Health and Happiness

The more I try to seek both, the more similar they seem. For the first part of my life I didn't really have much of either - caught every cold that went around, got bronchitis, strep throat, and whatever multiple times a year leaving me laid out for two weeks at a time. I was also not the happiest little girl for other reasons. For years, actually near three decades, none of this was abnormal for me.

That was a past life. My journey into this one was a foundation of health. Educating myself on nutrition and natural alternatives, trying to find reasons for specific things. Each step I took got me healthier, and when I was healthy enough - I was happy.

I hadn't really been happy before. I had happy moments, happy memories, and a lot of faking happiness. Being happy while you're actually healthy opens up a whole new door.

Over the past few years I've had the opportunity to talk with hundreds of people that want to be healthier. I worked at several gyms and fitness centers, I went back to school for nutrition, and spoke with family and friends on what we want out of life. Everyone has different situations - they want to lose weight, they drink a lot, they need to do something besides sit all day. Whatever it is, the similar thing that almost everyone has is common is that they're not really that healthy and their not really happy with who they are. But the more we work on their health - exercising regularly, eating better, doing meditation - the happier we become.

We don't treat ourselves well usually. We never have enough time. We rush to get things done. We eat food quickly. We drink too much. We talk down to ourselves in our heads.
What if we just stopped and said "I'm going to make the time to be healthy and happy for myself"?

We all need to do this, even the most busy ones of us. We need to find 30 minutes during the day to invest in our own health and happiness. No one ever regrets a workout. Everyone who does make the time on a regular basis feels happier overall, compared to those that don't. We'll get those 30 minutes back. We'll see clearer. We'll be  more organized. We're more productive, have more  motivation, are more positive, and can GIVE more to those we love and things we care about.

We need to help ourselves find our path to health and happiness, and help others find their happiness too.

I am here for you if you need me. :)

~ Samantha Marie

Fitness and Nutrition Factoids of the Week

• You will get an additional 15 minutes of exercise each day, on average, if you take public transit to work. 

• Air pollution can affect nutrients in your food. Protein levels dropped by 7% in high carbon dioxide areas. High levels also decrease the amounts of zinc and iron in foods like soybeans, rice, and wheat, and these carbon dioxide levels will continue to rise based on - yep - global warming. It's a real thing, not like the Easter bunny.

• For a better focused workout, meditate for 2 - 5 minutes prior to exercise to clear out thoughts that could cripple your efforts.

• There are approximately 1 million bubbles that form in a flute of champagne. 

• Jump as high as you can 20 times a day to increase bone density in your hips.

• Watching intense drama videos can increase cortisol (the stress hormone) levels in some people, which can affect mood negatively. 

• Stress from a poor work environment can also increase cortisol, which can make you crave junk food and trigger hormones that increase fat deposits. 

• Only 36% of Americans consider themselves overweight, when actually 69% are. Get your body fat percentage (not BMI) checked regularly if you're not sure.

• An adult woman needs about 50 grams of protein per day. Protein helps you feel full and protects your muscle mass - which is what you WANT for a healthy metabolism.

10 Makeup and Skin Product Reviews With Ratings

Review box is getting full - time to make space with 10 different skincare & makeup reviews! 

Products, samples, and testers came from Sephora, Birchbox, and Target mostly. Everything from Eyes Lips Face to Ole Henrikson.

 

Here are the 10 reviews, rated from 3 being low to 8 being high:

Belif - the true cream moisturizing bomb - 6

A new line out at Sephora from Korea - most of the line seems like a knock-off from philosophy, from the name of the brand, name of the products, and package design. I did like the smooth consistency. If you like philosophy, you may enjoy this brand.

Lara & Co. - Lip Lube - 4

Kind of a weird bright yet pastel color from a Birchbox, ironically the second color I've gotten from Birchbox from this brand in a very similar color. I'll just say this helped my decision in debating whether or not to pause my subscription.

philosophy - no reason to hide -5

Maybe I'm one of the few people that just doesn't get philosophy. I actually liked the knock-off brand more than this sample. 

Clinique - Smart Custom Repair Eye Treatment -8

My favorite trial in this bunch! Clinique is so simple, so mainstream, I'd almost say basic, but there is nothing basic about this product. My skin felt fresh and smooth. Thumbsup. I'd like to get a deluxe sample next. 

e.l.f. Tone Adjusting Primer - 7

If you'd like a inexpensive (usually about $5) primer that you can wear any day, get this one. Sometimes we don't want to use our expensive $25 - $40 primers if we're having a laid back day around the house or running errands. Get this tone adjusting primer (available in 4 different colors) and don't feel bad about looking fabulous every day of the week.

Ole Henrikson - Truth Serum - 6

I used this in my gym bag for after I shower. I don't have anything negative to say about it, but I didn't notice any positive changes on my face. It did absorb fairly quickly for me to put the rest of my products on immediately after. 

e.l.f. Lip Plump & Primer - 3

It smelled & tasted like cinnamon... Everything else wasn't great. Did not notice any pluming, and the primer didn't work at all. Normally I rave about their non-makeup products but this one fell short. 

Benefit - it's potent Eye Cream - 7

Granted this sample only contained two applications, so I can't speak much for its claim of "brightening to fade dark circles", but I did like it as an eye cream. Very gentle and moisturizing which is needed for eye products. Second favorite in this list of ten.

Ole Henrikson - Pure Truth Melting Cleanser - 6

I used this 3-in-1 cleansing gel about five or six times last week, both a few times using just my hands and a few times with my Clarisonic Mia

Jouer - matte moisture tint sunscreen SPF 15 - 7

Got this little guy from a Birchbox. Went on smooth, neutral color that blended well, not too think. I would have rated it higher if the SPF was higher - a 15 doesn't really do a whole lot in regards to protection.

March Products of the Month

I'm excited to share my first products of the month since becoming part of the doTERRA family. I'm even MORE excited to write about what they are. My first experience with one of the products was sharing it with my mother who was in a lot of pain when I visited her for Christmas. She was actually debating on going to the hospital if it did not get better after the next day. I massaged this product on her for about 5 minutes and her pain was gone. She was amazed! She told me, "I can't believe it. If I put pressure on it, I can feel like it's there, but it's nothing like how it was!" The other product... Well I just love and you can use it for just about anything - even consume it!

 

doTERRA is having an AMAZING promo this month: Place ANY 200pv single order in March 2016 and doTERRA will give you a 5ml Deep Blue oil AND a Deep Blue Rub ($81.67 value) for FREE!

>>> Shop Here <<<

 

Loooooooove love love sharing this, using it in water, sharing it, using it in my diffuser, sharing it, inhaling it in my hands just because it smells delicious, and oh, sharing it! It's only $14 for a 15ml of this Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oil, why wouldn't I share it with everyone?! You can actually get this for only $10 with a wholesale membership with doTERRA - please contact me via any of my links on the right, or comment below for me to contact you and show you how! 

All through the month of March, doTERRA is giving 10% off of their On Guard Cleaner Concentrate - no matter if you're a member or not - on ANY order! If you're looking for a way to clean your home without the use of harsh chemicals or fear of allergic reactions from lab-made ingredients, this is a great place to start.

If any of these products interest you, come join me and learn more at www.mydoterra.com/mssamanthamarie

Yours in health and happiness,

Samantha Marie

In Perspective

A dear friend of mine went missing this week. Safe to say the reason why I didn't keep up with the blog posts the past few days, & couldn't really do much of anything else besides freak out & try to think what I / we could do to find her. After missing for seven days, she was found alive, thank the Lord.

During the day my mind was consumed with worry, and at night the anxiety and sleeplessness on another level. A lot of us go to bed with worries, with anxiety, with sleepless nights. Many of my nights have been, and particularly more so lately, consisted of a deep embedded fear that I try each day to overcome. Recently my fears have been questioning myself, my abilities, wondering what people are going to think or do, and of course - the fear of failure. Almost losing a friend while trying to look for her makes all those fears petty and ridiculous in perspective. All you care about is finding her by any means necessary. Who cares who you talk to, what you post, what people will see or think - if any of it at all would mean finding her you do it. Not even without a second guess, but by the need & desire to do anything at all you possibly can.

Those of us that have fears that stop us from progressing forward need to think what we're taking away not just from ourselves, but from the people we love and care about, any anyone else we would love to help out in this journey on our world. The end result - the chance to help someone, to bring happiness, to save from pain and despair, to do whatever it is that's supposed to be our gift for being on this planet - we need to do. Maybe your point didn't get across, or someone took it the wrong way, or doesn't like you, or you misunderstood, but so many other people and things are probably going to benefit from your positive efforts and good intentions that you would be doing a huge disservice to entertain the idea of NOT doing something that you think would help.

Just go for it. Try. What's the worst that can happen? You'll have to try again. The more you try, the more you'll succeed, the happier you'll be, and you'll leave the world in a better place.

"The world is not served by playing small."

<3,

Samantha Marie

 

Winter VoxBox Reviews

- Curel - Marc Jacobs - KISS Lashes - Biscoff - 

It's been a great winter & I've had the opportunity to try & test a variety of VoxBoxes so far courtesy of Influenster and their Voxbox programs. Curel's Itch Defense spray was great for getting all the angles of your legs. It was fairly moisturizing for those dry winter months.

The Jingle VoxBox was really fun! The Biscoff cookies were delish! I already had the same exact Twisted nail polish color from Pure Ice - I didn't realize it at the time, but after thinking it looked familiar, went & checked to confirm.
Hallmark's Itty Bittys were cute too! Really cute. Kinda have a little girl I want to give them to. They are very soft. :)
NYC eyeliner is great to line the inner lash line. It's been on my bathroom counter this past month to use when I do some quick makeup at home. Kiss false eyelashes and lash glue were included too.

Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara was a disappointment. You kinda get some volume at the base, but that's about it. No length what so ever, definition was difficult to obtain, and overall just wasn't happy with it. I've used it a few times when I'm planning on mostly being around the house or running some quick errands, but that's about it. I've really liked most of what Marc Jacobs has been putting out recently in makeup (great new lipsticks!) and perfume, so I was pretty bummed on this outcome & having to report so. Oh well Marc, you're still amazing in many other areas!