Detox - day 1

Today was the first day of my detox, and I was a bit worried what to expect. It was both better and worse than expected. I got 2 questions, one concerning making juices and another about prices.  At the moment I don't have a blender/mixer, so therefore I bought juices that consists of only fruits. And this goes together with the second question, whether or not it is expensive. It can cost as much as you allow yourself. 

For this weeks groceries I got lettuce, spinach, advocados, lemon juice (2x), lime juice, 3 limes, oranges, cilantro, celery, cervil, 5x pure fruit juice, watermelon, apples and a different kind of lettuce for 23 dollars. I think this is alright as that is just a little more on what I spend on groceries (usually 17). But again, it is up to what you think you want or need. Most expensive for me were the fruit juices. As I cannot blend anything I need to buy them..however it is always more expensive in the store, especially if you want the clean juice, without any sugar. The store needs more fruit for that, so it is going to cost some more.

Breakfast
This morning I had a mash up of two fruit juice drinks. They were natural, so nothing added but the pure fruit, like a smoothie. I had a mix of red fruit and orange juice. The first one contained strawberries, blackberries and cherries. Together with the orange juice it was actually quite tasty... this accounted for around 13 ounces. 

Lunch

For lunch I had a salad consisting of :
- ice berg lettuce
- raw spinach leaves
- three slices of lime
- half of an avocado
- cilantro
- celery
- chervil
- +/- 12 cherry tomatoes
- squeezed lemon juice as dressing

I am not a fan of the cilantro, celery and chervil (C^3), but have read several times that they are good to use when detoxing. Too bad that I cannot mix anything, otherwise I didn't have to taste them. (This took me like 30 minutes to eat...not sure why)

Snack

About 1.5 hrs after I had lunch my stomach was asking for food. Therefore I ate half an orange and some slices of watermelon. (Watermelon was not that yummy yet, we need more sun). A little after this I had a glass of juice consisting of apple, pear and raspberry, which was very yummy but not that filling. 

Dinner

I had the same salad as I had for lunch, expect not the 3 C's...I am trying to open up to their taste but it might take some time before we are friends. I also had a glass of warm water and lemon. 

Feelings

About 30 minutes after lunch my stomach started to irritate. After that it settled, but it didn't take long before it was hungry again. What I don't like is that you cannot really control  your blood sugar levels. Fruit is high in (natural) sugar, which gives you a high. But a little while after, you land back down and it really hits you. You start feeling sleep, lazy and don't feel like doing anything. So I have to find a good balance between what I can eat and avoid getting such a high. Apart from feeling drowsy I am actually alright...Although I can tell my body is already craving a peanutbutter sandwich. Oh man...this is going to be a loooong week.

Favorite budgetproof body products

So after my favorite facial beauty products, I thought it would be fun to share my favorite body products.

Face wash

My favorite facial cleanser is the fresh foaming cleanser from Neutrogena. It doesn't have alcohol and oil in it, and really (really) cleans your face. It doesn't feel dehydrated or dry afterwards, and your skin feels soft and has no leftoversp. At walmart you can get two for 10 dollars, and they will last for two years.

Soft, softer, softest

So this product intially got my attention because it was on sale and it was for 'toning' your body. Now I know that products don't perform miracles, but I still wanted to try it out. It smells lovely, sweet and clean. And it leaves your skin so soft! It is for in the shower, but it doesn't really rinse that much. Anyway, I really like it!

No drought

One of my favorite brands is Lush. Its all natural, no animal testing, lots of vegan products. I really like their shampoos, and you might think that you pay a lot for them, but all products last for a very long time. One of my favorites is the dry shampoo ''no drought''. You can get it for either 7 or 14 dollars, and the bottle I have lasts already for a year (and yes, I use it a lot). It smells really fresh, like lemon, and gives you instant volume. Don't forget to brush your hair, you don't want to look like you have grey hair ;)

Cashmnere moments

I got this shower cream in London and absolutely love the smell..I haven't seen it in the US yet, but I think Amazon offers it. It was 2 pounds and seriously, I don't think I have ever smelled anything like that. If I wake up the next morning after using it I can still smell it on my arm... I am in love with this product. So for my European viewers...try it and you wont be disappointed!

Totally twisted

For people with curly or wavy hear I highly recommend this shampoo....totally twisted from herbal essence. It is sold everywhere (wally world) and the best thing about it is the smell. Well, of course what it does to my hair is important, but I cannot help but smell my hair and the products I use, and this is so good. I think they changed the name from it's a curl thing to totally twisted. I was looking for the curl but couldn't find it. However this one has the same smell and does the same to my hair. It's under 5 dollars, but don't forget to make use of sale opportunities and coupons.

I think what is so important to not every buy 'normal' products. Being a student I have learned to be smart when it comes to purchasings products. I have noticed some kind of pattern of my favorite brands, the stores where they are sold and discounts. So keep track and p(l)ay smart. You should not have to buy products for the full price. Think about all the products that you use in one year, and take half the price off. That is a lot of savings, and you can use that for other important stuff like....sigh..buying school books or paying rent. Or a holiday to the Carribean!

But in all seriousness, my rule is if it's not for sale, I don't buy it. 

How to get ready for summer

Only one month until the official start of summer! We're all finishing up school or work and getting ready to take time to relax, read, swim and tan. I will be in school for another month, which means 40 days to get ready for Summer!

Body

As most summers, I spent -like many other people- a lot of time camping, hiking, swimming and hanging out at the beach. I noticed that one of my most important ''tasks'' is to be in shape. With being in shape I don't mean size 0 shorts and an eeniemeenie waist. I mean to look decent, be in shape and feeling comfortable. Like many other people I tend to start hitting the gym in February, realizing winter is almost over. I usually keep up for two months and then it gets boring. I have now started pilates, focusing on toning my body rather than trying to loose weight.

My TIP: Have a realistic goal in mind. Don't go after a victoria secret model look, but a realistic and healthy picture of yourself. It is so important to stay healthy and comfortable rather than too skinny and feeling like crap. 

I hit the gym for two months and had a very healthy diet, but I only gained weight. Yes my body was tighter, but my pants didn't fit anymore. I was very unhappy so I quit the gym and started doing pilates. My pants fit and my waist has slimmed down. (Besides, it is very relaxing and takes your mind away from all the stress in your life)

Skin

A lot of people probably don't want to walk around the swimming pool/beach looking very pale. So before you go public, you might want to get some colour. In the past two weeks I laid in my own backyard, (privately) and tanned like crazy. Don't forget to put on sunscreen, you will still get a tan when using it. If that takes too much time you can use lotion, spray tan or make use of a tanning bed. It is up to you of course but don't forget to check the effects. Organic options are available. 

Hair

You might want to get a new fresh look when summer starts. I have long, thick hair and it gets HOT! Even though I refuse to cut it, it would be a tip for some people. And this is also the time to try something new with your hair that you didn't dare before. You won't see your fellow students for three months, so be crazy and do it! You have enough time to fix it before school starts. 

Clothes

The year is over, you made it so you deserve to treat yourself. Get a new summer wardrobe so you can go out feeling comfortable and happy about your look. I usually start saving money around January so I can buy summer clothes. With a new wardrobe I also mean beauty supplies, so think of cute nail polish colours, fresh body sprays and bows for your hair. 

Holiday

Treat yourself with a nice get-away to a tropical island, the mountains or a city trip. Get away from your daily life and create time to relax and gain energy for the new year. Start looking around November for nice places before everything is booked. Of course you can still go places. If you want to visit a city you will be sure to still get a hotel. Flight tickets might be more difficult. If you find something nice but it is full, book it for next year, so you are guaranteed a spot.

Events

During the summer a lot of fun (music)festivals are going on. Get your planner out and mark data where fun and exciting stuff is happening. Think of the 4th of July, fireworks and BBQ's. It is also a great time to meet up with -old- friends that you didn't see for a while, and go together. 

Cleaning

And lastly, summer (or just before) is a great time to clean. When school finishes get all your paperwork and notebooks out. What do I want to save and what can be thrown away. Take care of past years finances and make an overview for the next couple of months. Clean up your dorm or room, your car and your mind! Start your summer fresh and cleaning up will guarantee that your break will start feeling relaxed and less worries. 

 Of course there is no handbook on how to get ready for summer, but this is kind of how I get ready for my summer break

Much love <3

Follow me on instagram @92jss

Body image

I was talking with one of my friends the other day about how our view on what we perceive as ''beautiful'' has changed over the years. In the early days people were rich and fertile when they carried some extra pounds, and now it is exactly the opposite. I have to admit I let it affect myself more than I would like to admit. 

Looking at this picture, I absolutely love it. Girls in different sizes, with an smile on their face. Isn't that whats important in life? But then how did we get such different expectations on our looks. Why do we advertise that people with a size 0 are happier and more successful in life, let alone healthier. In the end it is about taking care of your own body and fueling it with the energy and nutrients it needs to grow strong. It is such a shame that the media is telling all of us to loose some pounds. Maybe for health reasons yes, not for someone else. But when we are healthy and happy, there is no need to change anything about our looks! Why do magazines and celebrities show us so many unhealthy choices? Our body is a temple, we only have one and need to care for it. 

I found this picture on the internet and wish I'd found it when I was younger. Read it, and perhaps save it onto your computer. Have a look at it every once in a while. I made a list of the things I like about my body, and some things I am insecure about. I focus on the things I like, even though that is harder than point out your 'negative' sides. 

At last I want to say that every person is beautiful, unfortunately the media has created this 'perfect' human being that does not exist but we should all strive for. This is sad and it takes a lot for a person to feel comfortable in their own skin. When I notice an insecure person, I like to give them a compliment about something. A genuine one. It can literally save a person from throwing up, or not eating their dinner that night. Tell a random stranger or a distant friend this week a positive compliment. This might be the only positive thing they will hear that week. 

With love,

a not size 0 -Jessica