GOING GREEN IN 2014

If you want to start the New Year off in a healthy way, the best thing you can do for yourself is to drink green juice.  At the risk of sounding like a preachy health nut, I gotta say that this practice  has really changed my life...and my body!

 I make my own and drink it every day. Drinking the homemade juice concoction  and staying well hydrated with water will  supply you with much-needed nutrients and antioxidants, make your skin glow with health, give you boundless energy and shiny hair, keep your muscles and tendons supple and dance-ready.

 Bottled green juice is available almost everywhere, but it’s expensive…and some brands masquerade as “healthy” but they’re actually loaded with sugar, and all the natural fiber of the veggies is lacking too. When I make my own juice, I don’t use a juicer. While these gadgets are great, I like to make a chunky smoothie because it  retains the nutrients and fiber of the fruits and veggies I mix into the batch. Not only that, many of them  are impossible to clean!

 I use a Nutri-Bullet ( my new favorite toy!)  which is a power mixer that has two different sized cups –including to-go tops- and two different blades as well. It’s super easy to clean, and once you’ve blended your smoothie you can pop on the to-go lid and head out to dance class.  If you don’t own a Nutri-Bullet,  don’t let that stop you! A regular blender will do just fine.  I used one for years, it’s just a little harder to clean and you have to churn it longer than the Nutri-Bullet.  But hey, it’ll serve it’s purpose.

 The juice recipe I’m about to give you will turn a sickly, almost fluorescent shade of green, but man oh man does it taste good! The texture is silky from the  banana, refreshing from the cucumber and celery, and sweet from the fruit.  It doesn’t in any way, shape of form taste bitter or “Good For You”, i.e. Gag Worthy.

 Here’s what you put your the blender- this makes enough juice/smoothie to drink all day long!

1/2  banana

 3 or 4 large handfuls of fresh kale

2 or 3 large handfuls of fresh spinach

½  small or medium sized zucchnini

¼  cucumber ( if the skin is waxed, peel it or cut it away)

 2 or 3 broccoli florets

 1 stalk celery, de-stringed

 ½ a medium sized  apple, cut into chunks

 1  small handful of  fresh or frozen pineapple chunks ( or about ¼ can of canned pineapple )

  Mix in  about a cup and a half of water…or water  mixed with  fresh or  store-bought orange juice, brewed and cooled green tea, or even almond milk or coconut water- your choice!

 Sometimes I add ( or substitute) fresh or frozen berries, orange or tangerine segments, chunks of mango or peaches. Once in a while, I’ll use a dollop or two  of Greek yoghurt.

You can also put a tablespoon of protein or greens powder into it- or both… or add chia seeds, flax seeds or ground cinnamon, they all have anti-oxidant properties!

 Blend well, drink up, and be well!

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Design by Maharet Christina Hughes, Foreword by Artemis Mourat

 My new book, “The Belly Dance Handbook” will go on sale on January 11, 2014! 

 You can find it on www.amazon.com or get a signed  copy on www.princessfarhana.com

  Here's what's been said:

No matter what style of belly dance you do, or if you didn't know there is more than one style, you need this book in your arsenal. Everyone will learn from this world-renowned dance master's experiences. After all, not just anyone earns the title Princess!

 -Kajira Djoumahna, author of The Tribal Bible

Princess Farhana entertainingly brings you everything (really everything!) you need to know about navigating the treacherous waters of becoming a professional dancer…or a consummately polished performer. Sew a secret compartment in your dance bag for Princess Farhana’s gem of a book, and take control of your destiny!

-Marta Schill, author of The Compleat Belly Dancer

 Princess Farhana brings us all closer to the dancers we would like to somehow become, the dancers we want to grow up to be. She is absolutely glittering, shimmering and pulsating with life – which is what you want in a dancer, a teacher, an artist, a friend, a mentor, and a force of nature.

-Margaret Cho, comedian, actor, dancer

WHAT THE &%@*$# ARE YOU PUTTING ON YOUR FACE?

 Here’s a dirty little secret…

Did you know that most of your cosmetics and beauty tools  come with expiration dates? If you’re wondering why your face is breaking out constantly, why you are prone to eye infections  or  why a certain cream, powder or gel irritates your face, old beauty products just might be the culprit.

This is a list of commonly used beauty products and their life expectancy:

  FACE

 MASCARA AND  LIQUID, GEL  OR CAKE  EYELINER

 These products are good for three months, tops- because the mascara  or eyeliner is is wet and gets “contaminated” every time the brush goes into the tube then onto your eye and back into the tube, it  literally becomes a breeding ground for bacteria! You wouldn’t put the contents of a Petri dish on your eyes, right? Well,  that’s exactly what you’re doing  every time you use an out-dated liquid, gel or cream eye product!

I date all of mine with a Sharpie and toss them after three months.  Sure, it gets expensive….but  eye doctor appointments are even more expensive!

And please don’t ever  lend these products to anyone, even your bestie.

 EYELASH GLUE AND ADHESIVE

 If you keep the cap on tightly and store the glue in a cool, dark place, you could probably keep the glue up to  six months… but again- this stuff goes on your eyes! You can never be too careful. If it smells fishy or like bleach, get rid of it pronto!

FALSE EYELASHES

 Yes, darling, they can be re-used!   I’ve had some sets of lashes for months- they just need to be cared for properly. After each use, I pick the remaining glue off the band of the lash, then swab it with a Q-tip full of alcohol to kill any bugs or germs before storing the lashes in their original container, set into the tray they came in, so that they retain their shape.

  EYE AND LIP PENCILS AND CRAYONS

Eye and lip pencils  will last up to a year if  you care for them correctly. Make sure to sharpen the pencils  before every use- or at least once a week -to prevent  transferring bacteria to your eyes or mouth.  If you notice a textural or color change- particularly a weird white coloring at the tip of the pencil, get rid of it stat!

LIQUID OR  CREAM FOUNDATION , CONCEALERS AND CREAM BLUSH

Three to six months, depending on whether you use your ( clean) fingers,  or  a disposeable sponge to  apply it. Every time the sponge touches your face, it is transferring bacteria from your skin  right back to the product. Make sure to keep all of these containers tightly sealed, and stored in a cool, dry place.

 Definitely discard any liquid foundations that have separated, or any creamy make up item that smells funny.

POWDER EYESHADOW , FINISHING POWDER AND POWDER BLUSH

 Generally speaking, these products have a “life expectancy” of two years. You could probably use them a little beyond that, but the  texture will be different- older powders  will be more flakey and dry, and the color may be a little off.

LIPSTICK AND LIP GLOSS

 Lipstick can last up to two years, if  you take care of it properly.  Some gals like to store it in the refrigerator in the summer, to prevent melting and breakage.  Throw your lipsticks away if they smell icky or become discolored.  You can make an older lipstick “new” again  by slicing off the tip with a knife.  As for lip glosses, they will last up to a year- again, it’s the concept of liquid/gel as a breeding ground for  bugs and bacteria.

 SKIN CARE PRODUCTS AND FACE CREAMS

 Most over the counter skin care products  will last about six months to a year, though  if you’re an anti-aging slut ( like me!)  you’ll use them up way before there’s an expiration issue!

Any  products  that are  organic, "all natural", or those containing antioxidants ( like Vitamin E or C ) or those with  retinals  should definitely be stored away from sunlight. Again, if  your skin care creams  smell funky  or have gotten separated, lumpy or  thinner, just to be safe... throw them away!

MAKE UP BRUSHES AND COSMETIC SPONGES

Bacteria and sebaceous oils  can easily get  trapped in  make up sponges and brushes… which is bad for your tools and  even worse for your skin!

 I wash all my brushes at least once every two weeks in tepid water with mild soap or baby shampoo. To dry,  lay brushes flat on a soft, clean towel  so the bristles don't break or lose their shape. If you care for your brushes well,  they can last for years!

 Toss cosmetic sponges roughly once every month or so, or any time you notice them cracking or flaking.  Better yet, invest in the disposable kind!

  HAIR

BLOW DRYERS

 A  good blow dryer ought to last at the very least one to seven  years, depending on the make of the dryer, how often-or carelessly- you use it, if it is dropped, gets hair clogged in the vents, etc.

FLAT IRONS

 One to four years depending on use; the ceramic plates  and heating elements  on the flat iron are usually the first thing to go.

 HAIR BRUSHES

A good hairbrush can last for years- even a cheap one can- it just depends on how  you maintain it.  Make sure  to clean your brush regularly, by removing the hair from it, and swishing it around in a bath of hot water and mild detergent, then letting it dry naturally, before using it.

 MISCELLANEOUS

 MAKE UP REMOVERS

 Usually, these products are used up too quickly to go bad- but if you’ve opened a product , had it for a few months and it smells odd, do a little patch test on your wrist or inner elbow  to check for irritation before using it on your face!

As for make up wipes and towellettes, the liquid product in the package can tend to dry up rather quickly… say, two months. In order to keep mine fresh,  every time I use a wipe, I put the package back on the shelf in a different position- right side up, upside down or on it’s side- this will ensure that the towellettes stay saturated  with the remover product and easy-to-use.

HAND  AND BODY LOTION

 Since we tend to use an awful lot of these and they’re relatively inexpensive, expiration is not usually an issue.  Sealed in the container, they will last  about a year. After being opened, you’ll probably use the product up fairly quickly. But if you’ve had the lotion  for about six months, or it begins to smell off, get rid of  any unused portion.

SUNSCREEN

 Most sunscreens last for two to three years, and, unlike "regular" cosmetics,  many have an expiration date  printed right on the tube or bottle! This means that you can use them from one season into the next-yay! I always date my sunscreen with a sharpie pen, just to make sure I’m getting full coverage.

NAIL POLISH

 Though bacteria won’t really last -or reproduce-in nail polish because it’s a “hostile environment”, the polish itself  may lose color, separate or become gummy and tacky over time.  Most nail polishes have a shelf-life of about two years. They won’t harm you if they expire, but they may not go on well or look their best.