Sep 122014
 
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Who knew there were so many things to think about when it comes to going darker when coloring the hair?  I didn’t.  I just tend to color and be done with it.  I find these hair tips below very helpful – maybe you will too.

Fall is just around the corner, good things are coming; autumn leaves, crisp refreshing air, pumpkin lattes…  A new rich, deep hue for you!  Here are some tips from Madison Reed for when you are getting ready to go darker.

Madison Reed Hair Color

1. Put Your Pigment Back

When going lighter for summer, pigments are stripped from the hair. This could be done purposely by lightening, highlights, or bleach, or it could be something natural that happens from sun exposure or from taking a dip in the pool. So, if pigments were taken out, we need to put them back in to go darker. This would be a great time to be a red head before eventually settling on a brunette shade to wow!

2. Keep Your Skin Tone in Mind

Adding tones to your locks is a lovely way to make your color rich and vibrant. But are you a cool or a warm skin tone? Generally people with cooler undertone like to wear silver jewelry and look great in cool colors like blue and white. Tones like mahogany, ash, and violet will look awesome on you!  People with warmer undertones find that gold looks best on them and can wear yellows and cream colors with ease. Reds, golds and copper look great on warm tones.

3. Go One Shade Lighter to Start

It is much easier to go darker than it is to go lighter. Choose a shade in the tonal family that you want and go one shade lighter. You just may end up loving the results, if not it’s a quick fix to go a bit darker on the next round.

4. Keep Your Ends in Mind

The summer tends to put a little bit of wear and tear on our hair with all the sun, swimming and fun. This makes our ends more porous, which means it wants to drink that color up. When coloring your hair darker it is important to keep this in mind. Application is key! Start darkening hair at the root and leave in for optimal gray coverage, once this has had time to process start combing color down to your mid-lengths and ends to finish the process. The ends don’t need as much time.

 5. Use Color-Safe Shampoo

It is important to take care of your color even after the process. Don’t wash that beautiful color down the drain. Color-safe shampoo’s are made to be gentle, have extra moisturizer, and keep your color vibrant. Try Madison Reed’s Madison Reed nourishing, color enhancing shampoo and conditioner set–it even has natural UV protection to keep the sun’s rays from dulling down your color.

Right now save 50% off your first purchase at Madison-Reed.com with the code FALLHAIRCOLOR.  Promo code expires 9/30/14maid

Sep 122014
 
PLINK IS DEAD

PLINK IS DEAD

An email arrived from Plink dated 09/11/2014 and came through at 7:51 PM.  The body of the message read this:

To Our Loyal Plink Members,

With much sadness and heavy hearts, we are sorry to tell you that Plink is closing its doors. As of today, the Plink site will be shut down and the program will cease to function.

As a start-up, we are reliant on continued funding and over the last year we have been unable to secure any additional funding. Unfortunately, without that funding, Plink can no longer continue to operate. As a team, we did everything we could to keep Plink alive, but we have now run out of time and options.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our loyal members who have supported us for the last three years. As a team, we want to thank all of our members, for their loyalty and continuing to stick with us to the end. We couldn’t have made it this far without such an amazing loyal, committed group of members.

We also want to thank all of our advertisers and partners who supported us over the last three years. It was their belief in us and willingness to support a small start-up that allowed Plink to grow. We are proud to have partnered with some of the largest restaurant and retail brands in the United States.

Moving forward, all Plink accounts will be closed. No further points can be redeemed. Thanks to all from the Plink Team.

Any further questions can be directed to support@plink.com

We are so upset they did this.  Just like Super Points they pulled the rug out from many users.  They took our money and ran.

Considering this is the second online company to do this in the past year – with having basically the same way of ‘giving’ for users – we have lost all trust in companies like this.  They’ve up and just shutdown – no warning – no nothing until they’ve made it so you cannot access your account.  Very disconcerting!

Were you a Plink user?  Were you majorly affected by the shutting of their site? Have you lost trust in sites like Plink and Super Points? 

Sep 032014
 

purchasing the right acoustic guitar

Purchasing the right acoustic guitars is a process for every discerning musician. Everyone has a preference in their instrument, and these instruments come in a variety of styles. There are many luthiers who can build new guitars, sell existing guitars and help to modify guitars. The person who is trying to choose the right guitar must follow the steps below to make sure they are getting exactly what they need for their musical tastes.

The Size Matters

Every guitar is a different size. There are standard sizes for guitars, but each guitar is a slightly different size and shape. People must try each guitar until they find one that works best for them. The feel of the guitar is often more important than how it sounds. People can make changes to strings and performance technique to alter the sound, but a guitar that does not feel good is going to be very hard to play.

The Sound

Most guitars make a slightly different sound. The sounds that these guitars make are going to push people in the direction of one or the other. Someone may fall in love with the sound of their guitar, and they may find that they would prefer to play that guitar even if it is not traditionally what they need.

The Price

Every guitar is priced differently by the builder or manufacturer. However, guitars can vary in price greatly depending on where they are sold. The condition of the guitar also plays into the price of the guitar. People must be willing to look at a variety of guitars to see which one works best for their budget. The price of the guitar may make a guitar too good to pass up, and some guitars that seem out of reach may be discounted for a number of reasons.

Every guitarist who wants a new guitar must make sure they shop wisely for their guitar. The shopping experience includes the size, feel and sound of the instrument. Shopping for discounts is also wise because people can get something that matches them perfectly without overpaying for the instrument.

So you see, it’s important that you do your homework when it comes to purchasing the right acoustic guitar.  It will save you time and money in the long run.

Aug 222014
 
teatree oil review

australian tea tree oil review

If you’re not familiar with Tea Tree Oil you might just want to take the time to familiarize yourself with this wonderful organic home remedy.

Tea Tree Oil comes from the Melaleuca tree.  The leaves of the tree are put through a process to extract the oil.  In turn, this oil, which has antimicrobial properties (anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral) – is a fabulous natural medicinal alternative.

Tea Tree Oil has so many uses.  I’ve personally cured ringworm, cleared up cold sores, healed a huge burn on my arm from bacon fat (no I’m not going to tell you that the burn didn’t hurt when putting the oil on – but once that hurt went away a short few minutes later – I couldn’t feel that burn unless I pressed hard on the area).

Other uses for Tea Tree oil are (many more not listed):

  • Skin care – acne, facial toner, moisturizing face wash, body scrub, deodorant, eczema
  • First Aid – ringworm, staphylococcus, MRSA4
  • Household cleaning – from soaps to cleaning the bathroom
  • Hair care -shampoo, dry scalp, cradle cap
  • Aromatherapy – air fresheners, massage oils, reed diffusers
  • Dental care -toothpaste, mouthwash

Is all Tea Tree Oil the same?

The answer to that is no.  Some companies add additives that can reduce the oil’s properties.  A pharmaceutical grade is always your best option.  You’ll also want to make sure that the tea tree oil is a dark colored bottled that is air-tight.  It needs to be stored away from sunlight and air as much as possible, so that its effectiveness isn’t compromised.

Here’s the back label of Apothecary Extract Tea Tree Oil:

australian tea tree oil review

Do you see where it says – “Gas chromatography tested?”  That’s an important piece of information if you’re wondering about the quality of the tea tree oil you’re looking to purchase.

If you don’t see this on the packaging – you can ask the company/supplier you’re buying from for their gas chromatography report and to compare it to the ISO standards found at http://www.teatree.org.au/standards.php. Don‘t be surprised if you can’t be provided with these test results though. It’s said that these tests are expensive to perform and some companies would rather you not know what is in their product.

That said, you know you’re getting a quality product when you purchase Apothecary Extracts Australian Tea Tree Oil.

Side Effects of Tea Tree Oil

One can be allergic to tea tree oil just as with anything else. The best way to determine if you’ll experience any side effects – do a skin test on your arm or leg by rubbing the oil on an area no bigger than the size of a nickel.  If you don‘t experience any skin irritation or other side effects, you should feel confident that you are not allergic to tea tree oil and can begin using it.  If you find yourself having a slight reaction after testing it – you’ll want to stop using right away, or try mixing it with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or almond oil to dilute it.  Whatever you do – do not ingest any tea tree oil.

How does the Apothecary Extracts Australian Tea Tree Oil Rate?

I’ve written about the use of tea tree oil in the past (read that post here); and although the brand I used was not this one – you’ll find this one to be equivalent to the one that I was using.  The scent of Apothecary Extracts Australian Tea Tree Oil is that of what I’m used to using.  The oil has the consistency of what I’ve used in the past.  The smell is the same.  It arrived in a dark colored bottle (the one you see above), which is mandatory for keeping its potency.

Shortly after receiving the bottle, which couldn’t’ have come at a better time since we had just finished our last bottle, I came down with a cold sore.  These are common for daughter and myself.  I immediately went to the Apothecary Extracts Australian Tea Tree Oil and began putting it on the sore.  Within just a couple of days – the sore began to dry up.  The itching went away shortly after applying the oil.  So I can tell you that the Apothecary brand works the way I would expect it to.

Our home always has a supply of tea tree oil and black salve on hand – that’s not an option, but is mandatory.  We believe in these products 110%.  The Apothecary Extracts Australian Tea Tree Oil will be a staple in our house from now on.  There are just so many brands out there it’s hard knowing which brand you can trust.  That said, in reviewing this particular brand, I learned a lot and have much confidence in the product.

The Perks of Purchasing the Apothecary Extracts Australian Tea Tree Oil

When you purchase this brand’s tea tree oil – you will receive an eBook with many recipes on ways to use the oil.  The eBook also touches base on the history of tea tree oil. The bottle I received was a 4-oz. bottle and this will last us a very long time.  Not only that – the price of the 4-oz bottle of Apothecary Extracts brand – is one of where you’ll be getting more for your money.

You’ll find the Apothecary Extracts Australian Tea Tree Oil at Amazon.com

Are you a tea tree oil user?  What do you like best about the oil?

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Related Post:

TEA TREE OIL…have you ever tried it?? It’s fabulous!

Dec 032013
 

It’s that time of year to get the kids all excited about Christmas.  Here’s one way that you can do just that.  Santa’s Official Reindeer Live feed is airing now.   Your kids can enjoy watching them at anytime but they can see Santa  Mon-Fri at 11am, 6pm & 9pm,  Weekends at 6pm (Eastern Time).  Visit Reindeercam.com to join in on the fun.  They have apps for it too, for the droid, iPad and Windows.

Dec 012013
 
novica premium gift wrap

Stunningly Beautiful!  Novica’s Premium Gift Wrap & Giveaway

Have you ever purchased from Novica.com?  Their handmade gifts are out of this world.  I’ve purchased many products and each purchase, gift or not, has come wrapped!  I actually thought that the wrapping paper was out of this world.  I actually hated to tear into the package.  In fact, take a look at it here.   Now Novica has introduced Premium Gift Wrap in addition to their free gift wrap option…take a look:

novica premium gift wrap Continue reading »

Nov 272013
 

Here are today’s late afternoon – evening  Amazon Holiday Toy Lightning Deals! Everyday between now and Christmas, Amazon will have HOT deals for toys, household products and more. These deals last for a couple of hours however the better the deal the faster it sells out!!! Thank you The Budget Bandit for compiling this list!

Please Note…There are TONS of toy deals today! ALL of the deals can found on the Amazon Black Friday Deals page HERE. You can find the toys quickly on the Black Friday Lightning Deals page by changing the category to “Toys & Games”. The other toy deals can be found a little quicker and easier on the Amazon TOY Lightning Deal page HERE.

12:00 pm PST/3:00 pm EST: Gund 5? Itty Bitty Boo Dressed in Heart Hoodie Plush (regular price $14.99)

12:00 pm PST/3:00 pm EST: Lionel Polar Express Remote Train Set – O-Gauge (regular price $275.89)

1:00 pm PST/4:00 pm EST: Revell Big Boy Locomotive (regular price $19.29)

1:00 pm PST/4:00 pm EST: LEGO Education DUPLO Creative Builder Set (regular price $83.44)

1:00 pm PST/4:00 pm EST: Chicago Cubs O-Gauge Ready-to-Run Major League Baseball Team Train Set (regular price $379.99)

1:10 pm PST/4:10 pm EST: Cars 2 video games

1:10 pm PST/4:10 pm EST: Skylanders Giants Lightcore Hex (regular price $9.76)

2:00 pm PST/5:00 pm EST: Star Wars Millennium Falcon Model Kit (regular price $23.57)

2:00 pm PST/5:00 pm EST: Fisher-Price 3-in-1 Apptivity Entertainer (regular price $18.00)

4:00 pm PST/7:00 pm EST: New York Yankees O-Gauge Ready-to-Run Major League Baseball Team Train Set (regular price $379.99)

5:00 pm PST/8:00 pm EST: Sassy Rock Star Guitar Musical Toy

Have fun shopping and saving yourself money at the same time!

 

Nov 222013
 

Don’t think you can make those crafts you see at the craft fairs? Or you don’t think you can sew? Knit? Quilt? Want to learn photography? Think again – you can do anything you put your mind to and with the help of Craftsy – you’ll be on your way in no time…saving yourself a lot of money and maybe even making yourself some money.

Craftsy is an online craft community – therefore available worldwide having over 2 million members learning to paint, quilt sew, knit, cook and do photography.

Continue reading »

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