Today is June 28th, the day of the Stonewall riots that changed the lives of millions. I am reminded of the sacrifices, pain, anguish, and suffering of those struggling to simply exist in the most authentic way to their soul on historical days like today.
The truth is, sex is an invisible bond that works like a super-human glue, attaching us to our past lovers — emotionally, spiritually, and physically. It doesn’t matter whether the past is- mild or traumatic, a long time ago or yesterday. Sex from our past often haunts us in the present, impacting our relationships, self-worth, and identities. At times, we struggle with emotional and physical intimacy in our relationships, in which we lack trust. That further leads to feelings of anger, pain, and shame. We may feel connected to past lovers, fantasizing about them. Sometimes we may struggle with lack of desire or from the extreme opposite— addictive behaviour. But rarely do we relate our present struggles with our sexual past. “There’s something wrong with me,” we tell ourselves.
Today, take the time to pause and listen to the depths of your soul simply because it’s always telling you the truth. Simply listening to the truth is often the first step towards healing your sexual past.
Reflect. Pause. Rewrite your sexual story in a way that lights up your soul. Liberate yourself from the shackles of your past sexual stories. Be a nurturing and healing home yourself because you need you the most.
Lastly, even though we quickly approach the end of the pride month, never let the fearless and unwavering flame of Pride dull within you. Let the stories of legendary transgender pioneers and activists such as Marsha P. Johnson inspire you to unwaveringly stand for your true identity, authenticity, and sexual power.
This post originally appeared on ThePleasurePlus. Written by yours truly.
How was your week? Earlier this week I went plant shopping, and my myself a little of zen by adding new and fresh plants to my space. Here are the four best indoor plants that I think are super low maintenance. Here goes:
Anthurium
Description: The “flowers” of the Anthurium are some of the longest-lasting on earth, which means that beautiful and dazzling colours will last long in your home. The Anthurium with its open heart-shaped flower symbolizes hospitality and brings happiness and abundance.
Here’s a little secret: the beautiful heart-shaped “flowers” are not flowers! The heart-shaped flower is a spathe.
Light: Bright indirect light (direct sunlight will scorch the leaves and flowers!). Next to an East or West facing window, or a couple of feet away from a South facing window.
Water: Once every 4-6 days. Never let the soil dry out completely. Anthuriums like to have their soil moist but not soggy (no overwatering).TIP: mist the top layer every day to keep them happy and fresh, especially in a dry climate.
Humidity: 65°F/18.3°C – 75°F/23.8°C Anthurium loves being misted with a light spray of lukewarm water often. Cleaning lightly with a gentle sponge is advised, which improves humidity – and makes it look healthy!!
Temperature: Preferred temperatures between 65-80 degrees during the day and no cooler than 60 degrees at night. Avoid placing your plants near heating and air conditioning vents and fans.
Additional Care: Quickly remove fading or dying flowers as it helps the plant focus its energy on new growth. Give your Anthurium a six-week rest during the winter. Lower temperatures, less light, and drier soil during this time help an Anthurium produce more flowers in the spring and summer.
2. Calathea Ornata
Description: Calathea plants are tropical plants. When you look at Calathea Ornata, you can’t help but think the stunning purple patterns on the leaves are a painting. these plants raise their leaves during the night as if they were praying, earning them the nickname “prayer plant.”
Light: They should get medium to bright indirect light; keep out of direct sunlight. When it gets direct sunlight for too long, the beautiful leaves start to fade.
Water: Water thoroughly; allow the top inch of soil to dry before watering. Discard any water accumulated in the saucer.
Humidity: 50-65%. Calathea needs a spot with ample moisture. Brown edges on the leaves indicate the air is too dry. Mist often, add a bowl of water or place a humidifier close by.
Temperature: Preferably between 65-85 degrees. Enjoys the warmth. Maintain indoor temperatures above 60 degrees and avoid sudden temperature changes.
Additional Care: These plants can be sensitive to harsh chemicals in tap water. If you notice a tip or edges of your Calathea are burned or are yellow, it could be due to your tap water. To solve this, use distilled filtered water, rainwater, or allow your tap water to stand overnight before watering so the chlorine and fluoride can evaporate. Remove any yellow leaves to keep your plant healthy. Clean leaves occasionally with a damp cloth.
3) Birds of Paradise
Description: Bird of Paradise is considered the queen of the indoor plant world. This large, upright plant adds a rich, tropical flair to your space, one of the best-known tropical flowers and is a cousin to the banana. Shockingly, the bird of paradise is easier to grow than many tropical plants.
Light: Prefers bright direct light/ sunlight.
Water: when the top 50% of the soil is dry and regularly throughout the week.
Humidity: 40-50%, and appreciates the occasional misting, removing the dust from its glossy dark leaves.
Temperature: prefers average indoor temperatures of 65-80 degrees.
Additional Care: If your plant’s leaves begin to turn brown along the edges, it may be caused by chemicals in your tap water. Use filtered water, or leave tap water in an open container overnight before watering to allow some of the chemicals to evaporate.
4) Money Tree:
Description: The Money Tree is a perfect indoor plant to give your home a tropical feel. It gets its name from the Feng Shui belief that it will bring positive energy, fortune, and good luck to the owner. Fun Fact: It has been said the Money Tree may reduce stress, anxiety, and may also help relieve sleeping disorders.
Light: Medium to bright indirect light; keep out of direct sunlight
Water: Money Tree prefers deep but infrequent watering. Water when the top half of the soil is dry. To prevent root rot, make sure your plant is never standing in water.
Humidity: 50-60%, requires bit of extra humidity so increase the humidity in the winter months with a pebble tray or a humidifier. It will also appreciate regular misting year-round.
Temperature: 65-80 degrees.
Additional Care:
Try not to move your Money Tree very often, they prefer to stay in the same spot. If you do need to relocate, you may see a bit of leaf drop. Not to worry—it will adjust.
It’s simple: we as humans were made to want, have, and enjoy sex.
Why is it then that most people feel uncomfortable talking about sex or being talked to about sex? Why? Because shame surrounds this taboo topic. We, as a society, are reluctant to accept female sexuality in all its richness and beautiful complexity.
Do most people act out their fantasies?
YOU can be %100 turned on by fantasy and NOT enjoy it in practice: What!?! Many of us like to feel taken, submissive, powerful, dirty, and deceitful, in the bedroom and in our minds with the help of dirty talk, fantasies, and roleplaying– that does not mean we want that Outside the bedroom or even to perform the exact fantasy itself. This can be confusing and cause us not to share our fantasies because we think there is something dark or wrong with us for having these desires.
Remember– Whether you act on them or not, taking a closer look at your fantasies can be a healthy way to learn more about yourself, your sexuality, and your partner. Understanding the feeling you want to have in your fantasy- can help you achieve greater intimacy and sexual satisfaction with your partner. Don’t be afraid to explore what your mind is turned on by, and if you can create it in a safe space with a loving partner- GO For it.
Here are seven steps you can take to step into your authentic sexual power-
1) Accept your desires-
Think: Can you think of a time when you were shamed for exploring and being curious about your sexuality? Maybe your parents thought sex was immoral, so you had to repress or tone down your sexuality for social acceptance.
It took me years to accept that it’s natural and healthy to explore one’s body. For the longest time, I judged myself for having completely normal sexual desires and fantasies, only to later realize the shame and judgement that I internalized did not belong to me. It can be very powerful (and liberating) to learn that your desires aren’t the weird, strange, or unusual things you thought they were.
Allow: yourself to experience passionate and intense sexual desires without any judgements and act on that desire through safe and consensual sex.
2) Rewrite your sexual story-
Rewriting your sexual story means looking at your sexual history and looking clearly at the experiences you’ve created and how and why you did that — the painful ones as well as the exciting ones. It’s time to look closely at the beliefs you carry around your sexuality.
Ask yourself: how do I define myself as a sexual being? How do I express my sexuality? How do I feel about my body?
When you work on this step, you give yourself the gift of releasing the parts of it that no longer serve you and rewriting your authentic sexual story.
3) Embrace and honour your body-
Love and celebrate your body so you can enjoy it in a way that you forgot you could or didn’t even you could. In doing so, you take your pleasure and power into your hands and build powerful sexual confidence and self-esteem.
4) Develop your sexual love language-
As you unlearn all the shame and guilt surrounding your sexuality, you’ll notice a powerful shift in your emotional, physical and spiritual energy. Your mind, body, and soul will be in a beautiful alignment in its most authentic power bringing you closer to your sexual love language.
5) Create a sacred sexual practice-
Give yourself the freedom and power to explore and enjoy your sexual needs, desires, and fantasies. Step into your highest sexual and spiritual power by activating your daily attention to your sexuality and desires. Energy flows where attention goes!
6) Indulge in self-pleasure
Put yourself first. Even if you think you’re too busy, schedule solo-pleasure dates, even if it’s just 10 minutes. It’s where we are self-aware and, most of all, self-compassionate. Tidy up your space, and add some candles and flowers. Make a sensual playlist and do whatever is calling to you.
Do you suppress your sexual fantasies?
Thank you, Simone. Pleasure Plus is now offering a FREE Erotic Mediation to get your mind going.
Stressed? Tired? This weekend love yourself enough to take some time to recharge your mind, body, and soul because you can’t pour from an empty cup.
1)Connect to Creativity
The more open and connected you are to the world around you, the more creative you become. Put your phone away. Read that book you’ve always wanted to. Do joyful painting. Cook your favourite meal. Take up gardening or pottery. Learn how to play the flute. Use this time to connect with yourself and the world within and outside you.
2) Get Outside
Step outside. Take a long walk in nature. Listen to the sounds that you hear or don’t hear. Be in the now. Enjoy the present. Embrace life. Watch the sunset, gaze at the moon and the stars. Feel the light summer breeze on your face, the rain on your hair. Fill your world with nature’s delightful colours. There’s so much love out in the universe. Soak it all in!
3) Come home to yourself
Love yourself enough to connect with your body. Find a quiet spot and reset by indulging in some much-needed self-pleasure or with a partner. Listen to your body and its needs. Giving your body the pleasure it needs is the best way to honour it. A little after-work delight if you will 😉
4) Shower/Long Bath
Wash away your stressful work week so you can feel refreshed and start anew. Take a long relaxing aromatherapy bath. If it’s legal in your country, make that aromatherapy a gram of weed in a diffuser because why not? Or, drink your stress away. Pick a poison. Follow your heart!
5) Imagine What You Want
What do you want? What kind of life do you want for yourself? What situation do you want to live in? Imagine your life in detail. Write it down. Visualize it. Put into action. Make it real. Make a plan for your new life where you don’t have to unwind from your stressful life next Friday. Always remember, life is what you make it. You have the power to redefine your world.
6) Let the laughter and music find you
Let the music sweep away your soul on your toughest days. A little dose of laughter with your people goes a long way. Sometimes both at the same time. Let life’s rhythm find you.
I hope you take the time to honour yourself and how far you’ve come. Find healing and lots of magic within yourself. Have a relaxing weekend!
For all the hopeless romantics in this cynical world, here’s a list of 11 best romantic K-Dramas (in no particular order) GUARANTEED to make your heart swoon and ache at the same time. Here goes-
Is there anyone that’s not in love with this fun and fluffy binge-worthy K-Drama? With the endless romance and swoon-worthy moments, instantly dubbed a classic, it was one of the first Korean drama that took the world by storm and rightly so.
With a fabulous display of emotions, this series will take you to an adventure of a lifetime that’ll make you laugh, cry, and feel immense butterflies leaving the viewers at the edge of their seats in desperate anticipation of what’s next?
Since its release, the show has been remade several times in different languages. My favourite one being the Chinese remake of Meteor Garden. Click here
Utterly beautiful and one of the best Korean drama ever!!
Legend of The Blue Sea is a kind, beautiful love story about reincarnation and a love that transcends time. The chemistry between the two main leads was off the charts. This show has all the fantastic elements- romance, comedy, suspense, fantasy, and an engaging storyline that’ll keep you hooked from the first episode.
From the beginning until the last episode, the continuity is strong, and the slow character build-up from different centuries makes the show even more enticing.
Something in the Rain is one of the shows that’ll forever stay with me because of the beautiful and heartwarming chemistry between the two main leads. This show is for those who have not felt the sweet beginnings of love for a long long time. The characters got me hooked within 15 minutes. A heartwarming love story with slow and beautiful character development, impeccable timing, effortless comedy, and heartfelt music built on a forbidden yet deep romance. This series is guaranteed to make your heart flutter and ache simultaneously!!
Wok Of Love is a beautiful story about love, friendship, and lots of delicious, mouth-watering food. The details given to the food preparation are simply impeccable, while the chemistry between the leads is just irresistible. Simply a mood refreshment with a storyline that’s fresh, light, and delightful. The flirty playfulness and love of the show will leave you wanting for more. Every episode is exciting. The concept is a mix-up of love, romance, career, passion, acceptance and striving hard for what you want to get in life no matter what. This is totally a BINGE!!
Breathtaking is the word for this pure and soulful show. Everything of the drama, including the story, songs, background music, dialogues and especially everyone’s acting, was terrific. Some very emotional scenes in the series are bound to pierce the heart of even an unemphatic person. It made me feel some way; it’s almost godly in my mind. Every single episode of the series was glittering. This is seriously one of the most powerful series I’ve seen so far. I will always remember the emotions this series gave me.
This one-of-a-kind quirky, full of humour, light romantic comedy will steal your breath away. Watching this show felt like sipping a delicious hot cup of coffee. The clumsiness, fun, touching and heartwarming moments made me fall in love with it. The charisma and charm of all the actors are to die for. Beautifully made series with such simplicity yet such longing, it left a hole in my heart.
It’s one of the Most Exquisite shows that I’ve ever seen. A complete package of Comedy, Romance, Action and Lots of emotions in a single series is rarely seen.
With a fantastic background & a fabulous display of emotions, values & relationships, this series keeps you excited throughout all the episodes, from the start till end, while pulling out various emotions from within you & making you eager to look forward to seeing ‘what’s next & how?’.
If you’re looking for a quarantine and chill series, consider adding this one to the mix. A cute, feel-good, light and funny rom-com themed series that will make your heart smile. The leads have their chemistry bang on- they are funny and quirky yet “super hot “as a couple. There is a good storyline with suspense that will keep you guessing till the end.
The Heirs is the series that’s guaranteed to lead you down a life of watching endless Korean Dramas. One of the best romantic series that I’ve ever watched; it covers many different emotional facets of life, including depression and social acceptance. This series is full of top gun actors who play their roles well with sweetness, jealousy, humour, and some silliness. Overall, very entertaining series with rarely any dull moments.
Imagine living in a world where you have to isolate yourself from everyone because it is a possibility you might die if you come in contact with them? This drama isn’t your everyday love triangle; it delves deeper into human emotions and the beauty of companionship, both platonic and intimate.
The writers have done an exceptional job writing the story and goosebumps-inducing scenarios that relate to one another in an entirely unexpected way. The ending of the story is beautifully and leisurely written, which warms your heart.
It is a beautifully executed story focusing on real people, emotions, tragedy, and how it can impact lives well into the future. A simple yet beautifully profound story that sends a strong message to the audience. As the story unfolds, you enter into a different world. It feels as if you’re watching someone else’s life story for real. It makes you fall in love with every character. The leads certainly deserve some love and attention for the superb acting! The story ended exactly how it should have. If only we could get a season 2 🙁
Do you have any recommendations to add to this list? Have you watched any or maybe all of them? Do you have any favourites? Let us know in the comments below 🙂
Eating clean and healthy allows the body to perform better on all levels, including sex. Eating food that nourishes our body on a consistent basis literally gives you energy, puts you in a vibrant mood, and boosts sexual performance and pleasure. I’ve always been keen on the idea of foods that boost your libido becauseyou can eat them to elevate your sex life without having to worry about any weird side effects associated with sex-enhancement drugs. Plus, eating right and taking care of your body will just help you feel comfortable in your own skin which means more confidence and pleasure in the bedroom.
Today, Simone Farschi, a sex and intimacy coach recommends incorporating these nine powerful foods into your diet for a mind-blowing climax. Here goes-
1) Greens
Leafy green veggies facilitate the production of the female hormone estrogen. They are also loaded with zinc, which is known for its libido and sperm production qualities in men.
2) Seeds
Seeds such as flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, soybeans, chickpeas, and sunflower seeds etc. are again friends of sexual hormones. These seeds are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, a drop in which affects hormone levels leading to a plummeting sex drive. Pumpkin seeds are also rich in zinc which is a mineral needed to produce testosterone.
3) Seafood
Be it fish or raw oysters, they contain the wonder sex drug in them! It’s also found to boost the hormone dopamine that lights up the brain’s pleasure system. ⠀⠀
4) Nuts
All kinds of nuts provide one with energy that’s directly proportional to your stamina while having sex.
5) Fruits
All fruits, especially those rich in vitamin C such as pineapples, papayas and strawberries can be vital in sexual gratifications. The body needs vitamin C to keep the sexual organs fine-tuned. Vitamin C increases the number and quality of sperm produced. Not to mention, it makes you taste better 😉
Fruits such as Bananas are ideal to give you endurance in the bedroom as they are a rich source of vitamin B that converts carbohydrates into energy. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
6) Spices
The right kind of spices not only spice up your palette but also your bedroom. “Chilli pepper, red chillies and ginger perk up blood circulation. ⠀⠀⠀
7) Dark Chocolate
A natural libido booster! Chocolate contains a chemical called phenethylamine that triggers feelings of relaxation, intoxication, and pleasure. releases mood-boosting, stress-reducing serotonin and stimulates physical contact desires and lowers inhibitions.
8) Olive Oil
Orgasm worries in women find an answer in olive oil, which triggers the production of the testosterone hormone.
9) Garlic
A wonder sex booster, regular consumption of garlic in food can bring a marked difference in your sexual prowess.
The other day I did something incredible that I had never come across before. It’s called Yoni (Vaginal) Steaming. Maybe you have heard of it. Perhaps you haven’t. Yoni is the Sanskrit word for the vagina that translates to “a sacred space.” Beautiful. Isn’t it?
During the two hours of doing my first Yoni Steaming together (virtually) with Simone, I learnt about the art of deeply caring for your body, your womb space, and that beautiful yoni of yours. It reminded me how essential it was to take the time to sit and cultivate a deeper connection to your feminine wisdom. It was an experience that I didn’t know was so desperately needed in my life.
Between menstruation, sexual intercourse, and childbirth, the vagina withstands a lot. When you add changing hormones and pelvic floor issues to the mix, sometimes the vaginal area is anything but comfortable. That’s why the ancient practice of yoni steaming is coming back.
Below, learn all about this beautiful spiritual ritual to connect deeply with your yoni. Remember, yoni care is self-care.
What is Yoni Steaming?
Yoni steams are a holistic health practice where a woman straddles (sits) over steaming water with a combination of herbs (basically, a warm cup of herbal tea).
The warmth of the steam softens and opens the pores of the vaginal and vulvar skin. You sit and receive the warmth of the herbal healing steam. Then, the herbs absorb into the skin and uterus, leaving your yoni and you relaxed and rejuvenated from inside out.
Stay with me, as we’ll be going over all the juicy details to safely practise this ritual in the comfort of your house.
Remember: You never want to steam while you are bleeding. It’s to be done 3 days before your cycle or 3 days after your cycle ends. Or once every week.
Herb Blends:
You can incorporate so many healing herbs in your Yoni Steaming practice, make it your own, and get witchy. The process of creating your own blend in itself is a very soothing ritual and can be a way to step into your sensuality. Incorporating herbs in my yoni steams is one of my favourite things about the ritual, and it really gets me deep into my body. ⠀⠀
Simone recommended a few of the following healing herbs that I used for my Yoni Steaming-
1) Lavender
You can use the tea bags too! It’s a disinfecting herb. In case you have dampness that causes UTI. It will help clear and dry out the dampness in the uterus. Plus, it’s aromatherapy, and part of the ritual is aromatherapy.
2)Rose Petals
Rose petals are cleansing herb by the Chinese medicine standard. They are blood movers; they will create a movement of blood in the body. This is for somebody who cramps a lot. It’s not suitable for someone who spots/bleeds a lot.
3) Nettle
Also known as birth and kidney tonic. It helps hydrate the body and brings a lot of moisture. It’s a high nutrient and rich in Vitamin B and Iron. As we steam with nettles, it replenishes our bodies with these properties.
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Directions For Yoni Steaming At Home
Tried and tested by Simone at her sex workshops, here are the directions to safely practise yoni steaming at home:
1) In a medium-sized pot, pour roughly about 8-10 cups of water.
2) Boil water in a steam pot soaking your herbs in it. Do not add or use any essential oils, as they are too strong and may burn sensitive genital tissue.
3) Bring the water to a boil for about 5 minutes.
4) Then, turn off the heat and let the herbs steep for another 5 minutes with the lid on.
5) Now, it’s essential to test the temperature of the steam before using it. If it’s too hot, let it sit for 15 seconds and re-test it. Only go ahead if you feel comfortable with the temperature of the steam.
6) Pour the water into a pot, and cover the pot with a towel.
7) Remove your underwear and straddle above the steaming pot.
8) Wrap a large blanket or a wrapping around your waist, making sure no steam escapes.
9) You should feel comforting warm heat for about 15 minutes before the steam dies down.
During The Steam- You sit and receive the moist warmth of the healing steam. It enters your body directly through your yoni and penetrates to your uterus, pelvis, and even up through a deep central channel connecting to your heart so you can feel better in your body and your life.⠀
After the steam – “we gift the sacred waters back to a plant or tree to offer out prayers, release our stagnation and gift seeds for growth.”
Please note: don’t steam for longer than 15 minutes if you have an IUD.
What To Expect After The Steaming Ritual?
After a V steam, some may notice more moisture immediately or shortly after steam. This is due to the radiant warmth of the far-infrared heat, which penetrates deeply into the muscles and tissues of the vagina, and increases oxygen flow and circulation to remove impurities and harmful toxins such as cholesterol and heavy metals-much like with a standard sauna treatment.
The warmth of the steam softens and opens the pores of the vaginal and vulvar skin. You sit and receive the warmth of the herbal healing steam. Then, the herbs absorb into the skin and uterus, leaving your yoni and you relaxed and rejuvenated from inside out.
Benefits
During my session with Simone, she took the time to walk me through a wide range of benefits that Yoni Steaming gives to your body. Here are a few of them:
1) Helps heal bad cramps/PMS:
The stream flows into the Vaginal Canal, helping soften and release any stagnation and regulating the uterine lining, therefore relieving camps.
2) Helps decrease chances of vaginal infections:
Infections are a result of left residue from sex, menstrual cycles and stagnation. When the lining is not completely cleared in our cycles, it is like a leftover residue, worsening when we stress the body.
Steaming helps clean and clear the uterus of any bacteria or dormant dampness that creates a home for these bacteria.
3) Helps with remedying painful intercourse:
Think of steaming like foreplay; women need 20-40 min to become completely aroused-meaning for our erectile tissue to engorge and thus produce the lubrication and padding around our vaginal canal for repetitive penetration.
4) Connect to your wisdom and feminity:
When we spend time intimately in our womb and genitals, we get to know our body, patterns, discomfort, and messages.
These traditions have been lost to us in the western world. As you steam, you will gain more insight into your body and what you need.
5) Promotes restful sleep.
6) Assists in creating regular cycles.
7) Decreases chance of cysts, fibroids, and endometriosis.
Finally, sharing this beautiful message from Simone.
” Steaming is a tool that can help release heavy emotions out of the body. When we have a safe space in our own home on our own time to connect and release the damage, pain, memories stored in our body, we can heal. I know this from personally healing the effects of a toxic relationship. When we are with people that dim our light, that have intentions of hurting rather than loving us, and we let them, our energy changes, our self-worth changes. We are incapacitated on many major energetic levels. We frankly don’t want to be sexual or fall into patterns of wanting it from unhealthy partners. That is why Sex healing check-in and tune-ups are essential!⠀⠀⠀
Thank you, Simone. You can follow her online community, Pleasure Plus for all the juicy and sensual tips.
Take time this weekend to sit and connect with yourself. Remember, yoni care is self-care!
In the hopes of warmer weather, I’ve been treating myself to fun, bold and vibrant coloured dresses. I figure a year in loungewear deserves a pretty pick-me-up, an invitation to get back into the world, an opportunity to look at myself clothed in something beautiful and wear the smile that I feel inside. Here are 12 beautiful spring dresses options-
This simply gorgeous dress is going to be soft, light, and breathable for hot summer days. Also, so perfect for brunch or a casual date night!!
Now that we’ve been spending more time than ever at our homes now; we can’t help but look at every room with a closer eye. Should we rearrange the furniture a certain way? Should we add some art? And most importantly, should we get some plants?
With spring just around the corner, now is the perfect time to add a new and fresh life to your home. Today, we partnered with Glass Earth Plant Store to get you started on your plant parenthood journey.
Being a plant parent is a learning experience, and it’s 100% never perfect- and that’s okay! If you kill your first plant, that’s okay; we won’t judge, for we’ve been there too! To get you started on your first plant, we’ve put together a beginners guide to being a plant parent to make sure your experience is a pleasant and delightful one:
1) The lighting in your home
Do you have enough light in your home? Is your home lighting dim even during the summertime? It’s best to consider your home’s lighting and then go for a plant that would be most compatible with your house’s lighting.
Always check which way your windows face and observe the lighting. This will go a long way in helping you choose the right plant for the correct location.
What windows provide the best lighting?
East windows generally provide the best lighting for tropicals, while south and southwest exposure can often be too intense.
Keep in mind that most tropical plants grow under the canopy of the jungle, where it is pretty dark and therefore does not need direct sun. This is the location best suited for cactus and succulents and a few thicker leafed tropicals.
2) Your Schedule
Are you often out and spend days away from home? Are you a homebody? Think through about how much you’ll be able to tend to your plants. Some plants need closer attention to thrive than others.
3) How much water is too much water?
Proper watering is crucial for your plant survival. You ideally should always have your plants planted in pots with good drainage holes so that excess water can leave the roots and the soil. Also, try to avoid bowls or saucers full of water after watering your plants. Make sure to empty them.
It is an excellent idea to research any plant you bring into your home and find out where it is native. That will tell you a lot about the water needs of your plant.
For instance, plants like cactus, which grow in the desert, only need water a few times a year, whereas most tropicals need water every week. The best way to know when your tropical plant needs water is to use your fingers and dig down into the soil and feel it. In most cases, you want the soil to be barely moist before watering. Other plants like to dry out completely in between waterings, so it is best to know a bit about your plant beforehand.
4) Clean the leaves!
It is always a good idea to keep the leaves of your plants clean to photosynthesize effectively. Remember that the rain and the wind help keep the plants’ leaves clean and pest-free in the wild. And occasional showering can help a lot.
Regular wiping of large plant leaves with a Foliar feed and Leaf Shine helps a lot. Make it a habit to check the undersides of your plant leaves for pests. That’s where they like to hide!
5) Fertilize your plant
Occasionally if you own plants, you will encounter pests. We constantly push for natural solutions such as introducing predators to keep your plants healthy.
Choose a natural fertilizer rather than a chemical one to avoid burning the roots. Most soils used indoors have no nutrients, so a good fertilizer like Glass Earths Organic Plant Tea will help feed your plants. Avoid touching roots when transplanting to avoid transplant shock.
“I swear I cannot pull off amazing bold lips!” I cried out to a friend one evening while getting dressed to get to a dinner reservation. “I see so many of you rock stunning bold lips. But, when I try and do a bold look, I hate how it looks,” I added further. So, when lines like Fenty Beauty expand their popular lipstick palette to include shades like wild lilac and wicked green, the last thing I felt was intimidation. And, that’s the last thing you should feel too! Later that week, I texted my most trusted makeup artist turned friend, Chantel, to spill her secrets of rocking a gorgeous bold lip. Here she shares her four best tips:
1) Exfoliate lips
Exfoliating lips are so healthy for removing dead skin. It eliminates flakey skin that builds up over time. Exfoliating lips can soften the lips and make them naturally plump.
Fun Little Tip: You can also use a toothbrush to exfoliate your lips. It immediately softens and plumps the lips. Keep in mind, don’t use the brush too harshly. Instead, use light and gentle strokes.
Buff away all the dryness on the lips with a blissfully buttery and super hydrating lip balm. “I’ve been using the Biossance squalane+rose vegan lip balm religiously,” advises Chantel, my gorgeous makeup artist. “Lip balm is also an excellent base to lipstick and allows it to glide on easier and gives your lips a silky smooth finish.” she further adds.
For deeper hydration, use overnight lip masks. I love the lip mask by LANEIGE. Although a sleeping mask, I’ve been using this mask as lipgloss as well, and it makes my lips look glossy and hydrated. A little goes a long way.
Little Tip: For sensitive lips, I would avoid using lip balms that have harsh chemicals, alcohol, and menthol in it. It can lead to skin irritation and cause an allergic reaction.
“Adding a lip liner before and after a bold lip helps to define and bring back your lip shape, as it can sometimes get hidden within a bold lip colour,” suggests Chantel.
Depending on the look you’re going for with a bold lip colour, a lip liner can help achieve several looks. For instance- you could create an ombre lip effect and change your lip’s shape (bigger or smaller). Additionally, you could intensify the colour by adding a soft layer of lip liner over the lipstick.
Here are a few of the lip liner brands that we highly recommend at different price points:
a) Essence Soft Contouring Lip Liner
Category: Super- low Priced
Essence is one of the lowest-priced drug-store brands that does not compromise with its high quality.
b) e.l.f. Cosmetics
Category: Super-low priced
You won’t regret owning this non-irritating lip liner. This lip liner comes with a blending brush on one end and a retractable lip liner on the other end. This $1.20 lipliner is surprisingly smooth and high in pigmentation and doesn’t bleed because the blending brush helps to blend out any harsh lines very easily.
c) Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lip Liner
Category: Medium priced
The variation in nude colours sold me on these lip liners and that they were super creamy and long-lasting. The colours are just intense enough to give a beautiful wash of colour to wear all over the lip.
d) MAC Cosmetics
Category: High-End
We love MAC Cosmetics! For the liners from MAC, a little goes a long way, and it lasts forever!
4) Fill in the lips with your favourite bold colour:
If you want to try an intimidating colour for yourself, don’t think you can’t go for it! The first step would be to research what colour suits your skin tone best. The easiest colour to start with is orange. It’s light, fun and fresh! And, from there, experiment with several different shades of the colour.
At the end of the day, it’s just lipstick. It’s fun and temporary. You’ve got nothing to lose. Make up routine, you just a got lot more exciting! Muahhhhhh!!!
Thoughts? Are there any tips that you’d like to share? Is there a colour that excites you? Let us know all about your fun lipstick adventures in the comments below.
