Beauty Tips from Stella Green

Many people are switching to organic or natural foods to improve health. There is also a rise in the use of botanicals in medicine and beauty. Aromatherapy is being to become more and more popular.

Conventional personal-care products contain an assortment of chemicals, including some that have been linked to health problems ranging from weight gain to cancer risk. While many natural and organic options exist, these can be pricey. Stay healthy—and save money—with homemade body, hair care and beauty products free of chemical preservatives.

Grandma used recipes handed down the through the generations in combination with the many herbs grown in her own garden to make teas, oils, salves and soap.

Today, herbs are added to many skincare formulas to soothe, strengthen and exfoliate different types of skin.

My good friend, Stella Green of Stella Green Botanicals stopped by to drop off an amazing Jasmine tea for me to try. I convinced her to stay for a bit and offer some beauty tips.

 Stella, let’s talk romance for a moment. Let’s say I’m getting ready for a romantic evening with my honey. What would you recommend?

Start with using a good scrub in the shower. I have one I developed using Almond oil, Dead Sea salt, and essential oils. This will get rid of dead skin cells to make your skin soft and glow with health. Something you for sure want during a moonlit walk.

Hmmm... I love the smell. Say, I have super dry and sensitive skin. After showering I always have to add lotion. What do you suggest?

One of my favorite products is the gentle Calendula Lotion. The base of this lotion is Calendula flowers infused into olive oil. They are gentle and healing for sensitive skin. Aloe hydrates and lavender pure essential oil gives you a nice scent and adds to the healing qualities. The soft fragrance is very relaxing.

This is perfect for summer! 
Now what about a speical scent for the night?

Use perfume oil. They are made of pure cold pressed jojoba oil blended with essential oils, infused with herbs, spices, plant resins. When you apply a natural perfume oil it works with you to create your own personal scent. Always try a fragrance on before you purchase it. I recommend for a date night, place the fragrance on pulse points.

Yes… pulse points such as behind the ears and cleavage! Some of the best places to be kissed! 

I have her working on a special scent, Legend of the Spirit, to capture the essence of the characters and stories I write. 

Thanks for stopping by today, Stella. I love this tea!!!

You can find Stella at the local Farmers' Market or traveling to various botanical events. Stop by her FACEBOOK PAGE.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a holiday that commemorates the Mexican army's victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The date is perhaps best recognized in the United States as a date to celebrate the culture and experiences of Americans of Mexican ancestry.

Special events and celebrations highlight Mexican culture, especially in its music and regional dancing. Grab some friends and host a party or spend the night in with your honey. Prepare a Mexican meal, make some margaritas, throw a couple Mexican blankets over the couch, light some candles and create your own sensual adventure. Check local costume shops for Cinco de Mayo outfits and do some role playing or dancing.





For some amazing Margarita recipes check out The Best Margaritas of Texas.





Visit the Food Network for some yummy recipes to celebrate the holiday.



If you need help turning a hum-drum day into a Mexican fiesta you need a little help from CHEF AARÓN SÁNCHEZ. Sanchez is the Owner/Executive Chef of Centrico & Paladar as well as a Food Network Star & Cookbook Author Award-Winning Chef. Check out his website.

#WeekendRomance #Food&Wine

I love chocolate (the darker, the better).

I love cherries and I love wine.

 On a whim, I bought a bottle of Cocobon Wine. I liked the description on the lable.

Experience Cocobon, a harmonious blend that tantalizes the senses and transports you along a spell-binding journey to Nirvana. Become immersed in deep crimson tones that deliver decadent aroma and flavor, from dark cherry to rich vanilla, mocha and cocoa.

Oh the lable wasn't kidding!  This beverage is an orgasm for the tounge.

When inhaling the arroma, the scent was sharp but sublte with only the faintest hint of berries.  The smell carries dark raspberries with vanilla and the flavor is even better. At first you taste a rich full flavor of red fruits. The soft, mild tannins were completely overpowered by the luscious flavors of rich vanilla and dark chocolate. This powerful combination then melted into a blueberry finish with just a hint of bite to help the flavor linger on in the mouth. Even after you swallow, the flavors continue to dance on the back of your tongue.

I highly recomend to enjoy this drink slowly for the wonderful experience! 

Perhaps the wine is so appealing because it was created by a lady winemaker Georgetta Dane.

It takes a woman to know what a woman really wants in a wine!

She continues her journey at Cocobon, where she harnesses the power of all her senses and creates a Zen-like balance at the intersection of art, science, and soul.



Tasty Tuesday - Oatmeal Cookie shot

I belong to a Coffee Club, a fun group of Divas who drink coffee when we meet in the morning. But when we meet at night...we just drink.  On Friday, I was given an Oatmeal Cookie and I don't mean the one with oats & raisins.  It was delicious.

Ingredients

• 1-ounce Jagermeister
• 1-ounce Irish Cream Liqueur
• 1-ounce Butterscotch Schnapps
• 1/2-ounce Cinnamon Schnapps
• Raisins, for garnish, optional

Directions

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass over ice.

Here are a few variations.

Dirty Oatmeal recipe

1 1/2 oz Jagermeister® herbal liqueur
1 1/2 oz Bailey's® Irish cream

This is a layered shot - the Bailey's must be on top.

Oatmeal Cookie recipe

1/2 oz Grand Marnier® orange liqueur
1/2 oz butterscotch schnapps
1/2 oz Bailey's® Irish cream

Pour ingredients into a stainless steel shaker over ice, and shake until completely cold. Strain into an old-fashioned glass, and serve.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie recipe

1/5 shot Jagermeister® herbal liqueur
1/5 shot Goldschlager® cinnamon schnapps
1/5 shot Bacardi® 151 rum
1/5 shot Kahlua® coffee liqueur
1/5 shot Bailey's® Irish cream

Combine ingredients in equal parts in a shot glass.

A Personal Note - "You Don't Look Sick"

I’m not one to put my personal laundry out there,

but today I feel the need to rant a bit.

I have Lupus, a “sub-category” of Connective Tissue Disease and at times my body is racked with pain to the point of sitting and doing nothing hurts even more. Most people don’t know I have it, and many that do know don’t understand what it is.... because I don’t look sick.

"My immune system attacks itself. What does yours do?"

What is Connective Tissue Disease?

Connective tissues are groups of fibers and cells that “connect” the framework of the body and literally hold it together. Their functions include cushioning, protecting, supporting, insulating and strengthening the body’s tissues and organs. Examples of connective tissue are tendons, ligaments, cartilage, blood, bone, and the dermis of the skin. Because connective tissues exist in so many structures of the body, disorders of these tissues may involve a variety of symptoms, including pain and dysfunction in different areas of the body.

Overall, treatment should include a lifestyle plan to optimize health and reduce symptoms. A well-balanced nutritional plan, regular physical activity, plenty of rest, and routine testing to monitor the progress of disease will aid in controlling this disease.

Complications of connective tissue disease include:

■Difficulty performing daily tasks (uh... like opening the lid to the pancake syrup or snapping my jeans.)

■Increased pain and dysfunction (hurts to walk, move, breathe)

■Joint deformity and destruction (don’t even want to think about it)

■Severe discomfort or pain (due to side effects from pain killers, secondary medications may be needed to treat those)

Basically, there is no cure... the pain will only get worse. One may have to fight depression if the thought becomes to consuming. Suicide rate is high; I guess you could say lack of relief from pain and lack of compassion can make a person literally go crazy.  "Brain Fog" is hard to explain when others get upset with your lack of attention and forgetfulness.

LUPUS -

A chronic inflammatory condition caused by an autoimmune disease. May cause depression, fatigue, hair loss, sensitivity to sunlight and changes in weight.

OR...

May cause optimism, excuse to stay in bed, experimentation with new hair styles, getting to flaunt your Derby Hat all year round and more shopping sprees.

A positive goal is to live a life of some kind of remission and have a strong network of people who will be there when things get tough, even though you don’t look sick - they know when your body and heart hurt.
I hope this helps and if you know of someone with CTD, please share this with others. Sometimes the pain is so bad I want to cry, but even crying hurts. However, what wounds the most is when I’m in pain and others look at me as if I’m lying and say, “You don’t look sick.”

Lives

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Strength

Visit the Lupus Foundation of America

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