Nakano Rice Vinegar

    Hello everyone! I hope you had a fun and relaxing Memorial Day weekend with your family and friends. I'm sure that you'll agree with me when I say that one of my favorite things about holiday weekends is the food. Despite the lack of invitation, if there's one friend delicious food always brings to your party, it's calories! Realistically, who wants to commit to the veggie platter and salads when you're at a barbecue? Especially when salad dressings like ranch, caesar, and italian are all packed with those deceptive hidden calories. Did you know that Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch Dressing has 130 calories and a whopping 14 grams of fat! Even Light Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch Dressing has 70 calories and 5 grams of fat for every 2 tablespoons. If I'm going to consume that many calories and grams of fat, I'm skipping the salad table and making a beeline for the good stuff.
    Now what if I told you that you could have a refreshing salad with a tasty, all natural, ZERO to 25 calorie, gluten and fat free dressing? Sounds too goes to be true doesn't it? Good news, it's true and tastes absolutely delicious! Nakano Rice Vinegar is full of flavor, minus the fat and calories. Most low-fat and fat-free dressings have a strange taste or have all sorts of sugar substitutes and preservatives. Nakano, however, uses all natural ingredients in both their regular and seasoned rice vinegar collection. It's made from real rice, real sugar (very little), and is really good for you. I am in love with their Roasted Garlic flavor and I haven't used any other dressing besides Nakano since I have tried it. It's only 20 calories per serving, with only 5 grams of sugar (brown sugar), 5g of carbohydrates, and 240mg of sodium. With just a hint of garlic, this dressing is not overpowering and only a few drops are needed to get the job done. I actually use the bottle cap to measure out about a tablespoon for my salad so essentially I'm getting half a serving. The next time you find yourself at the grocery store, stop by the dressing aisle and pick up a bottle of Nakano Rice Vinegar. At the lovely price of approximately $3.00, both your wallet and your waistline will surely appreciate this wonderful product!

Clearer Skin In 4 Hours

    Acne seems to appear at the best times doesn't it? Whether it's before a big date, an important event, or even before you have to take a photo, acne is never fun and it's never attractive. Clear skin can be a reflection of good health and good hygiene, but sometimes even the cleanest, healthiest people can break out. I have never had an extreme acne problem, however, my skin has never been perfect either. Clearasil Ultra's Rapid Action Treatment Cream eliminates blemishes by reducing size and redness within four hours of application. Within 24 hours my pimples are gone, with the exception of sebaceous cysts, those can take a few day to disappear completely. I rarely get those bothersome cysts, usually only during that wonderful time of the month, but when I do this is my go-to acne treatment. Blemishes can be painful and embarrassing so having the right treatment is extremely important. This product is inexpensive and found at most stores so I always make sure to keep one tube at home and one in my purse. This treatment cream has worked wonders for me and I urge everyone with less than perfect skin to give it a try. Here's to a fabulous friday beach bunnies! Cheers XoXo!

Softer Hands One Dish At A Time

    It seems as though I've been fighting an ongoing battle with my dish washing liquid since...well, since I can remember. Luckily, I have been blessed with a dishwasher, but I still have to wash a glass or dish from time to time. When I do, I always use Dawn Hand Renewal with Olay Beauty.  Most dish washing liquid leaves my skin feeling cracked, dry, tight. I always keep a bottle of hand lotion near my kitchen sink, but since I've been using this product I haven't had to use hand lotion at all. This product calms dry, cracked, itchy skin right from the start and on top of that, has a wonderful aroma. I haven't tried the other scents, but I have consistently used the pomegranate splash - one word, AMAZING! My hands feel so soft now and show less signs of aging because they are in better condition. I get more compliments on my hands and nails than ever before and I owe it all to Dawn Hand Renewal with Olay Beauty. This is a fantastic product and I recommend it to everyone!

Fight Smell With Smell

    I can't even count how many times I have ripped and tore heavy trash bags in my attempt to throw out the garbage. After years of searching and switching between products, I have finally found the best kitchen bags, Glad ForceFlex Odor Shield Febreze bags. Caring for a family of 4, the trash tends to accumulate fairly quickly and so does the smell. I really love these bags because they have a Febreze odor shield that works like a charm. While I can control what I throw in the trash, I cannot always control what my husband and children toss in there. If you're a mom, you know what I'm talking about. It's a smell that seems to overpower your senses as soon as you walk near the garbage bin. I found myself wasting an immense amount of trash bags simply because I would throw the trash out before it was full. This product has a 3-ply drawstring grip, as well as using less plastic due to the stretchable strength technology. Unlike other drawstring bags, this bag is not only strong, but smells amazing coming in fresh clean, lemon, or vanilla scents. I've always kept my bags beneath my kitchen sink, I still do, but now my whole kitchen smells fresh and clean. I was astonished at how well this product works. I haven't had any rips or tears in the material, even with the heaviest of loads. When I open the trash bin, even with a full bag, it smells absolutely wonderful. I feel as though I'm in one of those Febreze commercials every time I throw something away. If you've experienced anything similar to what I've described, please try Glad ForceFlex Odor Shield with Febreze freshness. They will save you time and money, plus your home will be filled with a beautiful fragrance rather than a terrible stench. You can easily find this product at any grocery store or you can buy it online directly from www.glad.com. Surprise your senses and give this fabulous product a try!

Blot and Toss for Free

    You may be wondering why there is a photo of a toilet seat cover on today's blog. Well, with warmer weather fast approaching so is oily skin. The basic toilet seat cover found in a public restroom can be your best friend during these times. It works the same way that oil blotting papers do for your face, getting rid of all of that excess oil and leaving you glowing, yet shine free. It's a lot cheaper too! I've tried many different brands of blotting paper, but when I forget to buy a pack or if I forget it at home, I always know that I can use one of these. Try it next time you're in a public restroom and I promise you will be surprised with the results you get. It doesn't cost you anything to try this so remember, when oily shiny skin shows up, just blot and toss! Have a great day beach bunnies! XoXo

Rainbath Will Have You (and Your Family) Singing!

    Finding the perfect body wash for yourself can be difficult, finding one perfect for the whole family - nearly impossible. Neutrogena Rainbath bath gel is a great pick when you're trying to please everyone. I posted two photos because the first photo shows the pear and green tea scent as being clear, but it is actually a light green. The other scents are original formula and pink grapefruit. I have tried all three and love them all equally! The girls seem to like the grapefruit and pear and green tea, but my boys prefer the original scent because it's a little more neutral. The original scent doesn't clash with perfume or cologne, which is always a plus. This product makes your skin feel soft and clean, rinsing away easily without leaving any waxy feeling residue. Not only does it make you smell wonderful, it even clears up your skin. Goodbye body acne, hello smooth, touchable radiant skin! In comparison to other products, I always bought soap for my boys because they were easy to please. Much to my surprise, when I bought this bath gel they actually started requesting it. Buying one body wash for everyone saves so much money, plus this one suds up and distributes evenly so it lasts for a long time, even with a family of 4. You can find it at a grocery store or Target, but I prefer to buy the large size bottle online. It's a lot cheaper than buying it in the store unless you have access to one of those warehouses, such as Sam's Club or Costco. Try Neutrogena's Rainbath bath gel and you'll be singing in the rain in no time!

Sweeter, Smoother Skin in Seconds

    Sometimes I feel as though a good shave gel or cream is harder to find than looking for a needle in a haystack. If you've had the same experience, then this is the review for you. I've waxed, plucked, and even burned off a small layer of skin from time to time simply because I wanted to avoid the cuts, nicks, and slices that occur while shaving. Waxing is painful, not to mention expensive, plucking is not an option for legs/underarms, and I have had one too many negative experiences involving hair removal creams such as Nair and Veet. Evolution of Smooth (EOS) is an amazing product that I discovered a few years ago at Target. While I have yet to try the tan, green, purple, or white line - I did try the pink and I fell in love with it right from the start. It protected my legs, underarms, and bikini line so much that I was able to shave every other day, sometimes everyday if I had a few special occasions, without cutting my skin or leaving ugly irritated razor bumps. After I first used it, my husband asked where I was stashing the cotton candy. He was as serious as a heart attack, and almost had one upon learning that it was merely my shaving cream. Not did the product have a beautiful fragrance, but it actually worked and left my skin super smooth. Many sweet-smelling beauty products have the tendency to aggravate my sensitive skin, so this was a huge plus. If you're having a hard time finding the right shaving cream, I strongly urge you to try Evolution of Smooth.

Clear Pores? Yes Please!

    If you had a chance to read yesterday's blog then you know how big of a fan I am of Yes to Tomatoes daily facial cleanser. Good news beach bunnies, they have a scrub too! I love Yes to Tomatoes Daily Pore Scrub because it gets deep into my pores without scratching and irritating my skin. I've tried many scrubs that either don't feel as though they are working, or they feel extremely abrasive. No one wants to feel like they are scrubbing their skin with sandpaper. Rule of thumb, if it's causing you pain - think twice about using it. I'm able to use this product on a daily basis without my skin over-drying or becoming red and inflamed. I do, however, only use it at night so that I don't leave my fresh skin exposed to the sun's harmful rays right away. I'm not dermatologist, but this routine seems to work wonderfully for me. I even use my Yes to Tomatoes products with my Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleaning System (see my 1st blog dated April 23, 2012 for my review of that product). My skin feels soft, smooth, and refreshed each time that I use it and it doesn't clash when I use it in combination with other products. Within 1 week of using Yes to Tomatoes Daily Pore Scrub my skin appeared as though it had a more even tone, less blackheads and clogged pores, and less oil production. It really helps with those annoying and persistent clogged pores located on and around your nose. I find that if I use this product I don't need to use any blackhead removing strips which saves me a few bucks each month. Once again, you can find this at most CVS or Rite Aid stores, but I recommend buying at Target or online if you want to get the best deal possible. Hope you like it and happy Thursday! XoXo

Just Say Yes!

    I have always had extremely sensitive skin and I was overjoyed to find a cleanser that I can comfortably use twice a day. With most cleansers, my skin ends up feeling dry, flaky and producing excess amounts of oil to make up for what I've washed away. I was astounded to discover that I was not only able to use Yes to Tomatoes Daily Clarifying Cleanser twice a day, but it left my skin feeling soft, smooth, and moisturized. I know that most professionals recommend that you use a make-up remover made specifically for the eye area when washing away any kind of eye make-up, but I prefer to use this. It is so mild and calming, it doesn't irritate my eyes nor does it pull or tug on my eyelashes. I've never had really bad acne problems, but I do get the occasional blackheads, clogged pores, and  every once in a great while a sebaceous cyst under the skin. Yes to Tomatoes is my favorite daily cleanser and I recommend it for anyone who has sensitive skin. You can find it at your local Rite Aid or CVS, but I prefer to purchase it at Target because it's much cheaper.

Amaze Others One Lash At A Time With This Eye-Mazing Mascara

    You may have heard the English Proverb, "The eyes are the window to the soul." If you believe this quote to be true, then this mascara is a must-try for you! CoverGirl's Exact Eyelights mascara brightens your eyes and gives you a natural look based on your individual eye color. Whether you have blue, green, hazel, or brown eyes CoverGirl has a shade perfect for you. The thing I really love about this product is that the brush works wonderfully every single time. In the past I have had to wipe off the tip of my mascara brushes onto a tissue or the end of the tube, but this brush comes out without any excess mascara on it. This makes applying the mascara extremely easy and leaves your lashes clump-free. It adds volume, length, and separates your lashes so there is no need for you to use an eyelash comb. This lovely perk saves you time, money, and prevents loss of lashes in the long run. I've spent anywhere from $2 to $30 on mascara and, while I normally adhere to the "you get what you pay for" rule, I truly believe this product to be the exception. You can find this product at your local Target for approximately $7, sometimes less if it's on sale. Because CoverGirl's Exact Eyelights mascara doesn't over-apply or clump on the brush, this mascara ends up lasting well past the suggested 3-6 month lifespan of most eye make-up products. It washes off easily so you don't end up pulling out any eyelashes and it doesn't run or smear when the weather is humid. To be completely honest with you, I haven't been able to think of any cons to purchasing this product. When it comes to pros the list seems to go on and on. Best of all, it leaves your eyes looking and feeling refreshed and fabulous. The next time you find yourself in need of a new mascara give CoverGirl's Exact Eyelights a chance. It has worked wonders for me and I hope it does the same for you!

Soft, Smooth, Kissable Lips 24/7

   You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone, especially when it comes to your favorite lip balm. Sore, cracked, peeling lips are neither cute nor are they comfortable, so spend a couple extra bucks and invest in Giovanni Street Chic Premium Lip Balm. Personally, I love their Chai Mandarin flavor and refuse to go a day without it. It keeps my lips soft, smooth and kissable at all times. It doesn't feel waxy or have a nasty taste to it, on the contrary, it tastes delicious and smells wonderful. I've actually put it on when I was standing in line and someone in front of me exclaimed that they smelled oranges and suddenly had a craving for them. Not only will you literally turn heads (and noses) with this lip balm, but you will also be doing your lips a huge favor by protecting them with from harmful rays. This amazing lip balm has a sun protection factor (SPF) 35, which is more than I have seen in most competing lip balms. Giovanni Street Chic Premium Lip Balm products perform precisely as they advertise and promise to; soothing and restoring your chapped lips. The next time you find yourself at your local grocery store pick up a tube of this fabulous lip balm and treat your lips to a little something extra. Have a beautiful Mother's Day weekend beach bunnies! XoXo

ps: This is a fantastic little gift to slip into a Mother's Day card. Not only is it useful, but she'll remember and think of you every time she puts it on!

Move Over Diamonds, This Girl's Got A New Best Friend

    Women, young and old, we all know that feeling.... If you don't, you've been very lucky and I'm jealous. If you do, I feel your pain! I've tried product after product, but they all seemed to irritate me or leave me feeling less than clean. Everything from simple soaps to luxuriously scented body washes work on the rest of my body, but when it comes to my most sensitive area Summer's Eve Delicate Blossom Cleansing Wash is the only product I will use. I love it so much, in fact, that I even have the matching wipes! This product is extremely mild, easy to use, and leaves you feeling fresh and clean. I use it every single day and it lasts forever; I even use it after I shave or wax and it doesn't make my skin burn if I have an open cut or nick. This is a huge plus for bikini-wearing beach bunnies like myself because NO ONE likes having an irritated bikini line, especially when you're laying on the beach trying to get some rays. I love Summer's Eve products and recommend them to all of my female friends. They're easy to use, affordable, and literally only takes up an extra 10 seconds of your shower time. Take a step in a fresher direction and try Summer's Eve, I promise you it's worth it!

Dove Ultimate Go Fresh Revive

    I've struggled with finding the perfect deodorant for some time now, having tried almost every kind of deodorant including men's. I was never able to find one that kept me fresh, dry, and smelling feminine longer than a few hours. My sister recommended Dove Ultimate Go Fresh Revive Pomegranate & Lemon Verbena Scent and I must say it is one of the best anti-perspirant deodorants I have ever tried. It leaves me feeling fresh and dry for 24 hours. The scent is effective yet not overwhelming so it doesn't clash with other scented products I use. Most of all I love how I don't end up feeling sticky throughout the day and it doesn't clump up or rub onto my clothing. I also noticed that my skin feels softer after having used it for a few weeks now. If you ever find yourself feeling less than fresh try Dove Ultimate Go Fresh Revive!

Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Regimen

     Every girl deserves to have strong, beautiful, luxurious hair, but how many of us can afford it? Most affordable shampoos and conditioners dry out your hair, scalp, or do the complete opposite and leave hair feeling greasy and unclean. I have tried line after line of beauty products for my hair, eventually buying All Soft by Redken. While I really enjoyed All Soft, I had to drive to a special beauty store because most stores sell a small bottle for $10 and a large for $25. Being a homemaker, I can care for my home and family without feeling stressed out about work, however it also means that I'm on a tighter budget.
    When I found Garnier Fructis' Triple Nutrition line I was skeptical because it's so inexpensive. Large bottles of shampoo and conditioner, the 3-minute undo, and leave-in conditioning spray are all around $5 each. Each time I wash my hair I use all 4 products, but I have a specific regimen so as to get the most out of my products each time I use them. First thing I do when I shower is shampoo my hair with G.F.'s Triple Nutrition Fortifying Shampoo (Extra Dry), then I condition with G.F.'s Triple Nutrition Fortifying Conditioner (Extra Dry), but I DO NOT RINSE. I use a wide toothed comb to distribute the conditioner evenly throughout my scalp and hair. Next, I comb a quarter sized amount of the G.F. 3-Minute Undo Treatment through my hair, then twist my hair up and secure it on top with the wide toothed comb. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT put hair into a pony tail or bun when it's wet because it will cause breakage. After that I shave, wash my body, do my face treatments, and take 1-2 minutes to simply just relax. I rinse all of the conditioning treatments out of my hair right before I get out of the shower, so it's been in my hair for approximately 10-15 minutes. Rinse the products out completely so that they will not leave your hair feeling greasy or oily. Last step is to spritz on G.F.'s Triple Nutrition conditioning spray, once again use a wide toothed comb to distribute evenly.
    Within just a few uses you will notice how much softer and silkier your hair feels. I often enjoy curling or straightening my hair, both of which do more damage than good to your precious locks. Garnier Fructis' Triple Nutrition Regimen is great for straight, wavy, or curly hair, very affordable, and also leaves hair smelling absolutely amazing. I hope that this blog helps someone out there because every girl deserves to look and feel beautiful.

To life, love, and no more bad hair days...XoXo beach bunnies!

Cute Spring~Summer Hairstyle

This is by far one of my favorite hairstyles year-round, it's both beautiful and practical in spring and summer. It's easy to get into the habit of pulling hair back into a pony tail or wrapping it up in a bun, especially during windy or humid seasons, but this hairstyle frames your face without hanging or flying in your face. I'm addicted to lip balm, chap stick, and the occasional lip gloss or lip stick, which we all know is flying hair's worst enemy. The last thing a girl needs is sticky hair and smeared lip gloss. Not only is this style suitable for long hair, it's also great for short hair. So many people avoid short hair cuts because they think they won't have as many style options. Not true! Watch this video to learn how to transform your frizzy locks into a beautiful half up, half down spring/summer hairstyle. Pair it with some Frizz Ease or some Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Spray and you'll be good as gold!

Nail Breakage Be Gone

The only thing worse than a splitting nail is a broken nail, so why not banish both from your life for good? Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails is a wonderful product and a perfect solution to your problems. This quick-drying polish glides on with ease, giving your nails a glossy shiny finish. Not only does it make your nails look beautiful immediately, but it strengthens them so they always look beautiful naturally. Say goodbye to bending, breaking, cracking, and splitting after just a few applications of Hard As Nails.
The only other item you need for perfect nails is a good nail file. Proper and consistent nail filing can strengthen nails and protect them from splitting, breaking, and cracking. It gives your nails that "fresh-from-the-salon" look, but only if you do it correctly. Improper nail filing can actually cause weakness which will eventually lead to breakage. Follow the link below titled "Nail Care" for nail filing tips and techniques

Nail Care

One Easy Step to a Brighter, Whiter Smile

Over the years, I've bought many different brands of toothpaste for my family and I, all promising the same thing. A cleaner, whiter, brighter smile. While they may have worked over time, the results were not drastic enough for me or anyone to really notice. In addition to whitening toothpaste, I have also tried different brands of white strips. Once again, while they most certainly worked, it was a headache having to apply them and wait without accidentally sliding them out of place. I found myself surrendering to the idea that I would have to get my teeth professionally whitened if I really wanted to see a difference. Although my teeth are not yellow, I enjoy an occasional glass of red wine, coffee or tea, all of which will eventually stain your teeth.
I've seen commercials for Colgate Optic White on television and like many people I thought to myself, "I wonder if it really works?" When you care for a home and a family, everything adds up and spending extra money for something cosmetic isn't always possible. I've always bought our toothpaste from a warehouse type store like Sam's Club or Costco to save money, but this toothpaste is a must buy. You can find it at Target or your local grocery store. I have noticed a change in the color of my teeth. They looked so much brighter and cleaner after just a few days. After a week I was getting compliments on my smile and my teeth left and right. I recommend Colgate Optic White toothpaste to anyone looking for an easy, affordable way to a whiter smile.

Colgate Optic White