Invigorating Scrub

Clearskin

I am a huge fan of scrubbing the skin. Whether it's your face or your body, a good buff will have your skin glowing and looking vibrant. One of my favourite scrubs is Clearskin®'s Pore Penetrating Invigorating Scrub from Avon. I have been using this product for years, and it gives me the same results now as it did, when I first started using it. It is not a harsh scrub and the granules are so fine that it will not irritate the skin but strong enough to slough away dead, tired skin. Leaving your face smooth and refreshed. For less than $7, a 75ml tube will last approximately 2-3 months (depending on how often you scrub.)

Clearskin® carries various facial products to suit different skin types and is available through your local Avon dealer.CC

A Day at the Spa

 

 

 

 

freedigitalphotos.net

I was at the spa today and a thought came to me...why don't more black women do this more often? Having spoken to many black women about this subject, many think,  it's either a luxury or a pretentious lifestyle, too expensive, they don't have the time or it's a 'white' thing. We need to stop giving into these beliefs and accept the fact that, activities like going to the spa, exercising, fitness and watching your dietary and nutritional intake is for our white counterparts. Unfortunately what this does is limit our wellbeing and overall wellness.

Getting a massage, getting a pedicure or a manicure is not just a white activity, it's a human activity. Something that every woman can benefit from to allow them to relax, unwind and get a better perspective on life.

Life is for the living, but you are not going to get any true or meaningful living done, if you always have the mentality that it is not for you and always for others.CB

Busty Barbie

An email received from a reader:

So I was at Walmart yesterday and noticed a new set of Barbies that they have. The dolls seemed very elegant and very much inspired by the whole Top Model movement AND they had three different shades of the black dolls. This was my first time seeing a dark skin doll. But  then I noticed that one of the black dolls' breast exposed from her dress. Since when did Barbies start exposing their breast like that?
It looks like I wasn't the only one who felt this way as she is now infamously known as "Busty Barbie".

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2010/05/26/2010-05-26_busty_barbie_in_mattels_new_back_to_basics_barbie_collection_is_too_revealing_fo.html

What kind of message is this sending to black girls?

Sincerely,

XXXX

The Love of Gardening

I have discovered a new love....gardening. When I was younger, my mother effectively made sure I would hate the hobby of gardening, for life. I still remember, being dragged from one nursery to another, buying what seemed like an endless array of "things" that were only going to die at the end of the season. I have now discovered those "things" go by such names as petunias, celosia, impatiens, lily and geranium.

My first attempt at gardening was going to Wal-Mart and buying their end of season perennials (they come back every year). Not knowing what I was buying, I just picked up some plants that looked nice in their picture, some soil and headed home to dig. A few weeks later, I came across some tulip bulbs at a local grocery store and thought I would give them a try. (The pictures of the flowers in this article are my tulips from my garden) These flowers and plants took off and this spring and summer, they have dazzled. I have received many compliments from my neighbours and yes...I am happy to report that my mother was not successful and that I have learned to enjoy gardening.

Here are a few tips to get your love of gardening on:

1) Don't be afraid to try something new. Even though you might not be familiar with the plant, does not mean you should not plant it.

2) Learn basic gardening terms:
annual-only comes once
perennial-grows back every year
bulb vs. seed
types of soils: black earth, potting soil, gardening soil, manures
nursery - place where flowers and plants are grown and sold

3) Ask questions...from your neighbour (if they have a green thumb), friends, employees at the nursery, heck even strangers.

4) Have a budget. It is easy to get carried away buying flowers. Have a limit and stick to it.

5) Start early. Bulbs should be planted in the fall. Determine the planting time for your plant or flower.

6) Figure out what plants and flowers need. Shade, part shade, full sun, heavy, medium or low watering.

My advice is to start with simple flowers that don't require much maintenance and take it from there. Good luck and happy gardening.CB

Just Do It!

We all know the slogan of a very famous sports company that tells us to just do it. This slogan is not only limited to sports but to other aspects of life as well. I learned how to swim in the deep end of a pool by being pushed in. (Of course my instructor was close by, in case of emergency) however, she felt that unless I went in full steam ahead, my humming and hahing would prevent me from learning this important skill.

How many times have you wanted to do something, only to find yourself being held back by one thing or another.

Whether it's fear, procrastination, laziness or self-doubt, always remember, the only way to overcome these feelings and to truly follow your hearts desire is by taking a chance. It's great to dip your toes into a pool to test the temperature of the water, but the only way your body will acclimate is by jumping in. The same can be said of life, the only way you are ever going to know if you are good at something, meant to do something or interested in something is to just do it!

As long you have an idea, you have a plan, follow your heart's desire and you will surprise yourself and those around you. M.

The ocean beyond the waves

Do you ever feel like everywhere you turn, there is some fire to put out? Like life just can't be, there always has to be some drama, some situation...something??? It's difficult at these times to see the ocean beyond the waves. Life sometimes brings on so many things,so fast, that you want to tackle all while tackling none. Take some time out, think about your strategy and like a soldier, go forth in faith, knowing that what is ahead of you can and will be battled.

Many times, I've looked at my own personal struggles ahead of me and wondered how I was going to get through it, but as I forged on, I would look back and realized, I got through it.

There will always be something popping up in life, the decision you have to make is whether you are going to look at the ocean or waves that appear to come with such ferocity, but soon are gone.MM