Tomato Juice For Weight Loss?

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.

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."

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.

Technorati tags: twenty something finances, blog carnival.

Late Carnival

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."

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.

Technorati tags: twenty something finances, blog carnival.

Always Thin Flexi-Style Liners (product review)

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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:

1. Promote the giveaway on your blog by talking about and linking back here AND
   
2. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Technorati tags: twenty something finances, blog carnival.

The Dark Armpits Saga

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!!!!

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!!!!

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.