Is there anything better than sunny fall days? Sure, the hazy, cloudy days may give you all the typical fall feels, but to wear a cardigan and tights and have the sun forcing a semi-squint sure is special, even when the temperature is brisk.
I have never been one to wear any colour tights except black. I'm not sure why because there are so many fun colours to wear for fall-- mustard, burgundy, pattern, etc., and they are seriously a fall closet staple for me. I love multi-functioning rompers, skirts and dresses, and adding additional pieces like turtlenecks and sweaters to them to make them look like new. But, no way can I stand going bare legged. Hence the tights necessity! Rachel's Box is a subscription service that ships 2 pairs of quality tights to you per box. They select the tights based on your style preferences, and offer up tons of ways to style the tights if you were unsure on what to pair with say, burgundy tights. It's all about finding more possibilities in the wardrobe you have, which you know I am all for! They offer opaque, sheer, knit, sexy-- all the styles! It's a fun service and you can't go wrong with having an extra pair of tights! Especially if you're like me and tend to be on the go... always.
I love the look of burgundy and leopard together. It's risque, yet warm, and when you factor in the cheeky, high pony, you can totally get away with it at the office!
Do you have a black tight complex, or do you stray into the multi-coloured tight world? Be sure to check out Rachel's Box if you're looking for a fun way to re-discover your wardrobe!
Skincare is one of those topics I love to talk about with others and indulge myself in. I find it so fascinating hearing what products other people use and I don't mind splurging when it comes to high quality, natural products. But today we're getting serious. I like getting personal from time to time, especially when I feel like I can assist others who may be going through the same problem or have the same issue. You saw my post on my battle with rosacea (and no, none of those face care products were sent to me, they are just what I use), but today I'm going to fill you in on something that I've been struggling with for years-- psoriasis on my scalp. It got so bad in elementary school and I tried everything: tons of therapeutic shampoos, the tar shampoos, creams, topical lotions, you name it. Nothing would get rid of the pain, burning and itchiness I was experiencing. It got so bad that my scalp would literally bleed! I know it's gross. I had sores on my scalp, I couldn't wear black due to the flakes and it would only get worse when I was stressed. Not to mention it was embarrassing!
Fast forward a few years later and I have the problem basically under control, using none of the products, or prescriptions given to me. I managed to do this naturally without even realizing it! Now I know this may just be what works for me, and by no means am I advising you to stop doing whatever you are doing, but since it's totally natural why not give it a try and see if any of these techniques work for you? So here's the run down of how I managed to rid my scalp of psoriasis, totally naturally.
1. Diet
When I started to have gluten sensitivities and had to cut it out of my diet, I noticed a HUGE difference. Gluten is, after all, filled with inflammatory properties, so lessening up on wheat, barley, rye, etc. may help to reduce your severity. It really did for me! Although there really aren't any complete studies to prove that going gluten-free with clear up psoriasis 100%, so many others have found this to be the case. Other foods that can cause flare-ups are fatty red meats, dairy products, and refined sugars. Focus on anti-inflammatory and antioxidant rich foods like fish, nuts, fruit (especially watermelon, tomatoes, berries), veggies (spinach, broccoli, kale, beets) and turmeric. You all know I loooooove turmeric. Just be sure to sprinkle a bit of black pepper whenever you use it as it helps to absorb better.
2. Use Natural Hair Care Products
You'd think if I was using products prescribed by the doctor to rid my scalp of psoriasis, they would work. Right? Wrong? Nothing did! Everything was a temporary fix, and nothing actually worked to restore my scalp and give me the relief. Only when I stopped using all the products recommended to me and went au-naturel did I start to see results.
I told you I love testing out new products, but ultimately I know that for my scalp to be in pristine condition I need to always resort back to using the most natural products possible. I've been using natural shampoos and conditioners for quite some time to control it, but lately I've been hooked on Matrix's newest line Biolage R.A.W. (which stands for real, authentic, wholesome). I've been using the Uplift line for fine, flat hair, and am just smitten with the results. The shampoo is 71% natural, while the conditioner is 95% of natural origins, and neither contain silicones, parabens or artificial colours. The shampoo is made with black sesame and grapefruit, while the conditioner is made with kiwi and kaolin clay. The ingredients are sourced from the highest quality and from the most exotic places (think lava clay from Morocco, and white beeswax from Africa). My hair is unbelievably soft, silk, controlled and full of life. And, I can't believe the number of compliments I have been getting on its texture, look and feel. It's so soothing on my scalp and one thing I found is that is actually lathers like your typical shampoo, considering how natural it is this can be hard to come by. Using natural shampoo and conditioner is essential to getting my psoriasis under control. If you're in the market for a new one, you'll definitely want to test out one of the new Biolage R.A.W. products.
3. Washing/Conditioning with Cold Water
When you think of a nice hot shower, rinsing your hair with cold water is probably the last thing you'd want to do. But, seriously it helps! I find that I can calm and reduce irritation using cold water. If you can't fathom a cold shower wash your hair when you get out of the shower over the sink.
4. Stress Relief
This one may seem difficult, but since psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition you need to focus on treating it all the time. It can come in waves and attack when you are most vulnerable. Keeping your stress levels at bay helps to manage any flare-ups. Massages, yoga, meditation... see what works for you and try it out. A bubble bath with a few drops of peppermint essential oils, or lavender essential oils will no doubt get you relaxing. You can try making my homemade lavender scrub for the bath for ultimate relaxation. Peppermint is also great for the scalp as it soothes! And lastly, I love diffusing Saje essential oils before bed to really help me relax. The relaxation blends are amazing for calming, de-stressing and relaxing.
Getting your psoriasis under control naturally is possible! It just takes a bit of time and effort to try out which technique works for you. If you try one of these methods out, let me know how it goes! Or if you have another home remedy I'd love to hear about it.
Although I received the Matrix Biolage R.A.W. shampoo and condition as a sample to try, this post is not sponsored in any way. I wanted to incorporate these products into this post as they truly work for me and I hope they do for you too!
Ever since I was little I've always love crafting and creating. Whether it be snipping fabrics, making cards, or trying my hands at painting, I enjoy making things and turning nothing into something. When Tiffany sent me her latest book 'This Can Be Beautiful', it got me back into the DIYing groove! She is such an inspiration and the pages of her book are so colorful, sparkly and beautiful that immediately I wanted to tackle some of the DIYs. I love that this book is more of a rainbow-infused guide than an instruction manual. It gives you the creative freedom to really create and let your own personality come out, but it also gives you the essential "need-to-know" tips. I stopped into Value Village for some materials the other day and took to page 16 of the book to create this simple DIY pillowcase clutch. As soon as I saw this set of floral pillowcases (for 99 cents!), I was in awe. So pastel, so gold, so me! I knew it would make the perfect piece. I also scooped up some gold costume earrings which act as the (pretend) clasp and went to town on the clutch.
You can do this clutch with either a sewing machine or a hot glue gun. I opted for the glue gun method because of the simplicity. Tiffany also showcased the project on City Line and the steps could not be simpler! Check out this video for the full run-down.
Materials Needed:
Pillow case / fabric
Tea towel / old fabric (for lining)
Glue gun and glue (or sewing machine)
Fake clasp (earring, button, anything... or nothing!)
Self-adhesive velcro if you want the clutch to close (I didn't have any so mine doesn't actually "close")
Steps:
Cut pillow case and lining to size (keep the fabric 3x longer than the actual size of clutch you want since you'll be folding up the bottom and folding the top fabric down)
Glue (or sew) the towel completely to the pillow case which will act as your lining and give the clutch some more thickness (think, laptop protector?)
Fold up the bottom portion and glue just around the edges so that the middle is open
Fold over the top portion of the fabric and glue to the inside of the lining (that way you'll have more of a neat look)
Close your clutch and glue on your "clasp"
You can add the velcro to the inner flap to make the clutch actually a closing piece
See how simple that was? Tiffany's book is a creative wonder and will keep you inspired to turn the littlest things into such special, one-of-a-kind pieces! I love that she emphasizes that you don't need to go to the craft store and buy Martha Stewart branded items to work with. Garage sales, flea markets, your basement-- that's where to start. And from there let your creativity run wild.
You need to get your hands on Tiffany's Bookand infuse some glittery, rainbow fun into your DIY world!
Buy now:
"If all else fails throw some glitter on it. That's what I do."
