Yoga with Karel : June 2015

What an eventful past couple days! I have been enjoying spending time with my family. My sister came home and we had a three day sleepover with my cousin. It has been so much crazy fun! I hope you have a love week ahead. (: I have decided to theme this week as love. <3

(Unknown Source)

Unfortunately, there are many unknown sources. Sometimes I use Pinterest and Tumblr to find these amazing quotes but some users change the links to benefit their own businesses. It is such a shame. When I find the original source, I will update them. Please let me know if you find them! Thank you!

I have been on a long hunt for an exfoliating toner. Bummed when my local Target didn't have the PIXI Glow Tonic and disappointed when my local health food store didn't have a person to help me in their beauty section, I decided to make my own. I looked through several DIY toners and decided to create my own with my knowledge of the ingredients.
Apple Cider Vinegar is so amazing and has so many uses. After some quick research on my phone while in the grocery store, I decided that ACV is a good option over witchhazel because of its alkalizing affect on the body (and also because my other toner has witchhazel in it and I wanted something different).

DIY Exfoliating Toner

spray bottle
organic, raw, unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar. I use Braggs.
chamomile tea
2-4 drops Essential oil

I did a one to four ratio of ACV to camomile tea. Because of the size of my spray bottle I did 3 teaspoons of Apple Cider vinegar and filled the rest of my spray bottle with my chamomile tea (make sure you brew it and wait for it to cool down before you put it in your container). Then I topped it off with peppermint essential oil. I don't even remember why I chose peppermint but it seemed like a good idea at the time. I only did 2 drops because peppermint is so potent. If I had used lavender, I would probably do 4 drops.

To apply, I spray it on a reusable cotton pad and swish away on my face.
The picture below shows my toner and the reusable pads I use to put it on.

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Sorry for the delay but it's still Monday! There is so much going on in my life right now, I hope you all understand. Here is your lovely motivations and inspirations for the week ahead! (:

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Yinspiration is usually on Monday's but I was out of town during that time. So here is some extra motivation for you all since I missed it.

Source

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El Deafo by Cece Belle
233 pages.
Publisher: Amulet
Source: Borrowed

A little preview for you!

I am so excited to be writing about this book. It came unexpectedly. I work at an after school program and I saw this book sitting next to one of my fifth graders. I asked her if I could look through it. I flipped through and to my surprise, it is a graphic novel and every single page is in color! I did not grow up reading graphic novels so this was a surprise for me. How exciting! She let me read the first few pages and absolutely fell in love with it. I asked my fifth grader where she got the book. She is part of a lunch time book club and the PTA donates a box of books of their choosing that they get to keep. I am so surprised and super grateful that this books exist and is being exposed to kids! And here is why...

El Deafo is about Cece Bell's childhood and what her life is like with her new-found superpower: losing her hearing. She takes us through her journey of starting a new school, making new friends, struggles with others who do not know how to act around her, school life, and most especially her superpower.

This is clearly written for a young audience but I believe it is for all ages. Read it to your young ones, read it yourself! This is a wonderful book to understand what it's like for a child growing up without her hearing.

I really love this book. I did a project in my undergrad where we had to find diverse books for children. It was a difficult project! One thing that I especially had a hard time is including (dis)abilities. El Deafo is one for my collection. One day, when I have my own little mini-me, he or she will have a bookshelf full of diverse books. I finished this book in a day, it was such an easy read. It made my heart melt; it made me laugh & cry. Thank you Ms. Librarian for exposing your students with this wonderful book and trusting me with a copy to read.

This post contains affiliate links.
Courtesy of the wonderful Librarian who trusted me with this book at the school I currently work at. (: Thank you.

Happy Monday Beautiful Friends!!!!
I hope this week is a great one for all of you. Here is this week's yinspiration (:

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(Unknown Source)

I found this DIY charcoal mask on a beauty blogger's website and decided to give it a shot. At first I was very hesitant because I did not know anything about what activated charcoal does to your skin. So I wanted to share what I found!

In World War I, it was used in gas masks to "prevent soldiers from being poisoned by chemical exposure".¹
Add powder to toothpaste to help whiten teeth.²
It helps reduce acne.¹
Activated Charcoal tightens pores and smooths skin.²
It helps remove toxins from your body.¹

You can find all of the ingredients in your local health food store like Whole Foods or Sprouts. A few notes though... I think that Bentonite clay is dirt cheap for a clay mask. Clay masks typically run around $6-12 for a small pot. I got a pound of Bentonite clay and I have had it for over a year and still have plenty. I normally follow the directions on the container but I love finding new ways to use it like this! Ask the wonderful people in the beauty section where you can find activated charcoal. The one that my local health food store had were in capsules. So I just took some kitchen scissors to cut them open and tap out the powder. You will probably end up doing this but be careful! Activated charcoal is so darn messy and gets everywhere!

So I actually had all of the ingredients in my little beauty cupboard which is so handy. I even made some aloe gel last week to use in this clay mask. This mask should keep for 8 months because of the homemade aloe gel but I personally would not wait that long to use this.

DIY Charcoal Clay Mask

1/4 Cup Bentonite clay
7 charcoal caps
4-5 Tablespoons chamomile tea
1 Tablespoon coconut oil
1 Tablespoon aloe gel (DIY or store bought)
4 drops of essential oil (varies depends on sensitivity, test first! I used 2 drops of Sweet Orange and 2 Drops of Lavender)

Start by brewing a small cup of chamomile tea and melting your coconut oil.

Mix your clay and caps together in a bowl. Make sure your bowl is not metal though, there is something about the clay that doesn't like metal.

In a separate bowl, mix your liquids together: chamomile tea, coconut oil, aloe gel, and essential oils.

Mix the clay in your liquids thoroughly. I added more chamomile tea because I wanted my mask more wet. Place in an air tight container and place in the fridge.

Pardon my mug, hard to smile when the mask pulls at your face!

I have dry skin so I was a little skeptical about using this mask since the charcoal is good for acne-prone skin. I thought that means that it will dry my skin out. But then I realized that there is oils and aloe gel so I thought, why not? I cleansed my face first before putting this mask on. I was pretty generous when I was putting the mask on carefully avoiding the eye area. My dad kept making me laugh and it hurts because the clay makes your face feel so tight. So do not watch anything that will make you laugh, haha. I kept the mask on until it was almost completely dry. At the point, I could not move my face at all. I removed it by using an old Cinderella face towel. My reason is because the charcoal gets everywhere and I don't want it staining my nicer facetowels. It took me quite a bit to get it off. I took the hot-ish face towel over my face to rewet the clay then I slowly removed it. When my towel got too dirty or lost its temperature, I would just run it through the sink again.

It has been 3 hours since I took the mask off and so far so good. My skin isn't acting up. In fact, it feels like it has helped my facial oils sink into my skin. I will check in again tomorrow to see what the results.

Check in: I feel like it has gotten rid of the dirt and grime from what was stuck in my pores. Honestly, I cannot really tell because I didn't really check my face before. I definitely feel that my face feels cleaner and clear.

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Courtesy of (1) Moneycrashers, (2) Ecosalon,

Hello friends! I had a lot of fun with this month's favorites. I have been jotting down notes on what I have been using a lot and these are all mostly beauty related. So here are my favorite products that I used this month.

Batik Yoga Mat Bag by Hugger Mugger - I love this little guy. He is large enough to hold my heaviest and bulkiest mat and light enough to hold a small mat and a jacket plus a water bottle. I used this to house my yoga mat while I was at Wanderlust 108. My friend and I walked around part of the city hauling our mats along so my mat bag helped so much. I especially love the design and colors. It is definitely my favorite yoga item I have used this month.

Konjac Cleansing Sponge by Boscia - Meet my potato. I love everything potatoes and I found another use: cleansing my face. The lady at Sephora showed me how to use it and I was immediately convinced. This potato is, when wet, gets very soft... almost like a sponge texture. I rub my entire face with it then proceed with the rest of my skin care routine. My potato helps the products I use afterwards seep into my skin. I love it so so much!

Oil-Free Moisturizer in Acai & White Tea by Andalou Naturals - Do not let the label fool you! I had a tester for this is LOVED it. I would never pick this up because it says "oil-free" and "clarifying", which leads me to conclude that it is for oily and acne-prone skin. Those two I do not have. I have dry skin. If I do not put a moisturizer after I cleanse my face, my skin feels tight and uncomfortable. I love this moisturizer when I want something lighter on my face or if I plan on using a CC cream that day. It feels nice and light on my skin and it smells really good but not overpowering.

Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal by BECCA - Another fabulous find at Sephora. Those girls are so good at getting you to buy stuff. I couldn't afford this so the lady gave me a tester of it. I loveee it. I use it as a highlighter and in place of blush to get the perfect sheen. I love that it is not too glittery and shimmer. It gives off the look like sun is hitting your face perfectly. I did a little swatch to show what it looks like compared to without it. I really love the way this looks.

Half Time Polish Drying Accelerator by QTICA - I have been loving doing my nails lately but I always hate walking around with wet nails and having to start over. I have this polish drying accelerator and it works! I am still very careful with my nails afterwards but I am able to do normal stuff like going to the bathroom without messing them up. It gets all over my fingers so I always wipe away the excess with a q-tip. Oh! And I also got this for free during some sale but I love it!

El Deafo by Cece Bell - This month's favorite book is wonderful and a total surprise. I have been on a reading haul lately and this was an accident. I will be doing a complete bookshelf review on this book so when I write that, I will link it here. In summary, it is a great book that everyone should read. I want to say that it is targeted for 5th graders because one of my fifth graders was reading this but it's a pretty easy read.

This one is totally different from previous but it is the look I am wearing in this picture with my beautiful two friends. We were all going to a wedding. The dress is from Francesca's, I have no idea where I got my shoes but I am obsessed. I also wore a navy long cardigan over and my makeup is mostly by BECCA. I love this look! I wore to a wedding. I wore it to my cousin's graduation. I love this dress because it's holey and I love holey stuff. And these shoes! Ah! I wish I had a link for you all, it was at a discounted shoe store. It is so comfortable. I was able to wear this during the entire wedding and then some. LOVE.

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I am not sponsored or getting to paid to endorse any of the items mentioned above. I bought and used all these items myself and they are truly my favorites for this month. Thank you!

I decided that I want to write. Just before, a song came on and I saw a moon post on my Facebook which urged me to sit and meditate. While it is not a long meditation, it was quite an important one.

As I sat, I noticed my breath feeling shallow and feelings welling up inside me try to come out and tell me something. I just payed attention and stayed present.

The biggest thing that came up in my meditation tonight were the words "who is important to me?" and "keep your tribe close." Thinking about that, I noticed how much of a strong foundation I have in my friendships. I am lucky to have wonderful friends that support me and urge me to do my best.

As I read MysticMama's astral insights for tonight's full moon, the following words jumped out at me... "allow for time away from pressure of figuring things out and simply be in stillness." Lately, I have been doing just that: trying to figure things out. But in the end, the biggest reminder I need to practice is to stay present and just be.

At this moment, take a moment to just be. Notice the sounds, the sights, the feelings that well up deep inside you. For five minutes, be present.

Courtesy of my personal journal.
Blair Fraser for the picture.

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