Happy Father's Day to all the amazing, devoted father's out there! 

To young dads...

Older dads..

Loving dads...

Fun dads..

Even when it's not your typical dad...

Sometimes two dads is better than one!

Even when you aren't expected and you're selected.. 

Today, I gave my dad a small gift, a homemade card & homemade cupcakes! 

Cupcakes are a great way to show love and appreciation. Rather than buying them, it really means a lot when you put the time and thought into homemade cupcakes.

I made double chocolate cupcakes and topped them off with Reese's candy!

THE BEAUTY OF BEAUTY SLEEP

          Do you feel like the day is too short, like you have twice as much work and half the time to complete it? Unless you live in some kind of euphoria, this exhausting feeling is rather commonplace in contemporary culture. These days, it is seemingly impossible to lead a successful life without depriving yourself of that much-treasured beauty sleep. Is it such a bad thing? I'll let you decide.

Weight Loss 

     Sleep helps regulate appetite! A plethora of studies show that when your body is sleep deprived, the hormones in your body become imbalanced, triggering a larger appetite. If you think you'll be craving fruits and veggies, think again! Realistically, your body will be fiending for foods high in carbohydrates, fat, and calories. Makes sense. After all, if your body isn't getting enough energy from sleep, you'll subconsciously compensate by retrieving energy from simple carbohydrates because these carbohydrates deliver energy the quickest.

Memory 

     Sleep helps boost memory! When sleep deprived, your brain will often have difficulties recalling facts, lessons, faces, or even conversations. When well rested, not only are you able to recall important facts, but also you're able to better process new experiences and knowledge. 

Repair

     Sleep helps repair the body! Ever notice how one wild night out can trigger the common cold? It's probably from a lack of sleep. While asleep, your body produces extra protein molecules which are created to support your immune system. By this, sleep helps fight infection while keeping your body in optimal condition. 

Stress

     Sleep prevents stress! A good night's sleep is proven to lower blood pressure and stress hormones, which are inevitable results of today's fast paced world. Moreover, stress gives rise to your body's amount of cortisol, which is proven to support weight gain, decrease muscle tissue and bone density, and hinder your cognitive performance. Yikes!

Diabetes 

     Sleep helps prevent diabetes! Research demonstrates that sleep prevents type 2 diabetes. How? Sleep affects the way your body processes glucose, which is the carbohydrate your body utilizes for fuel. Studies show that adults who get fewer than five hours of sleep a night have a greatly higher risk of developing diabetes.

Mood Disorders

     Sleep improves your mood! When deprived of sleep, people are typically grumpy or agitated the following day. Unfortunately, when this is a chronic habit, studies demonstrate that it can lead to long-term mood disorders such as depression or anxiety.

Heart Health

    Sleep helps keep blood pressure and cholesterol at normal levels! The cardiovascular system is chronically under pressure. Luckily, sleep helps decrease your body's stress and inflammation: the two factors that are linked to disease and strokes.

        These aren't even all the reasons you should get an adequate amount of sleep. However, I thought this list was overwhelming enough! As you can see, it's imperative that you prioritize those Z's if you want to live a high-quality lifestyle.

Do It Yourself Pore Minimizer

     When glancing at your reflection, do you have pores that stare at you with striking clarity? Although there is no possible way to alter their size due to genes {you can thank you parents for this!}, there is an effective way to minimize their appearance. 

Victoria's Secret model Adriana Lima

     However, there is no need to fret! Even the most gorgeous, genetically gifted human beings have insecurities; whether it's cellulite, pore size, or even bad breath in the morning. Okay - maybe the latter was a stretch. Nevertheless, there is almost always a solution to your beauty blunders, right in the comfort of your own home!

-1 tbsp. warm honey

-1 tbsp. brown sugar

-3 drops lemon juice

Time: 5 minutes

Step One Cleanse your skin as you normally would.  

Step Two After cleansing, massage skin with the mixed honey, sugar, and lemon juice in circular motions for 3 minutes.

Step Three Rince with lukewarm water. Make sure the water isn't hot, as hot water opens up pores.

Other tips for minimizing pores

-Keep pores clean; the less dirt, the smaller your pores will appear.

-Drink plenty of water.

-Keep skin moisturized.

-Steam your face: the hot steam will open up your pores, allowing dirt seated deep within to rise and exit.

-Exfoliate.

Jennifer Aniston is a firm believer in steaming pores

 What I really love about do-it-yourself recipes is the fact that they're so much kinder to the environment.  Rather than exploit more plastic, which eventually makes its way into a landfill, you can put your DIY recipes in glass jars or other means of renewable storage. Not only that, but at-home recipes are always devoid of harsh chemicals, which is always best for your body.

Do It Yourself Cellulite Treatment

I  l o v e  coffee; it's my breakfast staple and the foundation of my livelihood. In fact, I'd take an IV of it right now. Okay, maybe not. Anyway, not only does your cup of morning joe perk up your mood, but also it assists in your body's basic metabolic processes and is proven to help prevent several types of cancer. Therefore, I wasn't shocked to learn this miracle brew also smooths out your body's cellulite!

Q: What is cellulite, and where does it come from?

A: Cellulite is the dimply, knotted texture commonly found on the back of women's thighs and buttocks. 80% of women bare cellulite and it's caused by heredity, hormones, or an accumulation of toxins.

Q: What does coffee have anything to do with cellulite?

A: Caffeine is a primary ingredient in many pricey, store-bought cellulite creams. Therefore, synonymous results can be achieved through a do-it-yourself cellulite remover.

Q: When applied properly, what will a homemade cellulite remedy do for my skin?

A: Applied topically, caffeine works to increase circulation in the affected area. This has the ability to help remove toxins and excess water from the tissue, thereby lessening the dimpled texture. The stimulating effects of the coffee grounds can create the illusion of a more toned, smooth appearance. However, results are only temporary.

A homemade remedy to unsightly cellulite

1. 1/4 - 1/2 cup of fresh coffee grounds in a bowl 

2. 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

3. Loofah

4. Plastic wrap

Time: 15 minutes

Step One Put the coffee grounds and olive oil in a bowl and stir well. If the grounds aren't warm from a previous brew, put in the microwave for about 10 seconds.

Step Two Standing in a bathtub or shower, use the loofah to massage the warm coffee grounds and olive oil into the problem areas in a circular motion.

Step Three Leave as much of the grounds and oil on your skin as possible. Then, take the plastic wrap and wrap around the area firmly.

Step Four Leave plastic wrap on for ten minutes.

Step Five Remove the plastic wrap and rinse the area with warm water.

ta-da!

Timing Is Everything

     Timing is everything. And now is the time to lather on the sunblock because 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime. Unfortunately, only 1 in 5 wear sunscreen on a daily basis. Chances are you're one of the four Americans who neglect to wear UV protection. However, there are no more excuses!

Common Excuse: "Sunscreen feels too greasy."

Solution: Go for products devoid of ingredients octyl stearate and polyglyceryl. 

Common Excuse: "The chemicals in sunscreen are far worse than the sun damage."

Solution: In actuality, there is no proven evidence that the chemicals in sunscreen harm humans. In contrast, UV damage is a proven carcinogen. If you still feel uneasy, try a broad-spectrum sunblock that is all natural such as Josie Maran Argan Sun Protection for Body SPF 30+

Common Excuse: "I have dark skin and don't burn easily."

Solution: Wear sunscreen anyway. Although it's true that the darker your pigmentation, the more melanin your body has, meaning you boast more natural protection. However, people with dark skin are still at risk for skin cancer. The reason? People with darker skin are more likely to find the cancer in overlooked areas such as hands and feet. By the time the cancer is found, it has already advanced. 

Natural tan skin doesn't render you immune to UV rays

Common Excuse: "Sunscreen gives me acne."

Solution: Avoid rich, oil-based sunscreens. Many chemicals in sunblocks don't necessarily cause pimples, but they are known to worsen existing acne. Try purchasing sunblock with a short ingredient list. That way, you're less likely to stumble upon irritating components. Try MD Sciences SPF 30+ Screen Gel

Between 1970 and 2009, Melanoma among young women skyrocketed - increasing eightfold. Some risk factors include family history, a blistering sunburn, tanning-bed use, having fair skin or light eyes, and living in a sunny or high-altitude area. 

Miranda Kerr, shielding her face with a broad rim hat

Although sunscreen can be inefficient, it is still better than a bare bod. When possible, wear sunglasses and hat to supplement the sunblock. 

Sources: Skin Cancer Foundation & Women's Health Magazine