Breast Cancer Awareness Month- FOTD & Self-Exams

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and bloggers have been doing their part by posting information and inspired FOTDs. For me, the standout post has been Jessica's from Getting Cheeky- not only was her FOTD simple and elegant, but she also reminded me of the importance of performing monthly breast self-exams. As Jessica argues, we spend countless hours a month applying cosmetics, yet often forget to take 15 minutes or so a month to focus on our health. 

It occurred to me, though, that I didn't even know how to properly perform a monthly breast exam. After a bit of research, I discovered  some helpful information. Although the Susan G. Koman Foundation does not endorse breast self-exams as a screening or diagnostic tool for breast cancer, it is nonetheless important to become familiar with your breasts. Doing so will allow you to detect changes and warning signs early. Of course, if you notice any changes, contact your doctor. For more info on breast self-exams, check out the Susan G. Koman Foundation's page on the subject. Moreover, here is a step-by-step guide on how to perform monthly breast self-exams. If you don't do them regularly, I implore you to start. I know I am. 

Here is the pink inspired FOTD I came up with for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I wanted this look to be bold (the goal is awareness, after all!). However, the look is much more subtle in pictures for some reason. I assure you that in person, this look was much more dramatic.

 Face

Revlon ColorStay in Medium Beige

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in Light

Benefit Erase Paste in Medium

Maybelline Dream Matte in Sand

e.l.f. Cool Bronzer

Cheeks

NYX Cream Blush in Boho Chic

Hard Candy Face and Body Luminizer in Doll Face

Eyes

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Benefit Lemon-Aid

Wet n Wild I'm Getting Sunburned trio- pink on lid

Wet n Wild Spoiled Brat trio- bright pink in crease and along lower lash line

Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Pure- inner corners

Urban Decay 24/7 Glinde-On Eyeliner in Zero- upper lash line, tight line, lower water line

Loreal Voluminous Millions of Lashes

Lips

Revlon SuperLustrous Lipstick in Primrose

Tarina Trantino Gem Gloss in Disco Nap

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Posted in Fierce Femme Face of the Day , Health

Juicing Journeys

Seeing as Power Femme is a blog dedicated mostly to beauty products, fashion, and feminism, this post on juicing may initially appear a little out of place. However, beauty starts from the inside, and there is nothing as gorgeous as being healthy. Make up and cute clothes can only do so much for us if we don't treat our bodies right. Those things, I am trying to teach myself, are really just the icing on the cake, to use an unhealthy metaphor!

In that vein, I am on a mission to start treating my body nicer. This means a diet makeover! I have been striving to include loads more fruits and veggies, and juicing has been my favorite new way of acheiving this. I recently watched the fantastic documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead (which is available on instant for fellow Netflix users), and the next day my partner and I invested in a juicer. We bought a Jack LaLanne Power Juicer on sale for around $80 after discovering the juicers featured in the documentary are at least three times as costly. Although we bought a budget juicer, I couldn't be happier. I am officially a juice-aholic!

 

 All you do is feed your choice of veggies and fruits down this shoot....

 ...and out pours your juice!

 

The fibrous pulp is separated and projected into the side pulp bin. 

 My partner, clearly feeling the benefits of juicing!

The benefits of juicing are numerous. 

To name just a few :

-Nutrients are more quickly absorbed by the body when they are in liquid.

-Juicing gives your digestive system a break.

-Juicing is great when you want to detox your body.

-Juicing is really energizing!

-Juicing allows you to consume more nutrients from fruits and veggies than would otherwise be possible in a given meal.

-You get to customize your own recipes! Juicing is yummy!

Here is a juice I made for breakfast the other day made from the fruits and veggies pictured above. It tasted quite strongly of grapefruit and was really delicious! There is no way that I could have otherwise consumed 10 strawberries, a whole pink grapefruit, one apple, half a cucumber, one tomato, two large carrots, and a bundle of celery for breakfast.

I would love to periodically discuss juicing and post some juice recipes here if you all wouldn't mind!

Do you juice? 

Have you made any recent lifestyle changes to be more healthy?

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Posted in Health , Juicing