Hi Sparkling Finish Fans,

I’ve been very busy while away, creating and making 100% homemade soaps and exfoliating salt scrubs. It is truly a labor of love and I find it very satisfying.

The good news is I will soon begin to give everyone the oppurtunity to purchase my wonderful items online.

Okay, you have made it through Thanksgiving but you are feeling a little run down. Wouldn’t it be great if you could go to a spa for a little relaxation and pampering?

The truth is, you don’t have to go far to be pampered and it certainly doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. All you need is a few household ingredients and a little quiet time in the evening to create a simpler approach to relaxation. 

Let’s begin with our face:

Take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Pour the oil into your hands and rub them together. Then massage the oil all over your face and neck using circular motions. Please remember that your facial area is very delicate.

This facial treatment will nourish your skin with essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. It won’t clog your skin or make it more oily, in fact, it can help restore balance to skin that is very oily.

With a little preparation you can even make your own mask.

1/2 Banana, 1 tablespoon honey and 2 tablespoons sour cream. Mash the banana and apply to your  face, let set for about 10 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

1 tablespoon of oatmeal, finely ground (you can use a stick blender to grind), 1 tablespoon yogurt, do not use flavored yogurt, 2 – 3 drops of honey

Combine the yogurt and oatmeal in a small bowl. Take a large spoon and heat it by running hot water over it for a few minutes, then add the drops of honey onto the spoon. Mix the honey with your yogurt and oatmeal mixture. Apply the mask to your face and leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse off by splashing off with warm water. Follow with a warm washcloth.

Now let’s take care of your feet:

Prepare a warm footbath and add ¼ cup Epsom Salt, 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2 drops of lemon oil. Soak your feet in this mixture for about 20 minutes.

To remove dry skin and calluses from your feet mix 1 cup of Epsom Salt, 3 teaspoons olive oil and the juice of 1 small lemon. Massage the mixture into the soles of your feet, concentrating on the rough areas. Rinse with warm water.

Now it’s time for your body, you will need a small container with a lid, epsom or sea salt, olive oil or oil of your choice.

Fill your container 1/2 full of the salts and then pour enough of your oil so that it will just pass the top of your salts. Then mix the salt and oil thoroughly. Spread the mixture over your body by gently rubbing into your skin with your fingers. Then rinse off by getting into a hot tub of water. You can even finish this regiment off by adding some soothing music and maybe a glass of wine. Enjoy, relax and just let go.

Last but not least your mind and body:

The best way of all to pamper yourself is to give yourself a little rest and relaxation by finding a service that provides cleaning in Atlanta. Contact them and set-up a day and time for them to come out and make not only your day but your week.

I have found myself a new hobby. One that I have become obsessed with. I had heard my grandmother and other elders speak about it numerous times, but it was my daughter that actually got me started.

It is the art of soap making. I never thought that I would enjoy a skill from so far back. It involves so many different elements. A little of chemistry, aromatherapy, coloring and the ability to measure accurately.

Once I started my first batch I couldn’t stop thinking of new soaps to create or what I would use as my mold. The problem is that you must first learn to properly mix a basic recipe and then decide what additives to use, out of the many thousands of combinations. Personally, I have found that I like a soap that is very moisturizing and has the ability to produce a lot of bubbles.

Now, I must learn to make my own recipes that will result in the type of soap I am trying to create. Not an easy task. My suggestion to anyone now thinking of starting this long, lost art would be to read as many blogs as possible regarding soap making. Then you will need to find distributors that you can purchase your ingredients from, such as oils and additives.  I have a big problem still with my scents. I can’t seem to figure a scent combination, I guess that will come in time.

When you begin making your first batch of homemade soap,  please do not hesitate for a long period of time like I did. I had read so many blogs and posts regarding the dangers of using lye, that I had freaked myself out. Well, I should have just realized that using lye is very dangerous and it should be respected. If you use the proper safety precautions and do not try and hurry, you will be okay.

If you have time on your hands and a kitchen without any disturbances, give it a try. Your own soap will be much better than any soap you could buy, plus you will know exactly what it’s ingredients are. An old way of cleaning homes with a new twist. You will make your grandmothers proud.

Around this time every year I hear people mention the problems they have with mice during the winter. I must admit that I have had my share of run-ins with them also. Unfortunately, many people rid their homes from mice by killing those that try and enter. This year I would like to try and give all of us a more humane and natural way to eliminate these pests. After all, they do serve a purpose in the world.

1. Buy large balls of steel wool. Mice cannot chew through this and therefore turn away.

2. Close up any openings in your home where mice could possibly get in. Mice can get through any opening that is about the size of a dime. The main places to check are around sinks and radiators. Also check cracks in your foundation and doors.

3. Buy a bottle of fox urine, I know that sounds crazy but a fox is a natural predator of the mouse. You can purchase a 20 oz bottle on Amazon for about $10.

4. Most households already have this wonderful deterrent. If you take a tablespoon of hot sauce, 1/4 cup of soap detergent and add it to one gallon of water you will have a great repellant spray that can be used in and around any area that you think mice are entering your home.

5. Take some pepermint oil and generously pour it onto a cotton swab, then place in the areas where you think mice are entering your home. The mice will smell this odor, which they hate, and run back to the woods where they belong.

Regardless of which tips you decide to use, the fact remains that no one wants to find out when cleaning homes, they are sharing their happy home with a sneaky, uninvited little pest.

“The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.”

— Gaylord Nelson
Former Governor of Wisconsin, co-founder of Earth Day

With the air pollution being so bad in the world we live today, it is not a wonder that we have so many airborne diseases. Pollution affects different groups of individuals in different ways. Some people are more sensitive to pollutants than others. Young children and elderly people often suffer more from the effects of air pollution. People with health problems such as asthma, heart and lung disease may also suffer more when the air is polluted.

The World Health Organization states that 2.4 million people die each year from causes directly attributable to air pollution, with 1.5 million of these deaths attributable to indoor air pollution.

According to a study, living in a major city places people at a higher risk than living in the radioactive zone in Chernobyl.

According to a German study, people who breathe in the fumes of heavy traffic regularly have higher chances of getting hardening of the arteries, which is associated with the risk of heart attack.

Some of the main contributors to air pollution are:

•Automobile emissions
•Tobacco smoke
•Combustion of coal
•Acid rain
•Noise pollution from cars and construction
•Power plants
•Manufacturing buildings
•Large ships
•Paint fumes
•Aerosol sprays
•Wildfires
•Nuclear weapons

Air pollution can be caused by many of the acts that oocur in our daily lives. So what can we do?

Drive Less -
That doesn’t mean you can’t go anywhere. Try riding a bicycle, it will help reduce air pollution and give you a good work out. Carpool, if you and a friend work together, why not ride together, take public transportation, it is also cheaper long term.

Save Energy -
Start turning your lights off. Saving energy reduces air pollution. Change out some of your light switches for a sensor switch. I replaced my bathroom switches with a sensor because some of my family members would forget to turn off the lights. Problem solved and energy conserved. Dry your clothes on a clothesline, install low flow showerheads.

Waste Not –
It takes a lot of energy to make and sell products that we use. Recycle the plastic bags from the grocery or local stores. Almost every major store has a recycle bin located at the front entrance of their stores for bags, sometimes they even have a bin for newspaper and cans. Buy products that have packaging made from recycled products.

I have heard many people say, “It doesn’t make a difference if I don’t recycle, I am only one person.” Each journey begins with one step. Earth is our home and if we don’t care to keep our home clean what does that say about us, as individuals.

I try my best to always recycle. I can’t say I recycle everything all the time, but I do try. Trying is all we can ask from a person. Once you start it will become habit.

How would buying $120 sneakers be a smart money move? Well, running reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke, lowers blood pressure, burns more calories than any other exercise and is less than paying $50 a month for a fitness club membership.

The largest age group currently affected by diabetes is between 40-59 years. By 2030 this “record” is expected to move to the 60-79 age group with some 196 million cases.

The holidays are always great, but getting ready for them can be stressful. I am not sure about your house, but holidays for my family home means a big crowd and lots of overnight guests, especially since we always host Christmas Eve. I have a few suggestions that I hope will help you prepare. Believe me, they will work for you just as they have for me over the years.

1. As with anything, always plan and prepare as much ahead as possible. For our many guests, it always takes a lot of food. So I always start my cooking of vegetables right after Thanksgiving dinner and then set up my menu plan. Once your vegetables are cooked, store them in your freezer and that is a check mark off of your very long list.

2. I usually start my Christmas shopping around May, but I know that has not been possible for many this year. My suggestion would be to have a list of all the individuals that you will be buying gifts for and what gift you would like to give. With the season already in full swing time is valuable. Try shopping online for many gifts. I have found that you can receive free shipping on many items and if the store is not located in your state you won’t be charged tax. Therefore, you save more money than if you had gone to the store yourself.

3. For my decorating needs I also start right after Thanksgiving. Christmas is my favorite time of year and I tend to overdo. If you start early it will give you the opportunity to look back over what you have done and fix your decorations for the better, each time.

4. Okay, now it is time to spruce up your home. Below you will find quick links to a few checklist that I have found on one of my favorite websites. Once you download the list I would suggest that you tweak it so that it will fill your needs better.

4. As far as cleaning goes I always like to clean from top to bottom and left to right in a room. That way it will be less likely for you to miss a spot. I like to always leave the guests rooms carpet cleaning for 2 days before expected time of arrival, then the mattress, linens and pillows for the day before. That way the room is much fresher. Just because, I usually leave something a little personal for the guests from me. This year I will leave homemade soaps and maybe facial scrubs, bath salts or bath oils that I have made myself.

5. It would be a good idea to also leave fresh towels and washcloths for each guest in each room. I usually also leave small bottles of lotion, shampoo and conditioner for each room. You know, like a hotel.

6. I am very fortunate that I have my own little baker. Every year one of my daughters takes care of baking all the pies, cakes, muffins and her specialty Coquito, Latin Egg Nog. Delicious! Oh, by the way, it is better to make the Coquito well in advance, a few weeks. It will give the ingredients time to blend, we usually add 1 cup of Brandy or Cognac. If you aren’t so lucky to have your own baker, plan ahead at your local grocery or bakery by ordering in advance. That way you know you will have all that is needed for your event.

7. Last but not least, the night before, start setting up your tables, chairs and how they will be arranged in your home, along with all specialty dinnerware and serveware. As you go along, carry some of your cleaning items in a bucket and do some of the last minute dusting and cleaning as you go. When finished try to find a business in Atlanta that can help you with all of the cleaning needed to be done once all of your guests have gone. It will make your holiday a lot nicer when you aren’t left to do all of the cleaning alone.

So now you can sit back, look over all your work and relax for the next day of great fun and holiday cheer.

Complete Living room, Bedroom and Dining room checklist

Complete Bathroom cleaning checklist

This checklist is great also. It is a guide to good guest behavior at seasonal festivities . Etiquette Advice for the Holiday Guest

Did you know that 75% of women are not wearing the correct bra size. That is 7 out of 10 women, maybe even you.

I found that I was part of that statistic, and decided to help others by researching and finding out the correct way for us to measure for our true bra size. Matter of fact, Oprah decided to focus one of her shows on this very subject.

1. First step in finding your correct bra size is to put on your favorite bra that you think makes your breasts the right shape and feels comfortable.

2.You will then need to find a seamstress measuring tapeand someone to help you measure, simply because it is difficult to keep the tape level around your body.

3. Your first measurement will be taken around your ribcage, just below your breasts. Now add 5 to this number to get your correct band size. If the band size is an odd number, you will need to round up to the next even number, bra bands only come in even numbers.

4. The second measurement should be taken around the fullest part of your breast with your favorite bra on. This measurement will be your cup size. Next subtract your band size from your cup size to calculate the correct cup size. Refer to the bra cup size chart below.

Bra Size Chart
1 larger than measurement 1——————–A
2 larger than measurement 1——————–B
3 larger than measurement 1——————–C
4 larger than measurement 1——————–D
5 larger than measurement 1——————–E
6 larger than measurement 1——————–F

Now that you are armed with this information your next step is to go bra shopping. Also remember that every brand of bra is made different. So you will still need to try on several bras before deciding on the one to take home.

Now, if you don’t want to do this yourself, there are many stores that have certified bra fitting specialist, actually this is the route I took. Either way, Good Luck!