Unique Girl Gifts

For all those parents who need a few ideas on how to make bath time fun and other ways to keep their kids clean, here’s a great article I thought my blog readers would enjoy from Clorox.com.

5 Fun Ideas for Keeping Kids Clean

It’s a challenge to teach your kids the importance of hygiene. If you’ve ever experienced the one-sided game of hide-and-go-seek that ensues after you’ve drawn them a bath, then you know the struggle. The solution lies in taking a fun approach to hygiene. If the activity becomes something your kids can enjoy, then they just might begin to see it as a voluntary act!

Here are five ways to make staying clean fun for your kids:

1. Make a trip to the store and let your child select special “bath toys” to be used only during bath time. With an assortment of quality plastic toys, kids should have plenty to occupy themselves with, and they’re not the only bath creatures “suffering” through the ordeal! Bubble bath and tear-free shampoos and conditioners are also great.

2. Bath time can be an opportunity for your child to settle down at the end of the day. Try finishing the bath by reading from a favorite book.

3. For children ages 3 and up, consider a showerhead tailored for their height with a gentler water flow. These often come in cute animal shapes. It’s a good balance of fun and “adult.”

4. Let’s face it, teeth-brushing is not really fun for any of us. Find a few songs your kid enjoys that last around two or three minutes – the appropriate length of time to brush your teeth – and make them standard “teeth-brushing songs.” Kids will brush to the rhythm of the song and know that when the song is over they can stop.

5. To encourage your children not to rush when washing their hands, have them sing through The Happy Birthday Song twice before they finish.

For adults, staying clean is a pleasant activity. It’s not difficult to start these pleasant associations early on, though, by teaching your child that hygiene is personal time, not a chore.

We can all use a few beauty tricks when it comes to looking younger. Here are a few beauty tricks I found on About.com that are as easy as a “sweep of a blush brush or mascara wand.”

Look Younger in Just 8 Simple Steps

1. Keep your hair between your chin and your shoulders. Side-swept bangs and hair no longer than your shoulders will take off years.

2. Lipstick shade can age you. Another trick to looking younger is to steer clear of brown lipstick shades. Avoid matte lipstick as they tend to settle into your lip lines. Instead, try creamier lipsticks or glosses. (Glosses are especially youthful and make your lips appear bee-stung).

3. Stick to creamy blushes and shadows. Older skin usually means dry skin so creamy blushes and shadows are optimal. Also, powder blushes and shadows tend to settle into your fine lines and wrinkles, whereas creamier products ‘plump’ up your skin.

4. Define those eyes. Curled lashes immediately make eyes ‘pop.’ One tip I love I learned from the editors of Allure: You can curl your lashes AFTER mascara application, just make sure the mascara has dried. I find lining my eyes helps make my somewhat tiny eyes look 10 times larger. I never leave the house now without a bit of eyeliner on both upper and lower lashes (smudging the line makes it look more natural) and mascara.

5. Don’t overpluck. Once you hit your 30s, you’ll want to be careful not to overpluck your eyebrows since brows are less apt to grow back if you excessively pluck.

6. Get your teeth lightened. Over time, teeth may yellow from coffee, tea or red wine stains. You can whiten teeth quickly with over-the-counter products such as Crest Whitestrips.

7. Stand up straight. Think about all the sexy women you know. They stand up straight and confidently. Not only will this make you look ten pounds thinner in seconds, it will make you look five years younger as well.

8. Get a good night’s sleep. Few things age you overnight more than a poor night’s sleep. Your eyes are puffy, your skin sallow and dull and your face sags.

I’ve attached some tips I found on HGTV.com that shows how to use distressed furniture and accessories–new or old–to create that perfect rustic country room.

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This brand-new bed features a sanded finish for a timeworn look.

This patina on this iron basket contrasts the delicate pink petals.

Bring a metal garden chair indoors for some rustic garden charm. Pairing it with a comfy pillow makes it functional.

This chandelier-turned-candleholder was rescued from the garbage because of its beautiful scrolling lines. Beads and baubles hanging from the arms shimmer in the candlelight.

A whitewash finish lends any object a casual, distressed look.

An ordinary birdhouse is made special with the addition of a crystal doorknob and metal escutch.

Need some good tips on sending (and giving) gift baskets? Then you’ll enjoy this article I found on Articlesbase.com.

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Tips for Sending and Giving a Unique Gift Basket That Will be Remembered

The giving of gift baskets is soaring in popularity in recent years for a number of reasons and due to this trend more options have come available in this unique market niche. Gift baskets are a quick and easy way to deal with birthday and holiday gift giving and when done thoughtfully they are truly appreciated.

The first thing that you will need to do is to decide on the amount of money that you have to budget for a gift basket, because they are available in a wide range of prices. The great thing about gift baskets is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to send someone a great gift that they will be happy to receive.

The secret to success is in determining what the recipients likes and dislikes are. For instance you wouldn’t want to sent a basket of European dried sausages to a vegetarian when a basket of delicious dried fruit, nuts and wine would be much more appropriate. Research is key, because there are a surprising number of choices that are now available for someone that is shopping for a gift basket.

Still one more decision that has to be made is whether you are going to deliver or send the basket yourself or have it delivered by the company that you buy the basket from. Gift baskets can be a bit difficult to wrap and send, so often it is the wise move to have the company pack and send it for you. In the end however, when it is done right, a gift basket is the perfect gift for any occasion or holiday that requires a gift.

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For more unique gift basket ideas, click here.

In our busy times, I know how important it is that we take care of ourselves, and after reading this article on Ultimate-cosmetics.com, I thought my blog readers would really enjoy this.

Benefits of Spa Treatments

Ladies, when was the last time you were treated like a queen? Whether it was in this millenium or the last, spending the day at a Spa guarantees the Star Treatment. Day Spa’s are like hair and nail salons, only better. In addition to hair and nail services, they offer relaxing muscle massages, pedicures, manicures, deep cleansing facials and even body scrubs, all in a comforting, soothing environment. Most offer gift certificates and will combine services into ‘packages’ at a reduced price.

Winter weather wrecks havoc on our skin, especially our hands and feet, leaving them dry and cracked. I don’t know about you, but my lotion just ain’t getting it! Dead skin cells on your body can prevent your oil and lotion from soaking in, leaving you with a bad case of winter itch. Get rid of all that dead, dry (ashy) skin with an invigorating sea-salt body scrub. Your face can get ashy, also, and feel dry and tight. Contrary to popular belief, Black women and men needs facials too! A good facial will deep clean your pores – removing black heads, acne and even hair and shaving bumps- and leave your face smooth and hydrated.

If nothing else, get a massage, especially if you have children. They are great for your body and spirit; they can tone muscles and are ultra relaxing. Massages can be purchased by the hour (full body) or half hour (back only). During a massage, you will be asked to remove all of your clothes. Don’t be shy, but feel free to leave your underwear on. You will be covered by a sheet at all times. So, lay back, enjoy the candlelight and listen to soothing sounds while being massaged with warm oil. Or better yet, learn how to massage each other in a class you can take together.

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Click here to check out our full line of soothing and relaxing spa products.

In the town where I live, there is candy store that specializes in nostalgic candy and is very popular with both kids and adults. There is something very special about this hard-to-find candy that takes you back to the good ol’ days. I found this great on Articlestree.com that I thought my blog readers would enjoy.

Fun With Nostalgic Candy

Everyone has that special candy they grew up with that they remember quite fondly. Which candy they remember depends on when they grew up, but there will always be something. Some nostalgic candies just about everyone who grew up with them will love, but those are more likely to still be around. Then there are candies such as Necco wafers that you either love or hate. With some of these candies seeing who enjoyed what is half the fun of the memories.

When you don’t quite know what else to give, making a gift basket can be a great way to give a present. You can put just about anything in a gift basket, but going for the nostalgia factor is a lot of fun. It makes a theme that is extremely flexible. There’s more you can do with nostalgic candy. You can throw a nostalgic party and include some of those favorite candies. The theme can be a particular decade. Decorate according to the styles of that time, dress accordingly and try to have all your food be appropriate too. Candies you can’t find in many stores can often easily be ordered online and in sufficient quantity for a good party.

This kind of party isn’t just for adults. Kids can get quite a kick out of old time candies and they are certain to be entertained by playing around with things from before they were born. They will also often enjoy the older candies, even if they don’t taste much like many of the currently popular candies.

Nostalgic candy is a lot of fun. Candy isn’t something you need to have all the time but it is fun to enjoy. It lets you relive some literally sweet memories. Get together with some friends or tell the kids about how you enjoyed some of these nostalgic candies as you grew up. It’s a fun way to tease a friend or relive a memory.

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Be sure to check out our wide selection of Nostalgic Candy.

I ran across an article the other day in Personal-Meditation-Guide.com that I wanted to share with my blog readers on how laughter is essential to our well being.

Laughter is Essential to Our Well Being and Stress Relief is Sure to Follow When We Laugh

Feeling bad has a negative impact on our health, the ability to function creatively and to solve problems. We need to find positive, constructive ways to shift our attention, our focus from our troubles to a happy, carefree space, mentally and emotionally. One of the best ways to do that is to find ways to laugh. Laughing for half an hour can change your whole perspective on a nagging worry, opening you up to better ways to look at the trouble.

This is also one of the best physical stress-reducers; when we are laughing, our brains release endorphins, feel-good hormones, into the bloodstream, the autonomic nervous system responds with the relaxation of tense muscles, and we breathe more deeply and slowly, all excellent changes for our physical well being. Laughing is so natural to us that we don’t realize how important it is to our well being, how much we need to laugh, every day.

Laughter is now known to be such a potent factor in recovery from illness that some hospitals are now providing video films of such comedies as The Three Stooges, the Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy and old situation comedies, the really funny ones. The world seemed a warmer, friendlier place, with all the gentle, or not so gentle, poking fun at human foibles and failings the comics of those days did with such skill. If you haven’t had much cause to laugh recently, or if looking and finding sources of a good laugh has not been a high priority for you, maybe after listening to some of these wonderful people, the people who make us laugh, you’ll begin to be on the alert for ways to laugh more often-and to share the laughter with your friends.

Looking for what’s funny in an upsetting situation can help change the way it looks to you and change the way you feel about it in a more positive way. We’ve all the heard the cliché that laughter is the best medicine and recent research confirms the truth of that. In fact, some therapies make use of laughter as an aid to stress relief and in lifting depression, if only for a short time. May you put laughter and sharing a good laugh on your high-priority list of sound ways to bring real stress relief and cheering experiences into your daily life. You’ll get a good chuckle of pure pleasure for yourself when you do.

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For a good laugh, check out our Hot Flash Survival Kit for any woman going through hot flashes and needing a good laugh!

Here’s an article I found on Talkinmince.com that I thought my blog readers would be interested in.

Why Designer Inspired Handbags Are the Way to Go

Today’s fashionista doesn’t just look fab, but also well-informed on the latest fad and not decked out from head to toe in designer brands. Gone are the days when women parade around with their designer sunglasses, designer handbags, and designer shoes. The whole everything should be matching designer outfit is just a little too much nowadays. Unless you have a job like the chick from The Devil Wears Prada, then you’re probably not required to be a walking advertisement of these designer brands.

These days, you are most likely to find a fashionista shopping online, browsing at discount stores or even looking at second hand op shops. This is definitely not viewed as a bad thing, as it’s now considered very fashionable to shop wisely and save for that extra dollar. Handbags, for instance, are a great way for a women to express their own personal style. Whether you’re someone who loves those bright, funky fashion handbags and wants to be noticed or someone who simply prefers conservative and elegant designs, there are just so many different styles and designs for women to choose from.

Owning your very own designer handbag is somewhat of a luxury these days. Be prepared to spend thousands of dollars just for that one piece of accessory. An alternative option today is to shop for designer inspired handbags. We see them everywhere. You will be surprised to find that your favorite chain stores or department stores are now even carrying these designer inspired handbags.

So what are designer inspired handbags exactly? Well, designer inspired handbags are handbags that are almost similar to real designer handbags, yet not exactly the same. These handbags are manufactured with nearly the same workmanship, quality and stylish consistency as their designer handbag counterparts. The good news is - they come with such an affordable price tag.

Although a designer inspired handbag may not be exactly the designer handbag that you have seen in magazines, it looks very much like it. Making a fashion statement doesn’t necessary mean having that designer brand with you. Fashion doesn’t have to come with an expensive price tag. More and more women are now embracing designer inspired handbags and quickly becoming the affordable choice of today’s budget-wise fashionista.

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Be sure to check out our line of designer inspired handbags for all the latest designer styles!

I found this great article on About.com that I would like to pass on to my blog readers.

Stressless Beauty Secrets — Do you have enough?

With the busy lives we live today, we can never do enough to pamper ourselves. Here are a few of mine. Feel free to borrow whenever you are having a stressful moment!

1. Head massages are one of my favorites. Stress causes the scalp to tighten as we age. The Body Shoppe actually has these little rubber massage pads that fit over your fingers for this very purpose. They would make a great stocking stuffer if you are thinking about Christmas.

2. Treat yourself to a new set of sheets and then sprinkle then with a little scented cornstarch. You will be lulled to sleep in no time.

3. Enjoy a longer than usual bath, complete with a plastic wine glass full of juice, and a good novel. Be sure to slather on lots of lotion when you dry off. This is probably the only time I will tell you to soak in a tub! Quick showers are generally kinder to your skin.

4. On the same note, before you bathe, place your towels on a warming rack. Can anything be more decadent than stepping out of a warm tub on a cold winter day into toasty warm towels?

5. Collect beauty quotes and then arrange them in a large photo album. Thumb through the pages often. These bits of wisdom can really make you think!
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