Makeover

Have you ever had a make-over?  A 'new do' for a 'new you'?

I have.  Yesterday in fact.

Yesterday, I walked into my favourite Salon and said 'let's do this'.  I got my hair cut.... short.  Probably 8-10 inches shorter.  I got my hair coloured... haven't done that in probably 5-6 years.  So yeah, I would consider that a make-over.

You might be wondering, why the new look?  Well, that is a good question.  You see, I am currently in the process of evaluating everything... not only my appearance, but my wardrobe, my office space, my business, my website, and yes, my blog.  You could say that I am in the process of 're-branding' myself, of 're-branding' my business.

I have talked a lot on this blog about change and about personal transformation.  And while a lot has shifted and changed on the inside, so far, it doesn't look a whole lot different on the outside.

The problem is, the gap is ever-widening.  The 'me' inside, the one who I have been transforming into and the one who I call the 'real me', is getting ready to shine, to show herself to the world.

I feel like a brilliant shining flower inside, encased in a protective, layered shell.  For a long time I felt like needed the protection (and I can see now that it served me well), but lately I have been working on removing that hard outer shell so that my light can shine through.

How about you?  Are you different on the outside then you feel on the inside?  What is stopping you from shining your inner light out into the world?  Oh, I know it's scary.  I've been there, heck, a lot of the time I am still there... but I know that I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

If this resonates with you but you aren't sure where to start, remember this:

The REAL you is so much better than the person you think you should be...

It is my mantra for personal transformation!

With love,
Maren

PS: Here's a sneak peak of the new do:

'Greening' your beauty routine

'Au naturale' has a whole new meaning around here! 

After more than a year of 'living with less', I have definitely had my share of successes/failures in the DIY department.  Lately however, I have been enjoying some positive results in the beauty/hygiene department that I thought I should share.

1. Using Aloe Vera juice as a skin toner - This one is oh-so-simple and really inexpensive (compared with the toners that I have previously used).  You can find Aloe Vera Juice at most health food stores and once opened it can be stored in the fridge for quite a while.  Just soak a cotton ball twice daily and apply to clean skin.  It feels oh so refreshing and soothing!

2. Using Cinnamon as blemish treatment - This is my latest discovery.  If you are like me and lucky enough to be experiencing late-onset acne (yahoo!), one of the things that I have found to work really well for spot blemish treatments is cinnamon.  Just make it into a paste with water and apply directly to the blemish.  It works amazingly fast and you will feel it start to burn/tingle.  Don't worry, this is what it is supposed to feel like as it brings fresh blood to the skins surface which helps to heal the blemish and get rid of the bacteria that caused the little bugger.  Leave on for about one minute and rinse with water.  One more thing - take care to apply only to the blemish itself and not the surrounding skin, a Q-tip can be helpful for this.

3. Using Tea Tree Oil as a deodorant - I have had many people ask me what I have done to replace the deodorant in my life and the truth is, normally I just go stinky... cough, I mean, 'au naturale'.  The truth is, sometimes I have noticed that I don't smell as fresh as I could, especially after a yoga practice or a lively dance session with my son.  So, I have taken to applying tea tree oil to my underarms in the am or whenever I need a 'refresher'.  It works amazingly well.  It won't help you stop sweating (you are supposed to sweat, remember?), but it will keep any unwanted odors at bay.  Just use a cotton ball to apply and of course, discontinue if it irritates the skin (I have been lucky and this hasn't been a problem for me)

4. Neti pot, neti pot, neti pot!!! - I am prone to sinus infections and after suffering through 6-8 weeks of cold/flu season the fact that I made it through without one is some kind of Christmas miracle (and yes, this expression is STILL in my vocabulary from December).  I would like to say that I credit this feat with my superior meditation/affirmation skills, however I firmly believe that my daily Neti pot practice has something to do with it.  After all, this 'technology' has been around for centuries, maybe even milennia.  If you haven't tried one yet, DO!  They work amazingly well. 

If you have any questions about any of the above, lemme know and I am at your service.  Otherwise, happy beautifying!

Marebare

PS.  Marebare or any of her necessities cannot be held responsible for the results that you may encounter while trying any of the above practices (unless of course they are positive results and then I am more than happy to accept full responsibility!)