DIY Skin Cleanser Recipe

HonLet's face it - your face is your first impression! When your skin beams with clarity, cleanliness, and color, your confidence goes through the roof and you feel better about the life you want to create for yourself. Today, I'd like to share a few simple and all-natural remedies you can use to help cleanse and clear your skin without the use of any harsh chemicals. These ingredients are probably in your house right now, and you'll love what they do for your skin!

You can use these items on their own, or combine them to create an amazing facial cleanser that can be used daily or as a weekly treat for your largest organ...

Local Organic Honey

You read that right! Honey is an amazing facial cleanser that has antibacterial properties for getting rid of blemished and blackheads, anti-inflammatory properties to get rid of bags and lines, and tons of amazing nutrients that your skin will love!

To use honey alone, just blend it with a small bit of warm water and massage it gently into your face. Use small circles like a massage and then rinse completely when done.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is showing up in more and more all natural skin products because it's light, effective, and great for your whole body!

Coconut oil deeply hydrates the skin leaving it looking supple and smooth. It also carries antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe and heal the aging effects of skin. Massage it into your skin gently like you would a moisturizer, but take some time to gently rinse your face with a warm cloth afterwards.

Oats

For a deeply cleansing and exfoliating scrub, grind up whole oats in a coffee grinder or blender. Add some honey or coconut oil, then use it as a gentle exfoliating scrub on your face! Oats can suck up toxins and moisturize the skin while they cleanse - a win-win!

3 Ways To Protect Your Skin From Cancer

Did you know that skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in our world today - and that it is also one of the easiest to prevent? Taking a few minutes to love your skin every single day can make all the difference in the world and could help keep your skin looking young and healthy while also preventing skin cancer! Check out these 3 ways to protect your skin from cancer and add them to your life today!

1. Sunscreen

The #1 best thing you can do to preserve the youthful look and feel of your skin while also preventing skin cancer is to use a high-end sunscreen all day, every day. Sunscreen prevents the damaging rays of the sun from penetrating in your skin which means no burns, no pigment issues, and no harm! Sunscreen can be found in many cosmetics, moisturizers, and sprays so it's easier than every before to get the sun protection you need with none of the fuss. If sunscreen isn't part of your daily self-care routine, now is the time to start using it!

2. Stay Away From The Fake Bake

Tanning beds are believed to be the culprit in many skin cancer issues. The rays that are produced in tanning beds is concentrated and intense - two things that your skin really won't appreciate. When you spend even just a 5 or 10 minute session in a suntan bed you are drenching your body's largest organ in rays that it simply may not be able to handle. While the resulting tan may be beautiful, the long term effects may not.

As an alternative, use clothing, accessories, light play in the sun, or skin products to give yourself color!

3. Dress For Success

The clothing you wear can play a huge role in how many harmful sun rays make it into your skin. On hot, sunny days it's a good idea to wear clothing that will shade your skin from the sun while also keeping you cool. There are many fabrics and styles that cover up your skin while letting you celebrate the great weather at the same time.

Hats, sunglasses, shawls, scarves, and umbrellas are other great ways to use your style to protect your skin!

For more information about the prevention of skin cancer, visit...

American Cancer Society

Skin Cancer Foundation

Featured Bracelet : Mariana Pearl Bracelet

What happens when you layer the elegance and light of freshwater pearls with the classic look of gold and tie it all together with dazzling pave beads? The Mariana Pearl Bracelet! This 3-tiered bracelet is all about combining classic elegance elements with the progressive and trendy architecture you've come to expect from Tabelina designs. I designed this piece as part of my most popular 2013 collection and I know it will remain a favorite for many seasons to come!

Freshwater pearls create the focus of this elegant layered piece. The pearls are round in shape making them among the rarest in the world, and we have chosen only the best quality and color pearls to use in these pieces.

I have always been a fan of how gold compliments the look of freshwater pearls. The gold colored pave beads add texture and light, and they help offset the smooth gold bar that ties the bracelet together. I've also added in a gold colored Tabelina crystal dragonfly charm to make sure the energy and statement is just right.

This bracelet is built on a durable stretch material so that it can be put on in a jiffy with no hassle. It's extremely comfortable to wear, and the three layers will always sit perfectly on your wrist.

See more of this bracelet design HERE.

3 Reasons To Make Stretching A Part Of Your Workout

Most people know that stretching is a great way to warm up muscles and get in the right headspace for a workout, but did you know that they offer a huge array of benefits to your health and happiness on their own? Stretching is so valuable that many modalities of exercise and fitness such as tai-chi, qi gong, yoga, pilates, and xstretch have used basic stretching techniques to literally transform peoples' lives. Today, I'd like to encourage you to add stretching to your daily workout program by sharing three amazing reasons why a good stretch can change everything!

Detox

In order for our bodies to detox properly, they need movement. Lactic acids, toxins, and other materials that get trapped in muscles and tissues need to be worked out with proper diet and exercise. Stretching is a simple and highly effective way too get a deep and thorough detox every day since it opens up the muscles, stretches tissues, and gets blood moving all over.

While normal everyday movement like walking helps with detox and cleansing, stretching may help you get deeper while also moving internal organs and parts of the body that don't get much attention with usual movement. If you can feel your stretch, it's a good thing!

Slim & Toned

One of the best ways to get tight, smooth, and toned looks everywhere on your body is to stretch. Stretching tonifies the muscle fibers so that they have that silky smooth look while maintaining their strength. It also helps work out the elasticity of the skin which can get rid of sagging and wrinkles! Stretching makes the body move and adjust the way it holds weight which can lead to greater fat burning and better toning overall no matter what style of exercise you do.

Stress Reduction

Many people stretch just for the smile! Taking time for a 5-10 minute gentle stretch session can get your blood moving, warm you up, activate the pleasure centers of the brain, and generate feelings of well-being and peace. Yoga and Tai-Chi are prime examples of stretching modalities that also have meditative aspects due to the way they encourage the body to open up, relax, and harmonize.

If stretching isn't part of your daily routine, check out some simple routines online and see what all the reach is about!

Featured Earrings : The Taylor Line

This week I'd like to introduce you to two new earring sets that have just been released on Tabelina. The 'Taylor' earrings are the perfect shape to get light and movement to your look while being light and adaptable to any style. I designed these pieces to work really well with dressed up and casual looks alike, so you'll be getting a whole lot of diversity with just one pair of earrings!

The Taylor Teardrop Hoop Earrings shown above are a perfect 3" length and are gold filled. They convey such a powerful amount of reflection and light that they simply cannot go unnoticed!

The gold color and teardrop shape are classic elements of a dressed up look, while the texture is playful and fun. I love combining parts of play and refinement in my designs and I love what happens when they come together in synergy.

Stylists and fashionistas are saying that this season it's all about movement. When we can get our accessories to dance and swing in harmony with the way we move, the effects are dazzling! The issue is that many women find that moving earrings put excess weight on their lobes which can lead to everything from soreness and redness to headaches and stiff muscles. I designed the Taylor Triple Cascade Hoop Earrings shown above to deliver all the movement with none of the heavy weight. These light, layered earrings are a pleasure to wear and are made with the same high-end gold filled metal as those shown earlier.

To learn more about these and other Tabelina earrings, click the images above or visit the full Tabelina site HERE.

3 Reasons To Eat More Chocolate

You read that right! I'm about to share 3 really healthy reasons for you to get more chocolate in your diet - and if it happens every day, that's just fine! Chocolate is actually considered to be a superfood by many experts, and using it as a healthy way to curb a sweet tooth in moderation each day could help deliver a whole wealth of benefits that may keep you smiling.

Before enjoying chocolate for its health benefits, make sure that you get the right kind. Sweetened, processed, or milk chocolate varieties are not what we're talking about here. Instead, go for pure dark chocolate that's made from true cacao. If you prefer milk chocolates or sweetened types, dark may take some getting used to but you'll soon fall in love. Try sucking on dark chocolate pieces instead of biting and chewing them... you'll feel the positive effects in minutes!


Anxiety & Stress Relief

Pure chocolate has an array of essential minerals that can help the brain think, feel, and process better. It's a known fact that the right minerals can help soothe and calm the nerves while also calming the mind, and chocolate is a great way to get them.

Chocolate offers a lift in mood that can soothe anxiety and stress while giving you something positive and delicious to love yourself with. It's a win-win!

Depression & Moodiness

There may be a really good reason why some of us instinctively crave chocolate when we feel sad, depressed, or moody. Chocolate adds a little kick to the step and a sweet treat to even the saddest of days. Its many minerals and nutrients in combination with its natural sweetness can help chase away the blues and put a smile on your face.

Weight Loss

Adding a few pieces of organic, all-natural dark chocolate to your diet every day is a wonderful way to curb your sweet tooth and treat yourself after a long day without going overboard on high calorie sweets. A few small pieces of dark cacao can get the job done so that you don't turn to pastries, cakes, cookies, or ice cream - all of which have a massive calorie and sugar content.


Enjoy!

3 Home Remedies For Dry Skin

No matter how beautiful your Tabelina jewelry is or how flawless your outfit may be, dry skin seems to get attention and take away from how great you feel. While not all dry skin issues can be seen, some cause flaking and redness which can be embarrassing and frustrating to deal with. If you're ready to soothe and heal dry skin for good so that you can get back to enjoying your summer, try these 3 all natural remedies for healthy looking skin all season long!

Steer Clear Of Chemicals

One of the biggest causes of dry skin goes unnoticed by most people. The chemicals we use every day can cause havoc on our delicate skin, so keeping clear can change everything. When it comes time for household cleaning, washing, scrubbing, and polishing, put on a pair of neoprene or vinyl cleaning gloves to keep the bad stuff off your skin!

Exfoliate & Hydrate

When dry skin kicks in it can be hard for your body to stop the process and get on top of the cycle. A gentle exfoliation with a dry brush, salt scrub, or sugar scrub can remove layers of dry skin so that your body can work to get healthier skin on the surface. A great part of an exfoliation is following up with an all natural moisturizer like coconut oil or shea butter.

Nourish

Your skin needs nourishment just like the other organs in your body. Making sure that your diet is rich in clean water, raw fruits, and organic veggies will make sure that your skin has access to all of the minerals and vitamins that help it feel and look amazing.


Pretty simple, right?

Remember that your skin is the largest organ you have and it's your first line of defense against all kinds of illness and infection - plus it's the first thing people see when they meet you! Take time for your skin and it will reward you abundantly!

Big Color Bracelets For Summer 2013

There are two new bracelets on the Tabelina site that I am so excited to introduce you to! These pieces are bold, colorful, and big time attention-getters! If you're jumping on the big color and big style train this season, these are the perfect styles for you.

In order to create both of these two bracelet styles I combined the trendy macrame look with the color and light of the hottest crystals. I think the look of the fiber with the crystals is amazing, and this combination is a unique and textured way for you to add amazing color to any look.

The bracelet shown above features emerald green crystal, pave beads, and macrame style weaving. The organic look of the thread with the big light and energy of the beads is the perfect contrast - and it will add something really amazing to any summer look! Click the image above to see more details.

As a compliment to the green bracelet, I designed a similar piece with pave bead and crystals in violet. This piece is delicate and feminine looking with a perfect blend of class and playfulness. I think this bracelet looks amazing layered with other pieces!

Right now is the perfect time to add more color, texture, and 'bling' to your look! As the summer hits full peak, color is where it's at! There's more light and energy in the world right now than at any other time of the year, so take advantage of it and wrap your body in light!

How To Make Your Own Vitamin Water

Vitamin water is all the rage! It allows us to stay hydrated in this heat while also enjoying something a little more interesting than the plain taste of water. While most vitamin waters are a great addition to any plan, some are no better than soda. Sodium, sugar, artificial colors and flavors, and preservatives are often added to commercial vitamin waters, and many of them are packaged in materials that are hard on the environment. Staying hydrated and happy is so important, so I'd like to share a simple way that you can create all natural vitamin water in your own kitchen today!

The Benefits Of Vitamin Water

Staying hydrated helps keep your skin and hair looking and feeling great. It also helps muscles heal faster from workouts and helps your body balance weight and flush out toxins. Hydration is essential for our bodies, and since we're made up mostly of fluids, it's important to keep fresh water in the body all the time - especially when it's hot out.

What You Need

In order to make your own vitamin water you only need a few things...

• A glass pitcher or other glass jar
• A variety of fruits like berries, citrus, and even cucumber
• A refrigerator

How To Make Your Vitamin Water

In order to create your own vitamin water, you'll need to slice up your fruits into thin pieces. There's no wrong way to do this, and the more fruit you use the stronger your water will taste. Thin slices help make sure that the fruit fully infuses its many vitamins, minerals, and flavors into the water. Add your fruits to the container and top it off with cool water. Place the container in the fridge for 6-12 hours. You can taste along the way to get the perfect flavor.

After steeping, just remove the fruit with a slotted spoon, colander, or sieve and pour the water into a clean glass to enjoy!

These make amazing treats at parties, and it's super easy to make it in large pitchers!

Enjoy!

Images used with permission, courtesy of Living Herbal Tea