The Bronzed Beauty

9 Unintended Consequences of Eating Healthier

Aurora McCausland — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 19:08:56 +0000

9 Unintended Consequences of Eating Healthier

By Aurora McCausland

At one point or another in all of our lives, we have some sort of a desire to be healthier. Whether you want to start working out more often, or you know that your daily diet is lacking in nutrition. These lifestyle changes are sometimes difficult to execute, and they are easiest to stick to if there is a specific goal that you are working towards. When it comes to your diet, there are a multitude of reasons to start eating healthier. But what things will happen when you start eating healthier that you’re not expecting?

Your skin will clear up

A lot of acne and skin issues can be traced back to some aspect of your diet. Cutting back on alcohol and sugary drinks, eliminating processed and junk foods, and adding lots more vegetables into your diet will result in clearer, brighter skin.

Your breath will smell better

Did you know that the number one cause of bad breath is a lack of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet? By eating fresher, healthier foods, your breath will naturally start to smell better. Say goodbye to that nasty morning breath(unless you happen to be a mouth breather).

You may just start to enjoy cooking

Cooking is something that a lot of people view as a chore. It’s something you have to do at least once a day, and so many people opt for take out because they don’t want to have to cook. When you decide to start eating healthier, this probably means that you’ll find yourself in your kitchen a lot more often. It’s easiest to know what is in your food when you’re making it yourself. Looking for delicious new recipes is a lot of fun, and once you start learning what kinds of healthy new foods that you actually like, you’ll suddenly realize that you find joy in the kitchen and cooking process.

You won’t be as hungry

Often, the reason that you’re hungry is because your diet contains a lot of empty carbs. Those just won’t keep you full. Your body burns it so quickly, and then you’re hungry quickly. When you make the switch to healthier foods, you’ll notice you're not as hungry as often. There’s nothing wrong with your body, you’re just utilizing the nutrients from your foods the way that you’re supposed to!

You can eat more food

This sounds contradictory. When you’re eating healthy foods, you’ll be able to eat more of them without gaining weight. You could eat three heads of broccoli and it would have the same caloric intake as half of a grocery store blueberry muffin. This doesn’t mean you need to eat three heads of broccoli for breakfast every day, or that you even should. It just means that healthy, natural foods naturally have less calories, which means that you can eat more without gaining unnecessary weight!

Improved mental health

The food that you eat is used to fuel every part of your body, which includes your mind. So it would make sense that when you are eating healthy, your mental health will improve, resulting in a clarity you didn’t have before. Eating vegetables isn’t a cure for mental illness, however. It can help boost you, though.

More energy

You can skip your energy drink(because it’s incredibly unhealthy), you get your energy from vegetables now. Okay, you can still have that cup of coffee. Cutting down on junk and fast food will give you energy, which makes every aspect of your daily life(including exercising) a lot easier.

You’ll sleep better

When your diet is poor, you digest the food too quickly, which leaves you hungry at night. This disrupts your sleep schedule. It also can sometimes cause you to eat late at night, and going to bed with a full stomach can also cause a night of restlessness. When you are eating healthy, you will sleep more soundly at night!

You’ll save money

There is a general misconception that eating healthy is expensive, which just isn’t the case. Think about the cost of your usual processed snack of granola bars, compared to what you spend now on an apple or banana for your midday snack. When you’re eating healthy, your grocery bill is generally lower, and you spend considerably less because you aren’t eating out and you opt for a water cup instead of an overpriced soda.

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Benefits of Having a Creative Outlet

Nicole Watts — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 16:41:18 +0000

Benefits of Having a Creative Outlet

By Christine H.

Are you the type of person who likes to take time for watercolors? Perhaps you write your own songs on the guitar? Or you like to experiment with new baking recipes?

If you’re not someone who has a cherished creative outlet, why not? There are many of us who believe that we are simply not “creative” types, but that’s not true. A basic part of being human is having the ability and desire to create. That creativity can take many forms, but over and over again studies have found that people with creative outlets are happier, healthier, and feel more fulfilled. Here are some of the pivotal benefits of having a creative outlet:

Good for Your Body

This may be a surprising benefit of creative work. After all, it seems obvious that it can positively impact our mental health. But physical? It’s true. According to a study in the American Journal of Public Health, creative projects can actually relieve the stresses of chronic disease. Patients recovering from surgery and trauma were found to physically recover faster when they were given special time for art or writing. So, looking for a way to be healthy and counter disease? Pick up a paintbrush!

Helps You Communicate Effectively

You might be a top-notch chatterer. However, when it comes to the heavy topics that plague our hearts and minds, small talk just won’t do the trick. Throughout history, people have found refuge in art, discovering it as a place to discuss the “big” questions, a place to reveal our deepest selves, and find others who share our struggles. Often, we find that a simple dialogue can’t say all that a poem, a dance, or a photograph can. It’s why we use art to try to express ourselves to a lover, and it’s why top institutions utilize experiential therapy to help patients recover from mental health challenges like trauma or addiction.

There’s another way that the arts can help us to communicate better. Sharing art and communication builds communities and companionship between disparate groups who find they have a common core. Finding your creative outlet can be a great way to meet new people and find others who share your concerns and passions.

Better for Your Brain

Over and over again, studies have found that children who are engaged in learning music also perform better in subjects like math and logical thinking. This is one of many reasons that so many of us fight so passionately to keep arts programs in school. Time spent on creative pursuits helps you to build memory, make essential connections between different parts of your brain, and keep focus.

Achieve Creative Flow

This is something that could be bundled into the brain benefits of creativity, but I think that it deserves its own section. Have you ever just been completely lost in a creative project? It’s the kind of feeling where you don’t even notice time passing, and after working for a while, you come away feeling rejuvenated and excited? Many specialists call this state of mind “flow” and it’s an amazing achievement of the brain. It’s the same feeling that Buddhists monks strive for as they meditate, and it has amazing powers to enrich your life. “Flow” spurs creative problem-solving, staves off stress and depression, and helps our brains stay healthy.

Gives You Power and Self-Esteem

With the advent of the “assembly line” in modern history, many social researchers found that there was a shift in working conditions. True, production time was greatly decreased, and factories were able to put out unprecedented numbers of cars. However, worker morale greatly dropped. There’s a big difference between being just one part of a machine, and seeing something through from beginning to end. Feeling connected to work that we make with our own hands gives us a feeling of ownership and responsibility. We love to see the end product of something and know that it’s something that we ourselves created. Surprisingly, one of our basic human needs is to give!

Let’s Get Started!

Convinced yet? Well, it’s time to go find that paint set in the back of the closet, or brush off your novel that you’ve wanted to write for a decade or more. Not sure what your creative outlet should be? Try some of these ideas to get started:

Join a community class.
Get personal lessons so you can really hone your talent and have accountability.
Set a deadline for a creative project and have someone else check in on you.
Schedule time every week for it--and don’t compromise!
Try something new with a friend. Ask them what they like to do, and then join them for a day or two.

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How To NAIL Networking: The 4 Step Tutorial

Nicole Watts — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 19:57:17 +0000

Often I am asked the questions: What is the best way to network? How do I get the most from meet ups or networking events? What’s your secret at group events?

There’s no secret, well …OK there is. But I am going to break it down for you in four easy steps!

Be Prepared

Feeling rushed and flustered can impact how you interact with others. You will not be on your best game if you show up late because you got lost or traffic was a nightmare. Make sure you are conscious of high traffic times and plan out an alternative route if traffic is bad.

You will be meeting new people and it’s going to be OK if you don’t remember everyone’s name. At the event, the coordinator will have a name badge for you, however it is more professional if you have one already made with your company logo and your name. The sticky tags fall off eventually, and a professional name tag can help others remember you.

Don’t forget your business cards! This is the number one thing that is often forgotten for networking events. Make sure you have plenty of business cards on hand.

Be Yourself

It’s hard to walk into an event alone and not know anyone. The truth of the matter is that you are not alone. 90% of the other people there don’t know each other either. This is a situation where the only thing you can do is walk up to someone, smile and introduce yourself. It is actually expected in this type of social setting. Networking events are specifically designed for you to meet new people, so don’t be shy! Keep track of your body language and make sure you are sitting or standing in a manner that is positive and welcoming. A smile goes a long way.

Listen More, Talk Less

While I know you want to tell everyone how great your business is and how wonderful you are - this is not the time - so don’t. This is not the time for hard pitches or sales. Networking is about getting to know other people, planting seeds and growing professional business relationships. When the conversation comes to you about what you do, make sure you are not sounding too boisterous or braggadocios. When you listen to others talk about their business, think about others you may know that could benefit from what they have to offer - not what can they do for you. Give them your full attention. Every good conversation starts from a good listener.

Follow Up Authentically

So you made a great connection at a networking event…AWESOME…..now what? It’s proper etiquette to wait till at least the next day if not 24 hours. When you chose to follow up, be sure to remind them about when and where you met and maybe a brief snippet from your conversation to help spark their memory! Emailing is the modern customary way to connect, but feel free to use LinkedIn. A handwritten note may be out of date, but it makes a great statement.

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My Favorite At Home Shower Spa Products

Nicole Watts — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 13:54:54 +0000

Disclaimer: I was provided with free product in return for my honest review- All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and not influenced by the developing company and/or it’s affiliates in any way.

When you think of healthy clean skin, I think Neutrogena. I have been using their skin care line since high school. To this day, I still use the buff pads! It’s why I was so happy to partner with them to showcase their Rainbath® Shower and Bath Gel Line!

Let’s start with my favorite! While they all have their own little twist that is specially designed for your skin, the Fresh Plum is by far my favorite. It’s deep plum and floral scents has you stepping out of the shower feeling fresh and clean. It’s no wonder why they have won the “Best Of Beauty” by Allure Magazine year after year. The fluffy lathering is amazing- honestly. Words can not describe how wonderfully soft it feels and smells.

It is not just your ordinary line of shower and bath gels. It can also be used as a shaving gel. The skin smoothing formula helps to keep your skin soft and supple and reduce cuts and nicks when shaving!

If you prefer to relax and soak in a hot warm bubble bath, you can add it to the running water and engulf yourself in the multiple options with aromatherapy of Ocean Mist, Pomegranate, or Pear and Green Tea. The scents are light and soft making it the ultimate spa time in your own shower or bath!

Regardless of which one you choose, they all leave your skin feeling soft and supple without any leftover residue on your skin. The best way I can describe it is - super soft lather, feeling clean with an easy rinse that feels soft and moisturized without feeling dry. It is great for all skin types including sensitive skin. Their original formula that is scent free is also an option! Neutrogena is dermatologist approved and is a great product that you will want to put on automatic reorder!

Try it once- I promise you will get hooked forever! Get yours here at Neutrogena get a great deal on buy 2 get 1 FREE! Make sure you #relaxwithrain

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Giving Yourself Permission To Fail

Nicole Watts — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 22:18:23 +0000

As an entrepreneur and female business owner - everywhere you look , there is someone telling you not to give up on your dreams. That “failure is not an option”. “Don’t worry and push past the fear”. Telling you that “it gets worse before it gets better” or “it comes with time”.

I am not telling you to give up on your dreams, what I am here to tell you is that it’s ok to fail. It’s not ok to quit.

Yes, I said it.

People fail at new jobs all the time. While it’s hard to hear and you may think that it’s a bad quality trait to have - but at the end of the day - failure is not always a bad thing. I am failing but my life goes on. It doesn’t mean that I am a negative person, it doesn’t mean I am condoning walking away when things get rough or tough. I am talking about when data drives decisions and the writing is on the wall and you just refuse to see it.

But I am ok with it.

I really am.

Let me tell you the reasons why.

“Failure is the opportunity To begin again,
only more intelligently””

— Henry Ford

First and foremost,I tried. That’s right! I gave it my best shot, I gave it 100% of all of me- everything I had in me went to build my business. I was fortunate enough to have a husband that encouraged me to make it my full time job and walk away from guaranteed income to follow a pipe dream in an industry where I am a dime a dozen. I have honed my craft - I am the best at what I do hands down. Sometimes, being the best isn’t enough.

Failure in a business does not equal failure in life. We have all lost in some form or fashion. It does not mean that we are a failure as a human,parent, spouse or child. Rarely does a business not experience growing pains that come with scaling. It provides a valuable learning tool that can be used later. I have learned valuable knowledge along the way that could never been taught in a classroom. The negative persona and pressure to “fake it till you make it” and “Don’t give up no matter what” isn’t helping us as women to be self assured and accept that things don’t always work out the way you want them to and it’s ok.

Most important - I will never live with regret. I will not lose sleep at night wondering “what if” or asking myself later “why didn’t I”. I do not have to worry about if my life is where it is supposed to be because I did or didn’t chose to open my own business. I sleep well at night and can look in the mirror at myself and know I have done my best.

I have been asked - at what point do you walk away. I can’t say what is best for everyone. However when your accountant says it’s time to walk away - listen.

If it is costing you your health - walk away.

If it is negatively impacting your family and relationship - walk away.

If it doesn’t call to you anymore - walk away.

Failure is a lesson and a step in a greater direction. I am going to cut my losses - and launch something even greater than before - so stay tuned!

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Letter To My 16 Year Old Self

Nicole Watts — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 23:46:10 +0000

Dear Nicole,

As the adult version of yourself, I want to first tell you how proud I am of the person that we have become. You will have raised the most handsome, strong minded, caring and compassionate boys that will grow up to be highly functional adults in the world. They are happy, spoiled and truly want for nothing. You finally found the great love of you life that is your anchor. Your entire life you have stuck to your morals, work ethic and you are educated. It shouldn’t surprise you to know that when you walked across the stage for your undergrad, your son who was 5 years old stood there to greet you. You have gotten a master's degree all by yourself - with two babies and a full time job. Never did you play the “poor single mother card” because you made the choices you did and landed you single. Rest assured you worked extremely hard for your education and with it you have made a difference in the lives of children for almost a decade now.

However, one vital thing I will tell you is: no matter how hard you try, people just won’t like you. You are living your high school years worrying about what lies and rumors others say about you. Years of your life are being spent trying to justify your words, your choices and your feelings in attempts to defend your reputation. High school does not define you - and the stupidity of others is not something you can fix. It still applies today as an adult. It doesn’t matter what you do, the job you have, how much money you make, how happy you are, the house you live in - someone is going to be jealous and hating your life from a distance. People will still stab you in the back and take advantage of your kindness. So enjoy life - do what you want - date who you want and live how you want. Your plan is to leave Houston for Dallas and guess what - you left like you always wanted. So those who bash your character and lie about you don’t really matter. The friends you make that are with you still today, despite distance are the ones who took the time to see who you were and what made you tick. Your friend Erica will tell you one day as y'all eat lunch “You are only as good as the 5 people you surround yourself with.” It’s very true. Don’t loose them.

My second bit of advice is don’t be scared to live your dreams. It took you a long time to finally let go from what is comfortable and stable to be your own boss. You know how to survive, you know how to work hard and make it work. Trust in yourself that you can do it. Playing it safe all the time is only going to make you hard and resentful. I know you wouldn’t believe this, but you actually are your own marketing manager and you are a small business owner. All of this could happen sooner if you just let go of the fear and follow your heart. Embrace who you are, your style and your life. It's o to be "Extra" as they say now.

Another note is: try not to control the outcome of life and everything around you.Enjoy happiness in the moment - with the great love of your life that you have and the beautiful family that loves you. Everything happens for a reason and put you where you are today. Do not waste the life you have trying to control the results for every decision that you make. Nothing is ever the right choice, and you don’t have a magic 8 ball to tell you if you made the right choice. You will never know, and you can’t go back - so just let life happen. Do not waste so much of your life on trying to predict the outcomes of your choices. You will run yourself ragged trying - so try and ease up as much as possible.

Finally, honey, learn to let go. Not just the negative in the moment, but let go of the past all together. Don’t harbour the negative, hate and hurt. This only kills your spirit and it makes it harder to heal from. Try to hold on to good memories of your life experience and not think about what could’ve have been if you did something different. You are a good person that cares about the lives of others and has empathy - that is a quality you don’t want to lose. Don’t let the negative actions, words or thoughts of others stop you from moving forward. I know it’s hard, but when you have no control over stuff (which you have a problem with) you have to accept that life happens. With your job, you will understand why others behave and act like they do - so you will have an easier time letting go. Don’t miss out on opportunities because you are too busy holding onto things that are insignificant. Things go wrong, so you know what it looks like when things go right.

When you are 43, you get to look in the mirror to love and be proud the person that you see in the reflection. Everything in your life will be from your own choices and decisions. The only person that can stand in your way is yourself.

Love yourself always,

You at 43

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5 Crucial Things Your Spray Tanner Needs You To Know

Nicole Watts — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 20:36:38 +0000

It can sometime be awkward to those who are new to an airbrush spray tan on why your technician is asking you so many questions! Well, it’s because there is a lot more to a true custom airbrush spray tan that some may realize. I'm not just being nosy!

Let’s start off with the MOST important:

This is a judgement FREE ZONE!

I promise, it’s like being a doctor- no one is judging your body. No one is perfect and we are our own worst critic. I do not care about your stretch marks, your imaginary cellulite or what undergarments you are wearing! I am looking to see what base tone your skin is so I can give you the perfect tan. I promise, if we had to compare: my stretch marks and cellulite, I will win every time.

There is an "Order of Operations"

“Babe!! There is an order of operations to your spray tan!” my client Kelly R. scoffed to her husband when he asked her why she couldn’t just get her pedicure after her spray tan. Truer words could not have been spoken. You always want to shave 12 hours before your service and take care of any waxing and pedicures needs 24 hours before your service. If those are done after your airbrush spray tan – you are increasing the risks for a streaky tan that won’t last you very long.

It is Not a “Base Tan”

If you are thinking that this will protect you from the sun – you are sadly mistaken! You are still able to get a sunburn and a really bad one at that. Due to your tan, you may not notice the redness at first. The solution has no SPF mixed in – so be sure to apply one that works for you.

You Can NOT “maintain” a spray tan

I know you want to make it last, but I am the first person to tell you if it’s too soon. Your tan will fade in its own way of your skin cycle. Which may differ in different parts of your body. Putting newer more fresh spray tan solution on top of a previous airbrush solution that may still be present can cause discoloration and unevenness of your skin. Keeping your skin hydrated with water and light lotions will help your skin cycle more regularly.

I will NOT turn you orange.

I can speak only for myself on this one. A disastrous experience will be shared with others faster than a fabulous one – so the “orange” spray tan that went wrong has made it difficult for those like me who do not have clients that experience this. The truth is in the pudding – while there are some solutions on the market that may be more cost effective, they do not always provide the desired results - we all know that you get what you pay for. For me, I make sure to use a product that is reputable, provides excellent results and has high quality standards. (Which is not always cheap)

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! If you are new – tell your technician so they can inform you how to care for your beautiful airbrush spray tan and have a wonderful experience moving forward. Remember: tanning isn’t for just special occasions!

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Finding Yourself At 40

Nicole Watts — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 22:24:54 +0000

At one point in time, everyone falls prey to letting time pass by and getting our priorities out of wack. Well, for me - it was a little different than that.

I have been trying to find my way......

As some of you might know, I am the owner of The Bronzed Beauty in Dallas, Texas. For the past 15 years I have been a Special Education public school teacher and working my salon part time for over 5 years.

During my last year of teaching, I had an experience that crushed my love and passion of a career that I had dedicated my life to. I put my job before my own children. With that experience, I learned that doors open and close for a purpose. I decided it was time to try being my own boss full time.

With the love and support of my family, I decided to postpone my teaching career and give my heart to my salon full time. It felt amazing to be my own boss, set my own hours, take my son to school everyday while he still needed a chauffeur. What was not amazing was the lack of a steady dependable income that I had been accustomed to for 15 years. The beauty industry is always evolving and it's an expense that is only splurged where there is disposable income to be spent.

After re-designing my business plan, I decided to sit and reflect on what I used to dream about when I was in college of what my job would be. I used to dream of the high rise condo I lived in, with my boys there, my husband coming home from a run with the dogs and me coming home from work. (I live in a house and not a condo, but that's ok)

So I decided to go out and get that job - I knew it was going to be hard, I hadn't been in the marketing world in a hot minute - but I really had and didn't realize it. Starting my entire airbrush tanning business from ZERO clients to where I am today didn't happen because I sat there waiting for people to find me - I was marketing and advertising myself - the experience with "The Bronzed Beauty" - so if I could do it for myself, I could do for again.

And I did. I have proven my skills to my current job and for once in a very long time, I feel accomplished, I feel needed but most of all, I feel appreciated.

Making a huge change in your life is never easy, especially when you are considered middle aged and not a "spring chicken" - but I am proof that if you follow your gut, follow your dreams and have a set plan of action - you can find who you are again and achieve your dreams.

~NW

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