Quarantine Must Haves

With everything going on around us, I think we all can agree that we’ve pretty much run out of things to do. On the other hand, if you're like me, online shopping fixes everything LOL. And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.. Amazon has literally become my best friend, and it’s crazy how many things you can find just browsing.

So hey, if we have to stay inside, let's get some things that make it a little more comfortable and fun. In this blog, I just wanted to share some of the many things I’ve purchased during the quarantine to help me get through this madness, Happy shopping!

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Living in Puerto Rico

It's been GREAT!

Moving to the island three years ago was probably the scariest thing ever. Being so far away from my family and living in a place that I’d never even visited was a different experience to say the least. I didn’t know what to expect, and I didn’t know if I’d even like living on an island. The culture differences, the lifestyle, limited access to family is a big step for most. However, I was confident and excited because I was getting the chance to travel the world with my best friend, my husband. This was huge for both of us, and we were ready for all the new things headed our way.

Island life is a very different experience, and you can make the best of it or you can live with a closed mindset and be completely miserable. Island life sounds great, it is great but like every place in the world, there are pros and cons. Here are a few I experiences in the beautiful, yet unpredictable Puerto Rico.

PROS:

I have met probably some of the BEST people I’ve ever met here in Puerto Rico. Island life is so chill, so most of the people I’ve met are super chill and laid back. Always having a good time, and making the best of any situation.

The food is crazyyy good! If you’ve had Puerto Rican food, you know. One of my favorite places to eat here is Barrachina’s in Old San Juan. They have the best Pina Coladas, and they are one of my favorite places to have lunch because the food is authentic and the prices aren’t too bad!

The weather! AHH THE WEATHER! Literally yearlong summer and beaches. Could you ask for anything more? Even though it gets pretty hot (high 90s), the beaches do a great job of cooling you off. The lowest temperatures are probably low 70s. But, I’m a southern girl, so I can definitely handle some heat. There’s nothing like Alabama humidity though. HA!

There are endless things to do in Puerto Rico, they are always having a good time! Aside from the beaches and amazing restaurants, there’s so much more. Here in Puerto Rico, there’s tons of clubs for the nightlife people, there’s horseback riding, kayaking, snorkeling, party boats, El Yunque Rainforest, Old San Juan, Castillo San Cristobal, and the Bacardi Factory. However, my favorite thing to do is go to the local beaches and eat all the amazing fruits, and authentic Puerto Rican and Dominican foods at the kiosks along the beach.

CONS:

So, of course the obvious con would be being so far away from my family. However, with the use of technology and racking up flight points I was able to fly home whenever I wanted (mostly holidays and summer breaks).

The language barrier was hard to deal with in the beginning, but I learned the language quickly with the help of my friends, and amazing students.

The natural disasters in Puerto Rico have been at an all-time high since living here, After only 7 months on the island I experience my first ever Hurricane. Hurricane Irma and Maria was a devastating experience for the island and nearly damaged it entirely. There was no power, water and limited to no food on the island. The recovery process took months, and almost years for some parts, but things have gotten a lot better. I was blessed to be evacuated from the island a couple of weeks after the hurricanes hit in September. I returned after Christmas, in January and things were slowly, but surely going back to normal.

The traffic is INSANE, to say the least. Just picture this, the island of Puerto Rico has a population of about 3.2 million people (2018), and probably a lot more now. The distance of this island is about 110 miles across and 35 miles wide. Very small for that amount of people. Now if you need more of a visual, I’m from Huntsville, AL and 100 miles from there is Birmingham, AL.. and the population of both of those cities COMBINED is about 400,000. That means there are 8 times the amount of people here than both of those cities combined! ...Yea, I took Alabama traffic for granted.

People drive like there aren’t road rules. And there are CRATER HOLES, that’s what my husband and I call Potholes here in PR) because they are HUGE! I’m talking at least 3 feet deep and wide most of the time! And sometimes, they appear out of nowhere and they will definitely catch you off guard. One of the policemen here told me once, “If you can drive in Puerto Rico, you can drive anywhere.” I believe him!! And if you’re wondering, yes, I’m a Pro! HAHA.

My Take Away

- Even though these things took some time to get used to, it taught me a ton of Patience. Living here taught me independence. I’ve always been a homebody, and a mama’s girl (I still am), but being out of my comfort zone has made me into a woman I truly admire.

- Another thing I took from this experience is a second language. I can understand and speak about 85% of Spanish. Spanish is such a beautiful language, and though it wasn’t easy, I was determined to learn.

- I was able to teach at an amazing high school, and Coach the Cheerleading team for 2 years They literally made my experience on the island 10x better, definitely some of the BEST teenagers I’ve ever met! I am blessed and so grateful for the opportunity, I’ll never forget it.

This experience is definitely one for the books, and I’m so excited about my next journey, THIS SUMMER.

Oils.. Let's talk about it!

Oils have been a MAJOR KEY to skin care and beauty for a LONG time. They’ve been incorporated in your favorite brand’s, favorite brand of skin, body, and hair care lines. Oils are superrrr beneficial, and can help target many different issues or needs your skin and/or hair may lack.

I LOVE ME SOME OIL!

There are so many types of oils: essential oils/carrier oils.

Some of my favorite oils are Grape Seed, Vitamin E, Rose Hip, Shea Butter, Argan, Tea Tree, Coconut, Jojoba, Olive, Cocoa Butter, and Castor oil. Oils are like your skin's "bodyguard".

Oils really protect your skin and hair. I use oils for any and everything because they are so versatile; however, I want to talk about oils for the FACE. I know, I know.. Oils can be scary for some people, especially if you have oily skin or have dealt (or dealing) with acne or sensitive skin. But let me break it down for you, because I believe oils can be your best friend!

Oils are lipophilic, which is just a fancy word for “dissolving in fats (lipids)”, but in oils it’s basically acting as a trap. Oil is used to lock in moisture. Since oil and water don’t mix, it locks in the natural moisture of the skin (water). Not only does it lock moisture in, but it also helps block toxins OUT. Preventing the entrance of pollution and smog which can cause wrinkles.

Oils have healing properties, and some are antibacterial, they can prevent or reduce wrinkles, they help with dry skin, rashes, or eczema, they help shrink your pores, and get rid of acne. I could go on and on about the benefits!

However, not all oils are good for the face, because they can be comedogenic, which means they’ll likely clog your pores.. And we don’t want that.

So sis, I’m here to give you the tea on my top 5 favorite oils (in no particular order) and which ones will work best for you and your skin!

Shea Butter, MY FOREVER FAVE

The GOAT! I literally slap this oil everywhere; FACE, body and hair! This one is my favorite because it’s so universal; you can never go wrong with Shea Butter. PERIOD!

Shea butter is fat that comes from shea tree nuts in West Africa. It is considered a butter because of it’s soft, creamy texture.

Benefits:

• Anti-inflammatory and healing properties which can help calm the skin and reduce redness.

• Can prevent acne

• Can be an SPF - but on a small scale .. yes, you still need an SPF sis!

• Reduces the appearance of wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks

• Anti-aging properties which promotes collagen production & cell regeneration

• Safe for all skin types - can help with eczema and psoriasis.

• Does NOT clog pores - non comedogenic

• High levels of Vitamin A & E

• Antibacterial & Anti-fungal

Sweet Almond Oil

I love this oil because it’s so easy to apply. It’s a very light oil that can give you a glow without overdoing it or looking too greasy. I like to use this oil as a primer before applying my makeup if I’m going for a natural glow.

Benefits:

• Made from pressed raw Almonds

• Packed with Vitamin E, Zinc, Proteins, and Potassium

• Can heal skin burns

• Good for dry skin

• Improves acne

• Non comedogenic - does not clog pores

• Promotes collagen production and reduces the appearance of scars and stretch marks

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree is an essential oil. This oil should be combined with a carrier oil because of how potent it is. Always mix this oil before you apply it directly to the skin. This oldie, but goodie has been used as a natural remedy for years.

So, for my oily skin beauties.. This one’s for you because this baby can be used for Oily & Dry skin.. Yes, you heard right! A miracle, but here’s the tea.. I mean OIL..

For oily skin, mix tea tree with your toner, moisturizer, or your favorite face mask.

For dry skin, mix it with your favorite carrier oil such as almond, jojoba, olive, etc.

Boom, you’re covered!

Benefits:

• Can help with itchy, dry skin, and psoriasis

• Can help with oily skin

• Reduce inflammation or redness

• Antibacterial - for cuts, infection, and wounds

• Scalp treatment (personal fave, gives you a tingling sensation)

• Prevents & TREATS acne!

RoseHip Seed Oil

This one is a super trendy oil, and seems to be a lot of people’s FAVE. I love it because it helps brighten the skin because it’s a natural exfoliator. Yes, an oil can be a gentle exfoliator, on a molecular level instead of using physical scrubs or face brushes. I highly recommend this oil for my sensitive skin babes. Rosehip oil and Rosewater (toner) are a really great combo if you want to glow from within. With all of its packed nutrients from the rose, it’s super hydrating for the skin and my skin DRINKS this oil!

Benefits:

• Very Moisturizing

• Produces Collagen

• Helps reduce hyper-pigmentation or dark marks

• Prevents breakouts because it’s antibacterial

• Heals the skin

• Anti-aging

Coconut Oil

Last but not least!

This one is also a trendy one. It’s also a little controversial in the skincare world because when it became popular, people were slapping this baby EVERYWHERE. And that’s because it works so well for so many things.

This oil is one I would recommend for the body only. The reason being is because coconut oil is Comedogenic, meaning it CAN clog your pores.. Which CAN lead to breakouts. Emphasis on the word CAN, lol. Because it does not cause breakouts for everyone, which is why it was super controversial.

However, for me personally I love this oil for hair growth!

I also use it mixed with my Nivea lotion on my body, and it leaves my skin feeling like SILK!

I haven’t used this oil as a face moisturizer because of all the back and forth on whether or not it causes breakouts. However, I DO use it to remove my makeup.. And it’s GREAT!

The list can go on about how beneficial this oil is, but here’s a few:

• Sun protection - can block 20% of the sun’s uv rays

• Skin irritation & Infections

• Wound Healing

• Inflammation

Non skin uses/benefits:

• Can reduce metabolism (ingested)

• Used for cooking

• Mouth antiseptic/mouthwash

• Reduces belly fat (ingested)

• Hair moisturizer and improves hair growth

• Stain removal on furniture or carpets

So, with that being said.. this oil is definitely a staple to have in your home!

So, if you were scared of oils before this should give you enough confidence and information to find one that works best for your skin needs.

I hope you enjoyed this post, but most of all.. I hope you learned something new!

Until next time!