Unique Girl Gifts

Think you’ve got healthy skin? Here’s a great article I found on About.com that I thought my blog readers would enjoy.

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What’s the Difference Between Healthy and Unhealthy Skin?

Whether you know it or not, the health of your skin is being judged everyday. You do it yourself when you look in the mirror for blotches and bumps. Other people are also looking at your skin to determine how attractive you are.

Is your skin healthy or unhealthy? How do you know the difference? What are the components of healthy skin? Knowing the answers to these questions is the first step in determining how you should be taking care of your skin. The following are components of healthy skin.

Even Color
Consistent color is a sign of youthful, healthy skin. Studies have shown that consistent, even skin tone is a main element of attractiveness. As a matter of fact, the consistency of skin color is considered more attractive than having a certain skin color. Examples of uneven color include:

- Blotchiness
- Spots that are dark, light or red
- Dark circles under eyes

Smooth Texture
Healthy skin looks smooth and feels smooth. If you look at healthy skin close-up, the surface is “regularly irregular.” This means that the skin is not smooth like glass but has tiny peaks around hair follicles and pores, and tiny valleys in between the peaks. These peaks and valleys are consistent throughout the skin giving it a uniform appearance. On the other hand, unhealthy skin does not have a uniform texture. Examples of texture skin problems include:

- Bumps
- Acne
- Blackheads, whiteheads
- Wrinkles
- Scars

Hydration
Healthy skin is well hydrated. The skin cells slough off but this sloughing is not noticeable. If too many skin cells slough at the same time, this creates problems that we blame on dry skin, like:

- Flaking skin
- Scaly skin

Normal Sensations
If your skin is healthy, you shouldn’t notice it or feel it unless you’re looking in the mirror. Healthy skin doesn’t have any unusual sensations. Signs of unhealthy skin sensations include:

- Itching
- Burning
- Stinging
- Pulling

Feel fresh as a flower with our adorable Early Blossom Bath Set, packaged in a real tin watering can! Our blossom scented shower gel and body lotion, along with pink leaf-shaped fizzer will have you ready to face the day! Includes 200ml shower gel and lotion. 12″ x 4″ x 11″ high.

To see more of our bath and body products, click here.

Welcome the new little princess with this darling 1-tier diaper cake filled with cute and useful baby items.

Our Royal Princess Diaper Care is carefully created especially with your new Little Prince in mind with: 16 Disposable Diapers, Cuddly Receiving Blanket, 3-Piece Baby Nail Manicure Set, Orthodontic Pacifier, Spoon and Fork Set, 8oz Feeding Bottle, Bath Time Grooming Product, Soft Terry Washcloth, Stunning Cotton Feeding Bib with Little Princess Embroidered on it and decorative scalloped edging.

Your cake arrives beautifully wrapped and decorated with bows and ribbons. A free gift enclosure card with your personal gift message will be attached.

Click here for more Baby Girl Gift Ideas.

Diaper Cakes have become quite popular the last few years. If you’re interested in knowing more about them, you’ll enjoy this information I found on Plan-the-perfect-baby-shower.com. At Simply 4 Girls, we also carry diaper cakes. Click here to take a look at our selection.

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What is a Diaper Cake anyway?
A diaper cake is a wonderfully creative gift for an expectant mother. It is a collection of diapers (either disposable or cloth) rolled and stacked together to resemble a traditional tiered cake. There can be 1, 2, 3 or more tiers. The tiers of diaper cakes are also garnished with baby care items such as bibs, pacifiers, baby socks, bottles, toys, and more.

Why are they becoming so popular?
Diaper cakes are becoming quite popular for several reasons:

• They are original and creative. They give your baby shower gift a personal touch.

• They are so useful and helpful to the expectant mother. She will use every single “ingredient” on the diaper cake.

• Baby shower hostesses love them because they are a cute and impressive centerpiece for the party.

• They can be decorated to match any theme you want.

• They are a great gift at the hospital, at a baby shower, after an adoption, or anytime before or after a new baby arrives.

Surprise someone you love with sweets and treats they are sure to love.

Our lovely Golden Sweets Gift Basket includes a gold box of delicious Sweet Shop chocolates, caramel drenched chocolate cookies, a bar of decadent Belgium dark chocolate, Ming River double dipped chocolate pecans, a tin of satin smooth Tea Lover’s chocolates, Nunes Farm almonds, and a jar of double delicious mocha espresso sauce to drizzle on anything for a very special after-dinner treat.

To see more of our delicious Gift Baskets, click here.

Enjoy a spa experience right in your very own home with our Tranquility Spa Gift Basket. Our Tranquility Spa Gift Basket is made with the finest natural products.

This Elegant Gift Basket comes with White Floral & Musk shower gel, White Floral & Musk body lotion, White Floral & Musk bath crystals, White Floral & Musk Jar body scrub, White Floral & Musk Jar body butter, Elegant 6pc Soap Flowers, and Scented Sachet in Decorative Box. Gift comes Beautifully Wrapped in Tulle With Matching Ribboning.

To see more of our bath and body gift baskets, click here.

Ever looking for some fun craft projects to do with your kids? Here’s a great rainy day project or an “I’m bored!” project for your kids that I found on About.com.

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How To Make a Cookie Cutter Bird Feeder

Make these simple bird feeders for your fine feathered friends.

Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 15 minutes

What You Need:
Bread
Cookie Cutter
Straw
Yarn

Here’s How:
1. Get a piece of bread. Harder, slate bread would work great!

2. Find a cookie cutter that fits on as much of the bread as possible.

3. Use the cookie cutter and cut a shape out of the slice of bread.

4. Use a straw to poke a small hole in the center of the bread shape.

5. String the yarn through the hole and tie a loop.

6. Hang it outside in a tree!

Tips:
1. Hang your bird feeder at the end of a smaller branch so squirrels don’t get it.

2. Work with the bird seed over newspaper to help make clean up time easier.

I found this great article written by Dr. Philip E. Humbert on how to increase the happiness in your life.  I hope my blog readers enjoy it as much as I do.

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One of my favorite songs is Bobby McFerrin’s refrain, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. I recently had the opportunity to observe people’s reactions when a highway was closed because of an accident ahead. As we waited, I watched as some listened to radios, a few began tossing a Frisbee, other’s seemed to be working or reading, and some opted for a quick nap. But, there were also a handful who were clearly agitated and angry. Pacing about, swearing, and upset, they decided that the best response to this event, which none of us could control, was to be very unhappy. I was reminded of Abraham Lincoln’s comment that, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” The following are my Top 10 Tips to increase happiness in your life:

1. Decide to be a happy person. As Lincoln observed, most people, most of the time, can choose how stressed or happy, how troubled or relaxed they want to be. Choose to be happy.

2. Watch and read less news. As a recovering news addict, I know this can be difficult because the stock market fluctuates, politicians politic, and sports teams compete. But, most of the time, you don’t need the stress. So, just don’t watch. I think it was Henry Thoreau who noted that if you’ve ever read about a train wreck, you understand the principle and don’t need to know any more about it.

3. Practice the Attitude of Gratitude. We all have so much to be grateful for. Just thanking the many people who assist us, encourage us, teach us and open doors for us could take all day!

4. Take time. My dog has taught me much about loyalty, about noticing the sights, sounds, and smells in the yard, about being relaxed and about play. Eat when you’re hungry, nap when you need it. Get your ears scratched whenever possible!

5. Laugh everyday. Hear a joke, tell a joke, laugh at yourself, laugh with your friends and family and co-workers. There are very few medicines as powerful as laughter, and I don’t think you can over-dose, although it is addicting!

6. Love well. Express your affection, appreciation, friendship and warmth to those around you, and they will almost always respond in the most amazing ways! Be generous…it pays great dividends!

7. Work hard. This one comes as a bit of a surprise, but there is tremendous satisfaction in being competent, and joy in completing our assigned tasks. One of the great sources of happiness is to do work that is worthy of you, and to do it well.

8. Learn something new, everyday. To be happy, most of us must also be growing, expanding, learning and challenging ourselves. Read, listen, adapt and stretch to accommodate new ideas and new information.

9. Use your body as it was designed. Walk and run, stretch, throw things, and lift things. Dance! Exercise is good, but so is making love, mixing up a batch of cookies, or exchanging backrubs. You have a body and it can be either a source of joy, or a source of aches and pains. Your choice.

10: Avoid toxins. I prefer writing positives (things to do) rather than negatives (things to fear), but reality says there are negative people and there are bad chemicals, stressful noises, and unsafe places. Don’t go there! Avoid poisons whenever possible. It seems to work out better that way.

© Copyright 2003 by Philip E. Humbert. All Rights Reserved. This article may be copied and used in your own newsletter or on your website as long as you include the following information: “Written by Dr. Philip E. Humbert, writer, speaker and success coach. Dr. Humbert has over 300 free articles, tools and resources for your success, including a great newsletter! It’s all on his website at: http://www.philiphumbert.com
 

Indulge the “bad girl” in you with our frighteningly fashionable handmade Skull Earrings! Black-hearted clay beads emblazoned with grinning skull and crossbones dangle dangerously from your earlobes.

A bona-fide style surprise that shows your independent spirit to one and all! Each is 2″ long x 1/2″ diameter. Be sure to check out our matching Skull Bracelet.

To see more of our teen jewelry, click here.

The Social Security Administration announced on May 10, 2008 the most popular baby names for 2007.

Although the name Elvis was not in the top 10, it did rise 85 spots. The SSA noted, “It is further proof that Elvis is not dead.” Miley is new to the girls’ list this year, entering fairly high at number 278, attributable to the popularity of teen sensation Miley Cyrus.

See if you can guess which names are most popular.

Boys:

1. Jacob

2. Michael

3. Ethan

4. Joshua

5. Daniel

6. Christopher

7. Anthony

8. William

9. Matthew

10. Andrew

Girls:

1. Emily

2. Isabella

3. Emma

4. Ava

5. Madison

6. Sophia

7. Olivia

8. Abigail

9. Hannah

10. Elizabeth

Emily has topped the list since 1996. Jacob has done so since 1999. Elizabeth returns to the top ten after a two year absence. In addition to a list of the 1,000 most popular boys’ and girls’ names for 2007, Jacob and Joshua are again the most popular twin’s names.

For reasons likely to puzzle baby name experts around the world, American parents have become infatuated by names, particularly for their sons, that rhyme with the word “maiden.” These names for boys include: Jayden (No. 18); Aiden (No. 27); Aidan (No. 54); Jaden (No. 76); Caden (No. 92); Kaden (No. 98); Ayden (No.102); Braden (No.156); Cayden (No.175); Jaiden (No.191); Kaiden (No. 220); Aden (No. 264); Caiden (No. 286); Braeden (No. 325); Braydon (No. 361); Jaydon (No. 415); Jadon (No. 423); Braiden (No. 529); Zayden (No. 588); Jaeden (No. 593); Aydan (No. 598); Bradyn (No. 629); Kadin (No. 657); Jadyn (No. 696); Kaeden (No. 701); Jaydin (No. 757); Braedon (No. 805); Aidyn (No. 818); Haiden (No. 820); Jaidyn (No. 841); Kadyn (No. 878); Jaydan (No. 887); Raiden (No. 931); and Adin (No. 983). This startling trend was present, but less pronounced, with girls names: Jayden (No. 172); Jadyn (No. 319); Jaden (No. 335); Jaiden (No. 429); Kayden (No. 507); and Jaidyn (No. 561).

Experts also may be surprised by the extent to which American parents are naming their daughters after spiritual and philosophical concepts. One of the most popular names for girls (rising this year to number 31) is Nevaeh, which is “Heaven” spelled backwards. The variant Neveah came in this year at number 891 and Heaven is number 263. Also represented were: Destiny (No. 41); Trinity (No. 72); Serenity (No. 126); Harmony (No. 315); Miracle (No. 461); Charity (No. 673); Journey (No. 692); Destini (No. 914); and Essence (No. 930). Cutting against this trend was Armani (No. 971).