Colouring for a Healthy Mind

Have you heard of the latest craze - adult colouring! News outlets, articles and even store displays have been featuring nothing but colouring books! I have definitely been sucked into this craze. My colouring obsession started last summer when I purchased a $10 mandala book. I haven't hit the brakes on this one yet! I love colouring - I can't stop! I love choosing a new design, picking the colours, using different colouring materials and seeing the finished product. There's just something about fulfilling your inner creativity once you've completed a full picture that brings a sense of calmness and tranquility.

Speaking of which, there has been a lot of talk about how colouring is beneficial to the mind and soul. I'm not sure if there is any concrete stats or research complete on just how much colouring is beneficial to the human body and mind, but just Google 'adult colouring' and you will be sure to get a few results on the benefits of adult colouring. While I don't have solid evidence either on how beneficial colouring can be (I'm not a researcher!), I can definitely see how it affects my mind and body in a positive way.

Many of us work standard, routine jobs. There are very few of us that have a job completely dedicated to creativity. We get home and tasks generally are routine as well. It's not long before we feel the need to get the creative juices flowing. Colouring is a great activity for that! It's a creative outlet that allows you to express yourself through colour, pictures, patterns and doodles. Practicing in one creative outlet leads to fresh and new ideas. This affects spills over to almost every aspect of your life: work and personal.

We spend so much of our time consumed by technology and media that our minds all need a much deserved break at the end of a long day. Colouring allows for this. It allows for your mind to be focused on doing a simple and easy task. Instead of picking up your tablet and phone before going to bed, why not try colouring for a few minutes? It could probably make for better sleep as well.

The act of colouring can be really relaxing and can bring about a meditative state of mind. Being relaxed is very important to your overall health and how you feel as a person. I can't imagine how being stressed all the time would feel as well as all of the side effects to go along with it. Next time you're stressed, instead of pouring yourself a glass of wine, why not spend a few minutes colouring?

Colouring can also help when we're going through something difficult. I talk about stress in the point above but maybe you're going through a difficult situation like a loss or maybe you've just hit a wall. Colouring can take our minds off of the situation/difficulty at hand (just for a little bit) to re-focus our minds. It can be a great way to cope. I've read many articles where individuals are using colouring to overcome or deal with a difficult situation in their lives.

(The finished picture is on my Instagram!)

Being an adult can be difficult and sometimes all we want to do is revisit our childhood. Colouring is a great way to do so! I think it has become so popular because it brings individuals back to their childhood. Not only is it a flashback to the past but it's a way to fulfill that inner child in all of us. I think at some point every adult experiences this yearning at least once in their life and colouring can be a great way to address it! As much as we all have responsibility and lives to lead, it's important to 'play' as well.

Well there you have it -  my opinions on colouring and how/why you can colour yourself to a healthy mind. Let me know if you're interested in having me share my finished colouring pages.

Do you colour? What have you coloured so far? And why do you like colouring?

~Usha

How Cleaning Can Be Effective Exercise

For most of us, tidying up and general cleaning is a weekly, or daily occurrence. Sometimes, it takes a huge amount of motivation for me to get up and start cleaning. One thought that has made cleaning easier is that I can incorporate exercise into my cleaning routine.  I love to stay active when I am at home by walking or standing. Think about it - lifting things, rapid movements and physical activity while tidying and cleaning can only aid you in making you more fit! Here are some ways that tidying and cleaning can be an effective use for exercise.

• Putting objects away requires lifting, walking and climbing stairs. Instead of placing an object in it's place, think of it as a weight. Maybe do a few squats or bicep curls before putting it away. (Pump that iron!)
• Carrying your heavy laundry basket up and down several flights of stairs can definitely make you sweat. 
• Pushing a heavy vacuum around adds weight to your step. (And makes your carpet clean!)
• When carrying items up and down stairs, take a little extra time to repeat the process. 
• To add on to my point above, step up and down continuously on your bottom step for 1 minute. 
• When cleaning underneath a bench or bed, do some push ups!
• Take out the mop and bucket and get mopping! It's a good arm work out.
• Get down and scrub the bathroom tub. Again, really great arm work out. 
• Scrub the toilet while doing a squat. Not only are you getting an arm work out but you are working your inner core. 
• While folding your clothes, try balancing on one leg or do a runner's stretch. 

With so many options to engage in physical activity while tidying and cleaning, there's more motivation to make the process a little easier. Tidying and cleaning is not my favourite thing to do, but by incorporating exercise into it, I can transform a dull and boring chore into an activity that adds to my overall wellness. I am always looking for creative ways to add steps and movement into my daily activity. 

How do you incorporate exercise into your daily household routine?

~Usha

5 Reasons Why I Switched to All Natural Deodarant

It feels that I've always had problems 'there'... By 'there' I mean my armpits. Yes, we are totally getting real today! Growing up, I always had a sweat problem where no type of deodorant could control the amount of sweat I produced. While I have come far from that problem, I recently found the need to switch to an all-natural deodorant.

Before the switch, I was using a brand of deodorant called Secret. Secret is very popular here in North America. I've been using this brand for as long as I can remember. While it never really did 'wonders' for me, I've continued to use it for many, many, MANY years! It was only until recently when I realized that I must switch to an all-natural deodorant. Here are five reasons as to why I have switched to an all-natural deodorant.

1. Chemically filled deodorant kept ruining my clothes. I would wear a clean, crisp white shirt and by the end of the day there would be a yellowish, dark stain under my arm pits. Not cool - at all. I would have to use special cleaning products to remove the stains. This ended ruining the quality of my clothes. It was too much maintenance for clothes, all because of deodorant.

2. The deodorant was doing nothing to stop my problem of sweating. I was still sweating! Sometimes I would sweat so much it would show through my shirt (which is awfully embarrassing!).

3. I would have to keep re-applying deodorant several times throughout the day as I felt the deodorant wasn't doing its job or making me smell 'presentable'. What's the point then of even wearing deodorant if you still smell odor?

4. The deodorant was not a true testimony to its claims on the packaging and through advertising. It wasn't doing its job, not for me anyways.

5. Why was I continuing to use a product that is made of harmful chemicals? I think I deserve to use a product that is more 'friendlier' to my body.

These reasons lead me to make a life changing switch to a deodorant called Tom's of Maine -  an all-natural deodorant. I did a lot of research online and my decision really came down to the availability of a brand in my local department store and pricing. This this was my first time using an all-natural deodorant, so I didn't want to invest loads of cash. Tom's of Maine was affordable and readily available, so that's what I choose it. I couldn't be happier! Long gone are the days when I had to spend time on the weekends trying to scrub away those nasty armpit stains on my clothing. You know what's also gone too? All of those embarrassing sweat stains! (Sigh) Such a huge relief! I wish I had known about deodorant alternatives much earlier in my life.

I didn't mean for this blog post to be a review on the product. However, if you are interested in learning more about the product, let me know. I can also do a detailed product review for those who are interested.

All in all, switch to an all-natural deodorant! It's so much better for you, your body, your self-esteem and especially your clothes!

Do you use an all-natural deodorant?

~Usha

5 Reasons Why Using A Face Towel is Awesome

Using a face towel during your morning and night facial routine is a must for me. There are so many reasons why I could not go back to using my bath towel as a face towel. There are also many reasons why I wouldn't rely on a wet cleansing cloth as well. I was hesitant to spend money on a buying a bunch of face towels as I originally thought it was a waste of money. This decision, however, has made a major positive change to how my skin feels and looks. Here are five reasons why using a face towel is awesome!

1. You don't want to track dirt or other bacteria from a used towel to your clean face. Trapped dirt and bacteria is what causes breakouts and disrupts your skin. Using a clean face cloth every time you pat dry your face will ensure you are preventing this as much as possible.
2. Helps to prevent breakouts. The more times you use a clean face towel to pat dry your face, the less breakouts you will see and everyone likes that!
3. They are reusable! I use one side during my morning routine and the other side during my night routine. I go through one face towel a day. You don't have to discard the whole towel after one use, which is awesome.
4. They are easily washable. It's a bad idea to reuse a side more than once. So wash those towels! Pile all the similar colours together, add some laundry detergent and let the machine do all the cleaning for you.
5. It is such an economical method to your facial routine. Get a whole bunch that would last you at least the whole week. At the end of the week, you can wash everything. Places like Costco sell a bunch in a pack, which will definitely last you more than a week. It's definitely worth the purchase, since you won't have to be repurchasing this item anytime soon.

Are face towels a part of your beauty routine? If so, what do you use them for?

~Usha

10 Tips to Live a More Meaningful 2016

Happy New Year! I hope 2015 was full of adventures, positivity and great memories. Sometimes, things don't always go our way, but we have to make the best out of the situations that life gives us. At times, we can feel that we don't have control over of our lives and destiny and this is very true. But there are some things that we can control and decisions we can take charge of. The year of 2016 has just started! Make it your best, your most awesome year yet! Here are my top ten tips to live a more meaningful 2016!

1. Treat the new year as a fresh start. Let bygones be bygones. Leave the bad and ugly in 2015 and start 2016 with a fresh new slate.
2. Goal setting is great, but don't set yourself up for failure. Set a manageable amount of goals (I would say that 3 is plenty) within a short time frame (about 3 months). When you achieve those, set other goals.
3. Challenge yourself to do something you would never think you can do. This makes life so much more interesting and adventurous. It's also a great lesson about human willpower.
4. Create new adventures by trying something new. Maybe you want to take a pottery class or take an unplanned road trip. There is no better time to do it than now.
5. Make more time for the things you love. If you surround yourself by doing more of the these things, you will become a happier person and a live healthier lifestyle.
6. Get rid of the negativity that drags you down. Life is too short to spend time and energy on something or someone that does not add value.
7. Be kind to yourself and others. Saying 'thank you' or giving someone else a compliment can make you feel like you are on cloud nine. Try it!
8. Slow down. Living in a society where everyone is always on the go can be draining and do harm to your health. Try slowing down by waking up slower, walking slower or eating slower.
9. You are your best friend. You deserve a break and lots of 'me time'.
10. Read a life changing book. A personal recommendation is 'Spark Joy' by Marie Kondo.

Do you have any tips/plans to make 2016 more meaningful?

~Usha

4 Holiday Lip Colours To Wear This Holiday Season

I love buying new outfits for special occasions - especially during the holidays. Wearing a new dress or the perfect top and pant combo can give you the boost you need to get into the holiday spirit. Even more fun, is picking out some new and old makeup favourites to go with a new outfit. A bold lip can give be the perfect statement to make you dazzle during the holiday season. Let's talk about my four favourite holiday lip colours to wear this holiday season!

MAC's Diva

Red is a classic makeup staple during the holiday season. This cool toned red is the perfect 'christmas' red to pair with your holiday outfits. I love the texture and long lasting power of this lipstick especially during the season of holiday gatherings. Pair this lip colour with a peach blush and you're good to go!

Sephora's Lip Stain in 'Always Red'

I love having different shades of red in my makeup collection. Depending on what outfit I'm wearing a cool or warmer tone is crucial to making it complete. I love this shade of red of Sephora's line! Honestly, if I could wear it everyday I probably would...The only issue is that this red doesn't necessarily pair well with all colours. I usually pair this red lip stain with whites, blacks, greys or reds. I love the staying power of this lip stain (they really mean lip stain when they say it!). Very pigmented and I love the smell of it! Whenever I wear this lip colour, I always get compliments!

MAC's Rebel
Introducing other lip colours aside from red into your holiday makeup look is a must! While I love a classic red lip, there's something about switching up the norm. For me that means a deep purple/berry lip. MAC's Rebel lipstick couldn't fit this description any better. Such a great holiday colour to spruce up your outfit. This shade of purple has a warmer tone. Pair this with the perfect lip liner and you are ready to party all night long!

Sephora's Lip Stain in 'Blackberry Sorbet'
Since I love the Spehora lip stain product, I had to get it in purple. This purple lip stain has more of a cooler tone to it, giving you a completely different look for your night out. The formula and lasting power is outstanding! Application of this product can be a little tricky since the product does stain. Apply a lip liner and go slowly. Don't rush. Take your time with the application and you'll be sure to have the perfect holiday lip!

What are your favorite holiday lip colours?

~Usha

10 Beauty Stocking Stuffers

Christmas is one of my favourite holidays of the year. I look forward to the Christmas holidays for quality family bonding, delicious food and great conversation. Hand in hand with the holidays is gift giving. Gift giving can be a daunting task that creates anxiety for many. To make things a little easier, I thought I would share my ten beauty stocking stuffer ideas for the makeup enthusiast in your life!

1. Stick on nails
2. Deodorant - everyone needs this!
3. Blotting sheets
4. Eyebrow stencils
5. Maybelline Age Rewind concealer
6. Drugstore mascara
7. Drugstore eye liner
8. Lip scrub (Elf's is amazing for only a $1!)
9. Revlon Colourburst Matte balm
10. Lip balm

What are your favourite beauty stocking stuffer products?

~Usha