Author: Dana

Do you wear animals on YOUR face??!!…..Vegetarian Skin care products and its benefits!

Beauty

What exactly does it mean to be a vegetarian? Vegetarian simply means that an individual does not consume any meat/animal products or byproducts of animals. In addition to this, vegetarians do not take part in, acknowledge or consume anything by which animals are slaughtered. So what are by-products? By products are simply anything that may come from an animal that can be consumed: such as: milk, eggs, etc.

So imagine being a vegetarian and consuming mostly a plant based diet. Eating healthy; fruits, vegetables and an omnivore diet. The body begins to have more of a water based, antioxidant, nutrient dense existence! This then leads to a decrease in acne which results in clearer skin! Antioxidants leads to the body being able to protect the skin from damaging free radicals. The more damaging free radicals there are in the air near your skin, the easier it is for your skin to age at a faster rate if not protected by an antioxidant!

Vegetarian diet helps you body gets twice the natural love that it needs! I advise to begin by using vegetarian products on your skin. This way your skin does not accelerate in age and you can look more youthful than the average person your age would!

Cool facts about your average fruits and vegetables:

  1. Red and yellow peppers are known for having vitamin C. These vegetables can prevent the appearance of wrinkled and dry skin with age.
  2. Sweet potatoes, tomatoes and avocado are known for preventing sunburn!.
  3. Broccoli contains a special compound called sulphoraphane that is known to protect against skin cancer!
  4. Mangoes have been known to reduce oil on the skin and revitalize skin! So if you have oily skin like myself, mangoes are your go to!

So why not place these fruits and vegetables on your skin by starting with a vegetarian skin line! In this video, you will see me using a skin care line called Alba Botanica. I am using the pore purifying pineapple enzyme Facial Cleanser and the matching Facial Scrub. This skin care line labels themselves as a vegetarian skin care line. They stay away from meat and animal products but there are a few products that they have that do contain honey within them. They also manufacture vegan skin care products! So enrich your skin and try the vegetarian products from Alba botanica.

Stay at home facial….. Monthly skin care routine for OILY skin!

Beauty

In my youtube video here, you will see that I have certain products that I believe has really been game changer for my skin. The first application is the kale water by Pacifica beauty that I use as a skin cleanser. It is a tonic that I have been using for months now to clean my facial pores before applying any other products when conducting my monthly facial. As you can see in the video, this skin tonic revealed dirt on the facial pad. This proves that no matter how much you may wash your face, Your facial cleanser always leaves something behind! This tonic is not only vegan, but it is also cruelty free. The most powerful ingredients within this product are kale and grapefruit. I say this because, according to my blood type, my body sees these two ingredients as boosters! (I read a lot about my body based on blood type and I will explain that in another blog post).

The next ingredient in my youtube video is Tumeric. Tumeric is a natural antioxidant, anti-hyperpigmentation and anti-inflammation spice! Many people don’t even know that this product located in their own kitchen has so many properties that it has become a holy grail in many other countries for skin care.

Honey has natural bleaching properties and also helps the skin undertake eyes to relax. Honey also has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties that improve blood circulation and boost collagen production that aid in ridding the under eye area of dark circles/ hyper-pigmentation.

I mix the tumeric with honey and create a paste like substance. I use it to help reduce the dark circles under my eyes. As you can see, the left side of under my eye has cleared up from darkness but the right side has not as of yet. In addition to this I also have eczema. Eczema is caused by inflammation within the body that results in skin irritation. So in the video you will see me place the paste under my eyes as well as the corners of my eyes and adjoining upper eye lid. I did this because this is where eczema typically shows up on my face. So for people that have hyper-pigmentation, dark circles and eczema. This paste is for you!

The next product is the pacifica beauty kale detox. This detox is known for removing toxins and impurities from the skin! This detox contains blue sea kale and seaweed. Blue sea kale is known for clearing away dead skin cells and blackheads, while sea weed is known for maintaining moisture levels.

Want to know my WEEKLY skin care routine?

Then stay tuned!

What does your wrist mean?

Fashion!

Whats your first reaction when you see someone with a wrist full of bracelets? Do you instantly get annoyed because of how much noise it makes? Or are you fascinated with what each bracelet might mean?

Today I am here to open your eyes about the significance of wrist jewelry and why you SHOULD be fascinated! In the past bracelets were a sign of many things. They either represented what a person or family believed, what they needed in their current life, a right of passage, or the meaning of a social status. Intrigued yet?

Here are some interesting facts about wrist jewlwery/bracelets:

  1. In Egypt, Sacrab bracelets stood for rebirth or regeneration.
  2. In india, the number of bracelets on a woman’s wrist denotes her marital status.
  3. In China, the parents gift their children with a bracelet containing a jade stone representing protection and healing. This was and still is believed to even heal from any stomach and kidney diseases.
  4. In Bulgaria, a specific bracelet called Martis is used to protect an individual from the sun.
  5. In Mesopotamia, the women wore certain bracelets to show off the wealth of their husbands!

As for myself, I prefer to wear bracelets simply because I like how they look. I have never thought about the meaning of bracelets until I was introduced to the idea by a friend after he came back from a trip. This opened my eyes to the many possibilities of the meanings of bracelets!

Please feel free to shop for bracelets from the website below. The jewelry featured on this website is not only stylish but meaningful. Jewelry ranges from necklaces to bracelets to earrings! Enjoy!

NY-Bangles

Make sure to use the code: IAMDANAQ20 for 20% off!

Take your samples OUT of the Garbage!

Beauty

Who says that samples are a waste? Who says that samples are useless? Obviously this is coming from people that don’t understand the value of a packet! Samples have so much POWER within them, so I beg of you please do not discredit them.

Think about it!…..if you are given an inch of a piece of pizza by a friend, does this mean that the whole pizza is of no use?…..NO! it means that the whole pizza has just as much value as that small piece of pizza that your friend gave you. Only now, you are looking forward to a full slice of pizza!

This is exactly how POWERFUL a sample is from any brand! That sample is simply there to give you the descsion of whether or not you should get the full package of the sneak peak!!… So with this in mind, think of the multiple benefits that come with retrieving samples!

  1. Samples can easily be placed in convenient places, this way you are always equipped no matter what the circumstances.
  2. Samples fit well in purses and pockets!
  3. Samples can be taken on road trips!
  4. Samples simply give you a peace of mind. You no longer have to be fearful of purchasing a full sized product.
  5. Samples are safe and by law can be taken on an airplane within your carry on bag.

For example, the samples above are by Palmers. By law they are acceptable for travel in your carry on bag. The regulations simply states that travelers are able to carry up to 3.4 ounces (100 ml)within their carry on bag on an airplane (lotions, gels, liquids, pastes and aerosols). So what are the sizes the samples above from left to right? Glad you asked! 

(a) 1 ounce/ 30ml

(b) 0.34 ounces/ 10ml 

(c) 0.14 ounces / 4ml

Please I beg of you to think of samples in a different light. SAMPLES have SO much VALUE!….Take them out of YOUR garbage and hold on to them. They are not burdens, but of GREAT convenience!

Zyia Active…. Tumeric Bra and Capri Set!

Fashion!

“My skin could breathe in this!”

This was my first thought as I tried on the gear that I received from Zyia active. Their active wear is formulated to have moisture control and is also sweat wicking. My skin felt as though it was being hugged by pillows! It wasn’t to tight, but not loose either. The stretch within the fabric was amazing! This allowed me to be able to work out comfortably plus efficiently without worrying about having to readjust my clothing!

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To the right side of the photo you will see a hidden lining at my waist. This lining is a hidden pocket that can hold keys (I don’t like to leave my car key hanging around while I work out!).

Big Bust size???…….If your like me with a big bust (36DD), don’t worry the bra fits more amazing than you could ever imagine. In this photo I am wearing a size medium and trust me when I say that I was able to do jump and jacks, mountain climbers and jumprope without having to worry about a nipple hanging out or Fear that there wasn’t enough support within the bra!

So don’t delay! go get your active wear from Zyia Active! …..If you would like to see me working out in this gear please feel free to check out my Instagram and look for the featured image of this blog and swipe left to see the video @: iamdanaqu

Click the link below to shop!

Zyia Active Wear 

Cookies at Bahia Mar Hotel!

Hotels

So your Air conditioner broke down and now you have to stay at a hotel. The company responsible for putting up your new Air Conditioner contacts you to inform you that your stay at the hotel is on their tab and all you have to do is send them the receipt! So now you are excited and decide to choose an exquisite hotel but within the financial limits that the company gives you.  You search for the best price possible and plus you want to make sure that you get money back using the DOSH app plus stay at a hotel that you have never been to before that is not to far away from home. Low and behold you come across the “Bahia Mar Hotel, division of double tree by Hilton.”

According to DOSH, The hotel cost $123/night and there was a money back guarantee of $57.78, after your stay is completed!  The hotel is now booked and after a night out with friends, you realize that your hotel is literally two minutes away! HOW SWEET IS THAT?!!… You arrive to this…..

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Your amazed but It’s 1:45am and you are now ready to check in. A polite woman comes to the front desk and says “Hello ! welcome to the Bahia Mar, here are two bottles of water and two warm walnut chocolate chip cookies courtesy of the hotel whenever you want more! Can I have your name so I can check you in?”

I immediately asked her if she was joking and she said……. “no sweetie, free water and warm chocolate chip cookies whenever you request it, are you ready to check in now?”

Unfortunately I couldn’t answer right away because I already had a warm and tasty cookie in my mouth and as soon as she looked up at me she began to laugh! (I like my snacks!, HA HA HA).

So she checked me in and gave me two more warm cookies and I headed to my room. Room is a double room and clean. You notice the pamphlets on the dresser and one of them says….. “Gain 1000 points if we don’t clean your room, just leave this flyer on your door!”  You are tired so you decide to explore the hotel in the morning.

Next day you wake up and realize how beautiful the hotel is as you explore. The hotel has a pool. But in order to get to the pool you have to walk this amazing large bridge that connects between your hotel, the main tower and the pool from the second floor. At the intersection of the bridge you come across the sign that says “to the left= pool, to the right= beach.” And in your mind your thinking “wow! I need to travel more because this is amazing.”

So what else does this hotel offer? There are shopping centers at the hotel, a yacht dock where you can walk and sight see, a bar within the hotel and a restaurant. There is even exquisite room service with the option of cheesecake to be delivered to you up until 11pm.

So what are you waiting for? Get to the hotel and enjoy it now! You wont regret it! I promise!

If you want to see more, please visit my Instagram for the videos of the hotel @ _iamdanaq_

 

But the bible is boring!

Lifestyle

Ever feel like you know you need to read the bible but feel as though you don’t know what stories to read or even where to start? Ever feel as though you know you need a bible verse tailored more to you and less to the general public? Ever feel guilty because you know that you need a quick word for the day but feel as though you are to lazy to open a bible and read a full blown bible story? Afraid that your disappointing God because you just don’t have the time to read his word? Well don’t feel that way at all, life happens, trials and tribulations occur and sometimes we only have stolen moments but we feel as though we need to stay updated to the word of God. Your not alone because I feel the same way as well. If your old school like me and still like the feel of books and having a pen and paper in your hand, then you will love this devotional. It’s called “Everyday bible promises for women.”   It has a writing section at the bottom of each devotional so that you can write down what stood out to you or what you learned. This is how I stay afloat in life!

For men there are: “Promise keepers Mens study bible” and “Everyday bible promises for Men.”

 

Lesson/Takeaway: There will be times when reading the bible can become redundant or even tedious. But not it does not have to be boring. Never ever think that you are disappointing God, he loves you regardless!

I HATE THE SOUND OF MY VOICE !

Lets Chat

Your finally accepting the fact that you can sing but……theres another problem! YOU HATE HOW YOU SOUND!

You like how you sound when your at home alone and singing in the shower or just singing around the house and you say to yourself “ok ok, i got some skills there, ok!!.” So you decide that maybe people are right and you should probably take this seriously. So you begin to record how you sound. You play it back and begin to cringe at the the sound of your voice at play back. You hate show you sound, you believe you sound like a stranded goat or nails on a chalkboard and you become disgusted. IS THIS YOU?…….
Ladies and gentlemen, this is normal, it doesn’t mean that you can’t sing or are not an artist, it simply means that you realize that you have a lot of work to do when it comes to perfecting your gift. How do I know? because this was myself a couple of months ago. I cringed at the sound of my voice during play back and wanted to throw my phone/recorder away! I literally gave up at one point, lost confidence and said “nah I’m not a singer.”

Anyway, as i continued to go through life singing as I was on the streets or even at work, the response was the same for everyone i ran into: “Dana you really do have a beautiful voice.”
so i #triedagain……began recording myself and realized that being a singer didn’t mean that I had to have so many vibratos in my vocals or that i had to do so many ad-libs. Sometimes a song just requires you so let go of the fear and sing from your heart. BUT THEN THERES ANOTHER PROBLEM……..when I begin to press record, I began to shake and get nervous all over again…..its just me and the recorder so what am I afraid of here??!!!……NEVER A DULL MOMENT! So what do I do now?

Stay tuned!
#tryagain

But I know I can sing!

Lets Chat

She began to loose hope in herself. Fear had become such a huge part of her life in this particular category that it sickened her. She didn’t want to be afraid, but when she got on stage to sing she choked. It appeared as though she couldn’t sing at all. But place her in the shower, or during a workout, or at the supermarket and her voice sounded astonishing. If she was at the supermarket people would smile and say “wow you have a beautiful voice.” If she was at walmart, someone would tap her shoulder and say “You belong on american idol.” If she was at work and just taking care of her patient as she did a dressing change (she is a nurse) and just singing a small lullaby , her patient would say “ur a wonderful nurse but girl u picked the wrong career, you need to be onstage somewhere.”

But put her onstage to sing, and she was a shipwreck. Her hands would shake and get sweaty, she would feel dizzy, her throat closed up, tears welled up in her eyes and her stomach hurt so bad. it is at those moments that she dreaded being a singer. but in all honesty, singing was the only thing that kept her afloat, made her feel alive and that life was bearable. So she challenged herself. She began to sing more and anywhere. Even when she didn’t feel like it, She stopped hiding in the shadows of always being a back up singer and began to step forth for solo’s. But it wasn’t easy because there were moments when she cried right before shows and told herself….. “but i know i can sing!, i just have to get through tonight, i just have to sing this song, no ad-libs, just sing!”

That girl is me, Dana. This is for those that have been rejected and told that they weren’t talented. The people that allowed fear to make them hostage and cripple their gift. those that gave up on themselves but at some point knew that they had to get back up and fight because their gift would just go to waste. Sometimes people like this or like me just need hope and a place for encouragement/growth. This is the place.

#tryagain

DARK IS BEAUTIFUL!

Beauty

Beautiful topic !

-BreatheNewLife-

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Several activists have mentioned about the problems faced by a dark tone girl/women during their lifetime and have mentioned about how this is one of the many selection criteria people have in their lists whether it is personal or professional.

This starts when a child is young and strangely the people who poke her first are the ones within her own family. Our own family starts to compare the skin tone of  siblings with that of her’s and sometimes these comparisons are so intense that the tender little child heart breaks into  tears, resulting in a major setback in her confidence thereby leading to depression and a fear to face the world!

And this is not the end. We see several advertisements on how to make your skin tone even. But let me remind you…. the promises made to even out one’s skin tone sometimes turns into regret stories—— “It’s…

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