Sunday, April 30, 2017

Spoonk Sleep Induction and Pain Control Acupressure Massage Combo Mat Set Review + ($87) Giveaway!–Ends May 17, 2017

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**


Spoonk mat roll.jpeg
You even get a carrying/storage case for your mat.


Whether you are too stressed to sleep or suffering from muscular pain, it’s horrible to suffer and just lay waiting for your meds or morning to kick in.  However, I was recently introduced to a helpful product through this review and giveaway called the Spoonk Acupressure Mat that works by stimulating those targeted painful spots on your nervous system much like the pressure of fingers to bring on relief through acupressure.



unrolled mat.jpeg
There is a lot of help in this Spoonk mat.


This mat is made of all natural materials in the USA from CertiPur-US ECO foam that is non-toxic as well as fire resistant with stimulation points out of ABS and hemp plastic.  The company was gracious enough to send me two of their regular size mats and a groove ball for this review for myself and my mother to try for own unique issues.

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Here's what the stimulation points look like close up.


Doubters may think that acupressure can’t possibly be effective, but I firmly believe in the difference it can make.  I have used Bonnie’s Prudden’s method of acupressure for erasing muscles that have gone into spasms to become trigger points ever since I had a TMJ problem to get rid of pain, which it does quite well.   The Spoonk mat has 6210 acupressure stimulation points that once you lay down help increase circulation enough to relax tight muscles and lessen pain.  

You can’t press a sore bone forcefully against this mat, the Spoonk needs to work through the padding that makes the skin to reach those points. 


purple Spoonk mat.jpeg
Spoonk mats come in a variety of colors!


I’m going to tell you something funny about the first time we used our Spoonk mats.  After we finished photographing the products, I unrolled those mats out for us to test.  My mother decided she was just going to start laying on hers while I was putting the camera and things away.  All of a sudden, she commented how her back area was starting to feel wonderfully warm.  She kept repeating how soothing the warmth felt for her arthritis compared to rubbing with a pain cream.  Anyway, I hear her tell me to hurry and come try this, but I said that I will get there as soon as I finish with my task.  The next thing I knew, I was hearing snoring. My mother fell asleep on the Spoonk within no more than twenty minutes!

When I tried the Spoonk, I didn’t feel the heat as soon as my mother did.  Instead, I felt a slight tingling initially and then a few minutes later, and I understood what she meant by that wonderful warmth from laying on top of those stimulation points.  It really did ease a stiff back and relax not just sore muscles, but the body and mind as a whole.  


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Spoonk Grove Ball is good help for hands or feet.


We also got a Spoonk groove ball that has those stimulation points all over it like a man-made blue porcupine.  These points are sharp but are soft once your body is positioned against them like the mat, but target pain better than you may ever believe.  My mother has arthritis in her hands and squeezing that ball was so much more comforting than another squeeze ball that her doctor recommended.  


Grove Ball.jpeg
Spoonk Grove Ball really does better than the smooth squeeze balls.

You are advised to use the Spoonk for as little as five minutes if you want to recharge your tired body for some extra energy during your day.  Those times when you’re under a lot of stress or the pain starts to kick in, a 25 minute break can help since those stimulation points can release happy endorphins.  Before bed, try 35-45 minutes to bring on deeper sleep.

Anyone can use the Spoonk, but if you’re pregnant, have high blood pressure, take blood thinners, have a heart problem or sensitive skin, you may want to check with your physician first before using.

With deepest sincerity, if you hurt or under stress, feel exhausted, I can’t tell you how much we love the Spoonk mat.  With Mother’s Day’s almost here and Father’s Day just around the corner, you couldn’t give a more helpful gift to mother, dad as well as yourself than Spoonk.   Once you try this yourself, you will be a believer too.  This I am certain.

Thanks to Spoonk, one lucky Nuts 4 Stuff reader in the continental United States wins 
a Spoonk combo mat set of a large size mat, a travel mat, carrying bag, and a groove ball ($86.98 total value)!


Giveaway details and how to enter–


Prize: One (1) winner from the continental USA will win a Spoonk Combo mat set that includes a large size mat, a travel mat, carrying bag, and a groove ball ($86.98 value!)

Dates of entry: 04/30/17–05/17/17 at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time

Eligibility: Open to the continental USA.  No PO Boxes.  The winner will need to respond to my email with name and shipping address within 48-hours or another winner will be picked.  

How to Enter:  Please use the Rafflecopter widget if it works.  You can also enter by clicking this link or try to enter using another browser. You can return daily and log in again with your email to tweet or to vote daily for Nuts 4 Stuff on Picket Fence Blogs.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, April 29, 2017

How to Better Tackle Hard Water Stains in Your Toilet Bowl!

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If you live in an area with hard water, you got to try this cleaning tip because it does work!


In my opinion, cleaning the bathroom is the worst job that I can think of.  I hate the smell of those strong, nauseating disinfectants when you have to scrub the tiles, tub and sink.  Still, there is something even more disgusting and we all know what that involves–cleaning the toilet bowl!  

Despite how often I clean that toilet and all the Sani-flush, bleach, and other various cleaners that I have dumped into that porcelain bowl, some stain is always left because of how hard our water is here. Regardless of how vigorously I scrub with my toilet brush or change products, I always feel defeated because some degree of that stain wins.

Friday, April 28, 2017

For a Mistake Proof Sun-Kissed Glow--PUR Marble Powder Bronze Review!

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**



Marble Powder Bronze.jpeg
If you've been making mistakes buying bronzers, PUR's Marble Powder Bronze is worth looking into.


Bronzers can be just as difficult as foundation for finding your ideal match.  Some shades may look suitable in the compact, but once you start applying they can fool you by being overly heavy on the orange, muddy looking or far too shimmery.  With the new one from PUR Minerals that I sampled lately, you can adjust the depth and color of bronze that you want with their Marble Powder Bronze for a mistake proof bronze look.

The interesting thing about PUR’s Mineral Powders is that each multidimensional compact can be slightly different as far as tone and color, which give you all that more control of  shade and the extent of the glow that you’re seeking.  Instead of one flat color, you can use this one compact to contour and brighten.

The Marble Powder Bronze I received was randomly speckled with browns and pink-beige pigments that once swirled really had a lovely effect.  I pulled out my PUR Blurring Powder Brush for this because it made it easier to target sections of that compact where I needed without overloading the brush for application.

I loved customizing the amount of sun-kissed radiance from this paraben and Bisphenol A (BPA) free bronzing powder.  To me, it saves you making a bad color choice because this one has various shades.  You just need to find the right spots for your perfect glow with a subtle gleam.

Anyone that keeps regretting buying one wrong bronzer after the next should try PUR’s Marble Powder Bronze ($23.50)  because it does make bronzing foolproof!  Check it out.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

John Frieda Salon Shape Hot Air Brush Review--Upping Your Mother’s Day Beauty!

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**


John frieda hot air brush box.jpeg
You'll like what you can do with this product.




It’s that time of year when you want to do something spectacular with your hair for a fresh look. Whatever style you’re going for, you want your hair frizz-free with as much shine and volume that you can possibly get. A product that can help with that task is John Frieda’s Salon Shape Hot Air Brush that PR sent for this review.

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This helps eliminate frizz.

This brush isn’t meant to dry your hair like your hair dryer.  You could probably do that, but it is recommended for putting final touches to your hair after it is mostly dry (80%). With its ionic generator, this styling tool is great for creating smoothness to eliminate frizziness by how it flattens the hair cuticles.  It also has ceramic and titanium technology built in for giving hair extra shine and increased thermal protection. 

The barrel of this brush is 1-1/2 inches and it has 500 watts of power, two settings for heat, besides the cool setting for locking in the fullness.    I forgot to mention it also has a long cord that swivels for better access to electric outlets as well as maneuvering.

I have thick hair that has some layers cut in to take advantage of my natural curl.  I started on the high setting to turn my hair under initially before I changed to the lower heat just for a few minutes because it was at the right stage to finish with the cool button.  I am happy to report that once I partially dried my hair and experimented with the Salon Shape Hot Air Brush, I loved how the layers seemed to separate and puff out more than when blow drying with two different size ceramic brushes.

With how much extra volume that I noticed in my thick hair, I can only imagine how beneficial this tool could be for someone with thin or fine hair.  Honestly, if you thought your fine hair was doomed to hang flat and limp, then try this John Frieda Salon Shape Hot Air Brush because it will surprise you in a nice way for you to gift yourself with or that special lady for Mother’s Day.  Check it out!

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Ideal Makeup Colors That Will Best Flatter Redheads!


redheaded woman.jpeg
This beauty knows how to make her coloring and hair work to her advantage.


There was a time when I totally changed my look.  I went from brunette to redhead.  I didn’t go to any extreme like bright ginger, but wanted something different that could work with my skin tone.  So I dared to step out of my comfort zone and had my hair colored a true auburn.  In order to rock that new version of me, I found that the makeup shades I was using as a brunette had to go if I intended to make most of it.

Therefore, I went shopping with my makeup artist friend, who steered me in the right direction.  Her first suggestion was switching out my bold black eyeliner and mascara for deep brown eyeliner and brown-black for the mascara.  Olive or plum shades for eyeshadow were another, which really worked some beautiful magic. For lips, she advised me to stay with pinks and berry shades and forget any colors that were too orange or had too much coral.  

Once I got home and started experimenting with those new cosmetics, I saw at once where she was going with those recommendations.  My old makeup might have made me clash or been too overpowering for the softness needed to really compliment the red in my hair. 

You’re probably thinking why I went back to my original hair color if I thought this red shade was so great.  I wore it for a while, but after a time I wanted to reinvent myself yet again with a different hairstyle and color, which meant I went back to brunette again–-at least for now.  

Who knows when I will next feel the urge to totally revamp my look?  After all, the fun of beauty is being adventurous and trying out new looks with products and styles to help us do just that.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

PUR Afterglow Illuminating Powder Review

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**


Afterglow powder.jpeg
You'll love what Afterglow can do for your face!


The easiest way to create the illusion of a beautiful complexion is to direct light on the skin to imitate a natural glow as it streams over the face.  Since I believe your skin can never have enough inner radiance, I was glad to try PUR Minerals Afterglow Illuminating Powder that PR sent along.

This is an ivory-beige toned shimmery powder that has some warm, yellow undertones to the formula that includes shea butter and the company’s anti-aging Ceretin Complex among its ingredients. 

Furthermore, no animals were harmed through torturous testing to bring this product to market.  It also is free of parabens and Bisphenol A (BPA).

However, the product does have a lot of soft pearly glow to it, which is beautiful against the skin, but reminds more of a highlighting powder for emphasizing certain places on the face than an illuminator for blurring all over the face to minimize imperfections.  

You don’t need to worry about Afterglow disappearing on you through your day.  I had it on from early morning until I took it off before dinner and it still looked just as good as when I first put it on.

This PUR product is great and I do love it, but will be using it solely as a highlighting powder, which is perfect to me.  If you’re hunting for a new product to get that glow to your skin, check out Afterglow Illuminating Powder ($25) at the company’s website!

Monday, April 24, 2017

Put Your Best Face Forward This Mother’s Day--Stemulation Luxury Skin Care Facial Serum and Daily Micro Derm Scrub Review

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**


face serum.jpeg
Stem cells power up this Stemulation anti-aging formula.


I am fortunate to have great skin, but it wasn’t always the case.  I used to have trouble with an oily complexion and occasional breakouts like everyone else and then my skin began undergoing changes with dryness and fine lines. Today, I want to tell you about Stemulation, a luxury skin care line that uses stem cells from bone marrow (Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells) for their rejuvenating power to beautify an aging complexion.

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Fuego Box April 2017 Review

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**


Fuego Box April 2017.jpeg
I never was aware of so many different varieties of hot sauces existed until Fuego Box.


Happy days are here again with the arrival of my latest Fuego Box.  This month’s savory trio of spicy heat from the hot sauce subscription brought more unique ways to fire up the tongue with flavor.

If you also love your foods extra hot, then you need to check out Fuego Box because it has the best unusual, small-batch, artisan hot sauces that I have come across.  Trust me, you can’t easily find what this subscription box puts together in your typical grocery store because these come from all over the country. The cost is $29.95 per quarter with free shipping.  You also get an informational card about the sauces and recommended foods to go along with each sauce.  Furthermore, you can also buy one box at time for just $12.95 with a $5.00 shipping fee.

April brought Maple Oatmeal Stout Craft Beer Hot Sauce from the Butterfly Bakery of Vermont.  This is a medium heat  jalapeno pepper-based sauce that has oatmeal stout, maple syrup along with white vinegar and spices.  For someone that hates to drink beer, I wasn’t sure that I would care for this mildly sweet sauce. However, it was really delicious on my scrambled eggs.  Next, I plan trying some on a veggie burger later today.

Hoff Sauce is a tasty everyday jalapeno with habanerno pepper sauce that has nice nip to it.  This one is quite hot, but won’t burn the inside of your mouth so much that you’ll miss its fantastic flavor.  

Finally, I found a yellow colored one with turmeric called No. 23 from Corine’s Cuisine, which was quite different.  This one also has Scotch bonnet peppers, lots of garlic, shallots as well in its savory mix. I sampled this one for the first time on my cheese sandwich and it was quite good.

Honestly, if you love hot sauce, Fuego Box is wonderful with what you can experience.  In fact, this hot sauce subscription makes a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift if that special lady likes to turn up the heat of her food.

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Recipe: My Choco-Peanut Butter Banana Cream Pie Offers a Unique Marriage of Flavors That Is Out-of-This World Delicious!



Choco-Peanut Butter Banana Cream pie.jpeg
This pie is a one way to enjoy so many awesome flavors.


Did you ever have one of those days when you’re craving a few different things at the same time when you’re about to bake and couldn’t decide?  Well, I was in the mood for something chocolate.  Then, I thought a peanut butter goodie would be great until I looked over to my fruit bowl with bananas that were getting overly ripe.  Therefore, I thought why not invent something using all delicious ingredients into a cream pie? The result was today’s recipe.

Friday, April 21, 2017

Mally Beauty Effortlessly Airbrushed Blush and Highlighter (Pretty Pink, Stardust) Review

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**


Blush and highlighter.jpeg
These Mally Beauty glow-getters can really help your look.


Blush and lipstick are two beauty essentials that I would be hard pressed to live without. I couldn’t go a day without them for the life that they can return to a pale face.  Unless you are fortunate to wake up with perfect coloring, you might not value the importance of those products in the same way as the rest of us that need to help our beauty along.  Now it’s easy to understand why I am so smitten with a new one from Mally Beauty with her Effortlessly Airbrushed Blush and Highlighter that PR sent me recently.

Pretty Pink is a cooler, deeper pink, a blend of mauve and magenta. Stardust is a shimmery champagne shade.   At first glance, I thought the color might overwhelm my fair coloring until I tried it with that double-ended brush I found inside.  

I used the black end that had slightly more hairs and would be less for the dark pigment to stain in comparison to the white end when working with this blush.  What I did was apply it sparingly and gradually built it up until this silky powder with a creamier feel than you might expect melded into my skin with enough of that dramatic color to look as it always has been a part of me.  Actually, the effect of this deep pink against my light skin and dark hair was more flattering than I expected.  

The small round with that Stardust highlighter was simply gorgeous once I dusted some on.  I used the white end of my brush for this highlighter. I hardly used much because this packs a lot of glow so keep that in mind, but it was nice for emphasizing cheekbones.

This three-piece Effortlessly Airbrushed Blush and Highlighter set that you can find at ULTA Beauty is a nice value at $35.  At Mally Beauty the Effortlessly Airbrushed Blush alone is $24. Check it out!

Thursday, April 20, 2017

PUR HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation (Light) Review + Swatch

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**


HydraFluid Foundation.jpeg
You'll love the fresh coverage and weightless feel this foundation has.



Given the fact that I have a dry complexion, I was eager to try PUR HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation. The idea of a serum enriched foundation to boost the skin’s radiance through an enriched encapsulated water complex formula intrigued me that I had to see for myself what this product could do.

What else is interesting is that HydraFluid ($39) has no oil, but PUR’s Ceratin Complex as well as that Swiss Alps-sourced mineral water for improving skin’s overall smoothness as it firms and lifts.  The formula also has aloe vera and free radical fighting, vitamin E for healing and soothing, but no actual sunscreen.

Something else that is different is the long clear slender tip that this foundation has compared to a wider mouth bottle or pump dispenser that releases more than a drop at a time.  This prevents any waste of pouring or pumping out too much foundation, which I thought was great.  However, impatient ladies may think the slow way this product comes out takes too long.

Light was the best color for me among the five shades in this line.  It has some warmth, but not overly peach as you will see from my swatch.


swatch of HydraFluid foundation.jpeg
Here is the Light shade that I swatched.


Once I sampled it, I was amazed at how lightweight HydraFluid felt on my skin.  Instead, it reminded me more of a BB cream that perfected and smoothed the look of my face.  The only difference was this foundation has a thinner consistency than BB cream or your typical liquid foundation.  Still, it certainly delivered with wonderful hydrating coverage that left me with a beautiful dewy finish that held up without settling into my laugh lines or disappointing me through the rest of my day.

If you need coverage, but hate how most foundations bog your skin down and are searching for a product capable of making you look fresh and natural, give PUR HydraFluid Water Serum Foundation a shot, especially if have dry skin.  I'm betting that you will love it once you do!

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

How Not to Need So Many Different Shades of Foundation to Match Your Skin Each Season!

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This tip can save money and the health of your skin to keep it beautiful.


Who doesn’t have this problem of needing different shades of foundation just to match their current skin color?  Depending on the season, we can be palest in the winter when our skin isn’t exposed much to the elements.  The more the weather warms, the more our complexions start to pick up more color until reaching our darkest shade in the summer.  

However, there are ways to save money and accumulating too many foundations at one time that you might want to try.  Spending less is always great, but more importantly is how much healthier you can keep your skin since using old foundations could subject it to products compromised with bacteria.  Decluttering your makeup bag or vanity also makes your life run smoother with fewer unneeded products to root through.

What you might want to do is to take your normal shade foundation, a liquid highlighter and a shimmery liquid bronzer.  When your skin is the palest in the winter, adding a drop of the liquid highlighter can help give the foundation a healthier glow.  The same goes when your complexion darkens more as the weather heats up.  Just add a drop of the bronzer to change and warm up the foundation. Self-adjusting these products can get you by through the seasons once you see how easy it is alter that foundation shade.

Another suggestion that I found helpful is buying two bottles of liquid foundations (the typical light shade you would use and the foundation shade that you would normally wear when your skin darkens through summer).  All you need to do is to take a few drops of each in the palm of your hand.  By custom mixing the two foundations together, you can experiment with the number of drops needed to find that perfect shade. 

I hope you try this because it saves both on your beauty budget and the health of your complexion!

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

NEW One’n Only Argan Oil Facial Skin Care Line Review

*Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**

argan oil skin care line.jpeg
You might want to check out these affordable anti-aging products.


Maintaining a beautiful complexion can get pricey as we all know.  However, I recently became acquainted with a very affordable line from One’n Only Argan Oil with their new launch of facial skin care products that deserve your attention.

Their Argan Oil Cream Cleanser ($9.99) is gentle enough to remove stubborn makeup while lavishing the skin with creamy moisture from argan oil as well as a fruit derived AHA + Peptide Complex.  This cleanser is one that you tissue off before rinsing away and washing.  Those with dry skin such as mine would really like the way this product got rid of daily makeup grime and soothed the skin.

Monday, April 17, 2017

Mally Beauty Glowing Goddess Luminizer and Stippling Brush Review–For Enviable Skin That You’ll Love!

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**



Luminizer.jpeg
This luminizer helps skin to appear naturally fresh and lit from within.
If you want a secret trick product that can help brighten to make your complexion look younger, it is highlighter to lift and wake up certain sections of the face.  One that I think is a great find is Mally Beauty’s Glowing Goddess Luminizer that I have been obsessed with lately for how naturally it can make light play off the skin.

This Glowing Goddess Luminizer ($29) is a lightweight powder complete with vitamins and antioxidants that gives the skin delicate sheen, not overloading it with obvious chunks of glitter. As a result, I thought my complexion looked fresh and alive like it sprang from within judging by that dewy finish this highlighter was capable of.  The color is universal, basically a nearly transparent ray of golden light that any skin tone can benefit from for working its magic.
  

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Why You Might Want to Change the Way You Part Your Hair Occasionally!

thinking pretty brunette.jpeg
This beauty listened intently to safeguard her lovely hair.

We all tend to have a favorite way to part our hair.  Maybe you feel that when your hair divides in a certain place to part that it best compliments you.  While this may be true, there is something else that may cause you to suddenly want to try a new part.

According to one hair study, years of parting your hair in the same place can take a toll.  Continual abuse of running your comb through one section of the scalp can create enough stress to actually widen the area.  

I don’t know about you, but I would like to avoid extra scalp showing on my head.  Therefore, I plan on also changing my part every now and then!  

Friday, April 14, 2017

For a Beautiful Journey Into 17th Century France--Le Couvent des Minimes Botanical Products Review–A Gift She Would Love This Mother’s Day!

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**



Le Couvent des Minimes products.jpeg
These products make you feel like you were returned to the past.


Our lives are so fast-paced that it can be hard to imagine a world without all our modern technology.  Though as wonderful as that can be, it also can be stressful.  Yet, what if I told you I sampled some plant-based beauty that made me feel like I fell through a portal in time.  Sampling the assortment of Le Couvent des Minimes took me back to another age when life was slower and far less complicated with the simple luxury their plant-based products provided.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

ConairPRO Silk Tools 1" Curling Iron Review–Lasting Curls for Mother’s Day Beauty!

**Disclaimer:  This post has been compensated through a free product (s) or monetary payment.  Opinions are solely mine. All links are "no-follow" links.**



ConairPRO Silk Tools Curling Iron box.jpeg
This iron really locks in curls exceptionally well.

Are you looking to banish drooping curls from spoiling your look?  If so, I have a solution for you with my new curling iron that arrived.  The ConairPRO Silktools 1" Curling Iron that I tried can really lock in curls enough that you can sleep on them and forget about reinforcing those curls in the morning!  Now how often can you say, this happens?

What makes this particular spring-type curling iron special is its unique silk fabric complex on its barrel that has both silicone and Teflon for protecting hair while better directing the heat where you need it.  The end result is smoother, full-bodied one-inch curls that really last.


ConairPRO Silk Tools 1" Curling Iron.jpeg
This iron retails for $49.99.


The temperatures on this iron can go from the gentlest setting of 285F for fine hair to 430F for coarse, thick hair.  Furthermore, this iron does heat up quickly, which is another plus.  In addition, it has a long cord for easier maneuvering and a non-slip cool tip just in case you get too close.

As much as I loved the supreme curling power of this iron, I have to admit the spring to hold the hair in place could have been tighter.  My hair did have a tendency to slip out at times.  

Also, this iron does have a built-in stand to hold it up, but it is much shorter than I would like compared to my much higher, Hot Tools curling iron for trusting by itself on the wood of my vanity.     

Yet, you can’t help love the awesome curling power of this ConairPRO Silktools 1" Curling Iron. Mother’s Day is only a few weeks away. Now is the time to start thinking of a great gift for your mother or you and that perpetual problem of what you’re going to do with your hair.  The ConairPRO Silktools Curling Iron can help so be sure to find it at Sally Beauty!  

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

My DIY Cleansing Scrub Recipe Wonderfully Exfoliates!


Exfoliation is very important if you want to get fresh skin cells to surface whether to your face or body.  The recipe that I’m about to share with you can be used on your face, provided you don’t use too much pressure in scrubbing. Remember, you want to be gentle with rubbing because cornmeal does have irregular edges that can slough off skin, but also cut it if you work it too hard or often.  However, your skin can benefit from these kitchen cleansing grains if you use a light hand.

Though you can use old-fashioned or quick oats straight from the container, I prefer to take out the food processor or blender and give the oats a whirl.  This makes a finer powder than the chunkier oats for this recipe.

I hope you give this scrub recipe of mine your own home test and see how nicely it works to improve your skin as it has helped mine.  

My DIY Cleansing Scrub

2 tablespoons of cornmeal 
2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon of oatmeal
1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil
1 teaspoon of wheat germ oil

All I do is mix some together and it’s ready to use.  

Don’t try storing it because it won’t keep.  

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

How to Take Scuff Marks Off Your Patent Leather Shoes to Restore Their Beauty!

red patent leather shoes.jpeg
This post can help keep those gorgeous new shoes as beautiful as possible.


Don’t you hate when you get new patent leather shoes and suddenly scuff them?  Instead of living with the scuff mark, there are some ways to clean it off that work so well that you won’t ever know you had one.

Here’s what is working for me for effectively getting rid of scuffs.  You get some toothpaste (not the gel type but the white paste) and spread a dab of it on the mark.  Take a clean cloth and gently rub until it comes off. This even works for patent leather handbags.

You can try some petroleum jelly on your shoes.  This can also budge the scuff off.

My one neighbor swears how well nail polish remover can clean off a scuff.  She warns only to use very little and aim it directly over the problem.  I, however, have not tried this technique yet so I can’t vouch for how well it handled the problem personally.

Monday, April 10, 2017

A Handy Jewelry Removal Trick for Dislodging a Ring That Gets Stuck on Your Finger!

woman with hands full of rings.jpeg
Warm weather can make hands swell.  Rings can become tighter quickly.  This tip is a good one to remember.


Have you ever tried on a ring and found that it refused to budge when you tried to get it off?  If so, you probably tried plenty of soap and water to help loosen it.  However, there is an easier solution for solving this annoying problem.

The next time this happens to you, you might want to try spraying your finger with Windex.  Believe it or not, the ingredients in that window cleaner help the ring slip off surprisingly well.

If you don’t want to try the Windex method, you can also turn to butter, which also helps free you of that ring.

Hopefully, you won’t have this problem.  Still, it is always good to be prepared with a little knowledge for just in case! 

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Useful Skin Care Tips You Should Take to Heart If You Have an Oily Complexion!


My skin used to get quite oily, especially around the T-zone.  If you have an oily complexion, you know the story of how often you would be washing your face and scrubbing just to feel clean. However, I wasn’t helping the problem by what I was doing.  Therefore, I even went a step further and always followed up with a deep cleaning product.

Of course, I thought I needed more cleaning power to zap up that oil.  My belief was a strong cleaner with ingredients such as menthol or mint that you apply with a cotton ball could more thoroughly solve the problem after and in between washing my face.  

I assumed that slight tingling feeling that followed was because that cleaner was working deep into the pores, but it was a sign of irritation.  That tingling was my skin crying out in protest. Instead of improving my skin’s situation, I was overstimulating it enough to trigger more oil, not less with washing it too often and using deep cleaners that produced that refreshing sort of feeling. 

Learn by my example.  Don’t wash your face so often or trust the feel of those refreshing deep cleansers working for your skin’s benefit.  Ingredients to be wary of also are eucalyptus or any cleaner with SD or denatured alcohol.

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Try My DIY Multi-Purpose Green Cleaning Spray and Save Yourself and the Planet At the Same Time!


Kitchen ingredients such as white vinegar and baking soda are effective natural cleaning agents that I use, depending on what I want to clean.  However, I mixed up an eco-friendly cleaning spray recipe that my cousin prompted me to try that is really wonderful for tackling practically any surface.  It worked so well that I thought you would love to try it too!


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You'll save money, the environment and yourself from those harsh ingredients that could risk your health.

This cleaner will do its job to disinfect since it acts as both germicide and fungicide due to its tea tree oil.   I hope that you give it a shot because it is great to have on hand, will save you some money over the commercial versions and keep the environment healthy.

My DIY Multi-Purpose Green Cleaning Spray


5 drops of tea tree oil
4 cups of water
2 drops of lavender essential oil


Mix the ingredients together and fill one of those plastic spritz bottles to store for spraying.

Friday, April 7, 2017

Some Valuable Makeup Shopping Advice to Avoid Wrong Color Choice Mistakes!

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You'll want to read this if you want to save time and mistakes.


How many of us has the luxury of free time these days?  Usually, we end up cramming some shopping after work or during lunch breaks if we want to see the makeup we’re considering in person instead of trying to decide whether to trust images of the product online before pressing the button to order at a website.  If you’re the type that likes to see makeup and sample the shades first, then I have some helpful advice that can narrow down your chances of coming home with bad color choices.

Instead of buying a foundation or any cream or liquid cosmetics late in the day after work, try saving that chore for earlier in the day, if possible.  Mornings are usually the best time because the skin hasn’t accumulated with oil that could alter the way those cosmetics could look.  

If you can’t fit any morning makeup shopping into your schedule, you could always browse those cosmetics and brands that you’re interested in after work first, but delay the purchase until the next weekend morning when you have the opportunity to test the color on your clean, makeup-free face.  

Take a friend and before buying, wait until you get outside to see how the product looks on your face instead of inside the store.  Also, try waiting a few hours to see how this product will mesh with the oils of your skin for any color changes.  Shopping for those cosmetics this way will give you more accurate results!

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Some Ideal Makeup Tips for Aging Eyes That Can Help Soften Their Look!

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We all age, but the wrong makeup choices and techniques can make it worse.

Depending on whether you have a problem with those fine creases that have deepened, bags under your eyes along with dark circles or puffiness, you want to be careful when using eye makeup so not to make the effects of aging so obvious.  Otherwise, your eyes might look too harsh at this stage in life unless you make a few simple changes to your makeup routine.

My advice is to forget the bold, dramatic glittery shades of eye shadows in favor of matte neutrals of a light flesh tone and a darker medium brown.  The matte colors won’t shout age like the attention-getting glittery shadows that will pull eyes right to the wrinkles.

Liquid eye liners are sensational, but if you have crepe-like skin of that area, they can become your enemy and make that aging area more noticeable.  Instead, eye liner pencils give you more control for smudging and thickness to give you a softer line.

The older you get, the fewer lashes you seem to have.  Therefore, you need to make most of what you got by curling them first before thinking of mascara.  This will help stretch and lift them upward.

Your concealer placement needs to change to keep up.  Try applying just a bit of it on the outer corners of your eyes and at the inner corners next to the nose instead of a thick coat spread directly underneath the eyes.  This technique will gently lift the eyes up and lighten darkness, only in a kinder way.   

A pair of well-groomed brows can help because aging can do unexpected things to the way they suddenly look and grow.  If you never tried a clear brow gel, you might want to pick a tube up.  This can help you shape those misbehaving brow hairs back in line.

You can’t stop aging, but you can still look attractive.  All required is a little extra effort!