Danielle Janay

To be completely honest, I was really nervous about going full vegan because I thought that there weren't going to be any cheese options as close to actual dairy products. Being a vegetarian for the past 8 years, cheese was never really a thought in my mind in terms of ethics. I became a vegetarian when I was 12 or 13, and back then all I knew was that I didn't want to eat meat because of how awful animals were treated. Fast forward to now, when I am 20 and more aware of the horrors of this industry! If you haven't watched Vegucated on Netflix, you should. This is ultimately what helped me decide to go full veg. I never really thought about dairy in terms of health either, but lately more and more people are attributing their acne or stomach discomfort to dairy and it made me think. So plain and simple, I am a vegan. Hi, nice to meet you. Now you may be wondering how my life is without cheese and ice cream, and I have to say that it was hard at first but that was from m...

My favorite part of spring is all the new vegetation! I get so excited every time I see a tiny flower sprouting along the side of a trail. One of my favorite ways to celebrate this season is to get out and garden.  I personally am always running around busy, but I made some time early this year to get out and garden. I took a gardening course at my college where we learned about native California plants, and that really sparked my interest. I planted a few natives around the garden and propagated some house plants for myself as a token!  Here is some of the Rainbow Chard I planted:  One of my favorite ways to get grounded is being in nature. When you're living amongst the plants it makes you feel more at home and serene, something you can't find in the streets of the city.  Being in California is such a blessing because we have so many beautiful plants and recreational areas that celebrate the natural beauty of this state.  If you want to get more involved with ...

One of my favorite skincare products is my facial oil. Now you may wonder what I mean by facial oil as there are varying types of these products. Personally, I am referring to both facial oil cleansers and facial oil moisturizers. If you're anything like me, your skin gets a little dry around the winter/spring months, and no amount of moisturizer will keep my skin hydrated. This past winter I tried out the  Nuance Marigold Cleansing Facial Oil , and fell in love. It retails for about $20 at CVS or on Amazon.com, but it has lasted me a few months so I say it is worth every dollar. So here's how it works: you pump 1-2 pumps of the facial oil onto your palm and smooth across your face. (If your skin is extra dry, let it soak in for a few mins before you wash it off so that the oil can really penetrate your skin). Wash off and pat dry with towel, do not scrub! I follow that cleanser with either the  Miracle Oil  facial oil or the  Rosehip Collagen Facial Oil . Bo...

As I grow up and start to realize that my body is my most important tool, I have been looking for ways to better take care of myself. Both internally and externally. I feel that beauty comes from the inside---literally. I believe that your beauty reflects what you feed yourself. If you're eating unhealthy, processed, fatty foods, you're going to look and feel groggy, tired, and malnourished. If you want to feel alive and radiant, eat live and radiant fruits and veggies! One of the things I have been doing recently to incorporate more raw fruits and veggies into my diet is to make a smoothie in the morning. By making a smoothie in the morning, I am guaranteeing that my body digests all the nutrients from the fruit and gets sustainable energy from it. My favorite recipe is as follows: Morning Sunrise Smoothie 5-7 fresh strawberries (greens still on top) 5-7 frozen strawberries (depending on size) 1 banana 2 tbsp Hemp seeds 1tbsp Chia seeds 1/4cup coconut water 1/4...

Honestly, I stress out a lot. Like every day. About the littlest things. But, I am not a fan of anxiety medication because I believe "medication" should be natural, and I have a fear of dependency on drugs. So I discovered the next best thing: Essential Oils. Now, I know I am late to hop on the bandwagon, but really essential oils are useful for everything! I recently bought a Now brand diffuser from Whole Foods (~$20), and a few essential oils from Whole Foods and Target. I don't know the specifics of the diffuser, whether it is hot or cold diffusion, but with mine, even though it says warm water, I usually use cold to keep the nutrients that are naturally found in the oils. This diffuser lasts 4-6 hours (sometimes more), and I usually put it on when I am studying or trying to sleep to help relieve my stress. I created a few relaxation blends you can use if you need a little pick me up: Stress Be Gone: 10 drops lavender essential oil, 10 drops peppermint essen...

One of my favorite things to do when I'm stressed is to go outside and breathe some fresh air! Being inside all day makes me feel like I'm stuck, so just stepping outside and taking a deep breath instantly calms me down. Recently, I bought a bike with my boyfriend and we try and go ride on the trail by my apartment as much as our schedule allows! It's not really a rigorous trail, so it's enough of workout, without leaving me feeling drained.  My advice to all of you who own a bike (especially if it's stored away collecting dust), is to go out and ride! Even if it's just for 20 minutes. I would avoid going on streets and stick to a trail though, if you get stressed about getting hit by a car (which I definitely do).  Anyways it's always nice to get out and enjoy the beautiful earth we live in, so spend some time in nature today :) Danielle Janay 

So recently my boyfriend was hired as a Spin instructor, so naturally, I want to take all of his classes. Let me tell you a few things about me first: 1. I don't really like to exercise, mostly due to the fact that I have really bad joint issues which make it hard for consistent workouts. 2. I get discouraged if I am not the best at everything I do, so trying a new exercise routine apart from yoga was a bit intimidating. I thought that my boyfriend being a spin instructor would actually get me to workout again. And I was right! Having my boyfriend as a coach and a supporter has really helped me to learn how to properly spin and how to get the most out of my workout. Spin is hard. A lot harder than I imagined. But, at the end of the day, that one hour workout makes you feel like you were just sweating at the gym for 3 hours. That's no joke. So, if you're looking for a new workout routine, or just some cardio to fit into your schedule, take a spin class! For an ho...