The Many Uses of Yogurt

Yogurt Hair Mask: I found this cool tip off of naturallycurly.com. In the summer when you are out in the sun and at the pool or beach all day it wrecks havoc on your hair. This yogurt hair mask really improved the feel and look of my curls. I have done it once, and I am sure I would notice an even bigger difference if I did it at least twice a week. This mask is perfect for dry hair that is frizzy and/or dull. Make your own yogurt hair mask by whisking one egg until frothy. Then blend in ½ cup of plain yogurt and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Apply to damp hair in sections. Leave on for at least 15 minutes then shampoo and condition as usual. The lactic acid in yogurt will smooth and hydrate your strands.


Yogurt Face Mask: I heard about this treatment from an esthetician, who has been in that line of work for 20 yrs and has amazing skin, she seriously looks like she is 20 and she's really around 50! Anyway she puts on a yogurt mask almost everyday. Once you do it you'll know why. It feels so refreshing on your face, and after, your skin feels soft and smooth. Yogurt has antibacterial properties making it a useful, de-germing cleanser and its lactic-acid content soothes irritation, clarifies the pores and softens the skin. Yogurt has pro-biotics in it which are helpful in treating skin conditions such as acne and eczema. To start, wash your face with cleanser and then apply plain yogurt. Leave on 15-20 min. Do this daily or weekly and you will notice a difference in your complexion. I bought my yogurt at Whole Foods.

Other ingredients you can add to your mask: If you have a dry, flaky face, add two tablespoons of grated carrots or one tablespoon of honey to the yogurt. Mix thoroughly by hand or in a blender before applying.

If your skin is oily or dull, try adding two teaspoons of lemon or lime juice to the yogurt mask. Lemon rids the skin of dead cells, clarifies the pores and is known to lighten skin over time. This is a great tip for dark sun spots or age spots...Put a little lemon juice directly onto the age spot after you have washed your face right before you go to sleep. Let it dry and sleep with it on.

Running On Clouds

I just bought new shoes this weekend and I am seriously having an affair with them.  I was so anxious to put them on ever since I bought them. And when I ran today, I ran longer than usual, just so I could wear them a bit more.  I am in love with them! Soooo since I am obviously a bit obsessed with them at the moment, and I have nothing else on my mind, I thought I might write a review on 'em.

The Brooks Glycerin 9 neutral running shoe ladies and gentlemen...the best shoe I have ran in so far.  I went to Scheels to find this baby and if you have never been there, you NEED to GO!!!! As a matter of fact, I was so impressed with this store, I'll write a review on it too. 

You walk into Scheels and its got everything a sports store could have...even stuff it doesn't need (But its organized really well).  What sports store has a ferris wheel in it?? Scheels does!  Anyway, the running shoe section was huge and had just about every running shoe you could ever possibly want.  The salesman that worked with me was soooo extremely patient and helpful and knowledgeable...He checked my feet, watched how I ran and told me the type of shoe that would work best for me...I tried on at least a dozen pairs of shoes, and ran probably three miles testing them all out on their treadmill.  My salesman was relentless, he wouldn't give up on the search until I found the perfect shoe for me!  I don't think I will go anywhere else to buy running shoes if I can help it.  I had a great experience there and am so relieved that I left that store with my amazing purchase! 

Anyway, my shoe, the Brooks Glycerin 9, I don't know what to say except it literally feels like I am running on clouds.  My feet are in love.  Now, I have been perscribed a neutral shoe, so I can go with the extra cushion, and this baby it soft and squishy and light and airy feeling when I run in them...I could go miles upon miles if I wanted.  I have had issues with my feet going numb or getting really hot or  my ball on the bottom of my right foot would start to kill me in my old running shoes.  So, to have these shoes make my feet feel so amazing- ah - its gonna make my runs feel better and last a whole lot longer!!!:) My feet are in Heaven!

Aloe Cure

Okay, who here has the horrible problem of red razor burn on their bikini area??? I DO! TMI??? hahaha well, look no further ladies...and maybe gentleman(eww gross). lol.  I have found a really good option to helping that area when you shave.

Banana Boat Aloe After Sun Lotion.  How did I find out about it, you might ask? Well, from my husband...I know, kinda weird, but here is the story.  My hubby had just got a hair cut, and he had received a few coupons for a razor from his stylist.   So he bought this razor, and read on the back of the box that it used special pads above the blades that had aloe on it...Well, the genius that my husband is, thought to put our aloe lotion on after he shaved.  Cool enough, his neck looked almost red razor burn free after doing that routine for a week. 

The genius that I am, thought to use this aloe lotion on my ultra sensitive bikini area when I shaved. ( I use a completely different razor than my husband, by the way).  I shave with the aloe lotion and I put it on after too.  This stuff really does work.  Don't believe me? Try it.

Sunless Tanning In The Summer!

Sunless Tanning in the Summer time...who would have ever thought I would want to do that?  Well, now that I am older, noticing wrinkles, sunspots, and all the other awful effects from laying out in my teen years, I have been more interested in tanning lotions.  So, I went ahead and bought Jergens Natural Glow, this one is the medium tint, and you can buy this anywhere (ie: Wal-Mart, Target).  Okay, I used it for about a week, and I really love the difference it made.  I totally got darker, and it looked natural and streak free.  The lotion was easy to use and moisturizing.  Now, lets talk about what I didn't like...Hmmmm. How about I hate smelling like Tanner all day, and having my husband say I stink everytime he get's near me.  I know the smell comes with the territory of a selfless tanner, but c'mon...I wouldn't expect it to be that strong, and I swear it get's stronger as the day goes on...and then, when I work out and sweat..ugh, I want to throw up cuz I can smell the tan stench even stronger!  Also, getting past the smelliness, I hated that you had to use it every day. The lotion's tint shows up darker and darker as you build on it, which is great, but if you miss a day, I felt like you lose the tan quickly. Oh, and one more thing I didn't like was that it didn't dry that fast.  I had to sit in front of my fan before I got dressed until the lotion dried...I would think lotion would be quicker to dry...Wouldn't you? So, this summer I am still on a hunt for a great sunless tanning lotion, one that is not so smelly, quick drying and natural looking. Is that too much to ask for? Let me know if you have used any tanners out there that hold up to those standards:)

EyE Make-UP

Have any of you out there watched Vampire Diaries on the CW? I know I am a dork for watching it, but hey what can I say?  Anyway, I am in Loooove with Elena Gilbert's eye make-up.  Her brown eye's just POP out at you. 

I looked up a bunch of "How-To's" on You-Tube and most of them used expensive MAC eye shadows.  But I noticed that they also all were around the same shades...purple brownish tinted shadows.  They said that purple tints make brown eye's POP!  So I have been on a search around Wal-Mart and Target to find the same shades I saw used on You-Tube, but obviously ones that were a lot cheaper...Well people, I think I may have found a winner.  Obviously I put my own twist to the way I applied my make up but I really am happy with the results.  Let's see what you think!

This is Maybelline 12Q Plum Smokes

Elena Gilberts Eyes

Chelsey's Eyes

Lovin this polish!

I am Looooovin this nail polish! I have been looking for a fun, but toned down color for the summer...um yeah, I found it! Its Sally Hansen Hard As Nails "Mint Sorbet" (got it at Target).  Also, for those of you who hate that your polish chips the exact same day as you paint them...well look no further cuz here is a polish that help my nails stay clear of chips for about a week...Its Nail Life Gripper (buy it at Sallys).  Its kinda sticky when it goes on and "grips" the nail color you put over it.  If anyone else has a fun color or good way of keeping your nails chip free for a while, let me know so I can try it!

How I Do My Hair-DO!

Okay, so this is me, Chelsey. I have naturally curly hair, always have, probably always will.  It has taken me years, upon years, to figure out my hair ( if any of you readers have curly hair, you know what I am talking about).  Having curly hair has been such a curse growing up.  Straight is awlays in, curly...not always. I think of the eighty's when the big fuzzy perms were in, or latley, the soft beachy waves are everywhere. But there aren't that many stars that flaunt a natural curl, and if there are, a lot of them use a curling iron most of the time...which is such a waste of time if you ask me. But what about my hair?  When has that curly mass ever been in style?  Here is one of the only stars (Alyson Michalka) that I found who even remotely matched my type of curl and looked to be more natural than man made by a curling iron.

So, I fought my hair for years, straighening it with product, blow dryers and irons...killing my hair in the process.  Finally, in my 8th grade year, I gave in and said, "Fine! I give up! Curly hair, you win!"  After that, I began my trial and error process of finding out how to work with my curly hair. I tried so many different products its not even funny, but in my junior year of high school, I found a few that worked.  So, to those of you who are still struggling with your own natural curls, or who have a little wave and want to maximize it...I am going to give you the download of all my products I use and each step I take, start to finish!

STEP 1:

I found an awesome website for curly hair at naturallycurly.com and as I searched through it, I read that you want to use Sulfate Free products, especially shampoo and conditioner.  I guess it helps making your hair less frizzy.  So, I found this L'Oreal EverStrong Sulfate Free fortify system. I bought it at target. I use it everytime I wash my hair, and I feel like it does make a difference in my frizzies.

STEP 2:

After I get out of the shower I towel dry my hair and then put L'Oreal EverSleek Sulfate free Humidity Defying Leave-In Creme.  If you live anywhere in Humidity, you are constantly trying to battle the FRIZZ.  When I lived in dryer states, I never needed to worry much about sulfate free products, or even special frizz defying ones...I had no idea that Nebraska was humid (it's right next to th Missouri river), so when I moved here I was in much need of some frizz control! This stuff I just pump a few times into my palms and rub at the ends of my hair and the very top a bit.  It smells really good, I notice a little bit of a difference, but not a ton.  if you want to for-go this step, its fine, your hair can still rock it.

STEP 3:

Paul Mitchell Sculpting Foam.  Love it!  I put a TON of this stuff on next.  Thankfully it's foam, so it goes a long way!  You can buy this stuff at the Wal-Mart hair salon.

STEP 4:

TIGI Catwalk Curls Rock...This stuff is my weapon of choice...You can buy it at Target...Smells amazing, a little goes a long way, and it holds sooo well.  I put this stuff on a little at a time.  I pump once or twice into my hand rub my hands together, flip my head over and crunch my hair all over with the product.  Then I pump it once or twice again into my hand rub my palms together and do the same thing to the top of my hair. Now this product will enhance your curl...I mean it says on the bottle, "Curl Amplifier".  Make sure when you use it, you don't use too much and that your hair is still really damp, otherwise it can make your hair have white crusties in it when it dries.  This stuff is more thick and palmade-like, than smooth and creamy.  But if you use it right, you will love the finished product :)

STEP 5:

Big Sexy Hair, Spray and Stay Hair Spray. Buy it at Target or Wal-Mart hair salon.  Also a must.  I spray this stuff on while my hair is still wet.  I  flip my hair upside down and side ways as I spray.  Then I let my hair air dry for a bit.  Usually 30 min does the trick if I have time.  Otherwise, blow dry away, right away.  If you have loose waves, you might want to use a defuser to dry your hair and make it go a little more curly, but I just scrunch my curls with my hands as I dry it with the blow dryer.

People think that if you have curly hair that its sooooooo easy and simple to do.  You just get out of the shower and BAM you are done.  Puh-Lease.  I wish.  Obviously when you have curls, and thick hair at that, it takes a good hair cut, good product, and a lot of time for you to have a good hair day.