Pink Power

You might have noticed it - pink is everywhere! October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and pink is the designated color. A whole month dedicated to this one devastating type of cancer is not to take away from the seriousness of the many other deadly cancers, but to remind us as women a few simple steps we can take to keep ourselves and each other healthy.

Jill Savage, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Heats at Home, asks on her blog today "What have you done about breast cancer this month?"

Click the question above or here to access Jill's blog.

More Simple & Frugal Beauty Treatments

Sour Cream Exfoliating Facial Mask

Smooth 1-2 tablespoons of cool, full-fat sour cream in a thin layer over clean face and neck (avoiding eyes and lips). Wait 7-10 minutes, then remove with wet washcloth. Splash face with warm water and dry

.

Lactic acid in sour cream helps speed cell turnover and brighten dull complexions. The fat in the cream is a great restorative moisturizer.

.

.

Chamomile Tea Compress

Steep chamomile tea until golden yellow. Soak a clean washcloth in the tea and then apply to the skin as a compress. Rest compress on skin 10 minutes before rinsing and drying.

.

Chamomile is a natural anti-inflammatory agent, which can reduce redness and puffiness around the eyes. It can also sooth irritated skin.

.

Almond Oil Hand Moisturizer

Rub 1 teaspoon of almond oil into hands and cuticles. Wrap each hand with a small towel and let oil soak into skin for at least 5 minutes. Wipe excess off hands, but don't rinse. Remaining oil will be absorbed within 5 minutes. Follow with a rich hand cream.

.

The vitamin E present in almond oil moisturizes dry skin and protects nails and cuticles from damage.

.

Pineapple Foot Rub

Puree 1 cup fresh pineapple in food processor until smooth. With feet in wash basin, massage puree into foot. After 7-10 minutes rinse feet with warm water and dry.

.

An enzyme in pineapple helps break down dead skin cells and soften skin.

.

Kiwi Facial Scrub

Mash a ripe peeled and sliced kiwi fruit with a fork, forming a paste. Apply paste to clean, damp skin (avoid eye and lip areas). Scrub 30-60 seconds. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

.

The vitamin C in kiwi helps even out skin texture and fight skin damage. The seeds within the kiwi help exfoliate skin.

.

Olive Oil Hair Conditioner

Before showering, comb several tablespoons of light olive oil through hair, working from root to ends. Cover hair with shower cap. After 5-7 minutes of showering remove cap and shampoo. Rinse as usual. Follow up with regular conditioner.

.

Vitamin E and fatty acids present in oil act as a great moisturizer for brittle hair or hair that is overstyled.

.

Organic Green Goddess Facial Mask

1 cup yogurt

1 Tbsp. mayonnaise

1 Tbsp. honey

1/2 ripe avocado

1 tsp. lemon juice

pinch of ground coriander

.

Blend first 4 ingredients in food processor. Mix in (by hand) lemon juice and coriander until well combined. Apply to face and neck. Leave 15 minutes, then wash off with warm water. Follow up with moisturizer.

Encouragement for Moms

Are you feeling ...

• lonely
• exhausted
• overwhelmed
• unappreciated
• like a failure
• unloved
• mournful
• less than confident

Read this article at the Hearts At Home blog, written by a MOPS mom herself - Encouragement For You, Mom

Homemade Facial Treatments

exfoliant :: Mix 1 teaspoon granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon plain yogurt until combined. Gently rub in circles on clean, damp skin for about one minute. Rinse with warm water. For best results do once a week, in the evening. Follow with moisturizer. How it works - sugar polishes the skin and yogurt soothes.

foot soak :: Mix 1/2 cup Epsom salts, 1/2 cup sea salt, and 1 gallon of warm water. Add 3-5 drops each of peppermint and lavender oils if desired. Soak feet 10-15 minutes, then use a scrub or pumice stone to scrub away dead skin. How it works - Epsom salts are soothing, sea salt is rich in minerals and water softens the skin.

body buffer :: Make paste of 1/2 cup ground coffee (caffeinated) and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or any other natural oil ... nut oils are especially rich). Use as a body scrub. Post shower, refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to one week. How it works - oils hydrate and soothe skin, caffeine helps tone skin and has even been known to reduce the look of cellulite!

eye "de-puffer" :: Dampen 2 chamomile or green-tea tea bags. Chill. Leave them on eyes for up to 15 minutes. How it works - the tea in the tea bags soothes skin, the scent calms, the coolness helps reduce puffiness around the eyes.

found in the September 2007 issue of Parenting magazine, page 63

Homemade Spa Treatments for Hair

If your hair is ...

dry, brittle, or damaged

• Banana Mask :: Mash 1 banana with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Mix in blender or food processor to make paste. Apply to dry hair, cover with a shower cap, and wait 15-30 minutes. Rinse, then shampoo and condition as usual.
• Milk & Honey Mask :: Warm 2 cups whole milk (for very fine hair use skim or low-fat milk) and add 1 teaspoon honey. Mix well until honey is dissolved. Pour over dry hair and wait 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Shampoo and condition as usual.
• Dry, flaky scalp remedy :: Massage scalp with 1/4 cup olive oil. Comb lightly and shampoo. How this works - the oil softens scales and locks in moisture to prevent future flakes.
• Protein-Vitamin Mask :: Mash a peeled avacado. Beat in 1 egg. Apply to dry hair. Leave on 10-15 minutes. Shampoo out.

dull and heavy

• Sea Salt Rinse (gets rid of excess oil and product build-up) :: Dissolve 2 tablespoons fine sea salt or Epsom salt in a cup of warm water. Pour over hair. Leave on for 5 minutes. Rinse out. Follow with a mild shampoo and moisturizing conditioner. Use this treatment no more than once or twice a month. Overuse will irritate the scalp or dry out the hair.
• Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse (strips hair of build-up that take away shine, restores natural shine to hair) :: Use 2 tablespoons warmed vinegar as a rinse after shampooing and conditioning. You can also use a diluted white vinegar solution - 1/4 cup vinegar to 1 cup water.

color-treated

• For dark hair brew 2 cups strong coffee or tea (6-8 tea bags). Shampoo and condition, then pour cooled liquid over hair and leave in until the next shampoo.
• For red hair cut 2 large carrots into 5 or 6 pieces. Boil in 2 cups water. Reduce heat and summer for 15 minutes or until the water has turned orange. Cool. Remove carrots and pour water over dry hair. Put on shower cap and wait 20 minutes. Rinse. Then use a mild shampoo and conditioner as usual.
• For blond hair add 1 cup lemon juice to 3 cups cooled chamomile tea. Pour over dry hair, then sit in the sun for an hour OR wear a shower cap and apply heat with a blow-dryer until the hair begins to dry. Rinse out. Wash with mild shampoo and make sure to use a moisturizing conditioner to prevent dryness.

Sleep Incentives For Moms

Catching at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night can help you

• be slimmer :: lack of sleep is linked to obesity. Sleep is just as important for your weight as exercise!
• be cold-free :: fewer than 7 hours of sleep a night makes you 3 times more likely to catch a cold than those who get at least 8 hours of sleep per night
• be smarter :: proteins build up in the brain when it hasn't had time to rest, making it harder to process information and learn
• have a healthier heart :: not getting enough sleep puts you at risk for high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems

found in the September 2009 issue of Parenting magazine - read more on sleep strategies at http://parenting.com/sleep