Tag Archives: beaches

Reading Beauty Labels: What is Stearic Acid?

Normally, I’d say it’s a bad idea to put any kind of acid on your face or body. But if you start reading the labels on your favorite health and beauty products, you’ll probably run into this one: stearic acid. Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid, also known as octadecanoic acid. (That’s a mouthful and a half, so I’ll stick with calling it “stearic acid” thank you very much!) Fatty acids are a good thing for the body. They are the acids produced when fats are broken down. Fatty acids are not highly soluble in water and can be … Continue reading →

Six Ways to Save Money on Makeup

Looking good really doesn’t have to cost a fortune… though you might not know it from walking the beauty counters at a department store, or a specialty makeup store. Talk about sticker shock! (Some of those places need to keep smelling salts by the door to revive folks after they faint from looking at prices!) It’d be easy to say: skip the makeup entirely and save a ton of cash. But sometimes, a touch of makeup is the icing on the cake! The cake is pretty good already, but frosting goes the extra mile into stunning. If wearing makeup makes … Continue reading →

Green Beach Ideas

Here where I live in North Carolina, we are within reasonable driving distance of at least six beaches. But, some that I have gone to are not well taken care of by those visiting. I look around and see candy wrappers, cigarette butts, and water bottles everywhere. While you want to have fun at the beach, you can do it is a green way. What is some small things you can do to keep your beach looking beautiful? The most important thing is to keep the plastic at home. The Ocean Conservancy organized an international coastal cleanup and guess what … Continue reading →

Is Your Beauty Routine Filled with Chemicals?

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When thinking about living green, you may not think about stuff like cosmetics. I know I’ve never thought to check the label of my deodorant, toothpaste, soap, and makeup, but after reading about some of the things that are in there, I have decided to start reading closely. I read a statistic online that said that we could be exposing ourselves to 200 or more toxins when just getting ready for the day. What are some hidden toxins you want to avoid in your cosmetic routine? If you suffer from dandruff, you may want to read the label of your … Continue reading →

Swimmer Nick D’Arcy Given a Suspended Sentence for Assault

I missed this story when it was originally published, but 21 year old Australian swimmer Nick D’Arcy just received a suspended sentence for an assault charge. D’Arcy was involved in a brawl on March 31, 2008 with former swimmer Simon Cowley, who had won three gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. That night, D’Arcy was celebrating his place on the Australian Olympic swimming team at a Sydney nightclub. Cowley is said to have slapped the inebriated D’Arcy then a brawl broke out. Cowley may have started it, but he got the worst of it – he ended up with a … Continue reading →

Frugal Spa at Home: Even More Natural Solutions

Natural beauty products can be good for your body and good for your wallet. You can get excellent results and pamper yourself without the chemicals and without the price of a spa. Just think, you could save up to $90 at home if you choose your own natural frugal spa solution rather than making a trip to the professional spa. This is my third post in this series. My husband loves to eat kiwi when it is nice and ripe. But there is another use for kiwi. If I can wrestle some away from the snack counter, I used it … Continue reading →

Frugal Spa at Home: More Natural Solutions

If you want the spa look and the spa feel without the spa price, then read this series! I’ll be sharing lots of great solutions that you can use for so much less than a visit to the spa. These solutions are all natural, so they are really great for you, too. I’ve been inspired by Body & Soul Magazine (wholeliving.com) and have adapted many of their suggestions for frugal pampering. Most homes have chamomile tea, or at least it is one of the brands of tea that are relatively common and inexpensive as far as teas go at the … Continue reading →

Michael Phelps Caught Smoking Marijuana

Michael Phelps was supposed to be at tonight’s Super Bowl game in Tampa, Florida. But instead, the Olympic great is at an undisclosed location hiding out from the press. Mr. Fitness, the pool guru of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, the part man/part fish uber-athlete, is dodging the media right now because he was caught taking a hit from a marijuana pipe. Interestingly, rather than blow off speculation that it was indeed his mug displayed in a photo showing him inhaling from a pot pipe, Phelps issues a public statement earlier today saying: “I engaged in behavior which was regrettable … Continue reading →

More Gift Ideas for the Fitness Fanatics in Your Family

If you have a swimmer, biker, runner or walker in your family, then you might be struggling to familiarize yourself with the slew of exercise equipment on the market today, as you search for the perfect Christmas gift. Save some time and a lot of needless stress by reviewing the high-tech fitness gadgets listed below. Both items come highly recommended by experts (and mere mortals) who use them on a daily basis: Garmin Forerunner 405 Given its price this is a fitness item that you might want to reserve for a truly beloved family member. For $300 your resident fitness … Continue reading →

Are Ballet Dancers Fitter Than Swimmers?

According to a new study conducted by British researchers, the answer is “yes.” Take that Michael Phelps. Researchers concluded that the overall fitness of ballet dancers is greater than that of international swimmers. The study involved comparing members of the Royal Ballet and English National Ballet School with a squad of British National and International Swimmers, including members of the Olympic team. Participants were tested on strength, endurance, balance, flexibility and their psychological state. The results were then compiled to form individual “fitness profiles.” According to the study, the ballet dancers had stronger “fitness profiles” than their swimming counterparts. Researchers … Continue reading →