Pretty Tonic

Potato Face Pimple Blaster

It happens to the best of us - gross, disgusting pimples. I’m not talking about the kinds that appear in groups. No, I’m referring to the lone ranger Marlboro Man pimple who steaks his claim in the middle of your cheek, chin or forehead as if it were prime cattle land in Texas. This thing is BIG and angry and here to stay for a while.

What’s a poor girl to do? Perhaps one of the most amazing things my mother ever told me was to put a potato on your pimple overnight. I’m not sure what the specific scientific reaction is, but the juices help with inflammation and reducing the size/color.

Wash your face as usual and moisturize everywhere but on the pimple. Then, grab a potato, cut a super thin but large slice, place it over the pimple and secure with a bandage (or sleep on your back). Try and get at least eight hours of sleep and the next day you should see a noticeably smaller inconvenience. I’ve tried and tested this technique for years!

The Perfect Hangover Kit….

Ever wake up around noon-ish and wish you didn’t go to that last late-night bar? If you’re from Chicago, chances are you have!

Partying like I did when murder on the dance floor was a new song gets the best of me over and over the older I get. Do you wake up, reach for three aspirin, chug a Gatorade, grab a greasy brunch and lay on the couch all day until it’s time to order pizza? Sound familiar??? Try this step-by-step guide to detoxing fast so you can enjoy the rest of your day!

Hot water & lemon: I don’t know what it is about this stuff, but it kick starts your kidneys and liver into overtime-detox mode. Drink it every morning, but especially after imbibing.

Steam room: Drag yourself to the gym and hop in the steam room. Steam for ten minutes, then rinse in a cold shower. Steam for five-ten more and rinse. Steam for three-five more and take a final cold shower. This creates some sort of system-shocking magic and it feels damn good. If you don’t have access to a steam room, use a hot/cold shower, close your eyes and use your imagination.

Wheatgrass shot: This potion packs an unparalleled nutritional punch. Pick up a shot at Jamba Juice or your gym’s lounge. You can also grab fresh wheatgrass at the grocery store, blend with distilled water, strain through a coffee filter and enjoy from home. If you do this, rub the doused coffee filter all over your face. This stuff is great for your complexion!

Breakfast: Now, cook yourself some fluffy eggs with avocado, garlic and tomato. Put some real-fat butter on your whole grain toast and enjoy your day!

I guarantee this will make you feel 100% better and leave you looking more refreshed than before your first drink. Trust me, I’ve done (non)scientific research!

Three hidden uses for baking soda

Isn’t this stuff the most nostalgic thing you don’t understand? It looks like salt and tastes like crap but makes delicious baked goods that sit on your ass for days, months, years…it’s magic!

But behind the freshness keeping, baked delicacy marketing baking soda has received, there’s three ways it keeps you looking and feeling much better than a cake ever could.

Removes product buildup from your hair: Mix a couple of teaspoons in with your shampoo and wash your hair as usual. Your hair will literally feel squeaky clean after. Remember to follow with a deep conditioner! I do this once every couple of weeks, twice if I’m using a large amount of product.

Exfoliates your face: Baking soda is the perfect microdermabrasion kit! The granules are super-fine and buff the skin to perfection. Use once a week at the end of a shower when your skin is nice and soft and follow up with a good moisturizer.

Whitens your teeth:Who doesn’t want a pair of dazzling chompers stealing the show? Baking soda literally disintegrates plaque and removes harmful stains on the teeth in addition to giving the added boost of a stimulating gum massage! Dip your normal toothpaste-covered brush in a box twice a day - it taste’s funny, but the results are worth it!

The best part about baking soda is, one box can set you back a whopping $1! Compare that to the insane amount we spend on hair, facial and teeth whitening products and you’ve got yourself a hell of a deal!

First Post!

We live in a world full of mixed information when it comes to nutrition, exercise, psychology, relationships and work-life balance. Every now and again I’m lucky enough to stumble upon something that works for me and I enjoy sharing those tips with my friends - which ultimately leads me to the creation of this blog!

Personally, I feel life is more fun with some vice sprinkled in. I don’t beat myself up over the small stuff and try to focus on simple, practical ways to maintain a healthy outlook on life and my physique!

Working full-time as PR professional in Chicago, I’m generally used to keeping my thoughts behind the scenes and with close friends. Over the years I’ve gotten an increasing amount of questions from friends, family and co-workers interested in the natural ways I try to keep vibrant and healthy so I guess it’s about time I open up and share with everyone else too.

Thanks for reading…..

Abbie