Friday, January 10, 2014

Jennifer EtCetera's BEAUTY TIP OF THE WEEK: Winter Feet

Although we're in the harsh winter weather months, our feet don't have to wait until spring to be pampered. 

Here's a recipe for a quick at-home foot scrub: 
  1. Combine in a small bowl 5 tablespoons of oil (olive, coconut or any other oil you have available) with 2 tablespoons of sugar.
  2. Scrub your feet with your hand or small wash cloth. 
  3. Rinse feet with warm water.
  4. Massage less than a dime-size of baby oil gel on each foot. 
The olive oil is moisturizing, the grit of the sugar will exfoliate your feet and the baby oil gel seals in the moisture. Even use baby oil gel on other parts of your body to lock in moister. Getting someone else to do the scrubbing is even better and can be very romantic during these snuggle months!

Thursday, January 9, 2014

4 BIG Things I Learned From 2013...

So we're in a brand new year already. Wow how time really flies so fast! So I took the first couple of days of 2014 to review my life and what I have learned through all the joys and pains that 2013 brought my way. Well, there were many lessons to learn, of course. But I'm gonna share some 'big' lessons I learned (not listed in any particular order of priority). Here we go!

 

1. Everything has its season. This is also one important lesson I learned the hard way this year. One thing ends, another thing begins. I'm not a big fan of change, so I don't really like it but I know that everything has its season. You just can't be in the same chapter anymore. If you're stuck in the same chapter, you can't grow. One of the most frustrating things in life is when it's time to move forward, it's time, but we don't want to move at all because we're too afraid to let go of the old things. Change happens. Welcome change. 

2. Open your heart, but guard it. I’ve always believed that it’s good to see the best in people and I will always stand by that. However I’ve learned the hard way that you can save yourself a lot of heartache by trying to be objective at the same time. It doesn’t pay to believe everything everyone says just because you want it to be true. See people for what they are and not what you want them to be and proceed accordingly. Don’t seek love. Be love, and give love.


3. If you like it, I love it! It’s a struggle to constantly remind myself that as individuals we all have our own paths to follow and some people have to learn the hard way.  In an effort to avoid playing the martyr I’ve created one rule for myself: If you like it, I love it!  You have two times to take my (solicited) advice & if you repeat the same behaviors, I’ll just take it to mean you’re happy with your situation, and I’ll stop offering.  I refuse to stress over other people’s problems that don’t affect me.  But I warn you: don’t complain to me about things that you are unwilling to change. I will just as politely dismiss you. I don’t have time for the tears and self-pity from those who choose to do nothing to change their circumstances.

4. Hope is not a strategy. If you get to the point where you “hope” you don’t get ruined, then you did something wrong beforehand. For instance, if you plan a wedding outside and you don’t have a backup plan in case it rains, then you probably mis-planned your wedding, unless you are getting married in a desert. “Hoping” is not a bad thing. I hope that every day my life goes perfectly. But if hoping is the only thing I’m relying on, then it means I didn’t really look at all the possible outcomes of something that was important to me.

So here's to all that 2014 has to offer and I embrace it a little stronger and a lot more wiser! 

Friday, January 3, 2014

Jennifer EtCetera's BEAUTY TIP OF THE WEEK: Home Remedy for Dark Underarms

Dark armpits can make wearing sleeveless tops and dresses, whether in the summer or winter, very embarrassing for any woman. Armpits can darken due to perspiration in the underarm area because the sweat never fully dries out in the folds of armpit skin and secretes uric acid, which will darken skin. Age, hormonal changes, pregnancy, excessive shaving and poor quality deodorants can also cause dark underarms. Luckily there are several ways to treat the problem naturally:

  • LEMONS: One of the best and effective home remedies to treat dark underarms it to use lemon. Take a piece of lemon and rub it on the armpits after bath.
  • OILS: Apply Vitamin E oil on the armpits to treat dark underarms. Another alternative would be to rub the underarm area with coconut oil to remove the darkness from the underarms.
  • PASTE: Make a paste by mixing in a medium bowl 1 teaspoon of lime juice, 1 teaspoon of cucumber juice and a pinch of turmeric powder. Apply the paste on your armpits and wash off after 20 minutes.
Nonetheless once you have found a way to get rid of your dark underarms, you will be more confident about your appearance and have a higher self esteem, but the best part is you won't have to worry about wearing those sleeveless tops anymore. 

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Wishing You A Very Happy New Year!!



 http://photo.elsoar.com/wp-content/images/2014-free-greeting-card-photo-4.jpg
A new year
A new challenge
A new goal
A new optimism
A new approach
A new mission
A new resolution

My special wish to you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Monday, December 30, 2013

2014 Memory Jar

So instead of making new year resolutions that I might not keep, I decided to start a memory jar for 2014! Starting this Wednesday (January 1st 2014) & throughout the year, I'll write down on little sticky notes good moments and achievements that happen & put them in my jar (I plan to decorate my jar). Then on Wednesday December 31st 2014, I'll open the jar & read all the amazing things that happened that year. You'll be able to literally count your blessings for sure!!! It's more fun than a journal as anyone in the family can contribute to it. I'm sharing this idea with my friends as a creative activity for your year to come & maybe you can customize it however you want...HAPPY NEW YEAR ツ