Benefits of Green Tea and Apple Cider Vinegar (you want to read this!)

I wanted to share with you today a few things that I am really excited about.  One that I have tried myself and the other that I am going to be starting very soon.  The first thing I am going to talk about it Green Tea and it's benefits.
A few months after I got married (November 14, 2009 wedding date) I started to notice the skin on my face breaking out.  I have never really had a problem with my skin.  Of course I have had a few blemishes here and there, but for the main part I really got quite lucky on that end.  My skin became so bad that I looked into products like ProActiv and Murad to help contain the problem.  Both of these products, plus many other acne products, contain Salicylic Acid.  This is AWFUL for my skin!  My skin actually became even worse after using these products.  In desperation I turned to YouTube to find some alternatives to the harsh effects of acne face washes.  After learning all about different concoctions to put on your face I came across a few videos recommending Green Tea.  As I am a tea freak anyway (yeah, I really am a Brit), I thought this would be a perfect thing to try.
I started out by brewing my own Green Tea in the mornings and taking it to work in my Thermos cup and drinking it at work.  Within the first two weeks I noticed not just a difference on my face but my body all over.  My face problems are completely gone!  My boss has told me that my skin is flawless, haha (ok this makes me sound a bit conceited, but I am just putting it in here to show the awesome benefits of GT!).  Also, I felt more awake in the mornings.  Even though Green Tea does contain caffeine, it contains less than coffee and most teas, so you can get the slight boost of energy that you need without the jitters and the common crash of high doses of coffee.  I also noticed a slight drop in my weight when paired with healthy eating and exercise of course.  Green Tea has been associated with weight loss, but don't think you can just drink this and be super skinny.  On that note though I will say that drinking such a good for you drink in the morning really sets the stage for making good, healthy choices throughout the day.  And having more energy makes you want to exercise.
Green Tea is mainly known for having a high antioxident level, higher even than some leafy greens.  Antioxidents are what helps kill the free radicals in your body.  These mean guys destroy healthy cell growth and existing cells.  The biggest problem with this cell destruction is cancer growth.  Green Tea has been shown to stop people from getting certain types of cancers.  If it does that just think about all the other benefits it has for your body!
I love drinking Green Tea because it is a great way for me to get wonderful nutrition for my body without taking a daily vitamin, which all make me sick to my stomach.  I even drink hot tea during the summer as it actually makes you perspire and then in turn cools you off.  I also just found out that if you drink Green tea 2 hours after a workout, it kicks your metabolism into high gear, burning 1/3 more fat than normally would be burned after your workout.
Next I want to talk about Apple Cider Vinegar.  This is something that I have yet to try but from the research I have done, I am really excited to get started.  ACV is made by a process where apple cider is left past the point of fermenting into alcohol, ending in the vinegar stage.  Most people's eating habits are not always the best and we tend to have a pretty acidic pH level in our bodies because of this.  Even though ACV is in fact acidic itself, it has an alkeline effect on the body, neautralizing our bodies pH levels.  What this means for you?  When your body is in balance, your health and wellness shoots up!  A few things that ACV has been known to help with are weight loss, diabetes, acne, other skin issues like eczema, digestive issues and arthritis just to name a few. 
When looking for ACV try to get the unfiltered, unprocessed kind.  This way the goodness of the ACV will not have been taken out by trying to make the product "look good" for the consumer. 
Green tea is obvious pretty easy to figure out how to ingest.  Just brew yourself a hot cup every morning and enjoy.  If it is just too hot, try brewing a big batch at night and leaving it in the fridge over night to cool.  Then in the morning you can have an iced Green tea, it is really good with a tablespoon of honey!  Most importantly make your own Green tea.  Pre-packaged Green tea does not hold nearly as many antioxidents as if you do it yourself, and hey let's face it, it CHEAPER!
For ACV the easiest way to take it is in the morning before breakfast.  Take a quick shot glass of it and you are over and done with it!  If you just can't take the taste of it, try adding it to a full glass of water, fruit juice, or veggie juice.
Wow!  That was really long!  Sorry about that, but I really hope that this helped you guys and that maybe you will try some of these super easy and super good for you ideas!
Sending much love and health your way!
Thanks for reading!
Gabby xoxo

Listening to the Spa Channel and Getting Creative :)

Milo did his first vanishing act last night.  As you know Matt went out on a fire last night.  When he came home at 1:30am he told me that he found Milo outside.  Half asleep I tried to figure out how he escaped.  Because it rained last night I opened the windows.  Turns out one of the windows I opened did not have a screen on it as Matt is fixing them before we move.  Open window, curious cat, you get the picture.  But he stayed around and that was good!
Matt went to work this morning so I decided to get up early.  That really is the nicest time of the day in the desert.  I put on my favorite blue tie dye maxi dress, got my morning chai and went down to the river park to enjoy a few minutes of quiet.  I even had my XM radio tuned to The Spa channel, haha.  Yeah, I was super relaxed :)  After that I did a quick walk about the Farmer's Market (very small here in Cbad, but still impressed we have one). 
I then got the creative bug!  I really want to make my own feather earrings, but I am not finding any feathers in the stores here.  Unfortunately our nearest craft store is an hour away in Roswell.  So I decided to pick up some charms from WalMart and I made some super easy but cute earrings with those and then I beaded a couple of bracelets to go with today's blue outfit.  I love beading.  I used to make bead jewelry all the time when I was younger and I love it when I make time to do that again.
Matt is finally home after another 2 fires today.  No rest for the weary, poor bear.  Going to watch the Adjustment Bureau, very excited for this one.  I'll post my thoughts on it tomorrow.  And if you have already watched it let me know what you think.  I am also reading 22 Britannia Road right now, it's fantastic.  So when I am done with that I will write a review too.
Stayed tuned for tomorrow's blog post, I am going to talk about the AMAZING-ness (yeah that is totally a word) of Green Tea!
Thanks for reading!
Sending crafty inspiration your way,
Gabby xoxox

Rain and Fire

It is ACTUALLY raining!  Not just rain for a few minutes and then the baking sun comes out again, no, it's like a thunderstorm out there.  We have not had a recordable amount of rain since last September, with the exception of last Friday.  It must be a Friday thing I guess.  This British girl needs rain to survive!  Desert living is probably not the best idea for that, haha.  As I am typing this Matt just got called out on a fire.  Hmmmmm you say?  Yeah I know, same here!  The thing about storms in the desert is that everything is super dry and when there is rain there is usually lightening, which then in turn sets all the dry stuff on fire.  Matt had to work until 7 and now has to turn around at 7:33 and go back in.  We are both very over this fire season.  Our taco salad dinner which we were just about to start has now turned into a Hot Pocket for Matt and a bowl of cereal for myself.  Woohoo!
Now it comes down to what movie to watch?  Or in my case, probably, what book to read?  Let me know your suggestions. 
Here are a few quick pics of the babies.  Milo looks crazy, like normal and Tucker just wants some belly rubs, he's definitely the easy child, haha.
Thanks for reading!
Loving the rain, done with the fires,
Gabby xoxox

Milo playing with the camera cord

Tucker boy, giving his best puppy dog eyes, awwwww :)

Baby Blue and other fine treasures

Had an eventful week.  Started out in Albuquerque with Matt.  Needed to get the AC on the car fixed.  Ended up buying a new car, haha.  It's awesome!  A brand new Nissan Rogue in Indigo Blue.  Her name is Baby Blue.  Even though it was a super fast trip, Matt and I had a great time.  I'm not sure if someone spiked our ice tea at lunch, but Matt and I laughed so hard on the trip back home (4 1/2 hours).  We were crying with laughter.  Things have been a bit high stress lately, which always puts a strain on relationships with those who are closest to us.  It's good to have a break once in a while.  Reminds us of what is really important and what treasures we have in life with those we love and those who love us.
Then it was back to work on Wednesday.  The girls at the office are learning a new computer system.  I don't have to learn it as my last day is next Friday.  So I managed to get everything caught up.  All those jobs that get pushed to the wayside when you have lots of other things to do.  It's so refreshing and stress relieving when you get those things finished!
Even though it was a short week for me I am still ready for the weekend.  I need to get to packing and garage sale organizing.  Not at all my fave things to do, but definitely needed!  I'll do some blogging I'm sure (will need some procrastinating projects, haha).  I went to Sephora and the Body Shop in Albuquerque, so I will share some of my goodies!
Thanks for reading!
Grateful for all my blessings,
Gabby xoxo

Albuquerque and a Mental Health Challenge

The hubby and I are taking a trip up to Albuquerque today to hopefully fix my car.  The AC has completely gone out and there is no way you can live in the desert without AC!  I love my car but I am concerned with how expensive it is to fix and, with the research Matt has done, there seems to be more issues that have been happening to other people who own a VW Passat.  A new car may be in order, but trying not to jump ahead of ourselves.
Anyway, so that is just a little bit about what I am doing today.  What are you up to?  Feeling a little stressed out lately?  Work or personal problems really getting to you?  Your mental health is so important and it sometimes gets pushed to the wayside.  With our busy lives we only seem to take really good care of ourselves when we are physically ill, even then sometimes we don't.  So I have a challenge for everyone today.  Take sometime just for yourself today.  Even if it is 10 or 15 minutes sitting on your back porch, or right in front of your AC if you are living in one of the heat warning states! ;)  Catch up on some reading, write an email to a friend you haven't talked to in a while, or call your mom.  Try not to sit in front of the TV though, this does not help us relax, especially with all the crazy things going on in the world.
This blog is my time for myself.  I hope you all make this challenge happen today.  Mental health can really affect our physical health.
Love and good mental health to all, thanks for reading!
Gabby xo

Top News:  We are moving! Finally!! :)  To all my Carlsbad peeps, I'm sorry I am so excited, but this girl needs a bigger city with WAY less heat!  Matt and I are moving North to Salt Lake City.  I have been accepted to the Aveda Institute Provo, which is about an hour south of SLC.  We will probably be living somewhere in the middle of SLC and Provo.  Matt is waiting on all the final paperwork for a BLM wildland fire job, but government paperwork is very slow, so we have to be patient about that.
My first day of school is September 19th and I am sooo excited.  Aveda is such an amazing school and business and this beauty nut is going to love going to school and work!  My goal is to start out as a stylist and makeup artist and then open up my own salon down the road.  I have always wanted to own my own business and Aveda is going to be a wonderful foundation to start from.
Now comes the awful part of packing.  Ugh!  Not a fan, as you can tell.  But with my goal of SLC and school, I think I will be able to get it done.
The question that is on everyone's mind: Do Matt and I have plans on becoming Mormon?  Have no fear, the answer is defininitely NO!  Matt and I are both Methodist, one of the most laid back religions you can get.  And I am way too lazy to follow all the rules of being a Mormon.  No caffeine?  This British gal is NOT giving up her PG Tips!  All respect for the Mormon religion and those who are part of it, but it's just not my perosnal cup o tea.
You may all come and visit us now that we are going to live in an exciting place with lots to do!  Carlsbad has the super awesome caverns, but after day one, there's not much else. 
Well that's just a very quick update.  More to come!
Thanks for reading!
Gabby xo

Pink Pout

Loving this season's trend of the bright lips!  I'm usually a nude lip gal myself, but I tried out the Hot Pink lip and I love it!  Here are a few tips for getting the perfect bright lips. 
First thing you want to do is exfoliate your lips.  This can easily be done with a soft toothbrush or I like to use my face scrub and quickly run over my lips when I am washing my face.  Then make sure you moisturize with a balm.  I really like NARS lip balm, but any will do. 
As you are going to have such a bright color on your lips, a lip liner is essential.  Bright colors, like this Hot pink, are not very forgiving when you draw outside the line! :)  Sephora makes really great lip liners.  They come in about every color under the sun, are creamy, and are only $5 each, which is less than most at drugstores.  I have a very pale pink one which also works for a light nude lip. 
Next apply your Hot pink lipstick.  I got this one at the drugstore.  I think it is from the Revlon line.  Apply one coat, blot, and then apply a second coat.  This will help the lipstick stay longer.
You can finish there if you like more of a matte look or if you are a gloss freak, like myself, you can finish with either a clear with a slight shimmer gloss, like Make Up Forever's lab shine, or this light pink shade gloss by T Tarantino (both available at Sephora).
If you don't think you are ready for Hot Pink lips just yet, try a few shades brighter in your normal color of choice.  Maybe in a berry or brown.  Either way try something new with your makeup this season.  It's amazing what a little change can do.
Thanks for reading!
Gabby xo

Intro into this Crazy girls blog!

I wanted to start a blog to keep everyone up on my life.  I know, let's keep the excitement down to a dull roar :)  There is a lot going on in my life, not to mention my mind (yikes), and I believe this is the easiest way for everyone and anyone to see what is happening with this crazy chick!
I will be talking about what is happening in my life,  ideas and opinions on beauty and fashion (two of my fav things), tips on B and F, and anything that I think you guys might find interesting (or at least will read just to make me feel better).
If you are my family, you have to read this.  If you are my friend, thanks for reading.  And if you don't know me and you are just reading my blog just because, what are you thinking??  Haha, j/k!
Hope you all enjoy!
Hugs and Cheek kisses,
Gabby xo