Beauty Routines That Save You Money

Staying on top of your beauty routine can get seriously pricey. We all want to look our best, but sometimes our wallets come out of it worse for the wear. Luckily there are some tricks of the trade you can practice to save some money, while still getting all of your pampering in.

Nails

If you are like me, attempting to paint your own nails can end disastrously. No matter how many “expert tips” you’ve noted throughout the years, it is near impossible to get a DIY paintjob to manicure perfection. But then again, who has the money (or the time for that matter) to get a fresh mani/pedi combo every week?

Try asking your manicurist for a simple color change instead of a full-blown manicure. Although it may seem like a small difference in price, alternating weeks between color changes and full service manicures will save you lots of money in the long run. Most nail salons include everything but the hand massage in color change anyway. If you are really strapped for cash, maintaining your perfectly painted nails is the key to getting the most out of your investment. Avoid water, which erodes a paint job quicker, and apply a clear topcoat every few days to strengthen your nails. Other than that, avoid opening packages and peeling off stickers and you should be good to go!




Eyebrows

On the list of essential beauty regimes, sometimes your eyebrows get the short end of the stick, but it is important to regularly maintain your brows before they get out of control. This; however, does not require regular waxing. An occasional waxing will more than suffice when it comes to keeping your brows’ desired shape, all the extra maintenance will be regulated on your end. Give your eyebrows a good once over every morning for any stray hairs and your wax job should last you twice as long.

Dye Jobs

I know you’ve heard it a million times, but seriously, you don’t need to wash your hair every week.

Perfume

News flash ladies, you do not need to spay behind you ears, in between your elbows and on your chest to achieve your desired scent. You may have become accustomed to your signature aroma, but trust us, we notice you when you come walking by smelling like a perfume counter. Two squirts are more than enough to get you smelling like a rose. Also, refrain from rubbing your wrists together. What your mother didn’t know is that rubbing the perfume into your skin actually compromises the formula. Apply your perfume onto your bare skin (before you get dressed) and if you are feeling particularly frivolous splash a little in your hair brush to run through your locks the Coco Chanel way. Perfume is one of the most expensive beauty products you can buy and each precious little drop should be cherished, so don’t get trigger-happy.

7 Cocktails You Can Make At Home

Mint daiquiri

2 tsp runny honey
2 shots rum
3 torn mint leaves
½ shot freshly squeezed lime
½ shot chilled mineral water
Shake all ingredients with ice and fine strain into chilled glasses. Garnish with mint leaf




French mule

2 shots cognac
1 shot freshly squeezed lime
1 shot sugar syrup
3 dashes Angostura bitters
top up with ginger beer
Shake first four ingredients with ice and strain into ice-filled glasses. Top with ginger beer and serve with mint sprig.





Colonel Collins

2 shots bourbon whiskey
1 shot freshly squeezed lemon
½ shot sugar syrup
soda water
Shake first 3 ingredients with ice and strain into ice-filled glass. Top with soda. Serve with straws. Garnish with orange slice and cherry on a stick






Maple leaf

2 shots bourbon whiskey
½ shot freshly squeezed lemon
¼ shot maple syrup
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into ice-filled glass. Garnish with lemon zest twist.




Detroit martini

7 fresh mint leaves
3 shots vodka
½ shot sugar syrup
1/8 shot freshly squeezed lime
Shake all ingredients, including mint, with ice and fine strain into chilled glass. Garnish with a mint sprig



Ja-mora

1 shot vodka
½ shot crème de cassis or Chambord
½ shot fresh orange
½ shot pressed apple juice
brut champagne
Shake first 4 ingredients with ice and strain into glass. Top with champagne.



Diable rouge

2 shots vodka
2 shots pineapple juice
¼ shot crème de cassis or Chambord
Shake all the ingredients with ice and fine strain into chilled glass. Garnish with berries.


DRINK RESPONSIBLY

Chef In The House

Hello,

Why not impress your boo or dinner guests with this quick and delicious meal.

Cooking Time: About 30 Minutes.

Shrimp Alfredo Served with Pasta





Ingredients

Shrimps, washed and deveined. You can leave the tails on or off.

diced onions

1 red bell pepper (diced)

1/2lb fresh diced mushrooms

2-4 T butter

6 Table spoons of olive oil

2 cloves diced garlic

2 Table spoons of ground red pepper (or to taste)

salt and pepper to taste

fresh dried parsley

fresh grated parmesan

Alfredo Sauce

2 cups Whipping Cream

1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated

1/2 cup Romano Cheese

4 Tbsp Butter

To Prepare Alfredo Sauce,

Heat butter using low heat

Add cream and both cheeses; Do not boil. Just stir until creamy.
For thinner sauce-add more cream. Thicker sauce add more cheese.

Salt and pepper to taste.

In heavy sauce pan heat butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil.

Add diced onions, peppers, and garlic. Add salt, pepper and red pepper to taste.

Saute on medium heat until they just start to get tender.

Add shrimp and cook until pink.


Once the alfredo sauce is done, add it to the shrimp mixture.

let simmer for about 2-5 minutes so the flavors can marry.



Pasta

Cook Pasta as directed.


Serve shrimp sauce over pasta.

Add the freshly chopped parsley and parmesan when you serve.

Bonne Apetit




**Ingredients may be obtained at Goodies Supermarket or any good Food stores

Cooking with Less Cholesterol

Many people think it is impossible to cook our traditional delicacies especially the soups without palm oil. Palm oil has been reported to elevate cholesterol levels in the body. Can we do without palm oil in our soups and stews? Let us find out.




Palm oil is a common cooking ingredient in the tropical belt of Africa, Southeast Asia and parts of Brazil. Its use in the commercial food industry in other parts of the world is buoyed by its lower cos and by the high oxidative stability (saturation) of the refined product when used for frying. Palm oil has been found to be a reasonable replacement for trans fats, however a small study conducted in 2009 found that palm oil may not be a good substitute for trans fats for individuals with already elevated LDL level.



Recently, A governors' wife lost a good amount of weight. She announced that she had been able to eliminate palm oil from her recipes. I became curious and carried out experiments of my own. Enjoy the recipe below. I hope to bring you more recipes soon.


Food for the gods: Egusi Soup





Egusi without Palm oil!












Ingredients:


Grinded Egusi seeds (2 derica)


Dry pepper


Seasoning (Knorr)


Salt


Onions


Meat ( Chicken, Beef, Goat Meat)


Shaki, Kpomo(optional)


Dry fish


Stock Fish




Steps:


• Boil the meat


•To the meat stock add pepper, crayfish, seasoning, salt and onions


•allow to boil


•add very little water to the egusi powder to form a thick paste


•To the boiling stock add tea spoon sizes of the paste until all the egusi has been scooped


•cover pot and allow to boil


•eventually the balls turn white and form smaller balls


•add the meat, shaki, stockfish etc


•TASTE and adjust accordingly.


• Allow to simmer for a few minutes


VOILAA!

May be eaten with Amala, Akpu, Semo, Garri or Pounded yam.

7 Reasons Why You Might Be Forgetful

So, you know you were supposed to be doing something – but you just can’t remember what it was. Or, in the middle of a conversation, you can’t remember the words you need. Don’t put it down to age, working too hard or having an overloaded mind or you think it is quite normal.



I wish i could directly dedicate this post to a good friend of mine but reading this you know yourself. How else can i explain past events?



Here, we look at some of the common health problems that can cause forgetfulness.



1. High blood pressure



“The increase in blood pressure can mean structural changes in the blood vessels, making them thicker and making it harder to get blood around your body.As a result, you can get organ damage. That can be in the brain as well and affect your recall and cognition. So eat a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, don’t smoke and if you are on blood pressure medication, take it as prescribed.



2. Long-haul travel



Memory can start to be affected after a flight lasting more than four hours .



3. Vitamin B12 deficiency



Vitamin B12 is essential for normal neurological function. Deficiency of vitamin B12 can result in cognitive changes, from memory loss to dementia. Scientists believe vitamin B12 may safeguard the myelin sheath – a layer that insulates our nerves. If the sheath is damaged it can affect the transmission of messages to and from the brain.



4. Menopause



Hormones cause a lot of changes in the body. Hormonal changes like hot flushes and other changes in menstrual cycle may cause one to muddle up things or act out differently.

Women should talk to their doctor about these symptoms if they are affecting their quality of life.



5. Thyroid problems



If you have hypothyroidism – an underactive thyroid – your thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone. This leads to a slower metabolism and tiredness, and can lead to some forgetfulness.



6. Pregnancy



It’s true – pregnancy can affect memory. Some women act differently during pregnancy and may have difficulty remembering little details like phone numbers etc.



7. Alcohol

Too much alcohol has a negative impact on the hippocampus – a part of the brain involved with recording and storing memories.

Some people drink and function but can lose memory of what happened during the time they were drinking.

Don't Be Bald!

Have you seen this?



I have seen pretty scary hairlines but this scared me the most. I mean someone with access to cosmetologists, all the hair professionals one can think of and still have this issue. What is the hope for us mere mortals?

Well, it is never too late to try.

I know i know you have tried funny nameless concoctions and concluded that people in your family do not have "front hair".



Let science work for us.Biotin for hair growth is something you may have heard about. But is it something worth trying or just more hype to sell hair care products?



What is Biotin?



Biotin is a naturally occurring vitamin that is found in a number of common foods. It is essential to human health in general for several reasons. It is a B complex vitamin and is also sometimes called Vitamin H. The right amount of this vitamin helps the body metabolize fatty and amino acids in the body so that they can efficiently be used for energy and there is also some research that suggests it can help stabilize blood sugars as well.



The idea that biotin can also help promote healthy hair is rooted in science. One of the early signs of a biotin deficiency in the body is otherwise unexplained hair loss and hair breakage, as well as dry skin and cracked, brittle nails. Therefore many people feel that if they get extra biotin logically the result will be healthier hair.



Where is Biotin Found?



Biotin occurs naturally in a number of different foods especially



liver and kidney

swiss chard

halibut

carrots

almost all nuts (almond, walnut)

egg and dairy

and some soy

wheat products

vegetables (red beet, cabbage, spinach) and fruits

beans and the mushrooms.



Technically most people should get all the biotin they need from their daily diet but as is increasingly the case for most vitamins the poor diets many of us follow these days do not supply is with all the vitamins and minerals we need and taking a supplement is an idea worth considering.



Before going into the different kinds of products that are available it is important to remember that biotin is a vitamin, not some wonder substance that has been recently discovered and can miraculously produce healthy shiny hair that grows long and strong! Biotin might help hair growth but you also need to look after your hair , avoiding subjecting it to too many chemical processes or high heat treatments. Subjecting your hair to continual bleaching, blow drying and high heat treatments using a tool like a flat iron which does more to damage and break hair as well as limit its growth than almost anything else.



With that in mind though if you are concerned about thinning hair, hair loss or just want to try to make your hair grow faster here is a little about some of the types of products that are available that contain biotin and are designed to do that:



Hair Vitamins» - These days a great many people take a vitamin supplement of some kind on a daily basis. Vitamin supplements that are marketed as hair vitamins are formulated with the recommended dosage of vitamins that are considered to be especially beneficial to healthy hair, including biotin.



Biotin Enriched Shampoos and Conditioners – They range from the affordable to the rather expensive but the price difference does tend to be more about the brand than the actual ingredients which are fairly similar across the board.



Why not give these a try?







For more options and categories of health and wellness vitamin supplements, Please visit in Nigeria;



GNC Live Well

1 B Opebi Road,

Ikeja



GNC Live Well,

Leisure Mall,

Adeniran Ogunsanya Street,

Surulere,

Lagos



GNC Live Well,

Ceddi Plaza,

Garki,

Abuja

Intimate Care

It is not enough to look sexy in your lingerie!

You gotta keep things going at 100% efficiency.

Todays' word is for the ladies.



I promise to focus on you men folk more.



There are so many issues health wise and other wise that concern women folk some even seemingly silly.



Where and how do you stash your underwear?



When last did you wash your bra?



Didnt you just find that thong under the bed?



Anyone who has ever had a yeast infection knows how uncomfortable it can be. Most women would have at least an episode in their life time.



In case you do not know what yeast infections are. Here is a quick intro



What are yeast infections?

Got that itchy feeling?

A yeast infection is an overgrowth of yeast in your vagina, leading to uncomfortable symptoms such as:

* itching and burning in and around your vagina

* burning sensation when urinating (peeing)

* vaginal pain or discomfort during sex

* vaginal discharge that may look like cottage cheese (it may also be thinner or absent).

The causative organism is candida, which is usually present but an increased growth is responsible for yeast infections.



How do you prevent this?



These simple clothing and hygiene changes may help reduce the risk of yeast infections:



*Update your wardrobe, underwear and hygiene

* Keep your genital area clean and dry. Be sure to dry the area thoroughly after you have a bath or shower.

* Avoid using vaginal deodorants, harsh cleansers, perfumed soaps, douches, or antiseptics. They can irritate your vagina.

* Avoid clothing that fits tightly at the crotch.

* Wear cotton underwear (or underwear with a cotton crotch) rather than underwear made of synthetic fabrics.

* Wipe from front to back after using the toilet.



Let us talk more about your underwear.

Proper care of underwear will reduce your chances of infection and make them last longer. Who would not want them feeling new for longer.



Wash & Care of Underwear



Proper Underwear /lingerie care is essential for longer lasting bras and panties. Sorry to air out dirty laundry here but someone could learn from this.



Hand washing is preferred over machine washing



Wash bras about every 2-3 wears with an alcohol free detergent for gentle laundering. It's also important to build your bra wardrobe so you'll have a good selection of bras to rotate, giving you more bras to wear and less washing to do. Replace your bras every 6 to 9 months.

You do know you are to wash panties after one wear?



Here are some laundering tips for fabrics





As a guideline, most lingerie (especially if it’s made of lace) should be hand washed in cold water with mild soap or a detergent made for hand washing.



Cotton

The easiest to care for.

Can withstand heat



Cleaning Silk



When it comes to silk, the fabric is fragile, so it’s important to follow these tips:



- Never scrub or wring silk

- Never wear silk in direct sunlight. (It fades easily.)

- Never clean just a spot or section of silk with water — clean the entire garment.

- Never spray perfume on silk



Love Thy Corset

corsets are made with high-quality steel boning, so too much contact with water can cause it to rust.



- Instead of washing your corset every time you wear it, use a damp cloth to clean its lining.

- Try wearing a thin camisole underneath it to prevent any excess perspiration that can dirty it.





Spandex:



Hand or machine wash in cold to warm water, never hot

No chlorine bleach

Color-safe bleach can be used, but be sure to rinse thoroughly



Keep looking good in that Lingerie.

Treat it good too.

Stay sexy and infection free.