I'm back with my 12 week update as promised. Not much has changed in terms of my routine (except the addition of my new beauty gadget of choice, the PMD. I'm smitten), but my skin is looking better.

Skin Care Routine

My skin care routine is multifaceted. I believe in a holistic approach to health; all aspects of a person must be addressed: mind, body, and spirit.

1. Stay positive about the health of my skin. Multiple times each day I state my skin affirmations, express gratitude for, and pray about the health of my skin.
2. Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water and green tea
3. Stay Active
4. Reduce and manage stress
5. Get adequate sleep
6. Use skin care products with simple, natural ingredients
7. Exfoliate regularly, but don't overdo it

Ok, so this is about to get really personal. I tried to be tame with the title but just in case it was a little too cautious to get the point across, let me spell it out: today we are talking about vaginas and nutrition! 

Probably not two words that usually go together in our minds, but they probably should. How we eat does affect the health of our nether regions. A healthy diet, one made up of a variety of foods, including probiotic containing foods, can help you keep your lady parts healthy.

Probiotics have been having a moment for quite some time. They seem to be touted as a cure all on one media outlet or another almost daily. From IBS to depression, there isn't anything they haven't been reported to help treat. Well, add protecting fertility and protection against sexually transmitted infection (STIs) to the list.

About four times a year the urge to declutter strikes. It usually coincides with the change in seasons; something about a new season makes me want to rid myself and my life of anything that no longer fits. It may no longer fit my style, way of thinking, or my body. Either way, if it doesn't fit, it has to go.

Sometime last December I scoured Youtube for ideas on how to pare down my wardrobe without feeling like a pauper. I wanted to give up the excess but not the fabulousness. That's when I first heard about capsule wardrobes. I was instantly intrigued and inspired.

Hip hip hooray! Finally, spring is here and with it a plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables. I, for one, could not be more excited! After a long dreary winter and a limited assortment of available fruits and veggies (anyone else tired of apples and root vegetables?), the prospect of flowers, sunshine, melon, and spinach are almost too wonderful to fathom.

I can't wait to get my hands on some spring produce; I am especially looking forward to heading down to my favorite green market and seeing what the local farmers have to offer.

It's Monday, one of the most stressful days of the week for many people. It's so stressful that more heart attacks happen Monday mornings than any other time of the week. 

Unfortunately, stress is not restricted to the morning hours once a week. Situations that can cause stress are ever looming. We can't avoid life's events and the stress that is sure to accompany them all together, but we can find ways to minimize stress and manage it better.

Turmeric, the golden spice responsible for the yellow hue of mustard and curry, is as good for you on the outside as it is for you on the inside.

You can reap the benefits of turmeric by eating or drinking it in tea, condiments, meals, and smoothies. You can also put it directly on your skin. A turmeric mask can be a fun and effective addition to your Self Care Sunday (or any day) routine.

In a previous post listing 10 nutrition recommendations to boost your fertility I included how important getting enough iron, especially from plant sources is to our fertility. 

Focusing on getting iron from plant foods like fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and grains may come as a surprise since we usually think of iron as coming from animal foods like beef, pork, and other meats. While these are certainly great sources they are not the only sources. And when it comes to fertility they may not even be the best sources.