Author Archives: Lindsay Esparza

Take the Garbage Out

by

Garbage in, garbage out. We’ve all heard it a thousand times: what you put in your body will be reflected on its surface. And yet this adage could not be truer when speaking in terms of skin care. One of the most important things I learned while studying to become an esthetician was how much of an effect the internal state of our bodies has on the outside. When worrying about your skin care regimen, focus on the basics first—a few elementary principles will make all the difference in the world.

1. Water

None of us drink enough water, yet upping your daily water consumption is the most important thing you can do to improve your skin. It works to clear toxins from your system, promotes healthy digestion and hydrates your skin, giving it a glam glow.

2. Green Tea

In addition to including more water in your diet, adding green tea to your daily routine will up your count of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents. Plus, it’s a proven weapon for fighting bacteria and free radicals, so you can’t go wrong.

3. Berries

Research has shown that antioxidants can help to reduce visible signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles. By eating antioxidant-rich foods regularly, you will keep your antioxidant levels high. Berries—specifically blueberries, blackberries, goji berries and açai berries—are some of the best sources available.

4. Fatty Acids

Store up on healthy omega-3 and omega-6 oils, which will ensure that nutrients and water enter your cells and that waste products are removed. Walnuts, salmon and flax seed oil are some of the best sources.

5. Vitamin A

Your body needs vitamin A in order to develop and maintain healthy skin cells. For a healthy dose of this important vitamin look to sweet potatoes, milk, carrots, spinach and egg yolks.

By infusing some, if not all, of these foods into your daily life, you can change the future of your skin’s healthfulness and appearance. To make an even greater impact, try eliminating some of your skin’s biggest enemies from your diet at the same time. For starters, cut down on sugary and greasy foods, which introduce oils and waste into your system that can feed bacteria and contribute to breakouts. Of course, things won’t change overnight, but substituting good habits for bad ones will make a positive difference in your skin over time. Take the garbage out; put the good stuff back in.

 

Photo Credit: frolic-blog.com

Time Management 101

by

In a world that constantly demands our energy and attention, productivity can feel impossible at times. As women, we find fulfillment in living with a purpose, but the task of squeezing purpose in alongside work, exercise, groceries, laundry and relaxation feels daunting. How do we decide what is most important on each day’s agenda and make a point of getting it done? More importantly, how do we balance our daily demands without feeling drained?

If you’re like me, you don’t enjoy finding yourself at the end of a busy day wondering where the time went. Yes, life moves fast, but we can move with it. Here are a handful of ways to help you make sure your days don’t get away from you.

1.  Make a to-do list: Writing your tasks down is the best way to get them out of your head and start putting them into action. Even if you’ve never fancied yourself a list maker, chances are you’ll find a sense of accomplishment in crossing things off, if not in writing them down.  Having a physical reminder of your responsibilities will also eliminate the stress of trying to commit them all to memory.

2.  First things first: Start your day by doing a couple of the easiest things on your to-do list. In a culture motivated by progress and productivity, this will give you the boost of energy and motivation needed to keep you plugging away.

3.  Prioritize: If you only do the easiest things on your list, some things (usually the most important ones) will never get done. Ariel Gore, author of Bluebird and How to Become a Famous Writer Before You’re Dead says that we almost never get to the last thing on our to-do lists. Priorities are important. After you knock out a few simple tasks, make sure the most important ones take top priority, even if they are unpleasant or difficult.

4.  Be a not-so-multi-tasker: Doubtless this sounds counterintuitive in a discussion of how to be more productive, but the truth is that multi-tasking has the distinct potential of destroying your productivity. Learn to focus on one task, finish it, and move on to the next one. Otherwise, you may start a lot of tasks, but never get any of them done.

5.  Keep a future to-do list: Allow yourself to be aware of future commitments and goals without letting them distract you today. You can do this by keeping an ongoing list of important tasks that are not in need of immediate attention. Call your secondary list something like “Things to do another day,” so that you feel free to address your true priorities as they come.

6.  Eliminate distraction: The world is hungry for your attention. What is it that steals yours and causes you to lose focus? Work to minimize your distractions at times when discipline and focus are necessary. If you find yourself distracted by music or media, for example, there is no harm in making time for those at another point in your day.

7.  Get comfortable: Environmental factors can have a large effect on our productivity. For many, this makes it necessary to have a “sacred space” for getting work done. Jason Fried, the co-founder and President of 37Signals and author of Rework, points out that for most of us, this isn’t the office. Take time to figure out what external factors either positively or negatively affect your productivity and create an environment for yourself that will help, rather than hinder you.

8.  Use technology; don’t let it use you: Facebook. Twitter. E-mail. Cell phones. These can be necessary and useful tools that help you to accomplish your most important objectives. But they can also be your biggest roadblocks. If you’re serious about trying to get things done, this means putting your other conversations on hold. Try turning off your cell phone or disconnecting from the internet and notice how much more you accomplish.

9. Have a plan of attack for email: It’s likely that email is where you receive the most new requests for action or information. For this reason, don’t keep your inbox open in front of you all day. It will seem daunting and discouraging and you will be tempted to respond to requests as they come in, rather than stick to your objectives. Instead, schedule a time of day that you respond to new requests via email. If necessary, you can schedule more than one time each day. For example, spend a half hour in the morning, a half hour at noon, and a half hour at the end of the day. Find a schedule that works for you.

10. Rest: Taking breaks may seem counterproductive, but studies have shown that our brains need occasional respite in order to function to their highest potential. If you find yourself staring at your to-do list or computer screen at 2am, wondering why you haven’t accomplished anything, try getting some rest. Viewed through fresh eyes, your project may no longer appear so daunting.

 

Photo Credit: wisteria.com

Fantastic Bacon-Cheddar Scones

by

These scones have changed my morning for the better more than once, and I hope you enjoy them as well!

Note: I recommend using organic, high-quality ingredients, rather than the commercial variety, as they tend to yield a superior finished product and provide better nourishment. In the instance that a certain product is not available to you, feel free to make substitutions based on your budget and preference.

Ingredients:

3 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup organic buttermilk, plain whole milk yogurt, or kefir

1 tablespoon aluminum-free baking powder

1 teaspoon sea salt

3 tablespoons raw sugar

8 tablespoons pastured butter (e.g. Kerrygold)

12 ounces cheddar cheese, grated

10 slices uncured bacon

4 organic green onions

1 large egg + 2 tablespoons water

 

Directions:

1. Mix flour with buttermilk to form a thick dough. Leave in a warm place overnight (ideally 12-24 hours).

2. Preheat your oven to 400° F.

3. Fry up the bacon in a large pan. While the bacon is cooking, grate the cheese, and thinly slice the onions.

4. In your stand mixer bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, combine soaked-flour mixture, baking powder, salt, and sugar on medium-low speed. While the mixer is on, cut butter into small cubes, and carefully add until all incorporated (Alternately, this can be done by hand in a regular mixing bowl, using a pastry blender or two knives to cut the butter into the pastry mixture.)

5. Remove cooked bacon from pan and chop into small pieces. On low speed, add grated cheese, bacon bits, and green onions, and mix until all incorporated.

6. Remove dough from bowl to a floured surface, and pat dough into an 8-inch circle. Either slice dough into 10 wedges, or use a drinking glass or cookie cutter to cut circles. Place wedges/circles on an un-greased baking sheet.

7. Whisk egg and water together and brush the tops of each piece before placing into oven. Bake for 18 minutes or until golden brown.

8. Enjoy!

 

 

Paper & Ink

by

Something that has quickly disappeared over a very short period of time is the art of writing letters by hand. There is something about receiving a hand written letter in the mail that produces a sort of archaic sentiment. The internet in it’s modern day magic has taken over our entire means of communication. We can now video chat with someone across the world. It’s quite amazing how technology has driven our whole lifestyles, and yet nothing can quite replace holding stationary in your hands and reading words that someone put down with ink.

After a dear friend of mine moved cross country, I started receiving letters from her. Beautiful letters on beautiful stationary. Such a lovely feeling to sit down and read something that she had written days before; to think of the road it traveled, and that it had been in cities a world away from me. I dug into my drawer of cards and wrote her back, feeling like Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice. The tradition between us still holds to this day, and I admit that I’m completely taken with the old fashioned method.

You can always find the perfect thing to say when you have time to ponder over your paper. If you haven’t written someone a letter recently, I suggest doing so. Write to a friend and it will not only brighten your day, but their day as well!

 

Photo Credit: google.com