words to video
I love storytelling and always want my readers to have options. You can find my blogs on my YouTube channel and listen to them on the go.
5 Benefits Of Dead Sea Mud Masks...My New Favorite Beauty Product!
I am not really one for trying new things. Once I find a product I like, I tend to be brand loyal and stick with what I know. Historically, I usually only change things up when a product is discontinued, hard to come by, or they change the formula, to my dismay.
I have been working on being more open to trying new things, and I was in the market for a new exfoliator and face mask. I started my research a few weeks ago to find just the right face mask for my skin type. I Googled of course, and then starting searching on Amazon.
After I narrowed my choice down to three face mask brands, I settled on New York Biology Dead Sea Mud Face Mask, which had great reviews.
I have been very fortunate most of my life when it comes to my skin. I never had acne as a teenager, but my skin does to run a bit more on the oily side, which helps when it comes to skin aging. I am in my forties, and while my skin is wrinkle free, I have started to notice larger pores and some loss of elasticity.
Although I have no desire to go back to my twenties, and I am very proud of my age, I still want to look good.
There are many benefits to using dead sea mud and I plan to reap all of the them.
5 Benefits Of Dead Sea Mud Mask
Brightens Skin
Reduces Pores
Removed Toxins From Skin
Improved Skin Elasticity
Treats And Prevents Acne
Once my Dead Sea Mud Mask arrived I was very eager to try it. I read the ingredients and was pleasantly surprised that I recognized all of the ingredients including Sunflower Oil, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, and Aloe Vera. The mask is charcoal colored, creamy and smooth in texture, and has a very light scent.
I followed the directions to apply a thin layer of mud to my clean face avoiding mouth and eye areas. After 10 minutes I used warm water to gently remove the mask, by using circular motions. I dried my face and moisturized with my favorite night cream, Resilience Lift Night by Estee Lauder.
It has been four weeks since I started using New York Biology Dead Sea Mud Mask, and I have noticed positive changes in my skin. After using the mask twice a week, my skin is brighter, softer, and my pores appear to be smaller. I highly recommend adding this mask to your beauty regimen. I am excited to see how my skin looks in another four weeks!
What are you using as part of beauty regimen? Do you have a favorite mask or exfoliator? Please share! - t
5 Benefits Of Dead Sea Mud Masks...My New Favorite Beauty Product!
I am not really one for trying new things. Once I find a product I like, I tend to be brand loyal and stick with what I know. Historically, I usually only change things up when a product is discontinued, hard to come by, or they change the formula, to my dismay.
I have been working on being more open to trying new things, and I was in the market for a new exfoliator and face mask. I started my research a few weeks ago to find just the right face mask for my skin type. I Googled of course, and then starting searching on Amazon. After I narrowed my choice down to three face mask brands, I settled on New York Biology Dead Sea Mud Face Mask, which had great reviews.
I have been very fortunate most of my life when it comes to my skin. I never had acne as a teenager, but my skin does to run a bit more on the oily side, which helps when it comes to skin aging. I am in my forties, and while my skin is wrinkle free, I have started to notice larger pores and some loss of elasticity. Although I have no desire to go back to my twenties, and I am very proud of my age, I still want to look good.
There are many benefits to using dead sea mud and I plan to reap all of the them.
5 Benefits Of Dead Sea Mud Mask
- Brightens Skin
- Reduces Pores
- Removed Toxins From Skin
- Improved Skin Elasticity
- Treats And Prevents Acne
Once my Dead Sea Mud Mask arrived I was very eager to try it. I read the ingredients and was pleasantly surprised that I recognized all of the ingredients including Sunflower Oil, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, and Aloe Vera. The mask is charcoal colored, creamy and smooth in texture, and has a very light scent.
I followed the directions to apply a thin layer of mud to my clean face avoiding mouth and eye areas. After 10 minutes I used warm water to gently remove the mask, by using circular motions. I dried my face and moisturized with my favorite night cream, Resilience Lift Night by Estee Lauder.
It has been four weeks since I started using New York Biology Dead Sea Mud Mask, and I have noticed positive changes in my skin. After using the mask twice a week, my skin is brighter, softer, and my pores appear to be smaller. I highly recommend adding this mask to your beauty regimen. I am excited to see how my skin looks in another four weeks!
What are you using as part of beauty regimen? Do you have a favorite mask or exfoliator? Please share!
30 Day Health and Fitness Challenge - Week 3
30 Day Fitness Challenge - Week 3
Welcome to week 3 of the Health and Fitness Challenge. I hope you enjoyed weeks 1 and 2 and are finding your stride. Just remember if you find what I have laid out below to be too hard, push through. If you find it to be too easy, do more. Let's push ourselves, our minds, and our bodies, and see what we can accomplish in 14 days.
Week 3 is more challenging than week two. Do your best and share your successes and challenges. Just 2 weeks to go!
Health
Take Out
Any One Of The Below, Plus The Two From Weeks 1 And 2:
Sugar
Soda
White Bread
Alcohol
Fried Food
Red Meat
Pasta
Fast Food
Add In
10 Minutes Of Light Stretching Before Bed, +16 More Ounces of Water, 1-2 Cups Green Tea Daily, 20 Minutes Of Extra Sleep By Going To Bed Earlier
Fitness
50 Minutes Cardio Everyday - Walking, Running, Swimming, Elliptical, Cycling, etc.
Arms (Mon, Wed, Fri) - 20 Bicep Curls x2, 20 Shoulder Press Ups x2, 25 push ups
Planks - Daily 40 seconds x2
Legs (Tues, Thurs, Sat) - 15 Squats, Lunges 10 Each Leg, 20 Calf Raises
Abs - 60 Crunches daily, 20 Bicycles
Equipment Needed
Good Walking/Athletic Shoes
Gym Access/Great Walking or Hiking Trails Access
10-15 lbs. Free Weights
Please share your thoughts and progress on this week’s Health and Fitness Challenge!
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, registered dietitian, or fitness expert. The purpose of my blog is to share my experiences with food, fitness, and life—not to dole out advice. When it comes to your health and fitness, do your research.
Spring Cleaning...How To Use Lemons, Vinegar, and Baking Soda To Get Your Home Spotless
There is never a bad time to clean your home, but since spring is almost here, I thought I would dedicate a blog to spring cleaning. Personally, spring cleaning is not my favorite thing to do, but I do love finding creative, environmentally friendly, and cost-efficient ways to clean.
Did you know you probably have the essential products for getting your home spotless sitting right in your pantry? Lemons, vinegar, and baking soda are perfect for every day, and spring cleaning. The citric acid in lemons helps cut through dirt and grease.
Vinegar is also acidic and works to dissolve dirt, and clean sticky surfaces. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which is basically salt. It is the opposite of acidic, with a higher Ph balance.
There are many uses for lemons, vinegar, and baking soda. When it comes to cleaning, they get the job done.
Cleaning With Lemons
Freshening Garbage Disposal - Toss lemon peels down drain, and run with running water until peels go down.
Clean Microwave - Place lemon slices in microwave safe cup or bowl and microwave for about 5 minutes, allows to steam, then wipe off inside of microwave
Clean Cutting Boards - Squeeze juice onto board and allow to sit for a few minutes, and then scrub.
Grout Stains - Squeeze lemon juice into a spray bottle, and spray on grout and use in conjunction with baking soda, and scrub.
Cleaning Stove Top - Squeeze juice into a spray bottle, and spray on grout. Use in conjunction with baking soda, by adding a bit of baking soda to damp sponge and scrubbing.
Cleaning With Vinegar
Cleaning Windows/Mirrors - Mix vinegar and water, equal parts, and add to spray bottle to clean.
Clean Bath Tub - Scrub bath tub with vinegar soaked sponge. Rinse away grime.
Cleaning Coffee Pot - Brew a pot with white vinegar, to decalcify. Then brew again with just water to clear out vinegar.
Clean Show Doors - Spray shower door with vinegar, and leave to get rid of soap scum.
Clean Stainless Steel Sink - Add vinegar to damp sponge and scrub sink. Add a little baking to your sponge, for added brightness.
Cleaning With Baking Soda
Clean Tiles - Clean tiles with baking soda and damp sponge. For even better results combine with vinegar.
Brighten Laundry - Add a cup of baking soda to your load of laundry to brighten clothes.
Clean Pot and Pans - Scrub greasy pots and pans in hot water, with sponge, and thick layer of baking soda.
Scrub Canyon Off Walls - Scrub walls with damp sponge and baking soda to remove crayon.
Scrub Stove Top, Range Hood, and Backsplash - Scrub down you kitchen with baking soda, and damp sponge, and wipe clean.
As you can see, you can use lemons, vinegar, and baking soda for spring and everyday cleaning. The best thing about these products is that they are cheap, non-toxic, and normally found in your fridge and pantry.
Combine vinegar and baking soda together for even more deep cleaning in your showers, tubs, and tiles. I recommend getting a large spray bottle to keep the vinegar in, specifically for cleaning. Please label the bottle, otherwise your daughter might end up with vinegar scented hair before heading off to school. Not my finest moment.
After you have completed all of your cleaning, splash some vinegar in your flower vase for longer lasting flowers. Bake some cookies with your baking soda. And if all else fails after all long day of cleaning, make some lemonade, and relax.
What Puts A Smile On Your Face? Whatever It Is, Keep Doing It...
Did you know that smiling can make you appear more attractive and younger looking? People like to be around happy individuals, and are drawn to them. Now, a smile in itself is not a true indicator of one's mood or emotional state. Sometimes people smile as a greeting, or even to hide their true thoughts and feelings. These false smiles do not reach the eyes, and are usually discernible from the real thing. What I want to know is what truly makes you smile.
I have to admit I am not a big smiler, but I can think of a lot things that make me smile. When I smile it is usually genuine because I am not great at pretending. So I try to make it a point to have people and hobbies in my life that make me smile, and avoid those people and things that make me frown.
I am simple when it comes to being happy. If a song that I love comes on the radio I turn it up, and start smiling. I smile a lot when working out, or so I have been told. Those endorphins kick in, and I start feeling so good. I smile at the smell of fresh baked bread, or cookies. All of these simple things make me happy, and make me smile.
Here are some of life’s simple pleasures that make me smile...
Watching My Daughters Laugh and Be Kind To Each Other
Seeing The First Sprigs Of Something I’ve Planted Come Up
A Good Joke
My First Cup Of Coffee In The Morning
The Leaves Changing Color In The Fall
The Sound Of Rain Patter, While Snuggling In Bed
A Crackling Fire
Sitting Down To Dinner With My Family
Disneyland
Watching The Waves At The Ocean
Fresh Flowers
A Kind Word Or Thoughtful Gesture
An Unexpected Text Or Call From A Friend Or Love You Miss
Exercise
A Good Book
Please note that I am not advising you to go around smiling like a grinning idiot. You do not need to be fake. I hope that you can find those every day little things that make you smile. I hope you can find an appreciation for those little things that truly make you happy. If you find that you have little to smile about, think about how you can change that. Life is short. We all deserve something in our life that makes us smile.
Never regret anything that made you smile. - Mark Twain
10 Quotes To Live Your Life By...
I think we all can admit there is room for improvement, and growth within ourselves. I always say I am a work in progress. I truly am a work in progress, but I am always striving to grow, and be better.
I find that having a personal mantra is helpful. Inspirational quotes of the day help, and so does becoming more in tuned with yourself, and who you really are as person. Over the years, some very wise people have said some very insightful things. Some of their words have become my mantra.
10 Quotes To Live Your Life By...
"Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me." Carol Burnett
"Everybody does not have have to like you. That is not their job. Liking you is not anyone's purpose in life except yours." - Iyanla Vanzant
"A persons character is shown throughout their actions in life NOT where they sit on Sunday." - Navonne Johns
"My mission in life is to not merely survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." - Maya Angelou
"It's not the years of life, but the life in your years that count." Adlai E. Stevenson
"Trust the wait. Embrace the uncertainty. Enjoy the beauty of becoming. When nothing is certain, anything is possible." Mandy Hale
"Instead of being ashamed of what you have been through, be proud of what you have overcome." - Dr. Phil
"The most important relationship you have is with yourself. Because no matter what happens, you will always be with yourself." - Diane Von Furstenberg
"The only person with whom you have to compare yourself is you in the past." - Sigmund Freud
If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place." Nora Roberts
I hope you find these quotes as insightful, and helpful as I do. Now that I have shared my 10 quotes to live by, what are some of your favorites? If you never thought about it, this list should get you started.
Intuition and Gut Feelings....Do You Trust Your Instincts? Here's Why You Should!
I think there is a common misconception about the term intuition. Intuition is a not about being psychic, or any other phenomenon that makes people skeptical. Your intuition is the same as your gut feeling, and many believe in trusting their gut.
That gut feeling is alarm bells going off in your brain telling you something, or someone is off, or things are just not right.
Intuition is defined as an ability to understand, or know something without needing to think about it, or use reason to discover. It is a feeling. It bridges the gap between the conscious and unconscious parts of the mind.
Decisions based on gut instinct may not always work out, but those decisions will partly be based on past experiences and your own knowledge.
When I was in the military I worked with sexual assault victims. During my training, the local police department's Sexual Assault Victim's unit visited. One of the things they stressed was the importance of trusting your intuition.
Often times, victims sensed they were in danger. Their gut told them it was a bad idea to be alone wth a particular person, or that they were being followed. They didn't listen to those alarms going off in their head, and the outcomes were often not good. The lesson was to listen to your gut. It may save your life.
Over the years, I have learned to trust my intuition over anything that I am being told or seeing. If someone wants to deceive, they will put on an act, and they will lie. A smiling face means nothing in particular to me.
There is a reason for the common saying, "believe half of what you see and none of what you hear". Now don't get me wrong, this is not about seeing and believing the worst in others. I don't have alarms bells going off all the time. But it is about trusting yourself over what someone else is doing or saying, especially when you are sensing a hidden agenda.
The takeaways are to trust your intuition, and know yourself. What is the worse that could happen? If you think someone is in love with you, then they probably are. If you feel someone dislikes you, you are likely right.
The advice to people in relationships is always, if you think he or she is cheating then they probably are or are thinking about it. Lastly, if you feel you are in danger then get out of there.
So I ask you this, do you trust your gut, or do you foolishly ignore it? Have you ever had someone try to convince you your gut was wrong by gaslighting you? I have....
You know the truth, by the way it feels. - Unknown
Hot Button Issues...What Topics, If Any, Do You Keep Off The Table With Family And Friends?
I have been told many times to never discuss politics and religion because someone is sure to be offended. Pro choice or pro life? I have my opinions, but not particularly interested in going round and round on the topic. How much money people make and social inequalities? Ugh I can get pretty hot discussing this topic real fast. Immigration and War? Nope, not going there.
The crazy thing is I love a good debate, but there are some topics that fall into the realm of “agree to disagree “ Not because I am afraid of confrontation, or getting my feelings hurt. In fact it is nearly the opposite. But do you find that once you know someone’s views on gun rights or control, that you will see them somewhat differently? Yes, you can believe they are good person deep down, but are they really a good person if they feel a certain way about x, y, or z? Or worse yet, you start to view them as a complete idiot, and someone you cannot respect.
Everyone is entitled to their opinions and points of view. The purpose of these discussions is to share different points of view, and perhaps offer a different or new perspective. Unfortunately I feel like I have been having these same discussions since my teens, and most people seemed to have drawn their lines in the sand. For those times when you want to not think about the heavy, and avoid the hot button issues, go for the light convo topics.
Here Are Some Less Controversial Topics For Discussion....
Sports
Education
Local News/Events
Travel
Hobbies
Parenting
The Opposite Sex/Dating
Entertainment/Movies/TV
Books/Plays
Don't get me wrong, discuss any and everything that you want with whomever you want. Just be warned that it very well may ruin your lovely dinner party or barbecue. Carefully choose your when, where, and with whom.
I verbally spar all the time with my brother in law about this stuff but I know he can take it, and is not going to get offended. With others I am more cautious, and guarded with my opinions. I may even bite my tongue on the occasion if I sense things could get heated.
So how free are you with your opinions on hot button issues? They call them hot buttons for a reason. Do you push them?
Home Spa...Simple Tricks To Creating A Spa-Like Environment At Home
When was the last time you enjoyed a spa day? It can be hard to find the time, or the money to treat yourself as often as you deserve. Life can be stressful at times, which is why it is so important to find ways to manage that stress.
There are many ways to relieve stress. Exercise is a great stress reliever. Sex is also a great stress reliever. But some days a girl, or guy, just wants to be pampered.
When I want to be pampered I head to the spa. I get a nice massage, deep tissue for me, which is exquisite pain. I do a nice soak, or mud bath, and then I end with a facial. Unfortunately, this can take all day, and beauty and pampering don't come cheap. So I try to create a spa-like environment whenever I get the chance at home.
This blog is all about turning your home bathroom into a spa like environment and relaxing.
There are some key ingredients needed, and then there are some optional items as well.
Lavender Oil
Epson or Sea Salt
Candles
iPhone for Spa Music
Foaming Bath Soak
Eye Mask, Cooled
Soft Sheet Towel
Terry Cloth Robe (optional)
Glass of Wine (highly recommended)
Run a warm bath, as warm as you can stand it. Add a cap full of bath soak, 3-4 drops of lavender, and 1 cup of epson salt. Light your favorite candles, turn on Pandora, and turn off the lights. Don’t forget your mask once you enter your soak.
I also recommend making the small investment of purchasing a paraffin bath for soothing, and smoothing aching hands and feet. As well as getting hot rocks to massage your legs, shoulders, and arms. You can find YouTube videos on giving yourself hot rock massages.
There is nothing better than making your home an amazing retreat, or having a staycation. Sometimes it's not about the destination, or getting away. Sometimes it's just about finding the time to relax, unwind, and spend time alone, or spend time with that special someone. If you are with your partner pamper each other.
What do you do when you can't find the time, or the money to go to the spa for a nice facial, or massage? Do you do it yourself, or go without? Please share your advice or experience!
To Be Organic Or Not To Be...Is Buying Organic Worth The Cost?
I must say that the word organic has a nice ring to it. It makes me think natural and healthy, but unfortunately it also makes me think expensive. The cost of organic fruits and vegetables are nearly double that of the chemically soaked others.
So I guess the question is "is it worth it to buy organic?" I think the answer is both yes and no.
Is Organic Food Worth The Cost?
I have researched and read many articles that discussed the value, both monetarily and health wise in buying organic.
It basically comes down to being worth the cost if you are purchasing fruits with thin skins, such as tomatoes and peaches, because the pesticides and chemicals are more likely to penetrate the fruit. But not worth it for the likes of banana or melons with thicker skins.
Watermelon Slices
I grow my own tomatoes, so I guess I am safe there, but I have also started buying free range, cage free organic eggs. These eggs are nearly triple the price of your typical dozen, but I feel good about "possibly" supporting a more humane existence for the chickens. I am also in processing of preparing to raise my own chickens for eggs.
I buy organic when possible, but I definitely have my concerns, or should I say trust issues. How do I know that these products are truly what they say they are. How do I know these chicken were not kept in cages, or fed hormones and chemically tainted feed. How do I know the grapes I just paid $7 for are truly organic?
I suppose I will never know for certain if a product is truly organic, but I will take all of precautions that I can. I can do things such as thoroughly washing fruits and veggies before use, buying locally grown produce, and growing any fruits or vegetables that I can.
Also I can go to Certified Farmer's Markets, and buy directly from organic farmers.
What are your thoughts on organics products? Do you buy organic food? Do you buy other organic materials such as towels and sheets?