Tobi Shopaholic!

Hey Ladies!

I wanted to let you know about this little gem that I found through a friend a couple months ago called Tobi.com. It's an online women's fashion site and it has the most ADORABLE clothes and is one of the main reasons for breaking my bank account. I've always been a shopaholic but now I think it might be a real addiction...Do they make pills for that? :P

I've already purchased through them four times in the past two months. That to me is a lot. Their clothes are similar to Forever21 and Lulu's, but just about every item is feminine and sexy and not hipster. They're just a tad pricier than Forever21's clothing, but I think the quality is better. Aside from having super cute clothes, they also have really good customer service and I mean REALLY good. Anytime I've had a question about an exchange or a specific item they respond to me via email really quickly and they've always had a good answer. Their items also ship and deliver quickly and their shipping is FREE and even returns are FREE! Can you say shopping heaven?! Another great thing about them is that they always have deals going on. When you're a member, they send emails daily on new items and those new items will be 30% off for up to 7 days. They also occasionally have 50% off on the entire site and they've been having 40% off on everything through the end of December as a holiday special. The code is DECEMBER40. Yes, I took advantage of that discount...twice. However, NOW they're having 50% off till 11:59pm PST December 26th! I realize that's just today, but take advantage of that discount and get your shopping on! The code is MERRYXMAS50.

Do not fear if you miss the deadline! If you sign up here with your Facebook account you can get 50% off your first order and help me get 50% off my next order as well, and when you share with your friends, they can help you get another 50% off your next order. I call it the friendly shopping cycle. :)

Also, keep in mind that most items sell out pretty quickly. I recently had a gorgeous dress in my shopping bag, and when I was going to check out, the item was no longer available and now I check regularly for it to come back. Don't let it happen to you!

The dress I'm wearing below is called the Mackenzie Midi Dress. It hugged all the right curves without showing bulges and got me a lot of compliments the night I wore it to a 1920's themed holiday party.

The Miracle Prayer

Christmas is a time to celebrate family, life, the act of giving, and the birth of Jesus Christ, for actual believers that is. It's also a time to get cozy, watch silly holiday movies, cut down a Christmas tree, and spend money on crazy amounts of gifts and light decorations. I love all of those things, minus breaking the bank, but I think we forget one thing about Christmas, which is the gift of miracles. Since I was little I've known of this Catholic prayer called "The Christmas Novena" or as I like to call it, "The Miracle Prayer." It is piously believed that if one prays it starting the feast of St. Andrew, November 30th, until Christmas day 15 times a day they will obtain what is asked in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ.

"Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen"

It's hard to believe your wishes will come true just by repeating a poem everyday around Christmas time. I've done it before and as cheesy as this may sound, the last time I devoted to this Novena which was 2011, I asked that my soul mate would come my way and for me to no longer be hurt. Well, that Christmas Eve, God introduced me to my soul mate in the most interesting way and let me part ways with what wasn't right for me. I didn't even realize I had been praying for that to happen and that it came true until almost a year later when it was almost time to start reciting the prayer again. Call it a coincidence or whatever you'd like, but I like to believe it was meant to be and the Lord really can grant you what your heart desires, if it's for the good of course. It won't hurt if you try it. Just have faith, believe, and let the miracles shine. :)

Happy Holidays & God Bless!

Cancer - Things To Know

On behalf of Breast Cancer Awareness month, I'd like to dedicate this article to my Tia Sãozinha, Vovó Dulce, and my good friend Amy Hoff, as well as anyone else that has struggled with cancer or is currently battling cancer.

In the past several months, I've been doing research on causes of cancer and natural ways to treat it. I prefer natural remedies for just about anything, because it's the safest form of treatment and I believe nature's medicine was put on this Earth to use when needed, not waste thousands of dollars on. My curiosity began when I found out a family member was diagnosed with lung cancer after being on complete remission of uterine cancer. She told me it started when doctors prescribed post-menopause hormonal pills and years later, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer, so I started digging for information.

According to the Susan G. Komen website & Women's Health Initiative (WHI), Menopause Hormonal Therapy can put women at a higher risk for breast and uterine cancer. WHI conducted two trials using Estrogen Therapy (ET) and Estrogen-Progestin Therapy (EPT). One study showed that about 1 in 9 women treated with ET for 3 years developed a type of pre-cancerous change in their endometrium (lining of the uterus) called atypical hyperplasia. Women treated with EPT didn't experience this change any more than women not taking any hormones. However, the women taking EPT had a higher risk of developing breast cancer compared with those who did not take hormones. Basically, if 10,000 women took EPT for a year, this would add up to about 8 more cases of breast cancer per year than if they had not taken hormone therapy. The longer hormone therapy is being used, the greater the risk becomes, which could result in needing chemotherapy treatments. 

Most patients diagnosed with cancer have to go through chemotherapy, which is a potent treatment for cancer that kills not only bad cells, but good cells as well, weakening the body's immune system. Chemo tends to leave a metallic taste in people's mouths as well as painful sores making it hard for them to eat. In addition to that, doctors will prescribe pain killers for patients that have cancer pain, often causing nausea, affecting their appetite even more, and resulting in immense weight loss. Yes, chemotherapy has helped many people treat and fight cancer, but what if I told you that there is a natural, cheap way to help speed up the process of chemotherapy, kill the bad cells and not the good ones, but actually stimulate healthy cell growth along with strengthening the body's immune system? Sounds too good to be true right? Well, I have great news for you. 

There's a fruit called Soursop that people have consumed for numerous years to fight illnesses, mainly including cancer, and has worked wonders. Other popular names for it are Guanabana, Graviola, Annona, and Coração de Negro. It's a green, hard shelled fruit with white pulp on the inside grown in almost any tropical or hot climate areas. After finding out about this gem through a friend, I googled 'Guanabana.' Every website listed was linked to stories about people that have treated cancer using this natural miracle and have prolonged their lifespan up to 12-20 years when doctors doubtfully told them they wouldn't live more than just a few months. Studies starting in 1976 by the National Cancer Institute and in recent years at Purdue University, show that the key components of the tree, substances known as annonaceous acetogenins, are found to be potent inhibitors of cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. I asked a doctor about taking this fruit for cancer and he kept avoiding the question and said, "anything cancer patients take have to be reported to their doctors." Doctors won't make any funding out of this because it comes from Mother Nature. Not only is this fruit good to treat cancer, it strengthens the immune system, boosts energy levels, lowers blood pressure, regulates the digestive system, gets rid of infections, helps with skin disorders, and heals body aches and pains. It's the ultimate healer! Its main nutrients are Calcium, Folate, Iron, Potassium, Sodium, Vitamin B and C. Most of the nutrients are in the tea leaves, so I ordered them on Amazon.com, as well as Graviola capsules and tried it myself. The tea already has a nice, natural sweet flavor so I didn't need to add any honey like I usually do with other tea flavors. The capsules along with the tea have helped me have more energy in the mornings and a better mood throughout the day. I also hardly have any stomach pain and I've dealt with stomach issues my entire life.I don't have cancer, but if it can help prevent cancer and boost my immune system, along with overall health, then I'm going to say yes to taking soursop. Please note, it is not recommended for people with Parkinson's disease and neurodegenerative disorders. 

I'm not saying this should be taken instead of having chemotherapy treatments, but I do recommend taking it to assist with the progress of chemo as it can be very beneficial, as well as taking it for better overall health. Above all, remember to eat healthy, stay active, perform monthly breast self-exams, and get annual check ups. Check for cancer, don't let it check you! For questions or more information on breast cancer, or if you'd like to donate to the Susan G. Komen foundation, visit www.komen.org. 

An Old Poem Using Maroon 5's Song Titles

I've always been a huge fan of Maroon 5 or perhaps just Adam Levine and his sexy voice, but one day I randomly decided to write a blog post during MySpace days using their song titles. All the words in caps lock are obviously the song titles. It wasn't about anyone specific, just thought it would be interesting to do...


I had a WAKE UP CALL on SUNDAY MORNING and it kind of MAKES ME WONDER about THIS LOVE that I CAN'T STOP. I can't decide if it MUST GET OUT or if it should be a SECRET but I want you...so bad. It makes it HARDER TO BREATHE every time I hear your calming yet arousing music play with that sweet sexy voice that sends SHIVER up my spine. I'm TANGLED in this dream where this girl thinks SHE WILL BE LOVED, and right before I wake up from THE SUN beaming through my window, we have THE SWEETEST GOODBYE, and I realize you're NOT COMING HOME to me. So IF I NEVER SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN, I won't mind, because knowing I had a LITTLE OF YOUR TIME, is like eating a KIWI, sweet start but bitter when it's done. So just as long as there's some sweetness to this, it's okay, because I know NOTHING LASTS FOREVER. - By Jessica Mendes

Written on November 26, 2008

America: Land of the Greed

        The news has been nothing but beyond awful these past few weeks, and I mean more than usual, but I'm sure you've already noticed that so I probably sound like Captain Obvious. It's just so saddening that we never hear about anything good, or perhaps it's just because people are drawn to the bad news more, but lately the world seems so depressing and neurotic that it makes me wonder "what if this is really the beginning of the end?" Before you start calling me crazy, I was never one to think the world would end. I was always the one laughing at the people that thought the world would end in the year 2000 or when the Mayans claimed the world would end in December of 2012 or other so called Christians that said the world was ending in various different dates, but I recently started reading the Book of Revelation in the Bible and I'm really not surprised if we're headed in that direction the way the world is turning and with the signs in the Book, but for now I'll say it's not ending just getting pretty bad.
          From the Boston bombing that killed several young people and injured so many and left some without limbs they used to dance professionally with or run in marathons to raise money for charity, to multiple apartment complex fires in one day, to another case of a psychotic woman that killed her boyfriend in multiple ways that when I visualize it, I can't help but almost gag, to a 9-year old Autistic girl that went missing for only a few days near her family's vacation home and her body being found dead by Cache Creek, to another little girl getting killed for crossing the street with her aunt after school because someone drove too fast and hit her. A really good major thing that has happened recently was finding the three girls in Ohio that have been missing for a decade, but just the thought of that is also painful, because they'll probably be traumatized for the rest of their lives, because of the agony they went through during those 10 years with an awful man. 

        In San Jose, where I live, things have gotten even worse and just full of crimes recently. However, it's supposed to be one of the safest big cities in America. People would always say East San Jose is ghetto, but that was just because of thug wannabes, graffiti, prostitutes, the way people and buildings looked, etc. It never really had a huge crime rate, but it's now getting to the point where people are scared to go out, because of horrific situations such as a shooting in our own Safeway, or another shooting that happened between two cousins, and just yesterday a mentally ill man became a suspect for stabbing three family members, two of which are dead, his 40-year old mother and his 1-year old baby nephew. A 3 year old girl is in the hospital in critical condition because of it. Luckily, they captured the suspect, but it won't bring their lives back, and we don't really know for sure yet if he actually did it. This makes many people angry and afraid, but the only thing I want to know is what makes people crazy enough to do any of this? How can someone actually WANT to pick up a weapon and kill someone when it's not in the least bit of self defense? Is it built up frustration and anger or lack of patience, or is it greed and the way the economy is that drives people mad, or is it because they're mentally ill? It seems like mental illness has been the so called root of crimes lately. Even worse, how can someone kill their own family members? 

        I strongly believe many of those people have forgotten the meaning of family and friendship. Mexicans are against other Mexicans, blacks are against other black people, Asians and Italians have mafias, South Americans are killing because of drug trades, the Middle East is...well, the Middle East. Basically, it's a never ending cycle of hate and crime, and a lot of it has to do with money and selfishness. It's a fight to be on top instead of living equally in unity with love and compassion and instead of fighting for one another and defending their people, they fight against their own kind. If that's not a sign of the world ending or turning into a major disaster of greed and a cry for help then I don't know what is. Where is the love? Where did the days go when kids could go outside in the street and play? Now they just stay home and play on their gadgets and get hooked on phone and computer screens and bully each other in schools to the point where so many people commit suicides. What about the days when neighbors would visit each other periodically just to say hello and bring over food or when people would pass by each other on the street and smile or say hello just because it's the courteous thing to do. Now, people judge one another based on their looks, religion, culture, whether they're too fat, too skinny, what their job is, who they're with, what they do, because society has built this image everyone is "supposed to have" and if we don't have it, it drives us crazy, because we can't have what we think we're supposed to have and we become selfish and angry with ourselves and the world for making us think we have to be a certain way. 

        America is supposed to be the land of the free, but people take advantage of the word "free" and think it's okay to kill people or it's okay to cuss people out on the road, or it's okay to do drugs and do nothing with your life, all because it's a "free" country. That's not the meaning of a country with freedom. Our country is supposed to be free, because we earned it, free, because our troops fight for that freedom, free, because our country was once a country filled with loving people that stood up for one another and stuck together through thick and thin, free, because our ancestors came here to make a living to better their lives. The more we take advantage of something, the more it gets taken away from us and that's why our world has become so sickening and full of greed, because we take advantage of the word "free" and think it's okay to be cruel and have that careless mentality. Well, I always say "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar" and "you always get in return what you give out" so ask yourselves this: Is there a reason to have hate in your heart, be cruel to others, fight your own kind, or be angry and hold grudges? Your response should be "No." If yes, then perhaps reconsider your thought process and ask if your reasons for that are worth it. Life is what you make it and for the most part it can be wonderful if we surround ourselves with good people and do good things, so let's turn America back into the true country of freedom and help each other and other nations to become the best they can be as well. The only way you can do that is to start with yourself.

God bless and thanks for reading. :)

Remembering Kevin James Caetano 4/7/1984 - 7/17/2006

  *This may be a sensitive subject to some people as it is about the loss of a loved one that many of us knew, which is why I got permission from his brother, Kris, to write about it. 

 
     A couple weeks ago, a person named Kevin James Caetano, whom we lost almost 7 years ago was popping into my head almost daily at random times. It was never because one thought led to him..he'd just sort of show up. Perhaps it's because his birthday is coming up soon, but when this kind of thing happens, I usually feel like that person is trying to stop by and say hello or tell me something, but then again, I thought that only happened in dreams. Anyway, these thoughts about Kevin have been arising more and more, and recently, I woke up in the middle of the night somewhat half asleep, and I started thinking about him again, how we lost such a young, beautiful soul and of course it led me to the thought of the day we had to say good-bye, his rosary, the funeral, and how even though we lost someone we loved and it was a sad time for us, after the funeral we all had fun at his family's house sharing memories about Kevin, laughing about the good times, having water fights, because it was an extremely hot day in the middle of July, and it's what Kevin would've wanted us to do. But then I had a flash back about his mother from that day. This whole thing was like a movie playing in my head. I could see in his mother's face that losing him was like losing a big piece of her own soul. I started remembering her tears, her cries for him, her agony, and then I envisioned me telling her, "It's okay. His soul is within your heart. He's still here." I have no idea why. I didn't actually tell her that at the time, but the vision was so clear that it felt like I did. Perhaps it's what Kevin wants her to know? I'm not sure, but I always think there's a meaning behind everything, especially thoughts that come to us that are out of our control.
     I got to know Kevin better during my high school years, because of his brother, going to school dances, and being involved in the Portuguese community...I remember calling him "Kevy Pooh" while he would play football just to tease him in front of his teammates, but I think he actually liked the name. :) I'll never forget during the time people would call me Mufasa because of my big hair and one time, while we were playing music in Gustine, my hair was out of control and I told him I couldn't calm my fly aways and he referenced the movie Friday and said in his best ghetto voice that he could, "You betta put some water in that daaamn shit!" It was too funny, but you probably had to be there. Those are just a couple of many memories I have of him. When I think of Kevin James, I remember him as the kindest, most sincere, trusting, protective, and humble person I had ever known. He was like a big bear, tough on the outside, but warm and fuzzy on the inside and you can't help but want to squeeze him and smile around him. His smile was so contagious, like of a child's, so big and precious, and even his bright blue eyes would smile. We all say the good ones die young and yes, it's true. People tend to get mad at God and ask why He would let that happen, but I think I understand why now. I believe it's because God takes those that have completed their good deeds and He wants his angels back. I can't imagine why else, because to me, Kevin was an angel on Earth. That's why I always have his memorial card in my car, to protect me. He never did any wrong to anyone. He always protected and defended his friends & family to the fullest. He never judged anyone. All he had was light and love in his big heart. I strongly believe Kevin James was here to be an angel on Earth, to be a good example, and God saw he did his part and took him back to be with the rest of the angels up above. It's always sad to lose the ones we really love, but what we have to remember is that they're in a better place and even though we can't see, hear, or touch them, they can still see & hear us and touch our hearts, but someday we will be with them again enjoying the good life in Heaven. Rest in peace, blue eyed angel. Cheers to your birthday coming up and for being a prime example of how a person should be. Love you, Kevin James. :)

"Thoughts on Life" Written Nov 4, 2008

I found one of my blog posts during MySpace days and thought it was interesting. I can't remember why I wrote this. Heck, I can't even remember much that happened in 2008 for that matter, but apparently I had a lot to think about then. Here goes:

Life is the most undefined matter/subject/word/topic on this earth. It has ups and downs, rough moments, great moments, it's a cycle of growing, learning, and teaching...work isn't always what you expected...you don't feel as motivated as you would like to be...your mind is constantly changing on what you want to do, what you want to be, what/who you actually like...relationships are never balanced...you like someone but the person you like could care less or has no idea your feelings exist...you go through friends, friends go through you, people get upset for little things in life, for it's the little things in life that matter to those who care, so no matter how many times you apologize and truly, sincerely mean it, it doesn't matter anymore because the damage is done, and unfortunately you can't undo your doings...You can't really give advice to a "What should I do?" situation because no matter how similar two stories sound, they're not comparable enough because each person's reactions are different...What ever happened to love letters? True romance? Letting someone know how you feel and not making someone read your mind or going after what you like knowing you may or may not get it, just knowing that you tried was worth it?...Believing in destiny was so much fun, knowing that "one person" will come into your life some day and take you away, now it's as if there is no hope, because it seems like everything just comes to an end...Games are the new fad in love & relationships, but they're not even fun...They only happen, because people are afraid of getting burned in the end and afraid to face rejection so they cheat their way in and out. No one admits to their own feelings and it kills inside to admit when you're wrong, but it should only make you feel stronger to admit to something that would normally make you feel weak. Instead of getting in what's right they stick with what's wrong, because it's "comfortable" but that's a big cause for pain...These days, people have less faith in God and wonder why the world is coming to an end. How do we expect to save our earth, if we don't believe in the person that helped create it or even help to fix it? It's like one of my favorite songs from Jewel: "Who will save your soul, if you won't save your own?" We've found ways for technology to do just about anything for us, and we take advantage of it more and more, but does any good come out of it? What would we do without cars, air planes, cell phones, computers, television, radio? Ok yes, we'd be BORED out of our minds, so be thankful for what you have and quit complaining, and remember to acknowledge and appreciate the priceless things that we have. We don't know our destiny, but the one thing we know in life for certain is that it'll come to an end someday. As depressing as that sounds, it's the truth, which is why you must live it up as if it is your last day so stop being afraid and wasting time on nonsense...You might miss out on a great life. Just some food for thought. Yes, I think a lot, my thoughts are random and I'm not afraid to share them.

My Personal Top 10 $0-$20 Inside Out Self Help DIY Tips

     Everyday, people are looking for the greatest products or remedies to make themselves look or feel better, but usually the products that are ranked the best are the most expensive and not everyone can afford to even try them, because who knows if they'll even really work just because of the brand name? My whole life, I have been one of those people always trying to figure out what's best for my hair, skin, body, and mind so I feel like I should share my personal head to toe & inside out self help DIY tips that cost under $20. :)

*Please take note that these are my personal tips and some may not work for your skin type. I have pretty thick, normal, olive toned skin, so if you have for example, very sensitive and/or pink skin that easily sunburns and/or are prone to breakouts, some of these may NOT work for your skin, so use your instinct when reading these. :)

1. For a home made toner, acne treatment, and/or in-grown hairs

Mash several aspirin pills and put them in a small bottle mixed with part witch hazel & part rubbing alcohol, and always shake before using. This remedy makes for a great toner and make up remover to really get dirt out and tone your skin before applying moisturizer as well as an acne healer. It's also good to treat and prevent ingrown hairs.

2. To make your skin refreshed & glowing

Ever experience your face feeling dry and sucking up the moisturizer just seconds after applying it? It's not pretty! For more moisture, I mix about two drops of Vitamin E oil with a half dime sized amount of moisturizer to give me that dewy glow, more so on my cheeks. Don't be afraid of looking too shiny, because once you apply make up over your moisturizer it will absorb, and you'll end up with just the right amount of glow. For a refreshed look, splash your face with ice cold water about 10 times after cleansing as it tightens pores and skin like a toner would and it will make your skin look much more vibrant as opposed to red and blotchy after washing your face with warm-hot water.

3. For unwashed or over shiny hair
I think we've all accidentally put too much serum in our hair before and caused it to look like it hasn't been washed in days or maybe we skipped a few days of washing, because we haven't had time to wash it and needed some of that extra oil. Well, this solution is super easy and all it takes is some baby powder or body powder and rubbing it into your scalp and hair to absorb that extra moisture and to give it a clean feeling. You can buy some at the dollar or drug store, so stop buying expensive dry shampoo that just leaves residue in your hair and feels icky. Yuck!

4. To get rid of split ends

For split ends, I typically do this when my hair is dry and straight so I can see the dead ends better. I take my hair in sections and twist from root to ends. Then, I cut all the hairs sticking out that have white tips at the ends. I use moroccan oil, vitamin E, or coconut oil, and leave it in my hair over night on my ends about once every or every other week. For a more detailed version of this, feel free to watch my tutorial here.

5. Dry, rough feet to silky, smooth soles
Typically, people go to the salon to get pedicures when they feel their toesies need some attention, but nail spas can't really help TOO much with the dry skin on our feet no matter how much paraffin wax or callus remover they put, so we need to give it extra TLC at home. Don't be deceived by pumice stones or cheese grater looking contraptions, as they can actually be too abrasive and get rid of the layer of skin we need to protect our feet causing cuts and more time needed to heal. To make your feet smooth as a baby's bottom, do this procedure before going to bed. Soak your feet in warm water and use a gentle scrub all over your feet, primarily focusing on the rough areas, but don't rub too hard. Rinse & dry your feet and wrap your finger with a napkin or tissue and scrape the rough areas. It sounds gross, but I swear it works and besides, it's your feet and in the privacy of your own home. Then, rinse and dry your feet again and rub your feet with olive or coconut oil. Follow up with a thick moisturizer such as cocoa butter or Nivea moisturizer for very dry skin. Wearing sandals a lot or shoes without socks, and walking barefooted can cause a lot of dryness so be sure to put on some moisturizer on your feet before putting on your flip-flops or when you get home daily.


6. Feeling down, tired, and need a quick pick-me-up?
Most people can feel depressed, lonely, or down and a lot of times they can't think of a single reason why, and usually we feel our worst in the mornings and need a boost to fully wake up and feel good. There are several things I do to kick those "off" moods to the curb. 1. Forget coffee & energy drinks. No one actually NEEDS them. It's all in your head. Start your day by opening all the curtains or blinds in your house and letting light in. Darkness affects our moods big time and can bring us down, so make sure there's plenty of light around you. 2. Turn on some music and make sure it's something upbeat, not sappy slow jams or I'm-angry-at-the-world metal music, but something you can dance or bob your head to as that will boost your mood and help you ignore the things that might frustrate you easily, such as traffic, a bad meeting with your boss, or even the ugly weather outside. 3. Stretch throughout the day, especially right when you wake up. Stretching relaxes your muscles, brings oxygen to the brain which wakes you up, and it releases toxins out of your tissues. 4. Eat some tangerines or spray some tropical air fresheners around you. Research shows that the smell of citrus triggers our happy moods and makes us feel more energized so go on and sniff those oranges in the fruit aisle! :)

                                          7. For a smooth, close shave
Coconut oil is good for soooo many things such as cooking, dry hair & skin, and it's even good for shaving. I haven't tried coconut oil by itself to shave yet, but I've been using First Aid Beauty Smooth Shave Cream and it has coconut oil in it and it works great! It also doesn't leave that oily residue on your razor when shaving that some oils would do. Plus, it moisturizes your legs at the same time. For that close shave, make sure your skin has been in warm water for a while to soften the hair and then exfoliate to get rid of the dead skin. Lather on some coconut oil or the product I previously mentioned and shave. If you're shaving your legs, shave against the grain, if you're shaving thicker hair such as underarms, facial hair, or other areas you want to prevent ingrown hairs, then shave with the grain.


8. For Pearly White Teeth
No need to get your teeth whitened at the dentist for hundreds of dollars nor even use whitening strips. Just swish around some hydrogen peroxide in your mouth once or twice a day for 30-60 seconds, and your teeth will really become whiter and brighter. It's actually one of the first ingredients you'll see in teeth whitening products and it really does work alone. Aside from whitening, hydrogen peroxide is also great for oral hygiene, because it kills bacteria. So pull out that brown bottle from your first aid kit and keep it next to your toothpaste instead!



9. For a nice tan without the damage from UV rays & without the streaks & $$$ of spray tansI'm olive toned skin, so I can look pretty fair and yellowish in the winter, but I can tan really quick in the summer. However, there's no way I'll wait 5-6 months to get some color. I try to avoid using tanning beds too often, because of the health risks and I hate how self tanners or spray tans can be pricey, fade quickly, smell badly, and can make you orange. I know... I'm picky, BUT there is finally a great, cheap solution!!(I'm pretty thrifty in case you haven't noticed yet.)I've been using the new and improved Jergen's Natural Glow Moisturizers. They finally smell so much better and they give a nice color gradually instead of looking like
orange fake & bake and they don't streak! They carry a quick 3 day moisturizer that works AWESOME if you need a tan for a special occasion coming up, instead of waiting 5 days to a week to see some color. I mix it with a scented body lotion just in case the odor they say it no longer has somehow manages to come out, and I also mix some with my facial moisturizer to enhance color on my face, because that's ironically the whitest part of me. I now swear by this product and what's great is you only need to use it a few times a week to keep the color.

10. Home made antibiotics
One word...GARLIC. It works wonders to help cure illnesses such as the cold and even body aches. I did research on it when I was sick with the flu and apparently garlic works as strong, if not stronger than penicillin. I read that it even helps fight viruses such as HIV, herpes, and the flu. Amazing! What I do when I feel I'm coming down with something is take a garlic clove or two and slice it up. They say it's best to chew it to really get the juices out, but that is too potent for me, so I just swallow the slices of garlic like a pill and follow it with OJ or tea.


I hope you like my personal self help tips and perhaps they will help you someday. Thanks for reading and God bless. Namaste. :)

Baby Predicting: A Wives Tale Come True?

     For many years, I've heard of the old wives tale of using a needle and thread or a necklace with a charm over the palm of your hand, and by the motion of it, it basically tells you how many children you will have and what their gender will be. However, I've never known which was true since some people said circles meant girl, some said boy, some say you can only use a needle and thread, others say if you use a necklace it has to have a wedding band on it, and others say it can only be done over a pregnant belly.

     Two weekends ago, my friend told me her husband's aunt showed them her method which involved just a regular necklace with a pendant on it and she tested this method on women that already had kids and they were all correct. Then, she did it on my friend and her husband and it showed 4 boys for both of them. I couldn't believe it so I had to try it myself to see how it all works. I did it with my necklace which has two charms on it and held the necklace over her palm. Sure enough it showed 4 boys again. It blew my mind and of course I had to see what I would have someday and it showed one boy and then one girl (yay!) Tried it on my boyfriend, same thing. This past weekend, I told my friends about it at my best friend's birthday dinner and tried it on everyone there. Both couples had the exact same thing and my friend's mom who already had two girls, showed two girls. That's when we knew it couldn't be more real. I tried it on my parents the next day and it showed one girl for each, which is true! Can you say mind blowing?! Okay, so I get it's really weird and sounds crazy to believe a necklace can tell you how many kids you'll be having and what their gender will be, but it's fun to try regardless. It makes for a great game at a baby shower or even at a dinner party or just to kill curiosity. No one says you have to believe it, but it sure is chilling.

     To do this test, you get a light necklace with a charm on it and place it straight above the person's palm. Doesn't matter how still it is, it WILL move on its own. If it swings back and forth, it's a boy, then it should circle to break in between kids or to stop. If it swings side to side, it's a girl. So make sure it circles before telling you the next kid, because a circle does not mean girl, it's just a gap, and then wait for it to completely stop. Give it a try and let me know if it worked right for you or not or what you think of all this. Have fun!

The "Works" Of Life

    It's 5:16am and I can't go back to sleep. I've been up since before 4am and of course my mind has been wandering about a lot of things such as the odd dream I just had, God and His wonderful ways of life, what I want to do with my life, and then I started asking Him what He wants me to do with my life since I haven't had a job since November. All these jobless months have made me think too much about what I want to do and what path I should take that I can't seem to stick to just one thing. Then of course I start thinking about my past jobs and this one person comes to mind who traumatized a lot of my career path. 

     My mind then drifted to that sick disease we call Cancer, because I found out recently that two people I know have it and it makes me wonder what on earth causes this awful thing to start in the first place...Then that made me think back to that horrific person I once knew and I thought, "that crazy manager of mine was like a Cancer battle for me." I can't say what Cancer feels like and I'm sure one can't compare it to anything else, but with the things I went through and the steps of a Cancer battle, I would have to say this person was like my Cancer and I'm in remission. It's a nasty thing to say, but it's not so nasty when you actually know the person I'm referring to and some will know who I am talking about, but I will not be cold enough to mention her name on here. The fact that I can think of this person from many, many moons ago, and just the thought still makes me cringe, gets my blood boiling, and makes me want to cry all at the same time proves she's the worst person I've ever known and I don't have hate for anyone. Why dwell on it still? Well for starters, I think because I've regretted so many times not standing up for myself when I should've, especially when she took my laptop and went through my email and forwarded herself an email someone else sent me, without my permission (YES, THAT REALLY HAPPENED), but she somehow made me feel so small and so unworthy that I couldn't bring myself to stand up to her. I guess because I felt like she'd shun me if I ever did. Another reason I still dwell on it is that she affected the way I worked at the next job I took and I wish I could change that. I literally had to make a list and report EVERY little detail that I did at work at the end of EVERY day and call her or email her EVERY morning as soon as I got into work and EVERY evening before I left, that when I finally got a new job it felt strange if I didn't run something by my new manager, because I was so use to being micromanaged at the previous job. I knew it wasn't right, but it was pretty much all I was use to in a work place. However, my new manager just wanted me to do what I thought was best and just own it like any normal manager would want. It's like being in a bad relationship for so long. You don't like it, but you get so use to it that change would feel weird even if it is for the best. I mean who really wants to deal with anxiety, paranoia, and fear of being fired just about every single day anyway? Why did I stay there for so long, you ask? I actually liked what I did, decent pay and benefits, big company name, and I made close friends there. 

    Sometimes I wish I could tell her what an awful person she was to me to show her the scars she's left me, but what's the point? Perhaps it's unfinished business or maybe it would make my mind at ease by having closure in a sense. She made up so many lies and told me no one wanted me there all because she wanted me gone, but I never understood why. I remember one occasion when I threw a going away party at a bowling alley for a VP I supported, with food & gifts, and I took pictures and passed out awards to teams, and everyone praised me for doing such a great job at hosting the event. It was a great turn out and I just knew the good news would go back to her and she'd be proud of me too...Or so I thought. She came to me the next day and said she heard I didn't pass out the awards and that the party turned out horrible. I couldn't believe it! It always seemed like stories would always get switched up at that place or she'd try to come up with a story of her own to try to catch me in something to get me fired, because it's what she always wanted. Luckily, I had proof with pictures, but she still gave attitude for a bit, but the proof eventually shut her up. Some people that noticed her strange ways, even our own courier, would say she did it out of jealousy but jealous of what? She's 10-15 years older than me so one would think she'd be more mature and not be so childish. I honestly think it had a lot to do with the way she was brought up and her cold culture (no affection, love, etc.) and also a lack of a sex life. She had a man, but always complained about him, so she probably rarely got any which can cause major frustration in women in their 30's. Yes, I just went there. I use to want more people to see how mean she was, since she put on the friendly act to her superiors, but most importantly I want HER to know how cold and cruel she was and hopefully becomes a better person.

     Micromanagers should never be managers and no one should ever be harassed at work and just let it go. Maybe this is why I was awake. Maybe God answered my question of what to do (for now) by telling me to write a brief summary of what I went through at work to let people know it's never okay to be bullied at work. No one should ever feel small at work or have to report every little detail about what they did, unless of course they're on a performance plan, but regardless it's not right and if it's happening to you or someone you know, do as Bob Marley said, "Get up, stand up! Stand up for your rights!" Don't worry about losing your job, because there are plenty more out there and remember, what's meant to be will be. Thanks for reading and God bless.  :)

Klear That Keratosis Pilaris With This!!!

          Alright, a few of you, if not a lot, may be wondering what the heck Keratosis Pilaris is and why on earth I'd choose that to talk about. Well, lucky for you I'm kind of a skin expert since I'm a certified esthetician & always reading up on the latest skin care treatments and trying new products, because just like hair stylists that always notice bad hair, I always notice bad skin, and can't help but want to fix it. Of course it's not easy to just say, "Hey if you ever want me to fix your acne, let me know!" since that sounds offensive. I'm not licensed so I can't offer facials either. Therefore, I will blog.

        

    Keratosis Pilaris is essentially debris or sebum in your hair follicles from not exfoliating enough and not getting enough moisture. In not so medical terms, it's those annoying, ugly, red bumps a lot of people get in the back of their arms and in some cases, on their thighs or cheeks. I'm a victim of Keratosis Pilaris (KP) on my arms. It looks so ugly and it's not in any way, shape, or form sexy, because it feels like you have chicken skin or goose bumps all the time without it even being cold. A lot of people have asked me if it's eczema or rosacea... NO, IT'S NOT! It's its own skin condition and has always been a pain to get clear. I've tried so many products, Amlactin lotion, Aloe Vera which helped sometimes, deep moisturizing lotions, and rough exfoliation which actually makes it worse. Well, I've finally found a product or two that keep it under control. Unfortunately, I have to use it pretty much every day to maintain its smoothness, but at least it works! I read up on this A.H.A Botanical Body Wash from Mario Badescu for KP treatment. It's a good size bottle for only $8 at Nordstrom! I couldn't believe how many good reviews I saw for a product that cheap and especially couldn't believe something at Nordstrom cost under $10...scored a twofer! It smells really nice, not too girly or strong, just very clean and it leaves a nice, smooth feeling afterwards. It's made my skin clearer, but I knew I needed to try something else to moisturize. I didn't read much up on his other products since none of them really stood out to me online, but I found another line that's great for KP, Paula's Choice RESIST Weightless Body Treatment with 2% BHA. That stuff worked like a charm. It smells very light and feels amazing on your skin even your hands. It's an exfoliant for your body it can actually be used anywhere, not just those areas, if your skin isn't too sensitive, and it's good for body acne as well. Her site usually has good deals. Plus, you can get up to 3 samples of her other products for free. And just a tip before purchasing, make sure there's a coupon code online by going to www.retailmenot.com and enter the code at checkout. I hope this helps all you KP victims out there.
        

          If you have any questions or suggestions for this or any other skin condition, please let me know in the comments below. Thanks & God bless! :)

New Beginnings

Well...this is my first blog post on here. I've had tumblr, but I felt like that was more for teens. Today, I am starting a new page, a new beginning, and a new adventure. My whole life, I've always enjoyed writing, from diaries to essays in school, to love letters, etc. I probably get it from my mother, since she's been a writer for the Portuguese newspaper for many years. However, I never thought I was good enough to be a professional writer, especially not like her, because my vocabulary wasn't exactly up to par or I wasn't into the news or history, but I've definitely gotten smarter about those things as I've grown up and learned about life, of course. Anyway, I'm really excited about this. Obviously, I'm not getting paid for this, but I've always wanted to share my thoughts and opinions with the world about general things, things that people should know or learn about, because I feel like nowadays, people can be so...uneducated, cruel, or naive, and in some cases, they don't carry many morals or values. I'm not saying I'm perfect, I'm far from it. I just want to share what I've learned in life, because I think my parents have taught me a great deal and I've taught myself a whole lot as well from personal experiences. I tend to be pretty blunt and not have much of a filter, so please bear with me in my blogs. They might get offensive from time to time, because I do get passionate and strong headed about what I have to say. I am Portuguese after all :P. However, I try to look at all angles of a picture to avoid looking ignorant, but from my experience on voicing my opinions to friends or on Facebook (which isn't usually a great idea), I haven't always received the best of feedback. I never fully understood why, because it is after all my OPINION, but I think it partially has to do with the fear of hearing the truth, but a lot of the times I think it's HOW I voice my opinion. I've had a tendency to just blurt anything without thinking (no, not like Tourette's), but I've definitely improved in that department and haven't been doing that nearly as much as I use to, so I do apologize in advance if my blog posts ever offend you. Realistically, no one can please everyone, and sometimes we just have to toughen up and deal with what we hear/see or ignore it and move on if we don't like it. I am a sinner just like everyone else, because no one is perfect, so please always keep that friendly reminder in your brain. My blogs are going to consist of a lot of opinions and advice based on things I've tried, have seen, think, or heard about. That's what I like to do, which is why I want to be a therapist, but I'm not quite headed in that direction just yet, so for now, I shall blog. Basically, you can either read my blog and learn from it or take it with a grain of salt, and if you truly have a problem with it, feel free to leave a comment or message me, as I too like to hear other's opinions. You don't always know you're doing something wrong unless someone tells you, right? Sometimes you have to be corrected or reminded that you could possibly be upsetting someone, but for now, I will stick to positivity, good notes, and happy thoughts to steer clear from the negative vibes. Stay tuned and God bless. :)