Deity of the Day: Nyx…..Plus My Mini Nyx Haul

Many are familiar with Nyx, the cosmetics line named Nyx that is. However, not many are familiar with Nyx, the Greek goddess of the night. In actuality she is not the goddess of night, but rather she is the night, the mother of darkness itself. It is said that Nyx was born out of chaos and through her we experience grief, deceit, pain, sleep, death, misery, dreams and retribution among other things.

Emilia Paw

“NYX (Nux), Nox or Night personified. Homer (Il. xiv. 259, &c.) calls her the subduer of gods and men, and relates that Zeus himself stood in awe of her. In the ancient cosmogonies Night is one of the very first created beings, for she is described as the daughter of Chaos, and the sister of Erebus, by whom she became the mother of Aether and Hemera. (Hes. Theog. 123, &c.) According to the Orphics (Argon. 14) she was the daughter of Eros. She is further said, without any husband, to have given birth to Moros, the Keres, Thanatos, Hypnos, Dreams, Momus, Oizys, the Hesperides, Moerae, Nemesis, and similar beings. (Hes. Theog. 211, &c.; Cic. de Nat. Deor. iii. 17.) In later poets, with whom she is merely the personification of the darkness of night, she is sometimes described as a winged goddess (Eurip. Orest. 176), and sometimes as riding in a chariot, covered with a dark garment and accompanied by the stars in her course. (Eurip. Ion, 1150; Theocrit. ii. in fin.; Orph. Hymn. 2. 7; Virg. Aen. v. 721; Tibull. ii. 1. 87; Val. Flacc. iii. 211.) Her residence was in the darkness of Hades. (Hes. Theog. 748; Eurip. Orest. 175; Virg. Aen. vi. 390.) A statue of Night, the work of Rhoecus, existed at Ephesus (Paus. x. 38. § 3). On the chest of Cypselus she was represented carrying in her arms the gods of Sleep and Death, as two boys (v. 18. § 1).”

Grant Kinney

Many fear darkness and without wonder, since in the darkness lies the unknown, the uncertain. However, if you take a moment to notice, our entire planet and solar system is surrounded by darkness. When we close our eyes to dream and think we are left with a vast darkness, a magnificent backdrop for our dreams, fantasies and desires.

Chaos is known as the state before creation. For me as a creature of habit and routines I try to avoid disorder at all cost. But at times I have to let chaos reign in my life because when you have everything figured out nothing can be born out of routines. It’s simply done, figured out, created, already formed.  Out of chaos is where new ideas, perceptions and new ways of thinking are born. If we are in constant routine and stagnant energy, there tends to be no room for innovation, creativity and new beginnings in which chaos always tends to force us into.

Nyx is also associated with Nixies, water spirits who with their profound beauty seduce men into their waters. Nixies are also guardians of the night and soul.

drkathytei.com

“Her Nixies were abyssal angels who kept the souls of the dead in an underwater fairyland….” -The Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets

As the mother of darkness, Nyx can teach you many things. Her children such as deceit, strife, pain and the many things humans fear and experience, in essence makes you wiser and more attune to your perceived darkness. Experiencing hardships is what helps bring your deepest darkest fear to light by way of confronting and resolving them.

In honor of Nyx I decided to feature my first Nyx Haul I got this summer. Just because night time can be serious doesn’t mean it’s not the time I like to glam up and have the most fun.

These are very good for the price, I have no complaints very pigmented and worth the few bucks.
From left to right: Nyx Round Lipstick in Thalia
3 lip glosses Beige, Tanned, Natural
and
A jumbo eyeshadow pencil in Rust

This gloss is called Beige, a very pretty pink, goes beautifully with Thalia. I like wearing this with a light smokey eye and with my Avon After Glo Blush.

This is the jumbo eyeshadow pencil. I really like this pencil and regret not picking up a few more since they seem so useful and versatile. This color Rust is the same exact color as MAC’s Cranberry shadow I bought earlier this summer. Truly the same exact color, the perfect dupe for cranberry. Again I could have saved a couple of bucks since the consistency and color of the pencil and MAC’S shadow is nearly unnoticeable to me. (looking for that dupe list!)

So what better way to honor Nyx and the night, than to do your makeup for a relaxing night out, makeup in full force…..

More on Nyx

Nyx Sources

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Make Your Own Homemade febreze! Plus some random shopping

Earlier this month I decided to do a little shopping as well as experiment with a few homemade body scrubs and facials. While doing that, I decided to make my own homemade Febreze! I got the recipe from some website, can’t remember, but this turned out great because my sinuses can’t tolerate most commercial air fresheners. I usually end up with headaches and sneeze fits.

   This is truly my favorite! I usually spray this Lavender essential oil mist on my curtains, sheets,

carpet just whenever I’m searching for a relaxing and yet refreshing scent. Ylang Ylang is also a great soft uplifting scent ideal for those unexpected last minute visits.

You just need:

Spray Bottle

2 cups of water

 10 drops of essential oil (5 of each if combining)

1/2teaspoon of Castile soap

 Shake the bottle to mix the scent, and there you have it your homemade essential oil room spray! You don’t really need the castile soap it’s just used as a solvent to help bring the mix together much better I guess. Either way you will be left with a fabulous air freshener.

Illamasqua Kiss

Earlier in July I stopped by Sephora and picked up a blush.

This is Illamasqua’s powder blush in “kiss” ($26). It’s this real pretty plum matte color, looked really purple on the display but when I wear it, it kind of has this pinkish hue to it. I’m not too crazy about the color yet, I guess I have to keep working with it until I find the perfect look. I have been into this plum blush and lipstick phase for sometime now. It’s like everything I buy I lean toward this plum color…..

 and this one….

Almay Blush Orchid

I also picked up this almay blush called orchid and a nail polish at my local drugstore. Another plum color but with less pinkish undertones. I actually reach out for this almay blush I got on clearance sale for 4 bucks, more than my Illamasqua. It has this very beautiful plum color I just love it. I always pair it with Rimmel’s paradise lipstick which is also a very pretty plum color. You can see a pic of the lipstick here.

I don’t normally wear polish but I was in a plum mood and got this CQ nail polish called “Plum Baby” at my local drugstore for about 2 bucks. This color is more pink fuchsia than plum. This is my second polish from this brand and I have to say I really like their formula, not too sheer, not too thick.

Before Polish

After Polish

I also won my second giveaway given by the lovely designer Diva Style Blog.  It was so fun and exciting since I received the package on such a boring Monday. Now this fabulous book sits on my coffee table, reminding me of makeup. One thing that really stood out to me about the book was that Scott Barnes firmly believes that foundation should be a mix of several tones as opposed to just one. I don’t wear foundation ever, but it really stood out to me since I wonder if most makeup gurus do that…

I also bought this drying lotion ($18.50) while browsing at Henri Bendel’s NY (so many cute purses!). I was curious about this drying lotion and since I was breaking out more than usual I decided to give it a try. I usually use honey or aloe vera for my pimples but if you need something to dry them suckers out quick, this is definitely worth it. I have used it a lot since buying it and I really like it. Better than most on the spot treatments I have bought especially if you need a quick fix.

Right next to Henri Bendel’s on 5th ave you strategically have a MAC store (I believe their first U.S store). I decided to pick up this lipstick,”crosswires”. It’s such a pretty coral/pink lipstick and I love to wear it with maybelline’s apricot flush blush which is this peachy orange, again a great color for my skin tone, especially when I tan. Also if I want to bring out the pink in the lipstick I pair it with Jane’s Blushing Baby doll blush.

So basically these were just some purchases here and there I got throughout July and this month. I usually don’t tend to spend on most products especially makeup because I like to eat my money, not literally, meaning I prefer a good meal and drinks but sometimes a girl is itching to spend. lol

Last but not least an eye look I did the other day with Wet n’ wild’s Sumptuos quad. 

I swept the brown color over my entire lid and with a flat liner angle brush I lined my lower lashline with that gorgous blue.

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Evil Eye Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Estrojen of Julia’s Seed! Please email me at (HellNotesforBeauty@yahoo.com) with your shipping address and I willl mail it out to you soon. Please stay tuned for more fabulous giveaways.

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Ylang Ylang: The Magical and Health Uses of Essential Oils

 Getting to know essential oils, the processes and the many uses you can get out of them can truly be a fascinating experience. So many chemicals exist in our everyday products which can be absorbed by the skin and creep into our bodies by way of the circulatory system. This can expose you to unknown toxins and potentially unknown health effects as well.

 This is why I have come to love Essential oils. They can be very versatile and the healing qualities each oil possesses naturally provides you with many benefits, both internally and externally. Ylang-Ylang is my new oil and has this very sweet floral aroma, every time I smell it, it’s as if the boyfriend just got me the most amazing bouquet of flowers!

Ylang Ylang is a very aromatic tropical plant with it’s essential oil serving many benefits for the mind, body and spirit.

 Beauty wise, Ylang Ylang is an ideal oil for most skin types (especially for those with oily skin) because it helps balance oil production of the skin while at the same time getting rid of the harmful bacteria that breeds pimples, thanks to ylang-ylang’s antiseptic properties. Ylang-Ylang is said to treat against hair loss and is a great moisturizer for the hair, making it an ideal oil for any of your favorite hair treatments and scalp massages (diluted of course).

Ylang Ylang is a well known aphrodisiac lending itself to encourage you to lose your inhibitions and embrace your sensual exotic side. It’s a great scent for couples who are looking to set the mood or if you notice you need to spice things up a bit between your relationship and daily routines.

Health wise, ylang ylang also helps ease the nervous system lessening tension, anxiety and promoting a peaceful, and calming ambiance. Thanks to it’s calming and sedative qualities, ylang helps those with high blood pressure as well as calm insomniacs down to a point where they may actually desire sleep.

This oil also treats symptoms of depression helping you open yourself to deeper understandings of yourself, while abolishing negative thoughts and feelings associated with self hate and lack of self worth. It opens your spirit and heart to acceptance of who you truly are in this world helping you exude love, especially realized love from within.

I made another small batch of my vitamin E body scrub, this time using Ylang-Ylang (2 drops) and it was truly a very nice and clean scent. I’m also looking to buy an oil burner here are a few I had in mind:

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Remember to always dilute your oils in carrier/base oils. Essential oils are very concentrated and should never be used directly on the skin. Always make sure you do a patch test to make sure you are not allergic or sensitive to avoid irritation. If used in excess, ylang-ylang may cause headaches and nausea.

********

These Essential oils and carrier oils can be found at your local natural health store like Vitamin shoppe, GNC and I’m sure there are many vendors online in which you can feel comfortable purchasing from.

More Info

Ylang-Ylang

A Pocket Guide to Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

The Healing Trail: Essential Oils of Madagascar By Georges M. Halpern, Peter Weverka

Magical aromatherapy: the power of scent By Scott Cunningham

Flower and Tree Magic: Discover the Natural Enchantment Around You By Richard Webster

More info on Ylang Ylang

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Radish and Cucumber Salad

I’ve been enjoying salads a lot this summer and it’s been a great way for me to enjoy a completely raw meal at least once everyday. Even though I tend to be a creature of habit, I like to switch things up a bit every now and then. One of my favorite things to have with an authentic Mexican taco is Radish (Rabano in Spanish). When you are biting into that spicy, tasty taco you usually have your radish standing by to neutralize the situation.

 I had to switch things up a bit because I have been on an avocado salad rampage since spring, usually adding watercress, red onions but always an avocado within reach. This week however, I decided to highlight cucumbers and radishes and give them creamy avocados I love so much a break. I got this bunch of radishes at my local supermarket for $1.39 which was moderately priced for an organic product (I tend to see lot of outrageously priced organic veggies). I also picked up a cucumber, 75 cents each.

Radish is a very healthy vegetable root with a lot of vitamins and minerals. Here are some benefits to radishes:

by: Organic facts

Jaundice: Radish is very good for the liver and the stomach and it is a very good detoxifier too, that is, it purifies blood.

Kidney Disorders: Being diuretic, cleanser and disinfectant, it helps cure many kidney disorders. Its diuretic properties help wash away the toxins accumulated in the kidneys.

Weight Loss: Radishes are very filling, i.e. fills your stomach and satisfies your hunger easily without giving you many calories, as they are low in digestible carbohydrates, high in roughage and contain a lot of water. It is a very good dietary option for those determined to lose weight.

Radishes are a very refreshing source of antioxidants essential for the scoping out of free radicals which causes the onset of internal and external aging and like it’s family members (broccoli, cabbage) radish can be  a great vegetable against cancer causing toxins.

Essential for maintaining healthy skin and overall health, radishes are great choices for Vitamins A and C. It helps lower cholesterol, treats cancer sufferers, improves the immune system, eczema, constipation, gall stones and bladder issues. Radishes are also known for treating thyroid  problems mostly for it’s healthy sodium content.

Cucumbers are also very refeshing and helps the skin tremendously thanks to it’s high water content. Like radishes, cucumbers are high in vitamin A, C again essential for a healthy immune system and clear skin. Cucumbers are also high in fiber making it an ideal remedy against constipation as well.

This is truly an ideal cooling salad, feels very fresh and is very simple to make. I just drizzled some Extra Virgin Olive oil and a pinch of Kosher salt and half a red onion. I chopped the cucumbers into half circles and thinly sliced the radish. Radishes have a rather earthy, peppery taste ideal for any sandwich. I like salads very much because I can usually pair it with any meal I like. Eating healthy while not depriving myself.

Sources:

Ayurvedic Healing Cuisine: By Harish Johari

Improve Your Health With Carrot Radish & Ginger By Rajiv Sharma

The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods By Michael T. Murray, Joseph PIZZORNO, Lara Pizzorno

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Tips and Links That Saved My Hair

During the first few months of my hair journey I had little money to spend on hair care products. Since I was just starting out to see what worked for my hair or not, it would not make sense for me to blindly spend money on products I was not too sure about. The first few months mostly consisted of homemade concoctions which was truly the safest money saving method for a newbie like me who is/was just starting out, especially on a budget.

In this post I will share with you, all the tips, recipes and commercial products I have used to get me to a decent hair regimen.

To start, you have to figure out what you want to achieve. Many people immediately want long hair but if your hair is not healthy it may never grow. For me, focusing on my hair’s health was my main priority. What works for others may not necessarily work for you, so make sure you do your own research and you will eventually find what works best for you. 

 

– Understanding Protein and Moisture Levels-

I noticed during my ignorant hair days I would for some reason gravitate towards protein deep conditioners and protein leave ins. This always lead to my hair being very dry, hard, difficult to manage and prone to a lot of breakage. Although proteins are needed to help strengthen the hair, I did not understand the concept of protein and moisture balance and so I was missing out on a simple but golden rule in my opinion, moisture! Too much protein can cause major breakage and dryness so it’s always essential to follow up most strengthening protein keratin treatments (reconstructors, etc) with a deep moisturizing conditioner.

The thread that saved my hair’s life: Hair Breakage 101

Basic Things a Newbie Should Know:

Newbie 101

Protein and Moisture Balance

The Natural Haven

Favorite Homemade strengthening protein treatments:
Mayo and Olive oil or coconut oil/ Egg and Mayo
Yogurt and 1 egg/ Yogurt and honey

-Deep Conditioners-

My hair tends to be naturally strong so strengthening my hair is not an issue. Maintaining moisture however can be very tricky and difficult for me to manage because even though my hair likes protein I tend to over do it with moisture at times.

 Most deep conditioners are meant to moisturize your hair, there are some that tend to be a bit on the protein side so make sure you are picking up mostly moisture based conditioners if you don’t want to over do it with protein (list of protein free conditioners). I like to use deep conditioners every single week preferably with heat for 15-20 Min’s and have not missed a deep conditioner session since starting my hair journey.


Homemade Deep conditioners: 
Banana, Olive Oil hair mask (great for air drying)
Cream of coconut w/olive oil
Coconut milk and honey or Olive oil
Avocado, Banana and Olive Oil hair mask

Best when used with Heat ( flat iron, blow dryer)
Nacidt olive oil
Miss Key 10 en 1
Silicon Mix (mild protein/ moisture based)
Queen Helene Cholesterol,
 La Bomba
Deep Conditioners List

-Conditioners/Rinses-

There are basically two types of conditioners/rinses, protein based and Moisture based conditioners. I use conditioners after every deep conditioner session. Now for me this can be tricky at times because depending, let’s say I did a Protein treatment, followed by my usual moisture Deep Conditioner… depending on how my hair is feeling, my hair may need on that particular day either moisture or protein. I may use Hello Hydration (moisture) or Mane N Tail (protein), again depending on your hair’s need you may need to alternate between the two types. I usually tend to be more on the moisture side so I usually reach for Mane n Tale to help bring in some protein into my regimen.

List of protein and moisture based Conditioners

-Health, Diet and ingredients your hair should avoid-

I have always loved food and have always been amazed with the health qualities fruits and vegetables possess. Making sure you maintain an adequate diet is crucial to your hair’s health. It not only improved my hair’s success but also skin, nails and overall well being. Adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals as well as overall stress levels can benefit you hair’s health tremendously. Drinking water is very important for the body as well. It naturally rids the body of harmful toxins and it definitely reflects in your skin and hair.

Keeping away from chemicals is always the logical way to go. When I started out I wanted to use strictly all natural products. However I got all Dominican product crazy and I neglected to catch a very important point. Certain hair care products can be very toxic and straight up damaging for your hair so researching and being aware of certain ingredients is always key to a healthier overall you. Ingredients you should avoid.

-Pre-shampoo Treatments-

I started out with Pre- Poo treatments but now (due to laziness) do them maybe once or twice a month usually before I clarify. Pre-shampoo treatments are mostly used to curve the drying effects of most shampoos, perms, dyes, beauty salon visits, etc (especially those shampoos with SLS). Pre-poo treatments also helps add moisture, shine and strength to your hair usually leaving you with shiny soft results. Most of my pre shampoo treatments consist of oils, you can use an array of butters and conditioners too.

My favorite pre shampoo oil treatments you can combine each or use separately:
Pre-Shampoo ideas
Coconut oil
Olive oil
Honey

-Shampoos/clarifying-

I have not used a sulfate shampoo since starting my hair journey and I’m truly glad I stopped. Sulfates dries out the hair especially kinky curly types like mine. There are many types of Sodium Laurel Sulfate free shampoos on the market. One of my favorite homemade shampoos is Dr. Bronner’s. Very easy and affordable. Another  shampoo I have been using for quite some time is Hair One moisturizing shampoo. At times Hair One causes build up, but it does a good job at cleansing and moisturizing. Clarifying shampoos are great to use when you feel your hair has build up, is not responding to treatments or greasy.

List of sulfate free Shampoos

SLS

-Leave ins-

As I said, way back in my hair days, I always gravitated toward protein leave in and my one and only favourite one was Infusium 23. This is a very heavy protein leave in, now I’m not saying it’s bad in the contrary, I loved Infusium 23 and bought it religiously. But imagine doing a protein treatment followed by this leave in (usually skipping DC’s). I had severe breakage and dryness before I came to the simple realization of the true purpose of proteins. Leave ins are great and right now my favorite is Apple Cider Vinegar rinse. Also chi keratin mist has been a long time staple as well as Lacio Lacio (great when used with heat). Leave Ins helps your hair maintain strength, moisture and usually keeps my hair frizz free after rollersets.

-Porosity Control-

Depending on the health of you hairs cuticle layer, the ability for your hair to retain and gain moisture can be very difficult. A simple porosity control shampoo always does the trick for me.

Hair Porosity

Keep It Simple Sista

-Moisturizing, Sealing and Protective styles-

Maintaining protein and moisture levels was truly an awakening but second to that knowledge, I  truly have to say that moisturizing and sealing has truly helped keep my hair breakage and split end free as well as contribute to it’s current length. Moisturizing your hair followed by sealing in that moisture with oil helps keep hair moisturized much longer and helps maintain adequate shine and strength. Protective styles are also crucial because it hides your ends and keeps them from drying out and rubbing on your clothes, reducing split ends significantly in my case.

Split Ends 101

Let’s Talk Oils

So basically these are most of the tips and links I have saved throughout my hair journey. Everyday I’m learning something new so I may update this post every now and then. Finding out what works best for your hair type is very important, staying optimistic and well informed can lead you to healthy hair hassle free.

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Waist Length Challenge August Check In

This is my first official photo documenting my progress back in April (after about 10 months into my hair journey) when I decided to enter A Grl Can Mac’s Waist Length challenge. When I took this picture in April, my hair was very thick and a bit on the dry side. And of course I was ranting about my salon experience.

April 2009

July 30th 2010

This is my hair now, had a nice experience at the salon this time, so no rants. I went to a wedding the weekend of July 30th and since I rarely treat my hair to some heat and needed to check in with the challenge, I decided to hit up the salon and finally take family photos with my new found hair. This time around my hair looked and felt incredibly moisturized, healthy and not many split ends. The last time I cut my ends was in December of 2009 and I’m noticing that it’s growing into a “v”. I’m also surprised that my ends are still looking decent. Before I got to the salon I did a preshampoo treatment (honey and coconut oil) and walked in with it in my hair and brought along my Miss key 10en1 deep conditioner (10 mins w/ heat) and let them do their magic.

Despite my hair turning out really shiny, fabulous (that prepoo teatment never fails), and straight, my hair felt nowhere near as thick as it was back in April. I don’t know if you can notice in the pictures, but I definitely feel the difference.

Since I have had my curly fro out most of this summer I have not been moisturizing and sealing every night as I should and usually do (mostly laziness). My sister noticed my concern and mentioned that the stylist did a good job at keeping my hair straight thus perhaps reducing my thickness significantly. But I still was not convinced and thought many things could have been the cause:

1. wash n go’s/not maintaining adequate moisture throughout the day

2. detangling too often/skipping moisture and sealing sessions

3. too much co washing

4. too much protein by way of BPT

5. it’s just normal, as it grows longer it thins out more?

6. Maybe I need a little trim

I have a feeling that I may be overdoing it with either the co washing or the BPT Wheat germ or it is just NORMAL for my hair to feel this way. I have had about 2-3 shedding/breakage episodes since April but mostly due to moisture so that may be a factor. I don’t know what I may be doing wrong, maybe too much protein? Moisture? My curly fro sucking the life aka moisture out my hair? or maybe it’s just normal for my hair to feel this way? I don’t know.

Maybe it’s not a big deal but to take precaution I will lay off BPT and use it every other week as opposed to weekly and will also limit my cowashes to once a week. I will get back into Protective styles for the next two weeks and take my curly fro out every weekend or so. This is to limit my hair to the sun and just maintain more moisture since I feel I may be over doing it with the protein (BPT).

.

Despite my hair not being as thick as I had expected, I’m very thrilled with how healthy my hair looks. Never in a million years did I think I would be able to enjoy my hair frizz free nor see how much progress my hair has been able to make. I will be revamping my regimen, a post on that soon, right now I’m deep conditioning with Miss Key 10 en 1 review coming soon also.

I truly encourage you ladies to pay attention to your hair. It is not an easy task but the results are so worth it.

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Lychees vs Quenepas

Whenever you are on the train in NYC and you see someone carrying this bright orange bag, you know they got something very interesting from Chinatown.

I was passing through Chinatown the other day and picked up some lychees, 2lbs for $3. You can usually find them along Mott st. and surrounding markets. For those who don’t know, lychees are a very popular fruit throughout Asia. Lychees are very nutritious and contains vitamin C, Potassium, Copper and provides an array of health benefits. Lychees are also known to aid with intestinal health, sore throats, and basically contributes to overall well being.

With all that said let’s figure out how to eat these 🙂

When I first tried Lychees out I was immediately reminded of quenepas (more on them later).

Just like the quenepas (Spanish limes), you crack it open to reveal the fruit inside. The outside shell of the lychee is rather stubbly and bumpy.

So there you go, a bumpy road…

to reveal a sweet juicy heaven! The seed of the lychee is surrounded by the juicy pulp you eat.

This is one very unique taste and I had like 20 in one sitting and not one tasted sour at all. Each one had such a sweet taste and alluring scent (almost like pomegranate), it was amazing.

Now let’s try Quenepas out (Spanish Limes)!

I have so many memories with quenepas, limonsillos, mamoncillos, kenep, genip (they have so many names). These are also known as Spanish limes and they are truly a great part of my childhood summer memories. Spanish Limes are very popular throughout the Caribbean and locally you can find them in many Dominican, Puerto Rican produce markets.

Some say quenepas are a cross between lychees and limes but who knows really? I did not find a lot of nutritional information on quenepas other than it contains most of the same vitamins and minerals as lychees.

But this is what I did find:

“Virgin Islanders sometimes eat genip or kenip fruit to alleviate diarrhea,4 and Haitians sometimes consume powdered roasted genip seed syrup or tea for the same purpose.3 Virgin Islanders have also been known to take a decoction of genip leaves and stems orally for coughs and fever.4 In Haiti, the macerated juice of genip leaves is gargled to relieve sore throat, thrush, and tonsillitis.3 A decoction of genip leaves is also drunk in the Bahamas to lower blood pressure.5 “ from HerbalGram.org

So quenepas and lychess basically helps alleviate both stomach and throat problems. Unlike the lychees bumpy exterior, quenepas have a very smooth texture and they do look like small limes.

Like the lychees, you crack open the quenepas and the pulp surrounded by the seed is what you eat.

Quenepas have this weird coating over it which is what I really don’t like, and has a tangy taste, not sour just a light tangy taste. They were not as sweet as the lychees but nonetheless they are amazingly good .

So make sure to always look around and discover great fruits which are secretly sitting in amazingly great flavors. These are great to have chilled maybe in the fridge for a couple of hours or have it sitting on ice. So for this match I have to say lychees are my new favorite snack. Lychees are so sweet and have an amazing aroma and with my sweet tooth tendencies this is a great light and refreshing alternative.

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The Evil Eye (El Mal de Ojo)

 As a child I grew up around many fertile women and was always around newborns for most of my childhood. One of the main things the grandmother, aunt or even the father himself would always mention and have, would be “el azabache”, an amulet believed to protect the new born against the evil eye and negative energy. The azabache is usually a little fist made out of pure black jet in necklace or bracelet form, usually in gold, with black and red beads. True, real jet is basically fossilized wood from millions of years ago and has many protective and healing qualities helping treat depression, fear and absorbs negativity of all kinds.

Azabache

The belief in the Evil Eye is basically universal. Many cultures from around the world were and still are familiar with the the evil eye. It is believed that someone’s envious and negative stare (and of course feelings) can cause harm, illness and bad luck unto the person who is being admired or looked at with such low vibrational intentions. The belief in the evil eye spans many cultures and languages, each one uniquely and similarly providing a remedy against it.

A red string would also be tied somewhere around the new born’s crib or stroller to ward off negative energy and the evil eye as well. In fact those who practice Kabbalah, the “magical” aspect of Judaism, use red wool strings to ward off the effects of the evil eye. This is one of the reasons why you see many celebrities wear red strings to ward off negative energy associated with the evil eye in which Madonna suddenly made chic.

Mirrors are also known to ward off the evil eye as it was used in ancient mirrored armour to not only physically protect warriors but also to deflect negative energy from the evil eye as well. In India the yoni symbol (vagina) as well as cowry shells were believed to also protect against the evil eye. In Egypt the eye of Horus was used as an amulet against the evil eye while the Hamsa hand is very popular throughout the Middle East and parts of Africa. Eyes and horseshoes are common amulets against the evil eye in Turkey, as well as the Nazar Boncugu an eye made out of blue colored glass. In Mexico ojo de venado, a seed similar to a deer’s eye is used as an amulet. While in Italy la Mano Cornuto (the horned hand) and The Fig hand were widely recognized symbols against the evil eye and negativity.

Hamsa Hand

Recently in NYC I have noticed many street vendors sell Nazar Boncugu very common throughout Greece and Turkey.

Envy is a very powerful feeling and it can either make or break a person. A little envy can be the driving force for someone to be greater than the person they admire or it can turn into a very malicious force, intent on causing harm and misfortune, not only to the person being hated, but ultimately your own self. Not allowing yourself to become open to such negativity and low vibrations, in my opinion, is the best remedy against the evil eye.

One of my favorite personal amulets against the evil eye are cowry shells. I made a pair of earrings for myself a few months ago and would love to share a pair with my fabulous lovely readers. So if you feel you can use a little boost in keeping the haters at bay this amazing pair of evil eye earrings could be yours!

I will call this my Evil Eye giveaway and one lucky winner will win one pair of my most complimented and favorite hand made earrings. You can also find these earrings and many more of my creations on Etsy (opening soon).

So encourage your protective energy and enter!

Must be a follower

Giveaway ends August 20th 2010

CLOSED!

Good Luck!

Update: Sidenote

Did you guys notice Naomi’s necklace during her blood diamonds questioning?

Associated Press

It seems like she is wearing an evil eye pendant.

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Homemade Body Scrub: Lavender, Vitamin E and Almond oil

Every couple of weeks or so I like to try different types of homemade body scrubs. Usually my body scrubs always contains honey (to preserve), but this time I decided to skip honey and use oils primarily instead.

You will need:

Brown Sugar helps to exfoliate while the naturally occurring Glycolic Acid from the sugar helps open pores, smooths the skin, fine lines, also helps minimize ingrown hairs.  

Vitamin E is a great antioxidant ideal for wrinkles, fine lines and sun damaged skin.Vitamin E is also great for scars, is an ideal moisturizer and also helps preserve this mix.

Sweet Almond Oil is a very light oil with a variety of benefits especially for those with dry itchy skin. Helps bring a natural and soothing glow to the skin

Essential oils: I love oils they are very versatile and each one possess an array of benefits. Here I’m using Lavender oil which helps give the the scrub a light sweet scent known to relax. Lavender oil also helps regenerate new skin cells ideal for soft glowing skin. *Lavender oil can be photosensitive meaning that your skin combined with lavender oil and exposed to the sunlight can cause irritation* So when using Lavender oil for your skin care needs use it 12 hours prior to sunlight and always DILUTE your essential oils.  

You can get any type of container. The one I use for my scrubs is from a left over container from a deep conditioner.

Simply add your sugar to the container (I used about a cup and a half) followed by 1 teaspoon of almond oil, 2 teaspoons of Vitamin E oil, and 1-2 drops of essential oil

I love this body scrub, it’s very fluffy and light

This scrub lasts me about 3 days, I put it in the fridge just in case the vitamin e oil is not enough to preserve and I always make sure I close the lid tightly to prevent bacteria, usually honey helps prevent bacteria for my mixes but since I skipped honey I opted for Vitamin E to help preserve my small batch.

So there you have it a scrub that will leave you with smooth glistening skin. I usually always Dry Brush (review here) before I do my body scrubs and have to say my skin looks so much more moisturized and feels very soft and silky.

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