Make up for combination/oliy skin

Why: Readers say this is a "must-have" for women with oily skin, because its "high coverage formula covers acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and blemishes" and leaves you with "flawless-looking skin all day." One reader with skin she describes as "an oil slick" says this makeup "lasts even through swimming." Another says, "I have the greasiest face, but this stays put for a long time -- even when I'm super active." Others have dropped their high-end brands for this drugstore foundation since it's "better than any Estee Lauder or Clinique product I've tried."

Grooming: What, Exactly, Do "Anti-Aging" Products Do?

Lately the term "anti-aging" has been slapped onto everything from sunscreen to face wash to, yes, shampoo. But what does this phrase even mean? Will slapping an as-labeled cream onto your face actually stop the biological process that results in wrinkles, saggy skin, fine lines, discoloration and all the other noticeable things that happen to your epidermis as you get older?

Of course not. No cream will stop the natural process of aging, but that doesn't mean these anti-aging formulas aren't without merit. What the term is really saying is that the product contains ingredients that protect you from "free radicals". These are unstable compounds that screw with your cell's DNA and are found in things as pervasive as food, sunlight, and air as well as in more obvious vices like booze and tobacco. They're also created by our own bodies when we're stressed, don't sleep well, and aren't drinking enough water. In skincare terms, they make you dry, wrinkled, discolored, dull, and saggy — or, simply put, they make you age.

There's two kinds of ingredients that can, at the very least, help slow that down. The first set is antioxidants, best among which are acai oil, green-tea extract, vitamin C, CoEnzyme Q-10, caffeine, and retinol (a form of vitamin A). The second kind of ingredients are plant-based acids like alpha-hydroxy acids, salicylic acid, and hyaluronic acid. Which is best for you? A lot depends on your personal physiology and skin type, so here's where we drop off and suggest chatting up your dermatologist. Until then, drink plenty of water.

Funny guys can thank biology for why the ladies love them ;-)

Buck up, beta males. While you might think every woman will inevitably fall for the good-looking, unfunny jerk, scientists have determined that there may be hope for the goofy, hopeless romantic. In a study conducted by the Stanford University School of Medicine, researchers found that women have an evolutionary disposition to appreciate humor more than men, making a sense of humor an important element when choosing a suitable mate. Boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 13 were shown funny videos; the female brains showed more heightened activity, which scientists theorize is due to the fact that the female brain and its reward circuit "is biologically better prepared to respond accordingly." Get your ha-ha on, guys. [Source]

Awesome cat mama now snuggling with the luckiest duck out there !!!

Your eyes do not deceive you: That is an adorable, feathery head amongst all that fur. The duckling in the middle of this image was rejected by its duck mother after the baby hurt its foot. Lucky for the duck, Tosia — a cat with an exceptionally generous maternal spirit — was nearby and has adopted the duckling into her brood. Tosia's human owner said she was alerted to the new addition to her household when the cat returned with something in her mouth: "At first I thought it was a mouse or something, but then she placed it on the ground and I saw it was a little duckling." The cats and duckling are now described as "inseparable." [Source]

Grilled pork salad with beets and goat cheese dressing / Recipe number 2 !

 Grilled pork salad with beets and goat cheese dressing – This salad can be made partially using your grill. It has grilled pork strips, roasted beets, fingerling potatoes, grilled onions, and avocado slices on a bed of lettuce and drizzled with a bell pepper, paprika and goat cheese dressing.





There is nothing better than a well made and filling salad that can equally satisfy your taste buds and your desire to eat something healthy and fresh. This salad combines beets, fingerling potatoes, grilled pork chop strips, grilled white onions and avocado on a bed of lettuce and is drizzled with a flavorful dressing made with bell pepper, paprika, goat cheese and garlic. I found this amazing salad earlier this year on one of my favorite food blogs: El Almuerzo de Leticia and Don Lucho- by the way this is a great site, the food is always appetizing, healthy and the preparation instructions are easy to follow.


This salad is not only a pleasure to eat but it is also beautiful to look at it, I felt like I was creating edible art when I was making it, I made a few substitutions to the salad, you can used grilled pork chop strips, while Don Lucho’s orginal salad had turkey – probably a little bit healthier than pork ;) but essentially you use any meat/poultry/seafood you like –which is great for using up leftovers.I had some fingerling potatoes so I used those but any potatoes can be used.An important part of this salad is the dressing, Don Lucho made a beautiful dressing using a paprika pepper, of course I couldn’t find one so I used a red bell pepper and some smoked paprika powder, I also used goat cheese instead of cream cheese (I just can’t resist combining peppers and goat cheese together), and added some garlic(again goat cheese and garlic are such a great match).

 

Recipe adapted and translated from Don Lucho’s salad.

 

Ingredients:

 

3 large beets, washed

1 lb fingerling potatoes, washed

1 lb boneless pork chops, cut into strips

2 white onions, washed and sliced thickly

2 tbs olive oil

1 medium size lettuce head, washed

1 ripe but firm avocado, peeled and sliced

Salt and pepper

Bell pepper & paprika dressing

1 red bell pepper, if you can find a fresh red paprika pepper even better

1 tsp smoked paprika powder

2 garlic cloves

½ to ¾ cup milk

4 tbs goat cheese

2 tbs olive oil

Salt to taste

 

Preparation:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 F.
2. Wash the beets and remove the leaves, wrap the beets in aluminum foil and bake for about 45-50 minutes, time will vary based on the size of the beets.
3. When the beets are fully cooked remove them from the oven and place them in bowl of ice to stop the cooking process and cool down.
4. Peel and cut the beets.
5. Bring water to boil a large saucepan and boil the potatoes for about 8-10 minutes or until tender, remove from heat and let cool down, use them either whole or quartered.
6. Meanwhile combine the bell pepper, smoked paprika, garlic, milk, goat cheese, olive oil, and salt in the blender and blend until you get a smooth sauce, strain it and refrigerate until ready to use.
7. Season the pork and onions with the olive oil, salt and pepper
8. Grill or sauté the pork and onions, let them cool down before using.
9. Arrange the lettuce, beets, potatoes, onions, pork and avocados in a salad bowl, platter or individual plates, drizzle with the salad dressing and serve immediately.

Stay tune for  yummy recipe # 3 ! LOVES ! XOX

Heat wave: 10 ways to keep kids cool !!

It’s hot outside. Don’t lose your cool.

 

As the recent heat wave intensifies, it’s important to remember that rising temperatures can be more than just uncomfortable. This record-breaking weather can be dangerous--even deadly. Staying cool is a priority, so here are ten ways to combat the sizzling heat.

 

 

 

1. Chill your wrists: Chris Baskind of the Mother Nature Network suggests running cold water over wrists for a minute every hour:

“When you were sick as a child, your mom may have brought you a cold facecloth. This idea works the same way.”

2. Stay hydrated: Kids may not feel thirsty, but it’s essential to stay hydrated, so make sure young ones are getting lots of H20. If you’re planning to leave the house, freeze some water bottles and take them with you.

3. A little help from some fans: They may be little, but those battery-operated personal fans can make a big difference.

4. Frozen washcloth: Freeze a washcloth and then plop it on the back of their necks—instant refresher.

5. Turn off electronics: If they’re not being used, unplug electronics to keep them from generating unnecessary heat.

6. Stay downstairs: Downstairs areastend to be cooler. Herd kids into an air-conditioned basement, if available. If not, stay on the first floor.

7. Don’t cook: Feed kids fresh foods like salads and fruit. Not only will this cool the core, it’ll also keep cooking-related heat from filling up the house.

8. Plan ahead: If you’re leaving the house, make sure you won’t be spending too much time in areas without shade. Bring plenty of water and dress in lightweight, light-colored clothing.

9. Precool: Lifehacker recommends “precooling” to counter overheating:

“Before you start exercising, you can use a couple precooling techniques to keep your temperature down. This includes drinking a slushie, or even just draping a cold rag around your neck. These precooling techniques can improve endurance in hot weather exercise by nearly 4 percent.”

10. Postpone laundry: Plan to do heat-generating activities after the sun goes down. Do laundry at night, for example. 

~ Happy 4th of July ~