Treating Mosquito Bites

I'm not a fan of mosquitos, mostly because I'm their chosen victim...

100% of the time. Even though, I've had horrible experiences in the past with them,

I apparently still did not learn my lesson. My worst experience with a mosquito bite

was when I was in Vietnam, when I was around 12 years old? I don't really remember.

It was over a decade ago and it swelled up pretty badly... I had a fever and my ankle

was swollen to the point where it was literally purple. I had to get injections and well...

it was pretty bad, haha. I've always had very bad swelling with mosquito bites.

This past weekend (Saturday), I went up to the cottage with my partner and I got bit the

night we arrived. Yep, the first night, but apparently it was not just one bite. No.

Apparently I had to get 3 mosquito bites on my left foot. Just my left foot.

It looked fine the night of, looked kind of weird the second day, but I thought it

would go away, but then it started to swell up really badly... to the point where it

was getting difficult for me to walk properly.

My mom was pretty pissed at me when I got home, for not coming back earlier.

She put freshly cut aloe vera all over my foot. It was pretty painful.

The aloe vera definitely helped, but I had to go to the doctor to get it checked.

Apparently it was infected and I needed antibiotics. I wanted to avoid taking

antibiotics, but this is what happens when I don't learn.

So... I am doing a post about treating mosquito bites. For my own sake and yours.

If you react badly to mosquito bites, like me... you may want to take note(s) :p

Be sure to use organic, pure ingredients, if you want the best results.

♡ IMMEDIATELY ♡

1. Disinfect the area immediately with rubbing alcohol

2. Soak the area in epsom salt with water, or baking soda and water

(for areas like the feet, leg) for 10 minutes

♡ TOPICAL OPTIONS ♡

You have to be pretty consistent with these, apply it at least 3x/day

1. Apply aloe vera generously on the area and let it dry

2. Apply calendula/marigold tincture or a calendula healing cream

3. Apply an apis/ledum cream (homeopathic remedy)
ex. Dapis Gel from Boiron

Cold compresses may also help after doing all the above steps.

But before even going outside, you should be spraying yourself with something,
to prevent the mosquito bites. I am currently using the Saje b-gone spray.
It works pretty well because I haven't gotten bitten after using it. I was just being
completely stupid for not spraying it before I arrived to the cottage...

I would recommend any spray containing: witch hazel, lavender, citronella, catnip, eucalyptus

A scientifically proven mosquito/bug repellent spray is Yemaya's Outdoor Spray, which I can't
seem to find online, but you can purchase it at Peaches & Green, if you're in Toronto.
It was studied at the University of Guelph and has proven to be just as effective as DEET.

and you might not want to wear a lot of perfume/nice smelling scents...
but scents like lavender, lemongrass, should be fine.

They're also attracted to sweat.
Basically when you're feeling quite hot and emitting some kind of body odour.
Either through your skin or your breath.

Take care! ♡

My Favourite Restaurants in Toronto ♡

In alphabetical order!

I can't rank them, because they each have their own charm :)
I left a hyperlink to each restaurant, so click away~

$$ moderate     $$$ expensive

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♡ Cafe Belong ♡
This cafe/restaurant is located at the beautiful Evergreen Brickworks market/park.
The best time to go is during the weekends in the spring/summer, when they have the
farmer's market. You can also hike up the hills and get a great view of the CN Tower and
the city. Many people walk their dogs in this area. You will also find many families here.
This is also a great place for dates, hanging out with friends, or just having a stroll by yourself.

$$$ 💐 550 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON. M4W 3X8
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♡ Hibiscus Cafe ♡
This small cafe uses organic ingredients, while using sustainable materials.
Their salad is colourful, flavourful and nutritious! This is also a vegan cafe
and yes, they serve vegan cheese with their crepes :) It's located at the Kensington
Market, so there is a lot to see in the area. There is also an organic grocery store nearby.
There's usually a 15 minute wait time, just because the place is kind of small.

$$ 🌺 238 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON. M5T 2L7
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♡ One Love Vegetarian ♡
This small take-out/dine-in restaurant offers delicious vegan/vegetarian, Caribbean
food. They have a fairly small menu, but everything is delicious and very flavourful!
It's a very small place. There is a communal table and a couple of seats on the side.

$$ 🍌 854 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON. M5R 3G2

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♡ Woodlot ♡
This restaurant is known for their sourdough, as well as cooking with local ingredients.
Their menu changes by the season and most importantly, the food is delicious!
It's also more expensive, so it's nice to eat here on special occasions. I also love the
ambience of this place. They have an open kitchen and the lighting is dim, but during
the summer time, the natural light coming in through the large window is beautiful!
You will always find something new on the menu, but once it's gone... it's gone.

$$$ 🌿 293 Palmerston Ave., Toronto, ON. M6J 2J3

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DESSERT!

♡ Bar Ape ♡

Okay, this is not a restaurant but my favourite vegan-friendly gelato shop!

They have the best flavours in the city. No doubt. Peach bourbon? calamansi?

Yes, those are some of their flavours. The best part is... they have a new flavour

pretty much every week. You can follow them on Instagram to find out more.

Sometimes, they have vegan soft serve or gelato bars! :p

$$ 🍧 283 Rushton Rd., Toronto, ON. M6C 2X6

♡ Recent Vintage Favourites ♡

I went to a vintage market last month and found a couple handkerchiefs for only $2 each!

They're absolutely adorable and is in perfect condition. It doesn't look like it has ever

been used. I also picked up a couple of sterling silver rings and I'm not sure which time

period they're from, but they could be from the 30's? If you have an idea, let me know!

My lovely partner found an old Pippi Longstocking book, that belonged to his

mom. It's an original 1950's copy! So... he gifted it to me and I'm in love :D

It seems to be quite fragile at this point, so I have to be very gentle with it.

♡

♡ Zimt Vegan Chocolate ♡

I found this vegan chocolate over a few months ago and I love the packaging!

Not only is it vegan, it's also organic, raw, and ethically sourced!

Introducing Zimt! The founder is from Vancouver, Canada :)

Her name is Emma Smith. Thank you for producing these amazing treats!

I will always love my mint chocolate combo, but they also have a maple

and rosemary combo, which I enjoy. The ingredients list is super simple and

you can understand every ingredient that you are reading.

This bar includes:

cacao nibs, coconut sugar, cacao butter, peppermint essential oil
Yep, that's it.

Raw: meaning it is not processed with heat. Raw chocolate is Cacao.

Cocoa is processed cacao with heat.

Find a location near you here!

Thank you for reading.

I just wanted to share this random favourite :)

♡

♡ Current Reads ♡

Books. Oh, how I love non-fiction :)

Here are some of my current reads and I highly recommend them!

I'll just go in the order that I started reading them.

The End of Food | By: Thomas F. Pawlick

There's another book with the same name by Paul Roberts, but that one is more

American based. This one is more Canadian, which I prefer of course. It's more relatable.

He talks about the food industry and how the food we eat no longer has the same nutritional

value as it once did. It's a great read, if you're interested in what you are putting into your body.

Slow Death by Rubber Duck | By: Rick Smith & Bruce Lourie

It's amazing to find out how many of the products we use and see daily are actually quite toxic.

It's important for us, as consumers to have a certain knowledge before making any purchases.

This book would be great for parents or people who are thinking of having children.
This book is also Canadian based.

How to Climb Mont Blanc in a Skirt | By: Mick Conefrey

This is an interesting book! It focuses on female travellers and explorers dating back many

centuries ago. I find it very fascinating and a shame how little we know about these amazing

women, dating back to the 19th century. You will also find very random/quirky facts about

the women and their travels in this book :)

Stuff Every Gardener Should Know | By: Scott Meyer

I love this little pocket sized book! I spotted this gem at a local bookstore and had to pick it up!

I'm slowly attempting at growing my own vegetables, and I'll be working on an organic farm

later this year. This is definitely helpful for those who are new to gardening.

Thank you for reading :)

What have you been reading!?

♡

Surviving Menstrual Cramps ♡

I know many of us suffer from these painful cramps :(

I was one of them, but I have learned how to make them subside quickly.

I have also learned how to prevent them from happening, as severely as they used to.

All of this information is based on what I have learned and know from

studying holistic nutrition. It may not work for everyone, but it could work for you!

Please do your research and consult a professional for any of my supplement recommendations.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Eliminating sugar, refined foods, and dairy is important, as these will aggravate

the symptoms further. It is best to avoid these foods at least 1 week before

and during your period. But if you can avoid them altogether, forever, then that

would be even better :D Drink lots of filtered water! It's true that water is good for you.

If you don't have a very "healthy" diet, meaning an abundance of dark leafy greens,

whole grains, nuts (good fats), etc., then you may want to consider taking a magnesium

supplement. Make sure the supplement has some source of natural/organic calcium with it,

or the magnesium will not be properly utilized in your body = wasting money :)

I only take the magnesium when I feel cramping or know that I will get cramps.
Only you will know your body, more than anyone else!

I would recommend MegaFood's Magnesium, since they have organic spinach as

the synergistic source for the magnesium.

What is magnesium good for?

Well, it's an essential mineral to your body and without it, I'm not quite sure how

you would really function. It helps to maintain nerve, muscle function, supports the

immune system, supports heart function, maintain bone density, regulates blood glucose levels,

and helps the production of energy and protein. Magnesium is also known to be a calming

mineral, so some people like to take it before bedtime. It helps to relax the muscles.

Foods high in magnesium include:

*To get the full benefits of these foods, eating them organic is preferred*

♡ raw spinach or cooked swiss chard

♡ squash or pumpkin seeds

♡ mackerel

♡ soy beans

♡ brown rice

♡ avocados

♡ bananas, figs

♡ 70%+ dark chocolate

I honestly don't get cramps anymore and in a way it's amazing, but at the same time,
it's what I depended on for knowing when I'll be getting my period. The first day or two
will always be a little uncomfortable, but at least I don't feel pain anymore.

About 70% of what I eat is organic, and I make sure there are no refined sugars in my meals.
I have noticed a huge difference, ever since I changed my food choices.

♡ REAL Essential Oils!! ♡
Yes, I find that applying the right essential oils help with my cramps!
They're truly amazing and work in less than a few minutes.
A blend of clary sage, peppermint, lavender, rosemary, bergamot, ylang ylang,
patchouli, and cinnamon has helped me personally. Your blend may slightly differ
or even be the same! I personally do not use diluted oils because I know my skin and
body is perfectly fine with the concentration of these oils. Please be careful when applying
the pure form of essential oils to your skin, as some people may be sensitive. Do a small test patch!

But of course, you know yourself better than me :)

How I use them?
My essential oil blend is made by a lovely classmate of mine, custom made for me :p
If I feel a little uncomfortable in the abdominal area, I roll on the essential oil blend
directly onto the area between my pelvis and abdomen area. Then I use my hand to rub it in.

You will definitely feel a cooling sensation and then a warming sensation.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Acne??
For those who get acne before/during your period, I found drinking dandelion tea really
helps with clearing up the skin! I am currently drinking Traditional Medicinals Everyday Detox
in the Dandelion formula, not the Lemon. Make sure you get the Dandelion :) I only drink this
maybe a few times a month? I usually get deep pimples before my period, but now I notice
only small ones, which can easily be healed.

Why Dandelion??
Dandelion is a great herb/flower that is great for detoxing the liver and kidneys.
Your liver helps to eliminate toxins from the body, so you want a healthy liver!
The liver has many functions, not just that. If you want me to write a post regarding
the liver, feel free to let me know :)

I will make another post regarding how I treat my acne, naturally :p

I hope some of this information was helpful!
Have a lovely weekend! ♡

Resolutions Ambassador for Well.ca ♡

Guess what!?

I've been selected to be one of the New Year's Challenge participants for Well.ca!

I received $100 to spend on the website, so here are the items that I picked out!

Thank you Well.ca! I shop on the website frequently!

#wellnewyear #wellnesshaul #wellnessdelivered

♡

So what were my resolutions for this year?

I want to support companies who care about the environment, on a social or ecological level.

To start off, I will always look for organic products, but that's just a starting point.

There is so much more involved in the products that we buy and how they are made.

Looking for labels that are also non-GMO is also important to me.

I like supporting Canadian companies as well. Products being fair trade

and biodegradable/easily recyclable is also important! Check the number in

that rotating triangular symbol. It should be a #1 or #2, for it to be easily recyclable.

I know plastic packaging is an issue and I will work on reducing!
Unfortunately 3 of the items I chose cannot be recycled :(

I've chosen very practical items! There will be some items that I didn't

really need, but have been wanting to try out *ahem, skincare*.

🍁 Canadian Product

♡ Skincare ♡

1. Andalou Naturals Soothing Face Mask
I've been wanting to try something from their '1000 roses' skincare line.
But this will be a gift for someone instead :) I don't like the packaging though.

2. Divine Essence Organic Sweet Almond Oil 🍁
I thought this would come in a spray bottle, but it came with a pipette.
I wanted to try using this as a body moisturizer, only on specific areas... specifically my legs.
They have been very dry, due to my lack of moisturizing. It's been so dry that tiny spots
have been cracking and bleeding... :( Nothing major, but you can definitely see it.

3. LaVigne Organics Mayan Magic Balm 🍁
Apparently this balm is great for people with eczema, so it must be a fairly
good healing/moisturizing balm. It also has a nice natural scent, even though
they say it's unscented... I mean, any natural product will have a scent :p

♡ Personal Hygiene ♡

4. Green Beaver Frosty Mint Toothpaste 🍁
A more affordable natural toothpaste on the market, while also being biodegradable.
It has a light texture, which others may not like, but I'm happy with this toothpaste :)

5. Dr. Brite Whitening Mineral Toothpaste
I love this toothpaste! It's expensive, so I normally would not buy this.
It has a mousse-like texture and the flavour reminds me of spearmint gum.
The consistency is not too thin or thick. It feels great in the mouth :p

6. Organ(y)c Sanitary Pads
This is a brand from Italy! They make biodegradable and organic cotton pads :)
Why organic cotton!? We come in contact with cotton everyday and it's one of the
most chemically treated plant in the world. Some of the chemicals are extremely toxic,
therefore not only affecting the water, environment, but also the people who work on a cotton farm.

7. Organ(y)c Organic Cotton Pads
For the same reasons above :) and I have a habit of using cotton pads for my face,
when applying facial toner. This is not a necessity.

♡ Food ♡

8. Bob's Red Mill Organic Quick Cooking Steel Cut Oats
I need to eat too! This will be my breakfast for the next month :p
I like my oatmeal with 1 tbsp of any nut butter, little bit of honey, banana slices
and a dash of cocoa/coconut hemp seeds! yum.

9. Central Roast Organic Raw Cashews 🍁
I love raw cashews! It's one of my favourite nuts.
I also like almonds and pistachios :)
Unfortunately, I do not like the plastic packaging :(

10. Yellow Superfood Organic Nutritional Yeast 🍁
If you've never tried nutritional yeast, then you are missing out!
It honestly reminds me of fish food flakes though.
If you are a vegan, this is a great source of vitamin B12 :)
It has a super mild nutty taste, but becomes creamy and subtly cheesy when cooked.
I love adding this to my pasta and on top of my omelette.

♡
Thank you for reading! and Thank you Well.ca for choosing me!

My Handmade 2017 Agenda from Berlin ♡

I am very picky when it comes to buying an agenda for the year.

I originally wanted to get a Ban.do agenda, but then I wanted something

unique and different from the majority, so I found this lovely seller on Etsy.

The shop name is called, waitingforadreamer ♡

The weekly agenda is under a project called, STUDIENMATERIAL.

I picked the 'Alice & Black Crown design'. It's lovely!

The agenda is quite small, but it's the perfect size for me.

The package came in about 3/4 days! It also came with an illustrated postcard.

Some people had complaints about the type of paper used, but I like it.

It feels nice and sturdy. It has a smooth texture, which may not work well

with some pens (they might smudge), but if you have a nice, thin inked pen,

it should work fine. It actually kind of makes the ink stand out more.

I have to say that this is not a very practical planner.

Some of the dates are covered with illustrations, making it impossible

to actually write on. But it has lovely illustrations and quotes. It's a nice

agenda for someone who just jots down weekly plans and special dates.

The illustrations are from different artists. There is a list of them on the back.

Eduard Belky (Ukrainian), Kaija Burlina (Ukrainian), Alessandro Cemolin (Italian).

Then the main designers are Anastasia Klerig and Anna Klerig :)

I love this cute, little agenda. It reminds me of when I used to do editorial design!

I am definitely inspired to create my own agenda for next year :p

This is the back cover. Lovely :)

♡

ILIA Tinted Lip Conditioner ♡ Crimson & Clover

I have been wanting to try the ILIA tinted lip conditioners for over a year now.

When Sephora had their annual end of year sale, I knew I had to pick up a couple!

I couldn't really justify the original retail pricing, because I don't wear lip products

often, other than lip balm, so this was a great alternative! It's super moisturizing and pigmented!

I also picked up the colour in Shell Shock, but I'll focus my review on the Crimson & Clover.

It's my favourite of the two and I'm in love with it!

The retail price can range from $26-32. I purchased mine on Sephora when they had a $20 off sale.

I ended up getting the lip conditioners for $21 each. That's a pretty good deal :p

What I love:

♡ The case is made with recycled aluminum

♡ Their products are made with certified organic ingredients
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Beeswax (Cera Alba)*, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax,
Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil*, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf*,
Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Wax, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil*.
May contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide CI77891, Black Oxide CI77499, Yellow Oxide CI77492, Red Oxide CI77491, Red 7 CI15850, Red 28 CI45410,
Yellow 5 CI19140. *Certified Organic Ingredients.

♡ From Vancouver, BC :) A Canadian product

♡ There's jasmine oil in this lip conditioner. I love jasmine!

♡ It leaves a lovely stain and doesn't dry out my lips

♡ I don't have to reapply. It leaves a stain and gradually
fades into a lovely pink shade on my lips :)

Here is a swatch of the colour. You can easily build up the colour from something

more sheer, to bold. I love wearing it both ways. It also leaves a lovely stain and is not

easily rubbed off when eating. I just had an apple and the colour is pretty much intact.

 My photos don't do it justice! It looks so much better in person on my lips :p

It's more red in real life and has this bright "punch" to the colour, my camera can't capture.

The colour of the lipstick on their website is actually quite close.

Not the swatch, but the photo of the whole lipstick with the colour in the tube :)

♡

The colour 'Jump' is on my wishlist :p

Have a great weekend!