Petroleum Jelly is one of those things that are amazingly cheap and readily available. But are you aware of all the beauty benefits it can give you which you can take advantage of? Read on to know just what you can get from having one small jar of this inexpensive yet wonderful beauty product in your bag.

1. It can soften your skin. I have mentioned in a previous post that applying petroleum jelly on your feet before you sleep and then wearing socks to seal it in is an effective way to have smooth and soft feet. You can also apply it on your hands regularly before or after doing manual work like cleaning or typing.

2. It’s a great moisturizer. Petroleum jelly is safe to use as a moisturizer on all skin types because it contains no chemicals or harmful substances whatsoever.

3. It’s great for chapped lips! No need to buy expensive lip moisturizers and lip gloss as long as you have your little trusty jar of petroleum jelly on your bag.

4. It’s a straight-up, no frills makeup remover. Just dab some of the jelly on areas with makeup then gently wipe with tissue or cotton.

I’m sure there are a lot more things petroleum jelly can do. Care to share your knowledge?

Image from this site.

Barefoot Dreams has always been popular for their very comfortable yet fashionably chic blankets, hoodies, slippers, and other essential items. Found in 1994, the company initially sought out to create a precious line of children’s products that were both elegant, cozy, and washable.

After the success of their first ever receiving blanket, Barefoot Dreams began to manufacture products not just for the kids but for the adults as well. Nevertheless, the company continues to produce for their original market which is the kids and adolescents.

One of their constant bestsellers is the Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Toddler/Kids Cover-up Robe. Made of incredibly soft material, the CozyChic Cover-up Robe can both be a plush robe and blanket in one. It can keep kids perfectly warm and is a perfect gift during birthdays or Christmas. There are lots of lively colors to choose from so you can choose which best suits the personality of the kid you’re buying it for. Of course, it’s still made of the same easily washable and dryable material perfect for the active toddler.

If you want your kids to be comfortable and looking like the cute and cuddly creatures they naturally are, the Barefoot Dreams CozyChic Cover-up Robe may just be what you need.

Image from this site.

We hate to think about car accidents but the truth is, it’s a good chance you will be in one sooner or later. Don’t be unprepared when it happens to you. In a car accident it can often be your word against their’s. Don’t let someone be untruthful when you are not the one in the wrong. Get your kit and make sure the facts are all taken down and all the information is gathered.

At the time of an accident you are shaken up and scared so you may not be thinking correctly. That’s why it’s good to have a kit already prepared with instructions on what to do. This will allow you to easily grab your kit and get to work taking pictures and information down. It will make sure you are asking the correct questions and getting statements from witnesses. A nice kit to keep in your glove box is the Collision.kit organizer. It comes in a zippered binder which houses a disposable camera, a pen, and a checklist for all the information you need to gather up. The kit also has a special area for you insurance documents and registration.

Another kit to keep in your trunk is The Most Complete Car Accident Kit. This kit features everything you could possibly need in an accident. I really like that the reflective roadside signs are included. But if you don’t want to buy one you can simply put one together yourself with the items listed in any kit you find. An accident kit is a must have for every car you have. Never be left unprepared.

If you are like so many women in the world, you have to wrap your hair nightly. Wrapping your hair keeps it in place and free from breaking and tangling. Silk head wraps are great for wrapping your hair for night and can also be worn as a fashion accessory on your hair. You can use your silk scarf as a headband by folding it into a horizontal shape and wrap around hair.

Some of the benefits of a silk wrap for hair at night are:

• prevents dryness which reduces breakage
• silk allows air flow to keep from sweating in hair
• keeping hair in place so reducing the use of heat styling in the morning
• helps to keep your hairstyle longer

Silk head wraps are beautiful and beneficial when caring for your hair. Whenever you need to keep your hair in it’s place, grab a silk head wrap. I use mine simply to keep my hair from getting into my face at night without using a harmful rubber band.

When purchasing a silk head wrap you have a few options. You can choose the kind that are already connected and you just put on your head and tie the sides around. This is a very easy one to use. You can also get a silk scarf and tie it around your hair. If you are really feeling creative, you can buy a piece of silk fabric to make your own. No matter which option you choose, a silk head wrap is sure to benefit you and help to keep your hair beautiful.

Having trouble with uneven skin tone and acne? Maybe your trouble is skin that isn’t completely cleaned. Try the simplest things first, it may be just unclean skin making you look dull and causing acne. I recommend using the face pads for most tweens and teens. They are usually the ones who suffer from dull skin and acne because of not cleaning properly.

Face pads come in a small container and can be purchased at most stores. The pads are the easiest thing for teens to use for cleaning the skin, rather than a whole cleaning regiment they won’t stick with. Just a wipe over the face and neck with the product. You keep wiping until the pad comes away free from any dirt. Pretty easy, which makes them great for teens and tweens.

When using the face pads always make sure to follow this with a moisturizer. You don’t want them to trade dirty skin for dry skin, so remind them to moisturize. I stick the face pads and the moisturizer next to each other in the bathroom to help them remember. Get them started with this as soon as YOU notice a problem. Hard to believe but sometimes, they really just don’t know they are not cleaning well. Let them know before someone at school does .

Any other cleanser ideas you use for teens that are quick and easy to do? Let us know!

Ever feel like your lips may be chapped or dry all the time during the summer months? Well they may be. Summer chapping is common for many people. It’s a combination of drying out under the summer sun and then going into a cool air conditioned room. These things naturally dehydrate the skin and the lips are no exception. Keeping a moisturizer lip protector on your lips at all times is key for optimum lip health. I have tried using a lip moisturizer that has spf 30 in it from a wonderful company that stands behind their products (wwwgorgeousnaturallymyarbonnecom) It is very hydrating and best of all, if you wish to put on a little color or gloss on your lips you can add that right over this lip balm and still maintain the same protection from the elements.

For a while now, I have thought that I wished there was something that would let me go back farther when I did my crunches. I also needed something that would help lift my bottom when I did leg lifts. I usually would use my hands, believe it or not, and it was very awkward. I just saw a commercial on the Bender Ball and I knew that is exactly what I wanted.

Usually, fitness infomercials make me think “yeah, right”. Or the equipment is way too hard or too much of a hassle for me to even start a routine with it. But this little ball is sure to be a great product to incorporate into your exercises. I really am impressed at how it works all your core muscles. It makes sense once you actually see it. It’s not just another gimmick trying to get your money, you see how this will improve you.

The bender ball also comes with a video, which I assume shows you lots of great ways to get the most from your ball. It’s like a mini yoga ball, but with a lot of possibilities. If anyone has tried the bender ball, please let us know what your review of it is. I am ordering one and will do a write-up on my experiences later. Anytime there is a product to make what you are already doing more efficient, you should go for it. You have nothing to lose but weight and you are sure to save some energy and time. For a little over $10.00 I think it’s a great idea and a great buy for the ball and the video. If you don’t need the dvd, you can also just grab a stability ball or small kickball and get your workout on!!! I would like to see just what she has on this little DVD, it looks pretty informative and helpful. 

Why Volunteer? Quite simply, it’s the right thing to do.

Volunteering is important because everyone can use some help at some time. Just because you here the word “volunteer” doesn’t mean it’s going to be something you will hate or something not worth your time. It is something that you will feel rewarded for doing. It may seem little to you, but for someone else it is probably a big deal.

With all the issues and disasters going on right now, this is a great time to see just how much a little can do. Thoughts of volunteering used to make me picture, handing out flyers or trudging up and down the street picking up trash. Now, I am not knocking that because those were some really fun times . But the volunteering I am talking about is just helping others in need. The simplest things will give you a sense of joy and worth in your life.

On an off day, why not help the local homeless shelter? Or even better, next time you have some extra cash give it to a shelter or any local cause. I like the ASPCA. I find it cool to find out what they are short on and incorporate it into my shopping. It is very easy to make one phone call and ask what you can do to help.

I can’t even tell you the number of times I have felt a real sense of joy when I help other’s out. Here’s a quick instance, I was leaving out of the post office and saw an older man approaching the door with his hands full of boxes. With no thought, I raced to grab the door and held it for him. He was so surprised that I helped, he kept thanking me and repeating “thank you so much, thank you for doing that” and shaking his head in disbelief. What are we coming to that something as simple as holding the door for someone is a big deal. It really stuck out in my mind because I was surprised that something so small can make such a big deal to someone.

Even if it is just letting someone in while you drive, or helping organizations with hand outs , or even reading at your local library,  do it. It doesn’t cost you anything but a little of your time. Try to incorporate one selfless act in your life at least once a week. You may start to see your mood improve.

Properly cared for eyebrows can make a huge difference in your face. You will notice a more rested and alert look.

First thing to do, is to trim your eyebrows. Your eyebrows may be too long and start to curl at the end or lose color. Trim the down using scissors. Here’s how to do this step:

• Comb brows up, trim any that come above your eyebrow line
• Comb down, trim any that come below the eyebrow line

Quite easy, maybe a little time consuming. But you will love the results.

A. Next, find the beginning of your brow. Using a pencil, place it vertically against side of your nose. The pencil should fall mid-mouth, side of nose and near the tear duct of the eye. This is where your brow starts, anything past this point should be removed.

B. Finding your arch. This step I am sure you have seen done before. Place the pencil diagonally across middle of mouth, edge of nostril and outside the iris of the eye. This is your arch, Carefully tweeze this area up to the start of your eyebrows. Make sure not to over-pluck!!

C. End of Brow. Go from opposite outside corner of mouth, across to the nostril of the eye you are measuring and up to the eye you are measuring for. Feels a little weird but it will give a perfect measurement. Any hair past this point should be removed.

If you place your pencil horizontally across start of brow to the end of brow you should have a straight line.

Your brows should be perfectly and beautifully done now. You can also use brow kits or get them professionally done. But doing them yourself is quite easy and easy to maintain!! Go out and look great!

Jealous of other people’s eyebrows when you see them? Often, you will see people with gorgeous brows and be wanting them for yourself. Doing your own eyebrows and maintaining them can seem a daunting task. But once you get the initial shape, the rest is just maintenance and/or filling in. You can get the initial brow shape done by a professional or you can do it yourself. If you choose to do it yourself, you can make it super easy by buying a brow kit. Choose one that has brow stencils in it. The stencils just make it that much easier. You only have to choose the shape that you want for your brows. In my next articles I will go into more detail about how to do your own eyebrows and highlighting the area.

When doing yourself, the best ways to do your brows is either plucking or waxing. Plucking, for me, is the easiest. You only need a good pair of tweezers and a mirror. After you pluck, make sure you follow up with an aloe vera gel to help with redness and to calm the area. Waxing is faster but has more clean up. I prefer the precise-ness of the tweezer.

Shaping your brows are an important part of your weekly beauty routine. Wild brows will take away from your finished look you are trying to achieve. Perfect brows can make you look alert and polished.

*Step by step instructions for how to’s of eyebrows to follow.