Inexpensive Exfoliator in your Pantry....

If your anything like me, you want great skin.  You know, blemish-free, smooth, radiant..... And if your anything like me, you don't want to spend a lot of money on products that promise you the world.  Well, this may work for you.....it's 2 products that you most likely already have!!

Coarser salt, Morton Sea Salt

The Finer Salt, by Diamond Crystal

    The first ingredient is salt.  If you don't have this in your pantry, well, get some.  The second product is a foaming cleanser.  The cleanser works as well, a cleanser.  The salt works to exfoliate your skin and open up your pores.  When using these products together, you would lather up the cleanser on your skin - do NOT add water!  Just have it go on your skin like a paste.  When the cleanser is spread around your whole face, take some salt and sprinkle it on your fingers, palm side up.  Then, gently bring the salt to your skin and start rubbing in a circular motion.  I do this for about 1 minute and then rinse with warm water.  After rinsing, I rinse again with cold water to close my pores.

Olay Foaming Face Wash

This has been a good combination for my skin.  I've been using it for about 3 weeks now, 2 times a week.  I use a coarser salt, as seen below.  You can use a fine salt if you want to start off slow.  Let me just say that my skin is oily.  So if you have sensitive skin, you may want to start off with a little bit of salt.  Happy scrubbing!!

Minute to Win It.......Kids

With Winter here, some people are home bound with their kids.  Now, I have four, so I have to be creative in how we spend our indoor time because of weather.  Yes, I live in the South, but, there have been times where it's just too cold or wet to be outside.  The following pictures are an example of what my kids did on one cold winter day off of school.  Don't remember if it snowed, but either way, it's a great way to keep kids entertained.  And, if your kids are anything like mine, competition RULES.....!

Angelina trying to get 3 keys onto the hook

Elijah getting the ball in the middle of the board

Trying to get that last ball in the far left glass

Angel trying her luck, see the white mark in the middle?  That's the target!

This was one of the good ones!!  But, I must warn.....if you are a gagger, this is NOT for you!!

Balancing act to get 3 dice on the ruler.  Elijah holding his head for control!

Picture Post of Kings Mountain...

My 2 youngest.  Take note of the blue t-shirt.....

Fun outing at Kings Mountain, NC during Winter break.  Kids and adults alike were free climbers.  Although a hike, we took the kid-friendly route....obviously.

I prefer to walk the grounds...

The kids loved this trip.  It was the first time we went hiking.  We are not the outdoorsy type to go camping or hiking.  But, I can say that we will definitely be hiking again!

Waiting for the slow pokes....  Us girls saw what we needed to see on the way up and had a one-track mind coming down.

 My oldest, Elijah complained the whole way to the mountain.  He said as we were heading down that he actually had fun and wanted to do it again.  I wish he would just believe me when I say "it's gonna be fun!"

Our 6 month old......

Giovanna

My youngest child is 4, but my youngest is 6 months old.  He was a gift to my precious 5 year old daughter, Gia.  She is an animal lover at heart.  Ever since she could talk, she has wanted to take stray animals home.  We’d be waiting for geese to cross the road, and she used to scream from the back seat, “Can we take them home?”  She would do this at the zoo too.  You can just imagine how many time we’d have to answer her. 

Not only a lap dog!

My daughter named the yorkie him “Baby Boi”.  Too confusing, if you ask me.  Anyway, Gia, my little animal lover, named her little Yorkie after Sharpay’s Yorkie, Boi.  So, I get asked, “what’s his name?”  I used to say Boi.  People used to say, he’s a boy?  So, I quickly told my daughter that I will be calling him “Baby Boi”.  Not my first choice, but it’s her puppy (which I take care of, clean after, etc.).  When we brought him home, he weighed 2 pounds.  I went to pick him up and didn’t realize how tiny he would be.  Our older dog, Lulu, is 50 pounds, it took a little adjusting.  When I got in the car, I had to empty out my purse and put him in there.  OMGosh, was he cute.  Sooooo tiny.

Feeding time

But, that is what makes dogs this size so cute!  He’s brought a lot of joy into our family.  He has even allowed our 7 year old daughter, Angelina, more accustomed to animals.  She never really cared much Lulu, but man, she loves both of those dogs so much now!  Dogs are awesome and I believe bring out the best in people.   They show unconditional love and are always there.

My youngest with my youngest!

2 Themes, 1 Cake

I couldn’t plan it if I tried.  But, same day, 3 years apart, I have a girl and boy that share a birthday.  Each year, I go through the same dilemma in choosing what cake (sometimes, cakes) to choose for them.  Well, this year was a little easier.  My son, 4, loves Toy Story 3.  My daughter, 7, loves Barbie.  So, what better than to have a Toy Story theme??  I decided to plop Barbie on top of a square pan cake, and surround her with Buzz, Woody, Aliens, Lotsa and Evil Dr. Porkchop.  It actually turned out not that bad.  And it’s my favorite themed cake so far!

This year will be a challenge, because I have no idea how I will incorporate both of their “likes” into one cake.  I may have to go back to two cakes for them, but it’s such a waste!!  So, we’ll see.  Thinking cap on!!  I have 9 months to ponder…..

Can I get a Tylenol?

So, now that I am done having kids, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what I want to do with my life when my baby enters kindergarten. I’ve thought of everything from computers (can’t imagine sitting in front one for hours at a time –ironic?) to an office job ( I need flexibility to be involved with my kids classes and teacher and activities) to not doing anything (again, can’t sit in front of the computer for hours at a time!). In the midst of all my thinking, I can honestly say I found what I want to be. It’s not something that I thought I could ever actually do, although when I was younger, I did think of doing it. But see, back then I didn’t have kids, and I couldn’t stomach what I would have to see and do. Well, having kids has changed many things in my life. Stomaching blood, stitches, blood, cuts, blood has been an ongoing endeavor. So, I have decided I want to find out more about being a nurse.

Funny how kids can change you. I play the role of nurse already at home. So, why not get paid for doing it elsewhere? Like I said, I need something to do, something that is flexible and something that will be worth working out of the house for. Now, don’t get me wrong. Money is not my only motivator. I love helping people. Really, I do. I think that this profession will not only benefit any hospital I work for, but I also have other plans that involve helping those who can’t help themselves. I hope to one day be able to accomplish this and be a better person because of it. More to come in the not so distant future….