This is Day 1 directly after the tattoo service: (ie: freshly inked) It will take 14 days to heal and lighten up to reveal the lighter, true natural color. SEE days 8 and 14 below! 

MY WHY:
As a former make-up artist, busy aesthetician & yoga/fitness instructor I was 
​SO OVER dealing with a make-up pencil to shade-in my now sparser-by-the-day,
post-menopause brows! Even more frustrating, they rarely lasted the day,  usually getting wiped off after a sweaty yoga class or the ever so sexy color outside the lines mid-day smudge that I didn't notice until I got home....PRETTY...LOL  
So when I learned about the newest techniques for semi-permanent brow tattooing that were smudge proof AND waterproof ...
I definitely raised these eyebrows and decided to take the leap!  ​

The BEST Soul Warming Benefit that happened! 
Hearing from all the people that were inspired by my experience. I LOVE THIS! I've had a grandmother contact me about her granddaughter with alopecia, A cancer survivor whose brows never grew back the same and so many women from my both my spa and yoga studio that had either lost their brows to hormonal aging, over-plucking back in the day etc. that never knew natural looking opportunities like these were available to them. ​​

The most important this to do is find a reputable technician that has plenty of experience, pictures of their work on display to check out and happy, happy customer reviews!
I chose Megan from Best Brows Microblading in Madison. She had all the check marks! 
(I posted her business info below.)
 
Microblading, Nanoblading and Ombré Powder Shading?
Microblading and nanoblading both use soft hair-like strokes while ombré powder shading uses a soft pin point technique to shade and fill in brows similar to how it looks when using your eyebrow pencil. Sometimes these techniques  are used in combination and all can provide a realistic, beautiful natural looking brow. Great for filling in sparse, light, non-existent brows or simply enhancing the ones you have. Because I had a fairly good brow shape that was simply getting sparser due to hormone changes, 
 Megan and I chose the ombre' powder shading technique. ​

THIS PICTURE IS A CLOSE UP RIGHT AFTER THE PROCEDURE.
The final color will be approximately 50% lighter as they heal and shed...for me it was around days 8-10 that I noticed the difference. See my pics for days 8 and 14 below. Notice also how she enhanced my natural shape to create more lift and symmetry.

 1. EXFOLIATION IS KEY!
The first step to smooth, healthy, luminous skin is to remove your accumulated surface dead skin cell layers with an enzyme or BHA/AHA gentle scrub or peel treatment. This first step not only begins the process of collagen stimulation and increased circulation to the skin but it also allows your skin to more effectively absorb and maintain the nourishing serums and hydrators you apply daily. It also gives skin a much smoother surface for your make-up to go on smoothly and stay on longer.
Need some exfoliation SKINspiration?  Check our our full spa menu HERE! 

​2. HYDRATE & NOURISH
​Skin is the largest organ of your body. Beyond looking and feeling beautiful in your skin it is your first barrier to staying healthy on the inside too!  If you take care of it, it will take care of you! While over-the-counter (OTC) products can offer adequate hydration, they simply cannot facilitate optimal results due to the regulations of lower OTC level ingredients.  For truly ageLESS skin results you'll need to bring on some bigger guns to optimize your skins PH, hydration levels and cellular health with clinical strength serums and hydrators that contain effective anti-oxidants, Vitamin C, retinol, peptides and anti-inflammatory ingredients that can be readily absorbed with effective delivery systems into the skin..
Not sure where to start?  See your skin care professional. They are trained to assess not only your skin's current state of health but also the many factors that affect your health and skin on a deeper level such as stress, sleep, diet, hormone fluctuations, medications, genetics, sun exposure and more. Great skin care should be effective, simple and affordable. You don't need a million products to get you there...you just need the RIGHT products that are EFFECTIVE AND SIMPLE TO USE for YOUR unique skin!   

3. PROTECT
Sunscreen is NOT just for summer! Regardless of weather or location, 80% of your skin's aging process is caused by UV sun damage. Using an effective moisturizer with broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher daily is the #1 most preventable thing you can do toward promoting ageLESS skin as well as protect yourself from skin cancer! There are formulations for every skin type PLUS an extra bonus is that many  double as a primer helping to keep your make-up on longer...Try our best selling Prevention+ matte w/SPF 32!. Not a make-up maven?  Try a tinted version like our mineralized tinted Prevention + 30 moisturizer for a natural soft blur of sun-kissed color. 

As the weather gets colder outside, It's nice to indulge in some of our favorite comfort foods! Here's a little twist on one our favorites! 
Healthier Baked Mac and Cheese 
  
Ingredients
1 (375g) box whole wheat or other macaroni of choice (about 3 cups dry)
1/4 cup butter
 (we use unsalted) 
1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups 1% milk or any alternative milk option of choice
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
 (we use low-sodium) 
1/2 teaspoon salt
  (recommend leaving this out if you are not using low or no sodium butter & broth) 
2  cups (plus 1 cup for topping) shredded cheddar cheese (low fat if desired) (we personally use the regular whole cheese) 
1/3 cup Panko bread crumbs  (great seasoned w/garlic and herbs of choice!) 
NOTE: This is a great basic recipe. We often add caramelized onions, veggies that we love, tuna or salmon, a touch of fresh garlic just to name a few! Enjoy playing and making this recipe your own! 
Instructions

1. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Pour into a greased 9x13" pan and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

2. In a large skillet, melt butter. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute. 

3. Whisk in milk and chicken broth and cook over medium heat, whisking often, until thickened (approx. 5
 min). 

4. Stir in salt and 2 cups cheese until melted. Pour over macaroni in pan and stir until combined. 

5. Sprinkle with Panko bread crumbs and remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until bubbly. Broil for 1-2 minutes to brown the top if desired. 


Serve with a nice green garden salad as a side and ENJOY! 
 

Looking for a holistic and effective way to elevate your mood, purify the air you breathe and improve brain function? Consider diffusing essential oils!

Therapeutic-grade essential oils affect the brain in positive ways and it goes way beyond smell alone! The brain is protected by a membrane called the blood-brain barrier, which separates it from  the blood circulating around the brain. This barrier blocks damaging substances from getting to the brain and into the cerebrospinal fluid. The American Medical Association did some research on whether or not positive agents could cross the barrier to help treat certain diseases and degenerative conditions that affect the brain. They discovered that sesquiterpenes, found in some essential oils, had the ability to go beyond the blood-brain barrier. These sesquiterpenes increased oxygen in the brain, which in turn increased antibodies, endorphins, and neurotransmitters.
The easiest way to to put oils in the air for inhalation is with an aromatic diffuser.  Cold-air diffusers work best because they do not alter the chemical makeup of the oil.  The cold air breaks the oils up into an oxygenated microfine mist that improves the quality of the air. When diffused, essential oils reduce airborne bacteria, fungus, mold, and chemicals.
Depending on the mood you want to create or the health issue you want to address, there are endless essential oils you can choose from along with making your own unique blends! 
Here are some tips for choosing which oils to diffuse:

• Oils like lavender, geranium, chamomile, frankincense, Serenity blend, Peace blend. Breathe blend or AromaTouch blend are helpful for promoting relaxation, calm and promoting a better nights sleep.
• If you need an energy boost, try rosemary, juniper berry, nutmeg, wild orange, peppermint, lemongrass, grapefruit, clove, Cheer blend, Elevation blend, Passion blend, Motivation blend or Arise blend
• For clarity, diffuse basil, peppermint, ylang ylang, bergamot, jasmine, peppermint, Motivation blend or In Tune blend
• If you need more balance and harmony in your life, try lavender, sandalwood, wild orange,  lemon, frankincense, Balance blend, Aroma touch blend or Align Blend. 
• To give your immune system a boost, use oregano, clove, On Guard blend, melaleuca, ginger, peppermint, Holiday Joy blend and frankincense 
• If you need grounding, renewing or comforting try essential oils like sandalwood, frankincense, vetiver, patchouli, Console blend, Forgive Blend and Anchor Blend 

For more ideas and to view our essential oil page 
CoreQuest Yoga & Spa Essential Oil Page



Source: Reference Guide for Essential Oils, 2017 Edition, pp. 11, 27, 639–42.and excerpt from Abundant Health

I enthusiastically signed up for my friend's glass pendant making class with absolutely no reservations. She is an incredible artist, a patient and talented teacher, I was excited to tap into my creative side and try something new PLUS she had assembled a wonderful group of women, many of whom I am fortunate to call friends. THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME! 

Then it happened, shortly after listening to the instructions, meeting the tools of the trade drooling over all the beautiful glass options and eyeing pendants already completed that made my heart race with gleeful expectation of my own unknown creations that I began to score my first piece of glass. ...CRACK! Oops,  grabbed a second piece to score...YIKES crooked...We need 5 even pieces....Let's try again....ahhh YES! Nice straight score, Let's break this baby and make some jewelry...CRACK AND CROOKED...seriously!!...are you kidding me?.Why can't I get this? WTF!!  I could hear other directions being called out in the fog of my concentration and then quite by surprise, I felt it coming...the trolls of my mind were trying to take over the drivers seat  Oh no...as I was running out of glass to score my mind was happily filling the void with all kinds of creepy crawlers like self doubt, expectations, disappointment, failure, nerves, comfort zone alert, low confidence meter, perfectionism radar on overdrive and a "You suck at scoring" thrown in for good measure! 

My mind was trying to throw a giant road block down one by one....No more creating for you...you're out...hasta 'la vista baby....you're no artist...walk away. I actually stood there for a few minutes doing nothing as everyone else around me was busy creating. I was at the ROADBLOCK of resistance... a minds standstill. OMG, This was very unfamiliar emotional territory for my usual "go with the flow" mindset AND THEN, in that pause of a breath, that one quiet moment,  I saw it for what it really was...A pack of.LIES that stood between my beautiful new creations, the road to regret and the experience of the day.  Yep, I could see clearly now what had to be done....I needed to use my muscle of kick-assery and take that roadblock down for the count!

Looking your feelings right in the eye is the first step to knowing who they are,  As soon as I did that and chose...not today my friends... the "emotional sunshine" began to flood back in. I asked my friend to score a few for me (love how that sounds) and off I went happily creating in my own unique one-of-a-kind artistry way. Just as I had imagined, it was indeed an experience of a lifetime I will remember and cherish. It was such a fun class with creativity swirling about, laughter in the air along with squeals, moans and other noises of pure engagement while we ALL learned something new! .  

LESSON: So often, we fail to take that pause and ponder what we really need, what we really want, what we really feel. We let the demons of our emotions stop us in our tracks too many times. I teach self-empowerment, I study embodied mindfulness and yet in moments of frustration or even anger our lesser selves,  will often prevail in our human-ness over the quieter whispers of the loving, creative mind and heart. Do not let the trolls, demons and creepy crawler into your minds drivers seat. They are always happy to steer you in the wrong direction! 

 WELLNESS TIP #1: 
Assessing Relationships, Is it time to let go or get busy? 
(Get your action plan exercise at the end)
Is it time to re-assess the time and effort you put into the relationships in your life that don't fill you up...in fact, they often leave you feeling empty? Take a look at what I lovingly call "lip service" friends, people that don't support or lift you from a place of friendship and love unconditionally. People in your life you call friends but in reality they rarely show up in your life unless it's convenient for them or there's an agenda/ expectation. It can be an energy sucking, guessing game, emotional roller coaster ride that sadly takes time away from your healthy relationships. How do you spot them? 
Assess: Who calls or texts you just to say hello? Who invites you to share time together with no agenda attached?, Who shows up to support you when you're down as well as celebrate your "ups" with you? Who loves you, flaws and all, just the way you are? Who makes the effort in this friendship? Does it feel imbalanced to you? Does the relationship feel like work? Do you feel included or often left out? Listen to your gut....if that friendship continually burrows a hole in your heart...it might be time to look at it a little closer and decide how much time you really want to invest in it and how much space you allow your heart to occupy for it and in some cases, it may be time to just let go trusting that the new space you've created will naturally invite abundance back in, attracting new  relationships  that fill you up! 
BUT WAIT...What about you? If you just identified YOURSELF as a "lip service" friend to someone you care about...,lucky you...it's probably not too late! HERE'S A MANTRA TO HELP YOU OUT: I will nurture and take time for the important relationships in my life....a FAB 2015 goal! 

HOMEWORK: Call or text 3 people in your life today and let them know how important they are to you! BONUS: Make a friend date, no agenda....just FILLING!