TGC Journal

• April 18, 2021 The Best DIY Face Mask for Spring
  

  The Best DIY Face Mask for Spring

  Winter is finally behind us and it’s time for Spring showers and sunshine. If the cold winter months have left you skin feeling dry and dull, you’re not alone. Our fav solution is a simple DIY facial mask to make and use at home rather than taking an expensive trip to the salon or spa.

  Papaya Skin-Brightening Face Mask

  This is a very simple face mask meant to bring a natural glow back to your complexion. You’ll get rid of those dead, dry skin cells thanks to the natural exfoliator in the Papaya, leaving your skin bright and beautiful. Not only does honey help bind this all together, it will also soothe your skin.

  What You Need:

  • ½ cup of mashed papaya
  • 1 teaspoon of honey
  • 1 whipped egg white

  Make the Mask:

  1. Separate your egg white and whisk it until it has a soft whipped texture. If you’re not sure how to separate an egg white, you’re not alone. It can seem a little daunting at first, but it’s really not so bad. Check out this video for help.
  2. Cut and mash your papaya. If you have food processor, this step is super simple! If not, just cut up the papaya and mash it by hand with a potato masher or sturdy fork.
  3. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.

  Use the Mask:

  Once the mask is ready, it’s time to make sure you are too! Pull your hair back from your face to make sure you don’t get any stray strands in the mask—remember, there’s honey in it so it’s going to be a little sticky!

  We like to use face masks as a part of our self care, so we usually create a nice, relaxing atmosphere before we put the mask on. Wear comfy clothes and put on some soothing music. Maybe light your favorite candle for some aromatherapy as well!

  Make sure your face is clean. You don’t need to scrub, just a good rinse with warm water and pat it dry with a towel. Then carefully apply the mask with your fingers, making sure to avoid the area around your eyes. 

  Sit back and relax and let the mask sit for 10-15 minutes. Practice a little mindfulness or meditation while you let the mask sit. When the time is up, wash the mask off with warm water and scrub your face well to really exfoliate. 

  That’s it! Your skin will have a bright glow almost instantly!

  
  
  
• April 11, 2021 Why This is the BEST Cocktail for Spring
  

  More and more places are starting to come out of lockdown and as more and more people get vaccinated, it’s getting safer to gather. After so long apart, you might be looking to reconnect with friends and family. Whether you’re looking to host a small gathering of your own or simply want a delicious drink all to yourself, we’ve found the BEST cocktail for this Spring.

• April 04, 2021 Benefits of Journaling
  

  5 Benefits of Journaling

  Keeping a regular journal can be a difficult habit to build, but one that is worth the effort. Journaling is a hugely helpful tool to have in your self-care kit and can be extremely low cost or free altogether. Whether you choose to type on your preferred device or write in a physical journal is really up to you. As is how often you choose to journal and at what time of day.

  Reduce Stress

  Keeping a journal can be extremely therapeutic because it gives you a safe outlet to process fears, worries, or insecurities. Your journal never has to be seen by anyone else so there’s no pressure to make it sound eloquent. It’s something just for you. 

  If you choose to do your journal writing at the end of the day, it can be a way to set things aside before bed, which can help you sleep better. Instead of laying in bed and running through tasks you know you need to complete or worrying over your work for the next day, you can put that energy into your journal and set it aside. A symbolic, but helpful, way of clearing your mind to help you sleep.

  Practice Mindfulness

  While journaling can be a great way to end the day and process stressful--or even traumatic--events, it can also be a way to set positive intentions. This can be especially helpful if you prefer to practice your journaling in the mornings.

  You can use your journal as a place to track goals and set intentions for the day. These could be working toward larger goals or they could be small and simple things. Using your journal to stop and give thanks for the good things in your life lets you focus on the positive rather than dwelling on the negative.

  Increase Your Emotional Intelligence

  By writing about not just what happened during a day, but also how it made you feel, you’ll begin to get more in touch with your feelings. This lets you process your thoughts and emotions together and that can lead to a better understanding of why and when certain emotions are evoked. This can also help you better understand how actions may influence emotions of those around you in ways you hadn’t previously considered.

  Boost Your Memory

  Writing information down--particularly when you write by hand--is proven to help your brain encode information and increase your retention. This is why you’re encouraged to take notes in school. Rather than letting information flow in one ear and out the other, you’re actually processing what’s important and writing it down. It also adds a physical component that further reinforces your processing, which is why writing by hand is better for your memory than typing.

  Improve Your Communication Skills

  Even though your journal is something that typically won’t be seen by others, it does force you to put your thoughts and feelings into words. Just as you would practice any other skill, the more you write the better you will become at writing, and communicating in general. 

  Conclusion

  The five benefits we’ve included here are just a few of the benefits of keeping a regular journal. It can be a meditative practice that will improve your mental and emotional well-being. Some believe that benefits can even extend to better physical healing! So what are you waiting for? Pick up a pen and paper and start journaling!

  
  
  
• March 29, 2021 Our Favorite F Word…
  

  Our Favorite F Word…

  Flowers! Spring is finally here and with it comes colorful blooms and fresh greenery. Adding flowers will liven up any room and bring a natural freshness to your home. Even if you’re not a pro florist, you can still create a beautiful floral arrangement for your home.

  We’ll walk you through some 5 easy steps to help you craft a beautiful floral arrangement with minimal stress or effort.

  Step One: Choose Your Flowers

  Before you can begin, you need to select the flowers and foliage that you’d like to include in your arrangement. You can choose flowers of the same color for a tonal effect, or choose contrasting colors for something a bit more bold. 

  Choosing flowers can help you determine the type and style of vase that you want to use, but we’ll talk more about vases in a moment.

  If you’re not really sure what will go together, purchase a premade bouquet to add to your favorite vase! We always recommend shopping local to support small businesses and here in Laguna Beach, we LOVE French Buckets Florist.

  For a long-lasting—and low maintenance—arrangement, you could use faux flowers or dried flowers. We offer an assortment of dried flower bouquets to take the guesswork out of your flower selection. You can also see our tips for drying your own flowers!

  Step Two: Find the Perfect Vase

  Maybe you already have a favorite vase in mind, or maybe you’re looking for a statement piece to add some flair to your room. Consider the flowers you’ve selected to help you determine the size of vase you’ll need. For example, if you’re making a very large arrangement, you may want a sturdier vase. If your arrangement will be a centerpiece on a dining table, you will want a short vase so you can still look at your guests while you converse.

  For something smaller, we recommend our Classic Terra Cotta Vase. There are two size options, both under 5” tall. The dark glaze will contrast beautifully against bright colors or neutral tones, making this vase truly versatile.

  For larger statement pieces, we love our Leather Wrapped Vases and Tumblers—available in multiple colors and stitch patterns. The simple, clean lines of these vases will compliment your floral arrangement without detracting from the natural beauty of the flowers you choose.

  
  

  Step Three: Add Foliage First

  You might be more focused on the flowers you’ve chosen, but it’s important to start with the foliage. Particularly with larger arrangements, the foliage will create the structure to support your flowers. Trim not just the stems, but also any foliage that will be below the rim of the vase because if there are leaves in the water, it will sour.

  Spread the foliage pieces out and put them in the vase at different angles, not just straight up and down. They’ll brace against the side of the vase the criss-crossing pattern will help support the flowers you’ll be adding later.

  Step Four: Flowers!

  Now it’s time to add the real stars of the show. One at a time, trip the stems and leaves before inserting flowers into the arrangement. How you choose to place your flowers can vary. If you’re using multiple types of flowers, you might want to group them in clusters or you might want to spread them out.

  As you continue to place your flowers in the arrangement, take a step back and look for any gaps. If the arrangement will be some sort of centerpiece that will be viewed from all sides, remember to walk around or turn the arrangement. You don’t want to have a huge gap on one side of your centerpiece because you forgot to turn it while you arranged the flowers!

  Step Five: Finishing Touches

  Once the foliage and flowers are in place, you can consider adding additional details to add texture to the arrangement. This could be “filler” like Baby’s Breath or Queen Anne’s Lace. For a rustic, organic look, you could also add dried seed pods, cotton, or grains of wheat.

  Last, but certainly not least, if you’re using fresh, cut flowers, be sure to top off the water in your case. If you purchased a bouquet of flowers, it likely came with a packet of “plant food” that can be added to the water. Otherwise, you can add sugar or a small amount of bleach to the water. Make sure to trim back dried or dying foliage and flowers and change the water every couple of days to keep cut flowers fresh longer!

  Now you’re ready to get out there and make your own floral arrangements. Connect with us on social media and share your beautiful creations with us!