Beauty Cottage

Have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New year

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:18:00 +0000

It is that time again...when we are all busy cooking, and wrapping presents, getting ready to travel or to receive our Christmas guests...as you hustle and bustle about with the last little details of the season I want you to remember to stop and take a little moment for yourself...time to reflect and be thankful...time to enjoy a bubble bath...time to enjoy a moment of reading...time to enjoy a really good cup of coffee or coke...time to catch a snowflake on your tongue...time to listen to the silence as the snow falls...or whatever little joy time is available just remember to take time to just be in the moment and enjoy the season.

Have a merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

Until Next Time

Debbie

It's a Great Day

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 07:19:00 +0000

Image from The Graphics Fairy

I am still not certain when it happened exactly...but I have noticed that I don't remember things lately. I had heard that it would happen. I guess, I just didn't really think it would really happen to me. Have you felt that way? It seems that I have felt that way in several circumstances especially since I turned 40 a few years ago...actually 8 years ago for me...8 years today (please God let me be right about that). Yes, it is my birthday today. No, I am not bummed out. I actually like my birthday. I really do (especially the presents!). I don't like to count them though (the birthday's) but not for the usual reasons. I don't like to do math very much and I stopped keeping track mostly because when people would ask me (years ago) how old I was, then, I would tell them some random number that was older than the truth. I figured out that people would tell me how great I looked for my age if they thought I was older(what can I say? I liked compliments). It wasn't the number that bothered me it was how I wore it. This started happening when I was in my 20's so before long I lost track. It worked pretty good for me until one day after having a rollover car wreck the officer (who was looking at my license) asked me how old I was. I took a guess and guess what? I was a few years younger than my guess. He looked a bit confused and then asked me if I was sure I was alright. I replied that yes I was fine because I had only bumped my head a little...that was the wrong answer because next thing I knew I was being driven to the ER. My dear hubby who worked in that ER as a paramedic at the time would have a good chuckle over that one. I did decide after that I needed to be truthful. The only problem with that was that the damage was done. I had a hard time remembering the right number. It helps though to have a daughter who loves to do math. She helps keep me straight and I do believe she said that I am 48 this year (*smiling*). It is a good time to be 48!

Have You Ever Wondered?

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:41:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered what it is that makes someone beautiful? I must admit that I think about it a lot. It isn't that I am vain, but instead it is a desire to be beautiful. I have observed many beautiful people and I have come to the conclusion that it is most important to be beautiful on the inside. I believe that everyone has the capacity to be beautiful inside and outside. We just have to learn how to find that beauty and appreciate it. So much of my life I didn't feel beautiful but usually it was more about what was in my heart that was the problem. This would lead to not taking good care of myself which would lead to...well, you know. I have discovered that as I work on the heart issues and get rid of the junk in there, then my outer beauty begins to radiate. It is amazing how a simple smile or the look of hope can transform someone's face. God has had me helping others with their heart issues and it has been through helping them that much of my own healing has come. I find it funny how that works sometimes. I am also going through a season of spending lots of extra time with the Lord looking into His eyes. I always thought that would be scary because of what I feared would be reflected in them...but I am finding that instead it has been healing as I see that there is nothing there but love for me. I really needed to see that in order to find my worth and my beauty. I have always allowed others to determine that for me and that always led to me feeling rejected or feeling I had to earn everything even friendship. It is so good to let all of that go and just look into His eyes...those eyes are the ones I want to see myself in.
Until Next Time
Debbie

Cupcake Bath Bombs

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 01:47:00 +0000

I love to take baths. I especially love to take a bath when I am stressed out or really sore. As I have moved farther into my 40's I find that I get sore much easier than ever before. When I ask those who are older than me, they usually laugh and say welcome to your 40's (soon to be 50's) I found this really cute blog called Little Birdie Secrets (written by two friends) that had a tutorial on making cupcake bath bombs (they are so cute!) I have been seeing lots of cupcakes everywhere. Traditional cupcakes aren't too good for the figure or the soreness but this one is calorie free and what fun to toss in a cupcake when I soak my weary and sore muscles. I bet it can really go a long way to relieving stress just because it makes me smile. I wrote to Little Birdie Secrets and got permission to share it with you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

You can find complete instructions with great pictures to guide you Here

Until Next Time
Debbie

Lunch With The Girls

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:38:00 +0000

Let's have lunch! I have decided it is time to get back to my blogs and decided to join you at lunch. I am feeling much better now and while I have been taking a break from blogging, I have been a very busy girl. I have been discovering new things to share with all my blogging friends. I decided to start with Polyvore. What a fun and very useful place to spend some time! I have been playing (I mean working) on that site for a little bit now and I am having a blast. It is a website where you can clip the pictures of products you want to purchase or even that you have already purchased. It is not only a place to save picture/bookmarks but you can take those pictures and make your very own design collages. It is so helpful for deciding if things will look good together and for helping you see the total overall look. It is not only useful for clothes but also for decorating. Along with my own clipped products I can also explore and save what others on the site are saving as well. This site has the potential to become a very huge selling place for those selling merchandise on the web. It could easily expand one's volume to their website by leaps. I have discovered some great websites simply by following the link where a particular item was clipped from. I have expanded my "To Buy List" substantially. I can see how this site can become invaluable for those who want to play (I mean work) at their own design combinations in fashion and/or decorating. It allows you to put your story board together and makes a list of where the items come from complete with descriptions and prices. How cool is that? It also gives you a social profile and you can explore and see the design creations of others on Polyvore as well as make new contacts (I call them friends) to keep updated on their newest creations. A feature that I especially love allows you to share your creations with others on your blog, facebook, or other social network pages. Although this website has been in operation for several years, I feel that its potential has still been untapped as a resource for users as well as those in retail. As a retailer, I would be using this site to put combinations of my products together and then sharing them on every social platform possible. Every time a product is clipped, used, and shared, that is another possible new customer and the best news it that it is all for FREE! Why spend millions on advertising when you can get your product seen by millions all over the world for the cost of a bit of time. I think all you blogging friends will definitely enjoy this site and will find many positive uses for it that I have not even thought of yet. I look forward to seeing your creations!

Until Next Time
Debbie

Lunch With The Girls by Texasdaisey featuring brown tops

Josie top
softsurroundings.com

Brown top
£5.99 - temptationgifts.com

White cotton skirt
$56 - topshop.com

Stella McCartney woven sandals
£107 - matchesfashion.com

Kate Spade long bag
$295 - piperlime.gap.com

Kenneth jay lane necklace
$160 - net-a-porter.com

Kenneth Jay Lane red bangle
€187 - pret-a-beaute.com

Kenneth Jay Lane hinged earrings
$100 - net-a-porter.com

Jessica Simpson red straw hat
$38 - nordstrom.com

ASOS red shades
$21 - asos.com

Buy London Pottery Company Red and White Spot Teapot, 6 Cup online at...
£16 - johnlewis.com

Please Pray

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 05:34:00 +0000

Picture From: Reporter News

Please Pray for my beloved State of Texas! There are fires raging uncontrolled near my hometown and all over the state. The winds are howling tonight and the firefighters are growing weary and out of resources!

If you have a facebook page you can see more stunning pictures of the fire near my hometown here!

Taking a Break

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 20:46:00 +0000

Due to a disc problem in my neck I am taking a little blogging break. They seem to think I need to limit my computer time until it heals. I hope to be back soon.

When Life Gives You Lemons Then Use Them

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:39:00 +0000

I have been wondering lately about some of the products that we use on our bodies and in our homes. Do we really trust that they are safe to use? I tend to not be much of a worrier but I am starting to wonder. In an effort to be a little more green and to save money, I have been researching homemade beauty and cleaning products. I thought I would give some of the really cool recipes that I have found a try and then share them with you. Now don't get the idea that I have gone off completely because I still love to try and use traditional beauty products. I have always been interested in herbs and essential oils and have found them to be useful in many situations in my life. I thought they might be useful to you too.

Photo Courtesy of Ian Britton

Did you know that lemon helps reduce swelling of a sore throat? I found that out a few years ago. I have found that the old fashioned lemon drops really help when you have a sore throat (it has to be the real ones that have real lemon juice in them though). That lemon ice treat that some of us enjoy in summer will also help soothe a sore throat or one can even drink lemonade hot or cold. Don't forget that it is full of vitamin C which also is beneficial in treating colds and viruses. I have also found that 3 or 4 drops of lemon essential oil in my drinking water helps clear my sinuses. I love smelling it and drinking it because it really gives me a lift. Be sure to use a therapeutic grade essential oil though. Young Living is my favorite brand. Some other uses for lemon are:

Rub a drop of Lemon essential oil on a corn, callous, bunion or

wart mornings and evenings until it disappears. Use 1/2 lemon on elbows and knees to help soften rough skin and to gently lighten discoloration. You can sprinkle a bit of salt on the lemon to aid in the scrubbing process.

Photo Courtesy of Ian Britton

Have you noticed how many cleaning products include lemon? There is a good reason that you find lemon in so many cleaning products. It has natural antiseptic properties and it also helps to cut grease. It also adds a really fresh clean scent.

Use 1-2 drops of Lemon essential oil to remove

Gum, Oil, Grease Spots and Crayons

For Counter Tops: Add 2-3 drops of Lemon oil to water and spray counter to sterilize.

Here are some recipes I thought you might enjoy:

Lemon Sugar Scrub for Hands and Feet:
1/2 cup sugar (or salt if you prefer)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Mix all in small bowl. Use to scrub hands and feet. Rinse and pat dry. Keep refrigerated. Has a shelf life of 1 to 2 weeks

All Purpose Window Cleaner:
Mix in 1 qt spray bottle: 1 cup White vinegar, 10-15 drops of Lemon Essential Oil, 1 cup water.
Mix vinegar and water then oil. Shake and use.

Benefits and Uses of Lavender

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:27:00 +0000

I am so ready for Spring, aren't you too? That is why I thought I would like to share a little bit with you about lavender. Lavender is such a beautiful Spring color and the scent is just Heavenly. Lavender is an herb that is commonly grown in gardens around the world. It has been used for many different purposes for over 2000 years. It is considered to be one of the safest essential oils and it is one of the most popular. It can be used in beauty treatments, cleaning products, perfume, and many other uses.

Image by Ian Britton

Lavender can be grown in the home garden or there are many places you can purchase lavender products. If you purchase essential oil remember that you need to get pure therapeutic-grade lavender essential oil. According to the Reference Guide For Essential Oils, "many companies use a distillation process that will produce a greater quantity of oil at a faster rate. Their oils may smell just as good and cost much less, but they will lack most if not all of the chemical parts necessary to produce the expected results." I personally like Young Living Essential Oils because their purity and properties have proven to be of the highest quality.

Image by Ian Britton

4 drops of essential oil of lavender can be used directly on the face to moisturize and help with the texture of skin. Use 2 - 3 drops on affected area to soothe burns, Use a few drops on a wet cloth in the dryer to freshen and deodorize your laundry. Apply a few drops on skin as insect repellent. It is also great for your pets. Drop 2 - 3 drops on your hand and spread on your pillow to help with sleep. It can also be used to calm anxiety. It can be diffused into the air or applied directly to skin.

Image by Ian Britton

One of my very best friends has been using lavender essential oil on her face for several months now and she has had wonderful results. She is getting many compliments on her skin and questions about what she is using. It has greatly helped with the texture of her skin. She no longer has dull looking skin. I am now in the process of using it myself. I was very impressed when I saw her skin and decided it was definitely something I needed too. If you want to know more you can read more about the benefits and uses of lavender here.

Here is a recipe you can try:

Lavender Skin Soother Spray

1/4 c Witch Hazel

1/4 c Aloe Vera Gel

1/2 c Distilled Water

8 drops Lavender Essential Oil

1 t honey

Pour witch hazel, aloe vera, and water into 8oz spray bottle. Whisk oil and honey in small bowl until blended. Add to bottle. Shake well and mist. Store spray in fridge. Use for relief on sunburned skin or just to sooth and hydrate skin.

Until Next Time

Debbie

See my Party Links

Inspiration!

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 22:22:00 +0000

Are you one of those girls who has an inspiration board or a lookbook?

I have several notebooks filled with my favorite tear sheets from magazines.

But what is a girl to do when she is out and about on the World Wide Web and finds inspiration?

Eiffel Tower

There are several things that can happen...

1. You can save it to your computer (after getting the proper permission of course) but that takes precious storage space not to mention time to get permission and by then the moment has passed.

2. You can save it without permission (oh no!) You all know it happens though and there is still that problem of storing it not to mention organizing it.

3. You can print off the picture but this comes with the above problems.

4. You could just add it to your favorites tab but how many of those before you are drowning in tabs?

Let me suggest another way...

Pearl and Roses

As I have been out and about the Web, I have found some places that are perfect for fixing these problems. They are websites that are devoted to saving our bookmarks. Each has their pluses and minuses but they are great for saving those spots of inspiration at the touch of a button. The best news is that they are free!

Each of the sites require a sign up and each have a button that you can easily add to your browser tool bar so that when inspiration is found then it requires only 1 touch to take it to your inspiration page. Each then gives you a form to organize it with. When you are ready to find that inspiration or those instructions again then it is easy to find. Two of the sites I have found, use the images along with tags to file it away. I really enjoy those the best. The other one uses tags alone. I have included my 3 favorite places below. Come on, come out of the dark side of secretly saving things without asking and try these out. The bonus is that each takes you back to the place you tagged them from and you can see where that inspiration came from. You can also see and even follow what others find inspiring. This makes it even more beneficial because you can get even more inspiration by seeing what inspires others. As for those of you whose images and/or posts are being tagged...this is like free press and traffic for your blog or website! Each bookmark gives a direct link to your site. I can't tell you how many times I have found wonderful sites because I was so inspired by someone else's bookmark that I wanted to see where the inspiration came from. Come on the light is a wonderful place to be...you can do it...come on and give it a try. You will see just how wonderful it can be.

I use all three of the below spots!

We Heart It

Pinterest

(you may have to ask to be invited on Pinterest, but it is worth it)

Delicious

Are you beginning to feel the light yet? Doesn't it feel really good? Remember light is healing. Let me know how it goes. I would love to see what inspires you. You can find me under Texasdaisey!

Until Next Time

Debbie

The List

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 07:16:00 +0000

I am not certain exactly when it happened but I do know it was sometime after 40 that I began to form a list in my head. It is a to do list of sorts. Some people may call it their "Bucket List." It is a list of all the things I want to do before I kick the bucket. There are several places that I want to see on my list. One of those places might be considered a bit of a cliche' but that doesn't bother me. Can you guess where it might be? If you guessed Paris, France then you guessed right.(I have to designate the France part because a few smarties will tell me, "it isn't that far to Paris, Texas") I guess I want to go there for the same reasons that most want to. The beautiful buildings, the cafes, the flower lined streets, and so on. Maybe it will happen someday...sigh...(dreamy smile)

In the mean time, I enjoy blogs that give me little glimpses of Paris. You can imagine my delight when I opened my email and found a post from French Kissed and found a post about living in Paris. It was such a delightful post that I just had to share it with all of you. Be sure to check out the link at the end of the post that takes you to a new online magazine that is being published. You will actually get to see and enjoy the entire magazine.

Until Next Time

Debbie

My Christmas Blessing To You

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 04:09:00 +0000

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year! May God bless you with peace that surpasses all understanding, with much laughter and joy and may He bless you with the light of His salvation in every circumstance.

Until Next Time

Debbie

Living Clay

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:33:00 +0000

I am so excited to tell you about this product! I received a phone call from a dear friend of mine asking me to go over to her house to meet someone. I was in my PJ's and didn't really want to change because it was a pretty cold night and I was pretty much tucked in for the night but she convinced me to go on over. (that means she had to let me stay in my PJ's) I then got the pleasure of meeting a delightful woman who had lived in Seymour many years ago. We talked about many things but among those things she told me about her company "Living Clay" She gave me a taste test and by morning I was sold. I immediately got online and ordered some Living clay for myself. It arrived in 2 days and it was packaged beautifully! I know you are wondering what in the world has me so excited about clay. It is just simply a wonderful product and I haven't even had time to try out it's many uses. I was impressed by what it did to my digestive system overnight. I gave a sample to my daughter one evening and by morning she was convinced too. It makes wonderful facials, it has healing properties, it is negative ion charged and so it attracts the muck and yuck in your body and takes it right out the back side (and not in a bad way either). I hear it is wonderful to take a bath in too. That is my next thing to try. You can buy it in powder form and mix the facial or drink it in the liquid of your choice or take a bath in it. You can even brush your teeth with it and I have been told it will amaze your dentist with its ability to keep plaque off your teeth. I could go on and on but I feel their website can do a better job of explaining everything. You can find it here. Ladies don't miss out on this one because I hear this is one of the secrets at some of those fancy spas!

I did not receive any compensation in any form from Living Clay for this recommendation. This is my own opinion.

My Favorite Things

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:55:00 +0000

I thought I would share My Favorite Things with you this year. Any of these items would definitely be on my Christmas list (Santa, are you listening?) and I would love to receive them as a gift anytime.

Clinique Almost Lipstick looks great on everyone and and with every outfit. I carry this in my purse everywhere I go. You can read about it Here

Miss Tweezie Tweezers The cutest and the very best tweezers around.

Perfekt Body Perfection Gel makes my legs look and feel great! I write more about it Here

L'Occitane Hand Cream, This one is so good that I carry this in my purse too. I tell all about my experience with this Here.

Cetaphil moisturizing Cream keeps my skin soft and moist. You can read more Here

You can't go wrong with L'Occitane Amande Firming and Smoothing Milk Concentrate (Yummy!) You can read about my experience with it Here

Warm Fuzzy PJ's in any color but pink is my favorite.

Warm Fuzzy Socks in any color but especially pink

Michael Kors Very Hollywood Perfume. I love the scent and I love the pink bottle that it comes in.

Maybelline The Colossal Volume Express Mascara. I haven't worn a mascara by Maybelline or Cover Girl in years but this one won me back! I would definitely love this in my stocking this year!

Band-Aid Blister Block. Keeps those shoes from rubbing a blister and it is small enough to carry in your purse. I love it! This is great for athletes and this would also make a great stocking stuffer for girls or boys.

Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice. I am not much of a drinker so we like to get out our wine glasses (because that always makes it feel special) and drink this in the evening. This and regular grape juice give you heart healthy benefits. You can read more about the health benefits Here

A Girl's Guide for Buying Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:46:00 +0000

I like shoes!

I found these one day and fell in love!

And of course I had to buy these too!

And then there were these!

There is just something about shoes that can make a girl happy. They can give me more confidence and even make me smile.

I like flats, and heels, boots, and flip flops. I like shoes from Payless, Target, and even Walmart. I like shoes from JCPenney, Dillard's, Bealls, Kohls, and Macy's. I like them whether they cost a lot or a little.

There is one rule I will not break though when buying shoes. They absolutely, without any leeway at all must, must, must, be comfortable.

The Cost of Too Many Vitamins

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 23:01:00 +0000

It seems that every day I am reading about a new thing that vitamins are good for. I see it on T.V., on the Internet, in magazines, books, and I even have other people tell me about the benefits of this vitamin or that. You can see from the pile in the picture that I have tried taking some of them. This isn't even all of them.

It is pretty ridiculous isn't it? I know of several people who will take hands full of vitamins and even feed them to their children. Many are touted to be water soluble so they are said that no harm will come if too many are taken because the body will supposedly flush them away.

I started wondering if this was all true so, I did a bit of research. Here is what I discovered...

An overdose of vitamin E can cause thinning of blood and even a pulmonary embolism, hypertension, weakness, slow healing of wounds, etc. An overdose of vitamin C for a sustained period of time can actually cause you to get scurvy when you stop taking the large amount. It can also cause hot flashes (God knows I don't need any more of those), kidney stones, insomnia, headaches. Overdoses of Calcium can cause kidney stones, drowsiness, and calcium deposits. Overdoses of vitamin D can actually cause deafness, among a myriad of other things including weak bones. Overdoses of Vitamin B6 can cause tingling in hands and fingers, problems with memory, headaches, and more. Do you get my drift yet? It is great to have all these new products that are enriched with vitamins. It is great to have all the abundance of supplements that make it easier to get all your essential vitamins. The thing I am wondering is how many of us are truly vitamin deficient? I know if you take a gander at my size that it doesn't give the illusion that I am deficient in any. Here is what I found at one site: "Vitamin B12 Deficiency is listed as a "rare disease" by the office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health. You can read more about this here. In another place a study determined that only 13% of the population of the U.S. was vitamin C deficient and that they were usually of a lower socioeconomic class and they were usually young children or elderly. When was the last time you heard of someone having rickets? I have only known of one case in my entire lifetime and that was a toddler that the mama was nursing and would not supplement the child with any other food. What I am trying to say with all of this is please don't jump on every vitamin & mineral bandwagon. Take the time to investigate and by all means please tell your doctor what supplements you are taking. This is especially important if you are on other medicines and/or having surgery. Some of those supplements could be very dangerous for you in certain circumstances. Here are some links where you can read more about this:

Link 1

Link 2

Link 3

Link 4

Until Next Time

Debbie

Learn How To Tie a Scarf

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:42:00 +0000

It is time to get out those scarves ladies. I know you have some. All of us do. They may be tucked away in a drawer or hanging in the corner of your closet. Get them out because they are in style again. They can be silky, or nubby, they can be warm fuzzy scarves or smooth and shiny. Get them out and have some fun. Scarves can make your outfit look chic, or casual, or fun. Come on. Have some fun with them. There are lots of ways to wear them. Check out some cool and fun ways Here.

Until Next Time

Debbie

I've Said it Before

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 01:03:00 +0000

Ladies, I know I have said it before but, I just had to tell you again!

You will love this week's Woman's World Magazine (October 18)! No, they do not pay me, sponsor me, buy ads from me or support me in any way! (unless you count their great information)

I was on Facebook lamenting that the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte would soon no longer be with us. A moment later I decided to relax with my latest issue and guess what I found in this issue? A recipe for a pumpkin spice Latte! I know that doesn't have much to do with beauty after 40 except that it really chills me out and makes any frown go away. Turn the page and you will find a great little article about the latest fall boot fashions. One more page turn and you will find recipes for: Vanilla & Lavender Body Oil, Chocolate Bath Salts, Citrus & Rose Bath Bombs, Minty Bath Oil, and Bergamot Sugar Scrub. Have I convinced you yet to run out now and GET THIS ISSUE? I have only told you about 3 pages and there are 55 awesome packed pages. You will find it near all the gossip rags but I promise there is no gossip in this magazine. You have to hurry though because there is a new issue every week. The best news of all is that it only costs $1.79! These babies appreciate in value though. I looked on Ebay one day (thought I could snag some back issues) Oh man, they almost doubled in price and sometimes even more than doubled. I haven't checked lately (too afraid to) but I am thinking they may be worth it for all the great information they are so filled with.

Trying to Stay Cool

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:59:00 +0000

I don't know what it has been like where you live, but down here in Texas it has been very hot this summer! We finally got a reprieve with a bit of rain and a couple of cold fronts that lowered the temperatures to the lower 90's. I know it seems funny to say cold front in relation to the lower 90's but believe me, it was a cold front. I did, however, find a few things to help me stay cool this summer . . .

I found this really great product that was so refreshing and I love it! It is Moisture Rescue by Garnier Nutritioniste. It is a moisturizer in gel form, and it really was a treat for my skin during the hot sticky days this summer. So much of the time when it gets really hot, I do not want to apply moisturizer because it just doesn't feel good to add more to make me sweat. This product did none of that. This moisturizer was so cool and refreshing to apply and it really helped to moisturize my skin and still make it feel fresh too. The light on my pocketbook price was even more refreshing. To make the deal even sweeter I have found $1 coupons and samples in several beauty magazines for this moisturizer and several other Garnier products. I highly recommend it for those of you experiencing those hot flashes. As many of you know I recently had a hysterectomy and with that comes all the hormonal changes (as if I wasn't having enough already). To make matters worse I am not really very good at taking medicine (or hormone pills) on a regular basis which really frustrates my poor hubby. He is a physician's Assistant and people who do not take their medicine is one of his biggest complaints so imagine how it must be for him to have a wife like that. Well, because of my forgetfulness I have caused myself to have even more hormonal fluctuations. (I know, my poor hubby huh?) The hot flashes have been phenomenal and the weeping waterworks; well lets just say it has been overwhelming to say the least. (I bet you are really feeling sorry for him now, huh?) It hasn't helped that my last baby grew up and went off to college. The most amazing thing in all of this mass of moisture is that my skin is actually dry. How in the world that can be, I do not know; but I can say that this moisturizer has helped me so much that I wanted to be sure and tell all of you about it. I would also mention that having one of those old fashioned paper fans has also been very helpful during those hot flashes (why do they always come when I am trying to apply my makeup?) Because of that, I have also added a small electric fan to my vanity table. I am realizing now why it was always so freezing cold in my mother in law's home. It is amazing how much insight we get as we age. If you are going through any of these things, let me encourage you. It is easy to get down on ourselves for our bi-polar like emotions but remember it is just your emotions. Emotions were created by God and they have their place in our lives. It is so easy for me to get embarrassed by my emotions especially when they involve crying. A friend of mine really helped me with this when she pointed out that it was my emotions that were all over the place not my thinking. I still have valid thoughts that are wise and good. I shouldn't doubt my decision making just because my emotions are so wild. (Getting a $1500. water/electric bill is a valid reason to cry) Sometimes crying helps to express all the yuck going on inside of us that words just do not express. But please, if you see a lady crying a lot it isn't always because something is wrong, sometimes we just simply want to cry (and sometimes they forgot their hormone pill), and you know what? It is OK. It may not seem cool to cry but sometimes it is the thing to do.

I do a lot of reading of beauty books, magazines, blogs and the like because I like to stay up with the curve on how fashion and beauty is going. (I know I don't always do the cool styles but I like to know what is cool and in style anyway) One really cool resource I would like to point out to you is a blog that is part of a larger web site with lots of resources. This very helpful blog is called Be In Style . Be sure to go on over and say hello.

Until Next Time

Debbie

I did not receive payment or any type of product, gifts or the like for this recommendation. I purchased the product myself.

Summertime and Any Time Products

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:04:00 +0000

Here are a couple of favorites that I thought you might like. The first one is Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunscreen. I bought this one because of the words Fresh Cooling. Here in Texas it can get very hot so anything that helps cool I am willing to try. True to the words on the can it is cooling. I like it because it does not feel as sticky as some other sunscreen sprays do. It also does it's most important job of protecting my skin from that relentless sun. Remember that most signs of aging are caused by too much sun so cover that skin up with sunscreen, hats, and clothing! You can check it out at the Neutrogena website. Let me share a little tip with you. . .

Go to the websites because many times you can sign up for newsletters and coupons and even free samples. I get some of my best coupons this way and I find out about their newest products as companies release them.

I received this as part of my Christmas gift from a dear friend. She has this really cool idea that I thought I would share with you. She always gives an extra with her gifts. She will give something that is one of her favorite products so her friends and family can try it out. Many of her favorites have become some of mine.

This one is great! It is Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for Dry, Sensitive Skin. It moisturizes wonderfully. It is light and fragrance free. It actually draws moisture out of the air and binds it to your skin. How cool is that?

You can see how cool it works by applying some to the bottom half of your arm and then compare how it feels to the top half of your arm. You will definitely feel the difference. This one is great for those dry spots on your knees and elbows as well. You can read more about it and many other products at the Cetaphil website.

I had a question this past week about what to do about dry elbows and knees. I decided to answer here in my post because many people suffer from the same problem. When my knees or elbows get dry then I will exfoliate them with a scrub product and then follow up with a great moisturizer like Cetaphil. I recommend exfoliating first because it will remove the dead skin cells which are the culprits that cause flakiness and then I protect and moisturize the newer younger skin that is revealed.

Until Next Time

Debbie

I did not receive compensation in any form for these recommendations. I purchased these products myself.

L'Occitane & Aveeno to the Rescue

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:51:00 +0000

Hello to everyone out there. I am feeling so much better now and ready to get back to at least some of my regular activities. Of course with every great blessing comes those challenges that keep life exciting. I elected to go on a very low dose hormone to help ease me along but even with that I have noticed my skin has been a bit flaky and dry. Not quite like the Sahara dry but dry enough that my normal moisturizer just wasn't quite enough. I tried some of my old tried and true standbys but still couldn't seem to kick that flaky skin out the door. I exfoliated my face a couple times a week but that didn't help the dryness so I got creative. . .

This little tube of L'Occitane En Provence Creme is one of my very favorites for dry hands. I especially like that I can toss it into my purse and take it along. I get garden hands and winter time is tough on them too so this has been one of my secrets for nourishing them back to beautiful. It has a very high content of shea butter in it and it has always felt so luxurious when I used it. I know it is not marketed for your face at all. It is a rich cream and created for the hands but I was desperate and so sometimes desperation urges one to be more inventive. I tried a little on my face right before bed time. You know what? It felt wonderful. It absorbed right in and my face was finally happy again. For the time being I have added it into my night time regimen. I will keep a watchful eye on my face though because I don't want to over feed it and that could easily happen with such a rich creme.

I was also having more red blotches on my face post surgery. I can easily cover the redness with a concealer product but my motto is to always fix the problem rather than just cover it, when possible. Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer came to my rescue in this case. It has soy in its list of ingredients and soy is great for helping even out the skin tone and texture. It also has an SPF of 15 which is also a good thing. I have also added a flax oil supplement to my diet. I have been told that it does wonderful things for the woman going through hormonal changes. I will keep you updated on how that is or isn't working for me. Be sure to check my other blogs. I am hosting some giveaways on some of them and I am gathering goodies to host a giveaway on all the others. That means there will be a giveaway right here on Beauty Cottage very soon! Don't be surprised if I pop in and visit you this week also. I am so excited to catch up with all my blogging friends. I have missed you terribly.

Until Next time!

Debbie

I have received no payment, benefits, or services for any of the recommendations in this post.

Here I am

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 06:43:00 +0000

Here I am, I'm back again. I am so ready to get back to life as normal. As many of you know I was taking a break because of some medical issues. I didn't share what they were but I feel I can do that now. I have always had problems all my life with my menstrual cycles. I have always had terrible cramps and heavy periods. I have lived with it so many years that it just became normal to have 2 or 3 days that I just didn't feel well every month. Whenever it wasn't so bad I was thankful and considered it a gift. As I have moved on into my 40's and into perimenopause the problems were getting worse. I have tried many different things including natural remedies as well as hormones. Due to blood loss the problem finally became life threatening and so I had an unplanned hysterectomy. I had to have a transfusion before the surgery and after. I must confess that it has all been pretty much a bummer.

I know you must be asking what in the world this has to do with beauty after 40 but let me assure you it does. Hormones determine our skin texture, the texture and shine of our hair and so many other things. I was given the choice of leaving one of my ovaries which would have prevented immediate menopause. I am not one who likes to revisit problems so I elected a complete hysterectomy. I also elected to have the traditional surgery rather than the other 2 options. These decisions ended up being the exact things I needed. They had problems and would have had to do the traditional surgery anyway. The cyst on my ovary as well as the fibroid that they knew about ended up being benign but they discovered that my cervix had precancerous cells. It has been a tough time for me since the surgery. I like to always be doing something and so it has been tough letting things I normally do go (like dishes, laundry, cleaning, etc). My dear hubby and son have really tried to keep them done for me and it has been really tough for me to not be critical. I can not say that I have been completely successful in that. In fact, one day I even had a melt down over it. I have had a couple meltdowns. I know the hormone changes are part of it (no matter how much that frustrates me) and it has been a pretty tough job not slipping into depression. All this has helped me to see how much of my identity is wrapped up in whether I consider myself useful or not. If I were ministering to someone else who told me that; I would tell them that they are important in their very essence just being and that being useful was not what was important to God or loved ones. It is funny how it took something like this to show me my own skewed thinking about myself. I have been shocked by how many women have come up to me and shared that they have also had the same surgery. I knew many did but I never imagined how many. I must say that the surgery and all the problems before and after the surgery have given me some pause. I have definitely been slowed down by all this so much more than I ever imagined. I had always been told that it only took 4-6 weeks to recover from the surgery. On this side of things I discovered that it truthfully takes 6 months to a year to return to normal again. It hasn't been the most painful surgery I have experienced, thankfully, but it has been frustrating for me. Frustrating because I feel better than they tell me I am. That sounds kind of weird but it is true. It is so tempting to bend and lift and go like I always have (honestly I have done some sneaky bending when no one has been looking). Everyone keeps warning me not to do it even though it seems like I might be able to. I have had many many warnings of "You will be sorry if you do it". Being the hard headed person that I can be at times that warning has just not been enough. I guess it was just too vague. I finally found out why and so I have been trying hard to be more careful and take it easy. I do not want any hernias or any of the internal stitches to be ripped out, or any of the other things that can happen. Everyone assures me that I will eventually be so glad I had this surgery. I am looking forward to that. I look forward to cleaning my house really really good. I look forward to feeling better and better. Thank you to all of you who have left the kind comments and especially to those of you who have lifted me in prayer. I appreciate you all so very much. I am glad to say, "here I am; I am back!

Until Next Time

Debbie

Taking a Break

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Due to some medical issues, I will be having surgery this next week. Because of that I am going to take a little break from blogging. I hope to return in 2 or 3 weeks. I will miss you and look forward to returning as soon as possible.

Remember to take a break every once in a while. I have found that as I have moved into my 40s that I get more done in a day when I take breaks. I take a short break and then get back to work at full steam. When I take little breaks all through my day, I can go on and on and on. It is amazing how much I will accomplish. I hope to return at full speed this time too.

Until I return

Debbie

Have You Seen My Tweezers?

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:08:00 +0000

When my daughters were still at home (they are all grown up now); I would constantly have to ask "Have you seen my tweezers". Of course the answer was "no, I haven't seen them". I would then proceed to go through their things and of course find the tweezers stuck in one of their drawers or laying on their dresser or even under their bed. I guess they must have walked themselves to those places. I can not tell you how many pair of tweezers I would buy them but to no avail because my pair that I have owned 20 plus years would disappear once again. This became a source of huge aggravation for me. I had this special pair that just really were great at grabbing splinters or that stray hair and no matter how many others I tried they just didn't measure up to this pair. (maybe that is why my girls kept taking them) I finally found a strategy to keep my tweezers from disappearing. I disappeared them myself. I hid them under the cushion of my chair (you know down in the scary place) They never disappeared again. I always knew exactly where they were. I know it seems extreme, I guess my frustration just got the better of me in my determination to win the battle of parents vs. teens. I still remember the day my hidey hole was discovered. Someone was looking for something and they checked there and discovered my stash. By this time I had hidden my favorite pen, and several other small items that I wanted to keep from disappearing. The looks on all the faces of my family was priceless. You would have thought I had committed a horrible act. We all laugh about it now and it even became a joke to visitors to be very careful when they sit in my spot because there is no telling what they will find under the cushion.

I still have those beloved tweezers. Now I keep them in a little box near my chair. Thankfully my son doesn't have the affinity for taking them like the girls did. This Christmas I received in my stocking a gift that made me laugh from my oldest (who stole them more than anyone). She had given me a pair of tweezers with a girl painted on them. My first reaction was "Did something happen to my tweezers?" She laughed and said that no but she had found the best tweezers on the earth and bought me a pair. I laughed because I knew I had pretty much tried them all and they never even came close to being as good as my old pair. (they just don't make them like they used to I guess). She encouraged me to try them so I did. You know what? They really were as good as my old silver metal pair. Shocked and delighted is how I would describe my emotions upon discovering this. I will still hang onto my much beloved old pair (after all they have served me well) but I will have a really pretty new pair that can match their ability as well. She also gave her sister the pair below. I looked them up on Google and discovered they are called Miss Tweezies tweezers.

Until next time.

Debbie

When the Weather is Bad

noreply@blogger.com (texasdaisey) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:54:00 +0000

Hopefully you have all your Christmas gifts purchased because the weather is bad in many parts of the country right now. There are people who will be enjoying a very white Christmas this year. There are many good things and bad things about inclement weather. . .

One really good thing about being stuck inside is that you may have more time to read. I thought I would let you in on a magazine that I really enjoy. . .

It is called All You. This magazine packs lots of punch for its size. It focuses on enjoying life for less. It has tons of diet advice as well as beauty and makeup tips, finding fashion for less, crafts, recipes, decorating ideas, as well as many many coupons and deals. The amount saved with the coupons outweighs the low cost of the magazine by far. In the harder economic times we have at the moment; I thought you might really appreciate the coupons. There are coupons for groceries as well as beauty products. The coupons and deals they offer have really helped me to stay on budget better this year. So if you find yourself with some extra time on your hands you might want to check this magazine out and until you can get a copy be sure to visit the awesome All You website as well.

Hope you are staying warm and have a very Merry Christmas.

Debbie

(This post was not sponsored or paid by any other entity and their was no compensation in any way for this recommendation.)