Livin' It Up... Beauty Hacks for Women

Easy Home Remedy For Teeth Whitening At Home:

Consult your dentist before trying this. 

Follow these steps to whiten teeth and save money by skipping those costly professional whitening treatments. You'll notice the difference after one use but make sure you don't do this more than once a week or else you risk wearing down your enamel making teeth more susceptibe to cavities. Once desired shade is reached cut back to once or twice a month.

The taste is a bit unpleasant but it's extremely effective. Hydrogen peroxide acts an an antibacterial mouth cleaner helping your gums. Baking soda is gritty helping with plaque and aids with fresh breath.

You'll need:

• 1 tsp hydrogen peroxide
• 1 tsp mouthwash
• 1 tsp baking soda
• one drop of toothpaste
• 1/2 tsp water

Here's whatcha do:

1. Floss. 
2. Mix hydrogen peroxide and mouthwash together. Swish in mouth for one minute, spit and rinse with water. 
3. Mix toothpaste, baking soda, and water in a cup. Mix until you get a paste. Use it to brush your teeth for 2-3 minutes, spit and rinse mouth with water. That's it!!!

This really works! I saw instant results and made sure to avoid coffee, tea, wine, and anything else that may stain my teeth. My teeth had that "fresh from the dentist" feel too. 

How To Get Rid Of Facial Hair With Turmeric:

I've been toying around with the idea of getting laser hair removal for years but cannot bring myself to schedule my first treatment because I've been told the procedure is painful and have seen some on the side effects firsthand. Being Italian, I cannot stand that my arms are hairier than most men. That is not sexy in the least bit.

Every woman wants flawless skin that is hair-free and smooth.

Thankfully you don't have to pay for these treatments. Turmeric has been used for years by women in India who are very brunette.

Turmeric causes hair to thin, tighten roots, and cause the hair to fall out.

Please note, turmeric will temporarily dye your skin yellow after use. Simply scrub your skin with a some baking soda and soap. A cotton ball soaked in milk helps as well.

Here's whatcha do:

1. Grab a bowl, 2 tbsp turmeric, and warm water. If the area is much larger, say for your arms vs. your face then you'll need more than 2 tbsp turmeric. 
2. Make a paste adding a couple drops of water until thick but spreadable consistency. Wear rubber gloves when applying the paste over the entire area where you want to remove hair from. Leave on for 20 minutes then rinse off with a cloth soaked in cold water.
3. For the face: apply paste daily until you rid unwanted hair. 

Reaction: This was an effin' mess and I did not see any difference. Going to be sticking to my plan of saving up for laser hair removal instead.

Fast Acting Pimple Clearing Tip:

WARNING: IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO IBUPROFEN DO NOT TRY THIS!!! USE COMMON SENSE... PLEASE. 

Nothing is more frustrating that going to bed with clear skin and waking up with a zit, especially when it's swollen and sore. How embarrassing!

Whatever you do keep your hands off. Growing up I refused to pick them after learning about acne scarring and not wanting craters on my face. 

In an effort to reduce breakouts make sure you wash your makeup brushes regularly, wash your pillowcases, and towels often since these objects are notorious for harboring bacteria. 

You'll need:

• Advil Liquid-Gels
• Push pin

Here's whatcha do:

1. Poke a hole in the top of the Advil.
2. Squeeze gel from the liquid-gel cap and apply to spot. It relieves pain and redness almost immediately. 

Side note, if you suffer from acne flare ups you may want to look into your diet. My face was breaking out worse than when I was a teenager and after following my first round of Whole30 my face cleared up and now I'm back to only getting one or two during that time of the month. I notice when I go off the diet my face will flare up with acne again and it will clear up again when I get back on board with a clean diet.

Sunless Tan Using Two Lotions Together:

I grew up in Las Vegas spending all of my Summer hours in the sun without sunscreen for the majority of my childhood and used tanning beds a handful of times. I had been scared straight in my later teen years reading magazines and hearing horror stories about the damaging effects from sun exposure. 

Sunscreen has become a part of my every day makeup routine and if I'm going to be out during the Summer months I make sure I apply a liberal amount of it and reapply as needed. I haven't had a tan like I use to get since my earlier teen years. I'm okay with it... kind of. I really miss the sun-kissed bronze color. 

When I'm wearing sundresses I do wish I had that beautiful bronzed skin and have tried to obtain it from a bottle instead. I still have yet to try an airbrushed tan because the thought of getting semi-naked in front of a stranger makes me nervous as hell.

In an attempt to get tanned since it's now skin showing season I tried the tutorial from What Meegan Makes by mixing two self-tanning lotions together.

You will need L'Oreal's Sublime Bronze Tinted Self Tanning Lotion in Medium Natural Tan and Banana Boat's Summer Color Sunless Tinted Lotion in Light/Medium. 

Make sure you exfoliate and shave clean skin first.

Apply a non-tanning lotion to hands, elbows, knees, and feet to prevent developing excess color in those drier areas. 

Use a nickel-size of each lotion mixing them together in your hand. Rub the lotion on your arms, legs, and chest area. Avoid knees, ankles, and elbows because the skin tends to be dry and scaly in these areas. 

I have never found a self-tanner that doesn't have a scent so no surprise here, there is a faint smell. Like the fragrance of coconuts and sunscreen, self tanner is a smell I associate with Summer and find it to be non-offensive. More power to those who take their skin's health seriously. 

It will leave a bronzed glowing finishing.

I do this routine twice a week after I shower using a gentle body wash and no loofah. Try Honest Shampoo and Body Wash. Make sure you wash your hands well after use. Once you start to notice the tan wearing off or getting splotchy, take a few days off from the lotion and loofah skin well to exfoliate before reapplying on a blank slate.

Also note, once applied steer clear of water for the next 4 hours. If it's raining outside make sure you grab an umbrella. I also suggest laying an old blanket underneath you while you sleep to avoid getting orange/brownish streaks on your sheets.

Don't forget to find a self tanner formulated for your face or make sure you color match foundation.

While all of these tips may seem a bit overwhelming they are much better than potential sun damage.

Pucker Up: 5 Tips For Kissable Lips:

Valentine's Day was just around the corner and a date with that special someone was on the horizon. Outfit was planned, hair visualized, and the dream night has been played over and over again in my head. 

You should feel on point and like a million bucks for your date night. Worrying about your makeup shouldn't be something you have to worry about. Make sure your lips stay colorful and kissable throughout the night with a perfect pout by following the steps below after you brush your teeth banishing bad breath:

Step 1: Exfoliate and Moisturize

You will need a lip scrub to exfoliate any dead skin and smooth out the surface of your lips. My current go-to has been Lush Cosmetics Mint Julips Lip Scrub. Keep your lips hydrated and smooth by applying a good lip balm every night before bed for one week leading up to that date. My absolute favorite is Blistex Complete Moisture Lip Balm. It's thick and feels like butter on my lips. I love it!!!

Step 2: Line

Add definition and shape with a lip liner that matches the hue of your lipstick. This helps to prevent lipstick from running outside the lines.

Step 3: Tint

Choose a tint that's a pretty close match to the color of your lipstick. The lip tint is used to create a "stain" so there will be some color on your lips even after the lipstick wears off. Which hopefully won't be after a couple sips of wine. 

Step 4: Apply Lipstick

Step 5: Seal

After lipstick is applied, hold a tissue over your lips and lightly dust translucent powder over the tissue. The powder falls through the tissue to set the lipstick the same way it does makeup to your face. 

Now seal the deal and kiss him already!!!

(On my lips: Lorac Alter Ego Lipstick in CEO and topped with Buxom's Full-On Lip Cream in Rose Julep)

Honey and Tea Tree Oil Face Peel:

Winter really takes a toll on my skin. It dries and cracks.

About once a week I like to treat myself to an at-home spa day pampering my body head to toe and a face mask is always a part of this routine. 

This DIY face peel from The Pretty Hippie will leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and clear. 

Tea tree oil smells awful to me but it's antiseptic powers to help heal skin from some ailments outweighs its pungent odor. 

Honey has anti-microbial properties and is a known antioxidant so it will keep your skin fresh and youthful looking. 

Milk is full of vitamins and fatty acids that do wonders for the face and body.

This homemade face mask (or peel, whatever you call it) will be better for your skin than any other chemical filled version you buy at the store. 

You'll need:

• 1 packet Unflavored Gelatin
• Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil 
• 1 tbsp Pure Raw Honey
• 1 tbsp Milk

Here's whatcha do:

Use a plastic container to mix the ingredients emptying the gelatin, 1 tbsp honey, 5 drops tea tree oil, and 1 tbsp milk. Use a fork to stir looking for a chunky/thick consistency. Microwave the mixture for 10 seconds only. Touch the mixture making sure it's not too hot to apply to your face. Quickly apply the cream all over your face avoiding your hairline and eyebrows because it does get sticky. Move fast because it will start to harden right away.

(Peeling off the mask hurt like hell in some spots because it was pulling out the peach fuzz.)

Now you wait letting the peel dry for 20-25 minutes.

During this time take a mediation break listening to soothing music and laying down with your eyes closed. 

Remove the mask peeling away from your face. It may hurt a little because it sucks the gunk out of your pores and there is a possibility of baby hair removal. After the mask is removed, cleanse your face. 

You can enjoy this mask once a week.

Reaction: Super easy to mix up and apply. Be extra careful when applying this avoiding eyebrows and hairline because it will pull out hair. Great for getting rid of that peach fuzz ladies. I am impressed with how smooth my skin is now. It is painful but so worth it. 

Make Your Own Makeup Remover With Just 3 Ingredients:

Makeup remover wipes are a necessity for my nighttime routine when getting ready for bed. I run out of eye makeup remover solution and wipes quickly since I wear makeup just about every day unless my face starts to break out and needs a breather. 

Finally decided to give the DIY tutorial a try from Hip2Save after claims of this really working and with having a child I had all of the ingredients already on hand, so why not?!!!

Almond oil is recommended over the other oils because it has a lot of Vitamin E and is not as greasy as the others.

You'll need:

• 2 oz water
• 7 drops almond oil, coconut oil, or olive oil
• 1/4 tsp tear free baby shampoo

Here's whatcha do:

Combine ingredients in a small bottle and shake well. Use makeup pads to remove makeup.

This stuff works and left my face feeling clean and fresh. I love love love this and no longer need to buy makeup remover wipes. 

Use Cold Green Tea Bags To Reduce The Puffiness and Dark Circles Under Your Eyes:

(Me right after I woke up from six hours in bed and only two and a half hours of sleep. Sleepless night caused dark puffy under eye circles. Don't mind my eyebrows, I'm due maintenance. Lazy girl.)

I struggle to get eight hours of sleep a night, I'm in bed for eight to ten hours but I'm not getting good quality sleep or that's what my FitBit Charge is reporting and those occasional dark circle puffy bags under my eyes that show up as well to remind me.

It's not just sleep that causes these dark circles... stress, depression, age, nutrient deficiencies, and genetics can also be factors.

The antioxidants found in green tea can be highly beneficial to the delicate skin around the eyes helping to tighten the skin from the caffeine. They also contain antioxidants and tannins. Tannins are responsible for stimulating blood circulation and smoothing skin.

("If I knew you needed to be tea-bagged I could have helped." I was not amused since I already felt silly. Can I please get six minutes of peace and quiet to do this beauty shit alone?!) 

Make a cup of green tea using two tea bags. Once steeped, place the tea bags on a plate and place in the refrigerator until chilled, about ten minutes. Hold the chilled tea bags under eyes for 5-6 minutes.

(After...brighter under eyes. Yesss!)

I felt silly having the tea bags under my eyes with some liquid pouring down my cheeks and neck but I can say that I say a difference in the coloring of my under eyes. After the 6 minutes they were brighter. Yay!! for a 2-in-1 beauty hack, green tea is good to consumption and under eye circles.

Keep Your Hair Smelling Great Spraying Perfume Onto Your Hairbrush:

Every day for one week I would spray my perfume, Coach Love, onto my hairbrush and run it through my hair. This is perfume that I have received numerous compliments on every time I wear it. To really test out this beauty hack I didn't wear any extra perfume except what I sprayed on the hairbrush. Monday, nobody said a thing. Tuesday, nothing. Wednesday, nothing. Thursday, nothing.

Come Friday I finally had it with this hack but gave it another chance.

When I went into the office I kept playing with my hair and gave it a smell. A coworker finally spoke up.

Coworker: "Why do you keep smelling your hair?"
Me: "Because it smells good."
Coworker: "Come here and let me smell."

So I walked over and stooped down to them and they took a whiff.

Coworker: "It just smells like hair. What's it supposed to smell like?

Being that this was a male coworker I deemed this beauty hack to be a bust. 

Use Your Lash Curler To Line And Curl At The Same Time:

Our eyes are the windows to our soul so you want them looking your best. This is why eyelashes are the one feature you should never neglect.

Curling your lashes enhances your overall makeup look. Now you can kill two birds with one stone by lining your lids and curling your lashes. This technique creates a soft smudged look which is great for daytime.

If you are already a pro at putting on eyeliner than this may not do you any good but if you are unskilled continue reading.

You'll need your eyelash curler and soft eye pencil. My go-to eye pencil is L'Oreal's Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Black.

Draw a line on the edge of your eyelash curler as thick as you desire. Make sure you get as close to your lashline as possible and press the base of the curler against your skin. Squeeze and release the handle a few times to make sure the liner smudges well into your lashline and to help curl your lashes.

If you miss any spots just fill it in with the eye pencil. This a good technique for a beginner to use the line as a guide.

Make Mascara Last Longer Using A Drop Or Two Of Visine:

Clumps in mascara happen. Just adding a drop or two of Visine into the tube is an easy fix.

(Check out those clump-free lashes!)

The mascara will apply like it's brand new.

Livin' It Up... Movie Night, The Help

I know, I know. I'm only 5 years behind in watching this movie and I have never read Kathryn Stockett's novel, The Help.

This film exposed the oppression of the female African American maids in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement deep in the Jim Crow South of Mississippi. An aspiring writer, Skeeter, played by Emma Stone, worked together with "the help" to share their stories of what it was like working with white families and their daily struggles. 

This movie is powerful. I even shed a few tears. 

Sadly, racism is still very strong and it can't be "helped" with stories alone. When will it ever get better and for us all to realize we're all just humans? Love your enemies. 

Love is not a color and character doesn't know a shade of skin. 

Aibileen, played by Viola Davis, shares a strong message that should serve as a reminder to ourselves and something we should be teaching our daughters, "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." 

... and lastly, Minny, played by Octavia Spencer, inspired me to polish my cooking skills and gave me reason to never trust another chocolate pie again. 

Livin' It Up... Couponing at Whole Foods

I caught a couple episodes the television show, Extreme Couponers, in awe of their passion and ability for saving hundreds of dollars at the grocery store. While I think it's a great idea to have a stockpile of supplies in case of emergency I do not agree with grabbing items that I have no intention of using... adult diapers and fifty boxes of cake mix. You will also not find me with a three ring binder or putting in countless hours towards couponing. I don't have the time or patience for that.

I am the first to admit that shopping at Whole Foods (a.k.a. "Whole Paycheck") is a luxury. I've become and turned Little Man into a food snob.

True story, we've been shopping at Whole Foods for a couple of years now making weekly grocery trips every Sunday. One weekend I was too exhausted to do much of anything and decided to run to our local grocery store, Kroger, to pick up items for Little Man's lunch. Every day that week he came home with food left in his lunch saying that it "just didn't taste right." He was with his dad the following weekend I went shopping and had no idea where the food came from. That week it was back to Whole Foods and his lunchbox returned home every day empty.

It always surprises me too when our produce stays fresh for a couple weeks versus a couple of days. That to me is worth it and knowing that my son is getting good nutrition as well as avoiding pesticides and added hormones/antibiotics.

I'm drawn in by the store's cozy farmer's market feel and friendliness of the staff who eagerly help.

We spend a butt-ton of money on groceries, however, with little waste. Side note, I have a spreadsheet broke out into columns (veggies, fruits, protein, dairy, carbs, fats, spices, and beverages) and have all the items in the fridge, freezer, and pantry listed with expiration dates. If an item is set to go bad this month I highlight it so I can plan my meals around that item. That helps, but why not save more? Even if it's a buck or two that's still another buck or two I get to keep.

Here's where couponing comes in because now I believe that you can shop at Whole Foods affordably with a little bit of work, awareness, and know-how. This added work has not been a burden and grocery shopping is the one chore I absolutely love and look forward to.

("Loyal to my coupons not a brand.")

#1 ) Locate coupons:
No, you won't find coupons for probiotic raw coconut juice and other random shit but you will be able to locate coupons in your weekly circular for brands like Silk and Kashi. Whole Foods also lists their coupons on their website too and they FINALLY!! have an app for download.

#2) Take to Facebook:
"Like" the pages of brands you buy regularly. Periodically they post coupons and other offers. If you have time you can even drop an email requesting coupons. Not all will help out but some like to reward their consumers.

#3) Double up:
If you have a manufacturer's coupon and a store coupon use them together to save the most amount of money. You need to present coupons with the item rather than at the end.

#4) Bring your own bags:
Whole Foods will give you $0.05 per bag that you bring back to the store with you and you're helping to save the environment with less waste.

#5) Join their email club:
You will get a weekly newsletter with special offers, recipes, and events in your local area.

#6) Make a list and try to stick to it. Go meatless a couple times a week. 

#7) Don't forget Kid's Club:
If you have a little one in tow make sure you stop by their Kid's Club located by the entrance/exit where your child is allowed to grab one snack (usually a pick of fruit and a juice box or water). Little Man loves it and knows that he'll be rewarded with a "treat" for good behavior. He also likes that he gets to throw the peel of his banana or apple core in the compost bin.

Here are some other resources for couponing at Whole Foods and the legwork is done for you:

• The Krazy Coupon Lady for deals and how to stack coupons. 
• Whole Foods Sales and Coupons directly from their website per store location.
• Living Rich With Coupons for weekly deals. 
• Southern Savers for weekly deals. 
• Hip2Save for weekly deals.
• Couponaholic for coupons. 
• All Natural Savings for coupons.

(Grocery haul... there are items hidden)

I attempted the "$125- 14 Meals Whole Foods Challenge" which is intended to feed a family of four. I created a meal plan with intent of sticking to my Whole30 diet. The total spent on my grocery haul was $10 over budget and after the fact I realized that some of my "out of convenience" purchases could have been exchanged for the whole produce and do the cutting myself. However, I went to the store late in the evening and was not in the mood at that time to think about chopping produce at a later date.

Here's how my Whole Foods Challenge went and I only recorded the cost of what I spent to feed one person... a grown adult female.

Scroll to the bottom to see how I did. I broke out the cost of each meal/snack too.

Day 1:
Breakfast: Two eggs over easy with a chicken spinach sausage = $1.74

Snack: Fruit salad with strawberries, grapes, pineapple, raspberries, blueberries, clementine, and a banana = $6.14

Dinner: Tilapia Fish Taco Bowl (4 oz tilapia, red onion, 1/2 red bell pepper, 1/2 avocado, grape tomatoes, sautéed cabbage, and lime wedge) = $7.02

Day 1 Total = $14.90

Day 2:
Breakfast: Two egg scramble with two slices of bacon, sweet potato, and spinach = $2.54

Snack: Celery with 2 tbsp peanut butter (not pictured, lighting was terrible) = $1.44

Lunch: Spinach salad with grape tomatoes, red onion, zucchini, and Tessamae's ranch dressing = $2.49

Dinner: Leftover Tilapia Fish Taco Bowl (4 oz tilapia, red onion, 1/2 red bell pepper, 1/2 avocado, grape tomatoes, sautéed cabbage, and lime wedge) = $7.02

Day 2 Total = $13.49

Day 3:
Breakfast: Two hard boiled eggs with two slices of bacon, mashed sweet potato and side of strawberries = $3.63

Lunch: Our company is currently in the process of expanding our building to accommodate for growth and the general contractor surprised us with a Thanksgiving feast from Cracker Barrel. I stuck to my Whole30 diet and ended up not eating the sweet potatoes because they were disgusting, too sweet and definitely not diet compliant.

(Turkey, ham, and cranberry sauce were the best!!)

Snack: Fruit salad with strawberries, grapes, pineapple, raspberries, blueberries, clementine, and a banana = $6.14

Snack: Strawberry Banana Smoothie = $2.64

Dinner: Surprised with Five Guys after an exhausting day and no desire to cook or dirty anymore dishes. I had the Little Bacon Burger on a lettuce bun with onions, tomatoes, and pickle with a handful of fries. Annihilated this meal before getting a picture.

Day 3 Total = $12.41 (helps that two meals were provided today)

Day 4:
Breakfast: Frittata with chicken spinach sausage, bacon, spinach, and grape tomatoes with a Fuji apple on the side = $3.91

Lunch: Invited to a friend's house for Thanksgiving so I picked up a Venti Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks and enjoyed a plate of traditional Thanksgiving day eats... and no, my plate was not diet compliant.

Day 4 Total = $3.91 (A major holiday helps!!)

Day 5:
Breakfast: Two egg scramble with two slices of bacon, sweet potato, grape tomatoes, and spinach. = $3.36

Snack: An apple with peanut butter = $1.76

Snack: A cup of red grapes with 1/4 cup raw almonds = $2.36

Dinner: Movie and Pizza Hut night. The food was disappointing and not worth breaking my diet for. 

Day 5 Total = $7.48

Day 6: 

Breakfast: Hard boiled egg with a sweet potato and a cup of grapes = $2.13

Snack: Almonds = $1.12

Lunch: Chicken thigh with sautéed zucchini and yellow squash = $2.20

Dinner: Cocktails and dinner at Tommy Bahama's Restaurant in The Woodlands, Texas. Our best guy friend joined us and treated us to all the food and drinks we wanted. To drink I tried their Crazy Cuban (must get!) and next time would get the Key Lime Martini after trying a sip of my bestie's. For dinner we shared a bowl of Crab Bisque and Coconut Crusted Shrimp for an appetizer and to eat I had the Crab and Avocado Salad with a side of Plantain Chips with Black Bean and Corn Salsa. So good!

Day 6 Total = $5.45 

Day 7:

Woke up and was not hungry until after noon so I had a couple of snacks during the football games before getting up to make some chicken soup for dinner.

Snacks: Almonds, banana smeared with peanut butter, and a cup of grapes. = $3.78

Dinner: Chicken soup with the leftover chicken thighs, diced tomatoes, celery, seasonings, and low-sodium chicken broth = $1.56 per cup

Day 7 Total = $5.34

Day 8:

Made an orange infused water = $0.42

My boss gave me the day off for picking up a shift over the weekend so eating a non-breakfast item at home is completely okay in book. In the office I try to be "normal". Haha!!

Breakfast: Leftover Italian chicken soup adding sautéed zucchini and yellow squash = $2.72

Snack: A serving of green olives = $0.69

Lunch: Smoothie with 1/2 cup almond milk, a banana, 1 cup blueberries, 1 tbsp peanut butter, 1 tbsp chia seeds, and 1 scoop vanilla protein powder with a clementine and almonds on the side = $6.11

Snack: Almonds = $1.12

Day 8 Total = $11.06

8 Day Total = $74.04 

RESULTS:

The Whole Foods Challenge was to spend $125 on groceries for the week to feed a family of four with intent of making 14 meals. 

$125 on groceries

14 meals

4 people

= $2.23/meal

I was only doing this challenge for myself since Little Man was away with his dad over the Thanksgiving break.

$74.04 on groceries (spent $135 but only used the equivalent of $74.04)

23 meals (see note below about how I could have gone a day or two longer)

1 person

= $3.21/meal 

I could have gone longer than the 8 days noted but life got in the way and I ended up letting my meal planning fall by the wayside and dug into other foods in the house outside of what I had purchased for this challenge. Had I continued tracking my meals I think I would have beat this challenge. I'll need to give this another try and see how I do.