Korean body scrub.

    As a gift for babysitting, a friend treated me to a scrub at the Korean Spa. What would this mean? Would they massage sugar mixed with oils or salt like at home? Is it a dry brush? How could this possibly take thirty minutes? Is this going to be like "Naked and Afraid?" I had no clue what I was getting into.

    Let me tell you, it was beyond expectation. In not your typical spa like setting, naked women are just strolling around the spa area, sipping tea, rinsing off in these kiddie-type toddler stools and hoses, and going to and from the hot tub to the cold bath. I am supposed to either soak in the bath or steam room for twenty minutes so my pores can open and be ready for a hardcore scrubbing. Do I make small talk with the other spa goers? Do I sit quietly and try to relax? WTF am I supposed to do? I chose to drink their sweet bread like corn tea and awkwardly overheat by myself in the steam room. (Legs up of course, thanks Momma for teaching me that one!) 

   Finally I am called, my (scrubist?) in her black lace bra (they are all dressed like this I have no clue why) throws some warm water on me, tells me to lay down and we get crackin'. Heads up- there is no privacy, others are getting massaged or scrubbed in the same room, this spa is not for the modest. With her glove type things and some salt, she starts from the feet up. Since I dry brush, the sensation was nothing new, but it is slightly weird having someone do it for you. When I was flipped over I saw rolls of grey stuff coming off. "IS THAT SKIN?" I shriek. Hong laughs and replies, "Yes." EW. AMAZING. WHOA. Every adjective is crossing my mind as I glance down at my glowing skin.I told her I look like a newborn baby fresh out of the womb. She seemingly agrees. Hong seems to really be focusing on my thighs and booty (sorry honey, the stretch marks are there to stay!) After she tosses my head and neck around for the world's quickest massage, she throws my hair up in a perfect bun, and I am off feeling light as a feather.

   The verdict? So worth it. My skin looks incredibly even, has a beautiful glow, and feels so new. If you are shy or uncomfortable being naked around others, I would suggest a private scrub. 
                           
                               x jules


p.s. I went to Imperial Spa on Geary, $60 for a scrub, and $25 for a day pass with access to sauna, steam, and hot and cold tubs.


Tips
-Rinse off before getting in the steam room or hot tub.
-Bring your own sandals and hair brush.
-Tell her if you prefer lighter or heavier pressure.
-Go in the steam room and then the hot tub right before to relax your muscles if you are apprehensive.
-Bring a heavy lotion or oil to apply after the massage (they rinse you with soap, but you will want something super hydrating.
-Bring a sheet mask to enjoy while you wait in the spa area.
-Bring cash gratuity.

All about collagen.

                       
        Botox, filler, lash injections, lip injections, etc. There are so many directions to go as far as "beauty supplements" Why not keep it simple; eat some jello, bone broth, or for my vegan friends, cabbage and soy products.

       Collagen is a protein found in the connective tissues in the body providing astounding benefits. Gelatin (made from collagen) is a major digestive aid, relief of joint pain as well as giving you plumper and firmer skin, stronger teeth and nails, and lowering pain associated with arthritis. It is proven that you will notice a "glow" to your skin and lowering in anxiety, promotes a healthy sleep, and can slow down the aging process in your skin due to sun damage and hormonal imbalance. Best taken with vitamin c and on an empty stomach, there are many ways to get your collagen fix in. 

Bone broth- derived from grass fed animals whether it be beef, chicken, or turkey, this is the most time consuming process. 15+ hours of making a broth out of the bones, it releases the collagen and nutrients of the animal.

Collagen supplements- whether this be powder or pill form, both are recommended to be taken daily. Powdered collagen is the strongest source. 

Gelatin- this is a fun way to get your collagen in. You can make gelatin squares or make your own flavor of jello, the flavors are endless! I am loving the kombucha-tangerine flavor (I am more than happy to share this recipe or answer any questions to anyone who needs it!)

Vegetarian/Vegan friendly- red fruits such as apples, cherries, strawberries,foods such as beans, soy products,flax seed, walnuts, olives and red vegetables such as beets, red peppers, red potatoes are all high in natural forms of collagen as well as hyaluronic acid to lock in the moisture of your skin and reverse the effects of aging.

    I have been taking a powdered collagen supplement as well as eating jello daily, and I am looking forward to exploring other options as well. I don't notice any major changes in my skin, nails, or hair, however I think it is too soon to see any changes. I take a spoon of the powdered form of collagen daily with room temperature water. (you can mix it into your tea, coffee or juice as well) I take either an acerola tablet or add camu camu powder to the water. It does make me feel calm, and I feel better when running, after eating, and well rested. I look forward to updating you!

                         x jules

SoulCycle

           I rode and I liked it.

       My first experience was in October, my cousin Jamie graciously treated me to my first class in Soho, 7am on a Monday. Against my better judgment I went along for it, and wow I got my ass kicked. First of all I showed up to the class in loose yoga pants (7am on a Monday what do you expect) and not a clue in the world what was about to happen. The room was dark and FILLED with New York's elite. Models, clearly some athletes and people who work out all day. The teacher turn on some high energy music, lights some candles and we are off. Now I am more of a yoga girl, and cardio is usually not really my thing. Not to mention the girl directly in front of me had the PERFECT body/booty and everyone surrounding her looked the same. The best was a woman to my right at least 6 months pregnant and not stopping for a second. If that isn't motivation, I don't know what is. I did fairly well for my first class; ass back eyes forward, keep pedaling. Immediately I could feel my arms, legs, core, all had been worked. Even my hair was sore. Needless to say, the week following I was enchanted by how therapeutic and fun cycling was, and determined to get into my best shape.

    Fast forward to now, I took another one in the Castro district in SF, great music, great teacher, overall super fun class (as I am writing this I am listening to the Kanye remix of "Flashing Lights" singing along "she in the mirror dancing so sleazy") I know Soul is expensive, and for what its worth, you are greeted by a super warm and friendly staff, impeccably clean locker rooms and shower rooms to fix yourself up after being drenched, and music that sets the tone for the day. If you are looking for a class to get your ass in gear and motivate yourself for the start of the year I would highly recommend SoulCycle, or any class that pushes you out of your comfort zone. 

                             x jules

SoulCycle Soho, NYC

DIY Scrubs

      Scrubs are a super easy, quick, awesome gift for anyone (or yourself) that you can throw together in minutes and get really creative with. You can make them with salt, sugar, coffee grinds, and personalize them with essential oils and food coloring. I'll keep this one super simple. 


        I got a manicure close to work the other day, and I can't stop talking about how yummy the homemade peppermint scrub was that my manicurist used. I did a little pinning and found a great DIY. You can use different oils, I find coconut, apricot kernel, and sweet almond oil to be most hydrating, but knock yourself out with whatever you have on hand.

                        

    Peppermint Creme Scrub:

     1/2 cup of granulated sugar
     1/2 cup of melted coconut oil or oil of your choice
     8 drops of peppermint essential oil
     3 drops vanilla extract (didn't have oil lol)

   Mix well, it should be wet and have a little room of oil on top for later. Put in any container, I usually use a mason jar.

         Lavender Vanilla Scrub

      1/2 cup of granualated sugar
         1/2 cup of sweet almond oil
         8 drops of lavender essential oil
         3 drops of vanilla


 ***some other favorite combos


      orange + clove
      rose petals + sandalwood
      amber + pine 
      bergamont + mint 
      grapefruit + coconut
      vetiver + sage
      fig + ylang ylang

               
                  Happy scrubbing!

                      x jules

     

Last minute Christmas gifts...

    I don't know about you, but every year Christmas creeps right on up, and I find myself scrambling last minute for gifts! Whatever your budget may be, a gift to someone you love from you, is always the best. Here are some ideas..

       
      For the skincare fanatic-

 Under $20 Budget: 

Caudalie Beauty Elixir in travel size (part serum, part skin refresher, this is great to toss in your purse, gym bag, or car for a quick skin refreshment) Available at Nordstrom, Sephora, Amazon. $18







Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay, this $6 mask has over 10,000 positive reviews online and is a long

lasting clay mask great for all skin types. Available on Amazon, Whole foods, VitaminShoppe.  









Embroylisse Lait Creme Concentrate; one of my all time favorite moisturizers, this multi use cream is great for moisturizing hands, removing makeup, and all over skin care. Available on Amazon, and on Birchbox. $16







   
                         Under $50 
  
La Roche Posay Anthelios Sunscreen spf 50, a French pharmacy cult favorite, this sunscreen is uber lightweight and fantastic for anyone who needs a weightless, long lasting sunscreen. Available at Walgreens/CVS, and Amazon. $34

Josie Maran pure Argan oil, great for anyone who could use more moisture in their hair and skin, this can also be mixed with sugar to create a super hydrating body scrub. $48 Sephora

Peter Thomas Roth Anti-aging Face Wash- this orange colored face wash enriched with vitamin c is a fantastic gel wash that cleanses and brightens even the dullest skin. It contains salicylic acid to treat blemishes and deeply exfoliate. Available at Sephora $38

                 





                     
          Splurge: La Mer Creme de la Mer Moisturizing cream; the Queen of face cream, it really is what it is hyped up to be. Available at Nordstrom, La Mer, Barneys. Starting at $85 for 0.5 oz.







                       
               For the scent lover-

Nag Champa- release your inner hippie with these traditional woodsy smelling incense sticks. Available on Amazon $6.

Lavanila Deodorant- this aluminum free deodorant comes in coconut, grapefruit, and several other scents. This natural deodorant is free of parabens. Available at Sephora $14






      Elizabeth & James mini rollerball; available in either white nirvana which smells of jasmine and has a powdery, fresh smell, or nirvana black which is a muskier, sandalwood scent. Available at Sephora $12 








                        Under $50

Diptyque mini holiday candle in sapin- once a year Diptyque releases their holiday candles, one always with a pine or cyprus note. This year the woodsy meets citrus does not disappoint. Available on Diptyque online or Bloomingdales. $35







         

    

The Laundress- Le Labo laundry detergent was created for those who want everything they own to smell like their favorite Le Labo scents. They have Rose 31 and Santal 33 available at Barney's or Le Labo online. $45

L'occitaine Lavender Eau de Cologne- great as a room spray for your guest bedroom, or to use on yourself, lavender is a favorite for its calming affect. Available at L'occitaine stores or Nordstrom. $32



                       Splurge:
    

Byredo Gypsy water perfume- a gorgeous scent that has waves of pine, the warmth of amber and brightness of berry and lemon, this scent is never too heavy and always evokes a curiosity. Available online at Byredo, and Barneys. Starting at $145








             For the foodie-

              under $20

Supahstah Chocolate Superfood bars- made by Boston native Erika Wright, these fantastic bars come in goji berry, mulberry, and naked, and are perfect for breakfast, a post workout snack, and anyone craving the purely good taste of chocolate. Available online for order, or a variety of stores in SF area. $5.50 a bar







 Himalayan pink salt- available at any grocery store, the Trader Joe's is a favorite with the bult in grinder. Pink salt is packed with tons of nutrients and minerals essential for health. In stores for $7

Blue bottle coffee- a favorite of coffee snobs everywhere, their locally made coffee is smooth, strong, and so damn good! Available to purchase online at Blue Bottle, or in stores. Three Africans is a favorite. $16 for 12 oz




                           under $50

3 blade spiralizer- Williams Sonoma is the creme de la creme of cookware, and this veggie spiralizer is fantastic for making veggie noodles, fries, and apple rings. On sale at Williams Sonoma for $30

 

Cusinart hand blender- this comes in super handy for getting a closer, more controlled blend for soups and cookie dough. Also great for someone who does not have much space. At Bed Bath & Beyond for $35

 

The grey pebble tea set- a beautiful tea set that comes in white as well. It comes with two cups, the pot, and an infuser, perfect for any hostess or tea lover. In stores at David's Tea, or online for $50





          

Splurge: Crock-pot 6 quart. Because you can accomplish anything in a slow cooker. Bed Bath & Beyond, Amazon, and Crock-pot online for $130.






 






                 Happy shopping & happiest holidays!


                           x jules



                    









        

Camu Camu, what do you do?

   Camu Camu is the superfood you want to be taking daily. Filled with over 1,180% of your daily vitamin c intake, don't let this small cherry looking fruit fly under your radar!

  A few facts about Camu Camu: 
 -found in the Amazon rain forest, these grow on bushy trees found in Peru and Brasil
- filled with serine to allow better digestion
-valine, an amino acid we don't produce that aids in cognitive function, and protecting our muscles from breaking down
- gallic acid which is anti fungal and anti bacterial
-decreases inflammation
-balances mood and is used holistically to treat depression

    I bought my camu camu powder at whole foods, you only need a teaspoon a day and can add it to your water bottle, tea, juice, sprinkled in your oatmeal, etc. It is a guava-pinkish color, and has a slightly sweet slightly tangy taste to it. I made mine in a smoothie.

    a handful of spinach
    a teaspoon of maca
    a teaspoon of camu camu
    a handful of frozen blueberries
    a small handful of frozen coconut chunks
  a small piece of cacao butter
  a splash of almond milk
    the juice from a cara cara orange (to go with the theme of course)

    The smoothie is so good! I can taste the creaminess from the cacao butter and almond milk, the slight tang of the cara cara and camu camu. Its not overly sweet and super easy to drink. I've replaced it with coffee since maca is naturally energizing.

                             Enjoy!

                           x jules



                 




 
    

Activated charcoal

         Traps the toxins from your body, acts as a magnet to detoxify harsh chemicals in your body, hangover cure, flushes out excess buildup, helps side effects of Lyme disease.
          
      These are a few of the statements floating around about activated charcoal. I am not here to tell you to swallow activated charcoal as a detox plan, hangover remedy, or reduce bloating. Emergency trauma centers around the world do use charcoal to help with overdose or poisoning, but not as a daily dietary supplement. If medical researchers still aren't sure exactly the long term effects or results from daily charcoal intake then I am not about to.

       What I know for sure is that gargling "natural" activated

charcoal (derived from coconut shells or another natural source) helps remove stains from heavy tea or coffee drinking. I am a heavy coffee drinker, and I don't have the energy to do oil pulling every day for 15 minutes. I like to switch off, and I find the charcoal really helps pull out stains by either gargling or brushing. I use the "Country Life" brand, which I found at Whole Foods.




      I break the capsule- be careful its jet black and can stain, and I then put it on my toothbrush and scrub. You can also scrub for a minute then swish it around for a bit in your mouth. You will have black teeth, but not to worry it will go away. Sometimes if I am really creative I will mix it with baking soda. Just a warning, this brand kind of smells like butt. If you aren't used to the smell at first, mix it with toothpaste, coconut oil, or peppermint oil. If you have a white bathroom like I do, it easily comes out with warm water and a washcloth in case you do spill. Once you are done brushing, rinse it several times (don't forget your tongue, it will be black too) and voila, one step closer to a brighter, coffee-free smile!

                                                          
                             x jules