by | Nov 15, 2015 | Haircare |
Hi Beautiful People,
Hope you are having a wonderful day!
I enjoy making DIY products for my hair and body. There is something about making your own products that is so gratifying and satisfying. It is something about fall and cool weather is a wonderful time to make products for yourself, family and friends. A few months back, my hubby and I made a DIY hair treatment with avocado and oils. It took little time to get it right, but it turned out good. The avocados were a little old, so the color wasn’t a bright green and the blender didn’t blend as smooth as I would have wanted. In spite of this, the treatment made our hair shiny and soft.
Today, we wanted to try the recipe again; but used fresh avocados and a better blender. The difference was amazing and very noticeable.
My hubby bought avocados through Fruit my Cube; which will deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to workplace every Monday. Last week, avocados were on sale and the first thing we thought of was Deep Hair Conditioner, not Guacamole Dip.
We recently upgraded our blender when we bought a Wolfgang Puck commercial blender. We really like the quality of this blender and its power is awesome. It rivals the expensive blenders; but it costs about a third of the price. This was the first time we had a chance to try the Avocado Deep Hair Treatment recipe.
Wolf Gang Puck Blender
1) I collected some of my oils I wanted to add for softness and shine.
Oils
Oils
4 Tsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
10 Tsp. Macadamia Nut Oil
10 Tsp. African Royale Hot Six Oil
10 – 15 Tsp. CoCasta Shikakai Oil by Hairveda
10 Tsp. Jojoba Oil
4 Tsp. Carol’s Daughter Khoret Amen Softening Hair Oil
Cutting of the Avocados
2) I cut open the Avocados and put them in the blender.
Avocado in the Wolfgang Puck blender
3) I blend the avocados in the blender and added the oils. If it is not blending well, add more oil and pulse until you get a creamy, almost whipped cream consistency.
Creamy-Avocado-Deep-Hair-Conditioner
4) I put into containers and freeze. When I am ready to condition my hair, I will let the mixture unthaw in the Fridgerator a day or two.
Avocado-Hair-Treatment-in-the-Container
I usually leave the deep conditioner on my hair for 45 minutes and rinse before cleansing my hair. If you would like to do another rinse, you can; but the key is to blend the oil and avocados in the blender well enough so no pieces of avocado are prevalent.
You don’t have to use the oils I use. If you have favorites, please add them in. You can add in honey, coconut oil, the options are endless.
If you use the recipe please let us know your results. If you have your own recipe, please let me know.
Please note: If you are expecting or taking medications please check with your doctor to make sure oils are okay for you to use in your hair.
by | Nov 14, 2015 | Inspirations |
Burning Bush
Hello Beautiful People!
My heart goes out to the people of Paris, I pray and intercede for peace and comfort for the country!
I have really been purposing to get into my bible more and search the scriptures. I was thinking that in order for me to grow in my relationship with God, I have to seek Him daily. Sounds easy, right? It hasn’t been easy because things will try to take my eyes off of Him. I have to continue to cast those imaginations down and move forward. Do you ever feel like that?
I realized long time ago that praying daily is not an option. The devil doesn’t take a break, so I move forward. I can’t be too busy and not put God first. If I miss it, I repent and dust myself off and move forward.
I wanted to share a favorite chapter of mine that I say out loud daily. Psalm 91 gives me comfort and lets me know the Lord has His hedge of protection around me. I say it out loud so I can hear it. These are not just positive affirmations; but words I stand on.
Psalm 91 New International Version (NIV)
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
It’s so easy to be fearful and not want to come out the house; but that is not the way to live. There is an enemy out there and his name is Satan. We have to continually have to stand and fight. I also have been standing on this scripture daily and it gives me confidence.
2 Timothy 1:7
God has not given me a spirit of fear but of power love and a sound mind.
I will be sharing more scriptures and words of wisdom.
Peace to you.
by | Oct 31, 2015 | Accessories |
Hello Beautiful People!
Expressing yourself through jewelry is one of the best ways to make a personal statement and create a style that is uniquely yours. There are a lot of different types of jewelry out there. But not all of them are really capable of forming that statement you’re looking for. Larimar is a unique, cool-toned blue stone that can only be found in one mine in the Dominican Republic. Discovered in the 1970s, this fairly recent stone is making huge waves everywhere it’s introduced – including in the fashion industry.
The Blue Stone of Atlantis
One of the reasons Larimar attracts so much attention is in its connection to the prophesy made by Edgar Cayce. He predicted a blue stone being found at the site of the lost city of Atlantis, and declared that this stone would have both spiritual and healing powers.
Larimar.com
Many people have already discovered the spiritual benefits of wearing Larimar and now its beautiful, unique color and hand-shaped form is beginning to attract attention as well.
A Cool Watery Color
One of the things that makes Larimar unique is its coloration. Turquoise and aquamarine are both cool-toned stones that make beautiful accents year round. Larimar falls into this color category, but with a unique blend of tones all its own.
Larimar’s cool blue color has a natural white vein, which flows through the stone in such a way as to make it look like you are wearing a piece of captured water. At times, the stone may also be accented with a deep red vein, which adds a lot of depth and contrast to the piece.
This depth and contrast is what makes Larimar a great accent to a summer wardrobe, when a cool, watery jewel is the perfect piece to capture a viewer’s attention. At the same time, the cool color of the stone also works well with winter palettes of blue, green, turquoise, gray, and white. Worn as a ring, necklace, or set of earrings, Larimar is sure to capture people’s attention.
Larimar.com
No Two Alike
When choosing a statement piece to accent your wardrobe, it’s important to look for pieces that can help you stand out from the crowd. After all, you won’t get attention by sporting the exact same ornament as everyone else.
That’s part of what makes Larimar jewelry such a wonderful find. No two pieces of the stone are ever exactly the same. The size, vein pattern, and even color will vary from piece to piece and within one piece to give you an accent that is as unique as you are.
Each stone is also cut, polished, and laid in its setting by hand, which ensures that the quality of the piece will last for generations, while the artistry of each one will complete the look you’re trying to achieve.
JT’s Larimar and Blue Topaz pendant – a seahorse
Stand Out with Larimar
As Larimar’s reputation grows, so does the demand for this brilliant, unique, and beautiful stone. Its single origin status and varying size and color, however, mean that when you wear Larimar, you will always stand out from the crowd, no matter how or where you accent your wardrobe with it.
*Information on Larimar provided courtesy of Larimar.com
by | Oct 26, 2015 | Beauty, Review |
Hi Beautiful People,
Hope you are having a lovely day. We are full force in October and the leaves are changing colors and experiencing cool and warm days, all in the same week. During this time of the year, my skin loves moisture and loves feeling soft. I have had an opportunity to experience the Somaluxe brand for the first time. For the last month, I sampled the Somaluxe Argan Oil, the Somaluxe Lip Rescue and the Somaluxe Redness Repair. These three products are wonderful and I recommend adding them to your daily hair and beauty routine.
Somaluxe Argan Oil Hair Treatment
Somaluxe Argan Oil
This bottle contains only 100% pure oils that feel so good on the skin and it has a very refreshing scent.
Ingredients:
Jojoba oil, argan oil, Litsea essential oil, Bergamot essential oil, Lemon essential oil, Pink Grapefruit essential oil, Lime essential oil, Ginger essential oil, Rosewood essential oil, Lemongrass essential oil, Citronella essential oil, Patchouli Dark essential oil, Ylang Ylang essential oil, Cinnamon essential oil and Neroli essential oil.
Somaluxe Argan oil
A few drops goes along way, I use it in my hair for moisture. On the label the directions say you can use for frizz and anti- aging benefits. The oil can be applied to damp hair after shampooing or when hair is dry to added shine. The oil is not greasy and contains no alcohol. This product retails for $22.00 and can be purchased at Lady Soma. If you want to rejuvenate your hair and give it the moisture that it craves, this Argan Oil needs to be in your closet.
Somaluxe Lip Rescue
Somaluxe Lip Rescue
This small container offers a big punch. The smooth and rich concoction moisturizes for your lips at the first dab. I take a little amount on my finger and apply to my lips for a instant soothing feeling. The jar is small enough for me to keep in my purse and I can have it with me anytime my lips feel chapped or dry. With the cold weather coming in, this is a must have keep your lips form cracking and bleeding. This product retails for $22.99 and can be purchased at Lady Soma.
Lip Rescue II
Somaluxe Redness Repair
The Redness Repair is a targeted moisturizer aimed at helping with redness in the face. I recommend this moisturizer whether you have redness or not. The texture is light and absorbs gently into the skin. The Redness Repair does not smell like it is full of perfume. It contains ingredients like witch hazel and aloe vera that hydrate the skin. This product retails for $24.00 and can be purchased at Lady Soma.
I was extremely pleased with the quick results items from these three Somaluxe products. I recommend them to anyone who is looking to add effective products at a great price. You may think that the price is high. However, considering you only need a small amount of each to do the job, one bottle and/or jar will last you a long time.
*Products were sent to Bubblingwitheleganceandgrace.com, review is our honest opinion.
by | Oct 8, 2015 | Pets |
Our pets rely on us for food, shelter, and more importantly, safety. That’s why we should be on top of anything that ails them. Jordan Walker, the lead content curator of Coops and Cages, shares what heartworms are and how they can be detected.
Image 1
Heartworms are parasitic roundworms that are spread through mosquito bites. Although generally referred to as dog heartworms, they can also afflict other animals like cats, foxes, wolves, and coyotes. In rare instances, they are also found in humans.
As an owner, can you bear the thought of your beloved pet wasting away because of a parasite in its heart? If not, better follow these measures that would help you detect the presence of heartworms in their body.
Unnatural Exhaustion
There are very limited signs of heartworm infection. Until the larvae grow and mature inside the host’s heart, practically no tell-tale signs can be found. One of the early signs of heartworm infection is unnatural fatigue. That is, if your pet used to be able to maintain a very active lifestyle but can’t now, you may want to have them checked by a vet.
Coughing and Vomiting
The longer the heartworms stay in the heart and lung chambers of the victim, the higher the risk of his vital organs getting damaged. Coughing and vomiting are typical symptoms brought about by heartworm infection. When these symptoms are combined with fatigue, there’s all the more reason to have your pet checked.
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Abnormal Lung Sounds
Severe heartworm disease also begets this symptom. If you notice that your pet is producing unusual lung sounds, he needs to be attended by a vet immediately.
Antigen Test
This blood test is administered by veterinarians and is effective in detecting heartworms that are at least five months old. By examining the dog’s bloodstream for proteins called antigens, the vet can verify if there are indeed heartworms. This is because such proteins are released by adult female heartworms in the pet’s bloodstream. However, same reason makes it impossible for the test to detect immature heartworms, because only when these female heartworms become adults that they are able to release this substance.
Microfilaria Test
Another type of test that can be used for parasite detection is the microfilaria test. Yet another product of adult heartworms, microfilaria’s presence indicates that heartworms are thriving and have begun mating inside its host. It usually takes six to seven months for heartworm larva to fully grow into adults.
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Make it as a rule to always schedule regular sessions with your vet. While nothing may be wrong, it won’t hurt to have the experts take a look at your pet every now and then. Also, going to the vet often also has numerous other benefits.
Parasites are detrimental to a pet’s health. We should protect our pets if we want them to live long and to the fullest. In return, they’ll reward us with their loyalty and companionship.
Image Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
Author: Jordan Walker
Jordan is the lead content curator for Coops and Cages as well as a couple of other pet-related blogs. His passion for animals is paired with his love for “attempting” to play the guitar. If you would like to catch more of him, you can visit his Google+ or Twitter accounts.
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