA content helps boost metaboism
• Mixed with equal parts sugar for a smoothing body scrub (use in the shower)
• Topically, can help skin heal faster after injury or infection
• Can help sooth psoriasis or eczema
• In a filling and energy boosting Smoothie
• Rub coconut oil on the inside of your nose to help alleviate allergy symptoms
• Blend a tablespoon into hot tea to help speed recovery from cold or flu
• As a replacement for vegetable oils in any recipe
• After initial heat is gone, can help speed healing of sunburn
• Is an immediate source of energy when eaten and isn’t stored as fat
• As a natural personal lubricant 
• As a naturally antibacterial skin cream
• As a natural shave cream and after shave lotion
• Can reduce the itch of mosquito bites
• Can help resolve acne when used regularly
• Can be rubbed into scalp daily to stimulate hair growth
• A small amount can be rubbed into real leather to soften and condition (shiny leather only… test a small area first)
• Mixed with salt to remove dry skin on feet
• Can help improve sleep when taken daily
• A tablespoon melted into a cup of warm tea can help sooth a sore throat
• For pets struggling with skin issues when used externally
• Can be taken in warm ginger tea to sooth heartburn or nausea
• Naturally clears up cold sores
• Ingesting coconut oil daily can help with allergy symptoms
• Ingesting coconut oil daily can increase mental alertness (via wellnes mama)

Not bad right? Purchase a jar of refined organic coconut oil (comes in a solid form) start with a my  hair treatment and see what use you get out of your jar. If there is something else you can add to my list Id love to hear! 

Click here to read about my previous natural hair routine

xo

Meems

Black & White....

BOOK REVIEW: Living the Savvy life: The Savvy Woman's Guide to Smart Spending and Rich Living

A quick share....Keeping up with my better financial choices,  I picked this gem of a book up on Friday night after seeing it pop up on a few of my favorite daily  reads. I couldn't put this book down! By the end of the weekend I had finished the book with most of the pages highlighted and bookmarked with post its. Its a must read. 

This book is full of practical, incredibly simple and yet brilliant advice for living a savvy life. A truly wonderful guide to enjoying a fuller and richer life all within your current means.

If you are a new mother, an old mother, a daughter, a single NYC chic, a housewife, an entrepreneur...whatever and whoever you are... you 100% will benefit from reading this.

Here is a snapshot of the book via The Savvy Life Blog:

Savvy Living is about:

· Knowing where you stand financially on a daily basis so you can make smart money decisions.

· Choosing to purchase only things you love and that make you happy.

· When you go out to eat it's because you want to go to that restaurant, not because there are no groceries in the house.

· Building a wardrobe of clothes that fit and look great on you, rather than having a closet overflowing with clothes and feeling like you have nothing to wear.

· Turning your home into your own personal sanctuary. When you're not comfortable in your own home, you don't want to be there which often leads to unnecessary spending.

· Enjoying your time off so much more because you've planned for it and know you can afford it.

Through Savvy Living you can do the things you want to do, buy the things you want to buy and visit the places you want to visit and still have a strong financial foundation in place. Whatever your financial dream, it's within your reach.

I highly suggest this book, if you want to borrow mine you are more than welcome. Shoot me an email and Ill send you the copy. Email here

xo

Meems

TRIMMED DOWN & recreating....

I received a lovely and very sweet email from a reader asking for me to explain how I create my own “soul cycle, coffee and shopping” experiences from my previous “Trimming Down” Post. Before I get to that, I encourage you to read the post, yes it is lengthy but it is an honest and open post on financial spending that many people turn a blind eye to. Click here for post

I explain in my post just because you are cutting out certain spenditures out of your life it doesn't mean you are cutting off activities you enjoy. Find the unnecessary splurges and remove them. If on occasion you decide to do them you will see how much you actually enjoy them by savoring moments and making them special.  Click here for post

Today I will tackle 1 of the 3 non-essential splurges I've cut out and how I recreate  the experience for virtually no cost.

Soulcycle. Paying $40 a class when I already belong to a gym was simply ludacris. So, I created my own experience at no extra cost.  Here is how I do it:

My gym has an area in the back where there are stationary bikes set up out of the chaos of the rest of the gym. I set up my towel and set the bike timer to 40 mins. Before I even step foot in the gym I create a playlist of music on my IPhone. I use SPOTIFY for my playlist. Spotify allows you create a playlist for free. Its all about the music. 

You want to find music that starts slow, has motivating lyrics and good beats. Have your playlist build up to a faster and harder beat and then eventually cool down with a slower rhythm. Bring a water bottle with you and promise yourself to not get off the bike until the last note of the last song plays. Every time you want to give up you tell yourself “You can do it”. “You got this”. “ You are healthy and alive and are capable of completing this ride”. Whatever personal mantra makes you feel powerful. If this were soul cycle, would you get off your bike mid-ride and quit?

*Its important to choose songs that motivate you and help to push you through your workout.

MY PLAYLIST

Warm up Pedal - Cheers to the Weekend by Rhiana  (4 mins)

Focus on each pedal to the beat -  Titanium – David Guetta   (4 mins)

Stand up and tighten wheel like you are climbing a mountain - My Time by Fabolous(3.5 Mins)

Fast Pace Pedal - Werk B*&^ Britney Spears  (4 mins)

Alternate by slow and fast – Absolutely Not byDeborah Cox (10 mins) 

Slow it down a bit - Sun in my eyes by Myomi   (6mins)

Pedal as hard and fast as you can - Freak em Dress by Beyonce  (3 mins)

Cool Down - Paradise by ColdPlay (4 mins)

Once your own personal cycle session is complete, stretch. Raise your arms over your head for a stretch breathe in and breathe out slowly. & tell yourself “ I did it”

LAST BUT NOT LEAST.  Go home and move $40 into your savings. You deserve that workout and extra money saved. Every time you finish your personal cycle session I want you to add money to your savings and feel great watching your savings account grow and your middle go down. Congrats on taking one step to a healthier bank account and healthier you.

I hope this post inspires you to recreate experiences for yourself with out having to spend money. & a big Thank You to Melissa ;)

What songs motivate you through a tough workout?

xo

Meems