How to Cleanse Your Body

If you are feeling sick or out of touch with your body, cleansing your body can be a good way to get rid of bad toxins and feel better again.

• Dry skin brush before you take a bath or shower. I also like dry brushing my face, but use a brush made especially for your face so it has softer bristles.

• Take a warm salt water bath or steam in the shower.

• Deep breathing can help calm you down. Do yoga. Try just doing 20 minutes of yoga a day or picking up a yoga DVD or video series.

• Drink water. Try adding a couple extra glasses a day.

• Try eating healthier. Go on a cleanse or add a couple healthy foods in to your diet. Check out these 30 cleansing foods that naturally cleanse your body.

• Use a neti pot to naturally cleanse your sinuses.

• Try the hydro therapeutic technique of taking a shower with hot water and then switching to cold. Afyerwards, get under covers.

• Go for a run or walk. Try exercising at least 20 minutes a day or move your body in some way.

• Get a massage or do a self massage with your favorite oils.

• Try drinking hot tea with herbs in it or taking an herbal soak bath.

What do you do to cleanse yourself? Let me know in the comments.

What to Wear on a Rainy Day

Rainy day, go away! Try these stylish rainy day outfits. Rainy days can be challenging for choosing an outfit, but they can also be a chance to show off your creativity in the gloomy weather. Here are some tips and ideas on what to wear on rainy days: 

Choose water resistant fabrics and natural fibers.

Get a quality rain coat. Try fabrics like such as cotton or even vegan leather, to avoid getting soaked or feeling uncomfortable. Avoid fabrics that absorb water easily such as silk, linen, or suede

Opt for darker colors or patterns that can hide any water stains or splashes. 

You can also brighten up your look with a pop of color, such as a red raincoat, a yellow umbrella or a deep blue scarf12

Layer your clothing to adapt to the changing temperature and humidity. You can wear a thin hoodie under a maxi dress, a button-down shirt under a sweater, or a blazer over a t-shirt

Bring an umbrella! 

I love bringing an umbrella out when it is raining. It is great to accessorize with clothing accessories that can protect you from the rain. For example, you can wear a waterproof hat, a stylish raincoat, a colorful umbrella or even a pair of sunglasses123 I once found a colorful rainbow umbrella while walking in the rain. 

Add rain boots to protect your feet from the rain. 

Waterproof your rwvorire or of shoes so they are durable in wet weather. You can wear other shoes like sneakers or sandals if the rain is light and the temperature is warm124

Remember, you can always have fun with your fashion choices, no matter the weather. 

How to Come Up with Blog Post Ideas

Do you know what to blog about? This post is all about how to come up with blog ideas. You will need to come up with a blog post topic every time you create a new blog post. You may have a lot of ideas already. Other times, you might feel stuck. Here are some tips for staying inspired.

Write Outside of Your Blog

If you usually blog on the computer, why not try writing somewhere else? It helps to keep a list or notebook with ideas of what you want to blog about. I like to write draft posts of blog posts on a notebook and then edit them on the computer later. You can even draw or doodle when you write in a notebook to get ideas or what you want visual photos to look like. Another idea is to use an application like Bean to write without distraction.

Take Photos

Instead of writing a blog post first, take some photos. This can also help if your blog isn’t usually visual and you just want to get ideas. Try taking photos of your daily activities or things that inspire you for a day or a week. Go through the photos later and choose the best ones to inspire blog post ideas or add to your blog posts to make them more interesting.

Look at Other Blogs

Joining a blog community or looking st other blogs can help you stay inspired. Many other blogs encourage other bloggers to join them in blogging about the same topic or using a certain tag. Comment on a blog with a similar topic and let them know their blog post inspired a topic on your blog.

Search for Keywords

SEO can help you come up with popular blog topic ideas that will get you noticed in search engines. Try using Keyword Tool to find different keyword phrases that may be a good title for your blog post or a starting point when you write.

Look in Books

If you don’t care as much about writing this week’s trending topics, try looking in books or magazines. Pick an article in a magazine or a topic in a book to inspire a blog post. I like to look through old issues of magazines and see if I can find topics that would be interesting on my blog. You can also try looking at the library for books. 

Look at an Old Blog Post

If you have old blog entries, find a couple popular posts you really like. See if you can rewrite them with a new spin, add on to them or write an additional blog post on the same topic.

Want specific ideas on what to write about? Here are some specific ideas on what to blog about if you are stuck:

• Do a day in the life or post some personal photos that let people know more about you.
• Post your favorite ways to promote your business. Write about your favorite tools, websites or applications to use.
• Make a list of your top 10 favorite ________.
• Do a survey or let viewers ask you questions.
• Post what you ate that day or what you are planning to make for dinner.
• Post what inspires you or what it on your wishlist.
• Make a tutorial that gives step by step instructions how to make something or accomplish a task.
• Write about your favorite blogs or give a shoutout to other bloggers.
• Try to change up your media. Add a video if you usually don’t make videos or add a photos if you usually do mostly text entries.

How do you come up with blog post ideas?

Want to Be Reviewed?

Do you have a company with a product you want me to review? I am doing product reviews on this blog. Some examples of products I will review include:

• Handmade products from Etsy
• Vegan companies and products
• Art and art journaling supplies
• Business tools
• Digital products

I also do interviews and accept guest posts. Contact me for more details.

10 Ways to Cook with Bagels

I love cooking with bagels. Bagels are a versatile and delicious bread that can be enjoyed in many ways. If you are looking for some vegan recipes using bagels, here are 10 ideas that you can try:

• Vegan Bagel Toppings: You can make your own vegan cream cheese, hummus, pesto or chocolate spread and top your bagels with them. Add some fresh or dried fruits, nuts, seeds, or herbs for extra flavor and texture
• Vegan Bagel Sandwiches: Vegan bagel sandwiches are a great lunch or dinner meal. You can fill your bagels with tofu or tempeh for a meaty flavor. You can even use store bought veggie patties and use the bagel like a bun. Add vegan cheese, vegan mayo, mustard, ketchup or barbecue sauce for extra moisture and flavor. 
• Vegan Bagel Pizza: You can slice your bagels in half and spread some vegan pizza sauce, cheese, and toppings of your choice. Then bake them in the oven or toaster oven until the cheese is melted and the bagels are crispy. Try using vegan pesto or alfredo as the base sauce instead of tomato sauce. 
• Vegan Bagel Salad: Make your own bagel croutons by cubing your bagels and toss them with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Bake in the oven until they are golden and crunchy. You can use them as croutons for your salad or mix them with some roasted vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and dressing1
• Vegan Bagel Casserole: Make a vegan bagel casserole.You can cube your bagels and layer them with some vegan cheese, cream of mushroom soup, milk, and spices. Then bake them in the oven until they are bubbly and cheesy. You can also add some broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, or other vegetables to the casserole3 
• Bagel French Toast: Use bagels instead of bread to  make your own french toast.You can slice your bagels and dip them in a mixture of plant-based milk, cornstarch, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Then fry them in a skillet until they are golden and crisp. You can serve them with some maple syrup, vegan butter, berries, or whipped cream3
• Bagel Soup: You can cube your bagels and simmer them in some vegetable broth, onion, garlic, carrot, celery, and bay leaf. Then blend the soup until it is smooth and creamy. You can season the soup with some salt, pepper, nutmeg, and parsley. You can also add some vegan cheese, cream, or yogurt to the soup3
• Vegan Bagel Bread Pudding: You can cube your bagels and soak them in a mixture of plant-based milk, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, and spices. Then bake them in the oven until they are set and custardy. You can add some raisins, chocolate chips, nuts, or coconut flakes to the pudding3
• Vegan Bagel Scones: You can shred your bagels and mix them with some flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and vegan butter. Then add some plant-based milk and knead the dough until it is smooth. You can shape the dough into rounds and cut them into wedges. Then bake them in the oven until they are golden and flaky. You can add some lemon zest, cranberries, chocolate chips, or nuts to the dough3
• Vegan Bagel Chips: Slice your bagels thinly and brush them with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Then bake them in the oven until they are crisp and crunchy. You can use them as a snack or dip them in some salsa, guacamole, or hummus if 3

I hope you enjoy these vegan recipes using bagels. Let me know which one is your favorit

Love Inspiration

 

Random Wishlist Items

I like to keep word documents of wishlists, products I might buy in the future or just like to think of having. Here are some products on my current wishlist: 

Strapless Pleated Floral Dress

I like cute, colorful dresses for spring like this dress from Forever 21. 

Lush Rub Rub Rub Sea Salt

I've been looking for a good body scrub and I like Lush products so I think I want to try this sometime. 

MAC Jeanius Eye Shadow

I love the cute packaging on this eye shadow that's made to look like denim. I've never really tried MAC eye shadows before. 

What's on your wishlist?

New Year's Resolution: Vision Board

A vision board is a good way to keep track of your goals. A vision board helps you visually see your goals and get clarity on what you want for the new year. It will also help you focus on your goals when you see the vision board every day.

Supplies:

• Bulletin Board: Use a blank bulletin board, poster board, photo frame or other item to keep your vision board on.
• Images: Find inspiring images for items you want to complete goals on. You can look on magazines or print out images from online.
• Glitter: I used basic white craft glitter.
• Glue: I used a glue stick. You can use any type of glue or adhesive you have.
• Scissors

Instructions:

1. Start by cutting out images of items you want on your board. Look for goals you want to complete for the new year. If you want to travel more, add images of places you want to go. Also look for motivational words and quotes. You can also include other images you want on your board such as fabric, decorative paper or stickers.

2. Arrange the images the way you want them on the board.

3. Start gluing the images on. Start with background images and then later images. For example, you might glue on decorative paper first and then add smaller images.

4. This step is optional, but I like to add a little glitter to my vision board to make it sparkle. Add glue to the places you want to glitter. Gently sprinkle glitter over the areas you out tie on. Throw out excess glitter in the trash.

5. Put your board on display. You want to see your vision board every day to stay inspired. Your office or bedroom are great places to hang your board.

If you use this tutorial, let me know in the comments. Have you ever made a vision board?

Happy New Year's!

Happy New Year's! What are your resolutions for the new year? Let me know in the comments!

Blog Anniversary and Giveaway!

This week is My Thread of Thought's anniversary. To celebrate, I'm having a giveaway. The prize is a greeting card of your choice from my shop. To enter, you just have to leave a comment in this entry. If you post about the giveaway somewhere else (your blog, etsy forums, twitter, etc.), just let me know and you'll get an extra entry. The giveaway will be up until July 18th.

I can't believe it's been two years since I've had this blog. I posted my first entry on the Fourth of July of 2008. This blog has been a good way to talk about my Etsy shop and things going on in my life. I find it helps organize my thoughts and relieve stress when I write things down. I've gained 269 followers which is great. I thought I'd post some of my favorite entries over the years:

Fourth of July (July 4, 2008)
Getting Etsy on Other Sites (July 14, 2008)
First Sale! (July 21, 2008)
Craftster Challenge: Playing Cards (July 22, 2008)
Halloween Cards Tutorial (September 20, 2008)
Election Day Giveaway (October 28, 2008)
Valentine's Day Items (February 14, 2009)
World Autism day (April 1, 2009)
Record Store Day (April 18, 2009)
Etsy Day (April 23, 2009)
First Craft Show (July 13, 2009)
Luna's Famous! (July 21, 2009)
Vote for my Journal to be in the Gift Guide (July 28, 2009)
Giveaway and Hippo Treasury (August 11, 2009)
Vatican city Photo (August 24, 2009)
Worldwide Moment (September 8, 2009)
My Cousin's Wedding (October 24, 2009)
10 Things I'm Liking and New Card (November 17, 2009)
Gift Guide Part I (December 11, 2009)
Christmas & Snowflake Journal (December 24, 2009)
YouTube & Tumblr (February 6, 2010)
World Nutella Day (February 5, 2010)

Good luck on the giveaway!

Tie Greeting Cards

Every year for Father's Day, I make my Dad a mini greeting card shaped as a tie. I think it's fun to play with the shapes of cards. Here are some of the tie greeting cards I've made: 

I've never listed one in my shop, but let me know if you like them so I know if I should make some to sell. Did you do anything special for Father's Day?