Sunless 101

Winter is a bland time...no tan, no color, clouds everywhere...blah blah blah...if you long for a sun-kissed look without harmful UV rays, using a self-tanner is right option. If you long for the perfect tan but know you can't soak up the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, using a self-tanner is the way to go!

Here is how to get a perfect basic "at-home" tan:

1. Exfoliate. always exfoliate your skin before applying any self tanner. a nice salt scrub or simple homemade sugar scrub will do the trick. if you don't exfoliate, you may end up with patches on your skin. pay special attention to the elbow, knee, ankle and wrist areas.

2. Dry. skin should be clean, exfoliate, and air dry the skin before any application takes place. if skin is dry or oily, the application may turn out uneven.

3. Apply self-tanner. to avoid having orange hands, you should was the palms of your hands immediately after. remember to use sparingly around elbows and knees. you may even want to dilute the self-tanner with your favorite body lotion to avoid orange streaks. try to use downward even strokes. begin with the legs, then work your way up. for the face, mix the tanner with your favorite face moisturizer. blend it into your hairline, neck and decollete.

4. Let it dry. allow a 5-10 minutes to dry before getting dressed etc...you don't want to stain your clothing. a trick i always do to make sure i don't have orange palms is to rinse the palms of my hands only and dab with a towel. your tan should last a little less than a week. keep your skin moisturized to keep the color fresh:)

My picks:

L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Tinted Sunless tanner

California Tan Sunless tanner

Jergen's Natural Glow Daily moisturizer

Re-Gift 101

If a present doesn't quite tickle your fancy, do not feel guilty by passing it on. If you choose to "re-gift" there is a certain procedure to follow...try these tips and ideas:

• try to wrap a re-gifted item with a new purchase. Buy nice bath bubbles to go with a nail polish set that you received.


• try to organize all re-gift items in one place. you can even organize the items by writing the name of the person who gave it TO you so you don't GIVE back to the original person who gave it to you--A BIG no-no!


• try to re-gift items with in a 6-12 month period. if you wait too long, you may be giving something that has either expired (lotions, makeup, etc.) or something from last season (a tank top, summer hats, etc.)




always re-give gifts to those who do NOT know the original owner.


do not give used gifts as a re-gift. the item should be new, never opened.


• always re-wrap the present. it keeps it fresh and you will feel like you are giving something new:)


• always remove old "to" tags, cards, and/or gift receipts that may be enclosed.


• remember--it is the thought that counts!

Giving Thanks!

Thanksgiving afternoon... you have had your turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and all the fixings. You have had pie (apple and pumpkin). Right about now you are thankful your pants still fit:)

Isn't there something more to this Holiday. Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to slow down and take stock of what is really important in your life. So before the meal, or right after, while everyone is still seated, invite each guest to state something that they are thankful for. Pay special attention to the responses of the very young--their honesty may prove to be very enlightening. Gratitude can help us stop taking our life for granted. It can free us from petty annoyances and inspire us to think of other people. So why just limit ourselves to Thanksgiving? Here are a couple of suggestions to keep the good thoughts flowing throughout all the holidays and into the new year:

1) Accept, acknowledge, appreciate--try to remember the 3 A's. They should replace the 3 C's. Complaining, Condemning, and Criticizing. The 3 A's will get us much farther in developing positive relationships with co-workers, friends and family:)

2) Do something for someone else--Yes, it truly is one of the best feelings. Volunteer your services, help someone in need, give advice when you've been through it...the rewards will be immeasurable.

3) Put it all in perspective--It is often easy to lose perspective on exactly how much we DO have. It is easy to feel LESS than satisfied with your lot in life as you watch your neighbors drive up in a new car, go on an exotic vacation, and get a new remodeled kitchen...These expenses do not always equate to happiness. Remember that what you "have" is always greater than what you "need". Don't worry about "keeping up with the Jones' "...and try not to compare yourself to others...You are where you are for a reason! Strive to keep up with yourself:)

4) Focus on the positive--Keeping a positive outlook on life WILL change your entire perspective, as people have a tendency to remember the bad things as vividly as the good. One way to solve this problem is to keep a gratitude journal that differs from a traditional journal by only containing positive entries. Also, try to remember what good things came out of a seemingly bad event, such as a difficult experience that brought you and a friend closer. You are where you need to be for right now...stay positive and your next good thing will come:)

Turkey 101

follow these tips and hints for a tasty bird during the holidays.

Buy the right amount.

• try to buy at least one pound per person.

Thaw carefully.

• thaw in the refrigerator 24-48 hours. this is the easiest method. you can also try to thaw in cold water, but must change the water every thirty minutes or so.

Pre-heat your oven.

• make sure your oven is working properly. pre-heat it and if you can, test your oven temperature with an oven thermometer.

Prep Appropriately

• always remove bags, or insides to turkey. always wash the turkey and pat dry.


• massage with butter, margarine, or olive oil--especially under the skin.


• season the meat with whatever seasons you choose. season liberally.


• cut veggies, onion, and garlic and put in roasting pan--these will make delicious drippings for gravy.


• if you want, put some garlic cloves under the skin for a nice flavor!

Roast right.

• Roast the turkey until its internal temperature reaches 165°F. insert a thermometer in the thickest part of the breast away from the bone.

Be careful with leftovers.

• try to pack turkey away in airtight containers or bags within 2 hours. refrigerate it, covered, and use it within three to four days (two days for stuffing and gravy).

BtoB 101: 5 Min. Face

Less is More:)
I have seen it all. Crusty old items in the makeup collection, items you don't use anymore, 5 million colors of eyeshadow. Keep it basic...Please!
Working women and mothers of the world...hope is not lost and your face does not have to go bare because of the lack of time in a day to look our best.


Remember the 5 items of makeup you should get and hold on to for a 5 min. fresh face everyday:)
makeup
-->concealer
-->pressed power
-->bronzer/blush
-->lipstick/lipgloss
-->mascara (optional)

tools
-->eyelash curler
-->blush brush

1. Always prep your skin (see post on 7/19/07) properly for makeup to look its best
2. Apply concealer (1 shade lighter than your skin) to cover dark circles under the eye
3. Apply from the inner corner to the outer corner of the eye--extending past the corners of the eye
4. Press the pressed powder (should be a translucent color that matches the skin one shade darker) under the eyes where you just applied the concealer
5. Apply pressed powder to the rest of the face--all over
6. Apply bronzer or blush to the apples of the cheeks and on the eyelides (to take the place of eyeshadow--which is only necessary for special occasions:)
7. Curl your eyelashes
8. Apply a quick coat of mascara
9. Apply some lip gloss and /or lipstick

YOUR done--and your 5 min. face is in full effect!

Diapers, Basically...

I f you haven't heard yet...This info is a golden nugget! I found a new and yes, basic way to diaper my son. After suffering a terrible diaper rash, I investigated other diapering options--CLOTH! Hmm, sounds old and out of date. I know, you are thinking, Grandma! NO! Cloth diapering is not what it used to be. Many people imagine that cloth diapering takes the form of a big piece of cloth that you have to fold and pin and pull on plastic pants. While those items are still available, modern cloth diapering takes on a new form.

There are all-in-one diapers, pocket diapers, fitted diapers, and more! All-in-one diapers go on and off easily like a disposable and usually fasten with velcro type closures. Some popular brands are Bumkins and Kushies. However, my life changed when I heard of the "Pocket" cloth diapers are my favorite and are easy to use.

Pocket/Envelope diapers are probably the most popular cloth diaper today. They feature a stay dry layer that is against the baby's skin so the baby feels dry when the diaper is wet. On the outside of the diaper there is a waterproof layer. After washing the diaper an absorbent insert is placed into the pocket or envelope type opening. Then the pocket diaper is fastened onto the baby with snaps or a velcro closure.

While pocket/envelope diapers typically have a higher price tag, they do have a high resale value. Because the pocket diapers and the inserts come apart they dry much quicker than all-in-ones. Some popular versions of pocket/envelope diapers are Fuzzi Bunz and Bumgenius...in the photo.

Cloth diapers have come a long way in the past 100 years. While many people do cloth diaper for finanacial or environmental reasons there is a growing group of people who choose cloth diapers because it is best for the baby or for the cuteness factor. You can cloth diaper a baby until potty training for as little as a few hundred dollars or you could spend thousands.

You may have to do a little more laundry, but the pros will definitely outweigh the cons...Trust this! This is definitely a Back to Basics, but it is such a great ide--it makes sense financially, health wise and is environmentally friendly.