I have had an on-and-off love affair with cooking since I graduated from college, as I graduated from dorm room Food Network-voyeurism to actually making meals on occasion. My cooking endeavors really took off when I moved in with my then-boyfriend (now-husband) and I had an actual audience to impress. Most of my cooking has evolved from recipes learned from Food Network (Ina Garten and Tyler Florence are a couple of my favorites) and a couple of pseudo-recipes learned from my mom (who has no concept of measurements).
A couple of years ago, I decided that I REALLY like chili. I think I came to that realization, surprisingly, after eating it at BJ's (whose chili now kinda sucks, by the way). I had some basic knowledge of how to make soups and stews, so I figured I could apply that to developing my very own chili recipe. I am particularly fond of this recipe because it is the first (and maybe only) recipe that I developed completely on my own, from scratch. And because it's the best chili EVERRRRR! Since it's all mine, I am free to share it, so here it is!
Ingredients
(Note: Seasoning measurements are approximations. It takes some trials to get it to taste exactly how you want it, but these are close approximations to what I use. Remember that part of the fun of cooking is adapting recipes to your liking!).
1 lb of ground turkey 1 medium onion, diced 1-2 jalapeños, diced 1 green bell pepper, diced I tbsp flour 3 vine-ripened tomatoes, cut in half 2 1/2 tbsp tomato paste 2 cups cooked beans (any kind, I prefer black), rinsed and drained 1 12 oz bottle of beer (any as long as it's not too bitter) Olive Oil Cayenne Pepper, ground Cumin Paprika Chili Powder Salt Black pepper, ground
Steps:
1. Brown the ground turkey in two batches so as not crowd the pan (thanks for that tip, Food Network!), in about 1 tbsp of olive oil over medium heat. Sprinkle 1/4 tsp each of the cayenne, cumin, and paprika, 1/2 tsp of salt, and some pepper onto turkey before it browns, then begin to break up the turkey with a spatula. Set aside on a paper towel to drain excess oil.
The turkey has more room to brown nicely since I only added half at a time.
2. Add diced onion, jalapeño, and bell pepper to pot (Note: the amount of jalapeño depends on the desired level of heat. One jalapeño is mild; two is medium-hot). Let them cook for about 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Colorful veggies.
Dicing onions. To do this, cut tip and root of onion off, cut in half lengthwise, lay half down flat, slice horizontally 2-3 times almost all the way through, slice vertically across width of onion, then cut vertically across the length of the onion. Voila, a perfectly diced onion within a couple of minutes!
Um, I was just strangely proud of my diced jalapeno and the shape into which I arranged the pieces. Make sure you remove the seeds and ribbing of the jalapeño, lest you choke in reaction to excessive heat (or am I a wimp?).
3. Create an opening in the center of the pot by pushing the vegetables to the sides of the pot. Add a tbsp of olive oil to the center, then a tbsp of flour to thicken the chili (I used to skip this step because I didn't want the added fat, but, for the 3 grams of fat it adds to each serving, it's totally worth it!). Stir the olive oil and flour into the vegetables, and allow to cook for 1-2 minutes.
The combination of oil (or any fat) and flour creates a paste that thickens any stew, soup, or sauce.
4. Add the tomatoes to the pot by crushing them over the pot, into the veggie/oil/flour mixture (the tomatoes should break up easily and you'll get both the liquid and solid elements of the tomato). Add 1/4 tsp of salt, some pepper, and a sprinkle each of cumin, paprika, and cayenne. Allow to cook and thicken for 1-2 minutes, then add tomato paste, stir in, and allow to cook for another 1-2 minutes.
No need to dice tomatoes, which I absolutely hate doing anyway. They should break up nicely in your hot little hands.
Base with tomato, before adding tomato paste.
5. Add browned turkey and beans. Stir the contents of the pot together so that the base completely coats the turkey and beans.
Homemade black beans--> gourmet for the poor. Recipe to come...
6. Add the beer until it barely covers the contents of the pot (it usually will be just shy of the entire bottle). Stir and bring to a boil. Then reduce to a simmer (medium-low heat), and add 1-2 tsp of salt (to taste), 1/2 tsp of ground pepper, 1 1/2 tsp each of cumin and paprika, 1/2 tsp of cayenne, and a tbsp of chili powder. Simmer uncovered for at least 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally and tasting for seasoning. The chili should thicken to stew-like consistency.
Simmering away...
Bonus: Top with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream for a real treat!
Making chili is a time-consuming endeavor, so it's a not a busy weeknight recipe; however, it's great to make ahead when you have some time on your hands, because you can store and reheat it, which sometimes actually makes it taste even better. Feel free to leave a comment or contact me if you have any questions :-). Happy cooking!
This weekend has been an uneven blend of fun and uneventfulness, adventurous new activity and sedentary inclinations.
Happy 3rd Anniversary!
Friday I STRAIGHT UP ditched class to celebrate my third wedding anniversary with the incomparable, oh-so-lovable Israel- and it was totally worth it because we had such a lovely day together. While we got off to a rough start (I had to skip my run because I woke up late and actually skipped class partly because I was running 45 MINUTES LATE for it), we quickly let that weekend-good feeling take over as we drove into LA. Walking around the Grove, taking in all the wonderful fashion and scenery and commercialism, always feels so divine to me. The only disappointment there was discovering that Topshop, a store I was really looking forward to visiting, is actually way overpriced. So overpriced that I returned the two small jewelry items I bought 10 minutes after purchasing them :'-(
My conversation with myself as I left Topshop: Me: Dude, are you suffering from buyer's remorse or something? Me: Oh, God, no, nothing like that!
But I was...I really was...
Window shopping at the Grove was followed by a succulent feast at Osteria Mozza, where the flavor of the food was surpassed only by the excellence of the service. Seriously, I have never in my life felt so welcome or taken care of at an establishment where I had to pay for my dinner. It was such a pleasant surprise for a last minute choice. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a satisfying fine dining experience. After dinner was the highlight of the evening (though dinner almost stole the show!)- our first show at The Groundlings Theater! I was so excited to see sketch and improv comedy live, and this group did not disappoint. I was at once entertained by comedy and mesmerized by the courage these performers exhibit as they make themselves completely vulnerable to a small audience of strangers. I was also slightly distracted by the presence of Gus Van Sant, who was sitting directly across the aisle from Israel! Gotta love LA...
Tiny stage, tiny theater, huge talent. I want to be improv comedian when I grow up.
Return of the Couch Potato
Saturday morning, Israel took off early for soccer, as per usual, and I slept in (again, as per usual). Perhaps because it didn't occur to me to open the blinds until 5pm, I was in serious couch potato mode all day. I had decided previously that I was going to make up for my missed run on Friday by going on an extra long run on Saturday, and I woke up with that intention still firmly set- to be fulfilled after I watched a little Kardashians. Then I needed to catch up on some YouTube videos in my queue. Then I got hungry, and I couldn't very well run on an empty stomach, could I? Of course, I couldn't very well run on a full stomach either... This little charade continued until the last remaining hour of sunlight arrived, and by then Israel was driving home from LA and I really wanted to let him use our Spotify account, but I couldn't bear the thought of running without my carefully constructed workout playlist. The truth of the matter is, I felt so completely lethargic all day Saturday, but not even in a terribly bad way. My body just felt...loose, like it couldn't handle the thought of the constant back and forth muscle contraction involved in running. I did feel a sense of guilt when I realized that I wasn't going to run. After about half an hour of feeling that way, I decided that I was going to run on Sunday, and that I was not going to allow myself to think about or talk about running for the rest of the night.
Two for My Body, One for My Mind
I didn't feel super enthused about running today, either. In fact, I almost pulled another fast one on myself and let the daylight creep by so that I would have an excuse to skip it. But, sometime in the early afternoon, the productive vibe kicked in, which led me to start studying for an exam I have coming up (on aphasia, the other topic that has me embroiled in a love-hate relationship), and that somehow motivated me to put on my running clothes and head out.
I was a little nervous because I had decided that today I would increase my run from two laps around my neighborhood to three for the first time. Adding another lap was slightly unnerving because my neighborhood is in the foothills of a mountain range, so it has hills and sustained inclines, and adding a lap means just having to face those one more time. But I knew I could do it, especially since I recently re-conceptualized that route as a set of intervals, with the hills/inclines being the hard intervals and the flat/descent portions being the rest ones. No more thought about time or distance- just intervals.
As it turns out, taking those two guilt-inducing days off from running may have been a good thing, because my legs felt so rested today that adding that third lap added little exertion. On top of that, when I got home I mapped my run (just for funsies to see the distance that I ran) and what I thought was 4.8 miles was actually 5.1 miles; all this time I thought that a lap around my neighborhood was 1.6 miles, but it was 1.7! Woot woot! That means I've been underestimating both my time and distance all this time- not that I care about those things... ;-)
Ahem. Please note the surprise distance. Thank you.
I Am What I Am...
Saturday and Sunday served as a reminder that we are different things at different times, on different days. On Saturday I was a couch potato, but that doesn't mean that I am one every day. In fact, a simple survey of the past couple of months clearly reveals that on most days I am not a couch potato, but instead a runner, a student, a healthy chef and a healthy person. I readily accept the fact that I am a perfectionist and, as such, might have been harder on myself for my lazy Saturday than most others would, but my ability to dust myself off and move on quickly and without looking back (other than to write this blog post)- that is my noted progress for the week.
Thanks for reading!
-Melissa
SONG OF THE DAY: "Suit and Tie" by Justin Timberlake. Um, let me count the reasons.
1. My unending love for JT
2. It's been stuck in my head all day.
3. I just added it to my running play list. Even Jay's rap solo couldn't slow me down!
Or be proven wrong. Last weekend, my friend Tara and I ran a 5k together. We considered it something of an inauguration to our half -marathon training season. It wasn't supposed to be an event for setting a record, but more to kick off the journey of training for a half-marathon together. I'm guessing that a lot of runners, athletes, and generally driven people originally go into a competition with that benign intention of just aiming for completion, but, once they see their bib, the crowd, the bevy of supporters, and hear that music, then that gunshot, the instinct to push comes in- and they can't, don't WANT to, push it out. That is pretty much what happened to me, and, I'm guessing, to Tara too, because we came to some unspoken agreement that we were gonna haul ass, and haul ass we did. I had no idea how fast I was traveling, but in the end I found out that my legs had done what I thought they were not capable of- got me across that finish line in 28 and a half minutes. It really is surprising what practice, determination, and having a supportive friend by your side can allow you to accomplish.
Perfect timing. We were practically holding hands as we crossed the finish line.
We registered for our half-marathon the night before the 5k, and that was exciting moment, because I was committing to something that I knew for sure that I really wanted to do. I've been running off and on for three years now, so it took me a while to come to this decision. I won't ramble on about my running journey, because I already did that here, but I will say that it has brought out a determination in me that I had only ever (occasionally) brought to school. I started out training for a 5k three years ago; 5 months ago I started toying with the idea of running a half-marathon, and one week ago, I committed to actually doing it. I kinda thought that I would be satisfied with that, but then came the LA Marathon.
Running a marathon was definitely something that I used to say "NEVER" to. So was running a 5k in under 30 minutes. I didn't change my mind about the 5k time- my body just proved me wrong. But that unexpected outcome opened my eyes a new realm of possibilities. I understand how hyperbolic that sounds, but I am not exaggerating. I've never surprised or impressed myself as much as I did last weekend, and it made me re-evaluate how well I know myself. Or, more likely, how much I've changed. The idea of running(/walking- let's be honest) 26.2 miles is daunting, scary, emotional, almost nausea-inducing- but it's something that I now genuinely believe I can do. It's something that I am seriously considering doing. It's something that would make me prouder than anything I've ever accomplished, because it is something that is going to be FREAKING HARD. And when I think about how meaningful and emotional it would be- because it's LA, the city that holds my family's history, the city where I fell in love and got married; because, three years ago, it happened to fall on my wedding day, its route passing by the park where my husband and I exchanged our vows; and because it will be 2014, the year that I turn 30, the year that I finish graduate school and begin my career- I know that it would be completely, 100% worth it.
Snoopy inadvertently became my symbol of determination and accomplishment. Don't underestimate the power of the Peanuts Gang.
P.S. Thank you to all of the runners in today's 2013 LA Marathon for being awesome and inspiring others, like me, to aspire to more than we thought was possible.
Thanks for reading,
Melissa
SONG OF THE DAY: Katy Perry, "Firework." I like to think that I typically have at least mildly discerning taste in music, but, when it comes to getting me up that hill, you better get that elitism outta my face, because ain't no indie song getting my legs moving like Katy does. Every time this song comes on, I feel like I'm crossing the finish line at the Olympics, arms spread and everything.
On Saturday night, Israel and I went to the Ty Segall show at the El Rey- and by "show" I mean the kind where the backstage area is basically non-existent and people are able to stage dive to their hearts' desire. As we entered the venue, it became apparent that Ty has a wide age-ranged fan base, with the lower margin being kids who looked too young to have acne and the upper margin looking like Mark Ruffalo.
At the El Rey, in case you haven't been there, the floor is divided so that there is a pit in the middle, right in front of the stage, and some raised platforms around the perimeter. After surveying our options, Israel and I quickly decided that we were too old and frail (Haha, jk! Just too old.) to handle the inevitable thrashing about that would take place in the pit, so we decided on the perimeter. We got there pretty early, so we were lucky enough to get spots right up against the barrier, so that we were just outside of and above the pit area. Being elevated above the crowd, I felt like a queen overlooking her subjects...- but only for a minute, because then I snapped out of it and started discussing the current fashions on display before us with Israel. I was particularly fixated on the revival of 90s fashion (if you saw my Facebook post, you already know that the hip LA kids are now neo-Cher Horowitzes), while Israel seemed especially fascinated by the endurance of the classics (Vans, Chucks, and flannel shirts still abounded).
The picture of the marquee that Israel posted on Facebook. Because, as we all know, if it's not on Facebook, it didn't happen.
As we were talking, people had started to pile onto the platform behind us; when I turned around to lean my back against the barrier, in an attempt to get some respite from the pain caused by my ill-advised shoe choice, I saw them, right there in front of me, all around me- the over 25 crowd. They had all self-segregated, just like us, to the safety of elevation.
I believe that this show was the first all-ages show that I had been to in several years, so the division seemed quite stark to me. Not that the people in our section weren't hip. They were clearly the kind of people just like us, who, a few short years ago, would have been down there with the rest, throwing elbows and maybe even crowd surfing- why else would they choose to be at this kind of a show in their late 20s and 30s? But still, cool band T-shirts and fashionable thick-rimmed glasses aside, there was something different about this crowd. I was able to narrow it to a few things, so here is my short list of things I saw in the over-25 section at the show:
1. Combed hair.
2. Better-fitting and more expensive-looking outfits, some including fitted leather jackets and sateen-finish jeggings.
3. A girl (ok, lady) gingerly taking ear plugs out of a plastic case she had just removed from her purse.
4. Wedding bands.
5. A man (in the fashionable thick-rimmed eyeglasses) puffing on an electronic cigarette as he stared off into the distance.
6. Worried looks as kids stage-dived into what appeared to be open gaps in the crowd, devoid of any waiting hands (ok, maybe that one was just me...).
7. People eagerly singing along to the Misfits cover that the third opening act played (old punks, you know).
8. A lady wearing a T-shirt that said "Part-Time Punks" with a cardigan over it (a look that I really appreciate).
We still know how to have fun; we just do it in a more sensible way. And I had SO much fun, enjoying the music without risking any bruises, but also watching the ruckus beneath me, remembering how liberating it was to be down there and being happy that a new set is getting to experience it. As Israel said, "It's like the changing of the guard."
These old gals have seen a few mosh pits in their days. They're kind of gross, really. But, oh, how I love them <3 i="i">
Um, I don't know, maybe it's because I am wearing a coconut oil hair mask!
In my ongoing quest be a more well-put-together woman, I have recently been straightening my hair on a regular basis- this after years of laziness in response to the impossible thickness of my hair and the daunting nature of the task of straightening it. As far as beauty goes, my hair has easily been the most neglected area of my appearance until about a month ago. Because of the drastic change in my hair styling routine, I decided it was necessary to add some nourishing and intensive treatment to mitigate the additional damage of regular heat-styling.
My recent hairstyle. Worth the 45 minutes it takes to blow-dry it straight? The jury's still out...
I had heard about coconut oil hair masks for several months. And by heard, I mean that several people on YouTube mentioned it, described how to do it, but never demonstrated it. Being a visual learning, I needed a tutorial before I was about to try what sounded like a potential greasy mess. I also hesitated because, much like the oatmeal face-cleansing, I couldn't quite visualize how the process should go. Should I coat my hair root to tip? How much should I use? How would I get it out? Would I be eternally condemned to smell like a coconut?! Thankfully, one of my favorite YouTube gals, TheSilverLining80, finally answered my silent wishes and posted a tutorial showing exactly how the process works.
I tried it for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and from that experience I developed one tip that I can already give everyone: wash your hair thoroughly, including your tips! I neglected to this, ending up with tips that looked like they had been dipped in Crisco- but roots that looked like ebony silk (who compliments her own hair in such poetic terms? This girl! Ugh, what a douchebag I am :-P).
If you want to try a coconut hair mask as a natural, intensive treatment, you will need a spoon, comb, hair clip or ponytail holder, and, of course, the coconut oil. I found mine at Trader Joe's.
Trader Joe's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil ($5.99). I've also been using this as an eye cream lately (why not?) because it's so moisturizing. Make sure you get virgin coconut oil that is solid at room temperature. Smells so yummy!
As you can see, coconut oil is solid at cooler temperatures. I keep mine in the refrigerator, because I had heard that it would be easier to work with as a solid. I agree with this point, as removing liquid oil from a jar somehow seems like more work than I want to do. The solid state of coconut oil is the reason a spoon is needed; it is used a scoop to remove the coconut oil from the jar.
Here's how you use this mask:
1. Comb Through Your Hair
Since you're going to be running a product through your hair, it's best to eliminate any tangles to avoid pain and hair loss due to excessive pulling.
2. Section Off Hair
I do this from bottom to top, meaning that I start by sectioning the bottom fourth of my hair and tying the rest up. Then, as I finish coating each section in the oil, I bring down another section (consisting of about another fourth of my hair). This just makes it easier to ensure that I coat my hair thoroughly and evenly.
The bottom fourth of my hair sectioned off and coated in coconut oil.
3. Apply the Oil
This is the fun part! I dip my spoon into the jar of oil and scoop a good spoonful out. It's actually more like scraping a spoonful out, because the consistency of the solid oil is more flaky than congealed (if that's the right juxtaposition...science geeks?). I drop the scoop from the spoon into my hand, because the warmth of my hand melts the oil, turning it into a liquid within a few seconds. As it liquifies, I rub the oil between my hands and start running it through my hair, from the roots to the tips. I like to take a little extra and rub it right into my tips for each section. Because my hair is thick and my brain is obsessive, each section takes me between 5-10 minutes to coat to my demanding satisfaction. Thoroughly coated hair should look wet.
The solid coconut oil in my hand. It melts within seconds.
My hair completely coated in the oil. This took me about half an hour, but I have very thick hair I am obsessively thorough with these things.
Once my hair is coated, I put it up into a bun. As far as how long you should keep it in, I have heard times varying from 20 minutes to overnight. I leave mine in for about 4-6 hours, during the day while I am doing things around the house, because I am way too fitful of a sleeper to trust that a bandana or shower cap will stay in place overnight and protect my pillow from becoming Grease Central.
4. Wash the Oil Out
For my hair, it takes several washes to get all of it out. Last time, I shampooed my hair three times. As I mentioned before, I really focused on my roots; keep in mind that is important to focus on all of your hair. Once I was satisfied that I got all of the oil out, I followed with a regular conditioner. You can then style you hair as you usually would. I apply a straightening balm and blow-dry my hair straight with a round brush.
Here is what my hair looks like after washing the coconut oil mask out and straightening my hair. Unfortunately, this picture was also taken after pulling my hair back for a mini-facial, hence the slight hair dent :-(
That's it!
My hair definitely dries more smoothly after this mask, but, strangely, one of the more striking things I notice is that the color of my hair looks richer. This is a surprising, and pleasant, result. If anyone else has tried this, or does after reading this, I'd be interested to know about your experience, including whether it had any effect on your hair color. From my experience, the coconut oil mask doesn't completely transform my hair, but it does make it feel healthier and more hydrated. Plus, like so many of these natural, at-home treatments, it's just a lot of fun, so, why not?
Thanks for reading and hope this was informative!
-Melissa
POP CULTURE ARTIFACT OF THE DAY: NONE, because I spent my day reading about autism and neuroanatomy, in addition to smearing coconut oil in my hair and clay on face. Hopefully, your day was a little more eventful than mine...
I have officially deviated from the initial purpose of my blog, which was to share lifestyle tips about health and beauty that I have learned through experience. But it doesn't really matter because the real reason I started this was because I know the purifying and stress-relieving effect that writing has on me. And along those same lines, I have recently rediscovered the other activity that releases that persistent tension from my jaw and eases the tightness in my chest from stress-induced irregular breathing (have I mentioned that I'm anxiety-prone?): singing.
You want proof that I love singing? Here is picture of me with my high school treble ensemble. The picture of us in our silver glittery dresses would have been more effective. Location: Central Park, New York City, May 2002 Photo Credit: Kristie Chavez, Facebook
I am going to say something that is cheesy and a cliche but is true: I have loved to sing since before I could remember. I have never been formally trained, nor is my voice particularly strong, and I have a hard time finding my key when I don't have a cue, but none of that matters, because when I sing, I let it all out. And by "it," I mean the stress, the sadness, the anger, the joy, the love, the nerves, and the excitement that I always carry with me.
Recently, I saw Fiona Apple- one of my idols, my tortured, ferocious, and gentle kindred spirit- in concert. Allow me to digress, because if you only know Fiona Apple as that angry girl singer from the 90s that told the world off in her VMA acceptance speech, I can only say that you are missing out. Because the woman can write, she can sing, and she can pound the you-know-what out of that piano. Her words, her voice, and her melodies carried me through one of the most difficult times in my life. I sang along to her music the same way I used to sing along to Mariah Carey in my bedroom when I was 10 years old- with abandon. Except by the time I got around to Fiona, I had lived enough to relate to the emotions behind the music, and I'm not gonna lie- I cried a lot of tears singing along to Fiona Apple.
The cover of the album that first broke me apart and then made me feel whole again. Thank you, Fiona; your words mean more than you could ever know. Source: http://www.1000recordings.com/music/when-pawn/
I am happy to say that my life is much more peaceful now than it was at that tumultuous time, but, being an incredibly sensitive person, I carry remnants of all of my major life experiences with me. I don't know, does everyone? Anyway, I feel like those emotions are useful because they make me a more empathic and accommodating person; at the same time, I think that they weigh on me subconsciously, and I only developed this hypothesis because of the intense relief I feel after singing.
Until that Fiona Apple concert, it had been a while since I had let myself feel that connection to music. I don't know, I guess life gets in the way; sometimes I don't have much alone time, sometimes I want to listen to the news, and sometimes it is just overwhelming to decide what I want to listen to. I've always had this wavelike relationship with music, with peaks and valleys of music consumption, and at every peak I make a promise to myself that I won't let music fall by the wayside again. Now that the promise is in print, I hope I can keep it.
Even though this isn't a post about tips for looking better or being more fit, in reality it is a post about health, because emotional health is really the foundation of a healthy and balanced life. When I am feeling emotionally healthy, I find myself making more choices that benefit my physical health, too. I sincerely hope that every person who reads this and every other person out there has some kind of emotional outlet like singing is for me, because I feel like it is a human necessity to just let it all out. Regularly. So, when you see that crazy-looking girl driving on the freeway who seems really fulfilled to be screaming at her steering wheel, first of all it's probably me, and second, be happy for her, because she might just be doing a little bit of soul-saving.
Thanks for reading :-)
-Melissa
SONG OF THE PAST TWO WEEKS: Regina Spektor "Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)," What We Saw From the Cheap Seats. I absolutely defy you to not be in a good mood while listening to this song. It's just bubble-gummy giddiness in the most quirky sort of way. Plus, it seems to be some kind of a love song to my love, New York City. I have been listening to this song obsessively and have happily explored more of Regina's music because of it.
Down in Bronxy-Bronx the kids go
sledding down snow-covered slopes And frozen noses, frozen toes The frozen city starts to glow And yes, they know that it'll melt And yes, the know New York will thaw But if you are a friend of any sort then play along and catch a cold!
Yesterday was Israel's first day back at work after summer vacation. That is always the saddest day of the year for me, because it means that the carefree fun we've been enjoying together for the previous two months is over. This year, it also means that I will have a lot of "me" time, since I don't start school until two weeks from now. Today, I decided to up the girly factor to 10 and do the following: pick up the latest issue of People StyleWatch, put on some Fiona Apple, and give myself...an at-home facial (seriously, my afternoon could have been a montage from a mediocre chick flick or an episode of Sex and the City, aside from the Fiona Apple, whose music lacks the levity required for such sequences, but I digress...)!
The at-home facial is actually part of my regular skin-care routine. I have my daily routine, about which I wrote in my first post (though it has changed slightly, so...future blog post idea!); once a week, though, I like to incorporate those more intensive treatments that are not appropriate for everyday- namely, scrubs and masks. If you can squeeze in a half-hour a week of down time, or even quality time with your spouse or child(ren) of an appropriate age (I assume this goes without saying, but please don't give your six month-old a facial!), I highly recommend indulging in an at-home facial once a week. I, of course, use many natural products and at-home remedies; if that's not your cup of tea, you could easily swap out the products I use for your own products, as long as they serve the same purpose. Here is a breakdown of the facial that I, myself, just enjoyed in the comfort of my own home.
My Weekly Facial
Please do admire and enjoy the way I carefully positioned these items, as though they were sitting for a family portrait. Products I use in my at-home facial, from left to right: clay mask, olive oil (for makeup removal, if needed), honey (which I am currently not using), oatmeal, aloe vera water, shea butter, lemon water, rosewater and glycerin, micro-dermabrasion scrub, tea tree oil, jojoba oil.
Step 1: Cleanse Product: Oatmeal
I like to think that the progress of a facial is from superficial to deep, meaning you start by addressing the surface of the skin, then with each step go a little deeper. With that in mind, cleansing is the step that gets the dirt (and makeup, if you're wearing any) off of the outer surface of your skin. Whatever cleanser you normally use is A-OK for this purpose.
Step 2: Exfoliate Product: Kiehl's Epidermal Re-Texturing Micro-Dermabrasion
After you have removed the surface dirt, it is time to also remove the dead skin that sits on your face. A cleanser alone is not abrasive enough to do this, so you need either a physical or chemical exfoliant for this purpose. Mine is a scrub, so it is a physical exfoliant; it sloughs away the dead skin manually. A popular example of this kinds of exfoliant is the St. Ives Apricot Scrub (which I used to use when I was a teenager as a face wash, before I knew what the heck exfoliating was. Oops!). You just take whatever scrub you have and gently (without really applying any more pressure than the touch of your fingers to your face) smooth it over your face in small circular motions.
A chemical exfoliant, like a peel, uses acids to break down the dead skin so that it is easy to peel away or rinse off. You can use fruit or dairy products (e.g. sour cream or yogurt) for this purpose, though I can't vouch for that since I have yet to try it. Of course, there is also a plethora of these chemical exfoliants on the market.
Step 3: Steam Product: A pot of hot water!
I just recently started doing this step after seeing Annie Jaffrey do it during her facial on YouTube. It's purpose is to open your pores in preparation for the final cleansing step: the mask (dun dun duuuuuuun! Aaaaaaah! No, don't be scared- it's fun!). Steaming your face is honestly just very relaxing, and, though I'm sure it does open my pores and soften my skin, I think this step might be skippable. If you do decide to do it, begin boiling the water right before you start your facial, so that it is nice and hot by the time you need it.
Step 4: Deep Cleanse Product: Health & Beauty Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay
Now that your skin is softened and smooth, it's time to remove any remaining dirt or impurities from your pores. A clay or mud mask is usually used for this purpose. I learned about the mask I use, again, through Annie Jaffrey on YouTube, and it is available at most natural food or vitamin stores (I found mine at the local Vitamin Shoppe) and online. This mask is serious. It pulls your skin so tight that you can feel the blood being pulled to the surface of your face, which may sound scary but that is actually good; increasing the blood circulation near your skin improves oxygen and nutrient levels in the cells and removes waste. This mask is actually my favorite step, because it is the one that makes the greatest immediate difference. Once I take it off, my blackheads are gone and my skin is smoother. If you can't or don't want to find the mask I use, you can use your own or pick up Queen Helene's Mint Julep Mask, which is a beauty staple and is easy to find in almost any store.
Why does this look like a mug shot? Of all of the steps, I felt most compelled to share a picture of this one because it's my favorite and we all know it looks the coolest.
Step 5: Treat Products: lemon water; aloe vera with tea tree oil
After you rinse of your mask, you are officially done with the "Taking Stuff Off of Your Face" portion of the facial and are ready for the "Putting Good Stuff on Your Face" segment. This is the point where you would use any treatments that are targeted for your specific skin needs; these are usually either acne prevention or anti-aging products. At my age (which is 28, if you must know :-P), I use products that address both.
First, I spritz my face with lemon water (about a 1:5 lemon juice to water ratio). According to Livestrong.com, lemon juice restores the pH balance of your skin, while also killing bacteria to fight acne and encouraging cell turnover to keep skin looking youthful. I let the lemon water sit for about 10 minutes, then wipe it off with a wet cotton round to wipe away any dead skin that was disintegrated by the acid in the lemon juice. Then, I mix a couple of drops of tea tree oil with five drops of aloe vera water in my hand and rub that on acne prone areas (for me, that's mainly my chin and jawline).
Step 6: Moisturize Products: Trader Joe's 100% Pure Jojoba Oil; Heritage Store Rosewater and Glycerin spray; Nubian Heritage Shea Butter Infused with Indian Hemp and Haitian Vetiver
The final step in what may seem like a long, but hopefully enjoyable, process is to seal in all of that good stuff with a moisturizer. I always think of a moisturizer as some kind of protective second skin that I spread all over my face to protect my real skin. I looove how my face feels after I moisturize- just so dewy and soft (sigh). I start by rubbing five drops of jojoba oil into my palms then patting it into my face. I then mist the rosewater and glycerin spray all over my face (about 10 squirts- I'm pretty generous with it!) and pat that into my face, including my eye area. Finally, I take a small dab of the shea butter and pat it under my eyes and on my lips. Products: sealed. Skin: treated.
Skin may not look perfect, but it feels absolutely refreshed :-)
I don't naturally have great skin, but I feel that this facial keeps it looking its best. Remember that the whole concept of a facial is more about the process and less about the products; as long as the products you use serve the purpose described in each step, you will derive some benefit from the process.
By the way, in case you want to know about the last remaining hour of my girly day before Israel came home, I made myself the following yummy smoothie and sandwich, because nothing feels better than giving your insides a treat when you're done giving your outsides a treat:
Foreground: Yummy sandwich. Background: Only slightly less yummy smoothie.
Smoothie
Blend together:
1/2 cup of acai juice
3/4 cup of frozen berries
2 cups of kale
half a banana
Sandwich:
2 slices of Alpine Valley Organic Sprouted Wheat Bread with Flaxseed (best wheat bread ever, available at Costco)
Hummus and Whole grain mustard (to spread)
1/4 avocado
1/2 tomato
spinach
1 slice of Trader Joe's Roasted Turkey Breast
Pretty nutritious, and delicious, if I do say so myself!
Thanks for reading and vicariously spending a girly afternoon with me :-)
-Melissa
CLIP OF THE DAY: From Parks and Recreation, Season 4, Episode 4, "Pawnee Rangers." If you want to know where I got the oh-so-clever title for this post, please do treat yo' self to the following clip, from what is one of the best episodes of easily one of the best shows on TV right now.
For years I have felt that there was something missing in my life and recently discovered that it was writing. I have loved writing since I can remember (since before I tried to write my own addition to Sweet Valley Twins series, that's for sure!). As I approach that age in life at which I can look back and realize that I have done my fair share of self-discovery and self-improvement, I find myself wanting to be like a grandparent and share my wisdom with the world. Or my Facebook friends, since they're the only ones reading. Love you guys!
