Monday, December 31, 2018

Happy New Year! #bye2018 #hello2019 🍾


It's New Year's Eve and I'm REALLY excited for 2018 to come to an end! This past year has been pretty brutal for me and my family, to say the least. So I'm excited to say buh-bye to 2018 and I'm hopeful that 2019 will be a much better year and bring with it great things!

My resolution: to have a healthier and happier year!

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me over the last year (and beyond) and wish you all a very prosperous, healthy, and happy 2019! πŸΎπŸ·πŸ™‹πŸ’•

Happy New Year!!!🍾🍾🍾


Friday, December 28, 2018

Top 9 Instagram Posts For 2018! #TopNine2018




At the end of every year, I post my top 9 Instagram posts on my Instagram page and figured I'd share them here, too.

I use the app topnine . You can also get your top 9 posts from their website without downloading the app. They will just email you your top nine once it's ready.

It looks like my giveaways are the majority of my popular posts (6 of 9). Some of my other top posts were @loreal @topbox @topboxcirlce @gardenoflife @robinmcgrawrevelation @farleycobeauty @farleyco @zoella and #jasonnaturals

Stay tuned for more giveaways coming up! Although most of my giveaways are hosted here on my site, some are on Instagram only. Follow me there so you don't miss any! Here's a link to my Instagram.

If I don't see you before the new year, I wish you all health and happiness for 2019! 🍾

Happy Friday, everyone! πŸ’‹


#loreal #topbox #topboxcircle #giveaways #instagram #gardenoflife #supplements #robinmcgrawrevelation #farleyco #farleycobeauty #zoella #jasonnaturals 

Thursday, December 27, 2018

The Best Natural Sleep Aid For Insomnia!


I've struggled with severe insomnia since 2002. I won't get into the reasons why it started but let's just say after a stressful life event triggered it, it just snowballed from there and took on a life of its own. Since then, I have resorted to every gadget, treatment, therapy, and natural product that I can get my hands on, always with the hope that I'll find "the one."

Over the years, I have found many things that work for me and someday I may share a quite extensive list of the ones that helped the most. There is no way I could include everything, just a variety of what has worked for me. My problem is that even though I find many things that help my insomnia, nothing sticks or keeps my sleep deep, long, and restful. For example, products like 5-HTP help with my sleep but if I take it too many days in a row, it starts to make my sleep MORE restless, so I have to keep switching it up and changing what I take to try and help with my sleep. The struggle is real!

Today, I need to share with you an exciting new product discovery for me as it may also help some of you, and I know there are so many people suffering from insomnia these days.

I came across this product by chance, I wasn't even looking for something for my sleep at the time. Well, I was but it was an eye mask as I have to sleep in total darkness. So I stumbled across this product in my search and I've been using it for a few weeks now with excellent results! Not perfect, but it's one of the best things, if not THE best thing that I've found for my sleep in a long time.

The great thing about this supplement is that it's very customizable in terms of how much or how little you take thanks to the spray dispenser. For example, a dose is considered 6 sprays but because I am very sensitive, I can take just one spray and wait and see and then another if I find I need more etc. This also makes it more economical for me.


Mercola Sleep Support


The supplement I'm talking about is by Dr. Mercola, it's called Sleep Support. It does contain a small amount of melatonin which I'm a fan of, but as much as I like melatonin and it does help me sleep at times, it can also have the tendency to make me wake prematurely ie, 3-4am. So, the fact that this has a very small dose of melatonin that is also customizable, allows me to take melatonin without experiencing the negative effects. This supplement has quite a unique blend of ingredients that are effective, and as I've said, very customizable in terms of dosage. It's pleasant to take and has a sweet raspberry flavour. I spray it under my tongue for best absorption and hold it there for a minute or two.

Description:
One pre-metered superfine spray dose will increase your feelings of sleepiness, help you fall asleep faster, enhance your overall sleep quality, which in turn improves your morning alertness and reduce daytime fatigue.



Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 6 Sprays (approx. .78 ml)
Servings Per Container: Approx. 32
Amount Per Serving%DV
Niacin (Vitamin B3) (as Nicotinic Acid)1.5 mg8%
Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine)3 mg150%
Dr. Mercola's Special BlendTart Cherry (from prunus cerasus [fruit] concentrate)
Chamomile flower extract
Jujube (from Ziziphus jujuba [seed] extract)
46.1 mg*
Dr. Mercola's Neuro BlendGaba (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)
L-Theanine
L-Tryptophan
Melatonin (1.5 mg)
5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan)(from Griffonia simplicifolia [seed] extract)


I've had great results so far and no aggravation or side effects. Although my sleep is far from perfect, this is definitely one of the best things that I've found for my sleep in a long time. I just have to play around with the dose and timing. It's pretty economical, especially if you are like me and take less than the full dose (I usually take between 1-3 sprays). If you suffer from insomnia too, you know that you can't put a price on a good night's sleep. If something works, I wouldn't care how much it costs! But, I am sick and tired of spending a ton of cash on things that don't work!

*Tip: If you wake up prematurely like I do (around. 3-4am), consider taking this product or any melatonin supplement upon awakening as that sometimes puts me back to sleep and may work for you. But, I don't recommend this if it's any later in the morning. Since I started this Sleep Support Supplement by Mercola, I haven't had to do this as I've been going back to sleep on my own!

Update: this morning I actually slept through the night and didn't wake up prematurely for the first time in a long time.

If you or someone you know has insomnia, I urge you to give this a try. And, please let me know how it works for you or your loved one. I'd love to hear your feedback.

I purchased mine from iHerb for about $15USD and had free shipping as I was purchasing other products and qualified for free shipping. They do ship to most countries and shipping is very affordable.

I will definitely be repurchasing this product!

Click here to purchase and save 5% on your order!

*Don't forget to speak with your Doctor or healthcare practitioner before starting any new supplements.




Not sponsored. Purchased with my own money. Contains referral links. Thank you in advance if you choose to use them!


Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Mabox Award Winning Acne Clarifying 20% Vitamin C Serum Review #antiaging


Featured Product: 
Mabox Award Winning Acne Clarifying 20% Vitamin C Serum $73 (Currently $36 CAD)

My Skin type:
Aging, Dehydrated, Acne-prone, reactive

Ingredients:
Made From 100% Natural Ingredients

Water, Butylene Glycol, Trehalose, Silk Amino Acids, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Beta-Glucan, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Morus Alba Root Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Sorbic Acid, Parfum.


I've been using @maboxcosmetics #awardwinning Acne Clarifying Vitamin C serum for over a month now. 🍊 Although I don't suffer from acne on the regular, I have very reactive skin and many vitamin c serums make me breakout. This product does not!
.
It not only contains 20% vitamin C but also has silk amino acids, Lecithin, Niacinamide, hyaluronate, just to name a few of the fabulous ingredients. 🌹
.
What I love about it is the fact that I get the antioxidant benefits of vitamin C along with the super hydrating benefits of hyaluronic acid. I could actually forgo my moisturizer if I wanted to but I'm definitely extra when it comes to skincare. It absorbs nicely and leaves my skin soft and glowing.
.
One of my favourite uses for this product that I discovered by accident is using it after #dermarolling. It doesn't sting my skin at all and my skin really gets to drink in all the fabulous ingredients! 😍
.
Whether you suffer from #acne or just want the #antiaging benefits this is a great product for both! πŸ’–πŸ’–πŸ’–



Not sponsored. PR product provided free for review. All opinions are my own.

Saturday, December 15, 2018

7 Yoga Exercises that Help Accelerate Hair Growth



7 Yoga Exercises that Help Accelerate Hair Growth

Losing our hair undoubtedly feels awful and it creates a great havoc on our mind. Due to a sedentary lifestyle, both men and women suffer from hair loss. Especially when it comes to the latter, every woman wishes for long, healthy and shiny hair.

There are a number of reasons that can lead to hair loss, such as age, environmental pollution, poor diet, stress or hormonal unbalance. No doubt, technologies have definitely made our lives easier but everything has its own pros and cons. We look for temporary solutions to combat hair loss, like cosmetic products or hair styling products, without addressing the cause from within.

As beauty comes from the mind and a healthy mind leads to healthy living, It is important to maintain a balance in your life. For this, yoga is your ultimate guide to a strong mind and healthy body. Furthermore, yoga can be exceptionally beneficial for hair growth. The more downward-facing yoga positions you do, the more blood goes to your scalp and follicles, resulting in faster and healthy hair growth.

There are various factors that can lead to hair loss, including but not limited to:
  • Hormonal disorder
  • Thyroid
  • Nutritional deficiency
  • Stress
How does yoga help with hair growth? 

Yoga has many wonderful benefits for a healthy body, healthy skin and healthy hair. At the same time, it is very important that you maintain a healthy diet and eating habits, which will also boost your yoga practice and hair growth simultaneously. Yoga and pranayama have been proven as an effective method for improving overall health. Yoga will benefit your hair by:
  • Removing stress & anxiety
  • Enhancing blood circulation to your scalp
  • Increasing oxygen transport to the brain
  • Increasing better nutrient absorption 
  • Balancing hormones
  • Improving digestion
  • Improving physical and mental health

Best yoga poses for hair growth

Ancient yoga practice has now become popular worldwide. Following are seven yoga exercises for hair growth:

1. Balayam Yoga


Balayam yoga for hair growth is one of the simplest and most natural yoga exercises mentioned in the ancient books of yoga.

Benefits of Balayam yoga:
  • There are nerve endings below our fingernails which stimulate the blood supply to hair follicles.
How to do:
  1. Bring your hands close and rub your fingernails (except thumb) of both your hands.
  2. Try to rub the surface of the fingernails hardly against each other.

2. Sarvangasana

Image Source: Beautifyyourself.com


Also known as shoulder stand pose, Sarvangasana is considered one of the best asanas. It also supports hair growth by activating the most important glands of the body. 

Benefits of Sarvangasana :

The most important benefit of this asana is that it addresses the thyroid and parathyroid glands. By bending the neck, there is increased blood circulation to these glands.

How to do:
  1. Lie down in the supine position or lying on your stomach.
  2. Raise your legs slowly upward and bring it to 90° angle.
  3. Bring the legs towards head by raising the buttocks up.
  4. Raise the legs; abdomen and chest try to form a straight line.
  5. Place the palms on your back for support.

3. Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Paschimottanasana

Image Source: Bikramyogasanjose.com


Also known as standing separate leg stretching pose, this asana is the eighth of the 26 Bikram poses.
Benefits:
It increases the circulation to the brain and adrenal glands. When these hormones do not work properly, testosterone levels changes, which can lead to hair loss. Bikram yoga can fight hair loss caused by hormonal imbalances.

How to do:
  1. Stand straight and take a big step to your right.
  2. By widening your stance, it will be easier to stretch.
  3. Try to keep your spine straight while bending forward and grabbing your ankles.
  4. Keep this position for a few minutes and take a short rest before repeating.

4. Sirsasana

Also known as headstand, this pose helps relieve stress and calms the mind. Sirsasana also helps solve endocrine-related problems and improves blood circulation.

Benefits of Sirsasana:

Sirsasana helps rejuvenate and revitalize the brain by directing an enriched supply of oxygenated blood to the brain cells. As a result, scalp cells gets nourished, which leads to hair growth.

How to do:
  • Kneel down with your buttocks resting on the heels of your feet.
  • Lean forward and place your forearms on the floor and interlock the fingers of both of your hands.
  • Place the top of your head flat on the floor while pressing the back of your head against the interlocked arms and lift your heels.
  • Stay still in this position and return to normal position after a few minutes.

5. Ustrasana

Image Source: Yogiapproved.com


Also known as camel pose, Ustrasana directs the blood flow towards the scalp, while also balancing any abnormalities of the thyroid gland that can also lead to hair loss.

Benefits of Ustrasana:
  • It increases the blood circulation to the brain and scalp cells, leading to hair growth
  • It also regulates the thyroxin hormone of the thyroid which can lead to hair loss.
How to do:
  • Sit on your knees while keeping your body straight.
  • Bow your spine backward and touch the heels of your feet.
  • Move your face upwards and retain this position for a few minutes and slowly come back to normal position.

6. Vajrasana
yoga-hair-growth

Image Source: The Fit Indian




Also known as diamond pose or thunderbolt pose, Vajrasana will make your body as strong as a diamond! It is one of the easiest yoga poses, and you can even perform it after finishing your meal.
Benefits of Vajrasana:

Vajrasana helps improve digestion and increases the blood supply to all parts of the body. With the increased supply of blood, our scalp cells (i.e. dermal papillae cells) also get nourished, resulting in hair growth.
How to do:
  • Simply sit down on a flat surface and bend your legs backward.
  • Try to match your ankles to buttocks and retain this position for a few minutes.

7. Uttanasana

Image Source: Yoga Destiny


Also known as standing forward bend, Uttanasana helps rejuvenate the entire body. You can practice this asana in the morning or in the evening.

Benefits of Uttanasana:

  • It helps in the proper blood circulation in the upper part of the body.
  • It also helps to provide relief from stress and anxiety, which are one of the main causes of hair loss.
How to do:

  • Stretch your hamstrings and abdomen muscles and bend downwards.
If you will do these yoga poses regularly, along with natural remedies for a healthy hair, you will surely be able to combat your hair loss.



Author Bio: Dr. Kapil Dua, Co-founder, Chairman & Chief Hair Transplant Surgeon of AK Clinics. He always stresses the importance of best results & patient-physician relationship in the era of hair restoration.


Guest post. Not sponsored

Monday, December 10, 2018

Healthy is Beautiful, Beautiful is Healthy: The Relationship Between Health and Beauty


Healthy is Beautiful, Beautiful is Healthy: The Relationship Between Health and Beauty


In the current age of social media, it is easy to get caught up in skewed perceptions of our physical self. Societal ideals of beauty focus heavily on vanity, rather than what is truly important, the inner self. Rather than vanity, beauty is found in the things which make us happy and whole. But how does one recognize the importance of maintaining their health in order to change their perception of beauty?

Owning a practice with a focus on both physical and spiritual health, Dr. Paramjit “Romi” Chopra of MIMIT Health encourages patients to recognize their health as important and beautiful. Dr. Chopra combines both holistic and modern health practices, to treat the body as a vessel which needs the utmost quality of care. The meaning of beauty, he believes, is not limited to concepts of vanity, but exists within the person.

Health is one of the most, if not the most, important thing we have in life so without our health, what do we have? Despite the ideals that have been instilled in us for decades from society and pop culture, there are ways to turn correct them and learn that being healthy is the best way to be beautiful. Dr. Chopra has tips on recalibrate the brain to that way of thinking.

Mind and body balance: When a person is able to find a balance between mind, body, spirit and emotion, there is harmony. If those four components fall out of balance, it can lead to negative effects on overall health. Through holistic and modern medicine, it is instilled through self-care and lifestyle how to strike that balance and maintain it. Finding this balance creates a harmony that projects inner and outer beauty

Self-care: Self-care is key to learning that healthy equates to beauty because it allows one to be in tune with what their body is trying to tell them. It is about assessing what stressors and factors might be contributing to the cause of the aliments the body is fighting. If we are able to identify the outside factors, such as stress, lack of sleep, etc., then it is easier to take the steps to change those factors and find a level peace within oneself. When at peace, the inner health radiates out to reflect beauty on the outside.

Lifestyle: Lifestyle is very similar to the act of self-care. While self-care is being aware of what the body is trying to tell us and correcting it, lifestyle is about incorporating self-care into everyday life to establish a continued balance. Maintaining a balanced lifestyle can consist of a number of components ranging from taking a daily prescription to adjusting diet and exercise routines. If there is nothing to release serotonin and endorphins the body will feel stagnant and heavy, which creates a negative outlook of self. With a balanced schedule that includes proper sleep schedules, exercise and eating right, the body will find its balance on the inside, which is exuded outward with clearer skin, better mood, etc.

Know yourself: Everyone is born with different bodies; tall, short, broad, lanky, etc. Being in tune with how your body helps us determine what will make you healthy. Finding not only a balance of diet and exercise that works for an individual body type, finding a balance of doing things on the day to day that makes you happy will help project your inner peace and beauty outwards. If we spend all our time working and not engaging in things that make us happy, the body will not only not be healthy but it won’t feel beautiful as a result. Burning the candle at both ends won’t work easy, balance is key.

Despite the standard of beauty set by society, there are a number of ways to correct that train of thought. Knowing that you are healthy should be the key to feeling beautiful, and being healthy is the key to projecting inner health outwards. Balance of mind, body and soul is one of the best ways to bring inner and outer beauty together in harmony. To be balanced and healthy is the new definition of being beautiful.



About Dr. Paramjit “Romi” Chopra, M.D:
Dr Romi Chopra is an interventional radiologist with over 30 years’ experience in the field of interventional radiology and endovascular therapy. The standards for his daily work were set after completing his medical studies and training in Mumbai, India, followed by his fellowship and residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in the US. After working extensively in academia and research, Dr. Chopra became one of the youngest heads of an interventional radiology department in the US. Eager to share his experience, he placed great emphasis on training and introduced a wide range of education and research programs for students, colleagues, and residents. At the same time, however, he was committed to keeping the focus firmly on patient needs at all times.

Dr. Chopra opened the Midwest Institute for Minimally Invasive Therapies (MIMIT) in 2004. As an interventional radiology and endovascular therapy practice, MIMIT specializes in minimally invasive treatments for arterial disease such as peripheral artery disease (PAD), uterine fibroid disease (UFE), venous disease and musculoskeletal disease (spine interventions).

Dr. Chopra believes the path to long-term success lies in treating patients’ spirit, mind and body – not just their medical conditions. His institute has given him the opportunity to create a well-thought-out environment where patients and their families can feel calm, get the information they need and be treated with cutting-edge healthcare technologies.


*Guest post. Not sponsored

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

How to: Hacks to Relieve Menstrual Cramps Naturally!


If you're like me and suffer from horrible menstrual cramps every month, I want to share with you something that I wish someone told long ago! It would have saved me decades of unnecessary suffering.

First, let me start by saying that menstrual cramps can have many causes from PCOS (which I have had) to more serious causes,  so you should always check with your doctor and rule out anything serious, and get the okay to take any medications and/or supplements.

After suffering from severe cramps for over a decade, one day, I found out about a natural way to reduce my horrible cramps substantially.  I was with a boyfriend who was seeing a very expensive natural doctor in Yorkville and before we left, he said: "Hey, Doc, any recommendations for monthly cramps for my Girlfriend?" The doctor replied that I should take a calcium/magnesium supplement every day for at least 10 days before the onset of my period. Seemed so simple, and it was!

I picked up some calcium/ magnesium supplements right away and followed the doctor's orders. To my delight, when my period came, the pain was about a 2 out of 10 vs. the usual 8 or 9 out of 10. Keep in mind, you must take the calcium/magnesium for at least 10 full days leading up to your period. If you just take it the day before your period or on the day of, it will not reduce the pain. If you have trouble swallowing pills, a liquid calcium/magnesium supplement will work just as well, if not better due to the better absorption.

Shown are some of my go-to products. I've been using them for years.

Calcium Magnesium Supplement

Liquid Calcium/Magnesium

Also, a heating pad can work wonders! But, we obviously can't always be attached to a heating pad all day. If you can't spend all day on your heating pad, there are also stick on heat patches that were created for back pain that can be used. Just place a patch on your tummy and the heat will penetrate your skin and help reduce the pain. These patches are another great hack for relieving cramps naturally.


Heating Pad
Heat Patches

And, don't forget to make some time to relax as relaxing the muscles is what reduces much of the pain. Sip some hot beverages, too. Preferably chamomile and/or ginger tea as they have anti-inflammatory properties.

A tip worth mentioning is to stay away from caffeine as it can worsen cramps as it's a stimulant and vasoconstrictor, which means that it makes blood vessels constrict and that can also worsen cramping of the uterus.




I wish I had learned these tips sooner as it would have saved me from so much suffering... these hacks really work! This isn't to say that I never take some Ibuprofen. There are times that I forget to take my calcium/magnesium for the 10 days prior and I have to turn to Ibuprofen for relief.

I hope these hacks help you if you also suffer from debilitating cramps. I'd love to hear if these hacks work for you or if you have any other tips and hacks to relieve cramps naturally.




Not sponsored
Some links are referral link. Thank you if you choose to use them.

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Stocking Stuffer Ideas For the Beauty Lover With FarleyCo Beauty!



Today, I'm sharing some fabulous stocking stuffer ideas for the beauty lover on your shopping list. Some of these are absolute favourites of mine and all are super affordable! 🎁


EcoTools makes some of my favourite makeup brushes. They are priced right, are super soft and they don't shed. They are also a cruelty-free and eco-friendly brand.

The set featured here is their Start the Day Beautifully Kit and includes a storage tray, angled foundation brush, blurring brush, defined crease brush, angled liner brush, and full blush brush. SRP $18.99.

Available online and at many drugstores.

You can also find them here: www.farleyco.ca/ecoTOOLS



Real Techniques is another one of my favourite affordable makeup brush brands. They are also cruelty-free and their products are innovative and high-quality. I've yet to have a Real Techniques brush that has shed on me.

This Mini Multitask Brush is perfect for travel or to keep in your makeup bag as it has a short handle but it has a full-size head, so you'll get the same application and results as you would with the full-size brush. SRP $8.99.

Available at most drugstores, mass retailers, and online.

Also available herewww.farleyco.ca/Real-Techniques



If you have someone on your list who loves to stay organized or is tight on space, check out this Real Techniques Single Pocket Expert Organizer. You can store anything in here from makeup brushes to skincare, or any kind of tools you wish. It securely clings to glossy bathroom surfaces like glass, mirrors, marble, tiles, and laminate with no residue, no suction cups, adhesives, and no wall mounts needed. SRP $14.99.

Available at most drugstores and online.

Can also be found herewww.farleyco.ca/Real-Techniques



7th Heaven face masks are so affordable and accessible. They have over 50 face and hair products so there is definitely something for everyone.  They stay away from harsh and toxic chemicals and always use all natural ingredients whenever possible. They are also cruelty-free! SRP $1.99.

Available at most drugstores, mass retailer, and online.

Can also be found herewww.farleyco.ca/Montagne-Jeunesse



Splat Hair Color makes fun and affordable hair colouring products that you can use at home. From fun pastels to super vibrant shades, there's a colour for everyone! Some of their products leave permanent results, while others can be washed out.

Featured here is their Midnight Amethyst Hair Color. SRP $14.99

Splat Midnight hair color kits is made for having fun and expressing yourself - anytime, anywhere, any way you please. And no one gives you more vivid color than Splat.
This bleach free kit contains everything you need for one dye job: dye, instructions, gloves, the works. And this color lasts, you can expect our color to last up to 30 washes depending on your hair type. Splat - If you can dream it, you can dye it.

Available at most drugstores.

Also available herewww.farleyco.ca/Splat



Flexitol Heel Magic is literally like magic for your feet! I have used this product in the past and was blown away. The stick type applicator makes it easy to apply to your feet and heels and is mess-free. It claims visible results in 3 days and I had visible results after one application before bed. It transformed my dry scaly heels and made them look sandal-ready. No skin cream has ever worked remotely as well as this product does. My partner always wants to steal mine, so this is a great unisex product for gift-giving! Flexitol also has lip care products as well as products specially formulated for eczema. SRP $14.99.

Available at most drugstores, mass retailers and online.

Can also be found herewww.farleyco.ca/Flexitol



MesmorEyes Full Lashes are the first false lash brand that I ever tried. I like that they specify what eye shape each set of lashes is suitable for. For example, they specify that this particular set is suitable for almond, mono, round, and hooded eyes. I found them very easy to apply and they stayed on all day. This is their Dramatic Lash set in #304. SRP $5.99.

Available at drugstores, Amazon, and online.

Can also be found herewww.farleyco.ca/MesmorEyes


I hope you liked these beauty stocking stuffer ideas and hopefully, it gave you some ideas for the beauty-lover on your list!



Not sponsored. No affiliate links. Pr, all opinions are my own.
End of code