Top 10 Tips For Summer Hair Care

I love Summertime, weather! However, it doesn't always love us back, especially when it comes to our hair and skin. Every year, people suffer the results of the sizzling summer sun. From sunburns to damaged hair, the sun wreaks havoc upon us in a many ways.

Living at the beach, riding my bike, and attending some outdoor events, puts me right in the midst of Mr. Sun and Ms. Sunny Summertime. And with that so are the appearance problems to my newly blond hair.

For instance, the “green” colored hair after taking a dip in the pool, or the brassy dried out locks from the ocean water. And the plain old dull, brittle, split ends that make us look less than our best when it's time for a fun night out with the girls.

So, what is a girl to do? Like my expression, plan your tan, you need to spare the hair before the sun leaves you with none! So, if you want to find out how you can protect your hair from the blazing sun rays continue reading.

Before I go into some of these tips, I think it is important to mention that it doesn't matter if your hair does not appear to be damaged. As these tips, we're about to share, are a must for all those who venture in the sweltering summer sun!

Tip 1: Washing Your Hair
Cut down on the number of times you wash your hair during the Summer months. Washing your hair daily removes the natural oils emitted by your scalp and dries out your hair.  And when it comes to drying the hair, air drying is best, as blow drying your hair will add extra heat damage, especially if it is color treated.

Tip 2: Moisturizing Shampoo
Switch over to a moisturizing shampoo during the summer months. Look at the ingredients too, as you want to stay away from products that have a lot of alcohol in them as alcohol can dry your hair out even more!

Tip 3: Showers
When showering, you want to take a cool shower. Yeah, I know this is difficult, but hot steamy showers are not good for the hair or your skin!  As they can dry out your hair and scalp, something you don't want to do during the scorching summer months.

Vanity Planets Groove Massaging Brush
For the next few tips, I have partnered up with Vanity planet using their Groove | Scalp Massaging Shampoo Brush. This nifty scalp massaging shampoo brush is a battery-powered, vibrating brush that has blunt, rubber bristles that gently loosens dead skin cells and oil buildup while giving the scalp a soothing mini-massage.

Not only does this brush make cleansing your scalp a breeze, but it also helps promote blood flow to the scalp, that can increase scalp health and hair growth which is needed in the summer months.

Additionally, this brush helps to replenish and to rejuvenate that dry, damaged hair while aiding in the prevention of excessive brittleness and split-ends.

Tip 4: Massaging The Scalp
To help protect your hair from the damaging effects of the sun, I like to massage my head with the Groove Massaging brush, not only does it feel great but it also contributes to improving the resilience over time.

Tip 5: Re-hydrating Your Hair
You can achieve this with products that increase moisture and shine. You can also do this naturally by using the Groove Massaging brush as this brush helps to stimulate your natural oils, to replenish, rejuvenate and conquer that battle of the summer dries.

Tip 6: Removing Excess Deadskin Cells
Lift away dead skin cells and oil buildup on the scalp. Why is this important? Well, the same harmful UV rays that damage your skin on the body can also damage your hair! So, by using my Vanity Planets, Groove massage brush, I can strengthen the roots of my hair, while nourishing the hair shaft, that will assist in promoting new growth and strengthens the hair.

Tip 7: Moisturizing Your Hair
You want to look for products that will increase moisture, shine, or elasticity. A product that I have found that helps my hair in the summer is the Remi Moisturizing and Restorative Treatment from Vanity Planet.  This hair treatment employs natural extracts like argon oil, castor oil, and coconut oil to revive the hair, repair signs of damage and hydrate parched summer tresses.

Tip 8: Covering Your Hair
When at the beach, I always wear a hat to protect my hair from the hot UV rays of the sun that can damage my hair.  Additionally, the salt water can turn my blond hair brassy, and that is the last thing I need after spending all that money to lighten my hair.

Tip 9: Protect Your Hair From Chlorine
I stay away from getting my hair wet as the chlorine can mess up your hair, even turn it green, yuko. But unfortunately, you can’t always control that with splashing water from others. So, to reduce the amount of 'green tint' that can occur in my hair, I apply some leave in conditioner.  Doing this creates a barrier of protection to the hair, preventing it from absorbing the chlorine water.

DIY tip… I got this from a friend of mine who is a die-hard sunbather. If you notice that your hair is showing signs of a greenish tint, you can try applying tomato juice or ketchup to your hair and wrap it with some saran wrap or a plastic shower cap and leave it for 15-30 minutes, then rinse.

Why does this work? Because tomatoes are highly acidic and can cut through the green oxidization to help to eliminate the green in your hair.

Tip 10: Feed Your Hair
What we eat is also essential to healthy hair growth. Since our hair is made up of certain types of protein and skin cells, implementing a healthy diet would make sense for a positive effect on our hair.

Eating a diet of low-fat proteins, fruits, and vegetables, can help to stimulate the growth of healthy hair from our follicles.

You also need to make sure you are drinking plenty of water! This is one thing I am not good at, but considering our hair is an extension of our skin, hydrating from the inside out only makes sense! Drinking plenty of water will help hydrate and give your hair the internal moisture it needs to look and feel healthy.

So, there you have it beauties, our top 10 Tips For Summer Hair Care!

BONUS DISCOUNTS:
Want to kick start your hair care? Well now you can with 25% Off All Vanity Planet's Hair Products   Use Code: BBHair25

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The Purrfect Way To Control Cat Litter Stink With The Litter Genie

While I am a BEAUTY lover, I am also a cat lover! So keeping things BEAUTYful for my kitty is also important! And that is why I was happy to partner up with Litter Genie to shut the lid on smelly cat litter, as my Bella wants her room to be BEAUTYful as well!

Ooh, That Smell, Can't You Smell That Smell?
Yeah, there have been times both Bella, and I have been singing that tune! While mine is the old Lynyrd Skynyrd’s classic song “That Smell,” neither of us want that smell to surround us. But rather to banish the cat litter odor from our home completely, and that is exactly what I did with the Litter Genie!

No more stinkies, PLEEASE

About Litter Genie®
The Litter Genie® is your nose-friendly, hassle-free cat litter disposal system.  This genie holds up to two weeks of stinky cat litter, and with the seven-layer refill bags, it helps to lock in the nasty germs too!

Bella and I love that the Litter Genie® is so easy to use.  This hassle-free compact cat litter disposal system is PURRFECT.  It is very simple to use and is small enough to keep in the bathroom in my condo!

YEAH, it's about time

How To Use
Line the Genie with the odor barrier refill bag, and scoop the poop, with the scooper that comes with the set.  Next, open the lid and drop in the clumps of litter and other stinkies. Once you do that pull the handle and the clumps are sealed away, with no more smell! It is that easy, plus the added antimicrobial protection inhibits odors causing bacteria to linger in the pail!

How To Empty
This is simple as well, just open the Litter Genie unit at the middle and use the built-in childproof cutter to cut the bag and then tie it!

What Comes With the Litter Genie Cat Litter Disposal System

• The pail
• The Refill of 14 ft. of bags
• Scooper
• Scoop Holder

Cost’s Of The Litter Genie

• LITTER GENIE® PAIL $14.99 – $16.99 (MSRP)
• LITTER GENIE® REFILL $5.99 – $35.99 (MSRP)
• This bad boy's refills, last up to two months for one cat and is available in single, two and four-pack pack options.

It's cuddle time, now that we're using the Litter Genie

Where To Purchase
The Litter Genie® is available in Petco, Pet Smart, Target, Walmart, Amazon.com, Chewy.com and some other retailers where pet products are sold.

Final Thoughts
This system is MEOWtastic, we love it and have shut the lid on smelly cat litter, by joining the stop cat litter smell movement and so can you by going here!

Until next time!

I am Sweet, but I don't like stinky litter!

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A Busy Girl's Guide To Relaxation And Rejuvenation

As I get older, there seems to be more going on in my life than less.  With deadlines, traveling, work events, there does not appear to be enough time for Busy Gals like myself to unwind and relax. BUT, we need to make time, as not only will it help us physically, but it helps us mentally.

For this post, I have partnered up with BabbleBoxx and Single Edition Media. So, if you want to find out my tips on how a busy gal can relax and rejuvenate when there doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day continue reading.

Get Your Beauty Sleep
Sleep what is that, yet alone beauty sleep???  Yes, I know, if you are a busy gal, you are probably laughing at me as you are reading this, but getting enough sleep is on my priority list.  To do this sometimes, I will put off some things, which only I would notice the difference they are not getting done until the weekend.  Getting at least 6-8 hours of sleep is so important as having a good night sleep affects us both mentally and physically.  Also, trying to go to bed and getting up at the same time every day also helps.

Relief For Tired Eyes
Even though I practice the above, there are still times that I wake up with tired eyes.  So, while my coffee is brewing I grab my Clear Eyes Pure Relief® Multi-Symptom to help relieve my tired red eyes.

In addition to keeping a bottle of the Clear Eyes in my medicine cabinet, I also keep one of these at my desk, worry free too. What do I mean by that? Well, the Clear Eyes Pure Relief® bottle has a built-in purifying filter that keeps the bacteria out, so there’s no need for preservatives, which is perfect for me as some of these preservatives in other brands seem to irritate my eyes even worse!

Therefore, I think preservative free is a better choice for me.  Additionally, I recently found out the preservatives that you may find in other eye drop brands can inhibit bacteria growth inside the bottle, YUK. I don’t want that; I just want some relief for my tired eyes from staring at the computer screen all day!

Tips To Getting Ready In The Mornings
Running around like a chicken with your head cut off will add to your stress, so below are some quick pointers.

Bathing
I found that washing my hair the night before saves on time. So, in the morning, all you must do is jump in the tub for a quick rinse off.

Shaving
What is that and who sees my hairy legs anyways? Well, let me tell you nothing is worse than sitting in a meeting and looking down to notice your hairy ankles! Especially if you’re in a meeting across from someone with your legs crossed, those hairy ankles can be seen, trust me it happened to me a few months ago.

So, to help with this I use Nad’s Sensitive Hair Removal Cream, it is a fast and painless way to remove hair. I use this no drip formula in the shower, it’s simple, quick and removes the hair quickly and it lasts a while, so no more embarrassing hairy ankle moments.

Now I know you may be thinking, doesn’t that stuff stink and burn? NO, it does not as it is formulated with natural extracts of melon, aloe vera, avocado oil and honey to soothe and protect sensitive skin. And with the new odor elimination technology, this means a lot less smelly, yeah!

Nad’s hair removal cream is an effective way to remove that unwanted hair in just as little as four minutes and who does have 4 minutes to spare in the evening?

Finding Time For Makeup And Other Beauty Essentials
I found that you need to prioritize this and the best way for me is to keep all the things I need to get ready for work all in one place. I have so many beauty products and trying to go through them all when you’re short on time is a nightmare.  Hence keeping a work beauty drawer, by storing all your essentials in that place, makes getting ready much easier.

Hair

Washing your hair daily is not needed, and more so it is not good for your hair. While I do wash my hair in the evenings, in the mornings I use dry shampoo to give my hair a few extra days before I must wash it.  Not only does dry shampoo absorb the oil, but it also adds volume to your hair, so it is still looking great!

Your Scheduled Pampering Time
So, the time has come (according to your calendar) for some me time! We all like to feel like a princess, so for my me time I like to treat myself to some skincare! It is important that you are comfortable in your skin. When it comes to skincare, it isn’t just about targeting lines or fighting wrinkles; instead, the goal is to find ideal multi-dimensional products that make you look and feel radiant!  With that, I like to share with you Bloom Minerals 4 Piece Set. This skincare set has a little bit of everything in it, with minerals from the dead sea, to eye cream and mud masks, this collection sure makes a great spa escape for me!

In addition to feeling great, these products also offer some amazing benefits. And because I am a big proponent on skincare, I thought I would share with you some more details on these dead sea beauties!

Purifying Mud Mask: Mixed with olive oil, honey, fragrance and Aloe Vera extract, this natural and unique mud from under the bed of the Dead Sea is formulated to reach and clean the impurities beneath the skin and keep the skin hydrated. This mask also helps to reduce and delay wrinkles, as well as facial lines for soft, younger looking skin, instead of tired old skin from all the stress!

Softening Cleansing Milk: This cleansing product allows you to remove makeup and clean your face by using only natural moisturizers from Dead Sea minerals.

Shielding Eye Cream: Nothing like relaxing those tired looking eyes even more than with a natural eye cream formulated with vitamin E fruit extracts and the Dead Sea minerals.

Moisture Shield: Moisturizing your skin is so essential, so what a wonderful way to end your spa treatment than with some moisturizing TLC

Treat Yourself To Something Pretty
Next, on my list for some me, time is to treat myself a new bra and pantie set. Now some of you may be thinking, what?? How is this pampering, especially if I want to be by myself? But the truth for me there’s nothing like some beautiful lace to make you feel amazing. It’s the kind of thing we don’t treat ourselves too often enough, but knowing you’re wearing something underneath your clothes, like a seamless Coobie bralette can make you feel great about yourself!

Now you may be wondering, what the heck is a bralette. Well if you can’t tell from the picture below, this lovely lace bra is ultra-comfortable! Made with soft, stretchy lace, and no pads or wires, you can relax and feel beautiful at the same time.

Snuggle Up With A Great Movie
To end my me day, I like to snuggle up with my cat and watch a FUNNY movie. Laughing can have an incredible effect on your well-being, so make sure that you are laughing and Don't Forget the Popcorn!

So, there you have it beauties, my ways for a Busy Gal to find time to unwind and relax! And remember, if you want to look beautiful, you need to feel beautiful. It is no secret that beauty is more than what is on the outside. My grandma always used to say, “If you don’t feel good about yourself you won’t look good.” And I agree with her! Beauty is more than our physical appearance; it is a state mind! So, if you to want to indulge, try implementing some of my above tips. And to get you started, I also have some discounts for some of the products I mentioned!

Beauty Deals
Bloom Mineral Beauty:  Providing the finest skin care and beauty products utilizing exclusive Dead Sea minerals. Bloom products are formulated using natural minerals from the Dead Sea, in a unique combination created with decades of experience and now you can get 25% Off By Using Code skin25. Valid until June 30, Limit of 2 uses per customer.

Clear Eyes Pure Relief® Multi-Symptom: Download a $3 Off coupon.

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Tips To Getting Fit And Healthy For Summer

With summer right around the corner, I decided I needed to start hitting the gym and getting my eating routine back into to gear.

I want to first start off by saying, by no means am I a medical professional.  I do not claim any responsibility for any product, diet, food plan, or tips I am about to discuss. This is what has worked for me, so always do your research and more importantly consult with your doctor for medical advice. With that being said, let's get on with the goodies.

My Secret To Losing Weight And Getting In Shape
Eating healthy, exercise, and just generally taking good care of yourself is the key, so it's not rocket science, and it's not a new concept. But unfortunately, a lot of us are all looking for the 'quick fix.' We've gotten brained washed thinking there is one, but there is not.  And more importantly, a lot of these fads are not safe, or we end up frustrated eating tasteless foods, starving ourselves and ready for a final fix to the unforgiving cycle of self-sabotage.

Given that, trying to get into shape for the summer doesn't have to be overly complicated, but it will take some time and effort on your part.

I always say: "If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got." SO, if you keep doing the same things you've always done with your eating habits and exercise, then you won't lose weight. It will take some time to change your behavior, but you can do it. Just be realistic in your outlook and be willing to give it some time and you'll be where you need to be sooner than you may have thought.

My Most Important Tip
When it comes to me losing weight, it is all about portion control, bottom line.  The portions of food we eat are ridiculous.  Think about it, next time you go out look at how much food you are served with your one entrée, WAY TOO MUCH! This is why when I go out to eat I do one of the two things; Share a meal with a friend, not only does it save money but the serving size is more than enough. The second option is when my meal comes, I also ask for a to go box and before I start to eat I take half of the meal and place it in the to go box.  If I am at home, I eat from a smaller plate.  ALSO, for me trying to lose weight, I also weigh my food based on the ounces my trainer gave me. I will list that below.

In addition to portion control, eating healthy requires you to lower your daily caloric intake. The exact amount you need to take in every day will depend on many variables such as your age, your gender and the amount of activity you get every day. That doesn't necessarily mean exercise, just how much you 'move' on a daily basis.

Once you've figured out what your caloric intake needs to be, you should find a food plan.  For the most part, you'll want to keep things as natural as possible. Stay away from highly processed foods, which means, those quick premade dinners, mixes, etc. are not a good idea.  The best approach is to make your food and create prepared meals you can eat throughout the week and take to work with you, as you want to avoid eating fast foods or overly processed foods that you WILL find at the popular sit-down restaurants.

 

Foods To Eat To Keep Healthy

Protein...
Protein is key to losing weight! Our body burns more calories digesting protein that carbs.  More importantly, protein also helps you to stay full longer, as the biggest reason for failing a diet is feeling like you are hungry all the time! But not when you have a diet high in protein, combined with a good balance of greens, and minimal carbohydrates, you should not feel hungry.

So Why Protein
Because it contributes to building and maintaining muscle.  Hence having a diet heavy on the protein side is key.  BUT WAIT.  It is healthy protein, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be meat!!! You can also find high amounts of protein in foods like yogurt, eggs, cottage cheese, and nuts. But if you love your meat, try to stick to leaner ones, like boneless, skinless chicken, fish high in Omega 3 as these are also excellent sources of low-fat protein. And if you have to have some red meat, stick to lean meats, like a filet.

Implementing Protein Powder Into Diet
Another source of protein is protein powder, and nowadays you can do a lot with protein powder, not just shake it with water and go! You can make smoothies from it, bake with it, mix it in with other foods and much more.  And for this portion, I have partnered up with The Svêlo™ Solution; a Delicious Protein Shake Formulated for Weight Loss Success.

So Why Do I Like Svêlo™
Svelo is more than a 100-calorie protein shake mix, it is also packed with vitamins, minerals, protein and healthy carbohydrates – plus it's an appetite suppressant, and metabolism booster, which is a must have for those that go through those HANGRY moments.  According to their website, this product provides your body with fuel to function.  It also helps to curb your cravings by inducing sensations of satiety while providing support to rev your metabolism.  This is one thing I like about Svelo as you can continue to burn fat without feeling sluggish.

So What Does Svêlo™ Offer

• BURN MORE, EAT LESS: Delicious meal replacement shake formulated to aid in weight loss | 30 servings
• REV: Powerful metabolism booster may help burn calories while increasing lean muscle mass & energy
• CURB: Strong appetite suppressant & satiety aid may control hunger and crush cravings for up to 4 hours
• FUEL: A complete meal in 100 calories, 12g whey protein, 7g fiber, essential vitamins, and minerals

Other Foods To Add To Your Meal Plan
In addition to protein in your diet when it comes to eating bread and cereals remember to stay away from 'white 'foods. White bread, white rice, etc. are loaded with unhealthy carbs. There are virtually no health benefits from eating those types of foods. Try instead to eat more high fiber, whole grain bread, brown rice, and Quinoa, which aside from producing energy quinoa is also another great source of protein.

• Vegetables  Eating a lot of greens is essential, look for green leafy vegetables, like Kale, spinach.
• Fruits are also good, but if you are trying to lose weight some fruits should be excluded like bananas...The best fruit to add to your regimen is an apple. Yes, I guess an apple a day keeps a lot away!

My Food Plan
As mentioned above I was going to share my diet I got from my trainer.  As you will see I am eating throughout the day as starving yourself is not going to work.

Breakfast:

• Black coffee (no sweeteners or creams, sorry)
• Egg whites or Oatmeal. For the oatmeal, I do not add sugar; I do however add some of my protein shakes to it, as it is sweet and makes it flavorful.
• Svelo Protein shake.

Snack: 
PICK ONE...A Svelo Protein Shake, Greek Yogurt with an apple or some almonds ( I prefer the Greek yogurt and an apple)

Lunch: 
3 ounces of protein, ½ cup of brown rice or Quinoa and a cup of greens.

Snack:
Whichever of the above you did not eat do it here. I prefer to drink the Svelo shake here as there is a longer time for me until dinner and the shake prevents me from being hungry in the afternoons.

Dinner:
3-4 ounces of lean protein, ½ cup of brown rice or Quinoa and a cup of greens.

And don’t forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day which will help keep you in great shape.

So, there you have it, my approach to eating healthier while trying to maintain my weight.  The key to my success is my belief to look at this as a lifestyle, not a diet. Watching what you eat is always important! At the very least, that means lots of lean protein, fruits and vegetables, and complex carbohydrates and no processed foods. And when it comes to building muscle, toning your body, and increasing your energy, consider about 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight to maximize the benefits of protein.

Sponsored Details On Svelo Shakes:

• Want to know the nutritional facts on Svelo Meal Replacement click here 
• Follow Svelo on social media:  
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