My Beauty And Fashion

Fell Off The Sugar Wagon

2012-01-25T19:52:00.004-06:00

Hello Divas!

So I recently talked about how I wanted to go on a sugar detox to help with my weight issues. I started off really well and was reducing the amount of sugar that I ate....then I spent the weekend with my best friend and that all went out the window!

I am reading a book called The Perfect 10 and it mentions eating whole foods in order to balance out your hormones so that you can lose weight effectively.

The book mentions that excess sugar in our diet is one of the biggest reasons that our weight loss efforts fail. There is a lot of detail about how sugar affects your diet and how much sugar there is in foods, even in ketchup!!!

I have to start my detox all over again because once you fall of the sugar wagon you begin to crave sugar all the time. It is going to take a few days to get my tolerance back down to where I can reduce my sugar intake but I am willing to work on it not only for my weight but also because sugar affects things like:

-diabetes risk
-skin aging

and a host of other issues that affect us all daily. Wish me luck and I hope that no one offers me cheesecake in the next few days.

Real Housewives Of Atlanta: Loving Kim and Kandi In 2012

2012-01-09T18:53:00.003-06:00

Hello Divas!!!!

I know it is a few episodes into the season but I must say I am really LOVING two of the ladies on the Real Housewives of Atlanta.

I love Kim this season because she seems so mellow. I did not like Kim at all in the beginning because of all her drama especially the
-big Poppa story
-Nene drama
-treating her assistant like a slave

I still don't like the way she treats her assistant but I think she has changed a little bit because we do not see so much of the bad behavior. Or maybe it is just editing!!!

Now that Kim is pregnant she seems to be so mellow and cool. I am not sure if it just Kroy or the baby but whatever it is I hope the effects last a long time. She still says sarcastic things at times but she is not annoying.

I am loving Kandi as well because I have always loved Kandi's free spirit. She speaks her mind and I don't see her as being as catty as some people.

Kandi is adorable and one of the more stable personalities on the show....mad love!!!!!

Starting A Sugar Detox In 2012

2011-12-30T07:18:00.000-06:00

Hello Divas!

After trying numerous diets and failing miserably at them I decided to do a little more research into why I was not losing weight like I wanted to.

I found something in a magazine that suggested I might be addicted to sugar and that might be one of the underlying reasons (apart from not exercising enough) that I was not achieving my goals.

I used to think that I was prediabetic because I would wake up RAVENOUS. I swear I would be so hungry and irritable in the morning you would think that I had not eaten in days. Even if I ate late at night I would still wake up hungry and angry and so I would get myself tested.

I turned out not to be prediabetic...although I still have to keep a watch on it because my father and grandmother are both diabetic.

I realize that even when I do eat healthy I also indulge in high sugar foods. I would cut calories and increase the amount of fruits and vegetables..but would indulge in sweets.

Even when I went down to 1500 calories a day, part of that included a slice of cheesecake.

I was essentially sabotaging myself with the sugar because people who are addicted to sugar instantly store it as fat instead of burning it up.

I am going to go on a gradual sugar detox in 2012 and start by NOT purchasing some of the following things:

-sugar cookies (I like them frozen and will sometimes eat two after lunch)
-ice cream (sorry Ben and Jerry)
-cheesecake

These silly foods will be replaced by raspberries (which I love) and greek yogurt with sliced almonds.

I am also using only honey to sweeten my tea and I will stop drinking juice for the month of January, relying only on tea and water to hydrate.

At the end of the month I should be more sensitive to sugar and should therefore crave it less...leading to less weight gain.

I am also going to start hula hooping and doing my yoga daily. I mentioned doing those two things before but I never kept up with it. I can hula hoop while watching television, instead of lying down and not doing anything at all.

Elongate Your Face With Danglers

2011-12-27T19:30:00.002-06:00

We are in the middle of the holiday season and that means TONS of parties. Every diva will be out in full force and we need to take a quick look at accessories.

Earrings play a big part in your wardrobe and since this is the time when most of us are putting on a few pounds we can use a simple trick to help hide that weight gain.

Simply wear dangling earrings like chandeliers in order to instantly slim your face. The lower they hang and the thinner they are, the better for your face!!! So slip on those danglers and elongate your face, making you look even more fabulous this season.

Starting a FIVE day Detox

2011-11-16T17:54:00.002-06:00

Hello Divas!

I found this five day detox plan in an issue of a magazine I have been reading. I have been really bad about eating recently and added to NOT exercising I have put on even more weight.

I am currently at 165.3 lbs!!!!

This is nuts. My clothes can still go on me but my tummy is just so horrible that I am grossed out.

This five day detox is supposed to jump start your metabolism without leaving you hungry. It consists of 5 foods that you eat every day.

These five foods contain antioxidants and nutrients that should help speed up weight loss and they are:

eggs
spinach
yogurt
raspberries
almonds

There are recipes for combining those ingredients into different meals during the day so I hope it works for me and I am not bored with only five different foods.

You are not supposed to do this detox for more than five days as it is merely a jump start to better eating. I will see where I am after the five days.

Wish me luck!

Product Review: Reb'l Fleur by Rihanna

2011-10-20T04:02:00.002-05:00

Hello Divas!!

I love perfume and I think that one of the marks of a true diva is that she ALWAYS smells great. This can be achieved through a variety of things like:
-lotions
-perfumes
-body sprays

but the important thing is to always smell nice.

I love getting perfume samples in the mail and I just one for Reb'l Fleur by Rihanna.

I opened the paper pouch and sniffed...and I must say that I am not impressed. The bottle leaves something to be desired in my opinion and I an confused by the swirling black and gold and brown tones.

I smelled the perfume and while it is okay it is not to my taste so it is not something that I would run out to buy.

It is a bit on the heavier side with regards to scent so I guess it for the evening or night use. It does smell sexy and sensual so those of you who like that thing should go ahead and give it a try.

It has faint (to me) tones of musk and something sweet like vanilla but it is definitely a scent for the BOLD divas out there.

Get Your Shiny DIVA Hair On!!

2011-10-16T14:13:00.000-05:00

Hello Divas!

We all want beautiful, shiny hair because that is one of the marks of healthy hair. Now you can always mist on some shine enhancer but we all know that is just a temporary fix.

Trim
You want to have shiny hair that is shiny because it is healthy and does not contain a lot of products. One of the best ways to start this is to get a trim. Trimming your hair gets rid of the nasty, frizzy split ends and provides a clean, flat end for your hair.

I know a LOT of hairdressers (especially the black ones) tend to cut a huge chunk of hair when you ask for a trim, which is why many women shy away from getting a proper haircut. Be FIRM with the hair dresser and if you want no more than ONE INCH taken off then SPEAK up and let her know.

Personally I tell them I need to face the mirror so I can see what they are doing. Do NOT turn me away from the mirror and then surprise me with an inch and a half of hair on the floor.

Turn Down the Heat
Many of us are slaves to the flat iron or the curling iron and attack our hair with those tools on a daily basis.

That is BAD!!!

Too much heat burns up the hair and roughs up the cuticle, resulting in loss of shine. Turn it down and give your hair a break every now and then. Experts say to try to limit heat on your hair to no more than twice a week to get your locks all shiny.

Deep Condition
Yup. You need to do a deep conditioning or use a mask to get oils to your hair to keep it soft and shiny. One of the best deep conditioning tools I have found is to just use the olive oil that you have in your kitchen.

Apply some oil to your hair, cover with a plastic cap and turn on the blow drier for 10 minutes OR run around the house and do some cleaning for 30-45 minutes. Then wash and condition for shiny hair.

What are some of your favorite tips for getting AND keeping your hair shiny?

Still Fighting With My Weight

2011-10-13T11:31:00.002-05:00

Hello Divas!

I must say that I have not been consistent with any plan that I have started and as a result I keep putting on the weight that I lose.

I will be down a few days then start to go back up because I just do not stick with any one thing. I tried the reduced calorie thing and did it for about a week then I quit because I was hungry ALL THE TIME.

I tried to start P90X but since I never exercise it hurt too much on the third day so I quit that too.

I walked a mile around the lake and quit after a week.

I tried some diet pills....quit those too because they made me feel sick, or weak or did not take away my appetite like they promised. I also had some pills make me feel really crazy like I was nervous all the time.

So I am back up to my horrible 160 lbs and I do not feel good at all.

My thighs are flabby, my stomach jiggles and I feel like $%^&.

I really need some motivation to keep doing one thing because I went down to 155 on a few of my trials but then it always came back up.

And no I do not believe that 160 is my ideal weight that my body wants to be at. My body feels ugly and looks bad at this weight. My ideal weight is 140-145!!!!

I really need to find a way to stick to my weight loss program..any tips?

Jersey Shore....Oh Please No More

2011-09-24T16:16:00.003-05:00

Hello Divas!

Now I enjoy the latest trashy reality tv just as much as the next diva..BUT this last episode of Jersey Shore "Where's My Boyfriend?" had me really disgusted.

The part I hated was where Snooki actually took hold of her dress and lifted it UP AROUND HER WAIST and began dancing.

Her boyfriend told her to stop and her response was to lie down on the seat and show her butt!!!!

I have laughed at times when she accidentally showed some boobs or butt but quickly covered it up...but in this case she did it on purpose. And then then when he told her to stop she just kept doing it and had the nerve to get mad at HIM.

People have been commenting on the episode and saying he knew what he was getting into when he started dating her...but this is too much to ask of someone. Yes he knows that she does crazy stuff when she is drunk but I am sure he went into the relationship thinking she would at least listen to him when he told her not to do things like that and make herself look like a fool.

He should not have to put up with her exposing herself in just a THONG for EVERYONE to see and I am glad that he walked out.

One thing to note is that he did not just walk out as soon as she did it...he TRIED to talk to her but she told him to leave.

Then she says she does not deserve the way he is treating her.

Oh? And does he deserve to have everyone staring because his girlfriend who claims to love him so much cannot keep her dress down?

Really class less behavior Nicole!!!! Ewwww.

Where Are All The NATURAL Products?

2011-09-12T13:28:00.003-05:00

Hello Divas!

I have been hunting high and low to find 'natural' products but I just cannot find anything with a short list of ingredients.

I decided to look at Burt's Bees items because they claim to be natural but when I looked at the list of ingredients I was very disappointed. I know that when a product uses a scientific name they put the common name in parentheses so you can tell what it is, e.g.

-avena sativa (oat)....found in Aveeno active naturals lotion
-thoebrama cacao (cocoa) extract......found in Palmer's cocoa butter formula.

But we all know that things like

-benzyl alcohol
-sodium chloride
-dimethicone

are NOT natural.

I was told that the closer a product is to being natural...the fewer ingredients it will have. Out of those, there will be more with parentheses and less with long sounding names. I was sad to see that Burt's Bees had TONS of long chemical sounding names and a tiny percentage of products that were plant based and therefore NATURAL.

A friend of mine also told me about Carol's Daughter hair products so I decided to check them out.

Same thing...I was stunned to see the list of chemicals in this 'good for you, natural' line of hair care.

The ONE thing I have found with the fewest ingredients happens to be Palmer's cocoa butter...which is a formula that I use regularly and love anyway.

So again I ask...WHERE are all the NATURAL products?

Product Review: Organix Moroccan Argan Oil

2011-08-29T11:39:00.003-05:00

Hello Divas!

It is time once again to review a product that I have used and share with you my personal experience.

I bought this Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner because I had heard some great things about their products. A friend of mine absolutely RAVED about how soft it made her hair feel so I thought why not give it a try.

I started off with the shampoo which has a GREAT fragrance and began to wash my hair. The shampoo is a bit thin when you actually use it although it comes out of the bottle rather thick. I had to use double the amount to wash my hair and it lathered up a bit even though it is sulfate free.

There really isn't much to say about shampoo as it got my hair feeling clean with just one wash so I moved on to the conditioner.

The conditioner smelled nice although the shampoo had a much better scent in my opinion. The conditioner was relatively thick but again I did have to use a lot more than with other products to get the same feeling on my head.

I massaged the conditioner through and then got a wide tooth comb to slowly detangle from the ends to the roots. I thought that because this conditioner was not as thick and creamy as others that I have used that it took me a while longer to get the tangles out.

My other issue with the conditioner is that it seems to cling to the inside of the bottle so that you have to shake the bottle a bit AND squeeze to get the product out.

My hair did not feel 'great' as the product claims it should and I think I have had better results with Neutrogena products in the past.

All in all, I say it is a fair product to use but if you have very dry hair like I do then you might want something with a creamier conditioner.

Instyler Review

2011-07-21T11:46:00.005-05:00

Hello Divas!!!!

I have very thick hair and have used a flat iron to straighten out my hair. I kept hearing about the magical powers of the Instyler so I decided to get one finally.

I paid $94.97 for the Instyler and I will be getting my money back PRONTO!!!!

The Instyler may work for some people but it did NOT work for me at all. I have had MUCH better results with the Remington flat iron $40 that I got from WalMart and I am going back to using that.

The Instyler has these little brushes that are supposed to smooth out the hair but all they did was tangle the hair even when I had smoothed it out with a fine tooth comb. I guess it is safe to say that this tool works for Caucasian or Mixed hair but not for truly Black hair like mine.

Even on the lowest setting it sent steam into the air and I could smell my hair burning....which was strange since I have used flat irons and even a CHI on higher heat than that.

It also did not do a good job of straightening out my hair and the hair was not all light and fluffy like on the commercials. Instead it was stiff and straight and limp and looked like I had sprayed hairspray on before using it...which I did not.

It was also difficult to get close to the very roots of the hair, which is where I needed the most straightening power. The appliance also needs to lie on its side when not in use because the bottom part is wobbly and you cannot place it upside down.

The rotating portion of the tool was also quite loud and it was slightly annoying to me. It is bad enough to have the loudness of a blow dryer and then to have this follow was just too much for me to handle.

It took a long time to cool off once unplugged...not a deal breaker but I just was not impressed with the whole affair and I will be returning it for a full refund and going back to using my Remington flat irons once again.

What has YOUR experience been the Instyler? Do you LOVE it? Do you HATE it?

Dermatologist's Advice For Dark Underarms

2011-07-05T16:25:00.003-05:00

Hello Divas

So I went to see a pr0fessional about my dark armpits and she told me that before they could do anything about the color they had to deal with the excessive sweating, also called hyperhydrosis.

She gave me a regimen that I am supposed to follow for the next month and then come back to see her and I really hope that this helps.

The first thing I am supposed to do is to use Certain Dri antiperspirant at night to shrink my pores and stop the sweating.

The next thing I am supposed to do is to apply Zeasorb powder over my regular antiperspirant during the day.

So far I have not noticed any change but after reading the reviews I saw that some people said it took about three weeks of continuous use for the sweating to be reduced. Some others said they never saw a change in the sweating. Still others said that the Certain Dri gave them a rash or something.

I have noticed that it does feel strong so I am going to use it every other night because it does tend to irritate my armpits.

The Zeasorb powder is also not being used every day because it causes me to itch....I read that it was made for athletes foot!!!! What, does the doctor think I have athletes foot under my arms?

Single Ladies: Confidence Games

2011-06-23T20:36:00.003-05:00

Hello Divas!!!!

So I have been watching this show recently called Single Ladies. It is really interesting, although I do think that at times it can come across as a little bit fake.

This episode Daryl served his wife with divorce papers ON HER BIRTHDAY and that small act got me to hate him. I know he is upset because she cheated on him but she was really sorry and she was taking steps to reconcile their marriage.

If he wanted to serve her I think he could at least have waited until some time after...but he put the papers in a gift box and dressed in his good suit and then when she opened the box there were the divorce papers. That was a very low blow.

Some of the acting leaves a lot to be desired but it is a refreshing show...AND there is a super fabulous gay guy named Omar on the show!!!!!

Going To A Dermatologist

2011-06-13T11:16:00.003-05:00

Hello Divas!

So I have finally gotten really tired of my dark armpits and I scheduled an appointment with a dermatologist in town.

I have been thinking about it for a long time but I know that those things are very expensive and I wanted to be able to save some money because I know it will be a lot even with my insurance.

The tipping point is that now I have a wedding to attend next month and I want to not be ashamed to wear something nice. I have no idea if the dermatologist will be able to help and everything I read on their website talks about using peels to get to the lighter, nicer skin.

I hope that something can be done to help me get rid of my nasty armpits so I will be going to the doctor and getting a consultation to see what can be done.

I hope that it is not expensive and can be done quickly so I can have a nice summer.

Tweaking My Eating Plan

2011-06-01T08:45:00.003-05:00

Hello Divas!

It has been a while since I posted about my weight management....or really about anything at all but I am now back on track...I think.

I realize that counting calories is not working for me because I have not been able to stick to the calorie count that was suggested for me.

I also just read that generally limiting calories does not work for many people because in the back of your mind you stress about the calories you consume. This leads to increased stress and high stress leads to retention of belly fat.

So by counting my calories I was actually programming my body to store those calories as fat!!!!!

I am going to go on a modified version of the Weight Watchers plan which does not involve me counting ANYTHING.

The latest research from Weight Watchers shows natural fruits and vegetables as FREE foods. This means you can eat as much of them as you want without them counting towards your points. The other foods are the ones that you need to worry about...but I will just focus on eating CLEANER and healthier foods.

So I will be having unlimited
-strawberries
-blueberries
-cucumbers
-cherries
-apples
and other such foods!

I plan on eating a few fruits or veggies before my meal and then if I still feel hungry I will have some more.

Rimmel Moisture Renew Cream Lipgloss: My New Love

2011-04-26T04:20:00.001-05:00

Hello Divas!

I normally don't like to try out new lip glosses because of the disappointment that I have had with many of them.

I recently decided to try out Rimmel Moisture Renew lipgloss because I wanted a little bit of a change and it is getting harder to find my L'Oreal lipgloss in the raspberry shade that I love so much.

I tend to shy away from 'cream' glosses because they conjure images of old ladies wearing frosty shades but then I saw the lip gloss in SOS Red and scooped it up.

When I got home I immediately tried this on over my regular lip balm and was amazed by how smoothly it went on. I then tried it without lip balm because I figured it should be smooth if it is a cream formula....I was NOT disappointed.

The gloss went on as smoothly and thinly as if I had lip balm on which makes it perfect for days when I don't have anything to layer under it.

It did not have a strong scent like so many cream formulas tend to have and even though it comes with SPF 15 I could not smell the sunscreen at all.

I have read some reviews that said it tastes great but to me there is no taste at all. I would have liked if it had some kind of fruity flavor because now it is just boring.

The color goes on sheer but pretty so that it does not look like you are wearing make up...just that you have fabulously juicy lips.

I will definitely be trying out other colors in this line in the future!!!!

The one thing I will say that I do not like about it is that the color dries out very quickly and the color fades in about one hour so you need to keep reapplying to keep it looking vibrant.

Took Some Time Off To Refocus

2011-04-23T18:40:00.000-05:00

I have been going through some issues in my life lately that have been causing me to really neglect the blog.

I just realized that it has been a LONG time since my last post...but I needed to take some time off to refocus. I will be getting back to a regular posting schedule soon...just bear with me.

I am Back Divas!!!

2011-03-15T16:11:00.001-05:00

Hello Divas!!!!

I guess you ladies thought I dropped off the face of the earth or something. Well I was going through a bit of a rough patch for a while and really lost the zeal to blog.

I am better now and will get back to the regularly scheduled programming!!!

Looking For A New Diet Pill

2011-02-09T16:41:00.002-06:00

Hello Divas!!!

I have been having some issues with losing the weight and putting it back on again. I tried some diet pills but they gave me terrible stomach aches or else left me running for the bathroom at different times.

This was very uncomfortable for me and not very practical...so I am looking for a new diet pill that will not have me sitting on the toilet all the time.

I guess I need something that will suppress my appetite or rev up my metabolism or both. Any suggestions?

Still Battling My Armpits

2011-01-16T19:17:00.002-06:00

Hello Divas!

I have recently been getting a LOT of comments and emails about any updates on my armpits. I know I have not posted pictures in a long time but that is because there really has not been any change in my armpits yet.

A few months ago I went through the whole rash thing when I tried a new antiperspirant and my pits were bleeding and peeling for about a week. It was horrible.

The color seems to be the same now but I have been using Dove antiperspirant...not the clinical strength so I will get some new pics up soon.

Today Was A Trying Day

2011-01-06T18:32:00.000-06:00

So one of the things I would like to work on my attitude. I tend to take things personally and I really let things bother me that maybe I should let go. We went back to work today and a big change was thrown at me that I did not like. It really threw a wrench in my plans because I have my workload organized a certain way and the change was a major disruption to my normal day.

I did not make a big fuss because I know that I had to do what my boss says, but I did internalize the situation and this made me have negative feelings for the entire day. I know that this was a bad way to feel and to go about my day because frowning causes wrinkles!!!

No, but on a serious note, just being angry or upset causes negative interactions in our bodies and raises the stress that is done to our cells. I really should not have kept those negative feelings for the better part of the day and I will try to go in tomorrow with a different attitude.

Beauty Goals For 2011

2010-12-30T14:06:00.003-06:00

Hello Divas!

Everyone everywhere is thinking about the goals they would like to achieve for the new year of 2011 and I am no different. For the new year I would like to focus on a few things for myself in terms of improving my health and looks and keeping my Diva status.

Here are some of the diva beauty goals for 2011:
Hydrate
Rest
Exercise

Hydrate.
I cannot tell you how important it is to moisturize even during the winter. Most people think that you only become dehydrated during the summer when it is hot and you are sweating up a storm. While this is partly true you should know that you can become dehydrated during the winter as well due to a number of factors.

Firstly is that people tend to drink less water during the winter because they do not feel thirsty. It is important to note that you can be dehydrated without the feeling of thirst so it is important to ALWAYS drink water to stay hydrated.

The other thing that contributes to winter dehydration is the dry heat from the constantly blowing heaters that we run. This dry air is VERY tough on your skin so you need to apply moisturizers to keep skin moist from the outside as well.

Rest
It is very important to get between 6 to 8 hours of good quality sleep to keep skin looking moist and youthful. Your actual needs will vary according to your habits and how deeply you sleep but study after study show that the optimal number of hours lie between 6 and 8 for most people.

It is during our sleep time that our bodies heal and provide the cell turnover that is critical for refreshed looking skin and bright eyes.

Exercise
Exercise not only helps you to maintain a healthy weight but it also increases blood flow throughout the body and this helps to move toxins out faster. Improved circulation also benefits your skin by bringing nutrients to the skin and carrying moisture to the cells, resulting in better looking skin all around.

These may look like three very broad goals but if you take steps within each section to maintain your health and beauty then you will be doing a lot for yourself and living a longer and better life.

Started Tracking What I Eat Again

2010-12-20T09:26:00.003-06:00

Hello Divas!

So after gaining back all the weight I lost PLUS some and weighing in at 152 last Friday I decided that this week I will go back to my daily hula hooping while watching television so that I can go back down.

I will also be eating a salad every day for the next two weeks in order to help fill me up and reduce the number of total calories that I eat for the day. I will vary my salads between lunch and dinner on different days so that I do not get bored and will continue to track the total calories for the day using FatSecret.com.

According to the calculator I need to eat 15oo calories maximum for the day so that I can lose weight with my current level of activity.

What Do You Like Most About Cold Weather? What Do You Like The Least?

2010-11-27T16:18:00.002-06:00

Hello Divas!

I found this topic over at National Blog Posting Month's site so I thought I would write about that today.

The thing I like the most about cold weather is being able to burrow under the comforter at night and snuggle up to watch television. I can enjoy some hot cocoa with marshmallows and eat comforting foods while I cozy up.

The thing that I like the least is that it is SO COLD. I hate having to bundle up all the time to run out to the car and then when I get into a building I have to take off all the layers because everyone keeps it so HOT inside.

I also hate the smell of hot air which comes out when any heater is on. I think the smell of the air is different although no one else seems to notice but the smell of the heaters just makes me sick.

Broke Down And Counted My Calories

2010-11-22T13:51:00.001-06:00

Hello Divas!

I tried to go a whole week without counting calories because I thought I had this method under control. I continued with my daily weigh ins and found that by Friday I had put on 5 lbs....almost a pound a day. I fluctuated daily sometimes being down 2 lbs or up 1lb but on Friday my weigh in was at 150 lbs.

This is depressing to me and I should have been going down not up in weight. I caved in and started tracking my calories again to find out that on the days when I was not tracking I was eating well over 2000 calories!!!!

My weight loss goal is to eat abut 1500 to 1700 calories a day so eating more than 2000 was definitely causing me to gain weight instead of losing it. I am really upset at myself because I thought I was handling my weight better plus I felt like I had less of an appetite lately. I guess I will go and get some diet pills after all because I have a reunion coming up in December and I want to start off the new year NOT being fat.

I think I may do a version of the juice diet next week since I have the week off. Instead of doing only juice for the two days, I will alternate between tea and juice and then will also throw in some yogurt for the fiber so that I do not end up getting constipated. Let's see how that works before I try the diet pills.

I Have Stopped Counting Calories For One Week

2010-11-10T19:19:00.001-06:00

Hello Divas!

Recently I have been trying to lose weight and one thing I decided to do was to track what I ate and to count my calories. I think that after doing it for a month I have a pretty good idea of my caloric intake for the day, especially since I tend to eat the same things over and over. I have decided that for the next two weeks I will no longer count my calories, but I will just continue to eat in moderation and using the same portions as when I was tracking my daily calories.

I will continue to weigh myself daily because I think that is a very important part of my weight loss journey but I will not stress over half a pound here and there like when I was counting my calories.

It is important to note that I am not cutting anything completely out of my diet as I do not believe in the total restriction method. I can still have a slice of cheesecake every now and then...I just know that I cannot eat anything else for the rest of the night because that one slice is about the entire allocation of calories for dinner.

The Dark Armpit Ladies

2010-10-25T08:14:00.000-05:00

Hello Divas!

Say hello to a fellow blogger who also has a case of the attack of the terrible armpits. Go visit her blog Material World and show her some love.

Those of you who don't know what it is like to have dark armpits will not understand the frustration we ladies go through on a daily basis, especially since most of us also sweat A LOT!!!!!

We also spend a lot of money on different things that are supposed to help but sometimes just make it all worse.

Trying To Decide If I Want To Spend Money On A Haircut

2010-10-19T20:00:00.001-05:00

Hello Divas!

I have been cutting my own hair or getting my friends to do it for the last three years. I also cut my own bangs and have a friend do touch ups every few months but I have been debating going to a salon and getting my bangs professionally done.

I really want my bangs to look like Tamara Taylor's bangs (she plays Dr. Saroyan on Bones ) because I think they are cute and fit her face really well.

The big issue for me is that I also like to have my bangs long enough to sweep to the side like Taraji P. Henderson's so I think I would need to get the lower layer cut short like Tamara and then have longer layers cut on top of that like Taraji.

I am not sure if they can do what I want so I am wondering if I should just ask for the Tamara bangs and then cut my own Taraji bangs on top of that.

Colder And Drier....so Moisturize!!!!!

2010-10-04T20:15:00.006-05:00

Hello Divas!!!!!

I don't know about where you live, but right now we are having some bouts of colder weather every now and then as we get closer to winter. This means wearing more clothes, taking hotter showers and even running the heater some nights.

All of this hot and dry air will do a SERIOUS number on your skin so you need to moisturize, Moisturize, MOISTURIZE even more than ever.

I think I am turning into a Garnier spokesperson because I am now using their moisturizing gel creme and I must say I LOVE IT!!!!!!

It is a bit pricey for the size of the jar but I only use it on my neck and chest at night before bed so it is lasting me a long time. The gel is light and refreshing just like it says on the box....without being greasy or feeling heavy AND it has a lovely clean scent.

Another thing I do to keep moisturized is to run my little humidifier at night while I sleep because we all know how drying the night air can be to your skin while you try to get your beauty sleep.

As always, drink a LOT of water, as much as you can stand and then some more to make sure your skin stays soft and supple as you prepare for the battle of the dry winter skin.

I am now using Palmer's Cocoa Butter on my sad and sorry dark armpits at night to keep them moisturized after the last fiasco with the antiperspirant. This seems to help with the itching and flaking at night and has also soothed the burning.

I really hope my armpits heal up quickly because I have a function to attend this weekend and I do not want to to be in pain or even worse be all stinky because I cannot use anything.

Those who have good armpits have a real blessing and should appreciate it because those of us with the curse of the dark armpits have a DOUBLE problem!!!!!!

In any case, be moisturized, soft and supple!!!!!

Grrrrr My Right Armpit Is WORSE Than EVER!!!! Thanks Degree!!!!

2010-09-20T19:29:00.002-05:00

So I was running out of antiperspirant and normally use Secret or Dove clinical because I sweat so much. I decided to get Degree coz the others were all out on the shelf...used the Degree ONE morning to go to work and my armpits started itching and burning about halfway through the day.

Got home and washed it off but by then the right was swollen and bleeding.

The swelling went down on the left one but the right stayed swollen for the next day and it is now DARKER than ever.

I am not happy at all. No pics of this because it is so terrible.

Garnier Skin Renew Brush Gel Cleanser Is NICE

2010-09-01T21:34:00.004-05:00

Hello Divas!

I just decided to try out something new on my face and I got the Garnier Skin Renew Gel Brush cleanser.
I must say that after only my very first use I think I am going to like this product even if it does not do everything it promised.

I found the gel brush easy to use and the thing that I liked the most about it was that the brush was so soft yet firm and it felt like it was applying the right amount of pressure to exfoliate but not irritate my skin.

The gel has a very nice scent which makes me WANT to use the product and I trust the Garnier brand so there are a few more points in their favor right there.

The directions say to dispense the gel and then wet the brush but that did not work for me as wetting the brush washed away some of the cleanser. I found it was better to wet my face and then begin using a circular motion with just the brush and cleanser.

I think the thing that I liked the most about the product is that I did not have any cleanser dripping down into my eyes because the product stayed where the brush was and foamed up nicely without becoming watery.

Beauty Tip Of The Day: Wear Your Sexy Shoes

2010-08-03T11:07:00.001-05:00

Hello Divas!

It is comforting to wear our flip flops to walk to and from work...but every now and then you need to wear your sexy shoes on the street as well.

It looks great as it pulls your look together and wearing heels instantly makes you look sexier!

Beauty Tip Of the Day: Lower Your Voice

2010-07-27T11:05:00.001-05:00

Hello Divas!

The tip of the day is to lower your voice when you are on the phone. This instantly makes your voice sound sexy and makes you sound confident to the person on the the other end.

You do not have to sound all husky and manly, but just slightly deeper than your normal tone works wonders.

Loving My New "George" Panties

2010-07-22T14:07:00.003-05:00

Hello Divas!
Part of being a diva is looking good and presenting a great look to the world. However, a true diva takes it to the layers closest to the skin as well.
This is why I am LOVING the new 'George' brand panties from Walmart. Well they are not 'new' because I am seeing that Walmart is already getting ready to stop carrying them but they are new to me since I just stumbled on them.
I got the thongs first and they are truly the MOST comfortable thong ever. Now I normally hate thongs because they rub and move about or they are tight on the hips but these really stay in place.

The bikini bottoms are even more comfortable and the lace is so soft that you feel like you are not wearing anything at all.

Since the entire garment is made of that lacey material it gives your lady bits room to breathe and lets fresh air circulate.

The thing I found is that you need to get one size smaller in the thong than in the bikini for a great fit.

I bought one of each to try out and wore them on a normal day to get a good feeling....and I am now running out to snatch up as many of them as I can.

Fruit And Vegetable Detox

2010-07-05T18:58:00.004-05:00

Hello Divas!

I have been talking about trying different things to try to lose a little bit of weight and also get healthier.

The most recent thing I have done is to reduce my caloric intake a little bit and use a food journal. I am using FatSecret.com because they have a smartphone app that lets me scan barcodes of foods from the comfort of my home.

The site has charts that show you what you have eaten and the total number of calories and then breaks it down by:

* Fat
* Protein
* Carbohydrate
so that you can get an even better view of what you are eating. When I first began tracking what I ate I saw that I was eating about 2300 calories a day and I am only 5ft 3 inches tall. This was way too much for me and the suggested plan for my sedentary lifestyle, height and the recommended weight (130 lbs) said I should be eating about 1500 calories a day.

I have been following the suggested plan and hardly ever go over my 1500 plan and dropped 15 lbs since January.

Weigh in today was 146.3 lbs!!!!!!!

Tomorrow I will be going (or trying my best) to go on a fruit and vegetable detox for one day.

I have heard of those juice fasts but I am one of those people who needs to have solid food or I get headaches and get cranky.

I will start the morning off with a cup of green tea like I normally do and then will try to go through the rest of the day eating only fruits and vegetables so that I get the feeling of fullness but without all the 'bad' stuff.

My day should look like this if I am successful:

Breakfast
Green tea with honey
Cucumber slices (half medium cucumber)
Cherries (1 cup)

Snack 1
DanActive probiotic yogurt drink

Lunch
Edamame (1 cup)
Cucumber slices (half medium cucumber)
Strawberries with honey (1 cup, lightly drizzled)

Dinner
Green tea with honey
Activia yogurt
Edamame (1 cup)

The fruits and vegetables listed above have low caloric content so I can eat a lot of them in one day to get the feeling of fullness without even getting close to 1500 calories for the day. I know this is a bit of an extreme diet but it is a one day thing and not something that I will be doing all the time.

It will also give me more nutrients than the Lemon Master Cleanse so I feel safer doing this instead.

Dark Armpit Update June 2010

2010-06-22T21:15:00.003-05:00

Hello Divas!

We normally talk about beautiful things here but every now and then I need to get down to the not so pretty parts...namely dark, ugly armpits.

I have chronicled my dark armpits in the past and you can go to read those posts here:
How To Lighten Dark Underarms
Revisiting My Dark Armpits
Armpit Whitening Update
Update On How To Lighten Dark Underarms
More Adventures With Waxing
Messed Up My Armpits

I recently decided to try something new so this is going to be a new reference point for the future.

I have gotten some Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Tone Correcting Serum for the left armpit.I will continue to only use antiperspirants during the day as needed, like when I am going to work or need to leave the house for some other reason.

I will continue to wash off the antiperspirant as soon as I get home and will use these serums on the armpits on an individual basis so I can see which, if any is producing results.

I will be using Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Corrector for the right armpit.

Here are some images of the armpits in the past.

This is the left in May.

This is the left in June.

This is the right in May.

This is the right in June.

Yes I know I need to wax again.......but I took those photos before beginning the new regimen as I guess they got worse from the failed lemon juice experiment and the failed exfoliation experiment.

I will update you in about a month to see if we can detect any POSITIVE changes in the appearance or if I have once again wasted money on the curse of the dark armpits.

How To Use A Clay Facial Mask

2010-06-14T05:24:00.001-05:00

Hello Divas!

One of the best ways to keep your skin looking and feeling great is to use a facial mask. You do not need to do this every day but even using a mask once or twice a week will help to keep your skin clean and clear.

I currently use two different types of masks:
-clay facial mask
-peel off mask

Today I am going to talk about the clay facial mask that I personally use which is the Feeling Beautiful Facial Mask with Avocado and Oatmeal.

I use this clay mask once a week and use the peel off mask once a week also, about three days apart. The clay mask serves to remove dirt and impurities from the pores,while firming and smoothing the skin as well.

Clay has been known to help draw out toxins from the skin and that is why it is incorporated into many spa treatments because it works so well. Because clay draws things out of the skin it is really good for those who have oily skin because it helps to remove excess oil. It can tend to be a bit drying if you do not have oily skin so that is why it is recommended to only use clay masks once a week.

It is best to apply a mask at night when you have more time just before bed and can take proper care of your skin. You will use your mask by following a few simple steps listed below and will soon be on the way to much more beautiful and clear skin.

Wash your face. Use a gentle cleanser and warm water to gently remove all the dirt, smoke and other surface pollutants that have accumulated on the skin during the day. Use a circular motion and move upwards to give yourself a stimulating massage as well while you clean.

Pat dry. Use a soft, clean cloth to gently pat your face to remove excess water. Do not rub your face and do not be concerned with getting it bone dry. Just remove the obvious water that can run down your face as that will dilute the mask.

Apply the mask. Squeeze a little bit of the mask onto your fingertips and begin to apply a thin layer to your face, avoiding the eyes and lips. You want to apply enough that every part of your skin is covered but not too much that you have a thick layer on the face that will take hours to dry. Let the mask dry for the recommended time, usually 10 to 15 minutes.

Rinse off. Once the mask has had time to dry and do its work you can wash it off. Some people recommend using a washcloth to wash the mask off but I just use my fingers again. You can also use a clean cotton pad as this will ensure you are not adding any dirt like if you used a washcloth. Use circular motions once more to wash the mask off and finish off with a splash of cold water to really refresh the face.

After the mask treatment you may go ahead and apply your regular moisturizer or night cream and head off to a night with cleaner, fresher skin.

Use Tube Mascara For Great Lashes In The Summer

2010-06-09T05:52:00.001-05:00

Hello Divas!!!!!

It is right about that time when the heat gets to us and you are thinking of changing up your makeup.

When you wear mascara it generally tends to fall apart in the heat of summer, leaving you with horrible, wimpy lashes.....or even worse, streaks on your face.

The best thing I have found is to use tube mascaras, like the L'Oreal Double Extend (which I just LOVE!!!!).

Tube mascaras have a special formula that form heat resistant tubes that stay put in the heat. The mascara can then be washed off using warm water and a simple rubbing motion so you do not need the extra expense of makeup remover.

I am sure there are other tube mascaras that do the job but my personal favorite is L'Oreal beauty tubes because it really works well for me.

I lost 15 lbs Since January!!!!

2010-06-06T22:16:00.003-05:00

Hello Divas!!!!

I weighed in at 145 lbs today which means I am DOWN 15 lbs since January. I am pleased with the results as I am now eating 1500 calories a day on average.

I am doing just 5 minutes of yoga a day and doing the hula hoop for 15 minutes and this has really played a good part in my weight loss these past few days.

This week I am going to eat without counting my calories as I think I have a pretty good handle on what I can eat for the day to stay within my count. I have one month before my birthday and would like to lose 10 lbs this week so I am going to increase my exercise a little bit and see what happens.

The Worst Mascaras Out There

2010-05-26T16:46:00.003-05:00

Hello Divas!

I just found this post from NBC on the Thirteen Horrible Mascaras out there. I have not used any of those but based on those reviews I will be staying away from them.

I am currently using L'Oreal Beauty Tubes mascara and I love it so I will stick to what works for me.

Look Younger Tip: Get Rid Of The Black Dress

2010-05-19T16:07:00.001-05:00

Hello Divas!

The Little Black Dress is a staple of many women's closets but the latest findings show that it can actually make your face look older, even while hiding those flaws in your figure. This is because black can highlight the shadows and creases in your face and make you appear to be up to five years older.

It is better to wear royal blue or a blue-green color to keep within the LBD theme but without the dark shadows being cast on your face.

If you do choose to go all black always remember to wear a pop of color close to the face to take away from the dreary black.

Beauty Tip Of The Day: Buy Perfume In Small Bottles

2010-05-08T11:56:00.002-05:00

Hello Divas!

The beauty tip of the day is to Buy Perfume In Small Bottles. I know it makes financial sense to buy a larger bottle because you get a lower price per ounce.

However you only use a small amount of scent each time you spray.....no more than TWO sprays right!!!!!

This means that air gets into the bottle and that changes the fragrance over time. Have you noticed that after a few months your favorite perfume no longer smells as nice but tends to smell either more like alcohol or just like a cheaper scent.

That is because air is in the bottle and is changing the chemical composition.

So the best way to preserve your scent is to buy a smaller bottle that will get used up faster. Yes it might be more expensive to buy the smaller bottle but you end up saving because you no longer have to throw out perfume that has gone bad.

I Need To Update My Arm Pits

2010-04-26T21:56:00.004-05:00

Hello Divas!!!

I just did a search for how to reduce black armpits and was surprised to see that this site ranked as number 5 on google for those results.

I guess my awful black armpits really were a hit with everyone since I posted pictures. It also means that I am not alone in this terrible journey although I have been seeing more people post better results than I did.

I guess it is time for me to take some more pictures of my armpits and show the progress or lack thereof on going from ugly black armpits to pretty, normal ones.

I am still waxing my armpits....although I did have to resort to shaving one time when I did not have any wax.

I will get some new pics up soon.

Going On a Crash Diet

2010-04-18T21:31:00.000-05:00

Hello Divas!

I know this is terrible advice but I am desperate right now. I have to go graduation in one month so I am going on a crash diet for the next two weeks to help lose some weight.

I have been eating about 1700 calories a day but I plan on cutting that down to about 1300 for the next two weeks and doing a mini fast on the weekends.

My typical day might look like this:
Breakfast
2 scrambled eggs
1 yogurt
1 green tea with honey

Lunch
2 slices of bread with peanut butter
1 soymilk
1 cup pineapple

Snack
handful of pecans

Dinner
1 banana/1 yogurt
glass of lemon cleanse

I think this comes to the calorie level I need to lose some weight quickly and will prevent me from becoming too hungry and fainting during the day.

I tried the lemon cleanse thing but could only go half a day without feeling like I was losing my mind.

This should help me to lose about 8 lbs in the two weeks so wish me luck!!!!!!

Taking Up Yoga For Weight Loss

2010-04-14T23:30:00.002-05:00

Hello Divas!

I have been fighting with my weight on and off, mostly in the form of cursing it and wishing it would go down.

I have never been big on exercising as I always seem to find an excuse not to go. I started walking a mile around a track near my home, but then would get blisters on the second day and would quit until next week.

I even took up hula hooping while watching television but would quit on that after about three days.

I recently decided to try yoga because even though it is not high intensity or high impact it can help a little bit with weight loss.

I got a 5 minute routine that I do (almost) every morning and have stuck with it for the last two weeks. I plan on doing that routine every other day...which I know is not much but is still a commitment I can make. Having it every other day means that I do not freak out and hate myself if I miss a day because I can make it up the following day.

Once I have been able to do that routine every other day for two weeks then I will gradually increase the amount of time I spend on yoga.

Lost Some Weight

2010-04-09T20:05:00.002-05:00

Woo hoo!!!

I have managed to lose 12 lbs since the beginning of the year. I have not been exercising, just doing some yoga and hula hooping.....so imagine what I could lose if I actually did some cardio.

Got My Nails Done

2010-03-31T19:43:00.000-05:00

Hello Divas!

Now you ladies know that I write about MY beauty and fashion as opposed to EVERYONE ELSE'S version because I am NOT a girly girl. I tend to not like purses and shoes and makeup and all that sort of thing as I am generally interested in less feminine things. I recently wrote a post about artificial nails asking what we thought about the lengths that some women tend to wear those nails.

Well two days ago I got my own nails done with some acrylics and I must say I am really liking the effect right now. The last time I had my nails done was in 2004 so that was SIX years ago. I have very ugly shaped nails in my opinion and they peel and do not grow long at all. I wanted to see if wearing some longer tips would make me feel more feminine and I had been contemplating getting this done since December. I finally took a deep breath and went to the mall and had it done.

The process cost $23 and I left a $4 tip so my total came to $27 for my new nails. I asked to get them short so that I would not feel too uncomfortable and not be able to carry out my daily tasks.

On the day that I got the nails I felt very awkward and my fingers hurt because I have sensitive skin. I immediately regretted getting the nails done because I was not sure if I would be able to work at all.

I woke up the next day and the pain was gone and I was able to get about my day, getting ready, typing and eating. It does take a little adjustment but I love the look and it was worth the money I paid.

Super Long Nails: Sexy Or Scary?

2010-03-27T11:13:00.001-05:00

I have been seeing some REALLY long nails on women lately. At first it was only on the fingers but they are now getting these talons attached to toes as well.

What do you think of the super long nail trend?

Is it sexy or is it scary?

Beauty Loot Giveaway: Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly

2010-03-09T08:04:00.000-06:00

Hello Divas!!!

It is time for another giveaway!! The fabulous loot up for grabs this week is Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly mouse.

To qualify for the giveaway you must take at least one of the following actions:

1. Retweet this on twitter (one entry)
2. Mention on your blog (one entry)
3. Subscribe to the feed (one entry)
4. Leave a meaningful comment like why you want to win or your past experience with this product (one entry)

You can do any one of the steps above for one entry each time or you can do all for a total of 4 entries.

The more you do the more entries you get to win. Contest will run for one week and the winner will be announced on Wednesday March 17, 2010.

Look out for more giveaways coming soon!!!!

My Skin Care Routine: Morning Shower

2010-03-05T17:24:00.002-06:00

Hello Divas!!

One of the most important parts of being a diva is having great skin. The easiest way to get it is to really take care of your skin by cleansing it and eating a healthy diet.

I am going to share part of my skin care routine with you just so you can see how easy it is.

Morning Shower
I take two showers a day, or one shower and a bath at night. My morning shower is shorter than my night shower as the only thing I have done (most times) is sleep.

In the morning I am usually in a rush to get out the door and since I slept through the night so I do not have a lot of sweat or toxins to clean off.

I use a bath pouf and some body wash to quickly wash my body off and probably spend about 5 minutes in the shower. I figure I only need a quick shower to get me started since I took a good shower before going to bed the night before.

I then pat myself dry and apply a deeply moisturizing lotion like Vaseline Sheer Infusion
or Olay Quench. I will also use my Olay facial lotion with SPF15 to moisturize and protect my face.

I apply my antiperspirant/deodorant and that takes care of my skin for the day.

What is your morning shower like?

Carnival Of Twenty Something Finances March 1, 2010

2010-02-28T19:16:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the March 1, 2010 edition of twenty something finances.

Darwin presents 7 Year-End Tax Tips You Can’t Miss!posted at Darwin's Finance, saying, "7 Year End Tax Moves You Shouldn't Miss and some you should wait until 2010 for."

Evolution Of Wealth presents FiLife Experiment posted at Evolution of Wealth.

Silicon Valley Blogger presents What Are The Best Credit Card Rewards Programs?posted at The Digerati Life, saying, "Thanks!"

The Smarter Wallet presents How To Get Your Free Credit Report and Score posted at The Smarter Wallet, saying, "Some tips on getting a free credit report and score."

The Dough Roller presents Consolidate Debt with LendingClub or Prosper posted atThe Dough Roller.

David presents List of Credit Card Foreign Currency Transaction Fees posted at Credit Card Offers IQ.

Jeff Rose presents Life Insurance Reality Check – Do you have enough? posted at Jeff Rose, saying, "Life insurance is an important component of your financial planning."

Anthony Samuel presents Prepaid Credit Cards for Teenagers: A Good Idea posted atClear Choice Credit Cards.

BankShout presents How To Compare Money Market Savings Accounts posted atBankShout.

Credit Shout presents Best Credit Cards For Your Family posted at CreditShout.

Kevin Fleming presents Try Netflix Free for 2 Weeks posted at Satellite TV Guru.

Robert Damone presents Definitive Guide To Emerging Market Bond ETF Investingposted at ETFdb.

Control your Cash presents May the salesman curse your name II posted at Control Your Cash, saying, "There's a reason car salesmen were named least trustworthy in a recent Gallup poll **We're willing to host with sufficient notice**"

Diane Steward presents The Definitive Guide To Cotton ETF Investing posted atETFdb.

Nicole presents Reported To ChexSystems? Try Second Chance Checking Accountsposted at Banks That Do Not Use Chexsystems, saying, "A lot of us manage to make serious money mistakes in our 20s. One of them is bouncing checks and/or overdrawing our accounts. This can get very ugly very quickly. Here's a few options for those in this situation"

Hank presents 83 Money Moves To Make Before You Are 30 Years Old posted at Own The Dollar, saying, "A comprehensive list of 83 of the biggest, best, and most timely money moves that young adults need to make in their 20's in order to set them up for success when they retire in their Golden Years."

Jeff Rose presents Inheriting Retirement Assets: What You Need to Know posted atJeff Rose.

April presents It’s More Important to Be Happy Than to Be Rich posted at Get Rich Slowly, saying, "True happiness comes when you learn to be content with what you have. If you don’t take the time to figure out what Enough means to you, you’ll always be unhappy with your financial situation."

Jason @ Redeeming Riches presents 6 Ways To Find Free Money posted atRedeeming Riches, saying, "Who doesn't like finding some extra cash. Are you taking advantage of these opportunities to find some free money?"

jim presents How to Dispute a Credit Card Charge posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

Peak Personal Finance presents Don't Forget These Home Office Tax Deductionsposted at Peak Personal Finance, saying, "Be sure to take as many of these as you can!"

FIRE Getters presents Annual Fee Introduced for Citi Cash Returns Credit Card posted at FIRE Finance, saying, "As the credit market tightens due to new regulations, we feel more banks might follow Citibank's act of adding annual fees to erstwhile free cards. More so for "deadbeat" customers like us who pay off their balance every month."

Matthew Paulson presents Troublesome Tax Myths posted at American Consumer News.

Billeater presents Foreclosure - Should You Walk Away From Your Home posted atBilleater.

Debbie Dragon presents What to Do Part Four: Is Your Idea Profitable posted atEmpowering Mom.

The Dough Roller presents Are Discount Health Plans a Scam? posted at The Dough Roller.

David presents » 6 of the Best Student Credit Card Offers posted at Credit Card Offers IQ.

Aaron presents Free Prepaid Credit Cards | Free Debit Cards posted atPrepaidcards123.

Colin Robertson presents Getting a Credit Card If You?re Under 21 posted at The Truth About Credit Cards.com, saying, "Going forward, it will be a lot more difficult to get a credit card if you’re under the age of 21, at least, that’s the plan."

Joel Ohman presents CARD Act | Credit CARD Reform Act of 2009 | Credit Card Accountability Responsibility & Disclosure Act posted at Credit Card Chaser, saying, "A 5,000 word guide to the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, & Disclosure Act of 2009 (CARD)."

BeaBu presents Hedge Fund Trading Styles Overview posted at BeaBu.com, saying, "Hedge funds became very popular in the last decade and they are no longer a game for the old and rich only. Their trading styles are very diverse and not every hedge fund fits into every investor's risk and return objectives. This article explains the most common hedge fund styles from an investor's perspective."

Patty Pedersen presents Seven Ways to Invest in Auto and Auto Part Stocks posted at AlphaProfit MoneyMatters - Investing Blog, saying, "Auto stocks are a favorite of the momentum crowd. Assets in Fidelity Select Automotive have swelled 20 times from a year ago. This article presents five prudent auto plays including Autoliv and Penske Auto."

Weddings Affordable presents Wedding Help From Friends and Family posted at Affordable Wedding Planning, saying, "A great way to save money on your wedding is to enlist help from your friends and family."

Olivia presents Tax Credits for Education: Why It Pays to Go to School posted atIndependentBeginnings.com.

Bruce presents Georgia is 3rd inside the US for Delinquent Mortgages posted atGovernment Mortgage Help, saying, "Mortgage Help from the Government to assist you in keeping your home from mortgage foreclosure during this recession"

BankShout presents Zecco Review posted at BankShout.

ABC presents Technical Analysis Trading posted at ABCs of Investing, saying, "A short explanation of technical analysis stock trading."

Four Pillars presents Use Your Cell Phone Apps To Manage Your Money posted atQuest For Four Pillars, saying, "Some cell phone apps to help track your finances"

Darwin presents Double-Digit Returns in Any Market – Update 2 posted at Darwin's Finance, saying, "A Must Read! Darwin shares his results for a revolutionary method to achieving double-digit returns regardless of market direction by shorting depreciating leveraged ETFs."

BWL presents Stock Market Basics For New Investors posted at Christian Personal Finance, saying, "If you are wanted to get started investing in the stock market, this is a good article to start with..."

studenomist presents A Look At Young Entrepreneurs Making a Killing Online posted at studenomics.com.

Miss Bankrupt presents Do You Have Any Change? posted at Miss Bankrupt.

Mr Credit Card presents FICO Standard Review posted at Ask Mr Credit Card.

KCLau presents The Latte Factor posted at KCLau's Money Tips, saying, "Finding out what is your Latte Factor will enable you to save that extra amount which may not seem much at the time but will be a substantial amount years later."

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of twenty something finances using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

How To Prevent Your Eyeshadow From Slipping

2010-02-22T20:43:00.000-06:00

Hello Divas!

So you just got a fabulous shade of gold eye shadow that just makes your eyes pop. Problem is that it starts dripping off your eyes about halfway through the day, forcing you to run to the bathroom for a touch up.

Short of spraying glue over your makeup I bet you thought there was no way to solve the problem right? Well you can simply reach for your contact lens solution to fix your eye makeup.

the sodium chloride in contact lens solution helps to retain moisture and helps your powder eye shadow to stay in place.

Step 1: Drop about two drops of contact lens solution on a fingertip.
Step 2: Rub the solution on your clean, dry eyelid.
Step 3: Let the solution dry.
Step 4: Apply your favorite shade of eye makeup.

This is a method used by makeup artists and they swear it works. So have no fear and put on that great eyeshadow now.

Carnival Of Twenty Something Finances Feb 8.

2010-02-18T16:43:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the February 8, 2010 edition of twenty something finances.

Lovelymary presents 50 Best Money Blogs for Women posted at Accounting Degree.com.

Peak Personal Finance presents 3 Things to Ask Yourself When You Refinance | Peak Personal Finance posted at Peak Personal Finance, saying, "Keep these tips in mind if you are thinking of refinancing."

MatthewPaulson presents Lending Club Announces New Logo and Brand Identityposted at Lending Socially.

How To Deep Condition Your Hair With Olive Oil

2010-02-13T10:30:00.002-06:00

Hello Divas!

I know that you divas care deeply about your hair and if you are Black woman like me then one of your biggest issues is dry hair.

I recently read about using Olive Oil to deep condition your hair and thought I would try it out. I did it last week and I am doing it again right now so I thought I would share my experience with you.

I have used products containing Olive Oil and they still did not give me the results that I got from using plain olive oil on my hair.

This tip works for any kind of hair regardless of race because it works to retain moisture and deliver some protein to the hair shaft.

Step 1.
Get some olive oil. Go into your kitchen and pull out that bottle you have hidden away in the back. Pour some oil into a small container...don't worry, you don't need a lot of it.

Step 2. Apply oil to hair. The first time I did it I just dipped my fingers into the oil and applied to my dry hair. I only wash my hair on Wednesdays and Saturdays and did the treatment on Saturday before washing.

(image from http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/314226-137-16.jpg)

Step 3. Apply plastic cap and heat. I put a cheap plastic shower cap on my hair and then used my hair drier to apply heat for about 5 minutes. The first time I did the treatment I used heat for 5 minutes then watched television for about 30 minutes then applied 3 minutes of heat again before rinsing out.

The second time I squirted a little bit of water into the plastic cap before applying the heat so that I could gain some additional moisture.

Step 4. Rinse, shampoo and condition. After my head cooled off I stepped into the shower to rinse the oil off. I then shampooed and rinsed again. After rinsing out the shampoo my hair immediately felt smoother and softer....before applying any conditioner. I conditioned and air dried and my hair felt great.

Step 5. Dry hair and style. I let my hair air dry and then used a flat iron to straighten it out. My hair felt softer and looked shinier through the whole process than before I used the olive oil. It remained looking and feeling great all last week and I think this is now going to be part of my Saturday routine to looking beautiful.

I have tried hot oil treatments in the past but never got the kind of results that I did with the olive oil in just one use.

I used Bertolli olive oil since that is what I had in the kitchen but you can use the cheaper one as well. Either way, you don't even need a lot of oil as you really only need to apply it to the ends of your hair. If your hair is really dry and shows it then you can even go halfway up the hair shaft as well.

10 Ways To Wake Up Beautiful

2010-02-05T17:51:00.003-06:00

Hello Divas!

First off let me apologize for not posting regularly in recent times. I have been very caught up with work and although that is not an excuse it has really prevented me from blogging.

And now on to the tips for the day. Over at MSN you can find the article 10 Ways To Wake Up Beautiful which gives you some tips you can use to look your best in the morning.

The tips are as follows:
1. Get An Early Start. Wash your face at night so you remove makeup and toxins and give your face a fresh start.
I already do this one so I guess I am on the way to waking up beautiful already.

2. Sleep On Your Back. They say you should avoid sleeping on your face because it causes wrinkles.

I sleep on my side and sometimes on my back so I am halfway there.

3. Get A Lift. They recommend sleeping with your head elevated to allow the fluids in your face to drain so that you do not wake up puffy.

I sleep on two pillows when I sleep on my back but for side sleeping that is not very comfortable.

4. Save Money, Not Wrinkles. Put on your richest eye cream at night to thoroughly hydrate your face.

I do not use an eye cream but I guess I should start right now.

5. Sneak A Glow. Add some self tanner to your night cream and work on your tan overnight.

I do not use self tanners so this is not a useful point for me.

6. Avoid Carb Face. If you can avoid high carb food late at night this will ease some of the puffiness in the morning.

I need to work on this one....as I am sure we all do.

7. Wrap It Up. Tie your hair in a silk scarf to protect the hair from friction at night. The other alternative is to have a silk pillowcase.

I have a satin pillowcase and I always tie my hair up at night so this works for me.

8. Find Your Inner Ballerina. Along with sleeping on silk or satin it also helps to put your hair up on top of your head at night if it can reach.

I slip my hair up in two buns at night and clip them on the top of my head.

9. Turn On The Hair Conditioning. Apply an overnight treatment to your ends at night and rinse off in the morning to get well conditioned hair.

I have done this sometimes and it really works. Just be sure to secure your hair so that you do not get the pillow dirty.

10. Pop A Rooster Pill. This supplement supposedly helps you wake up better. A good night's sleep is essential to you looking great during the day.

I do not take anything to help me sleep so this tips falls flat for me.

Use A Humidifier To Keep Skin Moist

2010-01-24T17:23:00.002-06:00

Hello Divas!

Once again it is time for another simple yet effective beauty tip. Most of us are still in the winter period and that means using heaters indoors to keep warm.

The good thing is that the heat keeps you nice and toasty but the bad news is that the combination of warmth and dryness means that moisture is being stripped from your skin.

While it is not practical to keep the heat off (and freeze to death) just to keep your skin from drying out..there is something you can do to retain moisture.

Enter the humidifier!!!!

A humidifier simply adds in moisture to the dry air and this is very simple to use. You can get a small one for about $15, fill it with water, plug it in and you are ready to go.

I sleep with a humidifier and I must say that it really helps. I no longer wake up with my skin feeling all itchy and tight and dry from being dried out overnight. It also helps to keep my nasal passages moist so I wake up with less irritation.

Go ahead and use your humidifier today and feel the difference in your skin.

Olive Oil For Weight Loss

2010-01-19T06:40:00.003-06:00

Hello Divas!

I recently wrote about drinking Tomato Juice For Weight Loss and how badly that went. I also found out that Olive Oil is supposedly good for weight loss because it helps you to feel full longer.

The trick is to drink a teaspoon to a tablespoon in the morning as your first intake of the day. I have been getting up and going to drink my tablespoon every morning before I even drink any water for the day.

The articles I read claim that the oil is best taken on an empty stomach so I have been trying that. Olive oil has very little taste and I can easily swallow a gulp of it down.

It does have TONS of calories though, as one tablespoon has 190 calories. So be very careful with what you eat as that little spoon carries a hefty part of your caloric allowance for the day.

Will keep you updated on the results. Weight today 153.8 lbs.

Tomato Juice For Weight Loss?

2009-12-28T16:17:00.000-06:00

Hello Divas!

Recently I have been thinking of trying something new to help me to lose weight. I read a recent article (well actually more than one) that said that drinking Tomato Juice helps to lose weight.

They specifically mention low sodium vegetable juice like V8 every day. Now I have been drinking V8 vegetable and fruit juice mixes but never just the plain vegetable juice so I decided to try it.

Yuck!!!

Low sodium V8 tomato juice tastes like tomato soup with not enough salt. I had to chug it down like medicine.

I guess I will have to mix the Strawberry Fusion V8 with the low sodium one to make the taste bearable.

Has anyone tried low sodium vegetable juice? Is is working?

More Personal Finances.

2009-12-28T16:14:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the December 14, 2009 edition of twenty something finances.

Annette Berlin presents FreeCycle posted at Stuff With A Purpose, saying, "When I needed to get rid of two bookcases, I posted an ad on free cycle. When I needed to acquire some packing boxes, I also posted an ad on free cycle. What is free cycle and how does it work?"

nissim ziv presents Sample Career Plans: Examples of Career Plans posted at Job Interview Guide, saying, "Career planning is complex. It involves a number of steps and actions and it is always evolving. A career plan is not like a plan for assembling a bicycle where a finite number of specific parts fit into set locations."

FIRE Getters presents What is the Current Unemployment Rate? posted at FIRE Finance.

Anthony Samuel presents Long Term Disability Insurance Makes Sense posted atPersonal Finance Analyst.

Sun presents Serving Holiday Food Frugally posted at The Sun’s Financial Diary.

PT presents 10 Reasons to Get Off Your Butt and Start a Roth IRA posted at Prime Time Money.

Madison presents 6 Mistakes of New Earners and How to Fix Them posted at My Dollar Plan.

nissim ziv presents What is Career Planning and Development? posted at Job Interview Guide, saying, "Career development is an ongoing process, one that you should be focused on as you approach a career and progress through it. Development and planning are all part of career management. Make no mistake, you are in charge of your career and personal development."

Mr Credit Card presents Macy's Online Savings - 10% Rebates posted at Ask Mr Credit Card.

Tom @ Canadian Finance Blog presents Manage Your Canadian Accounts With BudgetPulse posted at The Canadian Finance Blog, saying, "BudgetPulse is another option for those looking to enter all their accounts into one site, without sharing their banking passwords."

Tom Tessin presents How to Budget in College posted at FCC Student Blog, saying, "Simple tips that you can use if you're looking to create a budget in college (which I highly recommend that you do)"

Mary Jones presents 8 Painless Ways To Cut Your Electric Bill This Winter posted atConstruction Management Degrees.

Another Somebody presents best online holiday shopping posted at Another Somebody.

Allan Inocente presents 7 Ways to Celebrate Christmas Without Breaking Your Piggy Bank posted at Rich Money Habits, saying, "Christmas is just around the corner. With all the 13th and 14th month pays being given just before the month of December, everyone enjoys his own “extra” jolt of cash. Suddenly, people have money to spend. Protect your money from unnecessary spending. Discover 7 Ways to Celebrate Christmas Without Breaking Your Piggy Bank!"

MoneyNing presents 10 Reasons to Have a Library Card posted at Money Ning, saying, "Library is still one the best way to spent your time. Here are 10 reasons why you want a library card."

Darwin presents FICA Tax Rates 2009, 2010 – How They Work and Why They Matterposted at Darwin's Finance, saying, "FICA Tax Rates 2009, 2010 – How They Work and Why They Matter. Plus, a strategy to get a "tax bonus" this year if you time your income right."

John Laugherton presents Definitive Short Dollar ETF Guide: Inverse USD ETFsposted at ETFdb.

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Savings Account Rates: Where Are The High Returns? posted at The Digerati Life, saying, "Thanks!"

J. Savings presents 5 Financial Tips for College Students....(lucky bastards) posted atBudgets are Sexy., saying, "A plan for all college kids to get a good start on their finances ;)"

Patrick @ Cash Money Life presents Tax Tips for Children and Newborns posted atCash Money Life, saying, "Many people are aware of the child tax credit, but here are some other tax credits and deductions that you maybe eligible for if you have children."

Patrick @ Military Money presents Should You Rollover Your TSP Account Into an IRA? posted at Military Finance Network, saying, "The Thrift Savings Plan is similar to a 401k plan for military members and government employees. This article discusses the pros and cons of rolling your Thrift Savings Plan investments into an IRA when you leave government or military service."

BWL presents How to Build Your Own Mutual Fund posted at Christian Personal Finance.

Tyler Metzger presents AmEx's Zync card targets charge-happy youth posted atblogs.creditcards.com.

MatthewPaulson presents Cut Living Expenses And Bank The Savings For Next Christmas posted at Fine-Tuned Finances.

Baker presents Excess is a Liability posted at Man Vs. Debt, saying, "Excess is a Liability. Enough said."

Technorati tags: twenty something finances, blog carnival.

Late Carnival

2009-12-13T09:40:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the December 7, 2009 edition of twenty something finances.

Hank presents You Can Say Thank You With More Than Just Money posted at Own The Dollar, saying, "You can say thank you in more ways that by just giving someone money."

Craig Ford presents 5 Ways to Protect Yourself Against the Declining Value of the Dollar posted at Money Help For Christians, saying, "With the dollar losing value there are ways to protect your assets."

Darwin presents USDA Home Loan Program – The 0% Down Bonanza You’ve Never Heard About posted at Darwin's Finance, saying, "Get this - the USDA Home Loan Program – The 0% Down Bonanza You’ve Never Heard About...and the government's the one sponsoring it! You'd be surprised, you may actually qualify."

David presents 7 Things To Consider When Applying for a Credit Card posted at Credit Card Offers IQ, saying, "7 things to consider when applying for your next credit card."

Mr Credit Card presents Chase Sapphire Card Review posted at Ask Mr Credit Card.

Madison presents 7 Tips to Avoid Holiday Spending Stress posted at My Dollar Plan.

Barbara Kratus presents Your $5 Savings Plan posted at Shitty-Chic, saying, "How to bank a little money for a mini splurge or for a rainy day....and not even realize it."

PT presents Take Real Savings Action: Start a Savings Goal with SmartyPig posted atPrime Time Money.

eemusings presents How to get the most out of mystery shopping posted at Musings of an Abstract Aucklander.

Austin Morgan presents Ramit Sethi Interview Part 1: Colleges & Money Management Courses posted at Foreigners Finances, saying, "My interview with New York times best-selling author of I Will Teach You To Be Rich, Ramit Sethi about the money problems of college students. We talk about how colleges can step in to fix the norm, what students can do to help themselves, and why money is such a difficult subject for young adults."

Manshu presents Amazon Gift Card Review posted at OneMint, saying, "A review of the Amazon gift card."

One Family presents Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) - Stock Analysis posted at One Family's Blog, saying, "An analysis and recommendation of Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) stock."

Brenda Pike presents To Save Energy, Use the Dishwasher? posted at Pragmatic Environmentalism.

Credit Shout presents Chase Sapphire Card Review posted at CreditShout.

Guffly presents Seven Eco Gifts Under $50 | Guffly posted at Guffly, saying, "Guffly is your source for stylish products and unique gifts that ease your shopping conscience by being eco friendly or fair trade. http://guffly.com/"

My Journey presents There were Never Good Ole Days When it Comes to Personal Finance posted at My Journey to Millions, saying, "I am sick of those who say it is us in the 20s that are causing the problems...The Good Ole Days weren't as good as everyone wants them to be"

Brandon Laughridge presents FHA Down Payment May Rise Soon posted at Mortgage Loan Place Blog, saying, "It could much harder for new home buyers to secure any sort of mortgage in 2010 with the recent shakeup in FHA financing options."

Darwin presents FICA Tax Rates 2009, 2010 – How They Work and Why They Matterposted at Darwin's Finance, saying, "The FICA Tax – What is it and why’s it matter? This article outlines FICA limits and how shifting income into or out of the current tax year could easily save you thousands of dollars in taxes."

Jeff Rose presents Preparing For, Taking and Passing the GMAT Exam posted at Jeff Rose.

April presents 5 Little-Known Websites That Will Save You Time and Money When Booking Airfare Online posted at Get Rich Slowly, saying, "In most cases, the cheapest fare will be found using a combination of sites depending on your specific travel plans. Here are some lesser-known websites you can add to your bag of tricks when searching for the lowest airfare available."

J. Savings presents iReview the iPhone...Because it saves me money! posted atBudgets are Sexy., saying, "You have the pros, you have the cons, and you have the apps. Is it all really worth it in the end?"

Anne Valens presents The Definitive Guide To Copper ETFs: Copper ETF Investing 101posted at ETFdb.

Ray @ Financial Highway presents Best Credit Card posted at Financial Highway, saying, "How to find the best credit card that fits your needs and helps you in your financial plan."

Billeater presents Credit Card Rates - Status of the Credit Card Act posted atBilleater.

Roshawn Watson presents Becoming A Financial Champion posted at Watson Inc, saying, "Last week, I was counseling a college student about building a firm financial foundation. Upon reflection, here are three nuggets that profoundly changed my financial life."

20smoney presents Retirement Saving In Your 20s posted at 20s Money, saying, "A few tidbits on starting your retirement savings during your 20s."

Jeremy Simon presents Your holiday guide to credit card innovations and gadgetsposted at blogs.creditcards.com.

Nate Kragness presents My Free Cash | Diversifying your Portfolio: Four Asset Classes Critical to Long-Term Success posted at My Free Cash | Your Guide to Money Management, saying, "By protecting your capital with diversification strategies, and maintaining each of these four asset classes, you ensure that your total portfolio continues to grow, even in spite of any individual losses or market conditions. Provides strategies and tips to balance and leverage various asset classes in order to minimize risk while maximizing rewards long-term."

Austin Morgan presents Ramit Sethi Interview Part 2: Who Can Fix the Money Problems of Young People? posted at Foreigners Finances, saying, "The 2nd part of my interview with New York Times best-selling author of I Will Teach You To Be Rich, Ramit Sethi. We discuss what college students need to do to set themselves up to be financially sound and how colleges are failing students by not offering money classes."

Technorati tags: twenty something finances, blog carnival.

Always Thin Flexi-Style Liners (product review)

2009-11-24T18:17:00.005-06:00

Hello Divas!

I love trying out new products, especially those specially created for women so I was happy to see that Always has come out with a new pantyliner, called the Thin Flexi-Style.

Now I know that you are wondering what in the world can be new about a pantyliner but just wait and see.

These new flexi-style liners are great because they are:

thin
flexible
light

They come in one size but the middle part is thinner than most liners. It also has wings but they are VERY thin and are really just to help you adjust to different sizes. What I love about these liners is that they can be worn with anything from boy shorts to thongs and everything in between!!!!

Here is what the box looks like.

I got these at Walmart to try out and I immediately fell in love. I no longer have to buy a box for thongs and a box for other panties. This liner customizes to fit all my underwear by simply adjusting the wings.

Here is what the liner looks like straight out of the box.

I am totally sold on this and will be buying only these liners from now on. The only thing I do not like is that I have not seen them in the individually wrapped packages so that you can take them on the go. If they do not come in individual packs then I still have a few like the Carefree shown below that I can stick in my purse.

Here is the Always Flexi-style next to a Carefree with Wings for size comparison.

As you can see the Carefree liner is so much larger and thicker than the Always. Plus the wings on the Carefree are so bulky....I always cut them off before using because they are so hard to take off when they are stuck.

The Always are also shorter..but if you REALLY need that much coverage then I guess you should be wearing a pad.

Nivea Moisture (Product Review)

2009-11-16T05:17:00.002-06:00

Hello Divas!

A true Diva ALWAYS has soft,supple, well hydrated lips as a basic part of her wardrobe. I love lip balms and lip glosses but I wanted to try out this Nivea Kiss Of Moisture lip hydrator to see if it would deliver.

The first thing I noticed is that it contains SPF 4 and have talked before about using SPF to protect your skin so this was interesting to me. I actually get a rash when I use any product that contains SPF except for Oil Of Olay so I was a bit worried.

I decided to apply it at night and that way if I got a rash I could just hide at home the next day. I noticed when I put on the product that it felt MUCH lighter than other lip balms and not as waxy.

It felt like it was really moisturizing my lips while still providing long lasting barriers against wind and other drying agents. I woke up the next day and did not have any rash or discomfort so I guess that while SPF 4 is very low it is better than having nothing on my lips at all.

The lip balm is clear so I would need to find some way to add in color if I wanted that. It is also unscented which is good most of the time but sometimes I like a little color and flavor and scent in just one product without needing to do multiple steps.

I also noticed that unlike some of the other thicker balms, this tended to wear off quickly when eating so constant reapplication is necessary.

The one thing I must say I do not like about this is the way the cap fits!!!!!! In most other lip balms the white part, which is the smaller part, would be the cap so you just pull of the little cap and there is your product. With Nivea Kiss of Moisture the BLUE part is the cap....so you pull the balm out of this LONG tube like a tube of lipstick and STILL have to twist to get at the product. I hate the long cap because it makes it a little more difficult to to cover the balm in a hurry.

In general it is a good lip balm for the price but a tinted version would be nice.

So You Think You Can Dance

2009-11-11T19:45:00.002-06:00

Hello Divas!

Beauty is not JUST about clothing and makeup but also about everything else that is pleasing to the eye. Dance is the ultimate expression of beautiful physical movement and that is why I love the show So You Think You Can Dance.

This season I must say that I totally LOVE Russell. He is the crumper who is surprising everyone by being able to handle all the other styles.

My second favorite male dancer is Legacy....again a surprising chameleon who is adapting to every style that the show throws at him.

I am not too thrilled with the female dancers and do not see what the judges see in Ashleigh at all. I like Karen and I am beginning to like Channing even though I did not like her at first.

The two dancers sent home this week are Peter and Pauline and I must agree with the judges' decision. I was not impressed by either of those two dancers and America got it RIGHT!!!!

My Hair Routine And Products

2009-11-07T13:42:00.003-06:00

Hello Divas!

I have been asked what I do to take care of my hair and what products I use to keep it healthy. First off all my hair is texturized so that I can rock the curly look or I can flat iron it to have the sleek and straight look.

I wash my hair TWICE a week and no more because washing your hair too frequently dries it out. I wash my hair with Herbal Essences shampoo and then use Neutrogena hair mask to deep condition it. I put the deep conditioner in and cover the hair with a plastic cap and then go off to do things around the house...like writing this post.

After about 20 minutes of deep conditioning I rinse that off and use the Herbal Essences conditioner as directed. Then I let my hair air dry.

Yes...AIR DRY.

It is not good to use too much heat on the hair and since I am going to flat iron it then that is already one heat source.

After the hair is dry I use a flat iron to straighten it out if I want to wear it straight. Then I apply a conditioning treatment to my scalp and wrap the hair and tie it up.

That is my process in a few simple steps.....and I will give more detail on each of the products that I use in upcoming posts.

For The Love Of Ray J Season Premiere

2009-11-04T09:25:00.000-06:00

Hello Divas!

I must say that the first episode of For The Love Of Ray J was very entertaining for me. I was glad that he sent that girl home because she was way too obvious in being a 'celebrity smasher' as they called it.

I liked Luscious for him. She reminds me a little bit of Mariah Carey with her little cute face. I think he needs to get rid of Exotica pronto....she seems a little bit scary crazy to me.

Other than that the girls seem like a fun bunch and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

I love on the promo that the show Danger is pregnant. WHAT?????

Loving Those Dating Shows

2009-11-01T18:27:00.002-06:00

Hello Divas!

I just finished watching the finales of My Antonio and A Real Chance At Love 2. Those are celebrity dating shows where the guys were dating a bunch of women, trying to find true love.

Now I followed A Real Chance At Love 2 a little more closely than My Antonio so I was a bit surprised at the choices the guys made there.

I see that they are coming up with a new season of For The Love Of Ray J. For those who do not know, Ray J is Brandy's little brother and he already had a season of the show. I thought he made the wrong choice at the end...and it is obvious now since he is already on a second season of the show.

The previews show that there is a BIG surprise for the girls in the house and I cannot wait to waste time watching this show. It plays on VH1 so gear up your cable if you like those types of shows.

I have been watching and do not take those shows seriously...I just think they are really funny and the people who go on them are very entertaining.

Do you watch those shows? Which one is your favorite?

Beauty Loot Giveaway: Maybelline Eye Shadow Quad

2009-10-17T12:53:00.003-05:00

Hello Divas!

The item up for grabs this week is the *Maybelline Eye Shadow Quad*. in Enchanted Forest. Yes ladies this item is up for grabs again!!!! (drawing will be held on Friday 23rd, October 2009

*
*

I am running a promotion here to increase awareness of the blog. Every Friday (until items run out) I will be giving a beauty/skincare/haircare item away to readers.

To be considered for the promotion...all you have to do is follow one of two simple steps:

Promote the giveaway on your blog by talking about and linking back here AND
Subscribe to the feed (orange button up top)

When you have done this you will need to leave a comment on the giveaway post to let me know who is interested in the prize. I will then draw from the entries that week.

Please note that you must do both steps to be entered in the drawing.

You can do both of these tasks and earn yourself two entries every week if you wish. The winner for the week will be announced on the blog so you must come back to see if you are a winner.

There are a number of different prizes up for grabs so let your readers know.

Show your interest for a chance to win this item and come back next week for the next giveaway!

Whiten Your Teeth At Home

2009-10-08T06:50:00.002-05:00

Hello Divas

Over at MSN Health there is an article on How To Whiten Your Teeth At Home. I am not so sure about some of the paint on whiteners but I do know that the strips work.

I have used Crest Whitestrips and people are always commenting on how white and bright my teeth are.

Just make sure to use a desensitizing toothpaste like Sensodyne because the whitening process WILL make your teeth sensitive for a few days.

Even my dentist says my smile is very pretty!!!!!

use Petroleum Jelly To Remove Eye Makeup

2009-09-26T09:04:00.002-05:00

Hello Divas!!!!

Makeup can take a big bite out of our budgets even if we go with the lower cost options at times. If you have makeup on and forgot your makeup remover or just plain ran out there is no need to panic anymore.

Most of us have simple Petroleum Jelly on hand at all times and it comes in handy in a case like this. Simply apply some petroleum jelly to a clean cotton pad (or toilet paper in a pinch) and use it to take off your eye makeup.

The oil in the petroleum jelly dissolves the makeup and makes it just slide right off. The petroleum jelly is also very moisturizing so it will not dry out your skin after you take off your makeup!!!!!

Using A Neti Pot

2009-09-12T10:05:00.002-05:00

Hello Divas!

I have been hearing a lot about the Neti Pot from various sources like Dr. Oz on Oprah and other talk shows. I have heard that it is a very effective way to help with certain diseases as it flushes out buildup from your sinuses.

Nasal irrigation is supposed to help

1. Reduce and eliminate sinus problems

2. Clear your head to promote a feeling of well being

3. Moisturize the sinuses properly and help fend off irritation.

It does this by flushing your sinuses and nasal passages with a saline solution which helps to break up and then wash away any buildup of mucus and allergens that you are not able to reach during your normal nose cleaning routine.

I got a Neti Pot and decided to try it to see how easy to use it would feel and also to see if I would feel any different.

I followed the instructions which were to
1. warm up the water for use

2. add the saline solution (provided in a sterile packet)

3. tilt head to the side and breathe through mouth

4. experience the cleaning

I must admit that I was a bit afraid as I thought I would be inhaling the water or something but that did not happen. When I first got the water flowing it did not come out immediately and I thought I was doing it wrong....what I did not realize is that I had to wait a few seconds for the water to go all the way through my sinuses and then start coming out of the other nostril.

I usually wake up with a stuffy nose every day and I clean my nose with Q-tips every morning. I cleaned my nose that night and used the Neti Pot and woke up the next day and was not stuffy at all. The following night I went to bed after using the Neti Pot but without using the Q-tips and woke up without the stuffy nose.

The third night I used only the Q-tips and not the Neti Pot and ...I was stuffy again. I am going to do a few more trials but I think I will stick to using my Neti Pot for now.

Have you tried nasal irriation either with a Neti Pot or some other device?

Diva Tips: How To Make Dull Hair Shiny

2009-09-07T15:43:00.000-05:00

Hello Divas!

It is time for another beauty tip of the day and this one has to deal with hair. It is still hot and dry enough that your hair might be dull and looking a bit lifeless.

I am sure that you want to have beautiful, shiny hair but you think that you need a lot of expensive products to get it.

Wrong!!!

You can now get your dull hair to look bright and shiny with two simple ingredients that come straight from your pantry. All you need isL

1. Half cup of lemon juice

2. Half cup of olive oil

Mix the two ingredients until they are well blended and then apply to your hair. Cover your hair with a warm towel or a plastic cap and go about your normal business for about ten minutes. When the time is up, just rinse your hair out (do not shampoo) and condition it and you are free to dry and style as you please.

The secret to this combination is that the olive oil moisturizes and restores shine and the lemon will clean your hair and make it smell great so there is no greasy feeling when you rinse the oil out.

Winner of L'Oreal Beauty Loot

2009-09-04T17:30:00.000-05:00

Hello Divas!

The winner of the L'Oreal from this week's giveaway is Kat C.

Kat was the only person who commented on time and is the winner by default. Please email your mailing address to AuroraLava AT gmail DOT com and I will get that sent out to you.

Beauty Loot Giveaway: L'Oreal Revitalift

2009-08-29T13:55:00.004-05:00

Hello Divas!

It has been a LONG time since the last giveaway so here is something for you beauty addicts out there.

I am giving away a L'Oreal Revitalift and all you have to do to enter this contest is one of two things:
1. Promote this post via twitter OR mention it on your blog OR Stumble it

OR

2. Leave three meaningful comments (one on this post and two on other posts)

When you have done one of those things leave a comment here so I can know what you did and add your name to the voting pool.

The winner will be drawn on Friday September 4th so enter as many times as you like.

How To Quickly Cool Your Body Down

2009-08-22T11:57:00.003-05:00

Hello Divas!

It is summer time and the heat is just insane. You walk outside for two minutes and get all flushed because you are so hot and that is just NOT cute at all.

If you are looking for a cheap and easy way to get rid of the red and cool your body down quickly then head to the nearest bathroom.

We all know that running some cool water on your neck or forehead can help to cool you down but here is a new tip for even faster cooling.

Simply run cool or cold water over your wrists for an instant reduction in body heat. Since the blood flow at your wrists is close to the skin surface, when you cool this area you will spread the cool to all blood that flows through your body much faster.

Try it out when you do not have time to try other cooling methods and feel the difference.

Carnival Of Twenty Something Finances Beauty Edition

2009-08-10T09:28:00.004-05:00

Hello Divas!

I am proud to be hosting the Carnival Of Twenty Something Finances Beauty Edition today. Normally this blog is about beauty and fashion but we sometimes need to take a look at our money as well.

Lip Gloss

You all know that I love lip gloss and my favorite right now is Cover Girl Outlast lip stain.
However you need to find what works for you!!!!

The Investor presents How buying an iPhone can help make you rich posted atMonevator.com.

David presents 0% Balance Transfer Offers posted at Credit Card Offers IQ, saying, "Here is one of the largest list of 0% balance transfer offers on the Internet."

The Dough Roller presents Balance Transfer Smackdown: 0% for 6 Months vs. 3.99% for 12 Months posted at The Dough Roller, saying, "Your take: What is the best offer--0% balance transfer for 6 months or 3.99% for 12?"

Patrick @ Cash Money Life presents Unexpected Ways Having a Baby Changed Our Budget posted at Cash Money Life, saying, "Having a baby changes your budget in many ways - some of which are unexpected and difficult to plan for."

Patrick @ Military Money presents Cash for Clunkers Information posted at Military Finance Network, saying, "The Cash for Clunkers program offers a $3,500 or $4,500 rebate on eligible trade-ins, which can save consumers several thousand dollars on a new vehicle."

Patrick @ Money Saving Deals presents Free Smoothie From Jamba Juice posted atCash Money Life Deals, saying, "Buy one Smoothie, get one smoothie free at Jamba Juice."

Silicon Valley Blogger presents myFICO To Drop Experian Credit Score and Report: One Less FICO Score posted at The Digerati Life, saying, "Experian is now serving up proprietary scores rather than FICO scores. Here are some of my thoughts on this."

Miss M presents A Note to the 20-Somethings posted at M is for Money.

Flea presents Getting Out Of Debt posted at Be A Survivor.

Ben Dinsmore presents How to Get the Book Inexpensive Family Vacations posted atTrees Full of Money, saying, "This is the technique I use to ensure I get the best deal when booking travel online!"

The Smarter Wallet presents Best High Yield Savings Accounts posted at The Smarter Wallet, saying, "Thanks!"

Banker Saver presents Sneaky Bank Fees: How To Avoid Those Extra Charges posted at Banker Saver, saying, "Thanks you for hosting."

Matt Jabs presents The Whole Armor of Personal Finance posted at Debt Free Adventure!, saying, "Ephesians 6:10-18 outlines a powerful and encouraging passage of scripture that deals with The Whole Armor of God. In it Paul reminds the reader that the Christian battle is not one of flesh and blood, but of principalities, powers, the rulers of this world, and wickedness in high places. I CANNOT help but read this and liken it to our battle against debt, advertising, wantonness, and the war to gain control over our personal finances."

Investing Toolkit presents What’s A Stock Market Index? posted at Investing Toolkit, saying, "Hope to join your carnival!"

Ray @ Financial Highway presents Discount Brokers: 5 Tips to Choose the Best Discount Broker posted at Financial Highway, saying, "Tips on how to find the best discount broker"

Investing School presents What is Forex? posted at Investing School, saying, "Forex refers to currency exchange and here's more explanation of it."

Ray presents How To Win The Lottery posted at Money Blue Book.

Mr Credit Card presents American Express Gift Cards Review posted at Ask Mr Credit Card.

Miss Bankrupt presents My Deadbeat Television posted at Miss Bankrupt.

Jae Jun presents 2009 Top 40 Best Stocks to Retire On: Part 4 | Old School Valueposted at Old School Value, saying, "Analyzed all 40 of Fortune's Best Stocks to Retire on list of 2009. View the results now."

Madison presents How to Survive and Thrive During a Recession posted at My Dollar Plan.

Anthony Samuel presents Chase Home Finance and the Hair of the Dog that Bit Themposted at Personal Finance Analyst.

kathryn presents Easy Ways to Slash Bank Fees posted at Out of Debt Christian, saying, "Bank fees continue to go higher and higher, which means that avoiding them is more important than ever! With fees deducted directly from your account, it can be tough to notice that may have been charged hundreds of dollars per year just for the privilege of using your own money! Fortunately, you can cut these fees to nearly zero by taking just a few easy steps:"

Sun presents Tips for Embracing Green Frugality posted at The Sun’s Financial Diary.

Mascara

I love this easy to use product that comes off easily.Luke Marriott presents Saving to Travel Around The World posted at The Travellers Journey, saying, "My tis on saving to travel the world, its just about not spending really. Many thanks, Luke."

johnny lokin presents How Retail Security Systems Can Protect Your Business posted at Retail Security Systems.

Sam presents New !! Prenup !! Should I Sign a Prenuptial Agreement? Do I Need a Prenuptial Agreement? posted at Surfer Sam and Friends, saying, "Thanks for including my article. Here's an excerpt... Should I Sign a Prenuptial Agreement When Do I Need a Prenuptial Agreement Sometime before the wedding, your loved one may bring up the issue of a prenuptial agreement. Don't panic. You've heard about prenuptial agreements. Donald and Ivana Trump had one. Liz Taylor and construction worker Larry Fortensky had one. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have one. Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman have one. A prenuptial agreement, also called a prenup, is a way to protect your interests if it becomes time to untie the knot. "I think prenups are brilliant. I get taken care of very well." Catherine Zeta-Jones, who married Michael Douglas with a prenup But prenups are not just for celebrities. If the two of you are young and are starting out with just the shirts on your backs, you probably don't need a prenuptial agreement. But if you have property, investments, a partnership interest or a business of your own, a prenuptial agreement is valuable. It is important to talk this out ahead of time so you are both comfortable with the arrangements."

Handy Saputra presents Mortgage Brokers - Finding The Right One posted at Home Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, "A good mortgage consultant is something each wannabe home-owner or experienced property financier wants to have on their side. There's no lack of brokers out there and they come in all sizes and shapes with diverse personalities."

oneadvice presents Assets in Bankruptcy posted at One Advice, saying, "Declaring bankruptcy means that you will no longer have control over your assets. Know your rights before declaring bankruptcy..."

Allison Johanson presents Why Everything You’ve Heard About Leveraged ETFs Is Wrong posted at ETFdb.

Barry presents Does It Make Sense To Use Home Equity To Invest? posted atAssociate Money.

Jack Schmidt presents The Meaning of Wealth posted at SectorMatic Money Journal, saying, "SectorMatic Money Site - Personal Finance | Everything for the Big Spender on a Budget! Now you can live like a fat cat, even if you're on a momey diet. Laugh all the way to the bank with Jack Schmidt and SectorMatic Money Site. It's for you!"

Alvina Lopez presents 100 Best Personal Finance Blogs for Recent College Grads – Online Degree Programs.org: Top Online Degrees posted at Online Degree Programs.org.

Mike smmrs johnson presents Trading System Intro posted at System Trading | Stocks Trading Systems, saying, "A good trading system is about much more than just selecting stocks. Certainly that is important as well. However, a good trading system will provide the ability for you to protect against losses, manage your money, add proper leverage when necessary, and also select a stock selection maximizing your reward and minimizing your risk."

presents List of Auto Insurance Companies posted at Home Life Weekly, saying, "Save money with this great list of Auto insurance companies to help find the best quotes together with customer satisfaction scores. Makes some interesting reading!!"

MoneyNing presents 401k, Traditional IRA and Roth IRA Savings Not The Same posted at Money Ning, saying, "When you plan for retirement, do you really look into the tax situation and how it will affect your account balances?"

Tyler Tervooren presents Can You Benefit From Energy Efficiency Rebates? posted atFrugally Green, saying, "Being frugal means being able to look past the initial cost of something to see its long term value. Luckily, our government seems to understand this and is willing to help you with the purchase price of high efficiency appliances and renewable energy systems."

KCLau presents I achieved financial freedom at 38 posted at KCLau's Money Tips, saying, "This post is contributed by WaiYin, a reader whom I admire very much because she achieved financial freedom at age 38! Here, she shares how she did it."

The Frugal New Yorker presents 5 ways to survive during unemployment posted atThe Frugal New Yorker, saying, "How to cover your butt and stay alive after you've lost your job. Part of the "How I Got My (Dream) Job" series."

Handy Saputra presents How To Save More With A Simple Loan Calculator posted atHome Loan | Mortgage Resources, saying, "The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this article you'll find that the subject of simple loan calculator resources is certainly no exception."

Super Saver presents Recession Deals Make It Harder to be Frugal posted at My Wealth Builder.

RateNerd presents How to Buy a Home That's Owned by the Bank posted at Rate Nerd, saying, "Due to high foreclosure rates, banks have tons of inventory they want to get off their books. They wont give it away for nothing, and you need to make sure the property has not been stripped to the bone, but bank foreclosed homes for sale are a great deal."

SPF Lotion

SPF Lotion

Always wear a lotion with SPF to protect your skin.

Investing School presents What is Net Working Capital? posted at Investing School, saying, "Net working capital is one of the most important asset to have."

Vahid Chaychi presents Money Management Is the Critical Part of Forex Tradingposted at Forex Signals | Forex Market Analysis | Online Currency Trading Education, saying, "Money management is the most important part of forex trading. Without following the money management rules, forex trading will be nothing but loss."

DoneToZen presents Fees in Traditional IRA posted at Done To Zen, saying, "The funds I hold in my traditional IRA account are front-loaded. For those of you who are happily unaware of what that means (because, hopefully, you don’t have money in such funds), you have to pay money to buy or sell loaded funds; when it’s the former, they are said to have a front-end load and when it’s the latter, it has back-end load. These fees are in addition to operating expenses that you pay every year."

J. Savings presents I Quit My Job And I'm Not Crazy posted at Budgets are Sexy., saying, "Having your own business isn't all rainbows and unicorns but my guest poster wouldn't have it any other way!"

My Journey presents Another Reason to Check your Credit Report – New York Default Judgment Getting Thrown Out posted at My Journey to Millions, saying, "20 somethingers Need to remeber when checking your credit report, also look for judgments!"

Darwin presents How do Stock Options Work? Trade Calls and Puts – Part 1 posted atDarwin's Finance, saying, "Everything you need to know about how stock options work - from generating income to pure speculation, with examples and resources included."

Praveen presents $100 Million Payday for Energy Trader? posted at My Simple Trading System.

jim presents FICO Risk Factor Reason Codes posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

Raj Patel presents New Credit Card Interest Rate Rules posted at DebtGoal.

Tyler Metzger presents ATMs dispense problems at hacker conference posted atblogs.creditcards.com.

Technorati tags: twenty something finances, blog carnival.

The Dark Armpits Saga

2009-08-03T09:53:00.002-05:00

Hello Divas!

As many of you know I have been battling with my dark armpits for a few years now. These have been the most popular posts on the blog and I am going to highlight that series with its own little section on the left side of the blog.

If you look over to the left you will see a section called Get Rid Of Dark Armpits. This will have all the posts about my armpits and the misery they put me through.

You can read all the comments to see what advice my readers have given and the results we have had with various products designed to lighten underarms.

How To Tie A Sarong Part 2

2009-07-27T06:31:00.002-05:00

Hello Divas!

Well it is summer time and that means swimwear!!! When you get out of the water and want a little bit of a cover up then you might need to wear a sarong. Last week we learned How To Tie a Strapless Dress Sarong and today we are going to learn how to tie a Halter Style Sarong.

I know some of you ladies are a bit afraid of wearing a sarong because you are not sure how to tie it and not end up looking like a frumpy old lady.

I am going to show you how easy it is in three simple steps:

Step 1: Position the sarong at your back, just under your armpits and bring the edges forward in front of your body.

Step 2: Cross the two ends between your breasts, pulling the material tightly so that you get a snug fit and ensure that your sarong will not fall off.

Step 3: Twist the ends once more and then bring them up around your neck and tie in a knot.

Enjoy walking around in your halter style sarong dress and don't forget to check out last week's post on how to tie a strapless dress sarong so that you have two looks for the beach.

How To Tie A Sarong Part 1

2009-07-20T06:06:00.002-05:00

Hello Divas!

Well it is summer time and that means swimwear!!! When you get out of the water and want a little bit of a cover up then you might need to wear a sarong. Today we are going to learn how to tie a Strapless Dress Sarong.

I know some of you ladies are a bit afraid of wearing a sarong because you are not sure how to tie it and not end up looking like a frumpy old lady.

I am going to show you how easy it is in three simple steps:

Step 1: Hold the sarong at your back and bring the front ends together in front of your chest. The back of the sarong should lie just comfortably under your armpits for the best fit.

Step 2: Tie the ends of the sarong overhand once in between your breasts. Adjust the tightness as this is what will keep the sarong on you all day.

Step 3: Tie the ends once more to form a secure knot and fluff the ends so that they look pretty.

Enjoy walking around in your sarong in your strapless dress style. Come back next week for How To Tie A Sarong Part 2, as this will be the halter style of dress.

Review: CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain

2009-07-15T06:13:00.001-05:00

Hello Divas!

I am not a big fan of heavy makeup as I prefer the natural, sunkissed look. However, sometimes it is good to make a dramatic statement with a bold pop of color.

I was looking for a lip color that was in between a gloss and a lipstick so that I could have a vibrant color, while not having a heavy look.

I was in Walmart and stumbled on the CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain and I must say that I have fallen in love. The lipstain combines the best of two worlds and then makes it EVEN better.

The lipstain is like a marker for your lips that goes on smooth and pretty. I used in on my lips after completely taking off any residue of anything else. You simply press the applicator tip to your lips and it fills in the color.

It gave me a deep color that did not feel heavy like lipstick or sticky like gloss. The lipstain has a lovely sweet scent and when you press your lips together it renews and refreshes the color.

One word to note is that you need to allow at least ten minutes for the stain to dry and 'set' or it will come off very easily.

Also, it tends to come off with water, such as drinking from a glass or even with licking your lips. I found that it made my tongue the color of the stain so be careful when using.

My advice to you is that you apply at least 20 minutes before you go out and let dry. Then lick your lips a couple of times to get the bit that is going to come off and then reapply. This way you get a true stain that says on much better.

I found this out after experimenting with it a bit so try it out and see if it works for you. If you click the Amazon link above to buy then you get a cheaper price (it cost more at Walmart than online) and I get a referral for you buying through my link...so we BOTH win!!!!

Get Pretty And Long Lashes AND Save Money

2009-07-13T06:01:00.001-05:00

Hello Divas!

I recently gave away some mascara (congratulations Ana!!!!) and that got me thinking about how we can save money and still look fabulous.

I read recently that the formula for most mascaras is the same and the difference really lies in the brush. So if you have splurged in the past on an expensive tube of mascara and it all done you can save money by simply reusing the brush in a cheaper tube later on.

IMPORTANT!!!!!!

Be sure to wash and disinfect the brush THOROUGHLY before putting it into the new tube of cheaper mascara because you do not want to raise your odds of getting an infection.

Blog Love: Confessions Of A Shopaholic

2009-07-11T06:36:00.000-05:00

Hello Divas!

I am proud to announce that this blog has a blog crush on the blog Confessions Of A Shopaholic, written by Ana.

Check out her blog today and see her post on the Rimmell Mascara that she won here and show some love for the rest of her posts!!!!!!

How To Remove A Bandage Painlessly

2009-07-07T09:50:00.002-05:00

Hello Divas!

I am sure that you ladies have gotten cuts and scrapes before and you know to cover them up immediately to prevent infection.

But what about when you need to remove the bandage? We all know how much those little things can hurt as they pull and tug at your sensitive skin.

Well here is an easy way to remove your bandage without all the pain.

Step 1: Get some baby oil and apply to the edges of the bandage.
Step 2: Allow the oil to sit for about one minute
Step 3: Slowly peel off the bandage starting from the edges.

The oil helps to dissolve the adhesive on the bandage and lets it slide off your skin easily!!!

I know it works because I have tried it myself with great results. Bonus: the oil also removes that nasty sticky stuff on your skin so there is no bandage mark left on your skin!!!!!

What else do you use baby oil for?

Rest In Peace Michael!!!!

2009-06-27T22:13:00.000-05:00

I know I am a bit late with showing my condolences on the death of Michael Jackson...but I really did not know what to say.

I hope he finds peace.

Mascara Contest Winner!!!!

2009-06-18T18:04:00.002-05:00

Hello Divas!!

I just wanted to thank you all for participating in the mascara giveaway this week. I have randomly chosen the winner from the 6 different people who commented.

The winner is .....
drum roll please........

Ana P.S.

Yippeeee!!!

Congratulations Ana.

Please send your mailing address to me at AuroralavaATgmailDOTcom so I can send out your mascara.

Also, I would really love it if you would post on your blog after you get it and let us know how it works for you.

Catching Up On Comments...Mascara giveaway AGAIN

2009-06-10T17:49:00.004-05:00

Hello Divas!

I recently had a mascara giveaway that was open for one week but no one responded.

Then I closed the giveaway and comments came in DAYS after it was closed.

I guess I will open the giveaway again and enter those three people who responded (even though they were way after the deadline).

You now have until Thursday June 18 to enter for the mascara and I will announce the winner that night.

To be eligible you need to leave a comment saying why this is your favorite mascara OR why you would like to win this if you have never tried it before.

Winner needs to check back and send me your mailing address so I can ship it out.

(catherine, ana p.s. and farasa ........who commented on the post after it was closed I am noting your comments and you ladies will be entered twice and everyone else will get one chance).

Mascara giveaway closed

2009-05-22T20:31:00.003-05:00

I guess no one wanted the mascara since I did not receive a single comment on that post for the whole week.

The giveaway is now closed but might reopen if there is interest shown later on.

I am still working on the dark armpit situation...since the majority of visitors seem to come to this blog for those posts.

Rimmel Mascara Giveaway!!!!!

2009-05-10T20:14:00.002-05:00

Hello Divas!

It is time to take a break from my dark armpits and focus on something that should be dark.

Your eyelashes!!!

I will be giving away ONE tube of Rimmel Sexy Curves mascara in Black. To enter to win all you have to do is leave a comment here saying why you love Rimmel mascara.

The drawing will be on Monday 18 May and I will announce the winner in a post so be sure to come back and check to see if you win.

Good luck!

Resonses to Comments

2009-04-16T20:49:00.003-05:00

Hello Divas!

I have been away for a while and just decided to respond to a few comments I have gotten lately.

On the topic of my ugly, dark underarms...I am not obese and I just got tested and am not diabetic so that rules out those two causes for me.

I have tried the lemon juice thing and that did not work. The lemon juice burned but did not lighten. It feels to me like waxing is helping but I will just have to keep taking pictures to compare.

I live in a small town where the laser treatments and professional asian massage etc. are not available. There are not a lot of asians in my area and I guess women around here do not have this problem.

If anyone wants to write a guest post here I would really appreciate it. It can be anything beauty related and you do not have to be an expert.....I certainly am not one.

Bracelets Bang It Up

2009-04-02T18:22:00.003-05:00

Hello Divas!

As the weather gets warmer it is time to break out all those bracelets to have a banging wardrobe.

Bracelets can

* Make hands look dainty

* Show of your tan

* Balance your frame

If you have bracelets with tiny pearls or charms this can instantly make your hands look dainty and cute. Layer a few of them on or wear just one to look even more feminine.

The best way to showcase a light tan right now to wear corals and turquoise. Those two colors play off the golden hues and make you look even more sunkissed.

If you are really tall or big, chances are you have shied away from using bracelets at all. Get out of that mindset and break into your inner Diva by wearing some chunky cuffs and thick bracelets. Those larger sizes balance out your frame and make you just look fabulous!!!!!

Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal

2009-03-19T17:05:00.002-05:00

I got a box of the new advanced seal strips from Crest whitestrips to whiten my teeth. I will hold off for about a month to use these new strips......but I think they will work very well.

The only thing I do not like about whitening strips is that they do not reach the very back teeth.

Have you used strips to whiten your teeth?

Has Waxing Helped My Dark Armpits?

2009-03-10T17:32:00.005-05:00

Hello Divas!

I am now a few months into the waxing underarm hair in an effort to lighten my dark armpits. I have been waxing every time the hair grows and have not used a razor or depilatory cream since last year.

You might remember my adventures in dealing with a dark underam area as listed below:

How To Lighten Dark Underarms

Update on How To Lighten Dark Underarms

Revisiting My Dark Side

Armpit Whitening Update

F*$#@% Up My Armpits

Those were just a few of my adventures in trying to get my armpits to look like the rest of my skin and not a nasty patch of black, rough troll skin.

Now here is a pic of my left armpit on March 1st.....need to wax again, hee hee.

I finally got a digital camera so I can take better pictures instead of using the ones from the phone. So here is the left armpit taken about one year ago. I know it is hard to compare the two since one is a clearer image but that is all I have right now.

I do notice that when I wax some skin flakes (I guess) come off and I can see little dark patches on the wax strip. I guess this is the exfoliating part they talk about that will help with lightening the skin.

What I CAN tell you is that Lemon juice does NOT work. It burned and did not have any lightening effect.

This is so disgusting and not very Diva like at all.

I am now using a lightening cream with 3% Hydroquinone called Nadinola. I really hope this works because it is my last resort.

As always I will keep you guys in the loop. Has anyone had success with anything they have used?

Prenatal Vitamins=Great Skin and Hair

2009-03-06T06:23:00.002-06:00

Hello Divas!

We all long for beautiful, shiny, healthy hair and great looking skin. One way to get it is by eating lots of salmon and nuts which provide Omega 3 fats which promote beauty.

Another way to get the look you want is to take prenatal vitamins. Yes you heard that right....prenatal vitamins. Those vitamins that pregnant women take are chock full of nutrients like Biotin, which promote the growth of healthy hair and nails and which beautifies your skin.

It is safe for women in their 20s and 30s to take a prenatal vitamin even if they are not trying to get pregnant. Just be sure not to overdose....take the correct number of pills prescribed on the bottle.

Crushing On Wentworth Miller

2009-02-24T20:29:00.004-06:00

Hello Divas!

Normally I talk about beauty tips but today I need to talk about a beautiful person. I have been watching Prison Break lately and I must say that I am seriously crushing on Wentworth Miller, who plays Michael Scofield on the show.
Isn't he just a scrumptious looking specimen of a man?

I think he is totally gorgeous and he plays a great character on the show. I would love to meet him in person but until then I will just gaze upon his fabulous pictures.
If you have not watched the show as yet you should go ahead and check it out on Hulu.com as they are cancelling the show after the season in April.

It was a great show but it is time for Wentworth to move on to other things in life.

How To Make Your Valentine's Flowers Last Longer

2009-02-11T17:28:00.002-06:00

Hello Divas!

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and we all know that true Divas get flowers every year on this day. Flowers tend to wilt after a few days and you might even have to throw them out after three days.

If you want your flowers to last longer there are a few simple steps you can take to keep your blossoms blooming a few more days:

Wash that Vase
Some people keep vases that are very dusty and this contributes to the flowers dying quickly. You need to wash both the outside and the inside of the vase properly to ensure that there is no dust to get into the water.

Keep Cutting Those Ends
Most people cut the ends of their flowers only the first time they put them in a vase. If you cut the ends every few days under lukewarm water this will extend the life of your flowers even longer.

Refrigerate Your Flowers
It might be a little bit of extra work but when you place your flowers in the refrigerator at night you will wake up to pretty blooms. Refrigeration invigorates the flowers so try it out and see.

RuPaul's Drag Race Episode One

2009-02-07T22:21:00.002-06:00

Hello Divas!

I was watching a new reality tv show called RuPaul's Drag Race and it just blew my mind. It is about the search for the next top drag queen and it is funny.

I have mentioned before that I like gay men and female impersonators because they are so entertaining in general so I think I will be watching this show on a regular basis.

I think "Jade" is gorgeous and probably should have stayed as a man...but this is his choice. Some of the men make truly beautiful women and that is just another side of being beautiful that we have to live with.

Carnival Of Credit Report Stories February 2.

2009-02-04T16:22:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the February 2, 2009 edition of credit report stories.

KCLau presents Procrastinator, plucker, plotter, and prober posted at KCLau's Money Tips, saying, "Recently I was reading the book titled “The Number: What do you need for the rest of your life and what will it cost?” A rundown on what the book has to offer"

Savings Toolbox presents 5 Tips for Starting Your Savings posted at Savings Toolbox.

Debt Free Destiny presents 5 Ways to Save With Your Bank posted at Debt Free Destiny.

debt kid presents Repairing My Credit Won't Be Easy posted at DebtKid.

CreditCardAssist.com presents Don't Treat Your Credit Card Limit as Income posted at Credit Card Assist.

Destroy Debt presents It's No Secret Keeping Money Secrets From Your Partner is Not the Ideal Way to maintain a Relationship posted at Destroy Debt.

Deposit Accounts presents Money Management During a Recession posted at Deposit Accounts.

Ralph Jean-Paul presents How To Make Important Decisions Quickly posted at Potential 2 Success, saying, "Quick decision making is critical in just about every aspect of life. Every decision you make produces a result. In every line of business, quick decision making is crucial for success."

Margaret Garcia presents The Investing Web Toolbox: 25 Killer Money Management Webapps posted at The Tip'd Blog.

credit card

Raj Patel presents When It’s OK To Cancel A Credit Card posted at DebtGoal.

Save Money presents Save $1000 in 30 Days: My Take posted at How I Save Money.net.

Raily Arena presents Tips to Increase Your Chance of Selling Your Home posted at How to Sell Your Own Home.

Peak Personal Finance presents New Credit Card Laws Will Give Consumers a Break posted at Peak Personal Finance.

David presents Why Balance Transfer Offers and Cash Rewards Don’t Mix posted at Credit Card Offers IQ, saying, "Don't let this credit card gotcha snatch away your hard earned money."

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Best Cash Back Credit Cards: Your Rewards For Spending posted at The Digerati Life, saying, "Thank you so much!"

Mike G presents My Credit Card Organization System posted at Money TLD, saying, "Keeping on top of credit cards requires staying organized, which is easier than you think!"

Rani presents Your credit cards and what can happen to you. posted at Indoor Garden Musings, saying, "Learn what a credit card company can do to you."

ChristianPF presents Why you need to pay down your debts ASAP posted at Money in the Bible | Christian Personal Finance Blog, saying, "Paying down debts before the recession is a good idea!"

Raj Patel presents Call About Rates posted at DebtGoal.

Raymond presents Best CD Rates For High Yield Certificate Of Deposits posted at Money Blue Book.

credit score

The Financial Blogger presents Does writing NSF checks affect your credit rating? posted at TheCreditToolBox.com, saying, "Does writing NSF checks affect your credit rating?"

Jim presents LifeLock Review posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

Carnival of Financial Goals presents Hard Credit Check vs. Soft Credit Check : Cash Money Life posted at Cash Money Life, saying, "Hard Credit Check vs. Soft Credit Check"

Mr Credit Card presents Fraud Alert vs. Freezing Your Credit Report posted at Ask Mr Credit Card.

Patrick @ Military Money presents Should you pay off debt, save or invest? posted at Military Finance Network, saying, "Should you pay off debt, save or invest? This is a question that many people are asking."

Jim presents Free FICO Credit Score Estimates posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity.

Equifax

Finance Tips 101 presents Identity Theft Prevention Tips posted at Finance Tips 101.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of credit report stories using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: credit report stories, blog carnival.

Get Whiter Teeth!!! (sample)

2009-01-29T06:23:00.001-06:00

Hello Divas!

If you want to get whiter teeth, I am sure you have tried Crest Whitestrips before. If you would like to get a FREE sample of the latest strips all you have to do is click here to go to WalMart's site.

They are giving away a free sample of the latest, best whitening strips. Click on the image to order your free sample.

Here's to whiter teeth!!!!

I Love My MaxiGlide

2009-01-20T17:31:00.002-06:00

I am sure many of you Divas have seen the commercials for MaxiGlide. It is a hair straightener that steams your hair while making it straight.

I bought one recently and I must say that I LOVE it.

This gets my hair really straight and it looks even better than when I use a flat iron. The only thing I don't like about it is that the iron is a bit heavier than my regular curling irons.

The MaxiGlide has a flat side to flatten and smooth out the hair and the other side has pins that comb out the hair as you heat it. This detangles and separates the hair for better heat distribution.

I only use the MaxiGlide once a week and then wrap my hair the rest of the time and my hair looks as good all week as it did on the first day.

It was a bit more expensive but it is worth the price. I guess since it is heavy I can also look at that as a positive since my arm gets a workout as well!!!!!

What is your best hair straightening tool?

Stay Hydrated....Even In Winter

2009-01-12T17:36:00.001-06:00

Hello Divas!

I know that many of you think that you do not need to drink as much water in the winter as you do in the summer.

You still need to make sure that you are well hydrated so that you can retain that beautiful skin and hair that you have carefully cultivated.

Remember to drink water all through the day...even if it is just a little bit. Use chapstick or some other lip balm to keep lips moisturized and prevent you from licking them.