Sunday, May 31, 2015

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.

Friday, May 29, 2015

Better Homes and Garden August 2014



Fast Fixes for your Foyers

1. Start here - if your entry is a mess, don’t get overwhelmed thinking it needs a major makeover. Hanging a couple of hooks and putting out a big basket for shoes can make a huge difference.
2. Coat check - consider offloading some of those parkas to bedroom closets or underbed storage during the off season.
3. Hide Away - a dresser is pretty brilliant in an entry. Line the drawers with shelf paper or cookie sheets for shoes, and add a tray to turn the top into a drop zone for mail and keys.
4. Grab and go - keep a cute tote bag hanging near the back door. Use it as a collection spot for whatever needs to leave the house next trip.

How to buy Summer’s Bounty Veggies-
Corn -Buy - look for corn with golden to brown silks and healthy green husks. Store - keep corn in its husk until ready to use, or remove kernels from the cob and freeze.
Green Beans - Look for slender, unbruised beans that snap easily. Thinner beans are sweetest. Store - place unwashed beans in a resealable bag. Refrigerate up to a week.
Squash - look for firm, smooth, unblemished squash. For yellow squash, choose smaller ones - the large ones have a lot more seeds. Place unwashed squash in an airtight container and refrigerate up to a week.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Shea Moisture Organic African Black Soap







The floral scented body bar soap is packed with organic Shea Butter, Oats, tamarind extract, tar, Vitamin E, Plantain Extract, Palm Ash, Rosemary Extract, and Aloe. The moisturizing soap cleans, moisturizes and protects against irritated skin while absorbing excess oil. It also helps relieves symptoms of eczema and psoriasis while keeping skin clear of blemishes. The soap lathers well and left my skin feeling soft and smooth. The plantain extract provided a gentle exfoliation and left my skin soft and smooth. The only thing I don’t like is that the bar doesn’t last very long.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Instyle August 2014


Strong, Healthy Hair
Fried, Broken Ends
1.  Get a small trim. Every four weeks, get the ends dusted, so split ends can't move up the shaft and compromise even more of your length.
2.  A preshampoo layer of conditioner with vegetable oil and elastic can protect strands while helping to restore their bounce. Leave on for a few minutes, then rinse and follow with a gentle, detergent free wash.
3. Natural oils like shea, jojoba, and almond work in two ways: they soak into hair shaft to fortify it against future breakage, and they slick down pesky flyways. A dose of biotin rich rebuilder on dry strands can also temporarily seal frayed ends.

Dull, Frizzy Strands
1. Start in the shower by using an oil-based shampoo and conditioner duo. And if you are blow-drying afterward, you must commit to going at until strands are completely dry.
2.  Use a silicone free leave in spray to protect against sweat, humidity, and rain.
3.  Look for a sheer mist with a lightweight blend of botanical oils. Frizz prone hair soaks it up and behaves but still has some body.

BBW Sleep Lavender Chamomile Body Lotion







We all have those days where we have one too many things on the checklist to be done and not enough hours in the day. And, if our lives weren’t demanding enough, sometimes it’s quite difficult to get a full restful night of sleep. This BBW Sleep lotion promises to help enhance sleep naturally without the help of pills. It is formulated with lavender and chamomile essential oils to soothe and calm the body and mind into a peaceful slumber. The creamy lotion goes on smoothly and leaves my skin delicately soft. While, I am not entirely sure this lotion makes me sleep better but it does make might nightly routine more peaceful and calm.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Zents Mandarin Ultra Rich Shea Butter Soap






The triple milled, 100% vegetable based is formulated with organic shea butter, glycerin, neem oil and coconut oil. And none of the bad stuff like parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl, colors and dyes. The soap promises to condition, hydrate, protect, deodorizes, and balance skin zones. The citrus scented soap lather well and left my skin smooth and soft while delicately scented.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick - Icon












The matte lipstick is highly pigmented and goes on silky smooth (be sure to use a lip scrub or apply lip balm and blot). The lipstick is formulated without any parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances or dyes, GMOs or Triclosan. The "nourishing" stain is packed with emollients, antioxidants fruit extracts, cili fruit, goji berry, and vitamins A, C, and E to protect and nourish lips. The lipstick went on smoothly for me and left a gorgeous matte red stain on lips. While, the lipstick promises to keep lips soft, I found it a bit drying. I also love how it doesn't transfer when drinking. I had gotten this in the small size (while waiting in line at Sephora..damn those little boxes of goodies) and loved it and eventually bought the bigger size. Do note, the small ones dry out incredibly quick and has a relatively small amount of uses. I should have just saved time and money and bought the bigger size from the beginning.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Julep Nail Polish - Linden







The blue creme is perfect for the gorgeous Spring weather (or Spring in a bottle, if you like!).  It goes on smoothly and one coat provides full coverage. Although, you can put two but it can lead to a bit of bubbles and the fearful smudgies.  The color dries bit darker than bottle and has a shiny finish.



Friday, May 8, 2015

Ladies Home Journal July/August 2014



The 7 Healthiest Summer Fruits -
Raspberries - of all the berries, raspberries have the most fiber to keep you feeling full - one cup gives you 8 grams and has only about 65 calories
Plums - there are more than 200 varieties, but buy the dark purple or red ones and eat the skin, which has the high concentrations of antioxidants to combat inflammation
Sweet cherries - one cup provides about 300 mgs of potassium, which helps regulate your blood pressure, plus a big dose of antioxidants
Strawberries - They can boost your immune system : just one cup will give you your entire daily requirement of vitamin C. Strawberries might also control type 2 diabetes and prevent heart attacks.
Peaches - peaches and other stone fruits have compounds that can reduce obesity and inflammation. They may even help fight breast cancer.
Tart Cherries -  packed with antioxidants, these may decrease your risk of heart disease and stroke and ease arthritis symptoms. They’re linked to better sleep and muscle recovery after exercise.
Blueberries -  they get their deep color from anthocyanins, which protect your heart and can improve memory and reduce urinary tract infections.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

The Soap & Paper Factory Jasmine Shea Butter Soap










Around the winter time everything seems bland and boring. In the need to spice things and brighten  up a dreary month I decided to use this cheerful soap to cheer me up. The sweet scented shea butter filled up the bathroom with the scent of Jasmine even before I removed the wrapper. With the floral scent wafting through the air, I imagine walking through the meadows full of flowers -- I guess I am in for a treat. The creamy soap lathers well and left my skin soft and smooth. The best part is my skin was left moisturized and softly scented. The soap still managed to scent the entire bathroom even long after I finished taking a shower.

Monday, May 4, 2015

Julep Nail Polish - Karmen























The crimson nail polish is packed with golden microglitter. It is one of the most gorgeous colors I have used in awhile. I always get tons of compliments when wearing it. The color goes on smoothly and evenly without leaving any streaks.