Sunday, June 14, 2009

Homemade Facial Masks

Momma's gotta look beautiful and now she can do it on a budget with pantry staples that have long been the basis for expensive mass-market formulas. Being on a budget doesn't mean you have to skimp on skincare. Find a formula below that's right for you!

Organic Banana Face Mask

Your skin will have a healthy glow after applying this tropical mask to your face. This recipe is designed for all skin types.

  • 1. Mash one half of a banana
  • 2. Mix in a tablespoon of orange juice and a tablespoon of honey
  • 3. Apply to the face and keep the mixture on for fifteen minutes
  • 4. Rinse with lukewarm water and then moisturize

The Breakfast Mask

Complete with protein and whole grains, this breakfast-themed mask is used to correct and calm oily skin.

  • 1. Combine an egg yolk, a tablespoon of honey, then a tablespoon of olive oil (yes, olive oil) and half a cup of oatmeal
  • 2. Apply to the face for 15-20 minutes
  • 3. Rinse with lukewarm water and then moisturize

Honey & Papaya Lightening Mask

This mask is specifically for those who have hyperpigmentation, sun spots and uneven pigment.

  • 1. Blend together two tablespoons of honey and half a cup of mashed ripe papaya.
  • 2. Apply on the face evenly for 15-20 minutes
  • 3. Rinse with lukewarm water and then moisturize

Heavenly Honey Citrus Mask

This honey-and-orange-based mask is a quick fix to give your face an organic healthy glow.

  • 1. Combine three tablespoons of orange juice with half a cup of honey
  • 2. Apply to the face and leave on for half an hour
  • 3. Rinse with lukewarm followed by cool water, then moisturize

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Support Your Local Store

These days, you can go online and buy anything. And if you're willing to pay a little extra, you can have it in no time...After all, you probably found a better price online anyway, right?

Over the weekend, I bought Andy a Rody Inflatable Horse. He's really too little for it, but he can just barely get his toes on the floor, which is just enough for him to bounce around like a little maniac. He's completely out of control and would just tumble off of it if I didn't keep my hands on his waist. But he loves it, so I've spent quite a bit of time this weekend doing just that.
I bought our Rody from a great toy store in Smithfield, RI called Sparks Toy & Hobby Shoppe. This is place is so much fun. They have an amazing selection (for all ages) and the owner is super friendly and helpful. In the end, I paid a little more for Rody at Sparks than if I had bought him online, but I didn't have to wait for Rody to arrive with the UPS Man. And when was the last time that Amazon.com told you why they love a product so much? When was the last time they took one out of the package so you and your child could play with it and try it out right there in the store?
I guess the point is that I'm happy to pay a little more. If we always shop on Amazon, there won't be a Sparks left. And that sounds horrible. I enjoyed bringing Andy into the store and giving him several toys to try out. Not all the toys were keepers, but my heart melted seeing the pure joy in his eyes when we found a toy he loved. We went home with what I knew he liked and would play with, which may just be the biggest money saver of all.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

When Momma is Happy...


Filed under the category of "When Mom is Happy, Everyone is Happy" is this very cool Starbucks To-Go Cold Beverage Tumbler. There are a million options out there to tote your hot java on the go, but cold versions are few and far between.

This one has double-walled construction to help insulate your beverage, a sealing screw-on top, and a straw that has a nifty little lip on it to keep it from pulling out of the cup. Fill it up with 16 ounces (Grande sized!) of your favorite frosty beverage and find your happy place on the go.
Price: $12.95