During the winter my skin gets very dry and itchy so I am always looking for ways to make it softer. Here are a some great tips along with a video that will explain more from the Epsom Salt Council.
To exfoliate: Mix 1 cups of Epsom Salt with 2 cups of coconut oil and a spoonful of lavender essential oil. Use the mixture to gently scrub away dry skin patches, leaving skin silky smooth. Here’s an 80-second video tutorial.
To heal dry lips: Mix a few tablespoons of Epsom Salt with a teaspoon of petroleum jelly, apply to lips and rub lightly. This will gently scrub away dry skin on lips, and it will also help lipstick last longer and give lips instant plump.
For a gentle facial: Mix 1/2 teaspoon of Epsom Salt into cleansing cream for a deep-pore cleansing. Massage on skin. Rinse with cool water. Pat dry.
For a relaxing soak: Add 2 cups of Epsom Salt to the water in a standard-sized bathtub; soak for at least 12 minutes, three times weekly. For an extra treat, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil for a refreshing scent.
I hope you can use some of these tips and pamper and help sooth your skin.
I love KORRES products and have used them on my face and I am excited to hear that they have a new Hair Care Collection from KORRES, launching March 19th on HSN. My favorite products are ones I can use on my hair. I have long curly hair so I go through lots of product.
KORRES formulated this new line of all-natural shampoos, conditioners and masks with organic ingredients and plant extracts like dittany, margoram and mountain tea, which are only found on the Greek island of Crete .
The haircare collection is 100% free of silicones, parabens, alcohol and propylene glycol. Make sure to check out HSN tomorrow and purchase your own products.
A new book and a giveaway - $50 Amazon.com, enter below.
Numbers Game by Rebecca Rode
Treena is nervous for Rating Day. A single number will brand her forever—a valuable citizen, or a pathetic waste of space. Her top-Rated boyfriend is confident their scores will coincide so they can attend the academy together. But when the big day arrives, her true number shocks everyone.
To get her life—and boyfriend—back, she must go undercover and expose a military spy. Doesn’t sound too hard, except that someone wants her dead. And then there’s Vance, the mysterious soldier with a haunted past and beautiful brown eyes. Together, they discover a dark numbers conspiracy, one that shatters the nation’s future. Treena must join up with Vance if she is to survive the dangerous game of numbers—and the terrible war that rages within her heart.
“Your Rating is wrong,” Vance said. “Their precious Rating system says absolutely nothing about you and what you’re capable of.”
I shook my head. “So far, everything I’ve done has proven my number absolutely correct.”
“Treena.” His tone softened. “I don’t know why you that happened to you. But I do know one thing.” He stopped on the step below me, and I whirled to face him. We were the same height now, and his expression was fierce. “You are the most loyal, the most determined, and the most fascinating girl I’ve ever met. No number could ever describe you.”
The deadness inside cracked, and the pain came flooding back. I felt like a five-year-old again. Falling, grasping for a handhold, for something to save me. “It doesn’t matter now. Tali’s dead.”
He gave me a long look. Then he sat down, right on the steps, easing me down next to him. I lay my head on his shoulder and let him pull me close. The warmth of his embrace felt completely and utterly right. For a long moment, I allowed myself to forget about the past few days. There was no empress, no punishment mode, and no mission. There was just us. The world was cool and dark, and his touch sent my heart pumping as if it had just awakened from hibernation.
“Dying isn’t the worst thing to happen to someone,” he continued thoughtfully. “Anyone coward can die. The hardest thing is being left behind, trying to make sense of a world without them.”
I tilted my head back and allowed myself to look up into Vance’s eyes. They were dark, pulling, as if absorbing all the light that entered, saving it for some future purpose. His eyebrows were choppy, untrimmed, and his lips chapped. But somehow, it worked. It was simply . . . him. No surgeries, no tallies of volunteer hours and checklists. Vance just took life one day at a time, keeping his family safe, trying to put the pieces of himself back together. I could see it, the pain in his heart. It was something we shared now.
A warm feeling spread through my chest until I thought it would burst. This was who he really was. The tumultuous battle within him seemed to have trickled away, leaving one gallant, vulnerable boy. A boy who was looking at me as if I were something precious—who looked at me, instead of at my Rating. His eyes flitted between mine, his confidence replaced with uncertainty.
“It feels good to finally choose sides, doesn’t it?”
“Whose side are you on, then?”
His chin was just above mine, and he lowered it until our eyes were level. Then his hand tilted my chin upward toward his. His fingers brushed the side of my face, cradling it gently in his firm hand. I felt his breath on my face, felt the battle within him as well as I felt it in myself. But something pulled me toward him.
“Yours,” he said. He closed the distance between us, slowly, then paused.
And our lips met.
Praise for the Book
“Gripping, from beginning to end . . . a tale as action-packed as Divergent yet as introspective as The Giver. . . . Sure to be an instant classic in the genre.” –R.J. Craddock, author of The Children of Cain series
“Fluent and engaging . . . brimming with fabulous characters and intrigue that will keep you flipping pages. Can’t wait to read the next book in this series!” –Adrienne Monson, author of the Blood Inheritance trilogy
“Had me hooked from the first page to the last . . . Thoroughly enjoyable. I highly recommend!” -Randy Roberts, BoredShorts TV (Kid History/Kid Snippets)
Author Rebecca Rode
REBECCA RODE is an award-winning author and journalist. She is the author of the inspirational book, How to Have Peace When You’re Falling to Pieces, and writes for Deseret News, KSL.com, FamilyShare, and Provo Daily Herald. However, her true love is writing for teenagers. She enjoys playing with her four children, traveling, reading, and martial arts, and she has a ridiculous addiction to her husband’s chocolate-banana shakes.
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Have you been looking for that new stainless cookware set? Look no further I have found it at BuyDig.com. They have tons of name brand products that you have been searching for and it is so easy to order from them. We love to cook in our home so it was time to search for that new cookware set,and, with the professional staff at BuyDig.com you will get exactly want you are wanting.
ADVENTURESOFCOUNTRYDIVAS.COM was compensated either by free product or payment. I have not been compensated for this post. All opinions and experiences are my own. Open to the US, must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of the giveaway. Sponsor will be responsible for prize fulfillment. This event is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions, or to have your product featured on ADVENTURESOFCOUNTRYDIVAS.COM you can Email Krista at aocdmedia@gmail.com
I remember years ago the commercial that came out about how good probiotics are for your body. They made a special yogurt that you should eat every day to help you digestive system. I like yogurt but not something I want to eat every day so I was happy when they came out in a supplement form. I have been using this True Sol Pure Premium Probiotic 1150 for the last couple weeks and have seen some nice results.
Doctors everywhere say probiotics are “Essential” to the body. Many will even say that taking probiotics in pill form ensures that you consume the right probiotic strains and the right recommended dosage. They help you get healthy and stay healthy.
What I like about the True Sol Pure Premium Probiotic 1150 is that they are all natural and easy to take. They help improve my digestive health and balance my intestinal Flora. The good thing is if taken daily they can help improve your mood and also help accelerate your fat loss.
If you would like to purchase your own True Sol Pure Premium Probiotic 1150 you can do so from the link below from Amazon.com.
“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Miracle at the Higher Grounds Cafe (Thomas Nelson, February 2015)
What if you could ask God anything? What would you ask? And how would he answer?
Chelsea Chambers is on her own. After a public split from her NFL superstar husband, Chelsea takes a bold step out of the limelight and behind the counter of the Higher Grounds Café, an old-fashioned coffee shop in dire need of reinvention. But when her courage, expert planning, and out-of-this-world cupcakes fail to pay the bills, this newly single mom finds herself desperate for help. Better yet, a miracle.
Then a curious stranger lands at Chelsea’s door, and with him, an even more curious string of events. Soon, customers are flocking to the Higher Grounds Café, and not just for the cupcakes and cappuccino. They’ve come for the internet connection to the divine. Now the café has become the go-to place for people in search of answers to life’s biggest questions.
When a catastrophe strikes and her ex comes calling, Chelsea begins to wonder if the whole universe is conspiring against her quest to make it on her own. After a shocking discovery opens her eyes to the unseen world around her, Chelsea finds the courage to ask, and heaven answers in a most unexpected way.
About the author:
More than 120 million readers have found comfort in the writings of Max Lucado. He ministers at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and a sweet but misbehaving mutt, Andy.
Once I read a bit about Miracle At The Higher Grounds Cafe I couldn’t wait to get my copy. Once I received it I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed the story. Chelsea finds out that her husband of 13 years had cheated on her. He was a NFL superstar so the public knew all about it. She moved back to Austin to open up her families cafe. Only to find that her mother had not been paying the taxes and Chelsea needed to pay what was due or they would take the cafe and that was also her and her two kids home. When Manny falls (and he does fall) into Chelsea life as help for her Cafe things seem to change …. You will want to read Miracle At The Higher Grounds Cafe to see what happens.
I received a Copy of this book from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for the review, and the review is honest and my responsibility.
Abigail has been separated from her husband for almost two years. After a marriage that brought her only insecurity, she seeks a life now of peace and independence with their six-year-old daughter. Thomas wants to put their marriage back together, because he liked the wife he used to have, but she never wants to be that person again.
She might need his help with their daughter and start to enjoy his company again, but she just can’t trust him with her heart. Even when she discovers that her heart still wants him for a husband.
Excerpt:
She was leaning back against the counter, and Thomas was standing far too close to her. Once again invading her personal space. And this time she easily recognized his tone as snide. “What the heck is your problem?”
Thomas had one hand on the counter beside her, bracing himself as he stood just a few inches away from her. She would have scooted over, but that would have been a surrender.
His green eyes were intent on her face, and she saw his nostrils flare just a little. “You smell like him.”
Abigail gasped, mostly from shock and outrage but also with the faintest trace of arousal at the intimacy of the words. “What?”
“I said,” he gritted out, edging even closer until the fabric of his shirt brushed against her arm and one of her breasts, “you smell like him.”
“Well, what do you expect?” she demanded, her anger blazing quickly. No one could rile her up like Thomas could. “I spent the evening with the man.”
Something grew even tenser in his expression. “Did you?”
She knew him well enough to understand the resonance in his words. “Damn you, Thomas,” she said in a harsh whisper, making sure her voice didn’t carry past the kitchen. She’d never used such language before they’d gotten separated. “You have no right to act this way.”
Clearly Thomas too was conscious of not waking Mia, since his murmur was thick, rough, and soft. “I’d like to remind you of the fact that you’re still my wife.”
“And what makes you think I need any sort of reminder of that?
His lips tightened into white. “I saw him walk you to the door.”
She sucked in an indignant breath and clenched her fists at her sides. Thomas was still far too close. She could feel the heat radiating off his body, sense the leashed tension in his stance, hear the fast, uneven breaths he was taking. “So someone isn’t allowed to be polite to me now, because I’m still your wife?”
Thomas made a guttural sound and braced his other hand on the counter, imprisoning her in between his arms. He leaned forward, pushing her back, and he rasped against her ear. “That man wasn’t just being polite. You know it as well as I do.”
She was so angry now she could hardly think straight, and it was worse to know that he was right. She’d been foolish in not recognizing what Jim was thinking long before now.
But worst of all was a familiar feeling building beneath her belly. She knew how to recognize it. Knew it was triggered by the proximity of Thomas’s lean, hard body, his familiar scent flooding her senses, his piercing eyes and thick voice.
Her body was primed for sex with him, even as she wanted to scratch lines down his slightly flushed face.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Noelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she teaches English, reads any book she can get her hands on, and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.
She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card. Make sure to to follow the tour and comment; the more they comment, the better their chances of winning. The tour dates can be found HERE.
I love to do DIY projects and I also like to find projects for Rex to do. I found this fold-away outdoor bar. You can repurpose an old palette or scrap wood to make this fold down murphy bar. This nifty contraption is the perfect home base for your warm weather libations and it can fit into the smallest of outdoor spaces.
Created from a few pieces of scrap wood and a handful of supplies - this project is both fun and a great inexpensive way to maximize outdoor entertaining. All you need is a hammer, saw (either manual or electric), nails, sandpaper, chain and either wood stain or paint! You can find all the tools you need to make this great looking fold down murphy bar at Woodcrafts.com.
“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
When Fred loses his family’s vacation money, he hatches one of his hair brained plans to get it back. It’s a sports entertainment spectacle that involves throwing his best bud, Barney into the wrestling ring with the likes of John Cenastone (John Cena), Rey Mysteriopal (Rey Mysterio) and even The Undertaker, with Fred himself as event promoter! The crowds roar, the “clams” are pouring in from ticket sales and even Mr. McMagma (Vince McMahon) is taking notice of all the hoopla. Including all-star appearances from The Boulder Twins (Brie and Nikki Bella) Marble Henry (Mark Henry) and Daniel Bry-Rock (Daniel Bryan), it’s time to get the whole family together for hard-hitting, side-splitting laughs from the most epic event in all of prehistory!
#FlintstonesWWE
Own it on Blu-ray Combo, DVD and Digital HD 3/10
Take the quiz to find out which Flintstones & WWE Stone Age Smackdown Star YOU are?
Download the fun activities - and do them together as a family while you watch the film at home.
Enter to win a (Blu-ray+DVD Combo Pack) of The Flintstones & WWE Stone Age Smackdown. You must be 18 + US. Take the quiz and which Flintstones & WWE Stone Age Smackdown Star YOU are? Extra entry for each way you follow Kaisy Daisy’s Corner. Giveaway ends Mar 23, 2015. Enter daily for more chances to win.
**Each household is only eligible to win One (1) The Flintstones and WWE: Stoneage Smackdown Blu-Ray Combo Pack via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
He has a dead body. She has the seedy connections. To solve the crime they are forced to work together.
To keep her mother’s reputation from destroying her, Ashley Dix Gibson had to learn at an early age to persevere and tune out the lies, gossip, and the bullies. Detective Michael DeMarco has no desire to team up with a woman with ties to the underbelly of the porn industry but if he wants to solve his case, he has no other options. When Ashley and DeMarco combine their resources to find a brutal killer, sparks of distrust turn into the fires of passion.
Excerpt:
Braden broke the silence first. “So the door to the bedroom was open just enough to allow you to take a peek? Nothing looked out of order?”
The silence got to him again.
“So you just walked in last night, went straight to bed,” he sneered. “Didn’t notice anything was wrong.”
“I didn’t pass her door. I didn’t have to. I told your partner the exact same thing thirty minutes ago.”
Braden gave a desperate, evil laugh. I wanted to punch the smirk off his face.
“I was tired. I had the key Jillie sent me. I know where my room is.” Cops are not my favorite people and this one was beginning to get on my nerves. I know the routine. I know they have to ask questions. I would be just as snide and disbelieving if I was the one doing the questioning.
“Braden,” DeMarco, his partner called from the hallway upstairs. “Leave her be. I need you to come up here and make sure Mathews doesn’t miss anything.” I glanced at Braden’s partner, approving his wide shoulders, narrow hips and the ripple of muscles that couldn’t be contained by the suit jacket. Too bad he was with the police, we could have danced dirty and had a few laughs.
Mathews must be the crime tech I’d seen coming in through the kitchen.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Wrangler of a fearsome Yorkiepoo named Rogue (Half Yorkie half Poodle weighing in at a hefty eight pounds). Obsession controlled writer with a passion for making up names and twisting myths.
Sherrel, as the daughter of an Emmy winning cameraman, learned early in life the dark secrets of creating all those incredible fantasy characters for the large and small screen.
Refusing to be crushed at the discovery the monsters, aliens, and Robby the Robot weren’t real, Sherrel’s imagination soared. She became a SELF-proclaimed voyeur of special-effects and expert at fictional character creation.
Make sure to leave a comment and to follow the tour and comment; the more they comment, the better their chances of winning. The tour dates can be found HERE. a Rafflecopter giveaway
To heal dry lips: Mix a few tablespoons of Epsom Salt with a teaspoon of petroleum jelly, apply to lips and rub lightly. This will gently scrub away dry skin on lips, and it will also help lipstick last longer and give lips instant plump.
