How to Find the Perfect Shoes!

Find the perfect pair of shoes, effortlessly with your personal shoe shoppers at Shoe Dazzle!  If you don't like your selections, you can request new selections and you never have to buy if you don't want to.  My sister is one of those women who is always rockin' a pair of fabulouse shoes with every outfit and she is the one who turned me on to Shoe Dazzle.

Get a Free a Beachbody Workout DVD!!!!

Would you like to get a free Beachbody DVD?  Well, I am currently hosting a giveaway in which the winner will recieve a free copy of Power Half Hour with Tony Horton!


For a chance to win this great giveaway, come on over and enter to win HERE!

Cosmetics are More than Skin Deep

Tuesday, August 24, 2010 by: Heidi Fagley, citizen journalist

 ...Our skin is the largest organ of our body. It has the distinction of being the first line of defense for our immune system. And since what we place on our skin is absorbed into our blood stream, doesn't it make sense that what we use topically could be affecting our health?

Cosmetics are big business. Numerous products for men, women, children, and even babies have us spending millions of dollars every year. Yet what exactly are we paying for?

The fact is that less than 20% of the chemicals in products we slather and spray on our bodies have been assessed for safety by the industry's safety panel. Since 1938, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned only eight from the nearly 12,000 ingredients used in cosmetics, while our neighboring European nations have banned over 1,100....

Read Full Article Here.

That's why I love Tropical Traditions!  I just received my order of face cream and am so happy to be using it again!!!!  For the kids...it's Burts Bee's body wash and shampoo, and for my hair..well...I need to find something better than what I have right now.  I've tried a natural shampoo and conditioner before that was supposed to be free of any chemicals...but it made my hair really dry and unmanageable.  I need an extra moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.  Around the house I currently use Theives, by Young Living and I've tried their toothpaste as well and my mouth always feels SO clean after using it, cleaner than with any other toothpaste.   

Mary Kay Microdermabrasion Set Review

Don't ya just love genetics? They can be nice but it seems like often we inherit some not so nice genetic traits. I inherited "lovely" skin from my Dad's side of the family...one key identifying feature being large pores. Over time, I've learned that the only way to prevent your pores from getting bigger is by cleaning them out REALLY good. If you don't clean your pores really well, the dirt and oil builds up and stretches the pores, causing your pores to continue to get bigger and bigger. I found one product that I LOVE that really helps get my skin super clean and helps refine pores. It's the Mary Kay Microdermabrasion Set. It's a 2-step process that starts with the exfoliator that uses the same professional grade exfoliating crystals used by dermatologists. You have to be careful not to rub it into your skin too vigorously because it is pretty rough and could irritate your skin. After washing off the pore refining exfoliator, you apply the "Replenish" serum. This serum contains vitamins, antioxidants and anti-irritants and sets the smooth, refined skin you achieved after using Refine (the exfoliator).

I have really loved this product, but I do think it is a little pricey. However, as I near the end of my bottle and looking for a bargain (without becoming a Mary Kay Consultant just to get products at a 50% discount) I found that there are consultants on Amazon, selling Mary Kay Products at a discount. I got my microdermabrasion kit because a Mary Kay consultant had a drawing at our Gym and I won it. Normally I wouldn't have spent $55 on something like that, however I have found it to really help soften my skin, clean out my pores and give me overall nicer, brighter more supple looking skin.

Now, if you don't have $30-$55 to spend on a microdermabrasion kit like the one by Mary Kay, I have also learned a number of ways to shrink your pores, including much cheaper alternatives that you can concoct at home with ingredients from the kitchen to help clean and tighten pores.

I use St. Ives Apricot Scrub (can be used daily) to keep my skin (and pores) squeaky clean. After using the face scrub, follow up with a pore minimizing toner like witch hazel or Homemade Skin Toner, followed by your favorite moisturizing cream.

The apricot scrub doesn't do as good a job refining as the Mary Kay Refine exfoliator, but if you want to be frugal, it's a MUCH cheaper alternative.

You could also make your own exfoliating scrub with sugar and olive oil, but when making it for your face, opt for brown sugar over granulated because it is less course and be careful not to scrub vigorously as the sugar can be rather abrasive.

How to Make Sugar Scrub

How to Make Skin Toner

How to Make Rose Water Skin Toner

Drinking Lemon Water

So yesterday I mentioned that I have started drinking a glass of water with half a lemon squeezed in and I thought I'd elaborate a bit more on that! First off, I only drink water purified by Reverse Osmosis (Culligan water refill at the grocery store works!) because the chlorine and flouride in tap water should be avoided if you have thyroid problems (I have Hashimotos). It also tastes better! I also place a strainer over my glass to catch the seeds when I squeeze the lemon.

Some of the benefits of lemon water are:

1. Good for stomach
   

   Lemon can help relieve many digestion problems when mixed with hot water. These include nausea, heartburn and parasites. Due to the digestive qualities of lemon juice, symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, bloating and belching are relieved. By drinking lemon juice regularly, the bowels are aided in eliminating waste more efficiently. Lemon acts as a blood purifier and as a cleansing agent. The intake of lemon juice can cure constipation. It is even known to help relieve hiccups when consumed as a juice. Lemon juice acts as a liver tonic and helps you digest your food by helping your liver produce more bile. It decreases the amount of phlegm produced by your body. It is also thought to help dissolve gallstones.

2. Excellent for Skin Care
   

   Lemon, being a natural antiseptic medicine, can participate to cure problems related to skin. Lemon is a vitamin C rich citrus fruit that enhances your beauty, by rejuvenating skin from within and thus bringing a glow on your face. Daily consumption of lemon water can make a huge difference in the appearance of your skin. It acts as an anti-aging remedy and can remove wrinkles and blackheads. Lemon water if applied on the areas of burns can fade the scars. As lemon is a cooling agent, it reduces the burning sensation on the skin.

3. Aids in Dental Care
   

   Lemon water is used in dental care also. If fresh lemon juice is applied on the areas of toothache, it can assist in getting rid of the pain. The massages of lemon juice on gums can stop gum bleeding. It gives relief from bad smell and other problems related to gums.

4. Cures Throat Infections
   

   Lemon is an excellent fruit that aids in fighting problems related to throat infections, sore throat and tonsillitis as it has an antibacterial property. For sore throat, dilute one-half lemon juice with one-half water and gargle frequently.

5. Good for Weight Loss
   

   One of the major health benefits of drinking lemon water is that it paves way for losing weight faster, thus acting as a great weight loss remedy. If a person takes lemon juice mixed with lukewarm water and honey, it can reduce the body weight as well.

6. Controls High Blood Pressure
   

   Lemon water works wonders for people having heart problem, owing to its high potassium content. It controls high blood pressure, dizziness, nausea as well as provides relaxation to mind and body. It also reduces mental stress and depression.

7. Assist in curing Respiratory Disorders
   

   Lemon water assists in curing respiratory problems, along with breathing problems and revives a person suffering from asthma.

8. Good for treating Rheumatism
   

   Lemon is also a diuretic and hence lemon water can treat rheumatism and arthritis. It helps to flush out bacteria and toxins out of the body.

9. Reduces Fever
   

   Lemon water can treat a person who is suffering from cold, flu or fever. It helps to break fever by increasing perspiration.

10. Acts as a blood purifier
    

    The diseases like cholera or malaria can be treated with lemon water as it can act as a blood purifier.

Read more: http://www.lifemojo.com/lifestyle/top-10-health-benefits-of-lemon-water-1422542#ixzz0uzdlZYfp

I don't think I could ever have the discipline to do the popular master cleanse detox, but drinking a bit of lemon water everyday is a SUPER easy alternative! It's not ever something I have to force down, it's very refreshing, like lemonade without the sicky sweet flavor. Although lemons are acidic, they are very alkalizing in your body.

Start your engine everyday by drinking a glass of room temperature, lukewarm to warm, lemon water first thing every morning! This is a tip from Traditional Chinese Medicine. It's important to start your day with water everyday because of the time lapse inbetween going to bed and arising. Water hydrates your body naturally. Caffeine found in coffee, dehydrates your body. *

To get the most juice out of your lemons, have them at room temperature, then roll them around on the counter to soften them up to help the juices release when you squeeze it into your water. If you don't have lemons on hand or want something handy for when you are on the go, try NTrue Lemon! It's a small packet of dehydrated real lemon juice.

Quick Fixes! Sliming the Waistline Fast!

Since having my second baby almost 4 months ago (already!!!) I have had a slower recovery than I had expected. I was hoping to whip myself back into shape ASAP and blog about it more motivation (to keep me accountable) BUT it hasn't really gone that way. The Pubis Symphisis Seperation (the feeling of having an axe thrown into your pubic bone) did not go away right away. Just this last week I finally gave the gym a try which felt AMAZING to work out again, just doing a basic interval workout on the elliptical. 5 minutes into my first workout, I had a HUGE smile on my face. I was in the Cardio Cinema at Golds Gym, watching a CHICKFLICK (I never get to pick those at home) and no whining or crying was to be heard...and I just felt this amazing sense of freedom and enjoyment as I began to break out into a sweat...I started to really feel alive and excited. Having Pubis Symphisis is awful, I couldn't even walk to check the mail, if I needed groceries but couldn't find a close parking spot, I would just leave and do without. At night when I had to go wee-wee while pregnant, I would have to hold onto the bed and then the walls because I felt like I could't support my own weight and it was SO painful. So being able to sweat on the elliptical felt truly amazing after being basically disabled for months.

SO, between having the baby and now, I've just had to cheat a little to slim down my midsection quickly. After the baby was born, I wore a $10 Waist Trimmers to help support my midsection and pull things back together. I really felt like it helped shrink my uterus down faster than when I had my first child because of the compression. At first I was totally skeptical about Post Pregnancy Belly Wraps But after asking around a lot, I decided it was worth a shot.

Wearing a Post Pregnancy Belly Wraps / Waist Trimmers not only helped push things back into place faster, slimming my waistline a lot faster, it gave my back some added support which felt so great and I didn't feel so self-conscious about my deflating water balloon-like post baby pooch, because it gave me a waist that I didn't really have!

Now that I'm past the stage of needing to wear a waist belt, I am onto following some of my handy tips in my eHow article How to Slim Your Waist Without Losing Weight in Other Areas.


Step 3 in the article suggests using Spanx or Lipo in a Box to Slim the Waist Fast. I recently went to Target and bought an awesome cami that does the job of sucking things in and smoothing me out really well! It's called Suddenly Skinney and was only around $16. I love that is is longer than most slimmers so you don't end up with a cut off bulge around your hips...and it also doesn't cut in around your arms and make any back fat stick out either...it's just awesome.

And I'm not going to try any cleanses while breastfeeding, but I have started drinking a full glass of water with half a lemon squeezed into it first thing every morning, then waiting about 30 minutes before eating.

Anyways...so those are my cheats for now...wearing a waist trimmer, and now the Suddenly Skinney cami for a quick fix. I'll keep you posted about how the workouts and getting back in shape are going. I only worked out 3 times last week and was already starting to have some pain come back which is super annoying, I just need it to be gone so I can do Turbo Jam or Power 90...I haven't decided which to do first! Probably Turbo Jam though...I LOVE Chalene!

Celebrity Arms!

I remember growing up when I used to go to church with my parents, the women all went to what they call "relief society"...and from that is where I learned the term "relief society arms" which is when the moms and other women there pick up the arms and have that underarm jiggle. This video has a great move to target that! I know there are other terms for it, so whatever you call that saggy underarm jiggle, prevent it with some of these awesome arm toning moves!