Woman’s Day August 2014

Two Clever Uses for Balloons

1. Serve Dessert - Dip small, inflated balloons halfway into a bowl of melted chocolate, then place on a wax covered baking sheet and refrigerate until chocolate hardens. With a pin or scissors, pop and peel away the balloons so you’re left with edible bowls.

2. Anchor a tablecloth - prevent a gust of wind from pulling your table cloth up, by attaching it to homemade weights. Use a funnel to pour sand or rice into four uninflated balloons, knot them, then safety pin one to each of the tablecloth’s inside corners so they stay hidden while holding the fabric down.

Stress Less Mornings

1. Spend 5 minutes on the porch [or if you live in NYC by a window ---hopefully you don’t get an eyeful of your neighbor] Exposure to sunlight improves your energy thanks for the vitamin D, while increasing melatonin for better sleep at night.

2. Eat blueberries at breakfast. The berries are associated with a mood hormone that can help you cheer up when you’re feeling sad. They’re also packed with healthy antioxidants that may prevent cancer.

3. Have another cup of coffee. People who drink three or more cups of coffee a day may have a 37% lower risk of type 2 diabetes compared with those who sip less than a cup. Researchers believe a compound in the brew improves how your body processes sugar.

Woman’s Day August 2013

Pack Smart -

“1. Keep it to one swimsuit - you’re going only going to want to wear your favorite anyways, right?

2. Wear a sun-shielding hat to the airport so it doesn’t get squashed in your suitcase.

3. Bring a few tunics that you can wear as coverups at the beach or as shirts when you’re around town.

4. A pretty sarong can double as a scarf if the temperature drops when you’re dining outside near the water.

5. Call ahead to see if your hotel provides beach towels so you don’t have to tote them from home.”

Like to volunteer? Visit http://www.rewardvolunteers.coop, which rewards volunteers with prizes.

Multitasking Facial Cleansers-

Garnier the Radiance Renewer Cleansing Gelee

Alba Botanica Good & Clean Daily Detox Foaming Cleanser

Maybelline Clean Express! The Flash 3 in 1 Makeup Removing Lotion

To stretch and soothe feet, freeze a bottle of water and roll it under your arches.

Happy, Healthy Feet -

“If you have dry, cracked heels -

The cause : the soles of your feet lack oil glands, making them prone to dryness. Hot showers and exposure to the sun can also zap moisture.

The fix : apply lotion to the tops and bottoms of feet daily, especially after showering. Even better: every few days, rub a generous amount of cream on clean feet before bed, then slip on cotton socks. You’ll wake up to softer heels.

If you have calluses or corns -

The causes : feet already have thick skin to help support your body. Add pressure to a specific area from tight shoes or a bunion, and the skin thickens even more, forming a callus [a hard, flat patch] or a corn [a raised circular patch].

The fix : exfoliate feet up to three times a week to keep corns and calluses pain free. Apply a sugar scrub or use a pumice stone.

If you have sore, tired feet -

The causes :  spending a lot of time on your feet and wearing shoes that lack arch support or fit poorly [too big and feet work hard to keep them on, too small and feet may cramp up] can cause pain.

The fix : aside from buying shoes that fit well, try a soothing footbath. Just add a few drops of peppermint oil to warm water. No time to soak? Swipes soles with a minty wipe.”

Boost your Food’s Benefits -

“1. Stir fry carrots or steam broccoli. Chopping and the heating them releases carotenoids, powerful antioxidants that may help from cancer.

2. Add a little oil as you saute or cook leafy greens. The good fats from oil help your body absorb the nutrients that are released as the vegetable is heated.

3. After you mince garlic, let it sit out for 15 minutes. Research shows that exposing garlic to air once you chop it up promotes an enzyme reaction that releases cancer fighting compounds.

4. Cut larger pieces or cook the vegetables whole.  Cooking bigger sections of vegetables like sweet potatoes or summer squash exposes less of the food’s surface to air and heat, which can destroy vitamins and nutrients.

5. When boiling potatoes, leave the peels on and cook them whole if possible. This will help preserve their high levels of vitamin C. Also, keep the lid on the pot so they cook more quickly. Longer cooking time leads to higher loss of water soluble nutrients like C.”

Woman’s Day June 2013

Smart tip - to give your skin the ultimate protection against damaging rays, use sunscreen that contain antioxidants.”

How to Tame Frizzy Hair :

“Rinse with cold water - Washing out shampoo and conditioner with cool water helps seal your hair’s cuticle, which reduces frizz and promote shine.

Avoid cotton towels - The fibers create friction between strands and cause split ends. To prevent damage, use your hands to wring out excess water from your hair or gently pat it with a microfiber towel.

Skip heated tools - They suck moisture out of hair, which increases frizz. If you must blow dry, set your dryer to low heat, the switch to a cool setting for the last few minutes to seal the cuticle.”

“Rinse strands with tap water [I heard bottle water or conditioner works too] before diving in. This way, hair absorbs less chlorine or salt. Hydrate dry ends with a weekly deep conditioner”.

Summer Beauty Fixes -

“Your makeup feels like it’s melting the minute you step outside.  Makeup is made to rinse off with the help of water, so it’s not surprising that the rise in humidity can cause it to slide away. To prevent this, sweep on a translucent setting powder over your foundation. It combats slick skin without depositing color. Try it on your eyelids, too, to keep eyeshadow in place and mascara from smudging.

Your legs and underarms get red and bumpy after shaving.  Skin may seems flat, but it peaks around hair follicles and dips into valleys between them. When you shave, the razor can irritate slightly  uneven skin. To help your razor glide more easily, coat legs with shaving cream or conditioner [avoid soap, which can be drying]. Pressing the razor down against skin can also cause redness. Use a lighter touch, the actual weight of a razor is all that’s needed. And remember to replace the blade of it’s dull and feels like it’s tugging at skin.

Your hair looks greasy a few hours after you wash it. What’s going on?  The scalp is the first place your body begins to perspire. Whether you have an oily scalp or a dry one, the increase in moisture causes your hair to look limp. Keep a travel size dry shampoo in your bag to spritz  on roots midday to absorb sweat and give hair back some volume.

You paid for a manicure but your nail polish turned yellow. Blame the sun! it can cause the paint to become yellowed or changed color. Next time, ask the manicurist to use a UV-blocking top coat [or bring your own] to protect against color - fading rays. That way your nails will look their best longer.

Face peeling from sun.  Use a creamy foundation and blush. Powder formulas absorb your skin’s moisture and highlight flakes.

You used self-tanner and ended up with dark streaks.  The best way to minimize a self-tanning mistake is to exfoliate with a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice, which naturally helps lighten skin. Mix 2 tbsp lemon juice and 2 tbsp baking soda to create a paste. In the shower, rub it on the area for a minute, then rinse.”

Sleep away your wrinkles:

“Go to bed with a clean face - when you take off your makeup you're also washing away pore-clogging dirt and oil, so skin has a chance to naturally exfoliate  - cleaning away dead skin and bringing new cells to the surface. Products can penetrate skin better, too. For nights when you’re too tired to make it to the skin, keep a pack of cleansing cloths next to your bed.

Make skin care products work harder  - because your skin temperature rises at night, it’s the ideal time to apply rejuvenating products, which will warm up and seep deeper into the lower layers of your skin. Look for a serum enriched with Vitamins A and E to help jumpstart collagen growth and keep skin looking firm and smooth.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize - after your face, remember to apply lotion to areas like your neck, lips, hands and feet - they’ll soak up the hydration, too. But if you usually slather on formulas with SPF, do yourself a favor and save those extra ingredients for daytime, swap in creamier products formulated for night.

Aim for at least 6 hours  - when you sleep, there’s a boost of blood flow to skin, which prompts cells to turn over eight times faster than during the day. But getting under 6 hours will increase production of the stress hormone cortisol,  which slows down collagen production and results in more pronounced lines.”

Woman’s Day January 2014

Clever Uses for Sponges -

1. Prevent pedicure smudges - for at home nail polishing sessions, cut a sponge in half lengthwise, then cut four slits along one of the long sides of each. Use them to separate polished toes until they dry.

2. Hydrate Houseplants - place a sponge in the bottom of a pot before adding the plant and extra soil. The sponge will help retain moisture until the next watering.

3. Secure soap - rest your bar of soap on a sponge in the shower or bathtub. Because of its uneven texture, it will stop the soap from slipping off the dish or tiles when wet.

4. Protect Floors - to keep chairs from scratching wood or vinyl surfaces, trace the bottom of a chair leg onto a sponge and cut it out; repeat until you have as many as you need. Secure each piece to the bottom of a leg with a dab of hot glue [press it on firmly to prevent wobbliness]

5. Make an ice pack - put a wet sponge in a zip top plastic bag and freeze. Grab it instead of a package of peas to soothe bumps and bruises or toss it in a lunchbox to keep the contents cool.

Did you know? Kitchen sponges carry more bacteria than your toilet! Microwave wet sponges for 2 minutes at least once a week to kill those germs.

Make Clothes Last Longer

1. Don’t wring out wet garments after you hand wash them. Use a salad spinner to remove excess water, then hang dry.

2. Swap in thin, velvety hangers to keep clothes from slipping onto the floor and to prevent irreversible dents in fabrics.

3. To keep delicates from stretching in your washing machine’s spin cycle, place them in a  mesh wash bag.

Woman’s Day April 2013

Here are some cute things under $20 -

Photo Credit - Kikkerland

Photo Credit - Oreo Originals

Photo Credit - CB2

Here are some blue to brighten up your home-

 

Photo Credit - Ikea

Photo Credit - Target

 Here are some blue paint samples to spruce up your home -

Valspar Bluer Than Blue 4006-8C

Behr Sailor S-H-600y

Benjamin Moore Blueberry 2063-30

I was unable to get a picture preview,, sorry about that but hopefully the numbers will help you locating them.

Here is how to pick the perfect dress for your shape:

“1. Minimize a big bust - look for styles that have some stretch, plus extra room on top to accommodate curves.

2. Downplay hips and thighs - choose full - skirted frocks that have defined waist or graceful necklines to focus more attention on your upper half.

3. Conceal a tummy - forgiving fabric and fool the eye details help you feel confident without having suck it in.

4. Flatter a full figure - go for a contoured dress with built-in structure or one that’s flowy and fuss-free.”

Pick up the issue for great recipes, lifestyle and fashion tips.