Beauty Goals For 2011

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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!!!!!

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!!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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 Deep Condition Your Hair With Olive Oil

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.