Hello beauties,
I believe that focusing on your health is instrumental to having a “Happy New Year.” So I want to encourage you to add a few health and wellness resolutions to your list for 2014. I am breaking many bad habits, myself and want to invite you along for the ride.  I listed a few ideas I think we can all benefit from.  This is not an exhaustive list but just a few suggestions to get you started.
1. WORK IT OUTÂ
Start moving! To be healthy your body needs to be in motion especially in the winter months. The cold season slows us down and leaves us feeling tired and sluggish. Exercising can help alleviate that! You don’t have to spend a ton of money on a gym membership. All you need to do is engage in some form of physical activity daily such as walking your dog, doing yoga, or playing with your children enough to get your heart pumping and blood circulating.
2. DRINK THAT JUICE
I was introduced to juicing in 2013 and it was my favorite discovery of the year. Juicing is a great way to consume a lot of fruits & vegetables fast. It does take some planning but once you get the hang of it it’s easy, extremely healthy and yummy. I’ll be sharing some of my favorite recipes with you all throughout the year. Don’t hesitate to share yours too!
3. SHUT THAT EYE
In 2014, I want you to sleep more. I’m not telling you to be lazy or neglect your responsibilities but I am asking you to realize the importance of sleep.  Nighttime is when your skin gets rejuvenated, body repairs itself and thoughts are processed. So being well rested is instrumental to looking, feeling and performing better. Your goal should be to sleep for as long as your body needs. For most adults this takes 6-8 hours.
4. CLEAN UP
You’ve probably heard this a million times already: remove your makeup before going to bed. This is really important since, as I said earlier, nighttime is when your skin is rejuvenated. It is also when your skin absorbs whatever is on it like dirt, bacteria and makeup. As for daytime care, I suggest you wear sunscreen to protect your canvas from harmful UV rays and this even in the winter.
5. GO NATURAL
Regardless of your race, hair texture or ethnicity you should consider going natural. Most mainstream hair products you can find in drugstores are made with harmful chemicals such as petrolatum and mineral oils. Luckily for us nature has everything we need to grow long healthy hair. So consider using all-natural products to care for your mane this year.
6. WHAT’S UP DOC
Better safe than sorry! Get regular check ups with your family doctor and don’t neglect going to the dentist. I hate going to the dentist as much as the next person but seeing him every 6 months for practically all my life has helped me keep a healthy mouth and shiny smile!
7. GIVE UP THE PROCESS
Get into the habit of avoiding processed foods and soda. I know that for some of you the simple thought of going through the day without a can of diet coke is like a curse word but soda is full of sugar, high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners which are terrible for your health. Â Processed foods are also full of harmful chemicals in addition to trans fats, saturated fats and did I mention the calories?
Here’s to living your best and healthiest life!
Stay Conscious & Chic!
