Tie a bow in your hair

  Steps on How to Hair Bow

1.  Begin by taking one small section of hair from each side of your head.  The bigger the sections, the bigger the bow.

2.  Tie the two sections together with an elastic to create a half ponytail.  Don't pull the ends through the elastic the last time you wrap it to create a loop like the picture on the right.

3.  Split the loop in half to create two smaller loops and clip one loop aside for later.

4.  Use your fingers to spread out the loop and push it flat against your head into a bow shape.  Insert one bobby pin going from top to bottom and one going from bottom to top. 

5.  Repeat on the opposite side to finish the bow shape.

6.  Pick up the remaining ends of the ponytail and wrap them up and around the elastic to hide it.  Secure it with bobby pins underneath.

11 Tips on How to Love Yourself First So Everything Else Falls Into Line

11 Tips on How to Love Yourself First So Everything Else Falls Into Line

13 Ancient Egyptian Beauty Secrets

13 Ancient Egyptian Beauty Secrets

  Trust  historic beauty recipes rather than today's lotions and potions. And we all know why 
  Cleopatra  The woman who is an iconic symbol of Beauty. She wrote books on Beauty Secrets she found throughout her life. Things like Exfoliants, Eye Creams, Hair Extensions are all coming from Ancient Egypt. But they were pure and natural in those times unlike now. So keep on reading to reveal those secrets...

• Many Egyptian women used Sea Salt from The Dead Sea. Cleopatra used this salt in her bath. This Sea Salt was a skin rejuvenator and it combats skin problems like eczema and psoriasis. 

• The combination of Milk and Honey was really popular as a face mask or body wash. Also try honey with cinnamon

• A hair mask  made with Coconut Milk and warm Extra Virgin Olive Oil to strengthen and condition hair. 

• Aloe Vera played a HUGE part in Egyptian and Indian beauty routines. It was used for skin, hair, healing burns etc. Eaten sometimes to improve digestion and lose weight.

• Avocado was used to reduce the puffiness under eyes.

•  Body Sugaring removes Body Hair. It removes the hair from roots and when it grows back, there will be less of it and softer. 

• Rosemary Oil, Castor Oil and Almond Oil was used to stimulate hair growth. 

• Egyptian women used a lot of Aromatic Oils for a clean hygiene. The most popular were frankincense and myrrh essential oils.

• The combination of Honey  and Baking Soda  use as a facial scrub. 

• Coconut Oil, Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter can be used as hair gels and to hold their hair in place. 

DIY: 7 ways to get rid of dark circles/ANY type of scar/Stretch Marks.

DIY: 7 ways to get rid of dark circles/ANY type of scar/Stretch Marks.

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These 7 ways I am sharing, are the MOST EFFECTIVE ways that make scars disappear, no matter what type they are (acne scars, tissue scars etc). 

1st Solution:

1/2 tsp Turmeric
1 tsp yogurt (at least 10% fat)
4-5 drops Lemon Juice

Directions:

You can find turmeric powder in any Asian/Indian stores. Mix the ingredients together in a small container and Apply it on the scar. Leave it on for as long as you can but at least more than 10 mins. It won't show results only in one go. Repeat daily until the scars or dark circles are completely gone. Usually takes about 2 weeks.

2nd Solution:

Aloe Vera Gel

Directions: 

You can find this gel at any drugs stores/pharmacies. Take some gel (depends on the size of the scar) and rub it on the scar in Circular Motions until your skin absorbs it.

3rd Solution:

1 tbsp Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 tsp turmeric powder/ gram flour

Directions:

Mix them well and apply it on the scar. Leave it as long as you can. You can also rub ONLY olive oil and leave it on the scar overnight. It will be more effective.

4th Solution:

A slice of lemon

Directions:

Just rub it on the scar in circular motions. Do not rinse it off. Leave it over night and rinse it in the morning. Or leave it as long as possible.

5th Solution:

Cocoa Butter

How Natural is Natural? 10 Ways to Tell if a Product Is (Or Isn`t) Really Natural

Written by Beth Greer.

“Natural,” “Nontoxic,” or even “Eco-Safe” on the label of your shampoo, deodorant or makeup, makes you think it’d be made with healthy, safety-tested ingredients, right? Well, not always. Unlike drugs, The FDA doesn’t review cosmetic or personal care ingredients for safety before they hit the market. Also, manufacturers routinely do something known as greenwashing: using misleading, vague or even false claims about the eco/health benefits of their products. That leaves us wondering whether our lipstick, skin cream or wrinkle serum is safe. Reports say that many contain chemicals linked to cancer, infertility, hormone imbalances, birth defects, neurological issues and other health problems.

What we put on our skin matters. Our skin is not a barrier...it allows microscopic chemicals to enter our bloodstream which can impact our physiology. What happens inside our bodies when we are exposed to minute amounts of synthetic chemicals every day, for years? No one really knows. So it’s best to play it safe and choose natural, nontoxic products. But, there’s a lot of confusion when it comes to knowing exactly what to look for on the label. To help you out, I’ve created my Top 10 Greenwashing Watchwords. These are words and phrases that will help raise your awareness about the subtle distinctions and nuances being used on ingredient labels on your makeup and personal care products.

Top 10 Greenwashing Watchwords

#10. “Environmentally Friendly” “Eco-Safe” There are currently no specific government or official standards for these terms. Plus, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) considers these phrases to be too vague to be meaningful.

#9. “Dermatologist Tested” “Sensitivity Tested” “Hypoallergenic” According to FDA, manufacturers are not required to perform any tests or provide evidence that products were actually tested by a doctor. Look for the organization behind these claims other than the company making the product.

#8. “Allergy-Friendly Fragrance” “Fragrance-Free” A product might be made with essential oils instead of synthetically made fragrance oils (which can be allergy triggers), but also contain questionable chemicals like DEA, SLS and artificial coloring. “Fragrance-Free” does not necessarily mean no fragrance. It might contain synthetic fragrances that are used to cover up the chemical smell of other ingredients.

#7. “Nontoxic” Nontoxic does not mean Not Toxic or Not Harmless. It indicates it’s a safer alternative than some other hazardous ingredients, and implies it will not cause adverse health effects. But, there are no specific government or official standards for this term.

#6.“Derived From...” “Derived from coconut oil,” for example, is deceptive, because to create cocamide DEA from coconut oil requires the use of diethanolamine – DEA... a carcinogenic synthetic chemical. Therefore, it is no longer natural...or safe.

#5. “Free of...” Watch for hyping what’s NOT in the product. For example, a deodorant claiming “No CFCs.” Chloro-fluorocarbons were banned in 1978, so if the product contained CFCs it would be illegal. Or a cream claiming “No Parabens” but substituting Phenoxethanol, which, according the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet), if absorbed through the skin (at 100% concentration) can cause reproductive damage. Skin creams and baby lotions generally use 1%. Does that make it safe?

#4. “Certified Green” The term “green” implies a product has some environmental benefit or causes no harm to the environment, but the FTC and the International Standards Organization (ISO) consider it to be too vague a word to be meaningful. Also, watch out for self-made seals. Certified by whom? Choose neutral third party seals.

#3. “Natural” This word can give the illusion that the product is “of nature," when it’s not. One large, brand name company claims "100% NATURAL” on the label of its moisturizers but uses synthetic surfactants, preservatives and fragrance. That’s not very natural! However, not all “natural” products are bad! Check the NPA (Natural Products Association) Natural Standard for Personal Care Products guidelines.

#2. “Organic” Some major brands say “organic” but contain few or no organic ingredients. One shampoo company claims their product creates a "truly organic experience" yet it contains sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol and D&C color, which are synthetic chemicals that pose health risks. A study from the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) found several mislabeled “organic” personal care products.

#1. Made with... The phrases “Made with lavender” or “Made with real lemon” for example, might be only contain 1 % of those ingredients, with the rest being synthetic. Or “Made with essential oils” might be only 1or 2 drops of the good stuff. Look for a percentage on the label to be sure.

My advice? Read makeup and personal care ingredient labels like you would food labels. Learn which chemicals to avoid. Here’s a list from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

For more practical, simple solutions on how to have a super healthy home or work environment, visit www.BethGreer.com

Homemade "Vicks Vapor shower disks"

Homemade "Vicks Vapor shower disks"

Have you seen the commercials for the Vicks Vapor shower disks?  You put one of these disks in your shower, and voila thanks to the vapors in it, you're magically healed, your cold is gone

Sarah's Homemade Vicks Shower Disks
-Baking soda
-Water
-Essential oils: eucalyptus, rosemary, and lavender.
-Muffin tin
-Muffin liners

1) Add baking soda to a mixing bowl.
  1 cup of baking soda and 1/3 cup of water (plus maybe a few tbls more

2) Slowly add water until you've made a thick paste.  add a little water a time.  You'll want the mix to feel like putty.

3) Add 10-15 drops of each essential oil.

4) Spoon in to a muffin tin, and bake, for 20 minutes at 350.  THEN  essential oils to the cooled "disk. 

5) Pop out of the paper liner,  put them on the floor of the shower 
6)Store in ziploc bags or stack in a mason jar w/lid.

While many foods taste great, they are also powerful healers in a vibrant multicolor disguise. The best healing remedies also taste fabulous (I can’t say that about any prescription medications). Plus, foods won’t cause the nasty common side effects that most drugs cause.
1. Cherries
Muraleedharan Nair, PhD, professor of natural products and chemistry at Michigan State University, found that tart cherry extract is ten times more effective than aspirin at relieving inflammation. Only two tablespoons of the concentrated juice need to be taken daily for effective results. Sweet cherries have also been found to be effective.
2. Blackberries 3. Raspberries 4. Blueberries and 5. Strawberries
Dr. Nair later found the same anti-pain compound in berries like blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries
6. Celery and Celery Seeds
James Duke, Ph.D., author of The Green Pharmacy, found more than 20 anti-inflammatory compounds in celery and celery seeds, including a substance called apigenin, which is powerful in its anti-inflammatory action. Add celery seeds to soups, stews or as a salt substitute in many recipes.
7. Ginger
Ginger reduces pain-causing prostaglandin levels in the body and has been widely used in India to treat pain and inflammation. A study by Indian researchers found that when people who were suffering from muscular pain were given ginger, they all experienced improvement. The recommended dosage of ginger is between 500 and 1,000 milligrams per day. If you’re taking medications, check with your health practitioner for possible herb-drug interactions.
8. Turmeric
Turmeric (curcuma longa) is the yellow spice commonly used in Indian curries. In research it has been shown to be a more effective anti-inflammatory than steroid medications when dealing with acute inflammation. Its main therapeutic ingredient is curcumin. Research shows that curcumin suppresses pain through a similar mechanism as drugs like COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors (without the harmful side effects). Choose a standardized extract with 1500 mg of curcumin content per day.
9. Salmon 10. Mackerel and 11. Herring
Many fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and herring also contain these valuable oils. Omega-3s convert in the body into hormone-like substances that decrease inflammation and pain. According to Dr. Alfred D. Steinberg, an arthritis expert at the National Institute of Health, fish oil is an anti-inflammatory agent. Fish oil acts directly on the immune system by suppressing 40 to 55 percent of the release of cytokines, compounds known to destroy joints. Many other studies also demonstrate that eating moderate amounts of fish or taking fish oil reduces pain and inflammation, particularly for arthritis sufferers.
12. Flax Seeds and Flax Oil
Freshly-ground flax seeds and cold-pressed flax oil, contain plentiful amounts of fatty acids known as Omega-3s. Do not cook with flax oil otherwise it will have the opposite effect-irritating the body’s tissues and causing pain.
13. Raw Walnuts and Walnut Oil
Raw walnuts and walnut oil also contain the same powerful Omega-3 fatty acids that fight pain and inflammation in the body.
When it comes to pain, food really is the best medicine.