Although we sometimes get so caught up in the worldly aspect of Christmas, remember that no matter what your political ideals are, the holiday is still and always will be Christmas. We don't celebrate "holiday," we celebrate Christmas. Just my two cents worth...
On another note, here are some tips in helping deal with issues some of us will endure during the course of the holiday season:
Sweet Treats: It seems sugary treats are unavoidable, especially this time of the year. When sugar breaks down and enters the bloodstream, it bonds with protein molecules, including those found in collagen and elastin (the fibers that support the skin), through a process called glycation. This process leads to sagging and wrinkles, both of which none of us want!
Try choosing a small square of dark chocolate instead, which contains antioxidants to protect you from free radicals. Increase your consumption of vitamin C. It'll help generate collagen.
Untamed Tension: When we're under intense or chronic stress, our bodies increase production of the hormone cortisol, which can damage collagen and elastin and decrease the skin's ability to repair itself. Stress can also make us frown, which in turn can leave marks in the form of permanent lines.
Exercise daily; yoga, Tai Chi or brisk walking. The deep breathing of Yoga helps promote healthy circulation. Download a yoga app (Yoga RELAX) and do a couple of poses prior to calling it a day.
Weight Fluctuations: Packing on pounds an make your skin look plumper on the surface, but carrying excess weight can cause your body's levels of insulin and cortisol to rise, which breaks down collagen. The repetition of gaining and losing weight can take its toll on the skin's elasticity, leaving behind stretch marks and jowls.
Aim to keep your weight in the normal range, with a body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9.
Lack of Sleep: Our skin needs a change to rejuvenate and the lack of sleep deters that. Without enough deep sleep, the skin can't properly undo daily damage and puts the body into stress mode.
Shoot for 7-8 hours of sleep a night. It takes discipline, but start by shutting off all electronic devices a half hour before bed so the stimulation doesn't keep you up.
Take time to relish in what this season means. There is a God and He did send His Son to die for you and for me. What kind of Father sends His only Son to die a horrific death to save ME from my sins? The least I can do is praise Him with my words and my actions. Show love this Christmas season just as He has chosen to show love to us.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Tips to Lose Weight
Sometimes losing weight has as much to do with what we eat as it does in how active we are. Here are a few food tips to keep in mind as we all struggle to keep those extra Christmas pounds off:
1. Add hot spices to your food, as they can stimulate your metabolism and help you burn more calories.
2. EAT BREAKFAST! Research shows that people who skip breakfast are more likely to be overweight.
3. Most fruits and vegetables are naturally low in fat and calories; substituting them for high-calorie foods can be a calorie-reducing strategy.
4. When eating out, add little or no butter to your food.
5. Don't eat just because you're bored or because 'tis the season. Eat only when you are hungry. Begin to listen better to your body and to the signs it gives when you are truly hungry or when it's simply boredom.
6. Stop eating when you're full. When you feel full, it's time to stop eating. If you're at a restaurant, you can take home leftovers.
7. Skip or limit the breading on meat, poultry or fish. Breading adds fat and calories and causes the food to soak up more fat during frying.
8. Take your lunch to work instead of going out to a restaurant - on a side note Thirty-One Gifts have Thermal Totes on sale during the month of January! www.mythirtyone.com/kristieboyd.
9. Eat 4-5 small meals a day instead of 2-3 big meals. Dinner should be your last meal of the day.
10. Be able to enjoy your favorite foods, but make sure to do so in moderation only.
11. Eat more whole grains and fiber. Eat less sugar and fatty foods.
12. Never skip meals! You will end up bingeing later on when you feel extremely hungry.
13. Don't turn to food for comfort. When you feel stressed, go for a walk, listen to your favorite music or call a friend.
14. Stock your kitchen with fresh fruits and other healty snacks and avoid buying unhealthy snacks.
15. Brush your teach right after dinner so you can be reminded not to eat after that.
16. Portion control, portion control, portion control!!
17. Choose fish more often for lunch or dinner. Look for fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, trout and herring.
18. Limit juice, soda and sugar-sweetened beverages. They can add excess sugar and "empty calories."
19. Eat slowly and allow your stomach time to signal to your brain that you are getting full.
20. Don't stand near the food at parties. You will be tempted to eat more than you need to.
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince Of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6
Monday, November 29, 2010
You Are Beautiful
A couple of weeks ago, I posted a lesson that Clinton Faupel from www.remedy.fm spoke about to a group of middle and high schoolers. I hope what he spoke about, will speak to someone out there who feels they are less than beautiful. Allow me to share what "Faup" had to say:
How many times have you heard someone whisper, "Oh, she's probably anorexic" about someone who's looking thinner lately? Is it said in a compassionate tone? Or is it said with a roll of the eyes? Generally, most people are baffled at how a size 4 girls or a 180-pound guy could be so delusional as to think they're fat.
The truth is, an eating disorder victim deserves much more compassion. blogs, memoirs, and personal conversations reveal that at the core of it lies a debilitating self-loathing. Many people say they hated themselves so much, they didn't even feel they deserved to eat!
How many times have you heard someone whisper, "Oh, she's probably anorexic" about someone who's looking thinner lately? Is it said in a compassionate tone? Or is it said with a roll of the eyes? Generally, most people are baffled at how a size 4 girls or a 180-pound guy could be so delusional as to think they're fat.
The truth is, an eating disorder victim deserves much more compassion. blogs, memoirs, and personal conversations reveal that at the core of it lies a debilitating self-loathing. Many people say they hated themselves so much, they didn't even feel they deserved to eat!
"Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see Him face to face. We don't know everything, but then we will just as God completely understands us."
1 Corinthians 13:12
Many times, we can't see ourselves for what we really are. That's why we need supportive Believers in Christ around us to remind us of how attractive we are to Christ. He designed us as we are and loves us beyond comprehension!
Commit this to memory:
"...don't be afraid. I have rescued you. I have called you by name; now you belong to me."
Isaiah 43:1b
"Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spiritual blessings that Christ has brought us from heaven! Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with Him and to be His holy and innocent and loving people."
Ephesians 1:3-4
How do you see yourself through other people's eyes? Have you allowed other people's comments to shape your perception of you?
It's wrong to believe other people's perception of who THEY think you may or may not be. Believe, rather, that the Creator of the heavens thinks you are the most beautiful of all his creation!
If you have questions about faith or would like help establishing a relationship with Jesus Christ, I would be more than happy to help you! Feel free to email me or place a comment at the bottom of this post.
God Bless!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Choose Your Side
I had the pleasure of listening to Clinton Faupel this weekend at a youth retreat. He has this way of making you look deep within yourself to find the things that hold you back from having a profound relationship with Christ.
I wanted to share a little bit of what he challenged us with. It comes from Matthew 25:31-34.
I wanted to share a little bit of what he challenged us with. It comes from Matthew 25:31-34.
"When the Son of Man in His glory with all of His angels, He will sit on His royal throne. The people of all nations will be brought before Him and He will separate them, as shepherds separate their sheep from their goats. He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Then the King will say to those on His right, 'My Father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created.'"
Wisdom from a fable: Aesop once wrote a fable about a great war between the birds and the mammals. The bat wanted to appear to be on both sides so that he could benefit from everything each side controlled. When he was captured by the eagles and condors the bat claimed to be a bird, because he had wings and could fly. when he was captured by tigers and wolves, the bat claimed to be a mammal, because he had teeth and fur. In the end, however, his duplicity was uncovered, and he was hunted by both groups and killed.
"You are deceitful and disloyal. So you will pay for your sin," Hosea 10:2
Pretty deep stuff there. We can try to claim we're part of both sides of the fence, but when it comes down to the end, we had better be certain and stand strong on only one side!
Who are we fooling when we try to play with both sides? There are so many people who play at being followers of Jesus. They attend church services fairly regularly, take part in activities at church, show up at Bible study every so often and even claim to pray for those who are suffering. They like the "image" of being "decent and good." At the same time, however, they'll dress immodestly, use off color language, listen to offensive music and watch sexually explicit movies. We just can't have it both ways! But, like the bat in Aesop's fable, they aren't fooling anyone.
Taking a stand: Joshua proclaimed, "My family and I are going to worship and obey the LORD!" (Joshua 24:15). The Bible tells us that the same spring cannot produce fresh water and saltwater. You have to make a total commitment or you've made no commitment at all.
Are you two-faced and deceitful? or are you a walking example of what it is to have a relationship with Jesus Christ?
Make your choice and take your stand!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
How to have great looking skin throughout the Holiday Season
It's that time of year again.... time for parties, family gatherings, company dinners and you want your skin to look fantastic through the entire season. Here are some helpful tips to keep your skin looking great for the holidays:
1. Resist Popping the Pimple: We've all done it, popped a pimple and later regretted it when we saw the red blotchy mark it left. Popping your pimple can make things worse, irritating the skin around it further than it already is. You're also spreading bacteria and even leaving a permanent scar. It's better to treat the whole area to prevent new spots. Have acne? Try Mary Kay Acne Treatment Gel.
2. Pucker-up Under the Mistletoe: Chapped lips are always a problem in the winter as your lips do not have hair follicles or oil glands to protect them like the rest of your skin. Try moisturizing your lips as part of your regular skin care routine. Carry a lip balm or use a lipstick, especially one with SPF protection. Remember, licking your lips only makes it worse!
3. Remember to Keep Smiling: As a child, do you remember your mother telling you to stop making that silly face or your face would freeze that way? It may not "freeze that way", but your face will conform to your most common expression. Want a permanent frown? Keep frowning. Want a younger, happy looking face? Keep that smile on your face!
4. Don't forget to Exercise: With busy schedules, exercise is sometimes put on the back burner, assuming it was there at all! Exercise helps relieve stress (a big factor in aging your skin) and increases the oxygen flow to your skin, promoting younger looking skin.
5. Don't Sweat It: Did you know that you can loose up to 2 liters of sweat in an hour?! There is also a difference between men and women; men actually sweat more than women and their sweat has a lower pH level. That's why there are different antiperspirants for men and women.
6. Throw Out Your Old Cosmetics: Take this time of year to review your cosmetics and gauge which ones really need to get tossed. Bacteria can grow on your cosmetics, a danger especially with the products you use around your eyes. A general guide to longevity of cosmetics is:
8. Quit Smoking before January 1st: What are you waiting for? Smoking ages your skin by encouraging more lines and yellowing of your skin. Smoking decreases the oxygen that goes to your skin, giving it a dull look. Quit today and start seeing the positive changes to your skin (and your health).
9. Tweak Your Tweezing: The best time to tweeze is right after you shower when your pores are open and your hairs are softened. Alternatively, try a warm cloth over your brows prior to tweezing.
10. Get Some Rest: It's important to make sure you are getting enough sleep during this busy time of year. sleep is when your body repairs itself. Your skin, hair and nails all show the signs of not enough sleep by becoming dull and dry, and your nails can become brittle.
1. Resist Popping the Pimple: We've all done it, popped a pimple and later regretted it when we saw the red blotchy mark it left. Popping your pimple can make things worse, irritating the skin around it further than it already is. You're also spreading bacteria and even leaving a permanent scar. It's better to treat the whole area to prevent new spots. Have acne? Try Mary Kay Acne Treatment Gel.
2. Pucker-up Under the Mistletoe: Chapped lips are always a problem in the winter as your lips do not have hair follicles or oil glands to protect them like the rest of your skin. Try moisturizing your lips as part of your regular skin care routine. Carry a lip balm or use a lipstick, especially one with SPF protection. Remember, licking your lips only makes it worse!
3. Remember to Keep Smiling: As a child, do you remember your mother telling you to stop making that silly face or your face would freeze that way? It may not "freeze that way", but your face will conform to your most common expression. Want a permanent frown? Keep frowning. Want a younger, happy looking face? Keep that smile on your face!
4. Don't forget to Exercise: With busy schedules, exercise is sometimes put on the back burner, assuming it was there at all! Exercise helps relieve stress (a big factor in aging your skin) and increases the oxygen flow to your skin, promoting younger looking skin.
5. Don't Sweat It: Did you know that you can loose up to 2 liters of sweat in an hour?! There is also a difference between men and women; men actually sweat more than women and their sweat has a lower pH level. That's why there are different antiperspirants for men and women.
6. Throw Out Your Old Cosmetics: Take this time of year to review your cosmetics and gauge which ones really need to get tossed. Bacteria can grow on your cosmetics, a danger especially with the products you use around your eyes. A general guide to longevity of cosmetics is:
- Mascara: Maximum of 3 to 4 months
- One year for foundation, oil-based ones can last a few months longer. Remember to review your foundation with what's happening with your skin - maybe it's time for a change?
- 2 years for lip sticks and liners is a general rule of thumb
- Have you cleaned your make-up brushes and applicators? Clean them quarterly or give them the toss
8. Quit Smoking before January 1st: What are you waiting for? Smoking ages your skin by encouraging more lines and yellowing of your skin. Smoking decreases the oxygen that goes to your skin, giving it a dull look. Quit today and start seeing the positive changes to your skin (and your health).
9. Tweak Your Tweezing: The best time to tweeze is right after you shower when your pores are open and your hairs are softened. Alternatively, try a warm cloth over your brows prior to tweezing.
10. Get Some Rest: It's important to make sure you are getting enough sleep during this busy time of year. sleep is when your body repairs itself. Your skin, hair and nails all show the signs of not enough sleep by becoming dull and dry, and your nails can become brittle.
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so you should be taking care of it year round!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Beauty Myths
Beauty Myth #1: Plucking white hairs yields more white hairs.
This is definitely just a beauty myth! Our hair whitens as part of the natural process of aging and some of us see our hair begin turning white earlier than expected and earlier than those around us. It only seems to us that we are having more and more gray hair after we see the first strand, because our mind is now trained to pinpoint any gray hair that exists. Therefore, we're more likely to notice the white hairs.
Beauty Myth #2: Shaving the hair makes it grow back thicker.
This is definitely a beauty myth, too. Shaved hair seems to grow back thicker only because when we shave, the razor cuts the hair off only on the skin's surface. The hairs were not plucked off directly from the follicle. Therefore, when the hair grows back, the wide part of the strand grows out, making the hair appear thicker.
Beauty Myth #3: Mayonnaise makes for a great conditioner.
No, this one is not a myth. Mayonnaise, as long as it is real, does make for a great hair conditioner! The oil and eggs that can be found in real mayonnaise is rich in fatty acids and protein that nourishes the hair.
Beauty Myth #4: Applying ice to the skin makes pores smaller.
Nothing can make the pores smaller. They can appear smaller, but in reality they are not. The size of our pores is the result of genetics, not of the temperature applied on the skin, so some people just have smaller (or larger) pores than others.
Beauty Myth #5: Toothpaste can cure pimples.
Actually, yes it can! Toothpaste has menthol and other active ingredients that can dry up a pimple and make it heal much more quickly than if left alone. However, the same active ingredients in toothpaste that can heal a pimple can also dry up and irritate the skin of your face, so its better to use a pimple cream rather than toothpaste for your pimple.
Beauty Myth #6: Applying beer on the skin before going for a sun tan results in a golden glow.
No, not true. In fact, you should avoid sun tanning altogether, unless you are going to use a self-tanner. Applying beer before going for a tan does not do anything for the skin. Some people are just prone to getting a golden tan, while others naturally turn red as a lobster under the sun. It is, again, a matter of genetics.
Beauty Myth #7: Crossing your legs leads to varicose veins.
Not really. The true causes of varicose veins are yet unknown, but again, some people are more prone to having them because of factors like heredity, age and weight. Crossing your legs will not cause you to have varicose veins, but if you already have them, it can make the condition worse.
Beauty Myth #8: Washing your feet when you're tired will make the veins swell.
The veins in our feet swell when the feet are tired. It is the body's own automatic attempt to soothe the tiredness. In fact, it is indeed best to soak the feet in warm water to further increase the blood circulation to your lower extremities, so as to take the tiredness away.
www.marykay.com/kristie.boyd
www.mythirtyone.com/kristieboyd
Monday, October 4, 2010
Jesus and the Sinful Woman
As I read the passage for today, in my Beth Moore study, I'm again in awe of just how powerful the love of Christ is!
Luke 7:36-50 tells a story of Jesus being invited to dine with a Pharisee. As the men are reclining after dinner, a sinful woman from the local town walks unannounced, into the house.
Let me set the stage before I go on.
In Christ's day, cities resembled small villages or settlements more so than a large metropolis. Thus, gossip spread like wild fire. Everyone seemed to know the going's on of others within the settlement. A small community increases the risk of one being judged for his/her actions and being anonymous is not likely to happen. The shame that is put upon someone only magnifies the hurt and often tightens the chains of bondage. Sometimes it's easier to break free from the behavior than it is the disapproval of those living around you.
The woman in the story, walks in and kneels behind Jesus. She is sobbing and her tears are falling on Jesus' feet. All the while, she's wiping off her tears with her hair and kissing His feet, over and over again. She then takes an alabaster jar filled with perfume and pours it on Jesus' feet, continuing to wipe His feet with her hair.
The Pharisee is appalled! He mumbles to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is-that she is a sinner."
You see, this Pharisee is placing wrongful judgement upon this woman. Yes, she has sinned, probably in ways the Pharisee has yet to imagine, but let he who hath no sin, cast the first stone. You know the saying, if you point one finger at someone, you have three pointing right back at you? I think that saying is fitting for this part of the story.
Jesus holds the Pharisee accountable by explaining that he didn't anoint Jesus, nor did the Phariseet wash Jesus' feet before He entered the home (a courtesy extended to guests because sandaled feet got very dirty), but the woman did all of that and with very expensive perfume. The Pharisee didn't greet Jesus with a kiss either, but the woman, while she was sobbing, was kissing Jesus' feet and wiping them with her hair.
Did this Pharisee think he was too good to treat Jesus in a respectable manner? Did he think his sins were not as serious as the sins of the woman?
I'd like to quote Beth Moore, "... dirt is dirt..." (referencing sin)"... and we've all got it no matter where we come from. I'm not sure Christ sees one kind of dirt as dirtier than another. One thing is for sure: His blood is able to bleach any stain left by any kind of dirt."
The Pharisee probably didn't sleep around or take bribes or externalize his depravity, but he also didn't greet Jesus with a holy kiss, anoint Him with oil/perfume, nor gave Jesus water for His feet. But the woman did.
We are commanded in Mark 12:30, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with our strength and with all our mind. This is exactly what the sinful woman did.
At the end of this story, Jesus says to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven... Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Only those who realize the depth of their sin can appreciate the complete forgiveness God offers them.
After all the ridicule and shame this woman had endured, she can now go on her way, peacefully, knowing her God has forgiven her sins.
Are you living in your past, feeling the load of shame from your sins on your shoulders? Release them to the One who shed His blood on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. Know in your heart that you have been forgiven and walk in peace.
Luke 7:36-50 tells a story of Jesus being invited to dine with a Pharisee. As the men are reclining after dinner, a sinful woman from the local town walks unannounced, into the house.
Let me set the stage before I go on.
In Christ's day, cities resembled small villages or settlements more so than a large metropolis. Thus, gossip spread like wild fire. Everyone seemed to know the going's on of others within the settlement. A small community increases the risk of one being judged for his/her actions and being anonymous is not likely to happen. The shame that is put upon someone only magnifies the hurt and often tightens the chains of bondage. Sometimes it's easier to break free from the behavior than it is the disapproval of those living around you.
The woman in the story, walks in and kneels behind Jesus. She is sobbing and her tears are falling on Jesus' feet. All the while, she's wiping off her tears with her hair and kissing His feet, over and over again. She then takes an alabaster jar filled with perfume and pours it on Jesus' feet, continuing to wipe His feet with her hair.
The Pharisee is appalled! He mumbles to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is-that she is a sinner."
You see, this Pharisee is placing wrongful judgement upon this woman. Yes, she has sinned, probably in ways the Pharisee has yet to imagine, but let he who hath no sin, cast the first stone. You know the saying, if you point one finger at someone, you have three pointing right back at you? I think that saying is fitting for this part of the story.
Jesus holds the Pharisee accountable by explaining that he didn't anoint Jesus, nor did the Phariseet wash Jesus' feet before He entered the home (a courtesy extended to guests because sandaled feet got very dirty), but the woman did all of that and with very expensive perfume. The Pharisee didn't greet Jesus with a kiss either, but the woman, while she was sobbing, was kissing Jesus' feet and wiping them with her hair.
Did this Pharisee think he was too good to treat Jesus in a respectable manner? Did he think his sins were not as serious as the sins of the woman?
I'd like to quote Beth Moore, "... dirt is dirt..." (referencing sin)"... and we've all got it no matter where we come from. I'm not sure Christ sees one kind of dirt as dirtier than another. One thing is for sure: His blood is able to bleach any stain left by any kind of dirt."
The Pharisee probably didn't sleep around or take bribes or externalize his depravity, but he also didn't greet Jesus with a holy kiss, anoint Him with oil/perfume, nor gave Jesus water for His feet. But the woman did.
We are commanded in Mark 12:30, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with our strength and with all our mind. This is exactly what the sinful woman did.
At the end of this story, Jesus says to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven... Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Only those who realize the depth of their sin can appreciate the complete forgiveness God offers them.
After all the ridicule and shame this woman had endured, she can now go on her way, peacefully, knowing her God has forgiven her sins.
Are you living in your past, feeling the load of shame from your sins on your shoulders? Release them to the One who shed His blood on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. Know in your heart that you have been forgiven and walk in peace.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Thoughts....
I'm currently in the midst of doing another Beth Moore Bible study, entitled, "Jesus the One and Only." It never ceases to amaze me just how gifted Beth is. The way she brings the scriptures alive and how practical she makes it all seem, is so refreshing and makes me crave the Word even more!
Each day we have a daily lesson and at the end of the week, some wonderful ladies and I get together and listen to Beth teach about what we've just studied. Yesterday's study was "Compassion Without Restraint" and let me tell you, she pictured for me an entirely unique side of Jesus that I had never considered before.
To me, Jesus is love, compassion, power, knowledge and so much more than my little mind can even begin to describe. In John 7, Jesus has come on the scene and is doing a lot of healing and working of miracles. One that really struck me is captured in verses 11-17.
After healing a centurion's servant, Jesus comes to the city of Nain along with his disciples and a large group of people. As he approaches the city gate, a funeral procession is passing him by. Because His omniscience, Jesus knows that this dead person is the only son of the grieving mother, who is also a widow.
Now picture this with me, Jesus is walking along a dusty road, chatting it up with those following Him. He looks up and sees this mother crying and agonizing over the death of her one and only child. She most likely has other family members walking along with her who also feel her pain and are mourning right along with her.
Jesus, feels her pain, too, because he walks over to the woman, and says to her, "Don't cry." Can you see the compassion? Can you feel His heart hurting for the pain the woman is going through? To me, this exemplifies just how human Christ was.
After He comforts her, He touches the coffin and tells the young man to "...get up.!" Before I go on, let me tell you that Jesus was defiling Himself. Unless someone was directly involved in shrouding the body with burial linens, touching a dead body was a HUGE no-no!
Picture the pallbearers facial expressions as the funeral platform began to move. I would have most likely screamed and let the stretcher drop to the ground!
Jesus casts off all self restraint and reacts to the woman's pain. I'd like to quote Beth Moore, because she paints a much better picture than I can.
Each day we have a daily lesson and at the end of the week, some wonderful ladies and I get together and listen to Beth teach about what we've just studied. Yesterday's study was "Compassion Without Restraint" and let me tell you, she pictured for me an entirely unique side of Jesus that I had never considered before.
To me, Jesus is love, compassion, power, knowledge and so much more than my little mind can even begin to describe. In John 7, Jesus has come on the scene and is doing a lot of healing and working of miracles. One that really struck me is captured in verses 11-17.
After healing a centurion's servant, Jesus comes to the city of Nain along with his disciples and a large group of people. As he approaches the city gate, a funeral procession is passing him by. Because His omniscience, Jesus knows that this dead person is the only son of the grieving mother, who is also a widow.
Now picture this with me, Jesus is walking along a dusty road, chatting it up with those following Him. He looks up and sees this mother crying and agonizing over the death of her one and only child. She most likely has other family members walking along with her who also feel her pain and are mourning right along with her.
Jesus, feels her pain, too, because he walks over to the woman, and says to her, "Don't cry." Can you see the compassion? Can you feel His heart hurting for the pain the woman is going through? To me, this exemplifies just how human Christ was.
After He comforts her, He touches the coffin and tells the young man to "...get up.!" Before I go on, let me tell you that Jesus was defiling Himself. Unless someone was directly involved in shrouding the body with burial linens, touching a dead body was a HUGE no-no!
Picture the pallbearers facial expressions as the funeral platform began to move. I would have most likely screamed and let the stretcher drop to the ground!
Jesus casts off all self restraint and reacts to the woman's pain. I'd like to quote Beth Moore, because she paints a much better picture than I can.
Speaking about the woman... "She exhibited no faith. In fact, we have no idea
if the grieving mom even realized Christ existed. She was probably too
enveloped in her own agony to notice. He awaited no conditions
nor apparently had any intention of using the
moment for instructional purposes.
Jesus ran into a woman in hopeless despair and just reacted
with what came most naturally to Him: healing mercy."
How profound is the love Jesus showered on this woman! How much more profound is the love He has for us?
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Healing Foods
Healing foods... will this give you a better reason to indulge in some wonderfully delicious chocolate? Absolutely! Read on...
Dark Chocolate:
Benefits: Lowers blood pressure, improves heart health, it stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure and it contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant.
Kidney Beans:
Benefits: Excellent source of thiamin and riboflavin. Both vitamins help your body use energy efficiently, so you won't be nodding off in class or at work.
Garlic:
Benefits: Cut up a few extra cloves into your next recipe of spaghetti sauce or stir-fry. Garlic contains enzymes that can help increase the release of serotonin, which helps you feel relaxed.
Fish:
Benefits: Consuming two 4-6 ounce servings of oily fish (salmon, tuna, trout) each week, will sharpen your mind. Oily fish is high in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's!
Green Tea:
Benefits: Helps fight heard disease, cancer, burning fat, lowering cholesterol, prevents diabetes, and staving off dementia.
Chili Peppers:
Benefits: Can help in burning fat building muscles. Studies have shown that eating 1 tablespoon of chopped red or green chiles boosts metabolism by 23%!
Kiwi:
Benefits: Helps decrease the duration of a cold. One kiwi provides 117% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin C.
Olives:
Benefits: Rich in healthy monounsaturated fats which help reduce inflammation, a catalyst for migraines. One study found that the anti-inflammatory compounds in olive oil suppress the enzymes involved in inflammation in the same manner as ibuprofen.
Eating right doesn't mean eating foods that have no taste. It means eating foods that benefit your mind and body.
Dark Chocolate:
Benefits: Lowers blood pressure, improves heart health, it stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure and it contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant.
Kidney Beans:
Benefits: Excellent source of thiamin and riboflavin. Both vitamins help your body use energy efficiently, so you won't be nodding off in class or at work.
Garlic:
Benefits: Cut up a few extra cloves into your next recipe of spaghetti sauce or stir-fry. Garlic contains enzymes that can help increase the release of serotonin, which helps you feel relaxed.
Fish:
Benefits: Consuming two 4-6 ounce servings of oily fish (salmon, tuna, trout) each week, will sharpen your mind. Oily fish is high in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's!
Green Tea:
Benefits: Helps fight heard disease, cancer, burning fat, lowering cholesterol, prevents diabetes, and staving off dementia.
Chili Peppers:
Benefits: Can help in burning fat building muscles. Studies have shown that eating 1 tablespoon of chopped red or green chiles boosts metabolism by 23%!
Kiwi:
Benefits: Helps decrease the duration of a cold. One kiwi provides 117% of your daily recommended intake of vitamin C.
Olives:
Benefits: Rich in healthy monounsaturated fats which help reduce inflammation, a catalyst for migraines. One study found that the anti-inflammatory compounds in olive oil suppress the enzymes involved in inflammation in the same manner as ibuprofen.
Eating right doesn't mean eating foods that have no taste. It means eating foods that benefit your mind and body.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Is it possible to have perfect skin?
While I'm not certain that I'd use the descriptive "perfect" to describe beautiful looking skin, I do know there are several activities that will enhance your skin's natural beauty.
First and foremost - EXERCISE! Yes, I know, there was cringing involved after reading that word. Exercise doesn't have to be strenuous. It can be yoga or a leisurely walk. Getting yourself into a regular habit of activity other than sitting around, will for sure provide many benefits to your body.
Second - Wash your face religiously! How many of you wash your face twice a day? Allow me to put this idea into perspective for you. Let's say you wash regularly every morning. That's great, but think about the pollutants floating in the air outside, on your walk to work, or in the elevator or the germs from the person sitting next to you just sneezed into the air. Or second hand smoke from the restaurant where you had lunch. All that grime and dirt collects and adheres itself to the oils on your skin. If you don't wash them off before heading to bed, it all seeps into and clogs your pores. Ick! Now go wash your face! (I have some handy dandy Mary Kay Cleansing Cloths that I can sell you!)
Third - Use toner. After cleansing, toner not only finishes the job, by taking off every last bit of filth, but you need it to balance the PH in your skin.
Fourth - SPF. UV rays are damaging to the skin, we all know this. Use a sunscreen or a moisturizer with an SPF of 25 or higher. (Check out Mary Kay's TimeWise moisturizer with SPF 25).
Fifth - Eat healthy. That chocolate dessert isn't doing your skin, or your hips, any good! Limit caffeine, alcohol and eliminate sugars. Try taking a multi-vitamin and drinking green tea instead of soda. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, too.
Sixth - Stay hydrated. Water does a body good!
Seventh - Go easy on the make-up. If you're not taking good care of your skin, no color enhancements are going to cover the flaws.
www.beautyandfaith.blogspot.com
www.marykay.com/kristie.boyd
First and foremost - EXERCISE! Yes, I know, there was cringing involved after reading that word. Exercise doesn't have to be strenuous. It can be yoga or a leisurely walk. Getting yourself into a regular habit of activity other than sitting around, will for sure provide many benefits to your body.
Second - Wash your face religiously! How many of you wash your face twice a day? Allow me to put this idea into perspective for you. Let's say you wash regularly every morning. That's great, but think about the pollutants floating in the air outside, on your walk to work, or in the elevator or the germs from the person sitting next to you just sneezed into the air. Or second hand smoke from the restaurant where you had lunch. All that grime and dirt collects and adheres itself to the oils on your skin. If you don't wash them off before heading to bed, it all seeps into and clogs your pores. Ick! Now go wash your face! (I have some handy dandy Mary Kay Cleansing Cloths that I can sell you!)
Third - Use toner. After cleansing, toner not only finishes the job, by taking off every last bit of filth, but you need it to balance the PH in your skin.
Fourth - SPF. UV rays are damaging to the skin, we all know this. Use a sunscreen or a moisturizer with an SPF of 25 or higher. (Check out Mary Kay's TimeWise moisturizer with SPF 25).
Fifth - Eat healthy. That chocolate dessert isn't doing your skin, or your hips, any good! Limit caffeine, alcohol and eliminate sugars. Try taking a multi-vitamin and drinking green tea instead of soda. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, too.
Sixth - Stay hydrated. Water does a body good!
Seventh - Go easy on the make-up. If you're not taking good care of your skin, no color enhancements are going to cover the flaws.
www.beautyandfaith.blogspot.com
www.marykay.com/kristie.boyd
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Wanted!
I came across these "poems" and thought I'd share them with you. Maybe after reading, a spark deep within us will once again be stirred. God Bless!
Wanted!
More to improve and fewer to disapprove.
More doers and fewer talkers.
More to say it can be done
and fewer to say it's impossible.
More to inspire others
and fewer to throw cold water on them.
More to get into the thick of things and fewer to sit on the sidelines.
More to point out what's right and fewer to show what's wrong.
More to light a candle and fewer to curse the darkness.
_____________________________________________________
It's Easier
It's easier to settle for average
than strive for achievement.
It's easier to be saturated with complacency
than stirred with compassion.
It's easier to be skeptical
than successful.
It's easier to question
than conquer.
It's easier to rationalize your disappointments
than realize your dreams.
It's easier to belch the baloney
than bring home the bacon.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Time for some ABC's
Most of us know that vitamins can help keep our bodies healthy and strong, but do we realize just how much those vitamins can help our skin stay beautiful?
Below is a simple guide to aid you through the sometimes daunting maze of vitamin-enriched products, while making sure your skin receives its recommended daily allowance of beauty. Look for these vitamins in the ingredients list the next time you're in the market for quality skin care.
Below is a simple guide to aid you through the sometimes daunting maze of vitamin-enriched products, while making sure your skin receives its recommended daily allowance of beauty. Look for these vitamins in the ingredients list the next time you're in the market for quality skin care.
Vitamin A
Greatest skin benefits: Helps with fine lines and wrinkles.
As some have learned the hard way, attempting to hide fine lines and wrinkles behind layers of make up, is a losing battle. Better to improve the condition of your skin with products containing retinoids (a class of Vitamin A derivatives).
Vitamin B
Greatest skin benefits: A healthy glow, moisture retention.
Vitamins B-3 (niacin) and B-5 (pantothenic acid) have become popular additions to skin-care products because of their ability to assist in retaining moisture.
Vitamin C
Greatest skin benefits: Repairs sun damage.
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) has been one of skin-care's hot sellers for the past several years due to its proven effectiveness as an antioxidant. Antioxidants are a critical natural defense against "free radicals," unstable molecules that age the skin as a result of pollution, smoking and sun exposure.
Another benefit of Vitamin C is its ability to enhance the firmness of collagen; a critically important skin protein that strengthens structural support and resilience of the skin. In other words, it keeps your skin from sagging!
Vitamin E
Greatest skin benefits: Repair dry, rough skin
Vitamin-E (alpha tocopherol) is another powerful antioxidant that is used often in lotions and creams for it's moisturizing qualities.
Vitamin K
Greatest skin benefits: Repairs dark, under-eye circles
Dark circles under your eyes can make you look old beyond your years! While getting a good night's sleep is always recommended, Vitamin K is a good additional defense against discoloration under the eyes.
Vitamin K is also used as a treatment for spider veins.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Food That Beautifies
Tips on what you can eat to help keep your youthful look :)
1. Wild Salmon - Wonderful source for omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce skin inflammation, prevent redness, wrinkles and loss of the skin's firmness. It's also potent in antioxidants and vitamins B and D.
2. Low-fat yogurt - CALCIUM! Strong bones, nails and teeth. One cup of plain yogurt has more calcium than a cup of skim milk!
3. Oysters - Don't crinkle your nose! Oysters are the best source of zinc! Zinc is necessary to support the structure of skin and speeds up renewal and repair.
4. Blueberries - Full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that prevent long-term cell damage.
5. Kiwi - Another good source of antioxidants, kiwis are also a great source of vitamin C and potassium, all which help prevent wrinkles.
6. Spinach - Great source of beta-carotene and lutein, which protects the eyes.
7. Tomatoes - Did you know tomatoes are one vegetable best eaten processed? A major source of lycopene, a potent antioxidant also thought to protect against sunburn.
8. Dark Chocolate - Here it is... proof that we MUST eat this creamy, deliciousness! Full of antioxidants and nutrients, cocoa (choose chocolate with at least 60% cocoa), increases blood flow to the skin, which in turn boosts hydration, smoothness and protection against sun exposure.
Now... go buy some veggies and fruit, but don't forget the dark CHOCOLATE!
1. Wild Salmon - Wonderful source for omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce skin inflammation, prevent redness, wrinkles and loss of the skin's firmness. It's also potent in antioxidants and vitamins B and D.
2. Low-fat yogurt - CALCIUM! Strong bones, nails and teeth. One cup of plain yogurt has more calcium than a cup of skim milk!
3. Oysters - Don't crinkle your nose! Oysters are the best source of zinc! Zinc is necessary to support the structure of skin and speeds up renewal and repair.
4. Blueberries - Full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that prevent long-term cell damage.
5. Kiwi - Another good source of antioxidants, kiwis are also a great source of vitamin C and potassium, all which help prevent wrinkles.
6. Spinach - Great source of beta-carotene and lutein, which protects the eyes.
7. Tomatoes - Did you know tomatoes are one vegetable best eaten processed? A major source of lycopene, a potent antioxidant also thought to protect against sunburn.
8. Dark Chocolate - Here it is... proof that we MUST eat this creamy, deliciousness! Full of antioxidants and nutrients, cocoa (choose chocolate with at least 60% cocoa), increases blood flow to the skin, which in turn boosts hydration, smoothness and protection against sun exposure.
Now... go buy some veggies and fruit, but don't forget the dark CHOCOLATE!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Skin Care? Make up?
Make up and skin care is generally regarded as a woman's forte. Men seldom indulge in make up and skin care. Many men care about their skin, but make up is rather alien to them. Treating make up and skin care as different topics wouldn't make sense; after all, make up will work only if the skin is healthy. So, how do you exercise make up and skin care, together? Here are a few tips for make up and skin care:
* Always have skin care on the mind, whether you are buying products for make up or actually applying them onto your skin after you have bought them. Be sure what you're buying is a make up and skin care product, not just a make up product. Check the ingredients to see if it contains anything you know you're allergic to. Also check if it contains high concentration chemicals (alcohol for one), that can harm your skin.
* Make up and skin care is also about testing the products before using them (Mary Kay products are have a money back guarantee!). So, apply the make up on a small patch of skin, for example, ear lobes and check how your skin react to it.
* Keep track of expiration dates on your make up products and never use them beyond that date. In fact, some products, especially vitamin C based products, if not stored properly, spoil earlier than the expiration date given.
* Cleanliness is an important part of make up and skin care regimen. Sharpen your eyeliners regularly and keep all your make up brushes, applicators, etc., clean. Pick a date during the month and do an overall cleaning of all your make up equipment.
* Keeping your hair clean is also part of the cleanliness routine. Making sure the oils from your hair are kept at bay will help in keeping your facial skin free of acne.
* Nail care is another important aspect of make up and skin care. Use a good quality nail polish and always keep under your nails free of debris. Use cuticle oil to soften the edges of your nails.
* If you have deep set eyes, you should use a liquid eye liner instead of a pencil. This will prevent smudging at the deep edges of your eye-lid.
* If you have a skin disorder (acne), you should not apply heavy or chemical based make up. Consult a dermatologist to be sure which products are safe for your skin.
* Remember that make up and skin care should not conflict with one another. Instead, they should compliment in order to give you the best results all around.
www.marykay.com/kristie.boyd
* Always have skin care on the mind, whether you are buying products for make up or actually applying them onto your skin after you have bought them. Be sure what you're buying is a make up and skin care product, not just a make up product. Check the ingredients to see if it contains anything you know you're allergic to. Also check if it contains high concentration chemicals (alcohol for one), that can harm your skin.
* Make up and skin care is also about testing the products before using them (Mary Kay products are have a money back guarantee!). So, apply the make up on a small patch of skin, for example, ear lobes and check how your skin react to it.
* Keep track of expiration dates on your make up products and never use them beyond that date. In fact, some products, especially vitamin C based products, if not stored properly, spoil earlier than the expiration date given.
* Cleanliness is an important part of make up and skin care regimen. Sharpen your eyeliners regularly and keep all your make up brushes, applicators, etc., clean. Pick a date during the month and do an overall cleaning of all your make up equipment.
* Keeping your hair clean is also part of the cleanliness routine. Making sure the oils from your hair are kept at bay will help in keeping your facial skin free of acne.
* Nail care is another important aspect of make up and skin care. Use a good quality nail polish and always keep under your nails free of debris. Use cuticle oil to soften the edges of your nails.
* If you have deep set eyes, you should use a liquid eye liner instead of a pencil. This will prevent smudging at the deep edges of your eye-lid.
* If you have a skin disorder (acne), you should not apply heavy or chemical based make up. Consult a dermatologist to be sure which products are safe for your skin.
* Remember that make up and skin care should not conflict with one another. Instead, they should compliment in order to give you the best results all around.
www.marykay.com/kristie.boyd
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Shine
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put i t on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." - Matthew 5:14-16
What does it mean "you are the light of the world?" Let me help shed some light (no pun intended) on this subject.
We all agree that a light is something meant to be seen. Like the verse in Matthew says, once a lamp is lit, we don't put it under a bowl to hide it, we put it on a lamp stand, so it'll give light to everyone near by.
In a dark world, such as the one we currently reside in, what better place for us as believers in Christ, to shine? The darker it is, the more obvious the light. Can others see your light?
When a lamp is lit, we put it in a strategic place, so it'll give the most light to the most area. God puts us where we are, at this present moment for a reason. We should be making the most of wherever He has put His light.
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
Our good deeds should bring glory to God, not draw attention to ourselves. Jesus is the light living within us. It's His light, not our own. Do you know Him in such a way that His light shine through you? God provided for us a Savior, much like He provided provision for Israel. We are to illuminate God's provision of a Savior to the world around us. Can those we work with, play with, vacation with, see the light?
"You are the light of the world." v. 14
We were not created to shine alone. It takes the cumulative effect of many lights to make a difference. Are you hanging out with lights that shine for Him; making a difference in the lives around you? Shining for those who don't know Christ as their Savior?
When we understand who we are as a people, lights of the world, it will multiply our impact at home, school, the workplace, our communities and our world.
This little light of mine.... I'm going to let it shine....
Friday, August 13, 2010
Prevention
How to prevent acne:
Wash your face gently, twice daily with a mild cleanser and then rinse thoroughly.
Wash after exercising.
Do not pick! Doing so can cause permanent scarring.
Use a non-comedogenic sunscreen.
Prevent age spots:
Wear protective clothing and sunglasses while outdoors.
Avoid being in the sun between 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Apply a sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going outdoors.
Bad breath prevention:
Brush your teeth at least twice a day for 2-3 minutes - don't forget to brush your tongue, too!
Drink water, chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless hard candy to stimulate the flow of aliva and keep your mouth moist.
See your dentist twice a year to keep your teeth checked and clean.
Prevent chapped lips:
Apply lip balm with sunscreen or lipstick in dry or cold weather.
Avoid "flavored" lip balms, which increase irritation by encouraging you to lick your lips.
Prevent crow's feet:
Shun tanning salons.
Moisturize (I recommend TimeWise Firming Eye Cream). Skin around the eyes, contain few oil glands and is likely to be dry.
Eat foods high in antioxidants; berries, tea, black currants, onions and parsley.
Prevent puffy eyes:
Use a concealer to camouflage darkness and puffiness.
Use cold compresses, ice packs, or cold cucumber slices.
Avoid salty foods.
Wash your face gently, twice daily with a mild cleanser and then rinse thoroughly.
Wash after exercising.
Do not pick! Doing so can cause permanent scarring.
Use a non-comedogenic sunscreen.
Prevent age spots:
Wear protective clothing and sunglasses while outdoors.
Avoid being in the sun between 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Apply a sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going outdoors.
Bad breath prevention:
Brush your teeth at least twice a day for 2-3 minutes - don't forget to brush your tongue, too!
Drink water, chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless hard candy to stimulate the flow of aliva and keep your mouth moist.
See your dentist twice a year to keep your teeth checked and clean.
Prevent chapped lips:
Apply lip balm with sunscreen or lipstick in dry or cold weather.
Avoid "flavored" lip balms, which increase irritation by encouraging you to lick your lips.
Prevent crow's feet:
Shun tanning salons.
Moisturize (I recommend TimeWise Firming Eye Cream). Skin around the eyes, contain few oil glands and is likely to be dry.
Eat foods high in antioxidants; berries, tea, black currants, onions and parsley.
Prevent puffy eyes:
Use a concealer to camouflage darkness and puffiness.
Use cold compresses, ice packs, or cold cucumber slices.
Avoid salty foods.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Beauty Product Expiration Dates
Most every woman you know, has a drawer, or two, full of makeup she doesn't use or only "sometimes" uses. She might be hoarding it all until she learns the proper techniques in applying the various products. The problem with this is that beauty products all have expiration dates. Companies put these dates on products to decrease the risk of harboring germs.
Here are a couple of guidelines for you to keep in mind:
Concealer - Shelf life of 12 months
Brushes - Wash every 2-3 months in a mild detergent
Sponges - Wash weekly and discard monthly
Foundation - check the ingredients: A water-based foundation will last up to 12 months, oil-based will last up to 18 months. You may find you need two different shades of foundation eat year: One for summer when your skin is naturally darker and one for winter when you're lighter.
Mascara - This product expires the fastest: Throw out after 4 months. Extra tip: If you don't want your mascara to expire faster than its fresh date, don't pump the wand in and out--you're only exposing the product to drying air.
Cheek Blush - 1 year shelf life
Sunscreen - 2 year shelf life
Liquid Foundation - Replace every 3-6 months
Eye and Lip Pencils - Shelf life of 1 year
Thursday, July 29, 2010
More Random Beauty Tips
1. Eye Makeup Tips:
* When applying an eyeliner, start from the inside corner of your eye and work outwards toward the outside.
* Curling your lashes will make your eyes appear wider, healthier and much more youthful.
* If you have green or hazel eyes, use brown, apricot, purple, plum, deep khaki or forest green eye shadow.
* All you need is a light application of eyeliner to enhance the beauty of your eyes. Remember not to over do it.
* Replace your mascara every 2-3 months. Old mascara is full of germs and bacteria.
* Always curl your lashes twice for a more natural and rounded curl. Each curl should take about 30 seconds.
2. Beauty Foods Tips:
* Sweet potatoes contain lots of vitamin A, which is a remarkable anti-aging and anti-wrinkling vitamin.
* Eat two or three servings of fruits everyday.
* Garlic is a miracle food that can combat wrinkles and sagging skin.
* For whiter teeth, mash strawberries in a small container, cover your toothbrush with the mashed berries and brush vigorously. Strawberries will remove both yellowing and stains.
3. Eyebrows Tips:
* When you pluck your eyebrows, make sure to pluck hairs between your brows, and not hairs from above your eyebrows.
* Your eyebrow should start right above the inner corner of your eye, peak at the middle of your iris, and curve down at the outer corner of your eye.
* When you pluck your eyebrows, make sure to pluck each of the hairs singly as close to the root as possible. This will leave a cleaner finish.
* Try plucking your eyebrows right after a shower. The heat from the shower helps to loosen hair follicles, making plucking easier and less painful.
* Always comb your eyebrows upward and outward.
* After plucking your eyebrows, you can use wet tea bags to soothe the skin around your eyebrows.
4. Hair Care Tips:
* Your hair is weak when it's wet, so never rub your hair dry with a towel. Instead, blot the wetness out with a towel and fluff it with your fingers.
* When you blow dry your hair, keep the blow dryer at least 6 inches away from your hair and keep it moving constantly so you don't overheat your hair.
* Vitamin E can make your hair shine. Good sources include: brown rice, nuts, wheat germ and leafy green vegetables.
* Vitamin A helps keep your scalp healthy. So snack on more carrots, as they are full of Vitamin A.
* Brush and comb your hair only when it's dry. Wet hair is weak and brushing wet hair can easily damage it.
5. Lip Tips:
* If you have thin lips, use a lighter colored lipstick. A dark shade makes your lips look smaller.
* Line your lips with a soft lip pencil and use a sponge applicator to blend your lip edges. this will make your lips look fuller and sexier.
6. Skin Care Tips:
* Keep your skin healthy by avoiding stress, sun exposure, and cigarette smoking.
* Baby wipes are excellent makeup removers as well as hand and face refreshers.
* Nourish your skin by drinking plenty of water each day.
* Get 8 hours of sleep each day to maintain your healthy and youthful skin.
7. Eye Care Tips:
* Avoid salty foods. They can cause fluid retention and eye puffiness.
* Slightly elevate your head whle sleeping to prevent extra fluid from settling around eyes and making them puffy.
* Use a good quality eye moisturizer (like Mary Kay), to hydrate the skin around your eyes. This will keep your eyes looking healthy and fresh.
8. Nail Care Tips:
* Store your nail polish in the refrigerator to maintain its smooth consistency.
* When applying an eyeliner, start from the inside corner of your eye and work outwards toward the outside.
* Curling your lashes will make your eyes appear wider, healthier and much more youthful.
* If you have green or hazel eyes, use brown, apricot, purple, plum, deep khaki or forest green eye shadow.
* All you need is a light application of eyeliner to enhance the beauty of your eyes. Remember not to over do it.
* Replace your mascara every 2-3 months. Old mascara is full of germs and bacteria.
* Always curl your lashes twice for a more natural and rounded curl. Each curl should take about 30 seconds.
2. Beauty Foods Tips:
* Sweet potatoes contain lots of vitamin A, which is a remarkable anti-aging and anti-wrinkling vitamin.
* Eat two or three servings of fruits everyday.
* Garlic is a miracle food that can combat wrinkles and sagging skin.
* For whiter teeth, mash strawberries in a small container, cover your toothbrush with the mashed berries and brush vigorously. Strawberries will remove both yellowing and stains.
3. Eyebrows Tips:
* When you pluck your eyebrows, make sure to pluck hairs between your brows, and not hairs from above your eyebrows.
* Your eyebrow should start right above the inner corner of your eye, peak at the middle of your iris, and curve down at the outer corner of your eye.
* When you pluck your eyebrows, make sure to pluck each of the hairs singly as close to the root as possible. This will leave a cleaner finish.
* Try plucking your eyebrows right after a shower. The heat from the shower helps to loosen hair follicles, making plucking easier and less painful.
* Always comb your eyebrows upward and outward.
* After plucking your eyebrows, you can use wet tea bags to soothe the skin around your eyebrows.
4. Hair Care Tips:
* Your hair is weak when it's wet, so never rub your hair dry with a towel. Instead, blot the wetness out with a towel and fluff it with your fingers.
* When you blow dry your hair, keep the blow dryer at least 6 inches away from your hair and keep it moving constantly so you don't overheat your hair.
* Vitamin E can make your hair shine. Good sources include: brown rice, nuts, wheat germ and leafy green vegetables.
* Vitamin A helps keep your scalp healthy. So snack on more carrots, as they are full of Vitamin A.
* Brush and comb your hair only when it's dry. Wet hair is weak and brushing wet hair can easily damage it.
5. Lip Tips:
* If you have thin lips, use a lighter colored lipstick. A dark shade makes your lips look smaller.
* Line your lips with a soft lip pencil and use a sponge applicator to blend your lip edges. this will make your lips look fuller and sexier.
6. Skin Care Tips:
* Keep your skin healthy by avoiding stress, sun exposure, and cigarette smoking.
* Baby wipes are excellent makeup removers as well as hand and face refreshers.
* Nourish your skin by drinking plenty of water each day.
* Get 8 hours of sleep each day to maintain your healthy and youthful skin.
7. Eye Care Tips:
* Avoid salty foods. They can cause fluid retention and eye puffiness.
* Slightly elevate your head whle sleeping to prevent extra fluid from settling around eyes and making them puffy.
* Use a good quality eye moisturizer (like Mary Kay), to hydrate the skin around your eyes. This will keep your eyes looking healthy and fresh.
8. Nail Care Tips:
* Store your nail polish in the refrigerator to maintain its smooth consistency.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Keeping your "cool" look in hot weather!
Here are some tips/hints to help you beat the heat while looking great!
Try puttin your cleansers and/or moisturizers in the refrigerator prior to application. The cooling sensation is an amazing feeling! Try using chilled yogurt as a mask to balance your skin's pH that has become agitated by the sun and wind. Add 1/4 teaspoon of honey for extra hydration.
Forget the foundation in the summer. Try using a tinted moisturizer with a sun protection factor. Or blend equal parts of face lotion with your regular foundation.
Dab excess shine with blotting tissues. The tissues soak up the excess oils on your skin making your makeup look fresh and new.
Does the sun tend to bring out your freckles? Wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen, hat and sunglasses will help. Besides, you'll look 10 years younger than your friends who are continually tan themselves. Your skin will be smoother, firmer and free of age spots.
Since humidity boosts oil production, swiping a toner on oily skin twice a day will help. Using a clay mask weekly will also draw out impurities.
Water-resistant mascaras are a summer must. Oily skin and allergy prone eyes make for lots of smudging. The water-resistant mascara also holds curl longer.
Opt for an eyeshadow base that controls oil on the lids. Matte, mineral shadows are the best formulas for hot summer days.
To keep your lips from becoming sun burnt, use a lip balm with SPF before going out in the sun.
If your sunscreen is breaking you out with a case of "high school pimples," try using an oil-free or non-comedogenic formula.
Try puttin your cleansers and/or moisturizers in the refrigerator prior to application. The cooling sensation is an amazing feeling! Try using chilled yogurt as a mask to balance your skin's pH that has become agitated by the sun and wind. Add 1/4 teaspoon of honey for extra hydration.
Forget the foundation in the summer. Try using a tinted moisturizer with a sun protection factor. Or blend equal parts of face lotion with your regular foundation.
Dab excess shine with blotting tissues. The tissues soak up the excess oils on your skin making your makeup look fresh and new.
Does the sun tend to bring out your freckles? Wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen, hat and sunglasses will help. Besides, you'll look 10 years younger than your friends who are continually tan themselves. Your skin will be smoother, firmer and free of age spots.
Since humidity boosts oil production, swiping a toner on oily skin twice a day will help. Using a clay mask weekly will also draw out impurities.
Water-resistant mascaras are a summer must. Oily skin and allergy prone eyes make for lots of smudging. The water-resistant mascara also holds curl longer.
Opt for an eyeshadow base that controls oil on the lids. Matte, mineral shadows are the best formulas for hot summer days.
To keep your lips from becoming sun burnt, use a lip balm with SPF before going out in the sun.
If your sunscreen is breaking you out with a case of "high school pimples," try using an oil-free or non-comedogenic formula.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Doubting
Why is it that people will believe in the person of Christ, yet not in His teachings? Most are quick to believe what they hear in the news media, but they don't believe in the Bible, which is God's holy word? Even the brothers of Jesus didn't believe in his miracles, healings and teachings. His brothers doubted everything about Jesus, except for the obvious fact that he was family.
The setting is the Feast of Tabernacles - commemorating the days when the Israelites wandered in the desert and lived in tents/booths. Jesus' four brothers are urging Him to go to the event. They knew there were Jews who wanted to kill Jesus in Jerusalem, yet they encouraged Him to make the journey. Now why would they do that? Did they want to see Jesus killed?
I believe they were trying to set Jesus agenda; to get Him to go so they could witness the ruckus He'd stir up amongst the people there.
Jesus refuses to go. He's on God's timetable and He's not about to let his brothers talk Him into something that God doesn't want to have happen. How often do we allow our friends, family, co-workers, talk us into doing or saying something we really ought not do or say? This kind of sounds like school days, doesn't it? How often do we, as adults, allow that to happen though? How often do we go with the flow, not upholding the truths we stand for? We let the world and those around us set our agenda and we just go with it. How much more strength does it take for us to just stop and say, "NO! I will not!"
God has a plan for your life, but only if you've given your life to Him to plan. In the book of John, Jesus tells His brothers that, "the right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil."
Any time is right for them, because God has no plan for those who don't belong to Him. There is no agenda for those who don't follow the scriptures. They follow their own teachings and beliefs. The world can not hate those who don't stand up for evil. The world can only hate those who go against the flow; those who boldly stand up for what God says is wrong in His holy word.
The setting is the Feast of Tabernacles - commemorating the days when the Israelites wandered in the desert and lived in tents/booths. Jesus' four brothers are urging Him to go to the event. They knew there were Jews who wanted to kill Jesus in Jerusalem, yet they encouraged Him to make the journey. Now why would they do that? Did they want to see Jesus killed?
I believe they were trying to set Jesus agenda; to get Him to go so they could witness the ruckus He'd stir up amongst the people there.
Jesus refuses to go. He's on God's timetable and He's not about to let his brothers talk Him into something that God doesn't want to have happen. How often do we allow our friends, family, co-workers, talk us into doing or saying something we really ought not do or say? This kind of sounds like school days, doesn't it? How often do we, as adults, allow that to happen though? How often do we go with the flow, not upholding the truths we stand for? We let the world and those around us set our agenda and we just go with it. How much more strength does it take for us to just stop and say, "NO! I will not!"
God has a plan for your life, but only if you've given your life to Him to plan. In the book of John, Jesus tells His brothers that, "the right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil."
Any time is right for them, because God has no plan for those who don't belong to Him. There is no agenda for those who don't follow the scriptures. They follow their own teachings and beliefs. The world can not hate those who don't stand up for evil. The world can only hate those who go against the flow; those who boldly stand up for what God says is wrong in His holy word.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Random Beauty Tips
1. Beauty Foods Tip:
* Eat wheat germ every day to get rid of blemish breakouts. Adding wheat germ to your cereal, yogurt, or cottage cheese can make it tastier.
* Carrots can help protect the outer layer of your skin and prevent premature aging.
* Swiss, cheddar or gouda cheese can block bacteria in your mouth and prevent cavities.
* Eat plenty of tomatoes, which are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium; all are great ingredients for beautiful skin.
2. Nail Care Tips:
* Drink enough water each day to keep your body hydrated and to maintain healthy and strong nails.
* For healthy nails, eat a diet of 50% fruits and raw vegetables, and drink plenty of water each day.
* Fresh carrot juice is high in calcium and phosphorus. It is great for strengthening your nails!
* Keep your nails nice and trimmed. Nails longer than 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) are more likely to carry bacteria and fungus.
3. Lip Tips:
* Always apply your lip liner before applying lipstick, and never use a lip liner that is darker than your lipstick.
* Always apply lip gloss with a lip brush, then smooth it out with your fingertips.
* It's best to smooth your lips with a waxy lip balm and use your fingertips to massage the balm into your lips.
* To keep your lipstick on all day, pencil your lips with a soft lip pencil, then apply your lipstick.
4. Eyebrow Tips:
* Eyebrows should be about two shades lighter than your hair color. The opposite is true if your hair is blond or gray.
* Pluck just enough eyebrows each time, and never over do it. You don't want to lose all your eyebrows!
* Plucking your eyebrows in the direction of the hair growth will be less painful and will leave a more natural look when you're done.
* Use a pencil and powder in the correct shade to fill in your eyebrows (light skin: blonde shade; olive skin: brown shade; darker skin: gray shade).
5. Eye Makeup Tips:
* If you have brown eyes, use copper, bronze or brown eye shadow.
* Wash off your mascara every night before bedtime.
* A thin line of eyeliner in black or brown can greatly define your eyes and make them appear brighter.
* You can use a hair dryer to heat your eyelash curler. The warmth of the eyelash curler will help curl your lashes more efficiently.
6. Hair Care Tips:
* Drink 8 glasses of water each day. Water helps keep your hair silky and shiny.
* Massaging your scalp can improve circulation to your head and promote hair growth.
* Stress can cause hair loss, so find ways to relax and rejuvenate yourself to keep your precious hair!
* For shiny and healthy hair, mash up an avocado, mix it with a tablespoon of olive oil and rub it through your hair. Wash your hair after 15 minutes.
7. Eye Care Tips:
* You can use cool cucumber slices to reduce eye puffiness and dark circles.
* A slice of raw potato can be placed under your eyes to reduce dark circles.
* Placing a cold black tea bag on each eye for approximately 10 minutes can help reduce eye puffiness.
* To reduce eye swelling, use a metal spoon, hold it under cold running water for a couple minutes, then gently press it onto the skin around your eye.
8. Skin Care Tips:
* Use a combination of Epsom salt, sea salt and baking soda in your bath to help pull out toxins from your skin.
* If you want firmer, smoother and younger looking skin, you need to exercise everyday. Exercise brings oxygen and nutrients to your skin.
* Prevent age spots by avoiding sun exposure and use sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher.
* Strengthen your skin by choosing skin moisturizers that contain vitamin A and Vitamin E.
* Eat wheat germ every day to get rid of blemish breakouts. Adding wheat germ to your cereal, yogurt, or cottage cheese can make it tastier.
* Carrots can help protect the outer layer of your skin and prevent premature aging.
* Swiss, cheddar or gouda cheese can block bacteria in your mouth and prevent cavities.
* Eat plenty of tomatoes, which are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium; all are great ingredients for beautiful skin.
2. Nail Care Tips:
* Drink enough water each day to keep your body hydrated and to maintain healthy and strong nails.
* For healthy nails, eat a diet of 50% fruits and raw vegetables, and drink plenty of water each day.
* Fresh carrot juice is high in calcium and phosphorus. It is great for strengthening your nails!
* Keep your nails nice and trimmed. Nails longer than 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) are more likely to carry bacteria and fungus.
3. Lip Tips:
* Always apply your lip liner before applying lipstick, and never use a lip liner that is darker than your lipstick.
* Always apply lip gloss with a lip brush, then smooth it out with your fingertips.
* It's best to smooth your lips with a waxy lip balm and use your fingertips to massage the balm into your lips.
* To keep your lipstick on all day, pencil your lips with a soft lip pencil, then apply your lipstick.
4. Eyebrow Tips:
* Eyebrows should be about two shades lighter than your hair color. The opposite is true if your hair is blond or gray.
* Pluck just enough eyebrows each time, and never over do it. You don't want to lose all your eyebrows!
* Plucking your eyebrows in the direction of the hair growth will be less painful and will leave a more natural look when you're done.
* Use a pencil and powder in the correct shade to fill in your eyebrows (light skin: blonde shade; olive skin: brown shade; darker skin: gray shade).
5. Eye Makeup Tips:
* If you have brown eyes, use copper, bronze or brown eye shadow.
* Wash off your mascara every night before bedtime.
* A thin line of eyeliner in black or brown can greatly define your eyes and make them appear brighter.
* You can use a hair dryer to heat your eyelash curler. The warmth of the eyelash curler will help curl your lashes more efficiently.
6. Hair Care Tips:
* Drink 8 glasses of water each day. Water helps keep your hair silky and shiny.
* Massaging your scalp can improve circulation to your head and promote hair growth.
* Stress can cause hair loss, so find ways to relax and rejuvenate yourself to keep your precious hair!
* For shiny and healthy hair, mash up an avocado, mix it with a tablespoon of olive oil and rub it through your hair. Wash your hair after 15 minutes.
7. Eye Care Tips:
* You can use cool cucumber slices to reduce eye puffiness and dark circles.
* A slice of raw potato can be placed under your eyes to reduce dark circles.
* Placing a cold black tea bag on each eye for approximately 10 minutes can help reduce eye puffiness.
* To reduce eye swelling, use a metal spoon, hold it under cold running water for a couple minutes, then gently press it onto the skin around your eye.
8. Skin Care Tips:
* Use a combination of Epsom salt, sea salt and baking soda in your bath to help pull out toxins from your skin.
* If you want firmer, smoother and younger looking skin, you need to exercise everyday. Exercise brings oxygen and nutrients to your skin.
* Prevent age spots by avoiding sun exposure and use sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher.
* Strengthen your skin by choosing skin moisturizers that contain vitamin A and Vitamin E.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
A few make up tips...
To make your eyes POP, use an eyeliner to draw a V-shape to extend your outer lash line. Make sure to use mascara to help make your eyes appear larger than life.
If you want to draw attention to your eyes, be sure to go easy on the lip color; go with a soft neutral shade.
Paying attention to your eyelashes may not seem important, other than the application of your mascara. However, making sure you focus your mascara on the outer corner of the eyes, can make your eyelashes look longer and thicker. Use an eyebrow/eyeliner brush to comb through your lashes and don't forget to curl them!
Eyebrows frame the face, so proper care of them is very necessary. Make sure you trim and shape them on a regular basis. Then making soft feathery strokes, use an Eye Definer pencil to lightly fill in your brows. Keep your brows in place by using a Brow Brush and Brow Gel.
If it's your lips you'd like to draw attention to, line and apply a rich bold color. For the appearance of fuller lips, use a lip liner to fill in the lip itself. Apply lipstick over and finish with a shiny lip gloss. Be certain to use a simple eye look if it's the lips you're focusing on.
If you want people to pay attention to your cheeks, apply a sparkly highlighting powder to the tops of your cheek bones. Pulling your hair back into a ponytail or tied into a bun, away from your face, will make your cheeks really stand out!
If you want to draw attention to your eyes, be sure to go easy on the lip color; go with a soft neutral shade.
Paying attention to your eyelashes may not seem important, other than the application of your mascara. However, making sure you focus your mascara on the outer corner of the eyes, can make your eyelashes look longer and thicker. Use an eyebrow/eyeliner brush to comb through your lashes and don't forget to curl them!
Eyebrows frame the face, so proper care of them is very necessary. Make sure you trim and shape them on a regular basis. Then making soft feathery strokes, use an Eye Definer pencil to lightly fill in your brows. Keep your brows in place by using a Brow Brush and Brow Gel.
If it's your lips you'd like to draw attention to, line and apply a rich bold color. For the appearance of fuller lips, use a lip liner to fill in the lip itself. Apply lipstick over and finish with a shiny lip gloss. Be certain to use a simple eye look if it's the lips you're focusing on.
If you want people to pay attention to your cheeks, apply a sparkly highlighting powder to the tops of your cheek bones. Pulling your hair back into a ponytail or tied into a bun, away from your face, will make your cheeks really stand out!
Monday, June 28, 2010
The Bread of Life
After Jesus performed the amazing miracle of feeding 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish, He withdrew from them to find a quiet place to be alone. Later that evening, the disciples got into their boat and headed across the lake to Capernaum. Before they knew it, a strong storm came upon them with no warning. They were so terrified of drowning, that when they saw Christ coming towards them, walking on the water, they freaked out! Christ assures them that it was indeed Him and to not be afraid. They arrived at their destination safe and sound.
When the rest of the crowd arrives in Capernaum, they ask Christ when He arrived. Now mind you, they had seen one boat leave from the other side of the lake, but Christ was not in it. When they realized none of the disciples nor Christ was on their side of the lake, the people got into their boats, crossed the lake, in order search of Christ and His disciples.
Once they arrive, they see Jesus and ask when He arrived in Capernaum. Now this might not seem like a big deal, but think about it. They ask Him WHEN, not HOW. Wouldn't you want to know how He had gotten to the other side of the lake without getting into a boat? I suppose He could have walked around the lake on the shore, but the distance would have taken more than just an evening.
Jesus accuses the people of not looking for Him because of the miraculous sign He just showed them with the fish and loaves of bread, but because of the fact that they were hungry for more fish and bread! They figured once they found Christ, He would feed them their breakfast, just like he did their evening meal the night prior.
Christ then tells them, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you."
The people then question Him by asking what type of work needs to be done? I can see this picture in my mind. A group of people being told they needed to work for their food. What? Work for our food? Seriously?
So, they ask Him what is the work God requires, to which Christ replies, "The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent." In other words, Jesus tells them to believe in Him.
Being told to believe isn't what the people wanted. Do you know what they asked for in order to believe? A MIRACULOUS SIGN! They just saw one the night before and now they're asking for another! Ridiculous? Perhaps...
They go on to say that Moses provided them with manna in the desert, so why won't Christ give them their breakfast now? Jesus has an answer for this, too. He says (I'm paraphrasing, but you can look it up in John 6 of the New Testament), Moses didn't give you the manna. God sent it from heaven...." For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world..... I am the bread of life..."
The crowd begins to grumble, first because they are hungry and second because Christ just claims to have come down from heaven. They knew his father Joseph and his mother Mary, so how can He make such a claim?!
Jesus goes on to tell the crowd that only through Him, will they have eternal life. He is the One who gives life to those who believe. He is this bread, not in a physical sense, but in a spiritual one. The crowd didn't get it. They were too focused on their stomachs to understand that unless they come to Christ to get their fill of the Bread of Life, they will die and not receive the gift of eternal life He was offering them.
How many times do we miss the mark on a specific point someone is making? It goes right over our heads, because we only listen with our heads and not our hearts. Sometimes we need to open our spiritual eyes in order to see what it is God is trying to teach us. We need to stop focusing on our physical hunger and start realizing we also have a spiritual hunger that can only be satisfied by the Bread of Life.
When the rest of the crowd arrives in Capernaum, they ask Christ when He arrived. Now mind you, they had seen one boat leave from the other side of the lake, but Christ was not in it. When they realized none of the disciples nor Christ was on their side of the lake, the people got into their boats, crossed the lake, in order search of Christ and His disciples.
Once they arrive, they see Jesus and ask when He arrived in Capernaum. Now this might not seem like a big deal, but think about it. They ask Him WHEN, not HOW. Wouldn't you want to know how He had gotten to the other side of the lake without getting into a boat? I suppose He could have walked around the lake on the shore, but the distance would have taken more than just an evening.
Jesus accuses the people of not looking for Him because of the miraculous sign He just showed them with the fish and loaves of bread, but because of the fact that they were hungry for more fish and bread! They figured once they found Christ, He would feed them their breakfast, just like he did their evening meal the night prior.
Christ then tells them, "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you."
The people then question Him by asking what type of work needs to be done? I can see this picture in my mind. A group of people being told they needed to work for their food. What? Work for our food? Seriously?
So, they ask Him what is the work God requires, to which Christ replies, "The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent." In other words, Jesus tells them to believe in Him.
Being told to believe isn't what the people wanted. Do you know what they asked for in order to believe? A MIRACULOUS SIGN! They just saw one the night before and now they're asking for another! Ridiculous? Perhaps...
They go on to say that Moses provided them with manna in the desert, so why won't Christ give them their breakfast now? Jesus has an answer for this, too. He says (I'm paraphrasing, but you can look it up in John 6 of the New Testament), Moses didn't give you the manna. God sent it from heaven...." For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world..... I am the bread of life..."
The crowd begins to grumble, first because they are hungry and second because Christ just claims to have come down from heaven. They knew his father Joseph and his mother Mary, so how can He make such a claim?!
Jesus goes on to tell the crowd that only through Him, will they have eternal life. He is the One who gives life to those who believe. He is this bread, not in a physical sense, but in a spiritual one. The crowd didn't get it. They were too focused on their stomachs to understand that unless they come to Christ to get their fill of the Bread of Life, they will die and not receive the gift of eternal life He was offering them.
How many times do we miss the mark on a specific point someone is making? It goes right over our heads, because we only listen with our heads and not our hearts. Sometimes we need to open our spiritual eyes in order to see what it is God is trying to teach us. We need to stop focusing on our physical hunger and start realizing we also have a spiritual hunger that can only be satisfied by the Bread of Life.
Monday, June 21, 2010
UVA? UVB? What's the difference?
During the summer months we hear a lot about protecting our skin from the sun's harmful rays. What I, personally, didn't understand in it's entirety, was the difference between UVA and UVB rays and also the difference in all the ranges of SPF. With a little research of my own, I'll help clear up any questions you may have in the world of "sun protection!"
UVA rays are what we are exposed to the most. They penetrate the skin farther than UVB rays and make up 95% of the UV radiation that reaches the earth. These rays can penetrate glass and clouds and are longer than UVB rays. When we tan, our skin darkens as a defense mechanism. What we see when we have that nice brown tan, that we spend money getting from tanning beds or lying in the sun for hours, is actually damage to the skin's DNA, which could lead to skin cancer.
Tanning beds emit doses UVA rays that are 12 times stronger than that of the sun! People who use tanning salons on a regular basis are 1.5 - 2.5 times more likely to develop some type of skin cancer. Those statistics may seem small, but put into that perspective, why take the chance of being the 1.5%?
UVB rays are what cause sunburns on the surface of the skin and increase the signs of aging. These are the rays that get have different strengths throughout the day. For example, during the spring and summer months, the strongest UVB rays reach the earth between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. These rays can damage your skin year round, even during the winter. UVB radiation doesn't penetrate glass like UVA radiation does.
A suntan lotion with an SPF of 15 simply means that it'll take a person 15 times longer to get a sunburn with the lotion than without. An SPF of 15 blocks 93% of the sun's UVB rays and anything over 30 will block 97 - 98%.
When purchasing suntan lotion, don't just look at the SPF. Make sure you see the phrase UVA/UVB protection on the sunscreen label.
There's no harm in getting that summer tan. Just be careful and take the proper steps to protect your skin.
UVA rays are what we are exposed to the most. They penetrate the skin farther than UVB rays and make up 95% of the UV radiation that reaches the earth. These rays can penetrate glass and clouds and are longer than UVB rays. When we tan, our skin darkens as a defense mechanism. What we see when we have that nice brown tan, that we spend money getting from tanning beds or lying in the sun for hours, is actually damage to the skin's DNA, which could lead to skin cancer.
Tanning beds emit doses UVA rays that are 12 times stronger than that of the sun! People who use tanning salons on a regular basis are 1.5 - 2.5 times more likely to develop some type of skin cancer. Those statistics may seem small, but put into that perspective, why take the chance of being the 1.5%?
UVB rays are what cause sunburns on the surface of the skin and increase the signs of aging. These are the rays that get have different strengths throughout the day. For example, during the spring and summer months, the strongest UVB rays reach the earth between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. These rays can damage your skin year round, even during the winter. UVB radiation doesn't penetrate glass like UVA radiation does.
A suntan lotion with an SPF of 15 simply means that it'll take a person 15 times longer to get a sunburn with the lotion than without. An SPF of 15 blocks 93% of the sun's UVB rays and anything over 30 will block 97 - 98%.
When purchasing suntan lotion, don't just look at the SPF. Make sure you see the phrase UVA/UVB protection on the sunscreen label.
There's no harm in getting that summer tan. Just be careful and take the proper steps to protect your skin.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Feeding of the 5,000
We're studying the book of John on Sunday mornings at church and this past week we talked about how Jesus fed 5,000 with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.
Picture 5,000 people; at a concert, in a theater.... 5,000 is a LOT of people. It takes faith to believe this story and since I have faith, I believe it in it's entirety.
Jesus asks Philip where to buy food to feed the crowd, to which Philip replies, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
Andrew, another disciple, finds a boy who has 5 meager loaves of bread and 2 fish, but still, how will they possibly feed so many with so little? Jesus, none the less, asks the disciples to have the crowd sit down on the grass. Jesus took the little (food and faith) and did something GREAT! He fed 5,000 people until their were full. If you have a little faith and a LOT of obedience, God can use you to make great things happen!
After the food was distributed, and after everyone had enough to eat, all the extra was collected - nothing was wasted. How much was left over from the 5 loaves and 2 fish? 12 baskets full! There is a lesson to be learned in these leftovers. God gives in abundance. He takes whatever we offer Him in time, talents, etc., and increases it beyond our our wildest dreams! If you make yourself available to God, if you have a little faith and a lot of obedience, He can show you how He can use you to accomplish great things.
Picture 5,000 people; at a concert, in a theater.... 5,000 is a LOT of people. It takes faith to believe this story and since I have faith, I believe it in it's entirety.
Jesus asks Philip where to buy food to feed the crowd, to which Philip replies, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
Andrew, another disciple, finds a boy who has 5 meager loaves of bread and 2 fish, but still, how will they possibly feed so many with so little? Jesus, none the less, asks the disciples to have the crowd sit down on the grass. Jesus took the little (food and faith) and did something GREAT! He fed 5,000 people until their were full. If you have a little faith and a LOT of obedience, God can use you to make great things happen!
After the food was distributed, and after everyone had enough to eat, all the extra was collected - nothing was wasted. How much was left over from the 5 loaves and 2 fish? 12 baskets full! There is a lesson to be learned in these leftovers. God gives in abundance. He takes whatever we offer Him in time, talents, etc., and increases it beyond our our wildest dreams! If you make yourself available to God, if you have a little faith and a lot of obedience, He can show you how He can use you to accomplish great things.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
More on Working from Home
Going back to the thought of working at home, I wanted to include a few pointers for you if/when you decide to jump in and start your own business.
First and most importantly, and I can't stress this enough, make sure what you're selling is something you believe in! If you don't like the product, how can you expect to sell it?
* Know your product(s) inside and out. If it's skin care, what are the benefits of using each individual product? If it's jewelry, what is the guarantee? What is the composition of the product?
* Is the product one that people will continue to need or is it a one-time buy? Will your customers max out on your product(s)? Will there be repeat business or is your product one that will be viable long-term?
* Are you joining to make money? This may seem like a silly question, but if you're signing on to receive a personal discount, that's fine. Just remember you won't be making money. If you want to earn extra income, it's going to take work. Customers aren't just going to fall into your lap once you sign the agreement. How will you find your customers?
* How does the product compare to similar ones offered by other companies within its category?
* Is the product viable to all ages, socio-economic statues and genders? Who are your buyers going to be? Is there a range of prices to offer your customers?
* Is the product one you can promote and/or advertise easily? Is your product easy to market? How will people know you're selling the product?
Working at home has SO many advantages, just make sure you know most of the in's and out's of how the company works, the products you'll be selling and the advantages to you and your customers. Love what you're selling!
First and most importantly, and I can't stress this enough, make sure what you're selling is something you believe in! If you don't like the product, how can you expect to sell it?
* Know your product(s) inside and out. If it's skin care, what are the benefits of using each individual product? If it's jewelry, what is the guarantee? What is the composition of the product?
* Is the product one that people will continue to need or is it a one-time buy? Will your customers max out on your product(s)? Will there be repeat business or is your product one that will be viable long-term?
* Are you joining to make money? This may seem like a silly question, but if you're signing on to receive a personal discount, that's fine. Just remember you won't be making money. If you want to earn extra income, it's going to take work. Customers aren't just going to fall into your lap once you sign the agreement. How will you find your customers?
* How does the product compare to similar ones offered by other companies within its category?
* Is the product viable to all ages, socio-economic statues and genders? Who are your buyers going to be? Is there a range of prices to offer your customers?
* Is the product one you can promote and/or advertise easily? Is your product easy to market? How will people know you're selling the product?
Working at home has SO many advantages, just make sure you know most of the in's and out's of how the company works, the products you'll be selling and the advantages to you and your customers. Love what you're selling!
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