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4 Must-Have Natural Beauty Products to Keep in Your Bathroom

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There are countless creams on the market that are very expensive and claim to be beneficial to your skin. But the irony is that some of them are full of chemicals and additives that can be harmful to your skin in the long run. There are a few must have natural beauty products that you should definitely have in your bathroom and use on a daily basis. Here they are:

1. Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel Witch hazel is an excellent face cleanser because it is a natural astringent with anti-inflammatory properties.  Not only does it leave your skin clean but it also helps to minimize the size of your pores.

2. Cocoa Butter

51MfVGGKO-LCocoa butter is popular with women because it has been known to reduce the appearance of stretch marks–particularly when managing a growing pregnant belly. It is also useful for softening the skin and reducing the appearance of scars or dark marks if you use it regularly for an extended period of time.

3. Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is great to use on your entire body. After a shower, rehydrate your skin by applying a thin coat of it everywhere. Coconut oil can be also be combined with baking soda to brush your teeth!  If you have frizzy hair, apply some to your hair to lessen the frizz and the scalp to promote growth.

4. Shea Butter

Shea Butter

 

Shea butter is a vitamin A enriched skin and face cream that is derived from the seeds of the Shea (karite) tree. In its natural state, it looks like a yellow block of butter, but when you put some in the palm of your hand it melts right down. It can be used for sunburns, rough/dry patches on your elbows, cracked dry feet and insect bites. Rash symptoms and eczema can often be relieved with the regular use of natural shea butter — just put it on before you go to bed. Shea butter is also a natural sunscreen that African people use each day to keep their skin rich, beautiful, young-looking and protected.

If you want healthy skin, just keep these must-have natural beauty products on your bathroom counter. There is no reason to break the bank to have beautiful skin. You may find that some of your favorite commercial products contain these natural substances as the main ingredient, so why not go straight to the source!

Posted by Eve

 

Image Courtesy Flickr; lobsterstew

Create a Fun and Inspiring Kids Bedroom (Under $500)

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A good friend of mine came to me with a home designing dilemma. She needed to affordably transition her child’s bedroom to the “next level.”  She had a toddler’s bed in the room, which the child outgrew. She had a few requirements for upgrading her child’s bedroom:

– it has to be a room that a child can enjoy for years to come (that way it doesn’t have to be upgraded again for a while)

– it has to be capable of entertaining play dates and sleepovers

– it has to be inspiring and spark the child’s imagination

– the update has to be affordable ($500 or less)

– the new bedroom must be able to handle the wear and tear of a growing child

– the bedroom must create an atmosphere of fun, excitement and inspiration for a child

These are all common requests of parents with transitioning toddlers and growing school-aged children. You want them to have a fun but also inspiring place to sleep. Here are a few furniture and decor ideas for creating a fun kid’s bedroom.

Fun Time Bed!

Tent and Slide Bed for KidsIf you’re looking for a bedroom that your “rough and tumble” child will absolutely love, then this fun-time tent bed for kids is it. It’s a colorful coaster bunk bed with a slide, a tent and plenty of places to hide. It would be the perfect addition to a child’s “dream room.” Imagine sliding down the slide in the morning and having meals in the tent. Any child would look forward to bed time if this was in their room! You also save space, because the play area and bed are combined.

Here’s a second, more conservative option if you like the idea of a tent-slide bed for your child’s room, but want it to look modern.
Night Light Lamp

Doggie Night LightMost young children prefer to sleep with a night light on. Upgrade your child’s bedroom and give him or her some extra comfort with this cute night light lamp that’s also a wallpaper sticker. The lamp is shaped like a doggie’s head, so when he lights up at night your child can see a friendly face shining on the wall. The cord that goes into the outlet looks like the dog’s leash!

 

Star Gazing

Les Brown famously said “Shoot for the moon, because even if you miss you’ll land amongst the stars.”

Do you remember those long nights as a child spent staring up at the ceiling, thinking and trying not to fall asleep? When your child is in bed at night and looks up at the ceiling, let him or her see “the stars.” Add these glow in the dark star stickers to the ceiling to help inspire your child and ensure that he or she has sweet dreams.

Have fun creating a fun and inspiring kids bedroom for your child!

Posted by Eve

3 Must-Have Gardening Tools that Make Your Yard Work Easier

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The sunny and warm weather always prompts me to dust off my gardening tools and start planning this years placement for my vegetable plants and flowers.  When each new grow season begins, I like to keep up to date with the latest innovative gardening tools and accessories, to help better manage my time (I like to barbecue and have fun on Saturdays and Sundays after all).  Each season I also challenge myself to accomplish more in a day than I did the prior season. Listed below are three products that I believe are worthwhile to add to my gardening collection this year.

 

Green Giant Spiked Aerator Shoes

I LOVE flowers. They’re so fragrant and beautiful. I plan to use these spiked aerator shoes to help me break up the hard soil around my flower beds, to better assist my perennial flowers in breaking through the dirt to start their growing process sooner. By using these shoes, I will no longer have to strain my back to break up the soil.   They also have a lot of other uses around my yard, such as aerating the grass and breaking up large pieces of dirt in my vegetable garden.

 

 

Plant Cages (Pea Tunnels)

If you like to plant vine vegetables, this product will be helpful. Plant cages allow you to plant your vine vegetables in a more neat and tidy row in your garden.  This tool will allow you to grow a lot more vine vegetables this year because you’re using “vertical” space.

 
Horticultural Fruit Picker — Apple Pear Peach Picking Tools

Every season I have to climb a ladder to remove fruit from the top of my pear and apple trees.  I use to simply let them fall to the ground, but by that time they were ravaged by insects. What a waste of good fruit.  That also brought an assortment of bees along with other undesirable insects.  No more will I have to worry about that with this innovative gardening tool that picks apples, pears and peaches from high places.  Just attach it to a pole and pick the desired fruit that you want.

As you can see, having these must-have gardening tools in your garage or backyard will make working out in your hard much easier and more productive this year. Have fun working in nature!

Posted by Lorraine

3 Barbecue Grilling Must-Haves

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When spring is approaching, and 70 or 80 degree weather starts to become the norm, it triggers my desire to bring the barbecue grill out.   I don’t like using propane, so instead I use charcoal and sometimes I even use lava rocks.  What I do not enjoy is having to clean the grill after every use.  I also become frustrated when I overcook  or under cook certain meats.  That has been extremely costly in the past.  I found a few products that help rectify these issues, and they’re pretty affordable too.

BBQ Grill & Baking Mats

My first amazing find was an “As Seen on TV” product called a grill mat. It will help save me from spending countless hours in the backyard cleaning my grill grates.  They’re non-stick plates that go on top of your grill and create an easy to clean cooking surface. It’s advertised as free from harmful chemicals like PFOA. I like how it can be used indoors as well.

Barbecue Meat Thermometer

This barbecue meat thermometer solves the problem of under or overcooked meats on your barbecue grill. Use it to prepare your meats to the precise temperature you want every time.  Just stick it in your steak or burger and go on enjoying your family and the outdoors.  There’s a clear digital reading that tells you exactly when the meat is cooked to your desired temperature — you don’t have to cut the meat to check if its ready. There’s also an auto-off feature that saves energy.

Charcoal Lighter (No More Lighter Fluid)

I have always used lighter fluid in the past to light my charcoals.  The down side is that at times I have over doused the charcoal and no matter what I cooked it always tasted a bit like that fuel.  Not any more, thanks to this Rapidfire Chimney Starter. With this product I can safely and accurately light my charcoals in the canister and have an even distribution of heat throughout the grill.  Awesome!

If you’re gearing up for outdoor BBQ grilling this spring or summer, check out these three barbecue must-haves. They will allow you to enjoy your family more as well as better tasting food from the grill.

Posted by Lorraine

3 Simple Ideas to Spruce Up Your Living Room

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Every spring I like to spruce up my home by adding pops of color and new furniture that has sleek and useful designs. Just adding a new lamp, chair or table can completely change the look of your room. Here are a few key pieces that I believe will add class and style to any living room’s decor.

Cappuccino Round Accent TableCappuccino Table

I love the modern design of this cappuccino table.  It will fit in perfectly in a living room where you already have plenty of furniture.  It provides an extra table to place your laptop, iPad, coffee cup or book during hours of leisure.  You can even place the table in an open corner and adorn it with a lovely bouquet of flowers.

Cylinder Shaped Lamp

Cylinder LampI really like the cylinder shape of this lamp because it is small enough to fit into any corner.  It is tall and sleek.  You can even add colored bulbs for a more interesting night time effect in your living room.  It’s affordable enough to purchase two or three to position around your room.

Yellow Zig Zag (Charlie Brown) Throw Pillows

Yellow Zig Zag PillowsIf you need a pop of color in your living room, try these yellow throw pillows. They’re designed with an attractive zig zag pattern that looks similar to Charlie Brown’s shirt! Yellow is the color of happiness, so if you want to brighten up the atmosphere these are a good choice.  You can even transition the pillows to your outdoor patio furniture and with the UV protection on the fabric, you don’t have to worry about the fabric fading.
Consider these simple ideas to spruce up your living room. The goal is to have a place where you can feel relaxed and joyful, and have everything at your fingertips.

Spring Cleaning Made Easy: 3 Must-Have Items

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I am also open to cleaning products that will make my spring cleaning much easier.  I found some cool new products that were affordable and will help me keep my home smelling good and clean.  For the first time, I am looking for eco-friendly products and cleaning products that would not require a lot of effort to complete the job.

Rotating Spin Twist Hurricane Spinning and Shout Mop

Rotating Spin Twist Hurricane SpinningWith each passing year, it seems more difficult to clean my floors on my hands and knees.  I am thankful that there are floor cleaning systems like this Rotating Spin Twist Mop that I can use, that don’t require me to clean like I’m living in the 1800s!  Instead of manually cleaning the mop with your hands, you just put it in the tub and press the pedal to spin away the dirty water and start again. This spinning mop will cut your spring cleaning time in half.

Slipper Genie Microfiber Cleaning Slippers

Slipper GenieI really like the idea of this micro fiber cleaning slipper.  When I just want to tidy up my bathroom floor in a hurry, I’ll put a few Lysol wipes on the floor and use my own slippers to clean the floor instead of bending over. It works like a charm. These Slipper Genie Cleaning Slippers pretty much have the same idea in mind. They’re also useful for corners that your broom or mop are unable to reach. They are machine washable and come in a variety of attractive colors.

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day All Purpose Cleaner, Lavender

Lavender CleanerThis lavender all-purpose cleaner is great for cleaning your entire house.  The scent of lavender has always been known to be a soothing scent — it fills your rooms and gives you a sense of peace during and after cleaning.  This product is eco-friendly and sold in a concentrated form.  Just add about a 1/4 cup to a gallon of warm water or a few capfuls to a water bottle. Amazon offers a better price if you purchase a set of two bottles — that should last you all season.
If you want your spring cleaning made easy this year, check out these three great products. They’re sure to make your cleaning experience quicker and more pleasant.