A Good Deed

Talked with Daughter this afternoon and heard an interesting experience in her day. Her door bell rang and she opened the door to find a young woman, dressed in hospital scrubs, in distress. She'd had car trouble on a nearby street and needed to use a phone. Daughter scanned the area and could see nothing threatening. The woman invited her to step outside so she could show her the car. Daughter handed her cell phone to her, she made a call, and that was it. Later in the day Daughter found a rose and a note in her storm door. It was from the young woman explaining what a horrible day she had been having, that no one would open their door to her. She was thanking daughter for being so kind to her. It seems we're more and more afraid to trust people. I think that's sad. The young woman was black. I don't want to believe, I really don't want to believe that was the reason no one opened their door. It was certainly a thought provoking experience, that such a small deed had meant so much to another human being. I wonder what I would have done in that situation?

Burts Bees Almond Milk

This crème is a dear friend to my hands and nails in every season, but even more so in the winter time. I keep a jar close to my kitchen sink so it is handy when washing time comes around. I still wash my dishes by hand, and every so often I use a Brillo pad to scrub pots and pans. To keep my hands from going to pots I slather this stuff all over my hands before putting my dishwashing gloves on. By the time I am done with my dishes my hands are nice and soft. This is a heavy, emollient crème. Not really suitable to use when you are planning on using your hands freely to touch objects because it will leave a smear all over the place if you do. This is not one of those crèmes that your skin absorbs right away. This crème is best used when your hands are gloved either with dish gloves or your winter gloves. It will also work with gloves to sleep in (if you can manage to keep them on all night). You can buy it for around $8.99 at Walgreens or Walmart. It may seem like a lot of moola for a hand creme at first, but once you realize how little of it you need to get the job done your pocket (and your hands) will thank you.

Skin Wefts / Tape Extensions Continues

Some people need more than tape, alot of forums I read talked about tape and a combination of glue as the installation method, the glue being Liquid Gold. I have used Liquid Gold before and it was a pain in the arse so I wouldn't necessarily recommend that. I did find that the silicon glue strip was however a bit weak unless I blasted it with a hairdryer beforehand and then really pressed it against the hair I wanted to attach it to. You need to take your time when attaching these. The hair isn't that great. I have tried lots of hair extensions, of differing quality, and the hair I am using now is average. This is a common complaint about skin wefts, the quality is just not as high. I have ordered a different set though this from. Again I am not affiliated with them but I have read that the skin wefts they sell are of a good standard. They also work out cheaper, the only difference being that you need to cut your own strips and attach the tape yourself. There will be damage. Still, you are attaching something with glue to your hair. There will be damage and this is the trade-off that you have to keep in mind. 

However, the lightness of the wefts means that the hair isn't as strained as it could be and if you have cold feet and want to remove them, drench your hair in conditioner, let it settle for an hour and the wefts will become lose (hence why conditioner is only applied to the ends). Now I won't do a video about the installation as mine are already in and it's going to be ages before I will put in another set but out of all the videos I watched, the one below is the best. Okay, it might make you feel a little sleepy/relaxed but technique wise it's spot on and demonstrates the "sandwich" technique. Would I recommend them? So far I would say yes! In fact I would shout it from the rooftops. These are the best thing I have tried for a really long time. Of course, if you have super thick hair these will not be for you but for those of us who just want a little bit of length (up to 3-4 inches max) and who also have  a combination of fine hair and a paranoia of others being able to see our hair extensions, these are an absolute must! Let's swish!

Skin Weft / Tape Hair Extensions!

It's been over two weeks and I am still in love with the skin weft / tape hair extensions. These are the answer to my hair woes and make clip-ins look like some embarrassing blast from the past. They feel secure, the colour and texture match is great, and they haven't intruded on my normal (minimal) hair routine. I still use the same shampoo, and apply conditioner to the ends of my hair, just like always. I can blow them dry, straighten and curl and they don't hurt, feel heavy or ever feel like they are going to drop out. They are amazing. Some things to know about skin wefts / tape extensions. There are two installation techniques: sandwich and single, the sandwich is when you get some natural hair and apply a weft either side, thus sandwiching your own hair between them. This is the technique used to add thickness and to also ensure they stay in the longest period of time. It is trickier to do and easier to get wrong. Section only a small section of your natural hair and you will strain it with the weight of two wefts. Section too much and they won't adhere together. The single install is when you just attach one weft to a section of your own hair. I like this the most at the sides and nearer the crown as it really disappears and feels very natural.

About Skin Wefts / Tape Extensions

I did a lot of research about skin wefts before trying them. Everything I read seemed to point at the fact that they would be perfect for me: Very light and undetectable when installed; Ideal for the fine hair brigade as the weft is designed to look like the hair at your scalp; A great alternative to clip ins; Semi-permanent, 1-3 months per installation; Easy enough to intall yourself. The only downside is that they seem hard to come by and whilst they are relatively popular in America, Australia and Scandinavia... basically everywhere in the world, they are not as prevalent in the UK. I did some frantic Googling and found a couple of places that do them in this country but that was about it. However, I didn't give up there. I did some major forum research and watched a lot of YouTube videos to learn the techniques about these extensions, and then I bought my own. Each weft has a tape at the top that you remove to reveal the silicon glue strip. From the front it looks completely natural and like a section of scalp... which sounds disgusting but this is what makes undetectable.

Elllis Faas & Het Loo

I had just a teeny bit of time today, but I wanted to give the Ellis Faas foundation a run. It performed wonderfully. In case anyone is wondering why I ended up with my color, and a darker one... it's in preparation for the summer, when I will undoubtedly tan. Anyways: Face: Ellis Faas Skin Veil in S106; Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger; Nars Light Reflecting Loose Powder; Lorac Blush in Ruby Rouge. Eyes: Louise Young Eyeshadow in Ting (lashline to brow); Louise Young Eyeshadow in Maowi (crease); Chanel Eye Pencil in Santal (lashline & waterline); Volume de Chanel Mascara. Lips: NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Het Loo.

About TriVita

TriVita is a low risk online home based business, 10 year old nutraceutical company aligned by means of three other companies, Ellison Media Company, Ellison Research and GDF Fulfillment all owned by founder Michael Ellison. Trivita is not for everyone, but it could astonish to learn more about how to initiate a personal business membership. TriVita isthe best internet business opportunity that I have ever seen, and they best part is they have a ten year track record. Trivita is proud of its products and medical professionals. TriVita is all about integrity from the co-founders down to the support from the great internet business opportunity-services team, the wonderful, top-quality products, the ability to work closely with all the teams in helping others and the freedom possible with the strong residual income to enjoy. By use of a vision to improve upon the lives of people by helping them reach their full potential through a TriVita wellness affiliate home based business, Michael Ellison and his professional Corporate team, along from thousands of Independent Affiliate Members, are fulfilling the Trivita Mission. When you get involved partnered with a nutritional home based business it is a good idea to become additional educated in health and wellness. This is why TriVita is such a powerful vehicle for creating long-term wealth and keeping ever more of what you earn.

Peridot Comparison

Here is a comparison of Chanel Peridot and other polishes from the same color family (gold shifting to green): Sephora "Diving in Malaysia", Classics Metallic "03" and Ozotic Pro "507" (discontinued). Ozotic Pro "507" is definitely out of the game as it's obviously more saturated, yellow and olive colored than the others. The three others are harder to distinguish and close enough to be called dupes. While the differences are obvious watching the bottles, it is not as easy to distinguish them on nails. Indeed, it is very hard to part Sephora "Diving in Malaysia" from "Peridot". Those are basically the same looking polishes except that Chanel formula is a better and Chanel color base is just the slightlest more cool toned (but I swear your neighbor would not notice it unless he's a lacquerhead). Classics Metallic "03" on its side is also a very decent dupe. Certainly more warm toned than "Peridot" but due to the warmer golden base, the green duochrome is almost more obvious, brilliant and working better in my little opinion.

MAC Viva Glam Cyndi

I got this lipstick when purchasing a few last minute gifts for the MAC Cosmetics Starter Kit giveaway. Two for you, one for me and so on... I had heard so many positive things about this and I distinctly remember a comment left by essjay23x on a recent post, where she said that this was a bright colour but one that she felt comfortable wearing - even out of the house. That's always the test isn't it. It's all very well wearing something whilst moping around in your jim-jams indoors, but would you brave the crowds with that face-paint on? I have to say that essjay23 was right - Cyndi is bright yet exceedingly wearable. I find it hard to describe as a shade - MAC have chosen "light reddish coral" which I guess is about right. It's fairly sheer as a lustre, and not really buildable (more layers does not = more brightness) but it's oh, so pretty and glossy. The sheen makes it especially flattering. I thought it might clash with my beloved pink blush (in the photo above its NARS's Penny Lane) but it actually complements nicely to give an all over fresh, glowing look. Amen to that! All in all I am glad I got this. Viva Glam Gaga is the most eye-catching VG - her brand is more current and the colour is a fabulous bubblegum - but don't forget about dear Cyndi! She is just as modern, glossy and easy to wear.

How to Use The Maxiglide Steam Flat Iron

Wet-to-dry level chain are becoming increasingly popular. Not only make you salvage clip but, by avoiding having to first blow dry your hair, you are helping to forestall heat energy damage. The Maxiglide wet to dry out level Fe is one of the most popular on the market. What follows are some helpful guidelines to assist guarantee you acquire the best out of your Maxiglide hair straightener. What are the benefits of using the Maxiglide Wet-to-Dry level iron? The ceramic plates bring forth 'negative ions' that sealing wax the hair cuticle, locking in moisture, which do hair less frizzy and shinier looking; The plates are nearly 4" broad, most other wet-to-dry level Fe come up with plate sizes of 2" or less. The other broad plates let you take a wider subdivision of hair at a time, thus reducing the sum clip you pass straightening your hair; The plates come up with detangling pins. Acting like a mulct comb, the pins let you to detangle your hair right to the tips; The Steam Explosion System lets you to emit explosion of steam to assist unbend out stubborn parts to your hair. The arrangement of pins and the styling channels protect the scalp and tegument from high temperatures and burning; Variable temperature control so you can utilize the exact heat energy that best suits your hair.

Introducing the Acai Berry...

One berry has taken over the world. Just kidding, but the acai berry has indeed been gaining a lot of popularity in the USA. Many media outfits, publications have featured its health benefits. It has been published in the Wall Street Journal. Washington Post, and Sports Illustrated. And its best media showing, it was featured in the Oprah Show and it has been called a really powerful fruit. The acai can be found in the rainforests of Brazil. It can be found growing on palm trees in the Amazon region. Over centuries ago, the locals of the region have been eating and drinking acai products and they have been the first people to take advantage of the benefits that acai berry have. It has been part of their staple diet since the first discovery. Acai fruit is not one of those fruits or weight loss diet plans for women that have had over-exposure. It actually has lots of nutrients to boast about such as essential fatty acids like Omega 6, Omega 3, and Omega 9. It has a large amount of anti-oxidants. And it has the highest level of ORAC (oxygen radical absorption capacity) in all berries on earth. 

ORAC levels measure the amount of anthocyanins present in a fruit or food. Anti-oxidants are helpdul in fighting free radicals and keeping the immune system strong. Acai berries also have big amounts of fiber and are helpful to help the digestive system. It helps the body flush out bad toxins of the body. Other health advantages that acai fruit provide are good vision, good source of energy, increase and help the blood flow, maintains the proper level of good cholesterol and it helps to give optimal neurological functions. Aside from the said benefits, acai berry fruit also has amounts of carbohydrates, lipids, Vitamin B3, iron, protein, calcium, Vitamin B1, Vitamin C and other such nutrient. Because of its many nutritional values, it is called a wonder fruit or one fop the most potent fruits ever. One downside of the acai berry is that it easily spoils and thus loses its nutritional benefits. Because of this quality, the acai berry is made into puree or juice. It serves as a drink for energy. 

This is possible because the acai has Niacin content which is avital in the production of energy or ATP. Aside from its nutritional benefits, you also have another good reason to consume acai fruits. Before acai became popular in the Western world, locals in the Amazon use to cut down acai palms to get the heart of the acai and therefore killing trees. This is now prevented because acai manufacturing and export has been a great sustainable source of income fro the natives. Fruit Vida International has taken this heart. For every purchase of the acai juice, part of the revenue will go to the protection programs of the area where acai is grown. Many have discovered that the acai is a great source of anti-oxidants. It actually has more amounts of polyphenol than red wine. In this way, you don’t need to intake alcohol to get the benefits of the red wine. You can just drink acai juice instead.

Are Inexpensive Weight Loss Pills Effective?

One of the most popular ways of losing weight nowadays is by taking weight loss pills. The latest weight loss pills seem to offer the easiest solution for overweight people, since they can simply take some pills and carry on with their normal eating behavior and try to lose weight. But as with the seemingly endless supply of weight loss programs there are a wide range of effective weight loss pills that you can choose from. These can go from prescription drugs to the latest natural weight loss products that are supposed to have the same effect and offer a safer alternative. So how do you find the most effective and preferably inexpensive weight loss capsules for you? Yet even these natural weight loss pills can still have dangerous side effects. 

People with allergies especially are cautioned not to take just anything. Natural weight loss pill products have a lot of ingredients in them, some may trigger undesirable effects that could be hazardous to your health. You need to be aware that the drugs you take to improve your health also have side effects. Even natural weight loss capsules can still have adverse effects if not taken properly or if taken by people with allergic reactions to specific ingredients in the pills. This can cause severe reactions in some people that can be extremely dangerous to their health. If you are planning to take prescription drugs, it would be necessary for you to see a doctor first anyway so you might as well discuss all the alternatives before deciding on what weight loss pill or product the best for you.

The effectiveness of weight loss pills depends on a lot of factors. Many people have quite outstanding results in a relatively short time when they have found a solution that has worked for them. However, there has also been many people who have had considerable problems with the weight loss capsules that they have been using, either prescription or natural, wherein it was not suitable for them. Finding the most effective weight loss capsules for you is hard but surely rewarding. Remember that losing weight is primarily for your health. And when it concerns health, whatever the weight loss product you are taking, always be sure to consult with a physician first. Don’t put your life in danger only for the pursuit of a more healthy lifestyle.

IsaDora - Black Galaxy

When IsaDora launched their latest Christmas collection I knew I just had to get Black Galaxy. Who can resist such a magical nail polish? I for once didn't have anything like it in my collection, I've actually been on the look out for a polish like this and anything that is sparkly makes my heart warm! A black base with prismatic glitter makes this polish look like tiny galaxies in outer space. What I really like about this polish is that the glitter doesn't "vanish" into the black polish, but seem to stay fairly well at the top. The achieve a nice shine I needed to apply two coats of a base coat. You might just need one depending on which brand you use.As always I adore the wide brush as it takes less strokes to pain your nail, might take some practice at first though. Other than that I'm really pleased with this polish, after all it's like outer space in a bottle... what's there not to love about that!

Anatrim Hoodia Review

If Forrest Gump were asked for a comment on Hoodia, it would probably be "Hoodia is as Hoodia does." Hoodia can stand up against the powerful prescription appetite suppressing weight loss drugs such as Acomplia and Meridia without the need for any dilution or additional ingredients. Hoodia is fast becoming the "ingredient" to be associated with as far as manufacturers of diet pills are concerned, simply pop the word Hoodia into the marketing material and efficacy can take a back seat. So what has this got to do with Anatrim? There is a loose association between Hoodia and Anatrim, although the product is devoid of any trace according to the formula. The association is most likely the appetite suppressing qualities supposedly found in the compound. Or, to put it more bluntly there is just as much Hoodia in the Anatrim packaging as contained in the capsules, zero.

What is Anatrim? Never has the phrase Caveat Emptor been so apt. It is on dangerous ground than any review website treads where a product name and the word scam is mentioned in the same sentence. There does not appear to any Anatrim official website (any more), the product seems to be sold exclusively via a third party which means the consumer has no means of contact with the company responsible should any issues arise. The company responsible for Anatrim production is highly suspicious. Anatrim employ a marketing tactic that uses unsolicited emails or spam, highly unprofessional. The company does not appear officially on record and seems to have connection to China and Russia, the product does not have a registered trademark on the name Anatrim, there is also no patent pending. It would be pointless for us list ingredients or continue further. Anatrim should not be purchased however tempting a proposition. If you do recieve an email promoting Anatrim from any source, hit the delete button.

New Quilts Patterns

Fall quilt market has come and gone and I'm just now getting a chance to post a few of my new patterns. Quilters are such wonderful, friendly people and I'm so priviledged to be a part of this fantastic industry. My first new pattern is called Berry Basket Welcome and I chose beautiful brown, red and tan prints from French General's new line for Moda called Maison de Garance. This is a fat quarter friendly pattern and can be easily made in a weekend. It has big, bold prints and It goes together with ease, and would be a great choice for even the beginning quilter. I chose fabrics from the Definitions line by Faye Burgos for Marcus Fabrics.

Last, but certainly not least, is my newest block of the month pattern designed for use with Strip It, designs that was inspired from a wonderful children website and more precisely the mandalas coloring page. This is a 6 month bom with a few twists. Each month, blocks or a border is made and added to the previous month, so that at the end of the sixth month, your quilt is completely finished! By using Strip It for many of the blocks and rail fence border, your piecing time is cut in half. The name of this pattern is Chestnut and Vine, which is also the name of the fabric line by Faye Burgos made for Marcus Fabrics.

More about Versatile Blogger

A required part of accepting the Versatile Blogger Award is to reveal some interesting tidbits about myself that you don’t already know. So here goes, but remember, interesting is relative:

1. Many years ago, I seemed to have been on a lucky streak when it came to found cash. It wasn’t unusual for me to come upon a stray $20 in a store parking lot every week or so, for example, and since it was cash, there was no way I was going to find the rightful owner. One time was particularly fruitful: when I went outside my courtyard door in Savannah one early morning, I found $350 in small bills, rolled up loosely, lying beside a tree. There was no one on the street, so I scooped it up and called a policeman friend of mine to ask him what to do. He told me to keep it and spend it wisely as it was most likely the dropped cash from a druggie. At the time, we lived in downtown Savannah where druggies hung out regularly. I shared it with my kids. These days, one is lucky to find a stray penny lying around, unclaimed.

2. When I was a preteen, I had a very full bottom lip which I thought to be abnormal, never having heard of Angelina Jole. Since I was just getting interested in boys, and I thought part of my face was unbearable to others, I started pulling up my lower lip with my teeth so that, at a distance, I would look “normal.” One weekend, my very beautiful 16 year old cousin and I were strolling down the street while she scanned the neighborhood boys her own age. I began biting my lip and, answering her question of “why”, she told me that my lip was very sexy to boys and don’t ever do that again. God, was I glad to know that what I thought of as an abnormal condition was actually an asset!

3. I’ve never ridden on a train even though my dad worked for Seaboard Railroad for several years and rides along the eastern seaboard would have been free. I thought I was to take my first train ride on The Orient Express when I lived in Cairo, but somehow, it never got scheduled. I’ll always regret that because that, my friend, would have been a huge first!

4. Just weeks after being hired as the Executive Director of the Georgia Lung Association, SE Branch, I discovered I was pregnant. Since this was my first job in management, I agonized over telling my Board of Directors for weeks before finally making my announcement at a board meeting. At first there was silence… then my president said: “Well Jane, since you’re the youngest Director we’ve ever had, this comes as a little bit of a shock… but a very pleasant one. We’ll be getting two for the price of one!” Boy, what a sigh of relief that brought… and I stayed with them for almost 9 years.

5. Speaking of the Georgia Lung Association, I won the National Public Relations award from the National Lung Association in the late 70s. This was for a project I spearheaded in preventing the Savannah Electric Company from firing up coal burners without first installing precipitators. You can’t imagine how proud I was when accepting that award in New York as I had competed with every GLA branch, no matter the size of the city they were located in, including New York City’s branch. As a result, I also won a similar award that same year from the Sierra Club for the project.

Versatile Blogger

The adorable Eddie Bluelights at Silvery Linings has graciously presented me and 9 others with The Versatile Blogger Award, for which I’m very grateful and proud that Eddie thinks of me as versatile enough to include me among those he favors. Here are some things about me:

1. I’ve never broken a bone in my life (knock on wood!) and when I had a bone density test done several years ago when I was in my mid-50s, I was told I had the bones of a 25 year old. Accounting for time having passed and my rapidly approaching my 69th birthday in December, let’s assume that I now have the bones of a 35 year old. Why the hell then do these 35 year old bones ache all the time, is what I’d like to know.

2. Up until the time I was a senior in high school, I had never skipped school. About halfway through my senior year, I skipped one day for what I thought to be a very good reason… and my mother turned me in. I had to spend afternoons after school for an entire week in detention hall. Believe me, it was nothing like The Breakfast Club. Those people were truly scary!

3. When I was in junior high school, I won a literary contest at our school. My principal then selected me to represent our school at the state competition and… I came in second. I can’t remember the subject we had to write about, but I do remember being so nervous I was trembling the entire time I was writing my essay. I’m glad I didn’t let our school down and at least walked away with second place.

4. I have this odd ability of being able to identify movie stars just from hearing their voice without seeing their face… which I’m sure comes from being a huge movie buff. I’m sure I’ll find a use for this skill some day.

5. I discovered I was claustrophobic when I tried to go into the Pyramid of Cheops at the Pyramids of Giza when I first moved to Cairo. Unfortunately, it was while I was on the extremely narrow, one-way staircase leading up to the inner chamber with about 100 tourists behind me. This was no time to be polite so I just plowed my way through sweating bodies loaded down with cameras and carryalls, determined to block my escape. Once I saw daylight, the nausea and panic attack subsided but I never went into such a small, enclosed, dark space again.