Castor Oil? Who knew! Beauty on a budget. click to post comment

I have about 15 min to post a quick review on my new found favorite friend, castor oil! I'm always trying to find new remedies and new ways to save more mula (money) on things I have spent mini-fortunes on in the past. So, here's my new found fav product that can be used in a plethora of ways.

ON THE SKIN:

30% Castor oil, 70% Grapeseed or Olive Oil, juice from one lemon. I use this as a wash, especially after doing a scrub w/the baking soda. For a toner I use Vitamin E oil, Green Tea (3 teabags), juice from one lemon. All of this lessens breakouts, even skin tones, and help fade the dark spots.

ON THE EYELASHES:

Ok, so I know you've seen those commercials for Latice (not sure how you spell it)...which will grow your lashes but could leave you BLIND. The side affects from that product could change your eye color, give you dark circles or leave you complete visionless. Well, I researched the benefits of using Castor Oil on your lashes and I've heard nothing but great reviews. I apply it to my brows and lashes before going to bed. Apply like you would your mascara and you'll have luscious lashes in 2-3 weeks!

IN THE HAIR:

This product can grow your hair...on your head, eyelashes, and eyebrows! WOW!!! I've mixed up a concoction (Vitamin E oil, Castor Oil, Tea Tree Oil, and Grapeseed Oil) which I've been using to moisturize my hair. I apply this to my hair every 2 days, especially after I co-wash (new word for conditioner wash) my hair. It leaves my hair feeling very nourished! BUT, if I want to wear my hair down and straight (i.e. dominican blow out), I do not apply this mixture because it can leave it feeling a bit "weighted." But, for my everyday up-do (bun) for the military it is a good way to keep my hair nourished (and growing).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMZJfJd2WEI&feature=related

FOR INTERNAL BENEFITS:

DON'T drink it! I remember my grandma making me drink a teaspoon of this NASTY stuff to help my digestive malfunctions but it's not advised to do this nowaday. You CAN; however, make a castor oil PACK and apply it to your abdomen region to help detoxify and stimulate your digestive (flushing) tract.

So, in closing, I will be experimenting with this product as I continue my all natural, health conscious, budget inspired journey to a better ME!

HaPPy living! God bless!

Useful Youtube links

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMZJfJd2WEI&feature=related

If you think you CAN'T you're right! The Power of a Positive Perspective

Most of what you think you can or CAN'T do comes directly from your PERCEPTION (and perspective). "As a man thinketh in his heart, so IS he!" If you think you are going to make it, you will make it! If you think you'll overcome a thing, you will overcome! If you think you will fail, most likely you will fail! If you think you're unhappy, you'll be destitute. Although life has a tendency of throwing us many blows, it's our duty to hit it back with a ONE-TWO combination. You're in the fight of (and for) your LIFE!

Feeling bad, negative, or hopeless about yourself, your situation, or your surroundings won't HELP but rather hinder you from a breakthrough! Get over yourself! Having a bad attitude or depressed countenance won't change your situation but rather bring MORE of the same (depressed) energy to you. What and how you are is attracted TO YOU. Has it ever seemed like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed and then nothing in the rest of your day seemed to go right? That's the law of attraction (or as the bible states, "as a man thinketh...so IS he). Start MAKING positive things happen for yourself. It's starts with your attitude. Attitude determines altitude. Opportunities are not going to barge in, they merely KNOCK on your door. It's our job to recognize them and CARPE DIEM (seize the moment).

Positive change often times starts with gratitude. Gratitude makes way for abundance. It's easy to realize and recognize all the things you don't have, you desire, or want. But, what about what you already have. Capitalize on your strengthens and minimize your weaknesses. Also, start out by being grateful for WHO you are TODAY. Even your faults serve a purpose. They (faults) are opportunities for perfection (or improvement). Positive change happends one step and adjustment at a time.

Even your present (poor) circumstances have a purpose, so be grateful for them. If "everything works for your good" that means even the bad stuff has a purpose (and will be good in the end). The tests, trials, and troubles are opportunities for TRIUMPHS. Everything has a purpose! Whether it's to teach us what not to do or what to do better next time there's a meaning, reason, and purpose for it ALL.

If your boyfriend has left you, maybe God's making room for a husband! If you're wife's nagging you, maybe it's an opportunity to become a better and more empathetic listener. If you're overwhelmed with debt, maybe the lesson is to be a better steward over what you have. If your unemployed, maybe it's time step out on faith and become an entrepreneur. If you've been laid off or fired from a JOB, maybe it's time to train and educate yourself for that new CAREER existing around the corner .

Whatever the problem, whatever the circumstance you're facing, celebrate! Lift your hands up, throw back your head, and give a big THANK YOU for everything that's existing in your life. As long as you never quit, you'll win. Nothing happens by chance, it's in your life for a reason.

The Overcomers Prayer

Today I need the power to overcome the world, the enemy, and especially my SELF. Help me to walk in your boldness, your authority, and your presence. Help me to be sensitive to the promptings and the direction of your SPIRIT. Quiet the opposing voices and bind the opposing forces that come up against my SUCCESS today. Give me the faith I need and KNOW pleases you. I know without faith it's impossible to please you. I know you are God, I know you are real, and I know that I'm yours Help me to connect or reconnect to you as the source of my strength, my light, and my all I can not do it without you...even when I think I can. Lastly, Lord... Make yourself out to be TRUE when all else is a LIE!

Lust is easy...

Carl Reiner is quoted as saying, "Lust" is easy, "Love" is HARD. "Like" is most important."

Everywhere I look I see single people who want to be married, married people who want to be single, and some people who just want to be left alone! Has society fallen into an inescapable state of psychosis? Most people in the last category have given up hope in relationships because of past hurt, disappointments, feelings of being used and manipulated, or just have gotten lost on the path of love.







I asked myself the question, "Why is LOVE so hard?"
Answer: IT REQUIRES SOMETHING OF YOU!

Love...REAL love:
1. Reveals your imperfections (and faults)
2. Requires you to serve the other person BEFORE yourself
3. (Forces you to) Recognize your own role and responsibilities in the relationship
4. (Opens your eyes to) Realize RELATIONSHIPS was God's plan for creation (all along)
5. Releases you from SELF pride

LUST IS EASY
Lust doesn't require much from you but to recognize the outward appearance of something which will fill your void or PERCEIVED need temporarily! You'll be left wanting something that that act, that person, or that thing can never give. Lust can NEVER fulfill what LOVE was intended to make whole! You'll be left lacking!

There's a place, a void, and a space that can only be fulfilled by
1) God
2) Purpose (your vision and destiny)
3) God's chosen, anointed, and appointed MATE (for you)

LOVE IS HARD
Anything worth keeping is worth working hard for. Think about it, whatever you VALUE you protect! Whatever's important to you, you take care of. Whatever interests you, you pay ATTENTION to. Love isn't easy but it is fruitful. True love is commitment not an occurence. True love surpasses fault finding, superficiality, and growing pains. Think about it, whenever something is growing or expanding, it PRESSES outward which causes (temporary) distress. (Think about about how a baby grows in the womb, you don't get rid of the beautiful baby because the growing is painful).

"LIKE" IS MOST IMPORTANT
That's true! Although no one is likeable 100% of the time, especially those closest to you, it is important to strive to be likeable. (I'm preaching to myself). The bible says, "If you want friends show yourself FRIENDLY." Sometimes it's hard for our best friends, spouses, and children to like us because it's hard for them to press pass the roles we play in order to recognize the jewel they have in their midst. The same goes for us, "Do we recognize the GIFTS (in people) that God has placed in our lives? Relationships are encounters for a brief period of time that test you, grow you, and develop your L O V E walk. This journey is best enjoyed one footstep at a time. Two questions, "Do you have anyone on the journey with you? Do you have anything (any love) left to give?"