RT | WW - Care for wine?

Flawless with Kiwis

They say, Kiwis are ideal for bringing out your natural beauty and that's because they are a rich source of ascorbic acid. It helps tighten pores and neutralizes blemish-causing bacteria. For a DIY astringent/clearing toner: Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1 mashed kiwi fruit. Let it cool, then strain. Add a tablespoon of vodka to the liquid; stir well. Transfer to a resealable bottle. Apply to skin with a cotton ball. This will last in your fridge for up to 10 days.

Thank You FC!!!

KARELTJE en ikke !!!

Elite Blog Award

One of the things I enjoy the most about blogging.... awards! This one came from Femme Power. Thanks for this one! :)


I'm passing this on to the following:

Sandee @ Comedy Plus
Mike @ Rambling Stuff
Marzie @ Wishing On A Falling Star

RT/WW - Puzzle

Budget Cooking and Easy Recipes

Coming from a big family of foodies, some of the articles I have posted here have shown my love for food. I am a mom to two picky eaters and a wife to another picky eater which prompted me to search the internet for not only yummy and healthy recipes, but most importantly, low-cost recipes. I used to be a big spender when it comes to food. But times have been really tough and although I want to give my family the best, the budget has to be taken into consideration.

That is why I was so glad when I stumbled upon iVillage. The site has come up with compilations of cool and easy to prepare recipes. Perfect for a very busy mom like me! You Can See More Life Made Easy Videos Here, just click on the link and be amazed with all these delicious foods. They even have budget recipes for steak dinners, I so love them because tenderloin beef is so expensive here. And this is what really had me glued to the site, their Vanilla Ice cream Flag Cake Recipe! I have never tried making ice cream before and I never thought it could be that easy. This is so cool especially that Joey's birthday is coming up next week, I'm sure he'll be so surprised.

Without The Guilt!

You can still enjoy chocolate without feeling guilty... pair it with chipotle! Yes, the spicy chipotle and rich chocolate may seem like an unusual match, but this combination has been enjoyed in Latin America for centuries. It was thought to build up immunity and fight fatigue.

Recent research shows, chipotles can help you slim down while still enjoying chocolate treats. How? Capsaicin, the compound that gives chile the heat, jump-starts metabolism by raising core body temperature, plus, it decreases appetite. So, who says you can't have your cake and eat it too? Haha.

If you can't find chipotle in your local market, you can substitute an equal amount of jalapenos or half as much as cayenne pepper. I'm leaving you with a yummy cookie recipe. Enjoy!!!

SPICY COCOA COOKIES

Heat oven to 325 degrees farenheit. In a bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 tsp. ground cinnamon; 1/2 tsp. ground chipotle chile pepper; 1/2 tsp. baking powder and 1/4 tsp. salt until blended. In bowl of electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature, and 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar for 2 minutes, or until blended. Beat in 2 eggs and 1 tsp. vanilla extract. Stir in flour-cocoa mixture. Stir in 1 bag (12 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted. Using 1 tbs. measure, form dough into 48 balls. Dip in 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts; place on 2 sgeet pans. Bake 18 minutes. Remove from pans. Let cool on wire rack. Drizzle with 3/4 cup white-chocolate chips, melted.

RT | WW - Maintenance Work

From Brittle to Flawless

Stress not only spoils your mood but it can also spoil your looks. Just like with your nails, stress redirects nutrient-rich blood away from them, which makes them weaker. Experts recommend taking a multivitamin with a calcium supplement daily to significantly strengthen your nail palate.

Protect them with rubber gloves when washing clothes or dishes. The moisture leaches out of nails when your hands are soaked in water. Immediately apply a bit of lotion after you're done dishwashing to seal moisture back in.

Many Thanks!

Many thanks to Maiylah at Maiylah's Snippets for giving me these awards!

So thoughtful of you, the gesture is truly appreciated.

Crafty Me

My sister-in-law asked me to make a cross stitch project two years ago. Persuading me to join the DMC unframed category contest. It was one of the entries under her store (Stitcher's Nook). Being so much into Arts and Crafts, I excitedly agreed with her because it's been a while since my last project. And I have to admit I missed cross stitching, I haven't stitched anything since I started blogging.

She provided me with all the materials I will be needing for the "Thai Parasol" project. I'm not a fast stitcher, usually a large pattern would take me at least 6 to 8 months to finish. With barely 4 months and not much time to devote to the project because of my store, that I have to attend to at least 10 hours everyday, I was having second thoughts. But what the heck, I love cross stitching and I missed it so much that I gladly accepted it, even if it meant a few hours of sleep for 3 months.

With lots of hard work and time spent, I finished the project in time for the competition. I didn't make it to the top three, but I'm happy that the project turned out really nice. I don't know if we (my sister-in-law) were just sour-graping and griping over (haha) the results when we went to the exhibit, but when we saw the finalists, I know my project was far too good. I think the judges based their judging on the designs not on the work. I could have a been a finalist if not a winner. I could say though, that the top 3 winners were excellent.

I used to be a cross stitch nut and sew a lot in the past. I used to bring my projects everywhere I went, even during my bowling tournaments while waiting for my squad. I give them as gifts to friends and relatives. I made wedding announcements for my friends, birth announcements, bookmarks for my kids' teachers during Christmas and simple embroideries for my friends and family to hang on their walls. Cross stitching surely requires a lot of time, but it relaxes me and gives me enough time to ponder on things while I sew.

The Right Foods To Looking Young

Last post, "30 Something?" I told you about how letting yourself off the hook is the key to looking younger. Now, let's talk about how eating the right foods can help maintain radiant, beautiful, and healthy skin. Here's a list of top diet secrets, used by hollywood celebrities, that are guaranteed to keep you looking young.

Include protein at every meal. It provides the essential amino acids that the body uses to repair and regenerate the cells responsible for maintaining the tone and elasticity of the skin. It is important to include lean protein (eggs, poultry, low-fat dairy) at every meal because the body is not capable of storing protein for future use.

Drink water and sip green tea. The tea's antioxidants are so effective at healing damaged skin cells, and having as much as 6-8 cups of the brew can significantly reduce fine lines and wrinkles in as little as 4 weeks. Water, as you know hydrates the skin, so consume the recommended 8-10 glasses per day.

Include the "good" fat. For radiant and supple skin, consuming plenty of fish, seeds, nuts and olive oil is necessary. These foods are packed with omega 3 fatty acids, which help maintain volume in the facial cheek pads and trigger skin to rejuvenate at a cellular level.

Don't forget fiber-rich fruits. Eating fruits like berries help satisfy your cravings for carbs. They are rich in soluble fiber, which improves digestion to ensure skin-damaging toxins are flushed from the body.

Thank You FC!!!

KARELTJE en ikke !!!

Direct TV Guides

Of all the companies offering HD Satellite TV Service, shouldn't you choose what's best for you? With all of them claiming to be the best and the cheapest, choosing who will provide the best service can get very confusing. To help you make the right decision, Kaptain Satellite lists the top companies offering DirecTv, Dish Network, and Sattelite TV. You will find their latest offers, equipment and manuals on the website. If there is something you don't understand or you have some questions to ask, there is a box where you can post your questions and they will be answered online. Getting direct tv is now easier than ever. Visit the site now for more information.

RT | WW - Red Flowers

30 something?

Take it easy and don't worry too much on those extra pounds. Carrying a few pounds could hold the key to aging beautifully, experts say. Scientists found that women with voluptuous curves were less likely to have prominent wrinkles, prematurely hollowed cheeks and sagging skin than those with skinny bodies. Haha, I'm so happy to have come across this one, but I hope this won't give me an excuse not to exercise. I'm overweight and I know I should lose some of the excess weight, if not all.

Okay, going back, extreme dieting and exercise to maintain a super skinny body often starve the body of necessary proteins and fat. Lack of protein deprives skin cells of the essential amino acids that are needed to replace dead cells and repair tissue damage, which causes wrinkles. And depleting available fat stores drains the tissue in cheek pads that provide support and volume to the face. So if you want to look younger, don't lose too much, getting too thin ages you.

Both celebs are in their 50s, who looks younger?

Madonna - Sharon Stone

Next post, I'll give you a list of foods you should include in your diet for a younger looking you, so stay tuned.