Becoming a minimalist has captivated a new generation of people looking to pare down their lifestyles. It’s been all over the news lately, including in The New Yorker , where the #vanlife has taken over the site.[1] For me, minimalism is not about having fewer things—as a traveler and full-time digital nomad, it’s a necessity and a philosophy.
What really is Minimalism?
Minimalism is really the idea of having the chance to pursue happiness. Much of the philosophy is finding what makes you content as a human being and following your passions rather than acquiring things. This can mean having items in the traditional sense, like a car and nice sheets. As long as these things are essential to your goals and happiness as a person, then there is nothing wrong with having some items that you truly enjoy and make a difference in your life.
Having more doesn’t mean it’s better.
When things become unnecessary, that’s when minimalism is important to consider in your life philosophy. Our current world culture encourages buying more in order to be happier person. Some of the pros of choosing minimalism include giving you the freedom to explore your interests on experiences rather than on clothes or styles that will change quickly.
Our society attaches meaning to how much you have and how expensive it was to purchase. This means often that we prescribe meaning to how many things you have rather than value as a human being. Instead of focusing on whether or not an individual is fulfilling his or her goals, we focus on how much money he or she is making and whether or not they have the newest gadgets and styles.
The first time I realized that I was going to have to give up the idea of having things was when I landed a job as a travel writer that would require me to move to Italy . This meant renting an apartment that was mostly used for vacation rentals—everything was provided, including dishware, but it wasn’t mine.
Sometimes less can give you more.
There’s a freedom to being able to pick up and not feel tied down to a place. Because of a more minimalist lifestyle, my boyfriend and I have been able to travel the world and to have experiences that very few have. We’ve seen ancient temples in Kyoto and ridden camels in the Sahara Desert. All of our items fit into backpacks and we are able to pick up and move anywhere we desire.
This has absolutely made me a happier person in the long run rather than tying myself to a place and job that makes me unhappy. Living an unconventional lifestyle can be scary, and it can be difficult when you are worried about how you are going to maintain your lifestyle and how you are going to build a foundation for the future. However, because minimalism is a philosophy and there are no set rules, you can still employee the ideas even when you have decided to settle down and have a more permanent existence.
Value yourself, not what you have.
Sometimes, I wish I had a more settled lifestyle. I see my friends buying homes and owning the latest cell phone and I wonder if I have chosen wrongly in adopting a more unconventional life. However, I have freedoms that they don’t, and I’m often told how many wish they choose the same as my boyfriend and I have and travel the world. As a result, I’ve achieved many of my personal goals and I feel more complete as a human being than if I had chosen to buy the latest and the greatest items.
Is all the makeup you use to hide your whiteheads putting a dent in your budget?
Whiteheads are those annoying little white spots that occasionally pop up on your skin, seemingly for no reason. Your body plays host to these little nuisances, but for most folks their bodies can’t seem to find the right way to tell those whiteheads they have long overstayed their welcome. No matter what treatments you use or how often you wash your face, those tiny, white volcanic blips just won’t budge.
And it’s a frustration that millions of people experience at some point.
What is actually happening when whiteheads appear?
Whiteheads are type of acne characterized by their white bumps that raise above the skin’s surface. When a whitehead appears on your skin, it means that excess oils from the sebaceous glands have clogged your pores or hair follicles in that particular spot. The oils, along with bacteria and other debris, become trapped and eventually manifest as a spot on your skin.
These spots appear white because the oils and debris within are sealed from the outside air. If that seal were to break, then the whiteheads would turn darker and become blackheads (another beauty bane that is seemingly impossible to get rid of).
What are the probable causes of whiteheads?
There is no singular cause for whiteheads, which can make it harder to determine why you get them. Here are a few possible culprits:
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your body sends your hormones haywire, which means that “normal” functions are a temporary thing of the past. These hormonal changes can cause your body to up its production of the sebaceous oils, which eventually show up on your face and body.
Puberty
As if growing up weren’t difficult enough, the hormonal changes as teens transition into adulthood contribute to frequent outbreaks of many forms of acne, including whiteheads. Just like with pregnancy, the body may produce excess sebaceous oils that cause whiteheads to form.
Menstruation
Even small, infrequent hormonal changes, like the ones during monthly menstruation, are enough to dispatch an angry army of whiteheads. And they don’t always retreat as quickly as they charged in.
Menopause
As the last major hormonal change in a woman’s life, menopause brings with it a whole new slew of adjustments in addition to a whitehead invasion.
It’s important to note that, while most of these condition only affect women, both males and females are susceptible for whiteheads. This type of acne can happen at any age, not just as a teenager, young adult, or post-middle-age.
Good news – You are not destined to live a life covered in whiteheads. Here’s how to treat them properly:
The common denominator in the possible causes listed above is the major shift in hormones, which isn’t something you can control. However, there are a few tried-and-true natural remedies that can lessen the appearance of whiteheads to set you on course for a blemish-resistant life:
Apply Tea Tree Oil To The Problematic Areas
It might seem counterintuitive since whiteheads are caused by excess oil, but adding a little tea tree oil directly to the whitehead can help penetrate the skin to unclog your pores and dry up the whitehead. This method is a safe, natural remedy that also kills the bacteria living in your pores to help prevent future breakouts.
Steam Your Skin To Expand Your Pores
A hot steam bath can provide a good solution for those pesky whiteheads on your face. Hot steam makes your pores expand, which can help free clogged oils and debris and send whiteheads packing.
To do this, grab a towel and a bowl of hot water. Place your face over the top of the bowl and conceal your head with the towel, careful to minimize or eliminate gaps that expose your face to the outside air. Relax in your steam spa for 5-8 minutes. You can also add a drop or two of essential oils to your steam bath for a more spa-like experience.
Exfoliate Your Skin with Baking Soda
While you should never forcibly scrub your whiteheads, you can use a gentle exfoliation to encourage their departure. Start with a teaspoon of baking soda and add enough water to make a paste. Gently work the paste into your skin directly onto the whiteheads. Leave it on for several minutes before you rinse your skin.
Prevention is the best medicine.
In addition to the solutions listed above, none might be more effective than taking action to prevent whiteheads from ever forming. A few simple lifestyle changes might be all you need to keep the whitehead forces at bay:
Choose cosmetics that are noncomedogenic – they don’t clog pores.
Use oil-free moisturizers or lotions to decrease the amount of oils on your skin.
Take your makeup off before going to bed.
Wash your hair, face and skin regularly, but don’t overdo it. According to Mayo Clinic, excess scrubbing and washing does nothing to reduce whiteheads, but it can irritate the skin and exacerbate existing acne.
Avoid being around food cooking in oil, as the grease could splatter and settle on your face.
Even if you follow the suggestions listed above, you may still encounter a whitehead coup from time to time. Science has not yet delivered any foolproof weapons to combat the whitehead troops, but at least now you can arm yourself with possible solutions to stand your ground and fight back.
Spinach is a popular super food that is filled with nutrients that will benefit your health.
There are lots of different health benefits to spinach; it can improve your hair and skin, it provides protein and iron and it can even help with bone health. Here are 5 of the main benefits of spinach.
5 Benefits of Spinach
1. It Can Improve Your Vision
Spinach is filled with xanathene, beta carotene and lutein, which all benefit your eyesight in various ways. Spinach also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce puffiness and sore eyes.
2. It keeps your brain healthy
The potassium and folate in spinach provide neurological benefits; for instance, folate reduces the chance of Alzheimer’s disease.
3. It Lowers Your Chance Of Having Cataracts
Spinach contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which both work as antioxidants that protect your eyes from UV rays.
4. It Lowers Your Blood Pressure
The potassium in spinach will help to maintain your blood pressure, and the folate helps to relax your blood vessels to help maintain healthy blood flow.
5. It benefits babies Too!
The folate in spinach is used by a growing fetus for proper development of the nervous system.
Spinach also works very well in smoothies due to its clean, light flavor. As spinach isn’t too overwhelming it works well with lots of different flavor combinations, from sweet to savoury to spicy. Spinach also blends better than other green leaves such as kale.
Here are 30 spinach smoothie recipes you can try at home.
This delicious blackberry and ginger smoothie contains oats, orange juice, and three different types of fruit. It is sweet and refreshing, and the ginger adds anti-inflammatory properties.
This tasty smoothie tastes just like an ice cream, but it is actually very healthy. You can also substitute the milk for soy milk if you want to make a vegan version!
This super healthy smoothie contains vitamin C-rich honeydew and kale, which is a great source of calcium. This refreshing, light smoothie is perfect for after a workout.
This is another wonderful dessert smoothie that was created for key lime pie lovers. Thankfully it is much healthier than an actual key lime pie – and it is vegan!
This gorgeous smoothie is picture worthy, and it tastes as good as it looks. Earthy and light, this drink is ideal for anyone who likes a fresh flavour.
This delicious dessert smoothie is healthier than it tastes! You may think that it tastes like a chocolate treat, but it is actually filled with fiber, antioxidants, and monounsaturated fats.
Antioxidant-boasting basil and honey provide the slightest undertones of sweetness to offset the plain Greek yogurt and milk in this pretty-as-a-picture drink. If you’re wary of savory smoothies, this on!
Mint may normally be used as a dessert flavor, but it also tastes great in this non-sweet minty green smoothie. It may also help to calm a poorly stomach.
Avocados are gaining popularity because of their rich nutritional value plus it’s mild and unique taste. It’s a versatile food that works with all kinds of dishes. Avocados are not only nutritious and delicious, they seem to be the hipster icon of the year. I have seen so many avocado tattoos on calf muscles and biceps that I’ve lost count. So if you love that green berry (yes, avocados are berries) so much that you would eat it for every meal and get a tattoo of it, stay tuned. The potential to add them to everything from smoothies for a rich and creamy texture, to desserts in order to substitute unhealthy fats, is endless! Avocados are super nutrient-rich, and the fact that they taste delicious makes it easy to get all your vitamins and healthy fats with every bite.
How to shop for avocados:
I love a good life hack, and luckily there are plenty for picking avocados. It’s difficult to base your decision on color alone (though you should observe any discoloration and bruising,) so it’s better to squeeze the berry gently and see if it’s firm but gives just a little. Don’t use your fingertips though, because you could wind up bruising it! If the avocado yields to firm, gentle pressure, then it’s ripe and ready. But if it just feels kind of tough, it’s going to need a couple more days [1]
My favorite life hack for avocado selection is this one: peel back the stem! If you scratch off the tiny little stem on the top of the avocado, you’ll be able to know if your choice will be delicious or just brown and slimy inside. If the stem comes off easy and what’s underneath appears green, then it’s ripe! If you find brown underneath, then it’s overripe and won’t be good. And if the stem doesn’t come off and all, then the avocado is under ripe and won’t be ready for some time.
If you’re buying avocados for an event, such as a party that absolutely needs guacamole, purchase unripe avocados 4-5 days in advance. That should give you a nice window and help to ensure you won’t wind up with over-ripe berries at your party.
Taking off the steam is the easiest way to tell whether it’s good to eat or not!
It’s not ripped yet!
How to store avocados:
Once you’re a pro at choosing avocados, you still have to be able to store them. If you’re like me, you don’t always use the entire berry in one sitting; sometime’s I’ll put half into my smoothie, and sometimes I spread a quarter on toast. I typically put my leftover avocado in Tupperware before sticking it in the fridge, but there are better ways to store the green goodness and ensure it won’t be gross by the next morning [2].
Storing a cut avocado:
No matter what form it’s in, cut, sliced, mashed, or even guacamole, put the remainders in a bowl and sprinkle some lemon, lime or even fresh orange juice on top. The acid slows down the oxidation process (that’s what leads to the brown slime) and prolongs the life of the avocado. But if you do start to see some browning, just scoop those parts out and toss them.
If your avocado is simply sliced in half, you can just run some water over the cut surface and put it in the fridge. It’ll most likely develop a little brown film, but it’ll peel back easily and can be tossed.
Storing an avocado that’s close to going bad:
If your avocado is perfectly ripe but you don’t have the time to use it, don’t throw it away! Puree your avocado with a food processor or blender and store it in the freezer. When you are ready to try out that new dip or spread recipe, you can take it out and use it.
How to ripen an avocado:
I think we’ve all been there: in the produce section of our supermarket standing in front of the lousy selection of avocados and being forced to find the best of the worst. Obviously you want to choose one that is under-ripe and not over-ripe, but it still means you are going to have to wait to be able to eat it. Maybe as long as four days! Or does it?
It turns out, there are some simple and effective methods to ripening an avocado quickly.
Place the under-ripe avocado in a paper bag. Make sure the bag is in good shape and there aren’t any rips or tears. The bag is going to seal in the ethylene gas and ultimately ripen the berry.
Add a banana in the bag with the avocado. You can use an apple or a tomato if you don’t have any bananas lying around, but the banana is your first choice. These fruits emit more ethylene gas than others, and the more they produce, the faster they’ll ripen.
Close the bag by rolling it down and keep it at room temperature and away from sunlight.
Check in often. The avocado will ripen as quickly as one day, so be sure to check it out. As it ripens, it will get some hints of deep purple and black. Once it’s ripe, store it as discussed, but only fora few days.
How to ripen a cut avocado:
If you forgot to check for the ripeness of the avocado and went straight to slicing it open, you may be disappointed to realize it’s not read to eat. Luckily you can take a couple steps and ripen the halves in no time.
Sprinkle the avocado slices with lemon or lime juice. This will help avoid that brown mush.
Cover it in saran wrap with the two halves facing each other like you are reconnecting it. Stick it in the refrigerator.
Check in often! The length of time it will take to ripen will vary, but check in every day to ensure it doesn’t go bad. Take the avocado out of the wrap and poke it gently. If it seems soft enough, feel free to sample it. If it doesn’t quite taste right yet, put it back in the fridge.
How do you cut an avocado?
Few things are as satisfying as taking a knife to the pit of an avocado, twisting it and pulling it out cleanly! But not everyone can do it on the first try. Below is a video showing you how to successfully cut an avocado.
Here are some delicious avocado recipes for you to try:
Breakfast Recipes
Baked Egg in Avocado
This breakfast is both delicious and beautiful. Want to host the ultimate healthy brunch and look like a pro? Try this.
Avocado Banana Smoothie
This creamy breakfast smoothie is not only sweetly delicious, but it’s a great way to burn fat and give your heart the healthy stuff it needs!
Avocado Toast
Avocado toast is a classic way to incorporate healthy fats into your morning routine. This site gives six unique ways to top your toast.
Power Breakfast Potato Boat
If you love eating a big breakfast , this beast is for you. A potato, some bacon, a fried egg and avocado is on top of melted cheese. Don’t make this one a habit though.
Blueberry Avocado Muffins
I’m a sucker for recipes that give me healthy things hidden in seemingly sinful things. This delicious muffin is a sweet way to get your vitamins in at the breakfast table.
Mexican Grilled Corn Avocado Toast: If you needed more proof that avocado toast is never bland , check out this recipe. Mexican style street corn tops tons of delicious flavors on this gorgeous brekki.
Spicy chard and pineapple smoothie:
If you don’t like a ton of sweetness in your green smoothie, try this recipe. The bitter chard mixed with the sweet pineapple provides a memorable bite.
Avocado and egg breakfast pizza
Pizza can be for breakfast! Top your “pizza” with pureed avocado and a fried egg. Add some hot sauce if you’re feeling crazy.
If you want a little sweet, a little salty and a lot delicious, make this toast ! Not only will your stomach be happy, but your Instagram will be filled with pictures of this pretty meal.
Lunch Recipes
Avocado Chicken Salad
Delicious, light and refreshing, this avocado chicken salad is sure to please even the pickiest eater. Check out this recipe for a lunch you will look forward to eating.
Just when you thought a a grilled cheese couldn’t get an y more delicious, someone put avocado with it. Yes, please.
Spicy southwestern salad with avocado dressing
This salad is loaded with greens, beans, corn and sweet potatoes. Avocados and cilantro create a delicious dressing that would probably be good consumed with just a straw.
Japapeno Turkey Burgers
You can find plenty of rich recipes including avocado, but if you’re watching your weight, you may find even more. This turkey burger is a great lunch you don’t have to feel guilty about.
Shrimp avocado salad
This salad is a great choice for a warm day, especially if you’re in a seafood state of mind. Avocado is great with fish (think any sushi roll ever), so shrimp makes sense!
Garlic Bacon Avocado Burgers
Sometimes you just need a good burger . And hey, if you use avocado, that makes it healthy! Right?
Orange Almond Salad with Avocado
If you want a fresh salad with lots of flavor, put this yummy salad together.
Toasted Avocado and Bean Pitas
I believe everything tastes better on pita bread. But I’m pretty sure this combo would taste good even on it’s own.
Chili-Lime Beef and Black Bean Bowls with Avocado Crema
Beef, avocado , black beans…what more could you want?
Snack Recipes
Crispy Baked Avocado Fries and Chipotle Dipping Sauce
One of my favorite things about clean eating is how not clean it tastes. I love zucchini chips, roasted sweet potatoes and crispy brussel sprouts. These avocado fries are a delicious, healthy way to snack.
Avocado Brushetta
This is a super simple recipe to put together, and ideal as an appetizer.
Avocado Deviled Eggs
If you are always responsible for bringing deviled eggs to the party, try these next tim e to impress the crowd.
Avocado Egg Rolls
These are a great pre-dinner snack. That is, if you can avoid eating them all!
Guacamole
An avocado list wouldn’t be complete without a guac recipe!
Dessert Recipes
Fudgey Avocado Brownies with Avocado Frosting
The cool thing about avocados is they add a creamy texture which can pass for a rich batter in baked goods. This recipe is for yummy HEALTHY brownies
Mexican Chocolate Avocado Ice cream
Healthy ice cream? It sounds too good to be true. But it’s real and you can make it!
