Homemade Laundry Detergent

1 bar, Fels-Naptha Soap  or u can use Ivory Bar soap

1 cup, Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*

1/2 cup, Borax (my Walmart has this for $3.38)

5-Gallon Bucket

1/2 Cup of Purex Crystals (optional)

Instructions

Grate the soap and add to saucepan with 4 cups of hot tap water. (Add Purex Crystals if desired)  Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

Fill a 5-gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved.

Fill the bucket to the top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap bottle or throughly rinsed gallon milk jugs half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. This will form into a gel.

This recipe makes 10 gallons of homemade laundry detergent. For a top load machine, you will use about 5/8 cup per load (approximately 180 loads). For a front load machine, you will use 1/4 cup per load (approximately 640 loads).

Facial Cleansing Cream

 (Coconut) Lemon Facial Cleansing Cream
1 tbsp. beeswax
3 tbsp. jojoba oil
1 tbsp. witch hazel
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/8 tsp. borax
6 drops lemon essential oil

Melt the beeswax in a saucepan, using low heat.
Add the jojoba oil (I used coconut oil) and beat, using a hand mixer, for about 5 minutes or until it reaches a creamy consistency.
Heat the witch hazel and lemon juice in another saucepan just until warm, and then stir in the borax to dissolve. Add this liquid mixture to the cream and beat with a mixing spoon until well combined.
Set aside until the cream is cool.
Mix in the lemon essential oil and spoon into a container.


 Olive Oil Facial Cleanser

2 teaspoons liquid face soap or baby wash
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons glycerin
1/2 cup olive oil
Pour ingredients into a food processor or blender.  Mix until thickened, smooth and creamy. To use, pump a quarter-size amount of cleanser into your hand.  Gently massage into your neck area, face, eyelids and eyelashes for about one minute. Remove with a warm washcloth. Rinse washcloth in warm water and gently remove any remaining dirt or makeup off your face.
Keeps for up to a year.

Lemon Facial Cleanser

1 tbsp natural yogurt
1 tsp lemon juice
2 drops essential lemon oil

Mix all ingredients together. Soak a cotton wool pad in mixture and remove makeup. Repeat with fresh cotton wool pads until make up is removed.

enough for one use only will not keep

Homemade Honey Cleanser

3 Tablespoons honey
1/2 cup vegetable glycerine
2 Tablespoons liquid castile soap

Mix ingredients together. Apply to face and neck and massage into skin for at least 30 seconds, allowing the cleanser to loosen dirt and debris. Rinse face with warm water.

Homemade Dish Soap

1/4 cup soap flakes or soap shavings (I used Fels Naptha.)
2 cups water
1-2 Tablespoons distilled white vinegar  or lemon juice (I used vinegar.)
1 Tablespoon glycerin (optional)



Pour water and soap into a saucepan and slowly heat it over medium heat. Stir the mixture and keep heating it until all the soap has melted into the water. DO NOT let the mixture come to a boil. Turn down the heat if needed.

Allow the soap mixture to cool a bit, then stir in the vinegar . Keep it sitting in the pot until it is completely cooled, then pour it into an old dish soap bottle. I decided to use the DIY Mason jar dispenser I’d made. This recipe made JUST the right amount to fill it!



You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil if desired. I used about 5 drops of Lemon and it smelled so lemony fresh clean!

Beautiful Battlefields Blog Tour

It's a question you've heard, or perhaps even asked yourself. Where is God in the midst of this? In the battle for your joy, your marriage, your finances, your health, an emptiness creeps in. Where is the peace you promised, God?

Bo Stern has been there - and is still there. Yet in studying the battles in Scripture, she came to a startling conclusion: God is using these fierce fights in our lives for an astonishing purpose.
 More about Beautiful Battlefields
Women want proven strategies to face their battles with faith, courage, and security. They also need strength to keep fighting and reassurance to know that they aren't alone. In Beautiful Battlefields, author Bo Stern is a new voice with a hopeful message on pain that goes to the center of the gospel:God promises to fight with us and never leave us all alone.

By providing Biblical reasons for suffering, ways to win the battles, and glimpses into her own personal trials, Bo encourages readers to see the startling beauty that can be found in pain when they discover that God is doing something bigger than they could ever imagine.
About the Author

Bo Stern is a persuasive, sought-after speaker and writer. Her role as a teaching pastor at Westside Church in Bend, Oregon, gives her a platform to share her personal journey and deep insight into the heart of God. Bo and her husband, Steve, serve together on the international Board of Directors for King's Kids Village, a home for AIDS-affected orphans in Nairobi, Kenya.

Visit her website at http://www.bostern.com

Disney DVD's How to get them replaced

Broken Disney DVD or Blu-ray?
I know this doesn't have anything to do with food, but I found something I just HAVE to share!!!
I don't know about you, but we have had some problems with our DVDs getting broken or sratched by kids.  Yes. It happens.  Especially once you have little ones.  As an adult you can deal with the loss of a movie, but for a child, it's heart breaking.  Especially when it happens on accident and to a very LOVED movie.

 Well, I've found something absolutely INCREDIBLE that Disney offers!  If you accidentally damage or break one of your DVD or Blu-ray discs, you can get a replacement for a nominal charge of $6.95 for per DVD and $8.95 for per Blu-ray disc.  All you have to do is go to the Disney Movie Rewards site at the very bottom of the screen there is an option you can choose "Guest Service Center".  That will get you to the Disc Replacement Program and the instructions and forms you need (Canadian help is available, too).  SWEET!  I know!  Disney really DOES LOVE their customers!!!  Plus you can do this to ALL of your messed up Disney DVDs once per year, not just one title per year like I originally thought!  Incredible!
See, if you didn't think Disney was incredible before, NOW you should really know it is!
I LOVE DISNEY!!!!!
 REMEMBER
Limit: One replacement per title per calendar year.

Get ready to celebrate MAKERS and be inspired

Get ready to celebrate MAKERS and be inspired




Invite your friends and loved ones over for a night of inspiration to meet Simple® and celebrate the women who make America. Simple® a facial skincare range perfect even for sensitive skin, proudly presents MAKERS: Women Who Make America, airing on Tuesday, February 26 at 8pm EST on PBS. MAKERS is a multi-platform video experience that aims to capture the extraordinary impact women have made in America over the past 50 years through a vast and ongoing collection of original interviews with trailblazing women of all walks of life. At your viewing party you'll not only engage with inspiring content from this powerful film, you’ll also discover Simple®, a facial skincare range that uses only the purest possible ingredients.

Your exclusive Party Pack will contain:

Simple® Skincare products
Simple® coupons
Tote bags
Inspirational quotes magnets
And more!
Hosting opportunities are limited. Apply Now

TREAT VALENTINE'S DAY

So have you picked out that special Valentine's Day card for that special someone yet? 

If you have not (or if the one you picked out isn't all that special), I've got a tip for you. 

Visit Treat and make a personalized Valentine's Day card. Like now.
 




Here are some of their most popular cards for him and her. 

For Him

For Her



Also, if you need cards for your kids' classroom, check out their sister site, Tiny Prints, for the best classroom Valentines! If you do so by January 30 and use the promo code 20JANSW you can save 20% on your entire order!



*Disclosure: I received a entry into a "IPAD MINI VALENTINES DRAWING  for myself, from Tiny Prints in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.*

TINY PRINTS VALENTINE'S DAY Sponsored Post

Valentine's Day is almost here! 

If you have children in elementary school, you need to check out Tiny Prints' Classroom Valentines. 







If you are not familiar with Tiny Prints, these are the best cards you can buy. And you can completely customize with your child's pictures, your own text, and text and fonts that you choose.

If your kids are too young, too old, or non-existent, Tiny Prints also has great customized photo gifts and Valentine's Day party invitations, and their sister company, Treat has some aweome personalized greeeting cards. 

Here are the most popular cards. If you order by January 30 and use the promo code 20JANSW you can save 20% on your entire order!

 
  




 Don't forget to use the code 20JANSW to save 20% on your entire order

*Disclosure: I received a entry into a "IPAD MINI VALENTINES DRAWING  for myself, from Tiny Prints in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.*

UNREAL™ Candy

UNREAL™ Candy, one of our favorite up-and-coming companies, is now available at Target.

This little company, started by a young boy, is on a mission to unjunk the world and prove that, with some innovation, hard work and support from each of us, our families' favorite foods can be made without the junk, with less sugar, more nutrition, and still taste just as good. Your purchase is an important vote that shows Target and the world we want our favorite foods made only from real ingredients.

We need YOU to rally to let Target and the world know that we support their decision to offer foods like candy with no artificials, hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, preservatives or GMOs. If it can be done with candy, it can be done with all foods!

I was provided this information by One2One Network

PASTA PIZZA

What You Need

1 Cup of Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

8 oz Can of Pizza Sauce

1/4 Cup of Sliced Mushrooms

1/2 medium green pepper diced

olive oil

1/2 teaspoon of pepper

10 oz penne

20 slices of pepperoni ( cut into 1/4ths)

What To Do

Cook pasta according to directions on the packaging

In a large skillet add a small drizzle of olive oil – set heat to medium. Once pan is heated add green peppers. Keep the peppers moving so they do not burn. After 4 minutes add mushrooms – stir and cook for 2 more minutes

Add pizza sauce, pepperoni, pepper – cook until heated through

Add cheese + pasta – lower heat to low – and stir till cheese is melted

Purex Giveaway

Winner have been sent email. They have 48 to respond or we will pick a new winner.  Everyone check your email. Thanks to all who enter watch for more giveaways soon.

Stella & Dot Spring Collection

Stella & Dot Spring Collection
We are thrilled to introduce the Stella & Dot Spring Line! View the entire Spring Line on the landing page below.

Landing Page: http://shop.stelladot.com/style/b2c_en_us/whats-new/new-arrivals.html/

Here's a sample of some of the new pieces in the Spring Collection:

New Year. New Trends. New You! I'm so thrilled to share with you that Stella & Dot has launched their new Spring Collection! The entire line is stunning but below are a few of my absolute favorite pieces. 

The Fiona Bib Necklace is a favorite amongst the Stella & Dot design team and I can see why. This luxurious necklace was designed with segments of luminous ivory that create a crisp, modern statement. The Zinnia Bracelet is perfect for spring. Kelly green cabochon stones line a vintage-inspired bamboo link bracelet that will be sure to add a pop of color to any outfit. Stella & Dot's Seychelles Chandelier Earrings are beautiful. The teardrop chandeliers feature bold lapis stones and hand-painted turquoise enamel. Don't miss your chance to shop this great new collection. Have a stylish 2013! 

I was provided this information to share by, Stella & Dot,
at www.shareasale.com.

Kurrenci, the universal coupon

As editor of Nannaof3 it is my passion, job and duty to bring you the best deals available on the world wide web. We have all made it our mission to never accept the starting price on anything, and always search for the best deals. But, what if I told you there was a start-up that is changing everything and developing a way to get you the best possible deals WITHOUT the hunting, cutting and spam! I am happy to introduce you to Kurrenci.com the internet’s very first universal coupon.


Here’s how it works... You sign up for a free account. Next, you fund your account the same way you would with paypal, accept with Kurrenci there are more options and it’s way easier and fun. Then, you visit any shop that accepts Kurrenci, or you can simply search by product on Kurrenci.com. When you’re ready to checkout, you will see the amazing discount you get by paying with Kurrenci! The store owner makes your dollar worth more! Some days your dollar will be worth 1.15, some days 1.50 it all depends on what rate the store owner sets it to. But it can only go up! So you are basically always getting way more bang for your buck, without the coupon! It’s more valuable money!


Kurrenci! See skincareheaven, babybot, voilacAt first this sounds too good to be true, but it’s not, they already have several sites accepting cezzories, babybot and others!

So go to Kurrenci.com today, and sign up for your free account!

Borax Review and Giveaway

When Purex sent me the fun package below with 20 Mule Team Borax, it reminded me of happy memories from driving through the California desert and seeing signs for the Twenty Mule Team Museum . Using Borax is natural way to soften hard water which is important for improving your detergent's cleaning power. It can also help to remove stains  and keep stains from re-depositing onto clothes.I am a fan of natural products and 20 Mule Team Borax is a great one because it is 100% natural mineral from the earth. It is removed from the ground, washed, dried, and boxed. Absolutely nothing is added! There is no chlorine, phosphates, or other additives.

This Borax can be used for cleaning around the house or as a laundry booster. I use it as a laundry booster.  We have hard water which has compounds that attach to calcium and magnesium granules that settle on the bottom of our washing machine. They eventually fall down the drain without actually cleaning clothes.  It is such a waste of detergent.  In my mission to increase the effectiveness of our detergent, I've been adding 1/2 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax to each load. I use Purex Baby with the Borax as a laundry booster  and they work well together. We are potty training, so I like using a gentle laundry detergent, but I see the boost from the Borax since we have a lot of toddler clothing that gets messy

I bet that you are now wondering - Where can I get Borax ? It is easily available at many stores such as Target, Kroger, Walmart, and more.

Win it!
As a Purex Insider, I received  coupon to share with one lucky reader!  The winner must have a U.S. mailing address. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to our email with their mailing address or we will select a new winner. Good luck!
A natural laundry booster that makes your detergent work better. Got hard water? Borax is the best natural cleaner that works great as a water conditioner with your regular laundry detergent. You will get cleaner, fresher smelling clothing. This product makes baby clothes and cloth diapers smell fresh and renewed. Origin of Borax  Borax first appeared in history approximately 4,000 years ago. It is a naturally occurring mineral composed of sodium, boron, oxygen and water. Borax is generally found embedded deep in the ground, along with clay and other substances.


FAQ taken directly from Borax web site:
Do you have any tips for washing in hard water?
Believe it or not, more than 85% of homes in the U.S. have hard water. Clothes that are washed in hard water tend to look dingy and feel harsh. 20 Mule Team® Borax works well for washing clothes in hard water. ½ cup of 20 Mule Team® Borax will help soften water and prolong the longevity of clothes.
Can I use 20 Mule Team with bleach?
Yes, 20 Mule Team and chlorine bleach can be mixed safely.
How much 20 Mule Team do I use in the wash load?
Add ½ cup 20 Mule Team® Borax to each wash load along with the recommended amount of soap or detergent.
Is Borax safe for septic systems?
Yes.
What is the shelf life of the Borax?
The shelf life of 20 Mule Team is indefinite if stored in a dry place.
Can Borax be used to kill ants or roaches?
The Dial Corporation cannot recommend Borax to kill ants or roaches. The EPA has not authorized 20 Mule Team as a pesticide.
What are the ingredients in 20 Mule Team® Borax?
20 Mule Team is composed of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water. (The scientific name for borax is sodium tetraborate decahydrate.)
Is 20 Mule Team® Borax Laundry Booster the same as boric acid?
No, Boric Acid is an acid formed from the reaction of borax with sulfuric acid or another mineral.
How much Borax is in 20 Mule Team?
20 Mule Team® Borax is comprised of 99.5% pure borax, a naturally occurring mineral composed of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water. (The scientific name for borax is sodium tetraborate decahydrate.) The remaining 0.5% is composed of trace minerals.
Can I use 20 Mule Team® Borax around my pets?
20 Mule Team® Borax can be used to deodorize pet odors. However, we recommend you keep 20 Mule Team® Borax out of reach of pets and children.
No monetary compensation was received. Complimentary Borax was received an any opinions expressed above are my very own. A thank you goes out to Purex for sharing Borax with me and my readers.

Walt Disney World Vacation via Pixie Vacations!

Pixie Vacations ® wants you and your family to enjoy the Walt Disney World ® Resort for 4 days and 3 nights of magical memories. Experience and enjoy the Disney Magic when you stay at a Walt Disney World ® Resort hotel and make new memories at the Disney Theme Parks.
Enter the Making Magical Memories Disney World Sweepstakes brought to you by Pixie Vacations!
The Grand Prize vacation shall include the following:
One (1) standard room for maximum of four (4) persons in room at a Walt Disney World® Moderate Resort hotel for three (3) nights.
Up to four (4) Park Base Tickets for four (4) days.
Keepsake luggage tag (one per person).
Dining package includes one table-service meal, one quick-service meal, and one snack per person/night of package.
 Valid for redemption most nights during Value and Regular Seasons. Holiday travel is not included. Travel to and from Orlando FL is not included.
Enter at  making-magical-memories-disney-world-sweepstakes/
 You can check out the Official Rules here:http://pixievacations.com/index.php/2012/12/12/sweepstakes-offical-rules/



Why book with Pixie Vacations ® instead of directly with Disney?

Why should I book with Pixie Vacations, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, instead of booking directly with Disney? There are three main advantages to using Pixie Vacations ®.
· Concierge Level of Service
· Lowest Possible Price
· A History of Disney Knowledge equals Disney savings

"We want to plan and book the best Disney Vacation you have ever had. We are not a call center; we are past Disney Cast Members and Disney Vacation Planners that know the ins and outs of Disney."

*I received information via US Family Bloggers for purpose of this post.

Keurig Vue House Party

 All set up for the party.

Grand daughter helping my get everything out.


I am SO excited!  I was chosen to host my first ever house party!  Just look at what I will be receiving to

Your House Party Party Pack will contain:

1 Keurig® Vue® branded apron
6 boxes of Keurig® Vue® Packs
2 Brew Over Ice Tumblers
13 Keurig® Vue® napkins, cups and lids
Keurig® offer for 50% off Keurig® brewers at Keurig.com
Keurig® Vue® brochures
Keurig® napkins
Cookies to accompany beverages
13 After Coffee Signature Peppermint packs
Your Keurig Party Pack will contain…(drum roll, please)…the brand new Keurig® Vue® brewer!

WOOHOO!  When The Box came



Party is planned for September 21st…I can’t wait to share photos with you!
Would you like to host your own party, visit
here

to find the right party for you!
Thank you to Keurig and House Party for this amazing opportunity!

 If you’re not familiar with HouseParty.com , I encourage you to check it out. HGTV partners with companies and brands to allow their members to host these house parties, where the host invites friends over to out  experience the new product. Spaces are limited, so the host basically has to “earn” his or her spot, and HouseParty.com selects the hosts based on interests and who they think are the best fits.

And this one was a great one to be a “best fit” for!

Hosting a coffee party would have been awesome. But I decided to spice it up a bit by making it a coffee + brunch party. You know, a coffee bar, mimosas, food. .. the whole works. My Party Pack came with all sorts of goodies (6 boxes of Vue Packs, a Keurig Vue apron, napkins, cookies, mints, coffee cups, tumblers, and of course, the new Keurig Vue ) and I just had to purchase the brunch goodies and invite. Easy peasy!

Plus, I LOVE hosting, entertaining and throwing parties, so this was practically the highlight of my week (or maybe even month.) So after making list after list, shopping for the party necessities and deep-cleaning my apartment, it was time for my Vue Party.

While I prepped for the party and waited for the guests to arrive, of course I had to indulge in a cup of  coffee .
If you’re considering purchasing a Keurig Vue, it’s absolutely worth every penny. (In fact, I just purchased one as a gift.) You can make cafe-style beverages, iced coffees and teas, choose the strength of your coffee, brew travel-sized drinks and more.


Sorry for posting this so late I just found it in the Drafts I forgot to publish it

How to Make Your Fitness Goal Setting Programs Work

 My Daughter is aiming to lose 25 pounds so she could wear any swimsuit she wishes to wear when summer begins. So, she immediately set her own fitness goals to attain the drastic changes.

Problem is, summer is only a couple of months away. How could she possibly lose that much within such a short period of time? That would be quite impossible.

This is why appropriate and proper fitness goal setting programs should be done. The fitness program should be carefully planned and a timetable, with goals and targets, should be put up.

Before you begin any fitness goal setting program, remember to assess and think over what it is you really like to achieve after a certain period of time.

To do so, you must take into consideration a number of factors and variables that include your physical skills, your appearance, the amount of weight you want to lose or gain and whether you would settle to building up your strength, flexibility and endurance.

There are various physical activities that fit various physical or fitness gains, and it would be appropriate if you would first do a little research about them or more advisably, seek the help of experts and professionals.

Time table

When adopting or starting out a fitness goal setting program, it is recommended that you first consider or set out goals and targets that would not be attainable in the very long term, or almost too impossible to attain.

Most fitness goals are targeting a time frame of about a few months. Years would be too long, and the fitness goal program would probably not be too effective for such a long-period time frame.

When setting a fitness goal program, you should carefully set a time frame, or the period you intend or expect to see the significant changes or desired outcome of your effort.

Doing so would certainly be like doing the activities in an organized manner. By so doing, you are setting a gauge or a measurement scheme to monitor your progress and development in carrying out the task.

Setting a time table would also create a little or self-imposed deadline to yourself, which would in turn make you act out more efficiently and effectively into doing or carrying out your desired actions or outcomes.

Expert help

Many other fitness goal setting programs would certainly demand an expert or professional advice. Because losing weight and gaining more muscles are too complicated concepts that would involve various health issues and discipline, expert and professional advice would do a lot to carry the programs out, safely and effectively.

These fitness goals would require not just physical activities but also a great sense of discipline in food intake and overall lifestyle. For example, losing weight would entail a great, carefully planned and tested diet.

Gaining muscles would require more physical agility exercises that sometimes could be too hard, tiring, and could even lead to muscle or joint injuries.

Considering the endless negative and destructive possibilities of the fitness goal setting programs would lead you to really set an appointment with your doctor, nutritionist or other experts.

You would not want to put every hard and tedious effort to waste don’t you?

So the next time you set another fitness goal setting program, remember to do it properly, giving out more focus on details, safety and desired outcome.

Who is getting fit this year?  How are you going to stay in shape let us know in the comments.

Teaching Your Teens to Set their Goals

Goals are clearly the targets of success. You, for sure, have your own goals, which may have already been achieved, are in the process of being achieved, or are still to be achieved.

But how about if you set goals for your kids, especially if they are already teenagers? Surely, teens would have to set their own goals because they know what they like to achieve better than you do, or than anyone else in the world does.

But for your part, you can help your teens develop their far and future vision and set their own goals, be it in the long-term or in the short-term.

You know how teenagers need guidance and proper advice, especially in their age when their personalities of manhood and womanhood are being developed and framed.

You can always help your teenage kids dream better about their future. They have so much to learn, and as a parent or a guardian, it is your responsibility to make sure their dreams are on the right path and are achievable and reasonable.

Doing such would enable you to effectively carry out your tasks and responsibility as a good and wise guardian or parent.

Here are some useful tips that would surely help you teach your teens to effectively set their goals:

• Explain to the teen why goals, be it for the short term or the long term, are very crucial and important. Sometimes, teens would not understand why they would have to set goals when there is no guaranty that these goals would ever be achieved.

• Teach the teen to clearly identify his or her goals. The teen would define his or her own goals. It is to be based on his interests, likes, ambition, knowledge, skill and talent. Because the teens are basically in the age of confusion, wisdom and practical advice from elders and guardians would really be helpful and insightful.

• Make sure to point of where to start the goals. The time frame, or the when, of the process should also be suggested. By doing so, the teen would have the clear idea and concept of where he would start to start the achievement of the goals, and when to start acting on it. Often, important goals in life ought to be started immediately.

• Suggest some step-by-step procedures or processes on how the set goals can be achieved. Of course, the teen would eventually figure out the measures he must take to know the techniques, but you have to still suggest specific and vivid suggestions on how to effectively accomplish the goals.

Remember that as an older being, you are far more knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to matter of life, so imparting a little knowledge and wisdom would be a welcome note in the part of the teen.

• Orient the teen on how to overcome obstacles and effectively deal with several temporary defeats that are way inevitable and are on their way. Teach the teen the value of reverting back and determination in the backdrop of little failures and missed goals. Some wise words and advice would convey the idea.

• Relay several anecdotes or personal experiences about your own goal setting experiences. The personal touch is always the best, and for sure, your teenaged son or daughter would learn a lot from your own petty and major goal failures and aborted attempts.

Homemade Scrubs

I suggest using small jars, since all the ingredients are edible (and therefore spoilable) and should be used within a month.

Ingredients:
Small sized mason or other jars you want to use
Sugar
Olive oil (or any other oil you may have in your pantry)
Lemon juice & zest
Few drops of vanilla

*The amount of ingredients that you need depends on the amount of scrub that you want to make. I used about 4 cups of sugar for 4 small jars.

What to do:
-Pour the sugar into the jar(s) that you'll use (plus 2-3 tablespoons for each jar extra to accommodate for shrinkage of volume) and then dump the sugar into a mixing bowl
-Slowly add small amounts of olive oil to the sugar until the sugar holds shape and is no longer crumbly
-Add enough lemon juice and zest to the sugar that you can smell lemon more than the olive oil (I juiced 1 lemon and zested all of it's rind)
-Adding a few drops of vanilla extract is optional, but I found that it masked the smell of olive oil and made it smell even yummier
-Scoop the mixture back into the jar(s)
-Add a label and a bit of ribbon to pretty it up!


What you'll need for the sugar scrub:
- mixing bowl and spoon
- 3 cups white sugar
- 1 cup + 2 Tbsp. good quality oil (I used olive oil, but you can use any nice, non-smelly oil)
- 10 drops of yummy-scented essential oil per jar (I went with mandarin, peppermint, and lavender)

Combine your sugar and oil, mix it up well, and divide into separate bowls (if you're planning to flavor them separately). Add your essential oil, stir, and divide among your jars.
Done! Easy peasy!


- jars (mine were 7 oz. and cost $1 each at Joann's)
(they should really start paying me for how much I talk about them on my blog)
- cute scrapbook papers (you'll only need a tiny bit, and I chose 2 coordinating papers per jar)
- Mod Podge (my latest obsession)
- brush
- scissors

Wash and dry your jars before starting. Then cut a piece of cute paper into the shape you want for your label (I went with an oval shape), apply mod podge to the area of the jar you want to place the label, and press on your paper, smoothing out any wrinkles or bubbles.
Place your jar on the wrong side of the scrapbook paper, bend the paper up to the top of the lid, and make a few marks around where the paper meets the lid top:Cut a circle at least 1/4" away from the marks, then make cuts about 1/4" apart extending in towards your markings:Apply mod podge to the top of your lid and apply the paper (wrong side down), smoothing out any bubbles. Apply mod podge to the lid sides as well, folding the paper up around the sides (there will be some wrinkling . . . it's no big deal, just press them as flat as you can).Working on a few strips at a time, apply mod podge to the little fringey tabs and press them down inside of the lid, pushing them firmly against the inside of the lid.Apply a layer of mod podge over the lid top and sides and let it dry, then flip over and apply to the paper around the inside of the lid as well.

The sugar scrub I made this time was based on this recipe from Care2. The approximate recipe I used is below and I say approximate because I kept having to make up more to fill the jars I had but the proportions are pretty good to go.
1 C white sugar
1 C raw sugars
1 1/2 C almond oil
1 T liquid lecithin
1 T vitamin E
1-2 drops eucalyptus and lavender essential oils


You need:

White Sugar
Brown Sugar
Olive Oil
Vanilla {totally optional, but yummy}

{notes: I dabbled with Baby Oil but the smell is pretty strong, and not everyone is as enamored with the baby smell as myself. I vote Olive Oil, which you can pick up at the dollar store}The sky is the limit, really. This is a washed-out container I’m recycling which actually held Trader Joe’s sugar scrub in its former life. I’m also using small Mason jelly jars and making lids out of scrapbook paper. Whatever you have on hand will do, thriftiness is the name of the game here.You want your sugars to be equally mixed, so find out how much the container you’re using will hold and then measure equal amounts of sugars to fill.Step 3: Add White SugarStep 4: MixStep 5: Add to container Fill it pretty full, the oil will tamper it down a lotStep 6: Add OilThis step requires patience. Pour it in and let it bubble down to the bottom, then pour in a little more, and so on and so forth. Mix it around with a spoon if you need to {I did}, it will speed up the process.Step 7: Mix again{Optional} Step 8: Add VanillaStep 9: Dress it up

Add a bow for heaven’s sake, it’s Christmas. I got the ribbon at the Dollar Store, several spools in every color. Tie a nice little bow and you’re done. Isn’t it adorable?

You will need:
- 25% Vegetable Glycerin (or coconut oil)
- 25% Grapeseed oil (optional – you can use just vegetable glycerin)
- 50% white sugar
- one or two drops of essential oil (I personally love pink grapefruit)
- Glass or plastic container (I bought mine at Walmart, but there’s a similar one HERE)
- ribbon, to decorate
*Mix up all the goodies and voila!
Amanda from Vintage Glam Weddings was also kind enough to post her label, which can be downloaded FREE {here} for 2.5″ x 1.75″ size


Read more: Homemade Sugar Scrub | Two Hearts Together

Begin my mixing 2 1/2 Cups of Sugar with 1 Cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Add in 4 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice {or scented essential oils to your liking}. This mixture will make enough to fill a 12oz. Mason Jar {and you'll have just enough left over to clean your hands afterwards too}

Mix really well until a gritty paste forms and spoon into a glass container. {make sure your container has a lid that seals}

I have to say I love this mix and use it all the time. After sitting for awhile you may need to mix prior to using as the sugar may settle. A tiny bit is all you need and it leaves your skin extra soft and smooth. {plus not to mention it scrubs away all craft evidence so my hands do not look like a mechanics out in public}Enjoy!

6 Exercise Tips That Really Work

Sorry, there's just no way around it, if you want to get in shape you have to eat well and get a lot of regular exercise. A pill isn't going to do it all for you. Of course, you want to optimize the results you get from your exercise routine and these exercise tips will help you do just that.

Before you start an exercise program make sure that you talk to your doctor. This is particularly important if you're really overweight and haven't spent much time working out or if you have some underlying health problems. Ask your doctor what you need to do to modify an exercise routine so you can work around those issues.

Here are some exercise tips that you should keep in mind and you will get more out of your workouts:

1. If possible, work out with a friend. It is much easier to stick with a workout routine if you and your friend are doing it together. There is a certain amount of peer pressure, neither of you wants to be the undisciplined one and neither of you wants to let the other one down.

2. If you are new to working out try to find a trainer to work with at least until you get a good routine worked out. After you've gotten the basics mastered you can either continue to work out with the trainer (this can be another great motivator) or, if your budget is tight you can give up the personal trainer and do it yourself.

3. Do not go nuts on the cardio aspect of your workout. Many people make this mistake. They think that spending a lot of time on the treadmill or the elliptical is good, and it is, but the problem is that your body gets used to that level of exertion and eventually your results will actually go down.

4. This one goes along with number 3, do several types of cardio exercises. Don't allow your body to get too used to a certain routine. You should change your workout routine at least every 6 weeks or so. This will really maximize your results. Another benefit of changing things up regularly is that you will lessen repetitive motion injuries that occur, you guessed it, when you do the same movements over and over again.

5. When you do weight training (and everyone should, yes, even women) don't make the mistake of going too fast when you do a repetition.  Many people go so fast that they are actually allowing momentum to do most of the work for them. This greatly decreases the effectiveness of the exercise. You want a very slow and controlled movement. Not only will you get the most out of the exercise you will also lessen the chances of injuring yourself.

6. You may not hear this one too often, but if you are in a time crunch and you can't really do a full workout (some cardio and weight training) and you have to pick one or the other, choose the weight portion of your workout. Weight training will also have a cardiovascular benefit and the boost in metabolism you get by weight training will last you long after your workout is over.

I hope you have found these exercise tips to be helpful. To really be successful in your workout routine, it's important that you find something that you really enjoy doing and then just stick with it.

4 Benefits Of Losing Weight

There are many benefits to losing weight. If you have been considering this idea, or your doctor has mentioned losing weight to you, you know it will be a lot of hard work. However, the benefits of losing weight are definitely worth the effort.

As you consider your decision to lose weight, take a look at the list of benefits below.

1. A Positive Body Image: Many overweight people struggle with their body image on a daily basis. If you are unhappy with your figure, and want to end those negative mirror sessions, losing weight may be a good option for you. Imagine feeling positive each and every time you see a photo of yourself! That’s definite motivation to lose the weight and keep it off.

2. Increased Self Confidence: If you struggle with self confidence issues due to your appearance, weight loss can be a good way to come to terms with your body. As you become strong and healthy, you’ll become confident in your abilities and strength. This is a great feeling!

3. Increased Health and Strength: As you lose weight, your body will become stronger. Exercise and weight training will help your body grow stronger – you may be able to do activities you never had the strength or stamina to before. You’ll breathe easier, and be able to run and walk for longer periods of time without discomfort. You’ll be able to play actively with your children or grandchildren without having to take breaks to catch your breath. Losing weight can truly be a life altering experience!

4. Decreased Health Problems: Many health issues such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and diabetes are all triggered or irritated by obesity. This means that if you experience or have a family history of any of these diseases, losing weight can help you to feel better. Diet and exercise can improve your health be decreasing your risk of heart disease, as well. By altering your fitness habits and your eating habits, you just may be lengthening your life!

The benefits of weight loss definitely outweigh the risks. After all, what do you have to lose? Sleepless nights, lack of energy, shortness of breath, fatigue – you’ll be able to kick all these symptoms to the curb by investing time and energy into your fitness regime. Take the time to develop a healthy diet and exercise program today – your body will thank you for years to come.

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, nor should it be interpreted or substituted as medical advice. Prior to making changes to your physical exercise routine and your diet, you should always consult your personal physician. Better safe than sorry.

Purex Baby Detergent Review and Giveaway

As a Purex Insider, I was sent a bottle of Purex Baby to try.  Did you know Purex now has a detergent that’s new for babies? I received a bottle to review and it smells of a powdery-baby scent. My babies are now any where from the age of 23 and down to newborn if you include my grandchildren and I do as they are mostly all living here but Purex Baby still works on our laundry!
Purex sent me coupons to give away to you!  Each coupon is valued up to $5.00.

So let me tell you about Purex Baby (info provided by Purex).
Purex Baby detergent delivers the same bright, white clean you’ve come to expect from Purex, yet is sensitive on baby’s skin.
The dermatologist-tested formula guarantees to remove stubborn baby stains  without hurting delicate clothes, like those adorable little footie pajamas.
Like all Purex detergents, Purex Baby is specifically designed to ensure proper performance for all washers, from high-effiency to traditional top-loader washing machines.
Purex Baby is also hypoallergenic and comes with a gentle baby-inspired fragrance.  Purex Baby is not available in every store. To find a store near you that carries Purex Baby try the store locator .

Don’t forget to enter the Purex Oh Baby ! Sweepstakes for a chance to win sweet prizes! Sweeps prizes include: 3 winners will each receive a grand prize of $500! An additional 250 winners will win free Purex Baby Detergent!.

So now on to my giveaway!
Mandatory:  If you’d like a chance to win  coupon for a FREE bottle of Purex Baby just leave me a comment below telling me why you want to win.
If you want extra entries:  Come back ONCE per day AFTER your original entry and leave me a comment telling me this is your extra entry. You can do this once per day!
Giveaway begins tonight and ends January 12th at 11:59pm EST.   winners picked randomly and will be notified by email.  Open to residents in the USA only.

*I received a sample of Purex Baby to review. Opinions are my own.

What Is The Right Home Remedy To Treat An Ear Infection

If you are a parent of a child that has suffered from ear infections then you might be interested to know that there are some very effective home remedies that can be used to treat them.  Some children can be very prone to earn infections and over time can cost a small fortune from all those doctors visits.  Then there is also the times when an earache begins at night when it is difficult to see a doctor or on vacation and a good home remedy can give the child relief until such a time that you can visit a doctor.  Of course, if the ear pain is severe and doesn't subside with use of the home remedy, then you should still visit a doctor as soon as you are able.

Ear infections have haunted people for many years and long before prescribed medications were available they were treated with natural remedies.  Many remedies are made from products that you will likely already have in your home.  The effective home remedies to treat ear infections have been used for many years, even after prescribed medications became available, and are still being used today.

A warm compress is always a good option for earaches.  For a warm compress you can use a wheat bag if you have one and if not you can make a compress by putting some rice into a sock and warming it in the microwave for one minute.  Then place the compress on the child's sore ear and let them lie on their side with the bad ear facing down.  By using a warm compress this way it can help to drain any blockage in the child's ear which may relieve the pain.

Hydrogen peroxide is often found in most medicine cabinets and is usually used to clean wounds and kill any germs.  A few drops of hydrogen peroxide in a sore ear will help to kill any bacteria in the ear that might be causing the infection.

If you would prefer a more natural alternative to hydrogen peroxide then lemon juice is a great choice.  Because lemon juice is highly acidic it neutralizes the pH which stops the growth of the bacteria.

The next home remedy to treat ear infections is a recipe from the kitchen which contains onion, garlic and olive oil.  You need to simmer the onion and garlic in some oil and water.  Simmer until the mixture reduces and then strain the mixture so you are left with a liquid.  When cool, apply a few drops into the sore ear.  This can kill the infection and if used at the first sign of ear infection it can clear it up quite fast.

A mixture of vinegar and water is another handy recipe to treat ear infections.  Just mix 50% water with 50% vinegar and apply a few drops into the sore ear.

Lastly, and an unlikely remedy is vodka.  And no we aren't suggesting your child drink vodka until they no longer feel pain!  Just dab some vodka onto a cotton ball and hold it against the ear.

A remedy that might work for one child might not work for another, so you may need to try a few of the remedies until you find one that works well for your child.  Once you know which remedy works for your child then it will be there ready for you whenever your child develops an ear infection.  Remember, if pain persists or is severe then take your child to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Personal Goal Setting: The First Step Toward a Purpose-Driven Life

What's your purpose in life? If you don't have a ready answer, don't be surprised. Even the greatest of the philosophers who had ever lived succeeded only in making this question more profound. Why? Because the answer lies not in simply knowing what's your purpose in life but lies in discovering what's your goal in life. The last one is only possible if you have already gone through the process of goal setting.

Soul-searching is actually personal goal setting in its infancy. The only problem is that for many people that infant never grow up into maturity. The person involved in soul-searching might dismiss this process as nothing but being sentimental. Without realizing it, the person had just killed the infant, or his chance to flesh-out the course of his purpose driven life.

But luckily, soul-searching is a recurring process. So the next time you have been given the honor of another visit, be mindful.

Personal goal setting is a powerful tool for setting a course for a meaningful and fulfilling life. The process of personal goal setting in itself is powerful enough that if you're  going through with the process you might think that your life's meaning or purpose had been found. But it is not. The euphoria is only a result of your self finally realizing that you're on the right track.

For some, the process itself is motivating. Once you've found a way in making this a habit, you will soon realize that achieving your goals that look like impenetrable walls in the past is nothing but a purpose that needs a set of personal goals as the key.

Personal goal setting: what should be set?

Since there is more to life than the four letters that it represents, personal goal setting involves a review of all the aspects of your life, and all of these should have a corresponding goal. But before going to the process of setting-up goals, you must have one general goal that encompasses all the other goals. In fact the other and smaller goals should work in the service of this large goal of yours.

1. Career. What aspect of your career do you think needs an improvement? Or perhaps, ask yourself: is time for a new career?

2. Outlook or attitude. Is there a part of you, particularly on how you perceive things, that needs to be changed?

3. Financial. Do you have a clear projection as to how much you should be earning in a particular moment in your life? This aspect is closely related with career, so better review and come out with a goal with these two side by side.

4. Potential development. Perhaps some of your talents and skills need an improvement, or are maybe already clamoring for an improvement. Life, after all, is discovering your potential and developing it in the process.

5.  Academic. Perhaps you're no longer getting any mental stimulation lately. Maybe your education-related goals had expired many years ago. Perhaps it's time to go back to school for another degree, or engage in any thought provoking activities.

6. Family. What is your idea of a family? Getting married, having and raising kids? When? How?

7. Social involvement. Perhaps you want to help achieve something that would make the world a better place? Perhaps you're into animal protection, environmental concerns, and human rights issues?

These are just some aspects that generally come to mind when it comes to personal matters. If you feel or think that this list is not enough, or doesn't fit well with you, you may add or change it. Remember, personal goal setting is what its name is - a personal task. It is all up to you to device it and make it happen.

Time Management and Goal Setting

There are practically two types of people on the workplace. The first type of corporate workers would be those who always find sufficient and ample time to easily do things that should be done.The second type of workers would be those who are always cramming to complete tasks or work things out at the last minute.

A thorough analysis of the situations of the two types of workers would certainly lead you to the idea that the two differ from each other through their time management practices.

As such, time management is very important, especially to people in the workplace who are always bombarded by heavy work loads and different tasks. Each person for sure has his or her own other life aspects like social, life, sex life, family life and spiritual life. Each individual has his or her own set of priorities.

That is why effective time management would really be necessary so people would easily and effectively meet targets and beat deadlines with greater ease.

But it is to be noted that efficient and effective time management would
have to entail a greater skill, that is, effective goal setting.

Goal setting and time management

Goal setting and time management are two different concepts, but they are practically inter-related and inter-twined.

Time management would not be effective and achievable without goal setting.

Goal setting, for its part, needs effective time management skills for it to be successfully achieved.

Remember, when managing your time, the first thing you should attend to would be assessing or setting out your list of priorities. Doing so would enable you to carry out tasks that need to be carried out first than the others.

It would be impossible for anyone to set priorities without first setting goals. Priorities are things that should be given primary and foremost focus and attention. The same goes for goals.

Priorities and goals are almost the same in a way that both are the ultimate targets and aims of each individual.

Some useful tips to set goals and manage time:

Here are several simple, logical and practical tips and guidelines to help you set goals and eventually manage your time better.

• Set specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely goals. Remember the acronym SMART to simplify and unify all these. By doing so, bear in mind always your goals and arrange your schedule in a way that the achievement of these goals would be attained.

• Determine the things or activities that need to be done or carried out in order to attain priorities and goals. By doing so, you would inevitably consider and think about the time frame needed to perform the tasks.

• When arranging your schedule, make sure that the set of activities related to attaining the goals would not conflict with any other important appointments or activities. Make a time table so no deadlines, appointments or important dates would be forgotten or missed out. That could be a great start up to effective time management.

• Assess yourself during goal setting. Humbly and honestly determine your skills, talents, competency and capacity to carry out your desired outcome or goals. Doing so would enable you to estimate the time it would take for you to attain and achieve your goals.

Overall, make sure you focus on your goals and ensure that you always remember the tasks that need to be done and completed on time, so the goals would be achieved also on time.

Going Skiing Or Snowboarding? You DecidE

Which do you prefer: skiing or snowboarding?

Skiing and snowboarding are two of the modern sports that are almost identical in form, yet in terms of origin and development are separated by many years.

Early roots of skiing

Broadly, skiing is an activity that involves moving over solid snow using skis. Historical data suggest that skiing was originally used as a means of transportation. Records also show that it slowly evolved from snowshoeing -- as a fast and convenient way of moving from place to place in areas heavily covered with snow.

Eventually, skiing evolved into a popular sport and recreational activity by the turn of the 20th century. Among the earliest forms of skiing, which have survived largely unchanged up to this day, are the popular Nordic and cross-country style.

The birth of snowboarding

Snowboarding, on the other hand, is considered as a board sport on snow that closely resembles skiing. In fact, the difference between the two sports is only recognizable through their origin. Skiing has a utilitarian origin; while snowboarding evolved from the more carefree world of surfing and skateboarding. Today, snowboarding is an increasingly popular winter sport in most major countries in the world.

Being a relatively new sport, snowboarding was developed from early efforts by several people with different backgrounds, like Chuck Barfoot, Dimitri Mitrovitch, Tom Sims, Jake Burton Carpenter and Sherman Poppen.

Sherman Poppen invented and marketed “Snurfer” in 1965. Developed in Poppen’s home at North Muskegon, Michigan, the snurfer was the first commercially available snowboard. Burton, on the other hand, is the founder of Burton Snowboards, one of the largest snowboard companies today. By the 1980s, several snowboard companies like Sims, Winterstick, and Avalanche started to operate actively within the market.

Also during this time, Hollywood films started to feature scenes on snowboarding, particularly the movies of Warren Miller. This greatly helped in making snowboard a more popular sport inside the skiing world. In the 1990’s, snowboarding had broken into the mainstream.

Skiing holds ground in popularity

Skiing, though could not be credited in one person, had Sondre Norheim, considered as the “father of modern skiing”. Sondre Norheim developed bindings that enabled skiers to execute turns while skiing down hills. This particular type of skiing is known as Slalom, a Norwegian term for a difficult track. But, currently, this form of skiing is called Telemark skiing.

Further down the road, the invention of sturdier bindings for the skier’s feet for skiing gave this sport a better edge. Thanks to Matthias Zdarsky, an Austrian, the skier is now able to turn more easily, which ultimately led to the conception of the Alpine, or Downhill, skiing.

Much later, in the early 20th century, another Austrian, Hannes Schneider of Arlberg, pushed the idea of rotating the body while on the move to steer the skis. Soon, this technique was being performed in every major skiing event, which helped skiing gather a great number followers.

Snowboarding continues to be popular

Snowboarding, however, has firmly settled its roots in the hearts of its growing number of enthusiasts. Snowboarding was officially incorporated in the 1998 Winter Olympic Games, as one of the sports events. Snowboarding is also a focus in the annual European and U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships, including the Winter X-Games.

If these events continue, snowboarding will continue its evolution or development into the next level. And this is not far fetched because snowboarding is immensely popular in the U.S. and Europe, and slowly gaining ground in other continents.

A Primer about Equipment Used for Skiing

It is a well-known fact that skiing is becoming a very popular sport that even people from tropical and hot-climate countries are visiting snow-capped countries and mountainous regions of the world just to ski or at least learn skiing.

The popularity of skiing has become phenomenal that the activity, which used to be a hunting and transportation or mobility activity is now considered a sporting event.

The Winter Olympics in the 19th century started including skiing as one of the challenging and most-watched events in the sports convention.

Some people ski for the purpose of quenching their thirst for recreation and luxurious hobbies. The affluent people around the world spend millions of dollars to get into and hook into skiing either as a sport or as a not-so-simple recreational activity.

Getting into skiing would always be considered a significant investment. That is because one person would have to spend money not just in learning or expert training skiing but also for the equipment used for skiing.

Equipment

The equipment for skiing make up most of the investment a person must have before finally tracking the down hill slope of skiing.

There are various equipment and apparel needed in skiing, that because if is a dangerous and tedious activity, it would be impossible and not advisable to proceed without first completing all the skiing equipment in hand.

Otherwise, the life of the skier would certainly be put at risk because all of the skiing equipment can never perform well and carry out its uses and functions without the significant others. Each skiing equipment complement the other skiing equipment.

The following are some of the most widely used and common, or necessary, equipment one must have before skiing.

The ski

The ski is a flat device that is long and always worn on the feet. This is the most basic among all the equipment used for skiing, because this facilitates the gliding and sliding motion.

Skis enable the skier to glide on snow and travel distances on the application of downward pressure. The friction made between the snow and the ski also creates heat and melts the contacting snow to create a small layer or melted water where the ski effectively and rapidly glides.

Ski boots

Ski boots are the recommended footwear that should be worn when skiing. This equipment, or more appropriately, apparel, is made up of pure leather with thick soles so the ski can be effectively and firmly tied and binded to them.

Ski poles

Ski poles are those equipment held by skiers on both hands while gliding. Ski poles help improve skier’s speed, acceleration, and most importantly, balance.

These equipment must have probably evolved or taken out from the concept of walking sticks that are carries especially by elder people when traveling.

Ski suit

The ski suit is the outermost garment worn by skiers when skiing. It is practical and logical not to wear ordinary clothes when going skiing because ordinary clothes can never protect you from the excruciating cold in the open space while skiing.

Ski suits are made up of special materials that would make it possible to keep the temperature of the body at optimum levels while skiing.

Wrapping up

Skiing is a very challenging and hard sports, hobby or, simply put, activity. That is why, having the proper equipment and apparel before finally starting to ski is imperative and overly recommended.

Do you have a money savings plan for 2013? How about a 52 week Saving Money Challenge?

Who is up for saving money this year?  Check this out and take the 52 Week Money Challenge.  I know I am going to do this. Who is with me in doing this?  Leave us a comment and tell us if you will be saving money with the 52 week money challenge with us.






This is such a great idea and an easy way to save money without being overwhelmed!
Follow the guide in the spread sheet above and at the end of the year have $1378 saved!
I am personally going to start this tomorrow!
It’s really simple! First week $1, Second Week $2, Third Week $3 and so on!
I would love for you to join us on this journey this year!

Thanks to Coupon Savings in the South for this awesome idea!