So, I am making some New Year's Resolutions early this year. I am a big fan of to-do lists and so I have written myself a daily check lists of things I need to do for myself. I need to commit 100% to this. 100% is a breeze. 99% is a b*tch. 
Some of the things that I've put on my "Do These Things Daily Or You'll Have FREAKIN' STROKE List":

1. Quit eating processed, refined, sugary junk and the bad fat stuff too. I know my husband is a chef (and I'm a damn good cook too) but temptations are everywhere and sometimes when you are super busy (like always) or super lazy (read: tired) you grab the wrong stuff.  I think I eat pretty well until I am forced to write it down (see #5). Luckily I prefer real food over fake and thankfully I don't bake as much as I used to when we had the ice cream cafe. Kayden and I are working on this together (since he's had some health challenges this year too and is a vain teenager). I'm sure BJ and Tim will get also dragged along for the ride and it will do them some good as well. I was never much good about sticking with a  diet when it was about losing pounds, but not stroking out is a pretty good motivator. 

2. Exercise a little every damn day. Like 20 minutes of yoga or stretching or walking is all I need to squeeze in. Housecleaning is good too but not enough. I need to be intentional about moving my body and clearing my mind. Once you get going it always feels good but somehow  pinning photos of people doing yoga doesn't count. I am working on clearing a bit of space in my new downstairs office/craft room (which has required all kinds of physical activity but isn't quite ready yet), so hopefully having that dedicated space will help. Getting up from long stretches from the computer will also be helpful (my posture as I write this leaves something to be desired). 

3. Take 15 minutes before bed to unwind. This means no screens past 11pm or caffeine after 4pm. I am soooo guilty of staying up way too late on the computer or iPad (I will miss our late night sojourns Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram) but I seriously, I clearly need to get some decent sleep. I have literally (no word of a lie) only had one night of a full 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep in more than 20 years. That's how I get so much done, so I don't let it bother me but obviously waking up regularly with a migraine is not great. 

4. Take my vitamins and stuff. I take all my goodies sometimes but obviously I am not firing on all cylinders and if I don't want to be on serious medication for the rest of my short life, I need a boost. Vitamins - check. Immunocal - check. Migraine prevention meds at night - check. Who wants to wake up with a migraine or get sick and not be able to function? I don't have the kind of job with sick days  and I've got so much that I want to do, so I've always known I should take this stuff. It's gonna be back to the little Days of the Week pill boxes for this girl. 

5. Keep a diary. My homework: a Food Diary for the nutritionist at the hospital, a Headache Diary for my doctor, a Period Tracker (Welcome to  the beginnings of menopause! Seriously I was done with my uterus like, 15 years ago) a Gratitude Journal (I will need lots of pages for this since I know it is the secret to everything in life) and a Big Goals Journal (I am a goal-digger after all!). Writing it all down makes it more real (especially when it comes to putting junk in your body) and I'm afraid I was not a good patient when my doctor asked me when my last headache or period was (it seriously feels like every damn day). 

6. Take off my make-up, wash my face and apply skin cream faithfully. I hate to admit this but I am guilty of neglecting myself in this area too. Especially when we would cater until 2 in the morning or I was at the hospital with the boys till the wee hours of the night. It even grosses me out but I still did it. At the time of this post, I have not yet received my brand new skincare order from Monat yet (it's on it's way!!), but let me tell you, I have never been so excited to receive a package in my life. This past couple of years has really taken a toll on my face, and while I have been using good products (thank you Aveda!), I feel like a big shake up is in order (duh). I have been totally blown away by the haircare products (sorry, Aveda!) and have been using the Rejuveniqe Oil every day on some part of my body, with great results, so I can't wait to get the whole line. I have been really good about hair treatments at least because my hair feels so soft when I do it and I can goes more days without washing it now.   

7. Take time to dream big with business but stay grounded with family and friends. I've been joking in the the salon that Aveda is like a husband who I've been married to for 15 years, and Monat is like a new Latin lover who treats me right and buys me presents! (no need to apologize to my real husband of 21 years - he is still my partner in business and life and I am grateful for all that he is doing to get the boutique motel going!). We are busy though with all our ventures and while I am blessed with these new opportunities that are helping us recouping some of what we lost last year,  taking time out to nurture those relationships with family and friends is also a big priority for me. We're not getting any younger and we've already had to say goodbye to a few of our favourite people. We named our new little kitten Morley, after Tim's dad who passed away last summer, because that sweet little stray cat has brought lots of love and laughter back into our lives (the other two cats are less than impressed however, but there is enough love and food to go around, so they need to just get over it). 

The Hair Apparent Blog, and all my other business ventures, and of course marriage and parenting have always been about making others happy. With hair, aesthetics, food and ice cream and now the hotel plus my plans and dreams for my coaching and Monat business, my heart has always been in service to others and it always will be. I've just got to get my head around taking care of my body, mind and spirit so that can continue to give back to my community and my family for a long time.  That is my legacy and I'm not nearly finished with it yet. 

Now that summer break is officially over and the kids are back to school, it's time to discover the safe way to tan your skin. With late summer and fall weddings on the horizon, a spray tan can help you maintain your summer glow.

• It can help blend away tan lines 
• It can even out areas that haven't seen as much sun 
• It can give you an overall  healthier appearance
• It can be customized to your skin tone
• It looks really natural!
• It doesn't look orange or streaky

 If you're not ready now to try a spray tan...winter might be the best time for you! I always go on our winter vacation to Mexico darker than when I come home, because I have BJ give me one of her flawless airbrush tans, and then I hide in the shade for most of the trip! But at least I don't feel pasty the first time I put a bathing suit on in months!

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE GETTING A SPRAY TAN:

Pre-grooming is important...

When preparing for a spray tan, it's important to prep your skin appropriately to get the most out of it. Ahead of you appointment, start by exfoliating your skin to remove dead skin cells by using small, circular motions, and avoid scrubbing too hard to you could damage the skin's delicate surface.  BJ's advice: Pay attention to your wrists, ankles, elbows and knees as those areas are prone to grabbing the colour. Make sure you exfoliate these areas first to help keep the colour even. We recommend Aveda's Beautifying Radiance Polish. Mineral-rich salt crystals comfortably polish away surface cells ready to leave, renewing your skin, while certified organic plant oils melt moisture in. 

BJ makes sure she applies less solution to these areas. 

It's also important to moisturize all over - leaving enough time for it to fully soak into the skin.

It's best to keep your shaving or waxing to at least 24 hours prior to your appointment. Just before you tan it's a good idea to take a cool shower and wash away deodorant, body lotion and freshen the skin from perspiration which can react with the tan and cause a slight yellow effect. 

Check the weather...

I know it sounds silly, but life favours the prepared! On the morning of your spray tan appointment, check the forecast. Take an umbrella even if there's only a slight chance of rain. If you get caught, we can walk you out to your car with one of the salon umbrellas! We don't recommend riding your bike or motorcycle after a spray tan.  A short walk is okay (just not in the rain!) but you don't want to get sweaty after your spray tan!

HOW TO MAKE YOUR SPRAY TAN LAST

Now that we've done the gorgeous spray tan and you've made it home safely, here are some tips to keep it for as long as possible.

Shower the right way...

For the first shower after your tan (24 hours after the initial bronzer is applied - the 'real tan takes about 12 hours to fully develop)', it's always best to use water that's not too hot. Avoid shower gels that leave residue behind on the skin (your first clue is that the product describes itself as 'deeply moisturizing'). The residue from the moisturizer can degrade the life of your tan. Simple, natural products are the best. We recommend Aveda's Beautifying Creme Cleansing Oil. It's a rich, oil-infused creme cleanser that gentle cleanses and softens skin without leaving a residue. Its uplifting aroma with certified organic rosemary, lavender, and bergamot is a real treat in the shower.

Pat, pat, pat...

After your first few showers following your spray tan appointment, rather than rubbing yourself dry, take your towel and softly pay yourself dry. This way, you won't rub away any of your tan and be left with a nice, even glow. 

Moisturizing is key...

In the days and weeks following your tan, it's best to keep your skin as hydrated as possible. We recommend Aveda's Beautifying Body Moisturizer. It's a nourishing plant blend of certified organic shea butter and olive, soy and safflower oils.

If you're an avid fitness enthusiast, after moisturizing, gently dust your body with baby powder. This will stop the fabrics from digging into the tan and causing patches to fade. 

I know that seems like a lot to remember, but BJ will guide you through each step. She has performed hundreds of spray tans: for photoshoots, weddings, fitness competitions, winter holidays, summer parties, etc. She has helped so many  women and men look and feel their best, in a safe, non-toxic way. Book your spray tan with BJ today!

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