Fall 2014 Hair Trends

Do you change your hair style with the seasons?  I currently have the inverted bob, and I love the cut so much that I haven't changed it for fall.  I did change my highlights though.  I had brown all over with bright red and blond chunky highlights for summer.  This fall, I went a shade darker all over and switched to thinner highlights in a light brown and a barely there burgundy. If you want to change your entire look, here are the top fall 2014 hair trends, and I'll give you some tips on how to get the looks at home!

Halloween Hairstyles

You have your costume.  Your makeup is ready to go.  What about your hair?  If your costume includes one of these looks, then don't worry!  I can help!   I've found great Halloween Hairstyles tutorials for all of these looks, so you will be the best dressed and best looking person at your Halloween party.  Here are tutorials for 10 great looks.

Get the Perfect Blow Out For Your Hair

One thing I do struggle with is blow drying my hair.  It's so thick and so curly, that blowing it dry is next to impossible.  I usually have to wash it in the evening and let it dry all night.  In the morning, I can straighten my hair.  If I try to blow dry it, it ends up pouffy and unruly. If you're like me, don't worry!  Here's how to get the perfect blow out for your hair.  Don't forget your heat protection .  Even if you aren't going to straighten your hair, you still need to protect it from the hair dryer. Courtesy of: Alight   Get posts delivered to your inbox daily or weekly. Subscribe now!

5, 10 and 15 Minute Makeup - Look great even when you're in a hurry!

How long does it take you to apply your makeup each morning?  How long do you really have?  For every day, I need 10 minutes just for my makeup.  Some days, I'm lucky to get 5 minutes, especially if I'm getting the kids ready at the same time that I'm getting ready.   Don't worry!  You can look fabulous even if you only have 5 minutes to do your makeup.  Here are some 5, 10, and 15 minute makeup looks.   Links in this post may be affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission from sales. 5 Minutes If you only have five minutes--or less--don't freak out!  It can be done if you have the right products. Start with a tinted moisturizer , or if you don't have one, just use moisturizer.  If you just used moisturizer, use a pressed powder or mineral makeup foundation to give yourself a solid foundation and correct any uneven skin tone.   For your eyes, sweep a neutral color all over your lid.  Add a slightly darker color on the crease.  Add

Eczema Treatment for Hands

We've been pretty lucky to skip eczema during childhood, even with all of my kids' allergies and other issues.  A month ago, I noticed my first spot of possible eczema on my hand.  I'd been visiting a family member in the hospital for a week, so I used a lot of sanitizer and washed my hands a lot with the harsh hospital soap several times a day.  I showed it to my doctor, who confirmed it was eczema and recommended a steroid. The steroid cream did work, but I would rather avoid steroids.  I had a terrible reaction to an oral steroid earlier this year that took 6 months and many, many doctor's appointments to get over, so I really don't like taking them or using them topically.  Instead, I looked for eczema treatments that I could use at home. Links in this post may be affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission from sales. What Causes Eczema? According to the National Eczema Association , eczema is caused by genetics and environmental fact

Easy DIY Shea Butter Lotion Recipe - Just Three Ingredients!

This post is sponsored by Key West Healthy and Beauty.  As always, all opinions are my own.   I used to make lotion quite a bit, but then I stopped because I had kids and got too busy.  My skin has been really dry lately, and I have a little patch of eczema on my hand, so I wanted to make my own again.  The only problem is that homemade lotion needs a preservative or creepy crawlies can grow in it.  My preservative is long gone, and I don't use enough to justify buying more.  That's why I chose this recipe; it doesn't have any water in it, so it doesn't need a preservative. Since it only has three ingredients, it is really easy to make too.   You only need shea butter, a carrier oil, and coconut oil.  I used olive oil, but sweet almond oil or jojoba oil would work really well too. Shea butter is one of my favorite lotion and soap additives because it has so many benefits.  It is high in vitamins A and E to nourish your skin.  It's fatty acids help keep skin

Natural Beauty Tips

I'm trying to use natural products in my food, cleaning, and beauty supplies.  I'm not 100 percent natural or organic, but I'm getting there.  I love creating new recipes to replace things I've bought previously.  It's not always practical to do this because of time constraints or having the right ingredients on hand. There are a few things I always have on my shelf to make my own beauty products with though.  These are the things that I use for so many recipes or by themselves.  These natural beauty tips will help you look wonderful and feel better because you know that you are using only natural ingredients that have minimal impact on the environment. Links in this post may be affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission from sales. Natural Beauty Tips Water Dry skin?  Feeling sluggish?  You might not be getting enough water.   Experts recommend 8 8-ounce glasses of water a day.  I happen to love plain water, but I do like to mix it up

Green Tea Toner Recipe for Acne Prone Skin or Oily Skin

Do you use a toner every day?  If you have oily or acne prone skin, then you should.  A toner helps dissolve excess oil and nourishes your skin, which makes you skin feel softer, look better, and have less breakouts.  This is an easy green tea toner recipe that you can make in less than half an hour with easy to find ingredients. Always apply toner to clean skin.  Wash your face as usual and pat dry with a clean towel.  Apply the toner with a cotton pad or cotton ball.  Use your favorite moisturizer immediately after using the toner.  You should use a toner morning and night to prevent breakouts and keep your skin nourished. Each ingredient was added for a specific purpose.  After the recipe, I'll explain what each one is used for and why they are important. Links in this post may be affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission from sales. DIY Green Tea Toner Recipe What You Need 1 green tea bag 1 cup hot water 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tabl

How to Optimize Pin Boards for SEO

Every blogger knows that Pinterest is where the traffic is at!  I don't like keeping all go my proverbial eggs in one basket, but I do want to take advantage of the traffic while the potential is there. Of course, having a lot of followers is important on Pinterest. But did you know that you can also optimize your pins and profile for SEO?   How do people find your pins?  They might follow you, but Pinterest recently changed their algorithm, so user's feeds are filled with pins from people they follow, promoted pins, and pins they might like. How does Pinterest decide what a user might like?  Keywords.  Pins and boards also rank high in Google. How many times have you Googled a recipe and found a slew of pins and boards?  How do you get your profile in those precious top Google results?   How To Optimize Your Pins and Boards for SEO 1.  Search Settings Before you optimize your boards, make sure Google can see you!  In your account settings, go to Sear