Essential Oils, Essential for skin care.

Essential oils have been a staple in personal care since biblical times and even with our "advances" in science and medicine, they should be an essential now. After all, in biblical times, they were living much, much longer than we are now, that body had to last! I wanted to share with you some of my favorite essential oils and their healing properties.

Tea Tree Oil: It is great for soothing blotchy skin and I have heard it works for Rosacea, although I have never tried it for that. Tea Tree oil makes a great cleanser with antibiotic properties. It will cleans your skin and kill the bacteria that causes blemishes.

Clary Sage: This is a new one to me, so take this advice with caution. I was told that Clary Sage mimics human hormones and can be converted into what ever your skin currently needs. Clary Sage would be helpful when hormone imbalances are a factor, as they are in teenagers and menopausal women.

Lemon: A kitchen favorite for disinfecting everything from the sink to the cutting board, Lemon essential oils are also great for clearing up your skin. One of the quickest acting acne treatment, a dab of Lemon oil on a blemish will clear it up almost overnight. But beware, the citric acid in Lemon oil will weaken your skin and make it more prone to damage, especially from the sun, for up to 72 hours after application. So remember your sunscreen!

Eucalyptus: With a wonderful calming scent, Eucalyptus oil works great as a cleanser, clearing away blackheads and blemishes and working to smooth the skin. Add a very small amount of spearmint for a firming effect and you have the perfect de-stress, before bed facial treatment.

Sandalwood: A light, semi-masculine scented oil has been around since ancient times as a healer and moisturizer. Sandalwood oil is perfect for smoothing out wrinkles, firming skin and softening scars.

Please remember to test your skin for allergies to any of these by first testing on a small, soft spot that is not always visible and as with anything you put on your face, keep it out of your eyes, nose and mouth, use small amounts and caution.

No Early Morning for me on Black Friday

When the turkey was gone and the dishes cleared, I plopped myself down on the couch and I scoured the ads, just like everyone else. I found some amazing deals! Some I just couldn't pass up. Then I saw the temperature outside. Ouch! No huge amount of savings or awesome coupons are going to get me to stand in any line in 15 degree weather. Sorry, not going to happen!

Instead, I decided to sleep in late, 8am anyway, and head out after the insanity. Toys R Us, not happening! They had been open since 10pm the night before and the checkout line still wrapped around the store. Thanks anyway. Next stop, Target. Much better. They were not as busy and they were only sold out of two of the items I wanted. Plus I got Levis for Little Man for only $6, Levis for Big C for $8, a DVD player for $20 and the best part was the Easy Bake I got for Ladybug was only $19! I had not seen any of those in the ad. Sweet deals!

After Target, I met up with my Mother and we headed over to big lots for my family gifts and stocking stuffers. I don't know why, but that has never been one of my favorite stores, but I got what I wanted and we headed to Ross. Yeah, that cost me, but then Ross Dress for Less always does. We finished up our shopping, stopped at ihop for breakfast and headed for home.

I picked up a few last minute items online before starting dinner. We rushed through dinner and zoomed down to the theater to catch Tangled in 3D. When we got there, there were still seats left for the next show time, but not together, so we opted to wait for the next one. We drove over to Denny's to get some hot cocoa while we waited and found Mindy and Chris having dinner. Of course, we crashed their dinner! It was great to see them and spend some time with them.

We stopped at the mall to kill a little more time and ended up in Radio Shack where I was introduced to a new phenomenon called Tea Cup Piggys. Wow. What to say about Tea Cup Piggys.... I got nothing, sorry. But Baby loves them! Unfortunately all the kids were with me so I had to shoo them out of the store so I could pick up the "essentials" I needed there.

Shopping done, it was back to the movies to get some treats and into our seats before the show started. It was such a cute show and watching my little ones reaching out as things floated by them was adorable. I loved spending time with my family. All in all, this was one of the best Black Fridays ever.

My babies are growing up...

Being a young mother tends to form a very strong bond between you and your newborn baby. Suddenly you can no longer be the child and you have to protect this helpless little, completely adorable phenomenon. That bond seems to last a very long time. Here I am, nearly 15 years later and my sweet angel baby is now an amazing young man. I get to watch him play football and I still get to wipe his tears, but only when girl troubles arise. Every day I am amazed at how grown up he is getting, but never so much as when I am buying him clothes. Gone are the days of shopping for darling little footie pajamas and striped and collard shirt sets. Now he wears men's clothing, huge shoes and fedora hats. He has his own, unique style and his clothes are expensive, but much nicer. He wants to look good, he wants to be in fashion, he wants his hair long and he wants me to be less involved. This makes me feel sad and proud, excited and weary. It's bitter sweet watching him grow, learn and become a man in his own right.

Traveling in 2011

2010 is nearly gone and 2011 is much closer that we would like to admit. Bring on the New Year's Resolutions and promises to ourselves and families. A common New Year's Resolution is travel. "I'm going to take my family on an amazing vacation this year!" The trick to that has been the economy these last few years. Lost jobs, cuts in pay and benefits have caused consumers to spend less and budget more. This kind of "protecting ourselves" actually hurts us in the long run by forcing companies to raise prices on the things that we require to survive as well as on leisure products.

Here's the good news! Some analyst somewhere has said that the recession is ending! We can again pull out our wallets and start having fun! Whoa... Just a minute there. Before you go spending your life savings, use some of that frugality you learned during this recent depression and spend, but spend wisely my friend.

When it comes to vacationing, it can be fun, elegant, relaxing and memorable without breaking the bank! Don't believe me? Check out Cruising! The price to spend 7 sun soaked days and 6 fun filled nights on a Caribbean cruise will most likely cost you less than a 5-day pass to Disneyland! Now we are talking amazing food, beautiful beaches, exotic destinations and fun for the whole family, all wrapped up in to one nice little package, often times with gratuities already included! Leave your wallet in your stateroom and head to the pool, the restaurant or the beach. You'll only need it when you dock at some of the most exotic destinations and the fun and flavor of the islands overwhelm you and you find shopping and bargains, the likes of which you would never find on the mainland! Try it. Once you've cruised, you'll never forget it!

Acai Berry Benefits or Scam?

You know I am a huge fan of natural remedies. I love what you can do for your body without the aid of chemicals and preservatives. I honestly believe that what we do to our food is killing us, creating disease, lowering our energy levels and generally desecrating our bodies. However, some companies will latch onto something that is pure and naturally healthful and "enhance" it. They will chemically alter it, add unhealthy preservatives and other things that can harm your body. Then they bill it under the natural name. The Acai Berry is no different. Watch out for acai scams, read the ingredients list and how it is processed. Heat treating anything, will almost always render it's antioxidants non-existant and breakdown all healthy properties it ever had. Adding chemicals or chemically altering a product, may make it perform better, but what is performing? The natural agent or the chemicals? What do you want in your body? Beware of products claiming to be natural remedies.

Loving San Diego!

What an amazing place to vacation! San Diego has the best of everything, beautiful sunsets, tropical flora & fauna, hip downtown districts, fabelous shopping, amazing food and georgeous views. There are not any appetite suppressors known to man that can help you here! The fresh fruit, simmering meats and decedant desserts are heavenly. San Diego is the perfect place to plan a weekend get away or even to spend a couple of days winding down after a high energy, exciting Disneyland vacation. But no matter how you play it, romantic weekend, bff get away or family fun, San Diego has something for everyone!

Christmas' A'coming!: Getting Ready

If you do a little pre-planning, the holidays do not have to be as stressful as everyone makes them out to be. I am going to create a weekly list of ideas to help you get through the holidays with the least amount of stress possible.

Here goes the planning part:

1. Make a list of everyone that you need to buy for and assign them an amout that you are willing to spend on them. Remember to list office parties and family parties that include the "$5 gift clause". This will help you know how much money you will need and help you not to forget anyone.

2. Look for bargains and shop simply for friends and family. Gift Certificates really do make great gifts. Especially when paired with a nice fruit basket or bottle of sparkling cider. Look for discount coupon sites like Citydeals.com, LivingSocial.com and Groupon.com.

3. Thanksgiving is the next big holiday. Use it to feel out your family members. What are their hobbies, interests, even favorite color. This will help alot in the gift buying process.

4. Think personal. Most of the people on your list are people that care about you. Most people love getting pictures as Christmas gifts, especially grandparents, aunts and uncles. Get family pictures done now. Black Bird Photography still has openings, has great prices and offers a different kind of photography. This will definately not be your typical "everyone smile" kind of portrait.

5. Vacation. Think about giving the gift of a vacation this holiday. Heaven knows that you could use a few days to relax after everything is said and done. A San Diego vacation can be very inexpensive for families and offers you a Hawaiian vacation without the 6 hour flight. Call Stephanie @ Get Away Today Vacations (1-800-523-6116) to get the best prices!

Get a Jump Start on Christmas Gifts

I am sure you have read my posts on Cigar Purses and know how simple, cute and inexpensive they can be, but I just want to touch on it again. I have recently found that Romeo cigars boxes are among my favorite to work with! I don't even worry about covering them sometimes because the boxes are brightly colored, clasps are very easy to attach and they are very sturdy. Just something to think about next time you visit your local cigar shop to pick up boxes. Happy Crafting!

My Flatscreen Woes

Speaking of the flatscreen I bought in June, does anyone have any suggestions on stands? I would really like to mount it to the wall and I am not particular as to it moving, tilting or swinging. I just want something sturdy. I have looked at literally hundreds of tv stands and wall mounts and I am just as befuddled as I was before I started looking. They all claim to be sturdy, of course they do! Some offer warranties, others offer price back guarantees, but this is a HUGE investment, (the TV, not necessarily the mount), and I do not want to hang an expensive TV on something that is going to drop it while I'm at work. I have kids for that! Does anyone have any suggestions on brands that they really like?

Birthday Girl

Well, my Ladybug is officially another year older. Wow, what a joy this birthday has been. She got a trip to Disneyland with her little sister and her Grandfather, and Momma of course! Plus she got an ipod touch along with some little filler things. She is thrilled. Momma is thrilled, now that it's over. I had a heck of a time deciding on what to get her. She really wanted an ipod nano, like mine, but they just don't make them anymore. I looked at digital cameras, Nintendo dsi's and even portable DVD players, but kept coming back to the ipod. My mother finally found a an ipod touch at Best Buy at a great price and we had some great discounts to be applied from buying the huge flatscreen we bought this June. So ipod touch it was and it ended up being exactly what she wanted and great for her because not only does she want the music, she is also having a great time playing all the games and reading the books that can be downloaded. There's an app for that!

Buying a new car

I am not sure that I am ready for this. I was not planning on purchasing a new car until February, but when my mini van blew a head gasket, I decided it was time to find something else. Then to make matters worse, my husbands carpool decided he wanted to go to the gym after work so my husband needs a car too! Wow! Not quite what I had planned on.

I have done alot of research and decided that I really like the Chrysler Pacifica and Subaru B9 Tribeca. I checked into the car insurance and it will only increase by about $60 to add another car for my husband and the Chrysler for me. Now the fun part... getting financing. Yipee.... NOT!

Vacation in style without breaking the bank!

Sunshine. Sandy Beaches. Ocean Breezes. Sounds ideal... until you see the bill! Especially if you are traveling with a large family or friends. But it doesn't have to be expensive. Nor do you have to stay in a dive to save a few bucks. Carolina Designs Realty offers Outer Banks rental properties that are a perfect alternative for larger groups traveling to North Carolina. The Seahawk in Duck, NC offers 2 King beds, 2 Twin beds, 1 Queen, 1 Futon and one set of bunk beds. Along with your own private pool and hot tub, 10 TVs, a wet bar, pool table and game room, this is the ultimate in comfort and style. You have the convenience of a fully stocked kitchen for meals and fully furnished living areas and the mood setting sounds of the nearby ocean. The views of the ocean are unbeatable from this quiet Duck neighborhood and the ocean and parks are walking distance. The home itself is steeped in Southern charm with all the modern amenities.

This is the perfect place for my family to stay. With the seven of us, we seldom travel without my parents and this house would give my family the convenience of comfortable and affordable accommodations along with the money saving amenities of a full kitchen and patio grill. We can make our own meals and save tons on eating out. To wake up to the sound of the waves lapping the sandy shores and the seagulls out for their morning meal, taking a sunset walk along the beach with my husband, reconnecting, while the kids play xbox or just sitting down to a wonderful meal in the beautiful kitchen, overlooking the ocean, this is my kind of vacation and one that I desperately need.

If an oceanside get away sounds like something you need too, take it easy and take advantage of the great rates available on the Seahawk in Duck, NC for your next vacation.

Going Green

All sorts of ideas are popping up to help save the planet. Everything from electric cars to recycling and reusable grocery bags. But this was a concept that I had not heard or thought about. " green shopping". But if you think about it, it really makes alot of sense. The concept behind it is limiting vehicle emissions by purchasing online. Think about it! If three people visit their local hardware store, make their purchase and head for home, they each made two trips. One to the store, one home, for a total of 6 trips. If they all lived in the same neighborhood and the round trip was 50 miles, the total mileage would be 150 miles.

On the other hand, if they all bought online, the delivery truck picks up in one location and drives to their homes. One trip, less mileage!

Love your job?

Just over a year ago, the economy caught up with me and I was laid off. At the time I was working for Continental Airlines as a reservations agent and I enjoyed my job. It was taxing at times, but the pay was good and the benefits were great! I was devastated when I found myself in the "layoff pool". The company had to downsize just as with most sales jobs have. But the funny part is, once I was no longer working, I realized just how stressful my job had been. I absolutely could not fathom working another phone sales job. I looked at getting back into school, finding a new career, one that I could enjoy.

But then, after 6 months of unemployment, I couldn't do it anymore. I needed to work and we needed the money. That's when the opportunity to apply for my current job came available. I knew I would get the job, how could I not? They were looking for phone sales agents in a travel industry capacity. I have well over 10 years experience in phone sales and 3 years in the airline industry. But I was hesitant, it was getting back into phone sales...

My first day on the job put all my apprehension to rest. This was nothing like airline reservations. The customers were friendly, the company small and the pay and benefits were great! I have been with this wonderful company for almost a year now and I cannot imagine working anywhere else!

I work for Get Away Today Vacations. We specialize in Disneyland and San Diego (Southern California) and we can honestly guarantee the lowest prices on hotels and attraction tickets for most of Southern California! But I can also get great prices on other great destinations as well like Hawaii, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. Just looking at some of the great deals, I am sending my Brother and his Wife to Puerto Vallarta for less than $900 per person, flights, hotel, car and all meals included! Less than $2000 for 7 nights! I love my job! If you are looking for the best price on a vacation, give me a call at 1-800-523-6116. Just ask for Stephanie and I'll get you an amazing vacation at the best price!!

Book Sharing

I am in the midst of my fall cleaning and among many, many other things, I have way too many books. Kids books, novels, self-help books, preteen books.... Tons and tons of books that I just need to get rid of. But instead of just sell used books, I would rather give them to someone that will enjoy them. I wish we had a book exchange program in my area. That would be great! But until then, I guess I will take the children's books to the local children's hospital and send the rest to the DI. If anyone has any other great ideas, I would be grateful to receive them!

Cyber Monday is coming...

Cyber Monday. The biggest internet sales day of the year. It's the day where people jump online to buy the electronics, special toys and other big ticket Christmas gifts that they didn't get on Black Friday.

Internet sales companies know that this is the day when frustrated customers, who ate themselves sick Thursday, only to find themselves standing in line way too early Friday morning to buy the latest and greatest electronics at door-buster prices and found they were beat to it by some maniacal woman who seemed to think she needed 17 52” flat screen televisions, turn to the online world for not as great, but will suffice deals to make sure that the Christmas tree is dwarfed by the large pile of boxes, brightly wrapped in foiled warping paper surrounding it.

Because of this knowledge, they are ready every Monday, following Thanksgiving, with decent sales and gimmicks to drive web traffic to their site. Not an easy task considering they only have 24 hours to move as much traffic as they can away from the billions and billions of other available sites out there. But they do it because they know that is where the money is. So, get your fingers ready, start your exercises now, because if you're not quick on the draw, that maniacal woman that beat you to the 52” flat screen televisions, will score herself another 20 Dell laptop computers that you have had your eye on!

My Stinky House

My house has been so stinky lately! I am not sure what is causing it but I have replaced the swamp cooler pads and the humidifier filters, I have left the windows open and even fed a couple of lemons to the garbage disposal and I still can not figure out what is so stinky! I am out of ideas!

The most amazing thing is... the boys room smells better than the rest house! Go figure! Any ideas on other things I can try?

Get Plenty of Sleep

The days are getting longer, the sky stays light much later and gets light much earlier and we get much less sleep. Not to mention, all the summer re-runs of my favorite shows! There is definitely not enough sleep happening at my house!

But don't despair, I have some great tips to help you fall asleep without the need for sleep aids.

1. Eat Early: Your body uses food to produce energy. So why would you eat just before you go to bed? That is the one time that you do not want energy! Not only will you fall asleep easier and stay asleep longer if you eat earlier, you will also help your metabolism to burn off those calories and lose some of that winter weight. So eat your dinner early and if you need a little snack before bed roll up a piece of cheese in a slice of turkey or drink a glass of warm milk. Turkey and Dairy both have the amino acid tryptophan which helps calm your brain and makes you sleepy.
   
2. No Caffeine, No Sugar: Caffeine is a stimulant and should be avoided 4 to 6 hours before bedtime. Sugar on the other hand will spike your insulin levels and make falling asleep difficult and later, the dropping of insulin could cause you to wake and have trouble falling back asleep.
3. Turn off the TV: Almost everyone has a television in their bedrooms now and I am no exception, but the stimulation caused by television and even the computer, can make falling asleep very difficult. Do not watch television or use the computer during the hour leading up to bedtime and you will find it much easier to fall asleep.
4. Meditate: Meditation has long been touted for all the mental and physical benefits it can bring. If you meditate prior to sleeping, it will help your brain "turn off". Think of your brain as a computer. Before you can turn the computer off it has to download and install all updates and then power down. Your brain needs to do the same thing. Mediation will give your brain a chance to file all thoughts and slow down.
5. Have a Routine: Start an hour before bedtime and take a shower, paint your nails, write in your journal, meditate or listen to soothing music. But do the same thing, at the same time, in the same order every night. Then when you take your shower, your brain and body know that it's time to start shutting down. By bedtime, you will be yawning, relaxed and ready to fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow.
   

My Friend Has Gone

I had great plans for this summer. I am still working, but my kids are home. Ladybug is old enough now to "babysit" so Big C can take some time to spend with his buddies. I bought them all season passes to Lagoon so they can spend time there with their friends as well. However, Big C's best friend and his most likely candidate to spend the summer at Lagoon with, is also the son of my best friend.

About a month ago, her oldest son decided to further his relationship with his girlfriend and she is moving in with him. Which of course means that Mom and Little Bro need to move out. About the same time, she realized that her parents and sister really need her help. Her parents are getting older and her sister has had brain surgery and suffers from seizures and yet cannot get her social security disability benefits and struggles to support herself and her beautiful children. So my friend is moving in with her parents to help them out and to be closer to her sister. The problem.... They live in South Carolina! Talk about a ways away!

So she left this morning and I am going to miss her terribly, my son is going to miss her boy terribly and she is going to miss Utah terribly. Hopefully, she can talk Utah up enough to make her parents, sister and brothers decided that they need to move here too. One can always hope!

Cigar Box Purse Craft

Purses are one of my favorite accessories and also one of my favorite crafts! You can take basic everyday items and turn them into some of the most amazing purses! One of my favorite items for purses are Cigar Boxes. Cigar boxes are durable, come in many different shapes and sizes and hold up well to the abuse we women put them through.

My favorite cigar box brand is macanudo. They come in lots of different sizes and are very durable. They take clasps and handles well and if I decide to leave a little bit of the box showing, they have very decorative coverings already.

Most Cigar or Smoke Shops will just give you their empty boxes if you ask. Some will charge a nominal fee, but I have never paid more than $10, and that got me a nice stack of boxes.

Once you have your boxes, you will need to visit a craft store and pick up your clasp and handle. I have found that a hinge clasp works best but magnetic clasps can be fun and add a different dimension to your purse. Your handle can be anything from a regular length of rope to beads on a heavy wire. Most craft stores have pre-made handles or you can purchase a heavy gauge wire and your own beads. I prefer this option as it gives me the ability to personalize my purse just a little bit more.

You'll also want to decide how you wish to decorate your purse. You can do just about anything from tole painting to decoupage to using embellishments. I have one purse that I painted in bright spring colors and added huge 70's style flowers. Another one I printed off lots of black and white pictures of my family and decoupaged them all over the purse and accented it with red ribbon, beads and silver rhinestone embellishments. I have purses covered in fabric, purses with paper mache and silk flowers and even one covered in my children's drawings. There is no limit to what you can create! Wander the isles of the craft store and see what peaks your creativity!

Once you are home, you will want to start decorating your box. I had to learn the hard way that it is important to drill the holes for your handle and your clasps first. That way you know where to place your embellishments, or in my case, where not to place them! Once your holes are drilled, decorate away!

When you have finished decorating your box, then create your handle. If you are using ribbon or rope, tie a tight knot in one end and thread the other end from the inside out through the first hole and then from the outside in through the other hole. Tie a tight knot in the last end and your purse is ready to go. (HINT: If your knot is too small, add a bead to the knot to make it just a little larger.)

If you are using wire and beads, thread your wire through your hole and either add a bead to the end or coil a few time to create a mass which will hold the wire in place. Thread your beads on to the wire to your ideal length. Bend your wire to form a handle and poke the end through the second hole. Again coil it or add a bead to hold it in place.

Add your clasp and your pure is complete!