10 Amazing Things You Can Do With Coconut Oil!

It’s a rich moisturizer, it’s cheap, it’s versatile, it’s antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial, has a decent amount of antioxidants, and it smells like baked goods. What’s not to love? Well, some stuff….

You can get it at any good health food store in the cooking oil section, just be sure to spend the extra buck or two to get raw, organic, virgin coconut oil.

1. For cooking at high heat. Coconut oil has earned itself a bone fide health halo, which you can read about here. Because some oils are not safe at high temperatures, I’ve swapped in coconut for a lot of my roasting, and some frying. I have tried and liked it in the oven for potatoes, sweet potatoes, Brussell’s sprouts, carrots, asparagus, broccoli rabe, red onions, and other veggies, too. I’m not fond of how it tastes with eggs or mild-tasting white fish—but it’s great with salmon.

2. As a cheekbone highlighter. Sweep a little on top of makeup (sounds weird, go with it) and leave it alone. It looks like your skin but glowier, which is why Rosemarie Swift, of RMS Beauty, uses it in her amazing Living Luminizer, "Un” Cover Up, and Lip-2-Cheek posts.

3. To shave my legs. So good! You get a real close shave and don’t have to worry about moisturizing after.

4. As a deep-conditioning hair treatment for my totally wrecked ends. There’s a reason lots of conditioners use coconut oil: According to this study, coconut oil is better able to penetrate the hair than is mineral oil (shocking!) and sunflower oil—which is good news because I’ve been dealing with a little heat damage over here. Because I don’t want to cut off the damage—I’m liking my hair long right now—I’ve been trying to get the ends looking OK as I grow it out. Knowing full well there is no way to physically repair fried ends (I even confirmed this with a cosmetic scientist named Colin, who isn’t a clean guy, but he’s nice and he’s smart) I’ve been loving this method: once a week, I sleep with a handful of coconut oil in my hair. I rub it in, comb it, pile it in a loose bun on the top of my head, and call it a night. In the morning I shampoo and it seems to make a big difference in the look and feel of my ends.

5. To take off my eye makeup. Put a little on a cotton ball or a piece of toilet paper and sweep it over your eyes gently. It even works on waterproof mascara.

6. As a personal lubricant. Saucy! Let’s be brief: It totally works by yourself or with a buddy, but it’s not compatible with condoms (oil + latex = babies).

7. As a face moisturizer. I do not like this. I’ve read about acne-prone women who have used it to great effect because it’s naturally antibacterial, calming, and moisturizing, but I won’t put coconut oil—or any product that contains it—anywhere near the part of my face that breaks out (hi, chin). I tried the oil-cleansing method when we were writing the book and I got the absolute worst cystic acne ever which, yeah, yeah, might not have been the oil’s fault, but did I want to wait another month to find out? Hells no.

8. As a body moisturizer. See above (shaving). I recently met my friend Jessica at yoga and before class started she yanked up her pant leg and told me she’d been using coconut oil on her whole body. How’d they feel? So soft. So! Soft! And the smell doesn’t linger, for the record.

9. As a day-time hair tamer. Cute on your ends but I wouldn’t put this on the top of your head, especially if you’re blonde, because it looks really, really greasy.

10. Gluten-free and vegan baking. It’s a staple. It tastes really good and, it seems to me, is the only thing that can mask the chalky taste you get with most gluten-free baking. 

Summer Dessert

Summer is in full effect, and that means ’tis the season for afternoon pool parties and night-time entertaining with guests. People love to show off their best cooking skills when their having company over at their home, but not everyone is able to make a decision when it comes to dessert. Lets face it, baking is hard, but when you’re trying to impress your guests, you don’t want to just run out and buy some store-bought cake or pie, right? Well here’s your perfect solution:

Its a simple and easy recipe for honey almond mini cheesecakes, a new trend that has been slowly becoming more and more popular among chefs of all different calibers. Fortunately for you, this recipe is simple and makes some little individual cheesecakes that will really have your dinner party asking where you got the recipe.

Here’s how:

Honey Almond Mini Cheesecakes with Raspberries

1 cup almond meal
2 tablespoons sucanat or brown sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted
8 ounces Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1 egg, at room temperature
1/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
stevia or powdered sugar, to taste
fresh raspberries

special equipment: mini cheesecake pan

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly coat mini cheesecake pan with non-stick spray.

In a medium bowl, combine almond meal, sucanat (or brown sugar), and melted butter. Stir with a fork until well combined. Divide crumb mixture evenly between the 12 cups of your mini cheesecake pan. Press crumbs firmly onto the bottom and partially up the sides of each cup.

Using an electric mixer, blend softened cream cheese, egg, honey, and almond extract together in a separate medium bowl. Spoon cream cheese mixture into each cup (they will only be half filled). Bake for 14-16 minutes in a preheated 375 degree oven, or until filling has just set. Remove from oven and place pan on a rack to cool for 20 minutes, then carefully remove cheesecakes from pan and let cheesecakes cool completely on the wire rack. Chill completely before serving.

Just before serving, whip heavy cream until soft peaks form. Sweeten to taste with stevia or powdered sugar. Put a small dollop of whipped cream on each mini cheesecake. Top with fresh raspberries.

World Beard and Mustache Championships

Now I have heard a lot of people joking around about things like this, but it wasn’t until recently I discovered there is actually an official beard and mustache competition including teams from all over Europe, the US, and Canada. Yes, every two years facial hair growers from all around the world meet and a panel of judges determine the winners of a wide variety of categories. Just to name a few, the categories include: Natural Mustache, English Mustache, Hungarian Mustache, Partial Beard Freestyle, Verdi, Garibaldi, Fu Manchu, and many more… there’s even a category dedicated to Salvador Dalí! The beard growing competition trend started in Black Forrest Village of Höfen/Enz in the early 90′s and from there it has grown quite a bit. So next time you’re thinking about shaving your soup strainers, maybe reconsider and go for a huge cash prize at the next beard and mustache competition.

Words Of Creative Inspiration

Inspiration means to arouse and to invigorate. Listen to your feelings, your intuition and you will extract a brilliant idea.
Inspiration drives transformation.
Being more aware of your inspirations will allow you to become more free and spontaneous. Be aware of self- acknowledge your experiences, your thoughts and your inner voice. Feelings of fear and joy bring on inspiration. The "A-HA” moment; is the moment of inspiration. It brings together energy and pleasure. Have faith in yourself, trust your ideas and goals and you will succeed.
"Terra Incognito”- the unknown world.
Fear embraces the sensation and sharpens our awareness and allows us to grow.
Embrace the present to influence the future.

Gourd Lamps by Calabarte

A fantastic addition to an organic style of interior design, in whatever space you may choose. The Gourd Lamps are made from carving into dried shells of an actual gourd, it grows on tropical vine fruit native to Africa and Asia. Each lamp is given a unique pattern characterized by shape and also the varying depth of the carvings. The deeper the shape is carved the easier it is for light to pass through and vice versa. What a beautiful and elegant way to decorate a living space!

LEGO Greenhouse Installation

Designer Sebastian Bergne was recently commissioned by LEGO to create an installation to be part of the London Design Festival 2011. This here is a fully functioning green house made entirely by Legos, except for the all natural plants and vegetables that it encompasses. The creation is hosted and was inspired by the Covent Garden and its cultural history in design. "The plants inside bring nature back to this area once famous for its garden trade,” says Bergne. The installation is said by Bergne to have two different characters, one day and one night. During the day it reflects light onto the architectural structure behind it and appears to be an ordinary greenhouse, but at night it glows creating an illusion that the plant is lighting up the house.

How To Make Your Hair Grow Faster?

Can you really make your hair grow faster? The answer is no. The speed of growing is on your genes. But because of different factors our hair does not grow with its maximum speed. If you eliminate things that slow down hair growth, hair will grow faster. What factors slow down hair growth?

1. Nutrition. Nutrition is a basic thing for every growth process. Manage balanced diet, full with vitamins and minerals needed for hair. The best products for hair growth are fat kinds of fish, nuts, fruits and vegetables, dairy products. If it is hard for you to maintain balanced diet – try beauty vitamins for women. Such vitamin and mineral complexes already contain all vital vitamins and minerals for hair, nails and teeth health. Generally eat good and drink enough water.
2. Wrong hair care. It is very important to find out your scalp and hair type and take proper hair care. Find out your scalp and hair type easily with this table.
3. Use organic shampoos. They can seriously increase hair growth speed as your scalp will be healthy and healthy scalp produces healthy hair.
4. Wash your hair with clean water or boiled tap water. Do not irritate scalp with chemicals from tap water.
5. Do not overcool hair and scalp in cold time of the year. Wear a hat.

10 Fast Beauty Tricks

1. Quick Cleanse!

No time to cleanse? Try keeping makeup-wipes in your purse and using those instead!

2. De-poof Your ‘Do!

Get rid of that frizz! Wet your hands with water and a drop of hand lotion, then gently pull your hair back into a French twist. Wait 10 minutes; take your locks down. BADABING! No more crazy flyaways!

3. Degrease Your Dome!

If scalp grease (or product build-up) have left your hair looking like a dirty mop, sprinkle translucent powder or dry shampoo over your roots, then brush through.

4. Fake a Healthy, Flawless Glow!

Hold up! Concealer is only half the battle. To really perfect your complexion (regardless of skin tone), try wearing lipstick in a warm pink. It distracts people’s eyes from imperfections and spots.

5. Get Gorgeous Nails — FAST!

60-second strategy: Remove all polish, clean under your nails (with lemon juice, if you have it) and massage the thickest lotion you can find (lip balm will suffice in a pinch) into your cuticles.

6. Give your face a wake-up call!

Look more luminous and awake by applying white eye shadow to four key points: the inner corners of the eyes, the brow bones, the temples and above the peaks of your upper lip. Light skin tones look best with a white shadow that has cool blue undertones; darker complexions need a complementary golden or off-white version.

7. Get tan and toned

Get gold by mixing liquid bronzer with a firming body cream, then massage it into your arms. It’ll temporarily tighten your skin and give it a sexy glow.

8. Give that hair flair!

A glittery accessory adds instant glamour to any hairstyle. Forgot to bring one? Use the brooch from your sweater!

9. Still look tired?

Sleepy eyes need at least one coat of mascara to give them definition. Step One separates and defines lashes, while Step Two coats lashes and boosts volume.

10. Add a touch of glam!

When all else fails, sparkly earrings add interest and brighten up any look!