The Double Cleansing Method!!!

A light weight olive and apricot kernel based cleansing oil, fortified with Kukui Nut, Borage Seed and Rice Bran oils, that gently liquefies sebum and oil-based debris from the skin's surface. The hydrophilic (water loving) formula enables PreCleanse and oil-based debris to be readily rinsed away without leaving behind any greasy residue.

This is by far one of the best products I have experienced. PreCleanse really breaks down dirt, oil, make up (including waterproof mascara) and oily SPF. Most people don't understand that you aren't going to have really clean skin with just one cleanse. Precleanse helps to prep the skin for your cleanser to really get in and do its job.

Sun-Fighting Foods!

With summer around the corner, the sun can wreak havoc on our skin. The best protection is still sunscreen but you can boost your natural UV resistance from the inside out.

Carotenoids provide protection from UVA and UVB ray damage by removing oxidized molecules during the process of photosynthesis. This gives many plants their red, yellow or orange color.

Lycopene is a carotenoid found in tomatoes. The best way to add lycopene in your diet is consuming tomato juice, tomato paste or tomato soup. While cooking tomatoes decreases vitamin C, it greatly increases the amount of lycopene. Pairing cooked tomatoes and olive oil, a healthy fat, helps the body better absorb and use this carotenoid.

How's that for a great reason to have a Sunday brunch Bloody Mary?

Other fruits and vegetables containing lycopene are bell peppers, carrots, papaya, pink grapefruit and watermelon. Eating these foods won't provide anyone with enough natural sunscreen so be sure you still slather up!

DIY Wall Art with Nature!

Purchasing wall art can get pretty expensive. Especially when you have a GIANT space over the couch like ours.

For inspiration in all aspects of my life, I turn to Pinterest of course! I came across this creative DIY botanical wall art idea from HomeJelly.com

This is our finished project. It was so easy and SUPER affordable using a few materials and plants from outside! HomeJelly uses mounting board but we decided to go with styrofoam because its cheaper and so much lighter for our apartment walls.

Do Men Get Spa Treatments?

More and more frequently I'm being asked, "Do a lot of Men get treatments at the spa?"

Absolutely! (Although not nearly as many as women)

I like that there's been a large movement towards men being more aware of not only their appearance, but also about the health of their skin. This has been increasing for some time, and men are frequent customers at the spa nowadays. Having healthy skin that will treat us well as we get older is applicable to everyone.

NuFree: the Next Generation of Hair Removal

Nufree is safe, clean and germ free with self preserving antibacterial/anti microbial properties. It has been scientifically tested for over 30 years, uses no animal products, is completely botanical and safe for the entire body. Nufree is not a wax, it binds to the hairs oils without sticking to the skin and is also used at room temperature. So clients will not experience as much redness or pain associated with most waxes.

Chipotle Lime Fish Tacos

Tacos are my favorite quick meal during the week. I love to search the Internet for recipes and then modify them to create my own!

Meyer Lemon Sorbet

We had a few leftover Meyer lemons sitting around the other evening and I decided to make another sorbet. We don't have an ice cream maker, but I've been making sorbets without one for years using just one simple technique. Here's how I do it.

Look anywhere online and you'll no doubt find an abundance of recipes for a simple Meyer Lemon sorbet like the one below. That was my starting point.

Let go of your anger

10 foods for healthy skin

You are what you eat! While applying nourishing products to the outside of your body is important, what you consume on the inside is even more critical for beautiful skin! 

Take a look at this list of foods that have a great impact on your outside as well as your inside.

Artichoke
This potent antioxidant has been known for improving the skins luminosity. Also benefits the body by easing digestion and lowering cholesterol.

Alfalfa Sprouts
Scatter a few of these on your salad. Each sprout is packed with calcium, folic acid, potassium, silicon, zinc, magnesium as well as Vitamin A, B complex, C, E and K! Such nutrients are great for clearing the skin.

DIY Lace Sandals

When you have a style idea in your head and cannot find anything in stores, make it yourself!

I am so in love with lace and really wanted a cute white sandal for the beach. I searched around the Internet and came up with this ridiculously easy way to redesign your existing sandal!

This concept can work with lace, ribbon or any type of fabric strips.

My Adorable Purring Kiko

My kitty is a huge mush and I have ridiculous baby talk!

Use the right amount of your beauty products

Did you know that using too much of your products could be damaging to your hair and skin? Not to mention, you'll run out sooner. Learn how to get the most out of your beauty products and avoid throwing away money!

Sunflower Field

After searching for the perfect field, Gregg and I were finally able to shoot at the Sussex County Sunflower Maze in Northern New Jersey. Nothing makes me happier than to see thousands of cheerful sunflower blooms!

Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies

We had a craving for dessert last night, and didn't want to go out into the cold winter air, so we tried a new recipe found on FoodNetwork for delicious Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Just 30 minutes later we bit into (and devoured) cookies that really hit the spot.

We chose to use a mix of milk chocolate and dark chocolate chips for variety, and increased the amount of instant espresso by another half teaspoon to really give them that rich, espresso taste.

Must-Have Vitamins for Healthy Skin

Taking vitamin supplements may be a quick source but your best bet is to comsume them through healthy foods. Also find topical products (such as moisturizers and masks) that contain these babies!

Cooper and Kiko Share a Box

Our babies are still figuring each other out since we moved in together.. And they are super adorable in the process!

Homestyle Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

Not every meal needs to take a lot of time in order for it to taste delicious. Most days of the week, I'm running behind and want to quickly throw together something scrumptious that won't make a giant mess in the kitchen.

So I turn to a good quality pancake mix. No, not Bisquick. There are a number of mixes readily available in stores that taste nearly homemade, and

DIY Wire Wrap Necklace

I was reading about stones and how they are used in Physical/Emotional Healing and Feng Shui. Considering my line of work, I decided to somehow incorporate them into my treatments.
I chose Rose Quartz for its heart healing properties and Purple Amethyst for

True Blue Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping hours are the best time to help your skin the most. You're not exposed to environmental pollutants or UV lights and your metabolic rate is lower. Your body can focus more on repairing the damage that has been done during the day. Any products you use will be that much more effective at night.

Here's a few tips to follow before bedtime:

Every Photo Has a Story

One evening, the very talented Matthew Cherry, had me pose for some photos he wanted to create with a 4x5 Large Format Film Camera.

Please visit his website to see more of his wonderful works of art. MatthewJCherry.com