Set Realistic Goals and Write Them Down

February 10, 2017January 31, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

~Ditch The Diet~

If you are going to make the change from unhealthy habits to healthier ones, one of the first things that needs to happen is goal setting!

Set realistic goals and write them down. Just like I said in a previous post, Rome wasn’t built in a day! Unhealthy habits weren’t formed overnight and cannot be expected to change all at once either.

While it is a great idea to have a larger end goal in mind, having smaller more attainable goals will make the changes more permanent.

Remember, we are not talking about a diet with an end date, we are talking about making a healthy lifestyle change.

Write down your goals to have as a reference for later on! You will be able to keep yourself more accountable if you have written proof of what you want to accomplish.

Here are some examples of attainable smaller goals as well as long-term goals.

Smaller: “This week, I will exchange one glass of soda (or insert sugary drink of your choice) with one glass of water every day. Slowly increasing my daily water consumption.”
Long term: “In 6 months I will have lower cholesterol.”
Smaller: “I will go to bed 15 minutes earlier than usual every night this week.”
Longer: “I will be more rested and have increased energy during the day to get things accomplished.”
Smaller: “I will be active for 15-20 minutes 3 days a week.”
Long term: “I will have more energy during the day and sleep better at night.”

Set realistic goals and write them down. Get ready to start implementing your goals.

Hey, I’d love it if you would come follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Review

How ’bout Them Samples Review

February 9, 2017January 20, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood6 Comments

I am still going strong with not buying new beauty items!

Since I started doing this several months ago, I have really enjoyed using up and trying out these samples. It has really helped me to not make any unnecessary beauty purchases!

Throughout this experiment, I have found a few great products that I have fallen in love with and added into my beauty routine.

Here is my review of this group of samples that I have been trying out this time around…

Biore Charcoal Pore Strips

Thankfully blackheads isn’t a huge issue for me personally. That being said, I still really love these types of poor strips. This one worked great. My pores definitely looked a lot clearer after using this strip.

A package of 6 strips costs around $5.50. ($0.91 each strip)

YES, based on the samples, I would purchase the Biore Charcoal Pore Strips.

Cetaphil Gentile Skin Cleanser

Personally, I love CeraVe cleansers, when given the choice between CeraVe and Cetaphil, I would usually choose CeraVe. That being said, I haven’t tried many of the newer Cetaphil products.

This little gentle cleanser is really great! I like the way it left my skin feeling clean but not tight and dry. Keep in mind that this is a facial cleanser and not a makeup remover. It doesn’t do a great job at removing makeup.

$10 for a 16 oz bottle and $3 for this small 1 fl oz sample/travel size.

YES, based on the samples, I would purchase the Cetaphil Gentile Skin Cleanser

Clear Scalp and Hair Therapy Total Care Shampoo and Conditioner

I LOVE this shampoo and conditioner! The claim on the bottle is “Stronger more beautiful hair in 7 days.” I believe it! I could feel a difference in my hair after using these products for several days in a row.

The shampoo has a wonderful fresh macintosh apple scent that lasted all day. While the conditioner didn’t smell quite as good, it worked so well that I can excuse it for the lack of beautiful scent.

If I didn’t already have so many other shampoo/conditioners to get through, I would have already purchased these. I liked them that much!

Each product is priced around $6 each for a 22 oz bottle.

YES, based on the samples, I would purchase the Clear Scalp and Hair Therapy Total Care Shampoo and Conditioner

Covergirl Intensify Me Lash Blast Liquid Eyeliner

This product claims to have the control of a pencil with the intensity of a liquid liner. It also has a paddle tip that can be thick or thin depending on which side of the tip is used.

I had really good intentions to try out this eyeliner which is why I put it into my sample pile… but I have so many other black liquid eyeliners opened right now, it would just be wasteful for me to open up another one. So, nope, I haven’t used this one yet. $7 for .034 fl oz liner.

$7 for .034 fl oz liner.

Based on the fact that I have not used this sample yet, I don’t know if I would purchase it.

Eco Tools Makeup Brush Cleansing Clothes

I was so excited about these clothes. I was hoping that they would be such a great product…yeah, nope. The idea is a good one, but the actual product just doesn’t work well enough to get the desired accomplishment. The wipes are a great size but are just kinda damp, not wet enough to really clean off the brushes

The idea is a good one, but the actual product just doesn’t work well enough to get the desired accomplishment. The wipes are a great size but are just kinda damp, not wet enough to really clean off the brushes really well.

I think that it is a really great idea… I don’t know if my expectations were just too high, but I didn’t love the way that these worked.

$7 for 25 clothes.

No, based on the samples, I would not purchase the Eco Tools Makeup Brush Cleansing Clothes

Hello Mojito Mint Floride Toothpaste

I have super super super sensitive teeth! There are several kinds of toothpaste that are just too abrasive for me to use. This Hello Mojito Mint Fluoride Toothpaste didn’t bother my teeth at all. It has a very different yet pleasant flavor. It really has a limey minty taste to it. I really enjoyed using this toothpaste. I got several days out of this .75 oz sample.

It has a very different yet pleasant flavor. It really has a limey minty taste to it. I really enjoyed using this toothpaste. I got several days out of this .75 oz sample.

$4.50 for a 5 oz tube

YES, based on the samples, I would purchase the Hello Mojito Mint Floride Toothpaste

NSPA Coconut Rich Body Butter by Nirvana Spa

Have you ever heard of this brand before? I have never heard of it before, so I don’t really know anything about it other than what I know from this body butter sample.

The packaging says “Warning: our products are so fruity and juicy you might be tempted to eat them. Well don’t, they are not food.” I thought that was pretty cute and funny…

As far as the product itself, I was underwhelmed. The texture of the butter was good, thick and creamy, but it just didn’t leave my skin feeling hydrated. The scent was only ok. Instead of having the nice natural coconut flavor like I expected and like what I am used to, it smelled fake and manufactured.

I have been using it on my heels on my feet. It does work pretty well for that.

At a price of $18 for 200 ml, I can definitely find a better product at a much better price.

Nope, based on the samples, I would not purchase the NSPA Coconut Rich Body Butter

S.W. Basics Exfoliant

This is an all-natural exfoliant. It is made of organic oat and almond flours and mineral-rich sea salt. Due to the all natural organic ingredients, I really wanted to like this product.

I got two tries out of this sample size. I definitely didn’t enjoy it either time. Instead of exfoliating my face it basically just turned into mush on my skin. Kinda weird.

A 0.7 oz bottle costs $12 and a 3 oz bottle is $24.

Nope, based on the samples, I would not purchase the S.W. Basics Exfoliant.

What about you? Have you tried any of these samples before? What did you think? Did you buy the full size based on your experience with the sample size?

If you would like to see which samples I have already tried out in the past you can read more by clicking HERE.

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all three.

Tips and Tricks

Tip Tuesday

February 7, 2017January 5, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

Here’s another tip for Tip Tuesday

If you want to easily figure out what skin type you have just follow these simple steps:

1. Wash and dry your face.
2. Leave it completely natural, don’t apply any products after washing.
3. Wait one hour.
4. Press a clean tissue against your forehead, nose, chin and cheeks.

If the tissue doesn’t look any different, congratulations, your skin type is normal.
You have dry skin if you notice any flakes of skin on the tissue.
If the tissue looks transparent or oily in spots that means oily skin.
You have combination skin if the oil only comes from the forehead, nose, and chin (also known as the T-zone).

Let me know if you try it out and what you think! If you are enjoying these tips every Tuesday you can check them all out by clicking HERE.

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all three. I would also love to follow you on Instagram and Twitter as well, so let me know your user name in the comment section below!

No Gym No Problem

No Gym? No Problem! #6

February 6, 2017January 5, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

I recently started doing something that I have been interested in doing for a while now… I have been teaching a weekly exercise class at my church. I was both nervous and excited about getting started.

The classes have gone really well and it has been a lot of fun! I have enjoyed planning the workouts as well as figuring out how to make it work for a group of people with different levels of fitness.

Since we are all at different levels of health and fitness, I included a lower intensity option as well as a higher intensity one.

Here is the workout that we did together the first week:

5 min warm up of a slower smaller versions of the exercises to be done during the circuit workout.

2 sets of 9 Circuits:
45 sec on with 15 sec “active rest”

1. March
2. Hot feet/wide march
3. Kick backs
4. High knees/Knee lifts
5. Punches/reaches with side steps
6. Jogging 4 in place 4 forward 4 back
7. Mummy kicks/heel digs
8. Skater/back cross kick
9. Boxer shuffle with squat and reach

2 min cool down with 5 min stretches.

30 min total

Take 15-30 minutes and improve your day! Your heath and wellness is worth it!

Let me know if you try out the workout and what you think!

Remember to keep good proper form! Chest up, shoulders down, knees behind the toes, above the ankles. Warm up before, and stretch after you exercise! Soreness equals success!

Review · Weekly Product Highlight

Clean and Clear Deep Action 60 Second Shower Mask

February 4, 2017February 1, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood4 Comments

~Weekly Product Highlight~

It was recently my birthday, (Happy birthday to me!) and since it was my birthday, I ate a lot of junk! Like, a lot of junk…!

Due to eating more sugar, candy, and junk than usual, my skin has been a mess! When my breakouts are typically along my jawline when they are sugar related. I hate having skin issues from sugar!

Anyway, long story short, I used this Clean and Clear Deep Action 60 second shower mask every day for about a week and my skin started looking awesome again in no time!

I have normal to combo skin, and I can use this mask in the shower every day without any issues or irritation.

When first applied it feels great! There is a wonderful tingling sensation. It’s probably all in my head, but because of the sensation, I can feel it working deep down in my pores!

Only a small amount of the mask is needed. Less than a dime size is more than enough to apply over my entire face. After applying the mask all over my face I let it sit on my face while I wash my hair and body. I love that I can to more than one thing at a time and not waste time waiting for the mask to work. After I finish washing up, I gently massage my face with the exfoliating beads and then rinse it all off. My face feels soft and smooth and cool from the menthol.

When I first started using this I thought that one thing I would change would be that it had more exfoliating beads in it. Although, since it is for daily use, it is probably better that it has fewer and is a gentler exfoliator.

Just to warn you, this product has alpha hydroxy acid in it which can increase sensitivity to the sun. If you are fair skinned like me and burn in the sun, you will want to be extra careful! Personally, I have found that sunscreen doesn’t even help when I have used a product with AHA in it. If I know that I am going to be spending time in the sun in the future, I will usually stop using a product with AHA in it two weeks in advance.

The 1 oz tube samples lasted me about 2 weeks, and a 5 oz bottle lasts me about 2 months of everyday use.

A 5 oz bottle of this Clean and Clear Deep Action 60 second shower mask costs around $5. (worth every penny in my opinion.)

I have used two 1 oz samples and an entire full sized bottle. I have also already purchased a second full-size bottle, so obviously, I really like this stuff!

What does the Clean and Clear Website have to say about it?

“What’s great about it
- CLEAN & CLEAR^® Deep Action 60 Second Shower Face Mask is designed to work with the steam of your shower to deeply, but gently exfoliate away traces of dirt, oil and dead skin that can clog pores. You’ll be able to feel the deep clean as the tingling sensation builds, and in just 60 seconds, your skin will look brighter, healthy, and feel refreshed!
Recommended for
- Everyday Face Cleansing
Directions
- Wet your face then squeeze out a quarter-sized amount of the mask onto your palms.
  
  Apply to mask evenly all over your face.
  
  Now the important part: Let the mask sit on your face for 60 seconds… feel free to multi-task during this time.
  
  After the quick 60 seconds is up, gently massage your whole face as you rinse thoroughly off.
  
  If you get some in your eyes, no need to panic, just rinse your peepers with water.
  
  Use 2-3 times per week alone or right after your favorite cleanser
Ingredients
- Inactive Ingredients: water, cetearyl alcohol, PPG-15 stearyl ether, cellulose, glycolic acid, glycerin, polysorbate 60, steareth-21, magnesium aluminum silicate, kaolin, potassium cetyl phosphate, sodium hydroxide, phenoxyethanol, xanthan gum, caprylyl glycol, microcrystalline wax, fragrance, menthol, ultramarines, ferric ferrocyanide, red 30, talc”

Have you tried this Clean and Clear Deep Action 60 Second Shower Mask? What do you think about it? Did you like it?

Hey, I’d love it if you would come follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all three.

Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

You Are What You Eat and Think

February 3, 2017January 31, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

~Ditch The Diet~

We’ve all heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” and while that is so true, let’s take it one more step…

“You are what you think!”

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Mental health is one of the most important parts of weight loss and living a healthy lifestyle.

While losing weight and living a healthy life is a physical thing, it is not really all about the physical challenge that we make it out to be. It is totally a mental thing.

You have to constantly keep your thoughts focused. Here are some things to keep in mind when trying to exchange your bad habits with good healthier ones:

1. Make your goals realistic!

You will be more likely to succeed if your goals are actually attainable. Set mini goals with a larger end goal in mind.

Instead of a blanket statement of “I need to lose 45 pounds” set a goal of “I will be more active and make healthy food choices for today.”

One healthy choice at a time, one day at a time is a lot easier to achieve than an overwhelming goal of 45 pounds. Once you reach that goal set a new one.

2 Chronicles 15:7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

for your work shall be rewarded | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

2. Stay positive!

Focus on the positive aspects of your body, instead of all the things that you dislike about it.

Maybe you have love handles, a muffin top, or chubby thighs… but you might also have long legs, strong arms, beautiful hair, a friendly smile, or pretty eyes.

stay positive | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Remember we were made in the image of God. And God has called that creation “good.”

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

3. Change the way you think about food and exercise!

Don’t tell yourself “I CAN”T”

“I can’t eat that because I want to lose weight.”
“I can’t eat any of the foods that I love because I am eating healthy now.”
“I can’t wake up early to exercise!”
“I can’t find the time to eat right and exercise because I am way too busy!”

Instead, think “I can!”

“I can enjoy all these delicious foods that are good for me.”
“I can feel good about the food I am putting into my body.”
“I can say no to the unhealthy foods that are going to prevent me from reaching my goals.”
“I can make time for the things that are important to me.”
“I can do one more lap..rep..minute..interval”

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

i can do all things | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

4. Pray and ask God to help you!

Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Aren’t you glad that we don’t have to rely just on our own willpower!

Psalm 107:9 For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.

I hope that you found this to be helpful!

You can find other posts like this one by clicking HERE

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Hey, I’d love it if you would come follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Tips and Tricks

Tip Tuesday #51: Moisturize Even if you have oily skin!

January 31, 2017March 7, 2018 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood5 Comments

Here’s another tip for Tip Tuesday:

Even if you have oily skin still use a moisturizer!

Moisturizers are used to improve the skin’s hydration, so think of it as the water content of the skin, not about the oils it produces. Even oily skin can get dried out, which in turn will only trigger your body to produce more oil. It is a vicious cycle!

The best moisturizer for oily skin is one that is oil-free, lightweight and non-comedogenic.

One of my favorites has always been Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

Let me know if you try it out and what you think! If you are enjoying these tips every Tuesday you can check them all out by clicking HERE.

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
You can find me as Looking Joli Good on all three.

Health/ Fitness

Get The Most Out of Your Workout

January 29, 2017January 26, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

A very common New Years resolution is to workout and get healthy! I resolved to continue to remain as healthy as I possibly can this year. If you also made a resolution to be a healthier you in 2017, here are a few tips and tricks to help you keep that resolution!

Just do it! You may not feel like working out, but let me tell you, you will not regret it! You will only regret the times you skipped working out not the times you did it!

Stop making excuses! You are your own worst enemy! Trust me, I know all about the head games and excuses! You are not really as busy as you think you are! Make time to get in a quick exercise session. You can spare 30-45 min to become a healthier person. You will be so glad that you did!

Be consistent! The more often you exercise the greater impact it will have on your life. As with many things consistency is what brings results. Long term health is more important than short-term results.

Don’t waste your time! If you are going to take the time to work out give it your all! Don’t take the easy way out, do your best. Be completely present in what you are doing. Think about the muscles you are working

Have a plan! If you are new to exercising and working out, make sure you have a plan! Have you ever heard the saying “Fail to plan, plan to fail”? It is so true. Having a plan will also help you to not waste your time.

Keep moving! Even if you feel like you might keel over, keep moving. Even if you have to move super slowly, keep moving. If you are moving then you will keep going, if you stop to take a break, you may be able to convince yourself that you don’t need to continue. Keep moving!

Start strong, stay strong, end strong! This is similar to don’t waste your time and keep moving. Anything worth doing is worth doing right! Make the most out of your time. An intense 30 minute workout is worth way more than a half effort hour long session.

Don’t give up! Even if you miss a day here or there, or haven’t been consistent at all, that doesn’t mean you have to give up! Just remember, January may be the start of the new year, but you can start a new healthy lifestyle any day you want to! Most people give up on their New Years resolutions by February. You got this, don’t let that be you! Don’t give up!

Good Luck in 2017!

Love and Life

Romans 10:9-10

January 28, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom.10.9-10

Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits · Health/ Fitness

Ditch the Diet #1

January 27, 2017January 30, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

Over the next few weeks, I will be posting a series called Ditch the Diet! These posts will be about tips and tricks and things that have helped me to be successful at living a healthy life without having to be a slave to a diet.

When you think about going on a diet, it usually implies a starting and an ending point, right?

The word diet has such negative feelings that go along with it. We immediately start thinking about all the deprivation, suffering, cravings, and hunger that are associated with dieting.

A strict plan will probably not get you where you want to be, and if it does, you probably won’t be able to stick to it long term. Keep in mind that this is not a quick fix approach. It will require time and patience. (Some people have a medical reason that they definitely have to be on a strict diet: colitis, Crohn’s, diabetes, celiac disease, kidney disease, food allergies.)

Most diets include lists of what you can and cannot eat. Most diets want you to change years of habits overnight setting you up to fail from the start. With all those cards stacked against you from the beginning, of course, it is overwhelming! It also requires an enormous amount of discipline.

Losing weight and being healthy are so much more than just choosing a “diet plan” and following it.

Think to yourself, why do you do the things that you do? Most everything we do is because of habit. Even what and when we eat is usually based on habits. Habits are hard to change!

Instead of changing everything at once, I am suggesting that you change one small habit at a time. Instead of struggling all week to deny yourself and ending up being upset with yourself for any failings, think about making one small manageable change a week. Focus on that one change and once it feels easy and natural move on to the next change.

Changing old habits for new healthier ones one at a time. Over time, you are more likely to feel healthier, lose weight and keep it off for good.

Getting started is as simple as beginning to apply healthy habits to your life one at a time. One day at a time, one choice at a time, and one tip at a time. Making small changes easy will make you more likely to add these healthy habits into your life making them part of your lifestyle.

One year from today, you may just find that you have lost excess weight, kept it off and didn’t have to go on a diet to do so.

Looking Joli Good

Kindness is beautiful!

Tag: makeup

Set Realistic Goals and Write Them Down

~Ditch The Diet~

How ’bout Them Samples Review

I am still going strong with not buying new beauty items!

Here is my review of this group of samples that I have been trying out this time around…

Biore Charcoal Pore Strips

Cetaphil Gentile Skin Cleanser

Clear Scalp and Hair Therapy Total Care Shampoo and Conditioner

Covergirl Intensify Me Lash Blast Liquid Eyeliner

Eco Tools Makeup Brush Cleansing Clothes

Hello Mojito Mint Floride Toothpaste

NSPA Coconut Rich Body Butter by Nirvana Spa

S.W. Basics Exfoliant

Tip Tuesday

Here’s another tip for Tip Tuesday

No Gym? No Problem! #6

Clean and Clear Deep Action 60 Second Shower Mask

~Weekly Product Highlight~

You Are What You Eat and Think

~Ditch The Diet~

“You are what you think!”

Tip Tuesday #51: Moisturize Even if you have oily skin!

Here’s another tip for Tip Tuesday:

Get The Most Out of Your Workout

Good Luck in 2017!

Romans 10:9-10

Ditch the Diet #1

~Ditch The Diet~

Share this:

I am still going strong with not buying new beauty items!

Here is my review of this group of samples that I have been trying out this time around…

Biore Charcoal Pore Strips

Cetaphil Gentile Skin Cleanser

Clear Scalp and Hair Therapy Total Care Shampoo and Conditioner

Covergirl Intensify Me Lash Blast Liquid Eyeliner

Eco Tools Makeup Brush Cleansing Clothes

Hello Mojito Mint Floride Toothpaste

NSPA Coconut Rich Body Butter by Nirvana Spa

S.W. Basics Exfoliant

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Here’s another tip for Tip Tuesday

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~Weekly Product Highlight~

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~Ditch The Diet~

“You are what you think!”

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Here’s another tip for Tip Tuesday:

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Good Luck in 2017!

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