Do you remember the first time you wore make-up? Smooth and evenly toned with a shimmering eyeshadow finish, did it make you feel like you had just come out of your cocoon? Makeup gives the artist a chance to paint a story, but what happens when we get used to the idea that we can't leave the house without it?

 

After years of wearing makeup, looking at a mirror doesn't feel the same. Staring barefaced at your appearance, do you feel the itch to reach for the brush not to highlight your features but to hide those that have been deemed "unacceptable"? After years of trying to meet beauty standards, many of us have fallen in love with a reflection that isn't truly who we are. That's where the book The Caged Butterfly comes in.


Leading the reader through a radical story about self-acceptance, her book seeks to answer the question of how does one come to love the skin they are in? Makeup can be an act of empowerment, a means to practice self-love by expressing yourself but sometimes things don't go as planned. Sometimes what was once a form of freedom becomes a cage.

Putting on foundation and contouring your face should be a choice, not a necessity. It's an act of self-love but only when applied for the right reasons. Taking a step back from makeup doesn't make you any less of the beautiful person that you are. Your beauty has and always will be who you are inside rather than the shade of lipstick you choose to wear. As found by the study run by Tara Well, taking the time to look at yourself in the mirror each day to admire the skin you are in goes a long way towards self-acceptance and compassion for yourself and others. It takes courage to strip away your armor but taking the time to truly appreciate who you are, brings on a glow that a makeup highlighter can only dream of achieving.

You don't need to throw away your makeup to love yourself. However, see it for what it really is - dessert with a cherry on top. To read more about the power of finding your inner beauty and embracing the body you are in, pick up The Caged Butterfly at your nearest bookstore. I promise you; you won't regret it.

 

Reference:

Well, T., et al. (2016). The Benefits of Mirror Meditation. Paper presented at the American Psychological Association Convention in Denver, CO.

 Do you remember the first time you wore make-up? Smooth and evenly toned with a shimmering eyeshadow finish, did it make you feel like you ...



 If you thought I was kidding when I said that one of my favorite things is popcorn...I wasn't. I make myself a big bowl of popcorn just about every day. My hubby will confirm this. 


Of course, I add butter (I use a butter spray) and salt (I use a salt alternative). And before you ask if I have made my popcorn on the stove before...the answer is YES. 

For those who are not old-school like I am, I found a recipe that might be useful.

How to Make Stovetop Popcorn


  1. Use a good, heavy-bottomed pot. Cheap pots don’t distribute heat evenly, and you can end up with hot spots that burn the popcorn.
  2. Don’t crank the heat up too high. It’s too easy to burn oil at temperature higher than medium heat, and if you catch even a whiff of smoke coming from the pot, your popcorn is going to taste burnt.
  3. Start with two popcorn kernels to gauge the temperature. Once those pop, your oil is hot enough. Add the remaining kernels and remove the pot from the heat for 1 minute. This primes the popcorn to pop without burning the oil.
  4. Tip the lid ever-so-slightly while the popcorn is popping. That way, the popcorn doesn’t steam itself in the pot and lose crispness. (See photo above.)
  5. If the popcorn starts overflowing the pot: Simply remove the lid and tip the excess popcorn into a bowl. Return the lid and return the popcorn to the heat until popping slows.
  6. Season with salt carefully. You can always add more, but you can’t take away too much.
Find this recipe here. The author offers excellent oil and seasoning alternatives. 

  If you thought I was kidding when I said that one of my favorite things is popcorn...I wasn't. I make myself a big bowl of popcorn jus...

 


Now more than ever, expressive writing has begun to make a huge comeback. With Pinterest boards dedicated to journal writing and popular books such as Someone Like Me, highlighting its mental health benefits - journaling has become a Renaissance. And rightly so. If you haven't picked up a pen in a while or have never given journaling a try, here are five ways journaling can help overcome stress and anxiety.

 

1. Journaling Helps Navigate Stress and Anxiety

 

Filling the pages of your journal is a well-known way of reducing mental clutter and unwinding after a difficult day. By channeling your emotions into a healthy outlet, you can not only positively impact your mental health but can also enjoy long-term physical benefits such as a more robust immune system. Studies such as the one by Baikie and Wilhelm have shown incredible positive outcomes from journaling daily. 

 

2. Writing Increases Self-Awareness

 

Journaling is not always a pleasant experience because the truth is, sometimes, some stories are hard to put down on paper. But just like with Marian L. Thomas's character, Mýa Day, writing can become a way to create a positive self-dialogue with yourself. By taking the time to sit down and journal a little every day, you can work through complex emotions and process your everyday experiences. 

 

3. Journaling Helps Create Gratitude

 

One of the simplest yet most effective styles of writing is a gratitude journal. Taking a moment each day to focus on three positive things encourages optimism and helps build resilience for more challenging days than most. 

 

4. Writing Fosters Creativity

 

Expressive writing offers a medium to help find your voice. Your journal is your safe space. It's a place to process your emotions, clear your mind, and explore different topics that inspire you. 

 

5. Journaling Helps You Achieve Your Goals

 

It's true when people say, writing things down begins your journey of manifestation. Of course, you still need to put in a little work to make your dreams a reality. Journal writing is step one. It helps you identify what you want and what's making you pause. Understanding where these roadblocks come from can help you break them down into a plan to move forward towards making them come true. 

 

Staring at a blank page can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. Whether it's the dream you had last night or what you ate for dinner, a straightforward sentence is all it takes to start. Still not sure how to get started? See how a fictional character does it. Pick up Someone Like Me by Marian L. Thomas to get inspired by Mýa Day and read how her life changed when she started journal writing for better mental health.

 

Resource:

Baikie, Karen A., and Kay Wilhelm. "Emotional and Physical Health Benefits of Expressive Writing." Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, vol. 11, no. 5, 2005, pp. 338–346.

  Now more than ever, expressive writing has begun to make a huge comeback. With Pinterest boards dedicated to journal writing and popular b...