How to make time to read + Tips to get started

Reading is one of my favorite activities. There is nothing better than curling up on the sofa with a good book and a nice cup of tea. I love getting lost in the pages of a good novel. If you follow me on Instagram you know that my favorite author/poet is Charles Bukowski. I am always reading his vivid words on a daily basis, but that is not all that I read. I read anything from romance to self help, and everything in between.

I feel like there are a few reasons why some of us do not make time to read. One of the main reasons is we do not have the time, and the second being we just do not know what to read. In this post I am going to share with you some of my favorite authors, tips on how to make time to read, what I am currently reading, and if you are a book collector like myself, I will show you how to keep track of collecting large amounts of books by a certain author.

If you are new to the reading and book community you may be lost at what to begin reading. We all have a different taste of what we like to sit down and enjoy, but I will share with you what I enjoy reading,

Charles Bukowski

I really cannot say enough about this man. He is a genius when it comes to words, and his poems speak to me from somewhere deep within. (I know, dramatic. But, if you read him you know that I speak the utmost truth.) His style of writing is not for everyone. He is very raw and real,and some may find his work offensive. My favorite thing he has ever written would be one of his well known novels, Factotum. It is considered a classic American bestseller.

Danielle Steel

Danielle Steel is a very well known author, but I do not hear a lot of people mention her anymore. I find all of her books well written and regardless the theme of the novel, you can always relate to it in some aspect. I love reading about characters going through real life situations. She writes the kind of books where you actually feel as though you are experiencing what the main character is going through. I find it hard to put her books down once I pick one up. She writes about romance and real life based situations. One of my favorite novels by her would have to be 44 Charles Street. This is about a woman who begins a life journey after she separates from her long term boyfriend. She faces many struggles and you follow her through the book as she tries to get back on her feet and overcome her obstacles. This book is very relatable and keeps you on your toes with the events that take place. I highly recommend this novel for anyone who is new to reading and wants something that will really draw them in.

Harlequin Novels

Harlequin is a brand of book that has different authors write for them. They range from romance to somewhat erotic. Do not overlook these bad boys, they are well written and a great romance read. One of my favorites is in the Harlequin Presents category. Possessed by the Sheikh, written by Penny Jordan. These novels are inexpensive, and you can actually earn points on their site to collect free books. The Blaze series by Harlequin is amazing as well. They really have a romance novel for every taste.

Nora Roberts is another great Author. I have just began reading her work, so I will not suggest a favorite by her at this time. She is know for her well described sex scenes.

One thing that I always do is have two books on the go. One fiction/non fiction and one self help. I feel like everyone can benefit from a great self help book. I will not get too much into detail about my favorites because I plan on doing a whole separate post dedicated to self help books.

If you find that you do not have enough time to read, I have a few tips that I hope you find helpful.

1. (Put a book in your purse.) Whether you are at work, on your lunch break, at the laundromat, waiting in your car, or at an appointment, you will always have something to read with you. You will be surprised how much time you can set aside for reading if you always have a book handy.
2. (Read before bed.) If you get in the habit of reading before bed you will find that soon enough it becomes second nature. I always like to read for 15 minutes before bed each night. It helps me relax and fall asleep.
3. (Turn off the television) I do enjoy watching television from time to time, but I would much rather read. If you want to begin reading as a hobby, but you find you do not have enough time, analyze how much time you are spending watching television and take half of that time and dedicate it to reading. You will be surprised at how much more relaxing it is than television.

These are the two Books that I currently have on the go.

1. Danielle Steel – The Apartment
2. Michael A. Singer – The Untethered Soul

If you are collecting books by an author that has many publications, there is a way to stay organized. I print out, by date of publication, their book list. I keep it in my purse, and when I purchase one of their novels I highlight it, so I know that I have already bought it. This is very handy when it comes to authors like Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts who have many books out.

Reading has helped reduce my stress and anxiety. It has also helped with my insomnia. If you find it hard to sleep at night and you are the type of person that lays in bed with the television on, try picking up a book instead. It works wonders, I promise.

I would love to know what you are currently reading, or what some of your favorite novels are. If you would like to share comment below, or tag me in your photos on Instagram. Thank you all so much for reading. I will be talking to you in my next post.

Review: Aztec Indian Healing Clay Mask

A few months ago I was having problems with my skin. I am not talking about the occasional breakout and dry patches. I mean extremely dry and cracked skin and bad rashes over my face, including my eyelids. It was the sort of problem that makeup could not disguise, it made it look more noticeable. So, I started to analyze the problem. I decided I was going to take a more natural skincare approach and hope for the best. My body has never reacted well with chemicals, so I am not sure why I never realized that my skin wouldn't react well to them either. The mask I am going to review for you is not what healed my extremely dry and chapped skin, but it has helped keep my skin clear and I haven't had any problems with my skin since I have switched to natural products.

Although I am very passionate about natural skincare now, I won't get into too much detail about the chemicals that are found in some of the products you apply to your skin on a daily basis. However, I do suggest reading all of your skincare products and familiarizing yourselves with all of the ingredients. I did this and it really shocked me. Some of the facial masks I was using were filled with chemicals. I knew that I needed a good face mask, so I began to do some research. I wanted something budget friendly, natural, and effective. All signs pointed to the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask. On the front of the container it says that it is the “world's most powerful facial”, and I would have to say that this is correct. Before I get too much into detail about how amazing this is, let me tell you a bit more about it.

There is one ingredient in this Mask, and that is 100% Natural Calcium Bentonite (Green) Clay. This clay mask removes impurities and dirt from pores. The product has no added fragrances, no animal products, and is not tested on animals! It comes in powder form, and you have to mix it with a liquid. On the back of the container they recommend raw apple cider vinegar or water. I prefer to use raw organic apple cider vinegar, or rose water. You mix equal parts of clay powder with equal parts of liquid. You are suppose to mix this well with a non metal utensil and bowl. They give you specific instructions on how much product to use, but I find that the amount they suggest is too much and turns out to be wasteful. I use a little less than a tablespoon both of powder and liquid. If I decide to apply this on my neck as well I will use a whole tablespoon. Once you buy your mask you can experiment and figure out how much works for you.

After you apply this mask you are to let it dry for 5-10 minutes for delicate skin, and 15-20 minutes for normal skin. I leave mine on for 15 minutes. You will feel a slight tingling when you apply this mask, but I find it relaxing. After you wash it off with warm water you will notice some redness, but it will go away within 15-20 minutes. This is a very powerful masks, and I feel it lifts all of the dirt from your skin, so it may cause a blemish to rise to the surface.

This mask has shrunk my pores, more than any chemical products I have tried. I haven't gotten any bad rashes since using it either. This could have to do with the mask, or a combination or lack of chemicals on my face now. The texture of my skin has improved and I also noticed that is doesn't look as dull either.

1lb of clay was under 20 dollars on amazon. I have used this mask quite a bit and I have barely put a dent into it.

I did have requests on Instagram to do a review on this product when I first purchased it. I hope I answered all of your questions. If I left something out feel free to contact me in the comments below, by email, or on Instagram.

Love,

Kate

Tea Tuesday

Hello Beautiful Souls.

    A few weeks ago the weather was starting to warm up here in Nova Scotia, but now we are getting snow and a lot of cold rain again. So, that means I woke up today with a tiny bit of a cold from the dramatic weather change. I try to stay away from over the counter prescription medications as much as possible. I always try and treat my symptoms naturally first. My body does not react well to prescription drugs, it never has.

    I love tea. I feel as though each of you should start a tea collection and enjoy their benefits, even if you aren't into a more holistic lifestyle. I do not just drink tea when I am not feeling well, I also drink it for pleasure as well. I love curling up with my faux fur blanket, a good book, and a nice cup of tea. It doesn't get any better than that to me.

    When I have a cold, feel congested, or have a sore throat there are a few teas that I reach for. My favorite and most effective this winter has been Thyme tea. Thyme is a herb, I am sure most of you have it in your kitchen and cook with it on a regular basis. Well, this little herb has an array of health benefits. I want to share some of them with you based off of the research I have done. (I have a journal that I fill with natural health information. If you are just a beginner when it comes to tea, you should try this so you can keep all of your information organized and handy.)

• Soothes Cough
• Good for a cold
• Relieves indigestion
• Antibacterial and antiseptic properties
• Soothes a sore throat
• Helps with congestion
• It can help treat bronchitis

    When I drink this when I am sick I drink one normal size cup of it, twice a day. This is just what works for me, what works for you may be different. I will say to you not to overdo it. I have read that too much can cause nausea and other side effects with certain people. I have not experienced any of the negative side effects personally.

    This tea has a beautiful aroma that is very soothing and relaxing. It has a mild, savory flavor. Do not let the smell fool you. It smells stronger than it tastes. I do not sweeten any of my teas, I prefer them as they are.

    Thank you so much for reading. I will talk to you all in my next post. Sending you lots of love and positive energy.

Love,

Kate

Disclaimer: Just because this is a natural remedy does not mean it is safe for everyone. Do your research and if you are sick and need to seek medical attention please do so. I am only sharing my experiences, and yours may be different than mine. You can be allergic to this herb, so make sure you stay away from this tea if that is the case. I am not a professional, I am just sharing my love of tea and natural health with you.

Contact Me

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About

Hello Beautiful Souls.

Welcome to The Beyond Beautiful Blog. I am Kate, and I reside in Nova Scotia, Canada. I am 29 years old and I have a passion for beauty, books, and natural health. I have been on a plant based diet for almost a decade, and I enjoy cooking and trying new vegan recipes. Not only do I want to share my passion for beauty and a plant based diet with you, but I also want to share my love of books, writing, and natural health with you as well. If you enjoy a good read, and a nice cup of tea, you have come to the right place.

Vegan "What I Eat In A Day." #3

Welcome back to another Vegan “What I Eat In A Day.”

This is everything I ate on Friday

I always start my morning off with lemon water. Not only does lemon water aid in digestion, it also helps boost the immune system, cleanses your system, and helps keep your skin free from blemishes.

Not only do I drink lemon water as soon as I wake up, I also drink it throughout the day.  

For breakfast I had two pieces of vegan hemp bread with mashes avocado, red onion, and chili flakes. On the side I had one sliced banana, and some raisins.

For dinner I had leftover whole grain spaghetti. I added tomato sauce, tomato, asparagus, and fresh parsley to the pasta. I wanted it to have a somewhat cheesy flavor, so I added a generous amount of nutritional yeast.

I usually make a large amount of pasta at a time. I like having leftovers in the fridge. It is simple to heat up for lunch or dinner the next day. You can always add things to it the following day.

For dinner I made a baked sweet potato with steamed veggies, tamari gravy, and a side salad.

Tamari Gravy:

• 1/3 cup Tamari (Or soy sauce. You can also use shoyu.)
• 1 Cup water
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger.
• Corn starch. (About 1 Tablespoon.)

Mix well, and heat on the stove until it thickens.

The side salad consisted of cucumber, tomato, red onion, hemp seeds, lemon, pepper, and nutritional yeast.

Being vegan does not have to be complicated or time consuming. It also does not have to be expensive.

If you do not have some of the ingredients that I mentioned, just add what you have. Everything I make is very versatile.

I hope you all enjoyed reading my post. I will talk to you in my next one.

XO

Nivea Men After Shave Balm (Primer?)

If you are an active member of the online beauty community, you know that a lot of people have been using the Nivea Men After Shave Balm as a face primer. When I heard about this, I had to get my hands on it.

The first thing that I can tell you I liked was the price. You get 100ml for well under $10.00. That is a lot of product!

I was worried about the smell. It has the typical male product smell. I was pleased to find out that the smell does not stay after you apply it. Since it has a stronger scent, I was also worried that it would irritate my skin. I have used this almost everyday for a month, and it has not irritated my skin at all!

I apply this to cleansed skin right before I do my makeup, as you would with any face primer. It will leave your skin feeling a bit tacky, which provides a great base to apply your foundation. However, it does not stay tacky.

It is a great product. It makes your skin feel soft and your makeup go on nice and smooth. It really helps your makeup last throughout the day. It does not contain alcohol, which means it isn't drying to the skin. What more could you want in a primer?

I highly recommend giving this a try.

Thank you all so much for reading. I will talk to you in my next post.

XO