You're my Sugar Girl

Thinking about a night of treating yourself to some pampering.... go on, you deserve it! Slip into your robe and slippers and enjoy this sweet treat. Its so good you may feel somewhat guilty.

Brown Sugar Almond Face Scrub

2 tbsp Ground Almonds
(Grind in blender or food processor)
2 tsp Brown Sugar
2 tbsp Aloe Vera Gel
1 tsp Lemon Juice

Mix ingredients in a small bowl until you have a thick paste. Add more almonds to thicken or try adding ground rolled oats. Gently massage in a circular motion. Leave on for 2-4 minutes and rinse with warm water.
*Ground nuts polish and smooth the complexion helping to nourish dry skin with the added bonus of helping to eliminate blemishes.
*Brown Sugar gently exfoliates and helps to remove the dead skin. This will make your skin feel smooth and rejuvenated.
*Aloe Vera is very soothing and hydrates the skin(fresh is best, look for least amount of added ingredients when buying)
*Lemon Juice has antibacterial properties and will help keep those wrinkles at bay.
(Squeeze it from a fresh organic lemon)

Eat it or scrub it......

Didn't finish breakfast? Try this super dooper face scrub to start the day. Oatmeal is soothing and has anti-inflammatory properties for the skin. Yogurt cools and is hydrating.
Your face will thank you!

OATMEAL & YOGURT FACE SCRUB

INGREDIENTS:
2 tsp ground, uncooked rolled oats (grind in blender or food processor for fine powder consistency, if you don't grind it can irritate and scratch the skin)

1/4 cup plain yogurt (organic would be best)

Mix together all ingredients in small mixing bowl. Apply to face and neck for 1-2 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Strawberry Fields Forever

It must be getting close to or now is the time for strawberries. I am not sure, but one thing I do know is that I am a berry junkie. I love how I can get my sweet fix without feeling guilty. I recently did a no sugar fast for two weeks. I don't know if I noticed a huge change but I did realize how much I crave sweets. It was harder than I thought but do able. I enjoyed a strawberry trifle dessert last night at a pampered chef party and I've had strawberries on my mind all day. So, if you're like me and could probably eat a whole container in one or two sittings here's another idea for putting those berries to good use.

(*FYI: Berries contain high amount of pesticides try to buy organic when possible or use food wash to clean.)

STRAWBERRY HAND AND FOOT SCRUB


6-8 Strawberries

2 tablespoons Apricot Oil (you may substitute olive oil)

1 teaspoon of coarse salt, such as Kosher Salt, or Sea Salt

Mix together all ingredients, massage into hands(arms) and feet (legs), rinse, and pat dry.

Strawberries contain a natural fruit acid which aids in exfoliation.This fruit also contains several polyphenols that have high antioxidant capacity. They are also high in Vitamin C which is also a potent antioxidant. You'll find exfoliation to be revitalizing and energizing.

Wipies!!

There's something about being a new mom and developing a new language. Its called the baby talk...maybe its because they are so tiny and ya love em to pieces that every word now ends with "es". My father-in-law is the "king" of baby talk....he loves to "squeezes" the baby "cheekes". Truly it is a whole new world of using vocabulary. Now, that I got that off my mind here is the reason for this entry. To encourage mommy readers everywhere to make your own baby wipes!! Not only does it save you money, but you control what comes in contact with that sweet baby skin. It's actually fun to do which is always a bonus!!

HOMEMADE BABY WIPES

What you'll need:


1 roll standard paper towels (I like the select-a- size, Bounty works best)
1 tablespoon oil (skin-friendly oil, I use almond oil)
1 tablespoon soap or baby wash (I like Dr Bronner's Unscented Baby Mild)
1 cup warm water
1-2 drops of your favorite essential oils (I use lavender and *Baby Me)
*(Butterfly Expressions Oil Blend)
1 3-qt capacity reusable sealable container (I use an empty baby wipe container)


How to make them:


1. Slice paper towel roll in half so you have two toilet paper size rolls; set aside unused portion for next batch of baby wipes. Start by unrolling and layering in container. (If not using select-a- size roll you make need to cut the squares in half to get them to fit in container) Continue layering until container is full.


2. Fill measuring cup with 1 cup warm water. Add to paper towels.Then add the oil and soap (or baby wash.) **Note - if you put the oil and soap in before the water, you'll end up with a bubbly mess). Add a few drops of essential oil. Pour mixture evenly over roll. Cover container. Shake it all up and wait at least five minutes before using to allow for maximum absorption of water.


3. Use as needed,usually just one or two can do the trick! I can make up to 3 average size wipe containers and 3 travel size containers for on the go with just one paper towel roll.
A standard sized roll of Bounty will yield 56 wipes per batch (that's 112 wipes per roll). If you buy a roll that has the smaller "customizable" perforations, you'll get even more wipes.


Play around with measurements.....if they're too dry add more water next time. If they're too wet add less. You'll catch on after a few trial runs. Enjoy!!

Preparation time: About 5 minutes

I'll stick with orange!!

Need a facelift? What can a little fruit do for you? The seasons are changing so its time to freshen up that tired skin. I would love to go to the spa on a daily basis but sometimes its fun to get creative and make our own spa right in the comfort of your own home. Hey, then you don't need to get a babysitter and you can stay in your jammies. Here's a fun recipe for those of you with oily skin just like me. Pull out those oranges. This fruit is loaded with Vit C and has astringent properties making it great for oily skin. All you need is the following:

1/2 Orange

3 Tbsp Cornmeal

To make: Squeeze orange juice and pulp into a bowl and add the cornmeal. Mix into a paste. Apply onto freshly washed face and body. Scrub gently for 2-3 minutes. Rinse, tone & moisturize.

To satisfy an itch!!

Ever had an itch that could drive you mad? I've recently experienced firsthand the feeling of wanting to scratch and scratch and when I found no relief...the thought of literally pulling my skin off... didn't sound so bad. So I've decided to post some of my personal favorite natural remedies for itching.

Let's first start with the basic 101 on our skin. Its the largest organ of the body, it is part of the eliminative systems (ie kidneys,colon,lungs and tada the SKIN) so when something is being manifested on the skin it's usually the body's way of saying "none of the other channels are doing their job, so "I" will use the skin to clean out the dirt ("toxins")" Good to know that the "itch" is not the problem but merely a symptom. So what can you do?

1st -- Drink more water!! (Distilled or filtered is best)

2nd -- Add good fats to the diet to keep the skin moist (olive oil, nuts, avocado, my favorite is an oil blend called Udo's Choice it has all the omega's 3 6 9)

3rd -- It could be a reaction to chemicals in your soap, laundry detergent,lotions,etc. (Its best to use natural or organic products)

Everything we put on our skin is absorbed into our blood stream so it's important to keep those products clear of chemicals. Read labels and avoid Parabens, Glycol,Mineral oil, Talc (truly if you don't know what it is then don't use it) to find out the safety of a product this is my favorite site http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php

So, now you've tackled the basics. Let me share my story. I was in my third trimester of pregnancy when it all started. THE ITCHING thigh syndrome is what I like to call it. My thighs just itched but there was so no rash or bumps or anything just itchy skin. My midwives and I thought it might just be my body trying to cleanse through the skin or a yeast overgrowth from too much sugar. I couldn't exactly do any fasting cleanses, so I'd have to just bear it, was the conclusion. I started watching what I was eating to see if that was causing the problem...but it didn't seem to make a difference. It was always worse at night, around bedtime. I started asking everyone but no one seemed to know what it could be from. Then my little girl was born and it seemed to cease. Hallelujah!! It sure fooled me, about a month later it returned. I spoke to a friend who is going to Naturopathic school. She though it could be from the skin stretching during pregnancy and the lack of circulation to my thighs. AAhh!!



I reached for my essential oils and found an oil blend call Vitality that is great for circulation. When I get out of the shower, I add a few drops of it to my lotion and apply it to my thighs and finally finally I've found relief. However, I know this is not the cure....I still need to get up and moving. A few nights a week I consider myself a couch potato, when our shows are on. The nights I spend sitting on the couch, I usually have some itching, so I reapply again before bed.