Natural Skincare Routine

If you have read my 'simple ways to look put together' post, you would know I recently have had some trouble with my skin. I have always had relatively normal skin: it's not overly oily or dry, and throughout my 'teen' years I have pretty regularly had spots on my face, but it was never bad acne or that troublesome (just enough for me to become self-conscious about my skin). Then earlier this month I started feeling like my skin was getting worse, until it seemed like it was at an all-time low. My chin was the worst area of my face, but I also had some spots on my forehead; additionally, what made it seem worse was that I was pale from it being winter, and this seemed to emphasize the blotchy redness around the breakouts. I was aggravated by how much I was breaking out, and started feeling like I never wanted anyone to look at me, because I had it in my head that they were staring at my bad skin!

Staying Healthy Throughout Winter

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it is truly the holiday season. The season of giving, and being merry, and spending time with the people you love. It is also the season of eating, whether it be holiday baking, Christmas/Hanuka/New Years parties, or just making nice dinners with friends and family. As wonderful as all of this is, I am a firm believer that it's important to remain active throughout the cold seasons when you most likely would rather stay inside curled up with a blanket than brave the cold and go for a run or head to the gym. But however hard it may be to get motivated to exercise, it is doable and absolutely worth it. Don't wait until until New Years to make a resolution to get back into shape; start now: there's no time like the present!

Exercising will give you more energy and enhance your appreciation for all the holiday treats, since you can indulge without feeling guilty. With that said, I know that it can be hard to remain enthusiastic; it's something I struggle with every year. I have come up with some little ways that have been helping me stay more motivated, so I thought I would share my tips for remaining healthy and active throughout winter.

How to stay on a Healthy Diet!

Diet. We automatically jump to the assumption of weight loss as the goal, but really, a diet is simply the compilation of what we eat on a day to day basis. While exercising is a vital part of a healthy life, so is the the nutritional aspect. Balancing what you eat can lead to a desirable image for yourself--I personally think that people who have well-built, strong frames are most attractive--but it also will lead to a longer life, as eating right will ensure a good metabolism, reduce the risk of heart problems, and create a good circulatory system. While it is important to stay away from the big no-no's, such as processed food, or really fatty foods with high cholesterol, it's also important to be getting all the right nutrients that your body needs. So let's get to my tips for keeping on top of a healthy diet!

The 100 Workout

Where I live the weather is still unbelievably miserable for late March; it has been grey and rainy for the last couple of days, and tonight the temperature's supposed to drop, so we might even get some snow :( Not OK!!! Anyway, even if the weather refuses to admit it, it is officially Spring, so in light of that, I figured it was time to start getting more serious about working out. After all, bikini weather will be here before you know it, and my body is so not ready for that :P

I like to try to go to the gym either Saturday or Sunday morning so I can get in a bit of a workout both on the elliptical, as well as some various arm and leg machines, but a gym is not always available for when we want to just have a quick workout. While runs can be a great way to get in shape (especially as it's becoming nice weather outside--hopefully, that is), I often like to throw in some basic exercises that I can do first at home.

If I just want something quick that will get my endorphins going, but isn't too demanding after a long day, this is the perfect mini workout. I did not create this workout, but had seen it on weheartit numerous times and decided to try it... And it's been great!