I'm going to share a recipe that is....*gasp*...not so healthy. BUT so delicious. And so comforting and yummy for fall/winter. (Heck, even summer and spring! Te he he.)
I found this recipe on Pinterest and actually followed through with making it. Victory! (This makes maybe 6 I've actually done out of the hundreds I've pinned....woops.)
Nutella Mug Cake (click on title for official web page)
Ingredients
4 tablespoons self rising flour
4 tablespoons white granulated sugar
1 egg
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons Nutella
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
Method
1. Combine all ingredients in a large coffee mug.
Whisk well with a fork until smooth. Microwave on high for 1 1/2 – 3
minutes. (Time depends on microwave wattage. Mine took 1 /2 minutes.)
Top with whipped cream and a little chocolate sauce if desired.
2. Top with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. Enjoy!
Note: Depending on the wattage of your microwave, you may have to increase cooking time.
Makes 1 very large serving.
YUMMERS! Have you tried this? I've love to hear your feedback!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Rocking Eye Shadow!
When I discover a new product that amazes me, I have to tell people all about it! I am a huge skeptic of new things...because I find that most products don't do what they're "marketed" to do for me. Imagine that; advertisements exaggerating?! Ha!
I'm an eyeshadow fanatic. I love eye shadow. I'm not much of a "lip" gal; instead I focus on playing up my eyes.
Pet peeves of mine regarding eye shadow:
A. Poor pigmentation
B. Fades easily
C. Creases
D. Gets all over the rest of your face
I have discovered a new eyeshadow line that I LOVE!
It's "Infallable 24 Hr Eye Shadow" by L'Oreal. I purchased mine for around $6.99 each at Target. They are more expensive if you buy them at CVS or Walgreens, unless there's a good sale.
The shades I have:
*Iced Mocha
*Liquid Diamond
They are AMAZING! The pigmentation is great; very shimmery and eye catching. They go on easily and wear pretty much the entire day! I will sometimes touch up my eyeshadow when I get home from work if I have something going on that evening, but other than that, I don't touch it up at all during the day!
Try them out and let me know what you think!
I'm an eyeshadow fanatic. I love eye shadow. I'm not much of a "lip" gal; instead I focus on playing up my eyes.
Pet peeves of mine regarding eye shadow:
A. Poor pigmentation
B. Fades easily
C. Creases
D. Gets all over the rest of your face
I have discovered a new eyeshadow line that I LOVE!
It's "Infallable 24 Hr Eye Shadow" by L'Oreal. I purchased mine for around $6.99 each at Target. They are more expensive if you buy them at CVS or Walgreens, unless there's a good sale.
The shades I have:
*Iced Mocha
*Liquid Diamond
They are AMAZING! The pigmentation is great; very shimmery and eye catching. They go on easily and wear pretty much the entire day! I will sometimes touch up my eyeshadow when I get home from work if I have something going on that evening, but other than that, I don't touch it up at all during the day!
Try them out and let me know what you think!
Monday, September 17, 2012
A GOOD stain...
I love blush. With my pale skin, I NEED blush. Without it, I look tired and pale and blah. It's one of my "must-haves" for my makeup routine. (The other must-haves are powder and mascara.) I like having a natural glow and some natural looking color.
One thing I've always struggled with is finding a blush that stays on me all day; or at least the majority of the day. When I say I've tried just about every brand/style of blush, I'm not kidding. From "long-lasting" to "12 hour wear", powder and cream formulas, I've experimented with them all throughout the years.
I've tried primers, putting powder under then over it, applying in layers, etc. I've settled with finding a color and formula I like and reapplying as needed throughout the day. No joke- blush wears off of me super duper fast.
Imagine my excitement to have finally found a blush that STAYS! WOO HOO! I am a member of Birchbox, which is a monthly beauty box subscription service. In a nutshell, you pay $10 a month and receive a box each month in the mail filled with beauty care samples, like perfume, makeup, skincare, etc. I love it! Last month, I received "theBalm Stainiac Hint of Tint lip and cheek stain" in the"Beauty Queen" shade.
Official link here: http://www.birchbox.com/shop/the-balm-stainiac
I was skeptical, as my past experiences with stains have left me unsatisfied. They either dry too fast, so you can't blend well, dry out the lips and skin, or look unflattering and "crease-y" when applied.
This stain goes on so easily and blends wonderfully! It looked natural and stayed on for most of the day!
theBlam Stainiac Hint of Tint lip and cheek stain in "Beauty Queen"
Pros:
*Lovely build-able color; goes on sheer and can be layered to achieve desired degree of color
*Easy to blend
*Flattering to most skin types
*Formula isn't too dry
*STAYS ON my cheeks for most of the day! Victory!
Cons:
*I didn't get the same awesome results when I used it as a lip stain. But you must understand that I'm a lip-licking, wear my lip gloss and chapstick off in about 30 seconds kinda gal. So this would probably work wonders for those of you who don't have this problem!
What blush or beauty product do you love due to it's long-lasting/wearing power?
One thing I've always struggled with is finding a blush that stays on me all day; or at least the majority of the day. When I say I've tried just about every brand/style of blush, I'm not kidding. From "long-lasting" to "12 hour wear", powder and cream formulas, I've experimented with them all throughout the years.
I've tried primers, putting powder under then over it, applying in layers, etc. I've settled with finding a color and formula I like and reapplying as needed throughout the day. No joke- blush wears off of me super duper fast.
Imagine my excitement to have finally found a blush that STAYS! WOO HOO! I am a member of Birchbox, which is a monthly beauty box subscription service. In a nutshell, you pay $10 a month and receive a box each month in the mail filled with beauty care samples, like perfume, makeup, skincare, etc. I love it! Last month, I received "theBalm Stainiac Hint of Tint lip and cheek stain" in the"Beauty Queen" shade.
Official link here: http://www.birchbox.com/shop/the-balm-stainiac
I was skeptical, as my past experiences with stains have left me unsatisfied. They either dry too fast, so you can't blend well, dry out the lips and skin, or look unflattering and "crease-y" when applied.
This stain goes on so easily and blends wonderfully! It looked natural and stayed on for most of the day!
theBlam Stainiac Hint of Tint lip and cheek stain in "Beauty Queen"
Pros:
*Lovely build-able color; goes on sheer and can be layered to achieve desired degree of color
*Easy to blend
*Flattering to most skin types
*Formula isn't too dry
*STAYS ON my cheeks for most of the day! Victory!
Cons:
*I didn't get the same awesome results when I used it as a lip stain. But you must understand that I'm a lip-licking, wear my lip gloss and chapstick off in about 30 seconds kinda gal. So this would probably work wonders for those of you who don't have this problem!
What blush or beauty product do you love due to it's long-lasting/wearing power?
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
A GREEN Smoothie?
Gasp! I am drinking green veggie/fruit smoothies every morning...sound appetizing? Let me confess...I do not love the taste. They are not that bad, but they aren't super delicious either. I am definitely enjoying the difference they are making though!
*More energy
*Lost a bit of weight
*Helping me make healthier eating choices the rest of the day
*A huge portion of daily greens and fruit
*Great for my digestive system
I recently read this book by celeb nutritionist Kimberly Snyder entitled "The Beauty Detox Solution". I really enjoyed the book and continue to read and enjoy her blog.
One of the things she recommends is drinking a GGS each morning. GGS stands for "Glowing Green Smoothie" due to the awesome benefits it provides for your energy, digestive system, skin, etc. I was a bit skeptical at first, as I'm more of a "see it to believe it" kind of gal, so I tried it out. Within just a couple of days after I started drinking it, I was in love! Such an easy way to get a LOAD of nutrients into your system so quickly in the morning and a healthy kick-start to your day!
Want to try it? Here's what I do:
*Add 1 1/2 cups cold water to your blender
*Add some spinach leaves (I fill the blender about 1/2 way up with them; not sure of the exact measurements)
*Blend
*Add in about 2 cups (?? somewhere close to that) of another green, such as Romaine, Kale, etc (NOT iceberg, as it doesn't contain that many nutrients)
*Blend
*Chop 3 stalks of celery up and add to blender
*Blend
*Cut up 1 apple and blend in
*Cut up 1 pear and blend in
*Cut up 1 banana and blend in
*Add 1-2 TBS of fresh lemon juice and blend
Tips:
1. You want to use organic fruit and veggies as much as you can for this. If you don't use organic, make sure to thoroughly soak and wash your produce and greens!
2. You want to start with a slower speed and work up to a high speed on your blender as you go through the steps of adding the produce in.
3. You can mix and match different greens and fruits! (Kimberly adds that you should not use melon, as it doesn't combine well with other produce.)
4. This should be the FIRST thing you eat/drink in the morning. After drinking it, wait at least 30 minutes if possible, and if you are hungry for breakfast, eat something healthy.
Pour into a tall glass and enjoy! I find it much easier to drink with a straw, as I have an inexpensive blender and mine turns out a bit thick to just sip on.
Here's the official recipe from Kimberly's blog: http://www.kimberlysnyder.net/blog/2009/07/11/green-smoothie-recipe/
Try it out! Let me know what you think and what combos you tried and enjoyed!
*More energy
*Lost a bit of weight
*Helping me make healthier eating choices the rest of the day
*A huge portion of daily greens and fruit
*Great for my digestive system
I recently read this book by celeb nutritionist Kimberly Snyder entitled "The Beauty Detox Solution". I really enjoyed the book and continue to read and enjoy her blog.
One of the things she recommends is drinking a GGS each morning. GGS stands for "Glowing Green Smoothie" due to the awesome benefits it provides for your energy, digestive system, skin, etc. I was a bit skeptical at first, as I'm more of a "see it to believe it" kind of gal, so I tried it out. Within just a couple of days after I started drinking it, I was in love! Such an easy way to get a LOAD of nutrients into your system so quickly in the morning and a healthy kick-start to your day!
Want to try it? Here's what I do:
*Add 1 1/2 cups cold water to your blender
*Add some spinach leaves (I fill the blender about 1/2 way up with them; not sure of the exact measurements)
*Blend
*Add in about 2 cups (?? somewhere close to that) of another green, such as Romaine, Kale, etc (NOT iceberg, as it doesn't contain that many nutrients)
*Blend
*Chop 3 stalks of celery up and add to blender
*Blend
*Cut up 1 apple and blend in
*Cut up 1 pear and blend in
*Cut up 1 banana and blend in
*Add 1-2 TBS of fresh lemon juice and blend
Tips:
1. You want to use organic fruit and veggies as much as you can for this. If you don't use organic, make sure to thoroughly soak and wash your produce and greens!
2. You want to start with a slower speed and work up to a high speed on your blender as you go through the steps of adding the produce in.
3. You can mix and match different greens and fruits! (Kimberly adds that you should not use melon, as it doesn't combine well with other produce.)
4. This should be the FIRST thing you eat/drink in the morning. After drinking it, wait at least 30 minutes if possible, and if you are hungry for breakfast, eat something healthy.
Pour into a tall glass and enjoy! I find it much easier to drink with a straw, as I have an inexpensive blender and mine turns out a bit thick to just sip on.
Here's the official recipe from Kimberly's blog: http://www.kimberlysnyder.net/blog/2009/07/11/green-smoothie-recipe/
Try it out! Let me know what you think and what combos you tried and enjoyed!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Vapour Beauty Review
I've been on the look out for some new makeup products that are more earth-friendly, organic, and contain more natural ingredients. My latest find I want to share with you is a foundation from "Vapour Organic Beauty". I read a beauty article that mentioned this product and raved about the company in general. After some Google time and reading more articles and reviews, I was convinced this was a product I needed to try.
I ordered two products to try out and review from Vapour Organic Beauty, and I wanted to share my thoughts on the first one. "Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation". My shade is S120.
Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Soft Focus foundation
There is a heftier price tag on this one than I'm used to paying for foundation. It's $48 for a full size pump bottle of foundation. However, our skin is our body's largest organ and it absorbs almost everything that we slather, spray, rub and apply on it. I believe that the product(s) we put on our skin first (moisturizer, foundation, whatever it may be) should be non-irritating and as natural as possible. So the price for me is worth it now that I've tried this product. Plus, all natural products contain ingredients that are more expensive, and not all the inexpensive chemically "fillers" that most cosmetic companies stuff their products with.
One really nice thing about their site is you can ask them what colors they'd recommend. You fill out a shade consultation and upload a picture (optional, but encouraged!) and they will email you back with the shades they feel would best work with your skin type and tone.
There is another foundation called "Atmosphere Luminous" foundation, but the soft focus is recommended for oilier skin types. There is a lovely little chart to help you decide which foundation would work best for you:
I've been using this foundation for about 2 1/2 weeks now.
Here's what I love about it:
*Ingredients- One of the most all natural foundations I found that actually works! It's good for your skin and doesn't contain harsh or irritating chemicals like most brands.
*Application- this product goes on and blends in easily. It feels so soft and silky on my skin. I usually apply and blend with my fingertips, but it works really well with a beauty sponge too.
*Staying power- I don't feel the need to do a ton of touch-ups throughout the day, as with some of my old foundation products. It stays on and wears well.
*Doesn't clog my pores- even products labeled "non-comedogenic" can irritate my skin and cause more blemishes. This makeup makes me feel as though my skin can still breathe!
*A little goes a long way. It's not a super heavy coverage, but you don't need a lot of product either. I am used to a medium coverage, and on me, this foundation provides a nice light/medium coverage.
I ordered two products to try out and review from Vapour Organic Beauty, and I wanted to share my thoughts on the first one. "Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation". My shade is S120.
Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Soft Focus foundation
There is a heftier price tag on this one than I'm used to paying for foundation. It's $48 for a full size pump bottle of foundation. However, our skin is our body's largest organ and it absorbs almost everything that we slather, spray, rub and apply on it. I believe that the product(s) we put on our skin first (moisturizer, foundation, whatever it may be) should be non-irritating and as natural as possible. So the price for me is worth it now that I've tried this product. Plus, all natural products contain ingredients that are more expensive, and not all the inexpensive chemically "fillers" that most cosmetic companies stuff their products with.
One really nice thing about their site is you can ask them what colors they'd recommend. You fill out a shade consultation and upload a picture (optional, but encouraged!) and they will email you back with the shades they feel would best work with your skin type and tone.
There is another foundation called "Atmosphere Luminous" foundation, but the soft focus is recommended for oilier skin types. There is a lovely little chart to help you decide which foundation would work best for you:
I've been using this foundation for about 2 1/2 weeks now.
Here's what I love about it:
*Ingredients- One of the most all natural foundations I found that actually works! It's good for your skin and doesn't contain harsh or irritating chemicals like most brands.
*Application- this product goes on and blends in easily. It feels so soft and silky on my skin. I usually apply and blend with my fingertips, but it works really well with a beauty sponge too.
*Staying power- I don't feel the need to do a ton of touch-ups throughout the day, as with some of my old foundation products. It stays on and wears well.
*Doesn't clog my pores- even products labeled "non-comedogenic" can irritate my skin and cause more blemishes. This makeup makes me feel as though my skin can still breathe!
*A little goes a long way. It's not a super heavy coverage, but you don't need a lot of product either. I am used to a medium coverage, and on me, this foundation provides a nice light/medium coverage.
I have not been asked to review this product. I am sharing my personal opinion about a product I purchased and LOVE!
Let me know if you try it out. Here is their website: http://www.vapourbeauty.com/
Question: What natural products have you tried and enjoyed?
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Zevia Free 6 pack WINNER
I'm quite certain the winner of the "Free 6 pack of Zevia" coupon really wanted to win!
Congratulations Jenna Martin! She left several comments on multiple posts to earn extra entries which paid off for this giveaway!
:) Enjoy your free 6 pack of Stevia!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Giveaway: A healthier alternative to soda
I have not had a soda in over 5 weeks. Correction: I did have about 1/2 of a diet coke at Chick-Fil-A two weeks ago. But other than that, no soda for 35 days! WOO HOO!
I honestly feel much better without my daily Diet Coke. I realized one day that I was getting nothing beneficial or nutritional out of my daily habit and that it was actually harming me in the long run. Along with my morning cup or two of coffee, I was loading up on so much caffeine daily that I was actually crashing toward the evening and feeling jittery/nauseated off and on throughout the day. This has improved DRASTICALLY since cutting out all of the sodas and cutting way back on caffeine in general.
I was introduced to "Zevia", an all-natural soda, a few weeks ago. A friend of mine drinks them and enjoys them. I tried Zevia for the first time several days ago. I really enjoyed it! I purchased a 6 pack of the Cream Soda flavor and it's been my daily treat this week.
What I personally enjoy about Zevia:
*No calories
*No or low-sodium
*Gluten-free
*No artificial sweeteners or MSG
*It uses Stevia, which is from an herb in the chrysanthemum family, as it's sweetener. Stevia is all natural and is considered SAFE, unlike artificial sweeteners.
*There are caffeinated and non-caffeinated flavors
(I am not being paid or sponsored for posting this. This is just me posting about a product that is a healthier alternative that I discovered and LOVE!)
With all that being said, I'm giving away a coupon for a FREE 6 pack of any flavor of Zevia!
A 6 pack retails for $4.99-$5.99 at the grocery or specialty store. **You can find it at Kroger and Super Target for sure!
This coupon expires 7/31/12.
To enter this giveaway:
1. Follow my blog. Leave me a comment to let me know you have joined my blog and are following me!
2. For extra entries, leave comments on any of my postings. 1 extra entry for each comment you post!
3. Comment on this post and tell me if you've tried Zevia before. If so, which flavors? Did you enjoy it?
I honestly feel much better without my daily Diet Coke. I realized one day that I was getting nothing beneficial or nutritional out of my daily habit and that it was actually harming me in the long run. Along with my morning cup or two of coffee, I was loading up on so much caffeine daily that I was actually crashing toward the evening and feeling jittery/nauseated off and on throughout the day. This has improved DRASTICALLY since cutting out all of the sodas and cutting way back on caffeine in general.
I was introduced to "Zevia", an all-natural soda, a few weeks ago. A friend of mine drinks them and enjoys them. I tried Zevia for the first time several days ago. I really enjoyed it! I purchased a 6 pack of the Cream Soda flavor and it's been my daily treat this week.
What I personally enjoy about Zevia:
*No calories
*No or low-sodium
*Gluten-free
*No artificial sweeteners or MSG
*It uses Stevia, which is from an herb in the chrysanthemum family, as it's sweetener. Stevia is all natural and is considered SAFE, unlike artificial sweeteners.
*There are caffeinated and non-caffeinated flavors
(I am not being paid or sponsored for posting this. This is just me posting about a product that is a healthier alternative that I discovered and LOVE!)
With all that being said, I'm giving away a coupon for a FREE 6 pack of any flavor of Zevia!
A 6 pack retails for $4.99-$5.99 at the grocery or specialty store. **You can find it at Kroger and Super Target for sure!
This coupon expires 7/31/12.
To enter this giveaway:
1. Follow my blog. Leave me a comment to let me know you have joined my blog and are following me!
2. For extra entries, leave comments on any of my postings. 1 extra entry for each comment you post!
3. Comment on this post and tell me if you've tried Zevia before. If so, which flavors? Did you enjoy it?
This giveaway ends at midnight on Saturday, July 21st. Winner will be announced and contacted on Sunday, July 22nd. Coupon will be mailed immediately!
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Simple DIY foaming hand soap
If you're anything like me, you probably wash your hands a lot. (Just me then? Ok, I'm cool with that.) I work with children all day long, and also have a child of my own. Oh yeah, and a husband who without loving reminders and a teeny bit of nagging ;) could very possibly be even more messy than my toddler. I admit to having some slight germaphobic tendencies, and having clean hands is part of it! I'm by no means a Mysophobia, such as Mr. Monk, but I do enjoy and insist on having clean hands.
If you haven't noticed, hand soap is pretty expensive! At the rate our family of 3 goes through it, it's a costly item in this home. (I can imagine even more so for larger families!)
I used to splurge on those antibacterial soaps from places such as Bath & Body Works, the Body Shop, etc. They come in such pretty bottles and smell so great! But it's recommended that people actually NOT use so many antibacterial soap and products, as it increases our chances of getting "superbugs". YIKES!
It also kills off most of our important good bacteria, which can actually make us more susceptible to getting sick. (Good article about that here.) They say good old normal soap or a bar of soap is best.
I found several DIY recipes for making your own hand soap at home. I tried several out, and I'm going to share my favorite with you. For me it was the cheapest and easiest to make, plus I had the ingredients on hand. I wanted a nice foamy soap, and this does the trick.
1. Add about 1 inch of the baby wash to the empty soap bottle.
2. Fill the rest of the bottle up SLOWLY (otherwise it's bubble city!) with tap water.
3. Tilt the bottle from side to side to mix up; don't shake!
4. Try it out and enjoy your new hand soap!
I found this idea on Pinterest. Link to original website here. It was marketed as "Make your own foaming baby wash", but this stuff works great for hand soap in my opinion!
Let me know what you think!
If you haven't noticed, hand soap is pretty expensive! At the rate our family of 3 goes through it, it's a costly item in this home. (I can imagine even more so for larger families!)
I used to splurge on those antibacterial soaps from places such as Bath & Body Works, the Body Shop, etc. They come in such pretty bottles and smell so great! But it's recommended that people actually NOT use so many antibacterial soap and products, as it increases our chances of getting "superbugs". YIKES!
It also kills off most of our important good bacteria, which can actually make us more susceptible to getting sick. (Good article about that here.) They say good old normal soap or a bar of soap is best.
I found several DIY recipes for making your own hand soap at home. I tried several out, and I'm going to share my favorite with you. For me it was the cheapest and easiest to make, plus I had the ingredients on hand. I wanted a nice foamy soap, and this does the trick.
Here's what you will need:
*Empty foaming soap bottle (I used an old B & B Works one)
*Johnson's Head to Toe Baby Wash (or off-brand of this product)
1. Add about 1 inch of the baby wash to the empty soap bottle.
2. Fill the rest of the bottle up SLOWLY (otherwise it's bubble city!) with tap water.
3. Tilt the bottle from side to side to mix up; don't shake!
4. Try it out and enjoy your new hand soap!
I found this idea on Pinterest. Link to original website here. It was marketed as "Make your own foaming baby wash", but this stuff works great for hand soap in my opinion!
Let me know what you think!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Safer Sunscreen
If you know me, you probably know I'm not summer's biggest fan. I don't enjoy the heat once the days start reaching 80 degrees or higher. I'd rather by cool and throw on a sweater than be hot and not able to take anything off. Being chilly and warming yourself by the fireplace is relaxing and romantic, while being drenched in sweat and fanning yourself while hovering over the cold air vent paints a slightly different picture! :)
And one of my least favorite things about summer is wearing loads of sunscreen. I'm blue-eyed, fair skinned, and have red undertones in my hair. In other words, the sun loves to burn my delicate skin. I have had to wear sunscreen my whole life, which is a good thing, don't get me wrong. I just don't like how it feels on my face and skin sometimes. Capiche?
But I like skin cancer even less. So I slather it on like a good soldier pretty much every day of the year, but especially on hot, sunny summer days! You can imagine my anxiety level rising after reading up on the new studies about the potentially harmful ingredients in over half of all sun protection products; seeing as how I've probably used over 200 bottles in my lifetime. (Link to news report below)
http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/16/health/sunscreen-report/index.html
There is still a lot of research to be done, but several ingredients are considered likely to be toxic to our systems. Think about it...our skin is the largest organ on our body. It has pores and soaks things in. Your sunscreen (and every other product you rub, spray, scrub or smear on your body) doesn't just sit on top of your skin like oil on top of water. It soaks in and absorbs into your body.
I am not writing this to scare you and I am certainly not an expert on these ingredients. I just personally have taken notice and made the switch to sunscreens with what are considered "safe" (or more safe than the others) ingredients. I am aware that research may find that these ingredients are also unsafe in the next year or two! Thus is the nature of the world of science and research.
Ingredients to avoid:
*Oxybenzone- thought to cause hormone disruption and could lead to cell damage which causes skin cancer. (Yep, you read that right! You may be protecting yourself with sunscreen from skin cancer and GET skin cancer...from the "good guy"? That's what the big shots are saying.) Oxybenzone is present in over 50% of our sun protection products.
*Retinal palmitate- this form of Vitamin A is thought to potentially be able to increase your risk of skin cancer when being used on your skin. (Studies have not yet been done on humans.) This ingredient is only in around 25-30% of sun protection products in comparison to oxybenzone, which is in over 50% of sunscreen products on the market.
*Parabens- thought to mimic the effects of estrogen on your body. Found in many sunscreens and other personal care products. Look for words with "yl" at the end...they are probably parabens. Example: methyl, propyl, etc
*Titanium Dioxide- this is a toss up right now, as some studies are showing it's possibly carcinogenic while others claim it's safe.
The good news is that there are plenty of sun protection products on the market without these ingredients.
What to look for:
*Look for sun protection products with "Zinc Oxide" as the main ingredient. It's considered one of the safer ingredients.
*Don't choose a sunscreen with an SPF of over 50. A sunscreen with an SPF above 50 doesn't protect much better, and often gives people a false sense of increased protection.
*UVA and UVB protection levels
I've been using Banana Boat's Natural Reflect Baby Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 on both Erik and myself. I really like it! It works well and hasn't caused my face to break out as of yet. (We've been using it for a couple of months.) Here are some bullet points for this product I found on the Banana Boat website to share with you:
What sunscreen products do you use? Are you concerned about the potentially harmful ingredients?
Has anyone found a product with more natural ingredients that provides good sun protection?
And one of my least favorite things about summer is wearing loads of sunscreen. I'm blue-eyed, fair skinned, and have red undertones in my hair. In other words, the sun loves to burn my delicate skin. I have had to wear sunscreen my whole life, which is a good thing, don't get me wrong. I just don't like how it feels on my face and skin sometimes. Capiche?
But I like skin cancer even less. So I slather it on like a good soldier pretty much every day of the year, but especially on hot, sunny summer days! You can imagine my anxiety level rising after reading up on the new studies about the potentially harmful ingredients in over half of all sun protection products; seeing as how I've probably used over 200 bottles in my lifetime. (Link to news report below)
http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/16/health/sunscreen-report/index.html
There is still a lot of research to be done, but several ingredients are considered likely to be toxic to our systems. Think about it...our skin is the largest organ on our body. It has pores and soaks things in. Your sunscreen (and every other product you rub, spray, scrub or smear on your body) doesn't just sit on top of your skin like oil on top of water. It soaks in and absorbs into your body.
I am not writing this to scare you and I am certainly not an expert on these ingredients. I just personally have taken notice and made the switch to sunscreens with what are considered "safe" (or more safe than the others) ingredients. I am aware that research may find that these ingredients are also unsafe in the next year or two! Thus is the nature of the world of science and research.
Ingredients to avoid:
*Oxybenzone- thought to cause hormone disruption and could lead to cell damage which causes skin cancer. (Yep, you read that right! You may be protecting yourself with sunscreen from skin cancer and GET skin cancer...from the "good guy"? That's what the big shots are saying.) Oxybenzone is present in over 50% of our sun protection products.
*Retinal palmitate- this form of Vitamin A is thought to potentially be able to increase your risk of skin cancer when being used on your skin. (Studies have not yet been done on humans.) This ingredient is only in around 25-30% of sun protection products in comparison to oxybenzone, which is in over 50% of sunscreen products on the market.
*Parabens- thought to mimic the effects of estrogen on your body. Found in many sunscreens and other personal care products. Look for words with "yl" at the end...they are probably parabens. Example: methyl, propyl, etc
*Titanium Dioxide- this is a toss up right now, as some studies are showing it's possibly carcinogenic while others claim it's safe.
The good news is that there are plenty of sun protection products on the market without these ingredients.
What to look for:
*Look for sun protection products with "Zinc Oxide" as the main ingredient. It's considered one of the safer ingredients.
*Don't choose a sunscreen with an SPF of over 50. A sunscreen with an SPF above 50 doesn't protect much better, and often gives people a false sense of increased protection.
*UVA and UVB protection levels
I've been using Banana Boat's Natural Reflect Baby Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 on both Erik and myself. I really like it! It works well and hasn't caused my face to break out as of yet. (We've been using it for a couple of months.) Here are some bullet points for this product I found on the Banana Boat website to share with you:
NEW! Banana Boat® Natural Reflect Baby Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Proven effective, natural sun protection! Banana Boat® Natural Reflect sunscreen lotion uses naturally sourced sunscreen actives that deflect UVA and UVB rays. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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What sunscreen products do you use? Are you concerned about the potentially harmful ingredients?
Has anyone found a product with more natural ingredients that provides good sun protection?
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Giveaway Winner!
Thanks to everyone who is now following my blog! I am very excited to be writing again and so happy you all will be a part of it! I truly value your readership, your comments and suggestions, and your spreading the word to garner some new followers for this blog.
For this very first blog giveaway, each blog reader's name received 1 entry. Everyone who commented on any of my posts also received a 2nd entry.
And the winner of the Mary Kay Timewise Travel Set is....drum roll please...Eric Jenkins. Congratulations! You can make your girlfriend really happy with this set!
**More giveaways to come in the near future...stay tuned...
For this very first blog giveaway, each blog reader's name received 1 entry. Everyone who commented on any of my posts also received a 2nd entry.
And the winner of the Mary Kay Timewise Travel Set is....drum roll please...Eric Jenkins. Congratulations! You can make your girlfriend really happy with this set!
**More giveaways to come in the near future...stay tuned...
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Skincare Giveaway
My first blog giveaway will be for a "Mary Kay Timewise Skincare Travel Set" (Retail $44). This set includes a cleanser, moisturizer, day and night solution.
Don't worry men; if you win we will substitute a more manly item for you if you are not excited about this particular one. (This is a unisex item but I totally get it if you're not stoked!)
Giveaway will end tomorrow night (Monday, July 2nd) at midnight. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, July 3rd.
**To enter giveaway, you must be one of my blog readers. Do this by clicking "Join This Site" on the right hand side of my blog.
**For an extra entry, comment on any of my blog posts.
Don't worry men; if you win we will substitute a more manly item for you if you are not excited about this particular one. (This is a unisex item but I totally get it if you're not stoked!)
Giveaway will end tomorrow night (Monday, July 2nd) at midnight. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, July 3rd.
**To enter giveaway, you must be one of my blog readers. Do this by clicking "Join This Site" on the right hand side of my blog.
**For an extra entry, comment on any of my blog posts.
Freshen and Clean your Mattress
Hello everyone! In my quest to provide you with more non-toxic and "green" items to use in your home, I wanted to share this post I posted a while ago on my other blog: www.busymommygoose.blogspot.com. That blog was my first and I plan on keeping up with it as well. I may converge the two eventually, but am not quite sure how to do so without editing this blog's theme and subject matter.
This is an easy, non-toxic way to "spring clean" your mattress. You could also use this for couches, your carpets, rugs, etc.
You will need a shaker-type bottle for this. An empty, washed Parmesan cheese container works great!
You'll also need:
*Baking Soda
*Essential Oils (if you want a light fragrance)
1. Start by removing all bedding from your mattress. Wash your sheets, comforter, and bed skirt while you do this if you want! It's nice to put all clean bedding back on your newly cleaned bed! Vacuum your mattress really well.
3. Shake the mixture onto your mattress and let it sit while you wash some clothes, do some other chores, etc. I let mine sit for about 35 minutes. Different sites say different times. It's up to you.
4. Take the attachment hose from your vacuum and vacuum the entire mattress again. This removes the baking soda and all the yucky stuff it helped pull up. It helps absorb odors, dirt, moisture, etc from your mattress!
Enjoy your clean and fresh-smelling mattress! (And bedding, if you washed it all as well!)
This works GREAT at cleaning/freshening your carpets as well. It just needs to sit at least 15 minutes before being vacuumed up.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Sneak Peak...
There will be a nice little giveaway on my blog by the end of this weekend! Woo Hoo! Everybody likes winning things, right?! You have a chance to win if you are on the "member" (reader) list on my blog. You do that by clicking "Join this Site" on the right side of my blog.
*For an EXTRA entry, leave a comment on any of the postings you enjoyed.
:)
Less is more
After extensive researching for the past few months, I've decided to cut WAY back on my intake of animal protein. A diet rich in animal protein has been shown to negatively impact your health in many ways. It can increase your risk of: (these are just a few)
*Now before you get defensive about your eating habits, please understand this is a personal decision for me based on a lot of data from respected sources and credible research. I am not "anti-meat" or advising we all turn vegan overnight. I have always been a meat lover (though not as much as my husband!) and this was at first a hard decision for me. This might not be the step you want to take. But I do believe that we could all benefit from a diet that is higher in natural foods and lower in animal proteins.
* Accelerated aging process
*Heart disease
*Cancer
*Low energy and fatigue
*Now before you get defensive about your eating habits, please understand this is a personal decision for me based on a lot of data from respected sources and credible research. I am not "anti-meat" or advising we all turn vegan overnight. I have always been a meat lover (though not as much as my husband!) and this was at first a hard decision for me. This might not be the step you want to take. But I do believe that we could all benefit from a diet that is higher in natural foods and lower in animal proteins.
I started off slowly, and just cut back on the daily amount of meat I ate. If we had spaghetti for dinner, I had a tablespoon of lean beef in my portion instead of a large scoop.
I increased my veggie and fruit consumption at meal times, and found that by eating those first, I was much less hungry for a large portion of meat.
My goal is to have 3 nights a week where meat is not served in any way at dinner. This might not seem like much, and I am extremely confident I can handle this, but my husband will take some conditioning. ;) The nights I do serve meat, it will be lean meat and in small amounts. I am not going to make meat the hulk of the meal.
If you are interested in cutting back on your animal protein consumption, I challenge you to start now! Start slowly if necessary and wean yourself off the thought and habit of meat being the main course of every meal. Eat whole foods such as veggies, sprouts, fruits, nuts, etc FIRST, then see if you are still even hungry for your animal protein. If you are, then enjoy a small portion.
*Have any of you already taken this step? What tips can you share for fellow readers? What helped you in this process? What was the hardest thing for you to give up or cut back on?
Several sites to read if you're interested :
Harvard study on high animal protein diets:
Nutritionist/amazing website!
www.kimberlysnyder.net
Thursday, June 28, 2012
The Flakes
Let's talk about flaking...from your eyelashes. I'm sure all of you who have used mascara have experienced mascara flaking off and rubbing onto the skin around and under your eyes.
This is a pet peeve of mine, as it makes you look so tired and smudgy when it happens! No one wants to be sporting the tired raccoon look.
I have been on the lookout for a more natural or organic mascara that works as well as the mascara I'm currently using. Someone recommended "Physician's Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash Mascara" to me. I had a coupon recently for the mascara and decided to try it out.
I used this mascara for about 1 week to really give it a chance and ensure my opinion was based on accurate testing of the product.
Below I listed some things I liked and didn't like about this product. All opinions stated are 100% mine, and I am writing this review of my own accord.
Pros:
*Free of synthetic solvents and petroleum by-products, parabens, GMO's and synthetic fragrances
*Applied easily and didn't clump
*Lashes looked decently long and separated
*Lashes felt soft and silky while wearing
*Washed off more easily than my current mascara
Cons:
*This mascara flaked off...BIG time, and after only a couple hours after application
*Needed additional coats throughout the day (which I didn't do because I never take mascara with me after applying it in the morning) to maintain lash fullness and color
*Smeared all around the inner and outer corners of my eyes
*Didn't give me the thick, full, dark lashes I get from my traditional mascara
Verdict- I was not impressed with the "staying power" of this mascara. It does go on easily and my lashes felt much "softer" when wearing it as opposed to my traditional mascara, but those benefits weren't worth the 2 or 3 times during the day I was swabbing a Kleenex with eye makeup remover around my eyes to remove the smudges and flakes.
I'd love to get some feedback from you:
*Have you found a more natural or organic mascara you like?
*What is your favorite mascara you've ever used?
This is a pet peeve of mine, as it makes you look so tired and smudgy when it happens! No one wants to be sporting the tired raccoon look.
I have been on the lookout for a more natural or organic mascara that works as well as the mascara I'm currently using. Someone recommended "Physician's Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash Mascara" to me. I had a coupon recently for the mascara and decided to try it out.
I used this mascara for about 1 week to really give it a chance and ensure my opinion was based on accurate testing of the product.
Below I listed some things I liked and didn't like about this product. All opinions stated are 100% mine, and I am writing this review of my own accord.
Pros:
*Free of synthetic solvents and petroleum by-products, parabens, GMO's and synthetic fragrances
*Applied easily and didn't clump
*Lashes looked decently long and separated
*Lashes felt soft and silky while wearing
*Washed off more easily than my current mascara
Cons:
*This mascara flaked off...BIG time, and after only a couple hours after application
*Needed additional coats throughout the day (which I didn't do because I never take mascara with me after applying it in the morning) to maintain lash fullness and color
*Smeared all around the inner and outer corners of my eyes
*Didn't give me the thick, full, dark lashes I get from my traditional mascara
Verdict- I was not impressed with the "staying power" of this mascara. It does go on easily and my lashes felt much "softer" when wearing it as opposed to my traditional mascara, but those benefits weren't worth the 2 or 3 times during the day I was swabbing a Kleenex with eye makeup remover around my eyes to remove the smudges and flakes.
I'd love to get some feedback from you:
*Have you found a more natural or organic mascara you like?
*What is your favorite mascara you've ever used?
Home-made Cleaning Wipes that WORK!
I'm kind of on a "homemade" product kick right now. I'm attempting
several new projects to save money and be more earth friendly. Homemade
products can be super easy to make, save TONS of money, and many are so
much safer to use around your family! I really love the convenience of
Lysol or Clorox (or store brand ) clean-up wipes. They are super
fast and easy and get the job done!
What I do NOT like them is they are expensive ($3 for one small canister!!) and have lots of chemicals and ingredients in them that I can't pronounce. PLUS they just end up in a landfill.
Enter in......HOMEMADE cleaning wipes! I was skeptical about the cleaning power of these at first, but saw several posts where people where raving about the ease of making your own and the fact that they work well!
Here's what you need:
*An old baby wipe container (or something with a lid that will be easy to use for you to store them in; I used a cylindrical moist hand wipe container)
*Some rags, cut up t-shirts, old washcloths, etc
*1 1/2 cup hot water
*1/4 cup white vinegar
*2 Tablespoons castille soap (I used tea tree castille soap due to the natural disinfecting properties of tea tree oil)
Mix the liquid ingredients together. Put your cloths in your container and pour the liquid over them. Ta-Da! That's pretty much it! When you need a wipe, open your container and pull one out! (Side note: You may have to wring the cloth out in the container due to the liquid; they tend to be more "liquidy" than the ones you buy.)
I also made a container for dirty ones. That way I can store them in the container and wash them once it gets pretty full with some other cleaning rags, hand towels, etc.
Try
them out and let me know what you think! I put them to the test and
they clean really well! EXTRA points- they don't leave a strong
chemically smell; it's fresh and light!
What I do NOT like them is they are expensive ($3 for one small canister!!) and have lots of chemicals and ingredients in them that I can't pronounce. PLUS they just end up in a landfill.
Enter in......HOMEMADE cleaning wipes! I was skeptical about the cleaning power of these at first, but saw several posts where people where raving about the ease of making your own and the fact that they work well!
Here's what you need:
*An old baby wipe container (or something with a lid that will be easy to use for you to store them in; I used a cylindrical moist hand wipe container)
*Some rags, cut up t-shirts, old washcloths, etc
*1 1/2 cup hot water
*1/4 cup white vinegar
*2 Tablespoons castille soap (I used tea tree castille soap due to the natural disinfecting properties of tea tree oil)
Mix the liquid ingredients together. Put your cloths in your container and pour the liquid over them. Ta-Da! That's pretty much it! When you need a wipe, open your container and pull one out! (Side note: You may have to wring the cloth out in the container due to the liquid; they tend to be more "liquidy" than the ones you buy.)
I also made a container for dirty ones. That way I can store them in the container and wash them once it gets pretty full with some other cleaning rags, hand towels, etc.
No more sugar rush!
In the past year or two, I've been reading up a lot on the issue of
all the chemicals, pesticides and nasty ingredients that are being put
in ALMOST ALL of our food in America. Our body wasn't meant to have
these added ingredients and chemicals and some of them are actually
harmful for our skin, organs and health. In the last 6 months or so,
it's been a personal decision of mine to be much more aware of the food
choices I make for myself and my family.
I am going to share with you over the next few weeks the steps I'm taking to detoxify my body and improve my health.
Step 1:
*Eat way less sugar. If sugar is one of the first 3 ingredients in a product, I try not to purchase that item. It's hard to always spot sugar right away, as there are many different names and types. Be on the lookout for these ingredients, which are all types of SUGAR:
What's a gal (or guy) to do?
-Well, for starters, stock up on produce and whole foods. Fruits and veggies do have sugar in them, but in the natural state and your body does need SOME sugar. Get it straight from mother nature!
-Choose whole wheat breads that don't have sugar listed as one of the first few ingredients. Many types of breads are LOADED with sugar!
-Try making your own snacks instead of purchasing packaged snacks. Purchase raw nuts (such as almonds) to have as a mid-day snack and energy booster. YES, it's very hard at first to forgo the packaged snacks and you will CRAVE them- you've been eating them for most or all your life after all! But after you get over the initial temptation, it becomes much easier to resist.
-Try using Stevia, Agave, or honey to sweeten things.
-Stop drinking sodas. Sigh. This has been possibly the hardest one for me, as I really did love a tall cold glass of Diet Coke every now and then. But check out those ingredients in that soda. Nothing beneficial at all. And loaded with sugar that actually can make you want to eat MORE sugar and unhealthy stuff. Plus it makes your blood sugar spike and then crash later. This is so true. I would feel like I absolutely "needed" a Diet Coke to give me some energy only to feel just as tired, if not more so, later on in the afternoon.
Am I never going to touch a packaged food item or a Diet Coke again? Of course not...I'm quite positive there will be times I will eat those things. But rarely, instead of on an everyday basis. And over time, I know my body will feel stronger, healthier and more energetic and I'll be thankful for it.
Here is a great article from Dr. Oz's website I read up on; some of the info I used in this posting came from this:
http://members.doctoroz.com/challenge/sugar-detox-challenge/#cmpid=em062812
I am going to share with you over the next few weeks the steps I'm taking to detoxify my body and improve my health.
Step 1:
*Eat way less sugar. If sugar is one of the first 3 ingredients in a product, I try not to purchase that item. It's hard to always spot sugar right away, as there are many different names and types. Be on the lookout for these ingredients, which are all types of SUGAR:
- Fructose
- Maltose
- Sorbitol
- Evaporated cane juice
- Syrups
- Xylotol
- Sugars ending in "ol" or "ose"
What's a gal (or guy) to do?
-Well, for starters, stock up on produce and whole foods. Fruits and veggies do have sugar in them, but in the natural state and your body does need SOME sugar. Get it straight from mother nature!
-Choose whole wheat breads that don't have sugar listed as one of the first few ingredients. Many types of breads are LOADED with sugar!
-Try making your own snacks instead of purchasing packaged snacks. Purchase raw nuts (such as almonds) to have as a mid-day snack and energy booster. YES, it's very hard at first to forgo the packaged snacks and you will CRAVE them- you've been eating them for most or all your life after all! But after you get over the initial temptation, it becomes much easier to resist.
-Try using Stevia, Agave, or honey to sweeten things.
-Stop drinking sodas. Sigh. This has been possibly the hardest one for me, as I really did love a tall cold glass of Diet Coke every now and then. But check out those ingredients in that soda. Nothing beneficial at all. And loaded with sugar that actually can make you want to eat MORE sugar and unhealthy stuff. Plus it makes your blood sugar spike and then crash later. This is so true. I would feel like I absolutely "needed" a Diet Coke to give me some energy only to feel just as tired, if not more so, later on in the afternoon.
Am I never going to touch a packaged food item or a Diet Coke again? Of course not...I'm quite positive there will be times I will eat those things. But rarely, instead of on an everyday basis. And over time, I know my body will feel stronger, healthier and more energetic and I'll be thankful for it.
Here is a great article from Dr. Oz's website I read up on; some of the info I used in this posting came from this:
http://members.doctoroz.com/challenge/sugar-detox-challenge/#cmpid=em062812
Welcome
Hello and welcome to my blog! This blog will be devoted to bringing you easy and inexpensive health, fitness, and beauty tips, reviews, and interesting articles and discussion topics. Some topics this blog will cover:
*Beauty product reviews
*Eating healthier
*Recipes
*Organic tips
*DIY safer and non-toxic household products
*Work out tips, moves, gear
*Reader tips and product recommendation
I've recently began this journey into eating healthier, detoxifying my house and body, and finding safer and non-toxic body, beauty, and household items.
I hope you'll enjoy reading this blog and that you'll find some of the information helpful and applicable to your daily life!
*Beauty product reviews
*Eating healthier
*Recipes
*Organic tips
*DIY safer and non-toxic household products
*Work out tips, moves, gear
*Reader tips and product recommendation
I've recently began this journey into eating healthier, detoxifying my house and body, and finding safer and non-toxic body, beauty, and household items.
I hope you'll enjoy reading this blog and that you'll find some of the information helpful and applicable to your daily life!
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