Be A "Green" Goddess

Earth Day is almost upon us. Time to think "green". (If we aren't already.)  If we all make one small change it would have a tremendous impact on our planet! 

Here are some ideas for you. Take one and make a difference!! 

Turn off your lights. 

Spend more time outdoors. It will remind you of what's at stake. 

Pass on the paper towels at home--use cloth instead. Think of the trees you're saving. 

Find new uses for old things. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Even my second graders get this. 

Use cloth bags instead of paper to carry your groceries. My local store just started offering some pretty cool ones. 

Unplug charging devices when you're not using them. 

Start gardening. (I love it!) You'll raise nutritional food and cut down on petroleum-based fertilizers and cross-country distribution use of fuel. 

Walk (or bike) instead of drive whenever you can. Also car-pool.

Clean your fridge coils for better productivity.

Wash clothes in cold water. 

Buy things that will last. 

BYOB of water. 

 Get the picture? I could list so many more but I think I've given you enough to get started. Try making "green" your favorite color!

Wordless Wednesday

Getting ready to start her 5K. (84 years young!)

Thought for the Day

I saw this quote and wanted to share it with you. 

"I’ve learned that happiness comes in different forms. It can be found in the blackest thunderclouds or when the earth is withering from heat. It is also in the warm rays of the sun in the midst of pouring rain. It is in the first green leaf of spring peeping out of the cracked bud of a poplar tree. It is in the little white petal working itself out on a branch of an apple tree. It is in the darkness of the night sky with thousands of twinkling stars. It is in the tender look of a loved one. It looks out through shining eyes in family photographs." 

It is everywhere 
find happiness right where you stand! 

 Lidia Evgenevna Shmakova

10 Tips For Spring and Bare Feet

Here are some tips on 
"How To Get Fabulous Feet".  

1. Soak your feet for about ten minutes. 

2. Pat feet dry. 

3. Clip toenails straight across or file with an emery board (but wait until toenails are completely dry). 

4. Using a pumice stone, remove any rough areas. 

5. Massage cuticle area with a little oil or moisturizer.

 6. Gently push back cuticles. 

7. Apply foot cream/lotion and massage into each foot. 

8. Remove any excess lotion. 

9. If you wish to apply polish put a small amount of polish on your brush; paint one stroke down the center of your nail. Stroke the sides of the nail and you are done. 

 10. Wait until polish is set and then apply the top coat. Don't skip this step as it not only adds life to your pedicure, it will protect your nails as well.

Now to put on some cute flip flops or sandals and you're ready to go!!

No More Skin Excuses

Here are some bad habits that can play havoc with your complexion. 

 *Skipping suncreen—The primary culprit behind aging. The best way to keep skin looking youthful-- wear sunscreen with a SPF of 30 that’s labeled broad-spectrum. It should contain either avobenzone, helioplex,mexoryl,,titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. 

*Not removing your make-up—the 2 minutes it takes to remove your make-up and cleanse your face helps ensure good skin for years. Sleeping with your make-up on can result in enlarged pores and acne. 

 *Not exfoliating—Getting rid of dead cells helps soften wrinkles and brightens your skin. Watch out for aggressive scrubs that can cause redness and irritation. (walnut shells) Exfoliate just once or twice a week. 

 *Using hot water—high temps strip skin of its natural oils causing dryness. If you can’t give up your hot shower,wash your face first with lukewarm water and keep it out of the shower stream.

 *Using outdated beauty products—Replace eye products at least every 6 months. Sunscreen is usually effective for 3 years if stored correctly. (away from high temps) 

 *Ignoring your neck—like your face, your neck is vulnerable to UV damage. It’s also a good idea to moisturize your neck when you moisturize your face.

Wordless Wednesday

This is a Zorse--cross between a horse and a zebra!

DIY Pedicare

                                      
Sandal weather is finally here! Are your tootsies looking their best? Here are some tips to give yourself a pedicure at home. It feels so good and your feet will look great! I love, love a pedicure!!

     Take a bowl or dishpan and fill it with warm to hot water. Give yourself the hottest water your feet can take for optimum softening of the tough heel skin, and to promote relaxation. 
    While feet are wet, use a foot scrub to soften the calluses built up during everyday exercise and ordinary tasks. Be gentle. If the tough skin on your feet has been building up over a few years, realize that it may take a few weekly pampering pedicures to bring your feet back to softness. If feet are really rough, a pumice stone will also help. 
    Rinse foot scrub off feet. Feet can soften in the footbath for a total of about five minutes, or until water is too cool for enjoyment. Gently dry off feet with a towel. 
   While skin and nails are soft, take a few minutes to gently push back toe nail cuticles with an angled cuticle stick. Use big toe nail clippers to cut toe nails straight across. Don’t clip them too short for this can cause problems with ingrown toe nails as the cut nails grow back. 
    Now for the foot massage. If you are giving yourself a pedicure, don't skip this step. Massaging feet increases blood circulation, relaxes muscles and relieves aches and pains. Any lotion or cream will do but using a peppermint oil foot cream brings added benefits: the peppermint also promotes blood circulation in the foot, and overpowers lingering foot odor. 
   When polishing toe nails start with a clear base coat. This will help to prevent yellowing on the toenails resulting from dark polish painted directly on the nail. Two coats of color will help the nails stay attractive for up to two weeks. Finish with a protective top coat to keep your pedicure looking great. If you are really creative, you could add some nail art before your last top coat!

    You can do this anytime and it doesn't cost much. Win win!!

Baths That Heal

     Relaxation can come in many forms and for some a warm bath at the end of a long day can be just what the doctor ordered. Baths can do more than just relieve stress. They can be wonderfully healing as well. Here are 8 baths that heal.


Apple Cider Vinegar Bath: This helps relieve sore muscles, itchy skin, and sunburn. Vinegar helps draw pollutants out of the body. It is an acid medium and contains alpha hydroxy acids. It is also mildly antiseptic, antifungal and naturally deodorizing.  

Athlete’s Bath: Epsom salts help to reduce inflammation to relieve the aches and pains from muscle cramps and works as a muscle relaxer. Sea salts are loaded with natural minerals and nutrients. Soaking in sea salts helps to remove the latic acid build up that occurs in sore muscles. Mix ½ cup Epsom salts with 1/8 cup sea salt. 

Baking Soda Bath: This alkalinizing and detoxifying bath can help calm allergic reactions, chicken pox, eczema, hives, itchy skin, insect bites, poison ivy, sunburn, and fungal infections. Use one pound per bath.

 Cold and Flu Bath: fill your bath tub up with some warm water. Next toss five cold and flu tea bags, five peppermint tea bags, and one cup of Epsom salt directly into your bath tub filled with warm water and allows these ingredients to mix together. 

Dry Skin Bath: One of the oldest home remedies for dry skin is an oatmeal bath. When you are using a bath as your in-home dry skin therapy,soak only for 15 to 20 minutes,and when you are ready to dry yourself off, don't towel dry briskly. Instead, pat your body dry so as not to strip too many of the natural oils off. Powdered milk, also, is a wonderful dry skin therapy for the bath. Just add enough to give the water a fine milky appearance and soak in it for 15 to 20 minutes. 

Epsom Salts Bath: This method is lymphatic cleansing, relaxing for sore muscles, softening to the skin, and detoxifying after bodywork. Epsom salts help to get drugs, chemicals and pollutants out of body. Epsom salt can assist in blood circulation, aid in wound healing, remove foot odor, soften your skin and increase your strength and stamina. Those with diabetes, hypertension or heart disease should rinse off after the bath. If pregnant do not use Epsom salts. 

Itchy Skin Bath: To calm itchy skin, resulting from insect bites, chicken pox, and poison ivy, try using bath additives like oils, milks, clays, and baking soda to soothe itch. Avoid salts and other drying bath additives, which will leave the skin feeling dry. Oatmeal baths will also help to soothe itchy skin Keep soothing baths tepid, rather than hot, and remember to gently pat, not rub, dry and moisturize afterwards. 

*Oatmeal Bath: This calms irritated skin, poison ivy, dermatitis, high blood pressure, and stress, It is very simple to grind plain uncooked oatmeal in the blender or food processor to make a bath powder. Or tie 1/2 cup into a bath bag. 

Sunburn Bath: Adding black tea, or apple cider vinegar to a cool bath eases burns.


 *To use uncooked oatmeal for the bath, simply tie a large handful into a washcloth and secure. If you have a stash of clean lost “single” socks, those also work great for bath bags. Use the filled cloth to scrub your body as you deeply inhale the benefits. Your plumbing would prefer that you not allow bulky material to go down the drain.

     I have used the Baking Soda bath on my children when their skin was irritated. I have also used Epsom Salts for sore muscles. I'm anxious to try adding some Sea Salt with the Epsom Salts next time.

     Have you tried any of these?

Wordless Wednesday

Playing with my new Lensbaby Velvet.