You may do ANY of the previous weekly challenges again.
This is the last week of the April showers challenge, so all contestants may complete AS MANY BONUS CHALLENGES AS THEY WANT TO. You may repeat any challenge again, but challenges may only be done once this week for bonus points. I hope you gals have enjoyed these little bonuses.
new challenges-
#1- Visit a tanning salon. I’m not saying you need to become a tanaholic, but I do feel that trips to a tanning bed can be extraordinarily beneficial. Why? It is crazy relaxing. If you have never been tanning before, don’t worry. Everybody has a first time. The gals working at the salon will explain how the beds work. I highly recommend picking out a lotion to try as well. I only started trying out lotions last summer when I was going tanning in the spring with my mom in Tennessee (she had never gone before, and I talked her into getting a tanning package with me) and I was instantly hooked. They smell great, and they keep your skin nice and moisturized. If you are planning on purchasing a whole bottle of lotion, I suggest finding a scent that you like by trying out samples and then getting it off of Amazon. Tanning lotions are at least fifty percent cheaper off of Amazon than in tanning salons. (I learned this the hard way). Some I like: Swedish Beauty (brand) – Fig Get Me Not, Bronze Voyage, Take Olive Me, Hot Green Tease and from Australia Gold – Wicked Lovely (smells so damn good I want to swim in it), and Vogue (also very yummy, but quite pricey. Another thing about tanning lotions- the ones sold in regular retail stores are crappy (in my experience) and many of them can’t be used in tanning salons because their ingredients damage the beds. If you want to get a bottle of nice tanning lotion, you may use it for the “buy a dress, top, etc” bonus challenge. If you haven’t been tanning before, ask an employee how long you should be in the bed your first time… I don’t want anybody to burn. Also, if you live in a place where it is nice and warm already- you may sprawl outside in the sun. Outdoor tanning takes longer, so do twenty minutes a side (at least).
#2 – A dry brush body scrub is the second challenge. What the hell is that? It’s great for circulation, and your skin is going to thank you for it. I like to do this before bed every so often, and should really incorporate it into a weekly routine (instead of once a month). First off, you will need to purchase a bristle brush with a long handle if you do not already have one. Places like Target, Walmart, etc. usually have brushes like this where they keep the bath stuff, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding one. I prefer wooden ones with a natural bristle brush, but plastic handles and bristles will work too. I think the plastic bristles are a little scratchier, but maybe I’m just an over sensitive baby. This is best done in the morning or evening, either right before bed or before your shower. All you do is take your brush and gently scrub your skin in a circular motion. Don’t rush, and make sure to get every last speck of skin on your body. A long handle is needed so that you can easily reach your back. If you do this before bed, you will notice a big difference to your skin the next morning. The first time I tried it I was amazed! The brushing removes dead skin cells, and really gets the circulation going. For an extra treat try moisturizing when you are done with a small amount of one of these oils: olive, coconut, sesame, almond, or avocado. Store bought lotions work because they have oils like these in them. Unfortunately they also have chemicals and preservatives in them as well. I have amazing skin, and it’s because I moisturize with coconut oil. Take care of your skin, and it’ll start to glow- I swear it.
#3 THIS IS HOW AWESOME I AM project. Get a nice writing pen and a clean sheet of paper. One should do the trick, but it never hurts to have a backup piece. For the first part of this exercise I want you to make a list. List all of the things that you like about yourself. List things that make you awesome. List random facts, goals, and events that make you sparkle and that you are proud of. If you want, you can even post this list on your blog. If you are feeling extra crafty use a different color for each item on your list. Anything goes! Examples: I have a good sense of humor, I think tacos are the greatest food ever and if I don’t eat them for longer than two weeks I start to get the shakes, I am a good singer and very much enjoy creating mini operas in the shower, I give a mean blowjob, I can whistle like a champ, I make fantastic pizza, I am a courteous driver,etc . If you want to, you can even share events in your life that illustrate your super sweet level of awesome. Your list must have at least 25 things on it, but the more the merrier.
Part Two – Now that you are swimming in your awesomeness, I want you to get another piece of paper. This time, write down a list of things that you need to work on. These things need improvement, but are not necessarily bad traits, rather, habits that need to be shifted towards the positive. DO NOT PUT “I need to lose weight” on this list. Explore the emotions behind why you are the way you are. Think about what areas of your life need a little changin’. Examples: I get really nervous around people sometimes because I am afraid that they will think that I am strange and unlikeable, I don’t open myself up to new relationships because I have been wounded in the past and am afraid that it will happen again, etc. Once you are finished with this list, place it next to your awesome list. Read over both of them. Your personality is on these pages, and a little self examination is good for the soul. Is it possible for you to overcome some of your obstacles by utilizing good qualities from your awesome list? Of course it is.
challenges from the last two weeks
#1 Someday I am going to have an ample supply of benjamins and I will be able to afford trips to day spas. Today is not that day, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t pamper myself. For this challenge we are going to pamper ourselves with simple items found in the kitchen. Get ready to put on your best face.
Step one – Sugar Scrub – this is the simplest stuff to make, and it works great on your whole body-although if you are slathering it all over yourself you may want to do it in the shower so as not to make a complete mess. All you need is an oil, honey (or aloe vera) and some sugar (not powdered, of course). I have used olive oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, and almond oil, and all of them are good. You must use EXTRA VIRGIN olive oil, and don’t use corn oil, or canola. Take three tablespoons of oil and two tablespoons of honey and mix it with half a cup of granulated sugar. The mixture should not be too grainy or too liquidy. You want it to be mushy. You apply it to your face and exfoliate for a couple of minutes, and then rinse. If your skin feels slippery or oily you have put in too much oil into your mixture. If there is some leftover you can put a lid on the container that you were using and store it in a cupboard. (refrigeration will cause the oil to solidify) You might want to try this out on your feet and hands if you need some extra self care.
Step two –Mask and eye treatment – You need ¼ cup of plain yogurt, 3 tbsp honey, and 3 tbsp of EITHER pureed carrots or pumpkin. Use canned (with nothing added) carrots/ pumpkin or stuff that has already been cooked because it needs to be soft so that you can smoosh it up. You can put the ingredients in a blender, a food processor, or use a hand mixer. Apply to the face and leave on for fifteen to twenty minutes. As soon as you have applied your mask, place one slice of cucumber over each eye (close ‘em first, of course). Turn on some soothing music or listen to your favorite movie.
#2 Visualization exercise to bring out the inner goddess. You need some sort of paper for this, and whatever art supplies you have. USE A LOT OF COLOR. Chalk pastels are good because you can blend the colors all nice and softish. I like to use crayola markers, but really, anything with color will do. Don’t use a regular pen or pencil, because color is important for this one. This exercise isn’t about being a good artist. It’s about learning to project happy and positive vibes so that we can deliberately create our lives the way that we want them to be. You may want to have a larger sheet of paper, or you can even use notebook paper. If your paper isn’t large, have an extra piece handy for if you run out of room. Take your supplies to a quiet spot. No tv. No distractions. Think about yourself as a beautiful and powerful woman. FEEL yourself as being balanced, happy, healthy, and full of love. Close your eyes and picture your life without fear and hesitation. THIS IS YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW. You are a part of creation. Your life force is strong and you are responsible for it. Imagine strong women that you admire, and think of all the amazing women that have lived before you and will live after you. All of their strength is available to guide you. All of women’s wisdom can assist and support you. You are whole and there is enough love in the universe for you. Imagine who you will soon be as a person. See all the details. The clothing you are wearing, the house that you will be living in, the partner that you have. Now start drawing. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece- use color to represent things like love, empowerment and prosperity. Draw the sort of house you want, draw yourself dancing near the ocean, put in green rectangles to symbolize your super awesome income… draw whatever the heck you want. Just keep it all positive and really feel like you have already attained all of these things. Continue drawing for as long as you feel like, and stop when you feel as if you are finished.
#3 – lingerie wishlist – go to lingeriediva.com and check out the ultra foxy shit that you will one day be able to wear. Make a wishlist of five items. Spend a little time looking through the site, and really find things that you love. Post a picture of your favorite item on your 3fc blog. You are one hot mama, and you deserve to be a little risqué.
*Go and see a movie either with a friend or by yourself. Don’t do this challenge unless the movie is actually something that you WANT to see.
*Buy a pretty new top, or jeans, or a bra, or a dress, a hat, a belt- just something new! Just because you aren’t the size that you want to be does not mean that you have to dress like a frumpy wallflower. Your wardrobe is supposed to be an expression of who you are and how you want the world to see you. We can’t makeover our lives completely overnight, and there is no sense in waiting to wear nice clothes until we are at the “right” weight. One of the biggest mistakes I ever made after gaining weight was that I stopped getting clothing for myself. I had such a sparse wardrobe for so long, because I kept telling myself that I could just hold off on clothing shopping until I fit into my old clothing again. Dumb. Having nothing cute to wear just made me feel shitty, and it has been five years since I could fit into my old clothing. Not having a decent wardrobe didn’t motivate me to lose weight, it made me feel lousy. If you don’t feel good about yourself it’s going to be a lot harder shedding those pounds. So get out there and find something that makes you feel like a goddess! Go crazy and buy a whole new outfit!
*Take a nice detox bath. Add one to three cups of sea salt or epsom salts into a tub of steamy water. If you like, you can add other bath oils or herbal tea bags.