A Lull

I am at a bit of a low point right now. Shannon is moving away. Who will tune in to Beth's Happy Hair now that she is gone? I can't get people to enter my contests. I can't get people to comment on my stuff. Is anyone even reading my posts? What's the secret?

I signed up for Adsense and nobody clicks. I signed up for Swagbucks and nobody searches. Should I delete this blog? Is it a big waste of time?

If you are reading this, please comment so I know that someone out there is checking out what I pour my energy into each time I post.

Sad Tummy Tuesday News

My friend Shannon called me this weekend with two bits of information. Number one, she's moving. Her husband took a job in Milwaukee and they'd be leaving at the end of the month. :-(
We'd been together since grade school—two blocks away when we were younger, and then in neighboring towns when we graduated. When she married, she and Brian moved only 4 blocks from my apartment. I will miss her, but at least it will give me an excuse to enter Wisconsin.

Number two, she's pregnant. I feel even more terrible that I won't be able to see her grow and help her with babysitting and cooking meals, etc. I might just have to take a maternity leave myself after her new baby comes and then stay with her for 6 weeks. Ha!

So, no more Tummy Tuesday. If there is anyone else out there who would like the motivation to lose weight by featuring their body and weekly struggle in front of an audience, let me know. I would gladly start Tummy Tuesday again.

Any thoughts on Tummy Tuesday? Was it entertaining? Was it helpful to others? Is it something you'd like to tune into again?

Thanks again Shannon!

And the Winner is...

Congratulations to Sarah! Fusion Creative Team will be contacting you to discuss your blog header. Send us a copy of it when they complete the design or a link to your blog.

We have some more exciting giveaways planned so stay tuned!

Enter Today for Your Chance to Win

Fusion Creative Team is offering a chance to win a free blog logo header design to one lucky BethsHappyHair reader (a $50 value). Fusion Creative Team has over 15 years of ad agency, graphic design experience and now caters to small businesses on a budget.

Here's how you can win:

Visit Fusion Creative Team from now until August 30th. Blog about Fusion Creative Team and send me a link to your blog. Be sure to include a note about this contest in your blog inviting others to enter. A winner will be chosen on August 31st and announced on BethsHappyHair.

Fusion Creative Team has created many pieces for me, including my EasyHairNetwork.com logo and website and my blog logo header. (Well my old blog header—they've announced that they will also give me a new blog header for my new site for helping them with this contest—YAY me!) I luv luv luv Fusion Creative Team. And, from now until September 30th, mention that you read about Fusion Creative Team at BethsHappyHair and get 10% off your custom website design or get a business logo for only $80.

A Terrific Hair Deal

You can't pass this up. If you are in the market for real hair extensions than you must check this out.


Scroll to the bottom of the listings where Elizabeth is selling the most silky, medium brown hair I've ever seen for a mere $120. This is the bargain of the century.

Be sure to check with your local salon about their extension knowledge. In fact, I would recommend only going to a salon that specializes in hair extensions. They'll make sure you get the right kind of application for your lifestyle.

It's Tummy Time!

Shannon: I discovered this week that bran muffins are actually bad for me. Lots of calories. I thought the action in the bathroom was making up for however bad I thought they were, but I didn't actually realize how terrible they were. I should have since I made them and they have buttermilk and sugar in them. Over it. We even went camping this weekend and I did very well not stuffing my face with garbage. I easily stayed within my portion limits and I think it is paying off. Just look at the measurements below.

Measurements:
Around belly button: 31" (-.5 from last time, overall -1")
Around bulge: 35" (-1 from last time, overall -2")
Weight: 146 lbs (-3 from last time, overall-4)

Although the pictures don't look like it, I do feel it. I am still focused on my goal. More veggies are ripening in the garden and I am taking full advantage. I tried the zucchini recipe and loved it. I am even noticing that my stomach does have a limit. I am feeling fuller with less food. It's exciting. In the beginning, I guess I thought I would be dramatically changed within a month, but now I know it takes time and commitment and I am anticipating each week to see if I can survive the challenge. I still go back to one great comment from Andrea (Momma in Flip Flops2!) about asking yourself when you are about to eat something: "Do I NEED this, or do I just want it?"

Thanks everyone. I love the support each week.

See you next week.

The best feel-good, yummy recipe ever!

I received a load of zucchini from a friend's garden and I had no idea what to do with it. I just accepted it with a smile and a thank you to be nice (sorry Anna). However, I did some online research to decide what to do with it, so it wouldn't go to waste. I discovered Zucchini Boats. Holy buckets are they delicious AND you feel so good for eating something healthy.


This is what you do:
• 2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise
• spoon out the guts and put aside
• blot out as much liquid from the guts as possible with a paper towel
• put the zucchini, open side down on a baking sheet in the oven at 375 for 15 minutes
• while that is baking, put two tablespoons of olive oil into a large skillet and saute the guts for 5 minutes, then add half a jar of Prego sauce and mix well, then add two pieces of bread, ripped into pieces
• line the zucchini boats with shredded mozerella, add the mixture, top with a little more cheese and bake for 25 minutes longer or until they are tender (poke with a fork)

You can add onions and peppers and all that other stuff, but for a plain jane like me, I loved it. I can safely say that I prefer this to any other pizza out there.

Enjoy!

My New Look

So I decided to get a new look. Actually I was after 3 columns of space. Now I am working on getting a new header designed. I have Fusion Creative Team working on that. Which reminds me that I should mention my BLOG LOGO HEADER GIVEAWAY again.

I found out that my friend from Affordable Glamour had commissioned Fusion Creative Team to create a blog logo header for her too. Check out Affordable Glamour to get a feel for the design work that Fusion does and to get some great fashion tips.

Back to the giveaway. You have about a week to visit Fusion Creative Team and blog about their designs, their site, whatever and this contest. Make sure you include a link to Fusion Creative Team and to BethsHappyHair. Complete this before August 30th. I will announce a winner on August 31st. You can also enter by commenting to this post. This is a $50 value!

Start blogging...and linking...and commenting...

Great Snack Idea for Kids

My children love fruit snacks and fruit rollups, but I can't stand all the sugar. Now, they eat dehydrated fruits and rolls and they go nuts for them and I love that they are less in sugar.

The easiest way to make a fruit roll is to start with applesauce. You can blend in any fruit you'd like to change the flavor, but you should start with an applesauce base (the pulp in the fruit gives it the perfect texture and holds the roll together much better than any other fruit).

You can use wax paper to line the dehydrator trays or some sell special roll liners. Add the blended fruit mixture to the liner at about 1/4" thick and dehydrate for 4 hours or until roll is shiny and pliable. My kids eat it immediately so I bought an extra liner so I can make more rolls at one time. You can make it thicker but it will take longer to dry. I've also found that the cinnamon apples that I canned to make pies with can be blended and used as well. You get rolls that taste like apple pie.

Store any uneaten rolls in baggies. You probably won't have to do this though as they go FAST!

Thanks Betty125 for the great tip. Sounds delicious and healthy. I might try it myself.

Garden Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Garden Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Another beautiful garment to giveaway from a very talented designer/seamstress.

Check it out.

Thanks Momma in Flip Flops 2 for the heads up on this great giveaway.

Tummy Tuesday!!!!

Shannon: Let's get right to it. I felt very motivated the beginning of this last week. I ran and biked for 45 minutes one night after the kids were in bed. I took a long bike ride the next day with the kids. I went swimming one day too. I think I am making some progress in the exercising department. I also started eating bran muffins every morning. Trying to cut down on processed junk food, which is sort of working, although I am an emotional eater, so I got mad a couple times this week. Oops!

Measurements:
Around belly button: 31.5" (0 from last time, overall -.5")
Around bulge: 36" (0 from last time, overall -1")
Weight: 149 lbs (-1 from last time, overall-1)

So the inches didn't move, but I think I look like improvements are being made. This next week the really the week to just do it. No more excuses. The period is over. Now let's get serious.

See you nest week.

New Arrival

My best friend had a baby girl this weekend. She is adorable. Rough labor, I guess she was turned sideways and was causing her to have back labor. Anyway, she pushed her out and little Bria is now here.

Be sure to tune in tomorrow for some more revelations in the dieting/weight loss/fat burning world from Shannon as she battles her bulge for us every Tuesday.

Now that Bria is born, maybe Shannon could share a couple tips that she's learned with my friend.

I've heard that breastfeeding is a real help. Any other thoughts in general on raising new babies and losing weight? I told my friend to just take it easy for a couple weeks. "You just had a baby for pete's sake!" is what I actually said to her. It's too bad that we are all warped by celebrities in magazines who drop the weight in less than five days and have killer bods post-baby. We forget that these people can afford the best trainers and food police who tell them what they can and can't eat. Plus, they have nannies who take the kids so they can work out alone. Now that's a concept.

Lands End Backpack Giveaway

Thanks to Momma in Flip Flops 2 for offering this wonderful Lands End Backpack giveaway.

Check out more great buys at Lands End.

Summer by the Lake Swimsuit GIVEAWAY!!!!

Summer by the Lake Swimsuit GIVEAWAY!!!!

This lady really knows how to sew and she really knows fashion. Retro is soooo in, no matter what your age.

Check out the great giveaway!

Blog Logo Giveaway

Fusion Creative Team is offering a chance to win a free blog logo header design to one lucky BethsHappyHair reader (a $50 value). Fusion Creative Team has over 15 years of ad agency, graphic design experience and now caters to small businesses on a budget.

Here's how you can win:

Visit Fusion Creative Team from now until August 30th. Blog about Fusion Creative Team and send me a link to your blog. Be sure to include a note about this contest in your blog inviting others to enter. A winner will be chosen on August 31st and announced on BethsHappyHair.

Fusion Creative Team has created many pieces for me, including my EasyHairNetwork.com logo and website and my blog logo header. I luv luv luv Fusion Creative Team. And, from now until September 30th, mention that you read about Fusion Creative Team at BethsHappyHair and get 10% off your custom website design or get a business logo for only $80.

Extensions!

I have been asked by many who visit EasyHairNetwork.com about extensions. What are they going to do with cut hair if they buy it? Will the salon accept cut hair or do you have to buy that REMY hair from a beauty supply store? Well, I contacted a salon in NYC that specializes in all forms of extensions. Anything will work. They asked that you pick a respectable salon in your area that has extension training and not to just go to your local "Great Clips."

Good extensions take time and can't be done cheaply, or they will look cheap.

Some salons will offer a consultation prior to your appointment so they can determine what application with work best for your particular situation. Personally, if I was going to spend top dollar on great hair extensions, I'd want the best of the best and not some $20 REMY hair from Sally Beauty Supply.

Long hair makes a woman feel vibrant, sexy, alive. Make sure the hair that you select for your extensions is something you can fall in love with and wear with grace and style. Right now there's some gorgeous blonde, brown and black hair at EasyHairNetwork.com be sure to visit them today!

Through the grapevine: I heard that EasyHairNetwork.com will be sponsoring a great giveaway in the next couple months. Be sure to check all the latest reviews, gripes and tips at BethsHappyHair, and be sure to tune in every Tuesday for Shannon's battle with her bulge.

It's TUMMY TUESDAY!

Shannon is back for Tummy Tuesday. Let's see how she's been doing.



Shannon: Ok so I started this week off really well, but then I fell back into the same habits. "Oh, there's just a little left. I don't want to dirty anymore tupperware, and I don't want to throw it away...I'll just eat it." Actually, I did do a lot better with portion sizes. And, one of the best bits of advice was before you take a bite of whatever it is, ask yourself, "Do I really NEED it, or do I just want it?" I was able to resist my normal ice cream urges when everyone else was enjoying some. Yay me!

I am disappointed that the photos look like there's been no change, but I really didn't do much for my first week.

We did do a family bike trip after supper one night. We said we should try to do this every night, but of course that didn't happen. I am in need of a serious routine—some kind of exercise that it easy to follow and incorporate into my everyday hectic life, which has no routine.

Measurements:
Around belly button: 31.5" (-.5")
Around bulge: 36" (-1")
Weight: 150 lbs (-0)

On a side note: I did just get my period, so I am thinking that my inch loss was due to premenstrual bloating. :-(

This week's plan: Start an exercise routine and continue the struggle with food.

Until next week...


.

WIN a FREE Logo for your BLOG!

Fusion Creative Team is offering a chance to win a free blog logo header design to one lucky BethsHappyHair reader (a $50 value). Fusion Creative Team has over 15 years of ad agency, graphic design experience and now caters to small businesses on a budget.

Here's how you can win:

Visit Fusion Creative Team from now until August 30th. Blog about Fusion Creative Team and send me a link to your blog. Be sure to include a note about this contest in your blog inviting others to enter. A winner will be chosen on August 31st and announced on BethsHappyHair.

Fusion Creative Team has created many pieces for me, including my EasyHairNetwork.com logo and website and my blog logo header. I luv luv luv Fusion Creative Team. And, from now until September 30th, mention that you read about Fusion Creative Team at BethsHappyHair and get 10% off your custom website design or get a business logo for only $80.

Sorry for the Hiatus

I apologize for not writing for a few days. I just wanted to be sure that readers saw the new Tummy Tuesday entry.

Thank you for the great comments. Shannon says she is doing ok. It's really hard to change eating habits but she is getting some good advice. Keep it coming.

A NEW Weekly Feature!

I've decided to help my friend Shannon, a mother of three young children, lose her belly bulge. She's only 27 and feels like she's trapped in a body that she has no control over.

With three children, she has little time for herself (meal planning, exercising, sleeping, etc.) so I am asking you for help. She's agreed to publicly document her progress each Tuesday with belly bulge photos, measurements and a description of what comments she found helpful and what strategies she utilized that past week.

Introducing...


Shannon: I feel like I've tried everything. The soup diet, not eating, watching what I eat...I just have very low will power. I'm growing a garden this year to try to eat healthier, but I'm still waiting for things to ripen, and I am at a loss for delicious recipes, too.

Here's the belly today. I took a photo from the side, underside and front.



I don't look bulgy if I can tuck the flab into my pants, but I feel generally unattractive, especially when naked. I can only imagine what my husband thinks since I haven't got the courage to ask him. I also have some asymmetrical bulging on my left side.

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Measurements:
Around belly button: 32"
Around bulge: 37"
Weight: 150 lbs

This week's plan: Seriously watch what I eat. Try to at least exercise 30 minutes with cardio and do 50 sit ups each day.

Until next week...

Sell Your Old Cell for Cash

I just discovered CashMyPhone, a great place to sell your old cell phone, which you were probably going to throw away anyway. It could bring you an extra $5, $10 or $15 which you weren't going to have before.

Try it today!

You can also trade in some of your old electronics as well, like iPods and PSPs.

Easy Ways to Benefit from Beth

Swagbucks can help you earn points just by searching as you normally would like with Yahoo or Google. Each time you earn points, it goes into your account which can help you purchase awesome merchandise, like an iPhone!!! And when you go to Swagbucks through my link, I can earn points on your searches too, and you can refer friends and get points from their searches added to your account. It's too easy.

Need coupons? Check out my simple coupon printer in the right column. Free printable coupons—could it be any easier?

Check out EasyHairNetwork.com today. Sell hair, buy hair, easy!

Fast, affordable, professional, awesome, clever, interesting...I just can't say enough about the graphic design wizards at Fusion Creative Team. Contact Fusion Creative Team ASAP!

Sassy Design is the best for personalized, hand-painted room decor. She can create something magical for your room or for your next baby shower gift. Check out Sassy Design now!

Affordable Glamour is your one-stop-blog for high fashion at a low price. She's just getting started, but her tips are great and you can always contact her for specific fashion advice. LayersClothing is one of her favorite hot spots for ultimate chic at a great price.

HOT Clothes and Even Hotter Contest

So, I'm your everyday t-shirt and jeans kinda gal. However, I have found something that still takes that t-shirt and jeans simplicity and pairs it with chic and high fashion.

Check out LayersClothing. OMG!!!! The cutest clothes I have ever seen by far. Here are some of my favorites:


And, mommainflipflops2 is offering a giveaway for a LayersClothing gift certificate. click here She'll be choosing a winner the morning of Wednesday, August 6th, 2008, so hurry and good luck!

Also, be sure to check out Friday's fashion tip from Affordable Glamour.

Personalized Room Designs

I just bought a very nice shower gift for my friend. I found a lady in North Carolina that paints personalized room decor and asked her if I could order something from her, since I don't live near Raleigh. She was more than happy to oblige, and I was shipped the perfect present for my friend.

I had seen something like this at Target/Walmart but 1. it was so expensive and 2. it wasn't personal enough for me to give to my dear friend. I knew she had picked Pooh as a theme, so I asked Sassy to create a scene with the characters and add the baby's name somehow. She did a fantastic job. My friend said that it was her and her husband's favorite gift. She asked if the lady lived nearby so she could have her paint a wall mural. Only Raleigh, North Carolina is so lucky!

Check out her website. Sassy-Design.com. She has a bunch of photos on there just to give you an idea of what items you could purchase, but have them personalized, which makes them even more special! She can basically paint on anything.

The possibilities are endless.

Hot Fashion Tip

Check out Affordable Glamour for a hot fashion tip.

I've noticed that neons are also back in for nails.

Blueberry Moon Giveaway

Blueberry Moon specializes in ordinary, useful products with a stylized twist. Take your everyday burp cloth—useful but very boring—Blueberry Moon takes it one step further and personalizes it making it chic and fashionable.

What I really liked about the products offered by Blueberry Moon was that they were high quality—apparel from Carter's and Jumping Beans, to name a few. Now, the gifts you buy for someone's baby shower can mean that much more.

I loved all their products. With today's fashion-forward lifestyle, mothers can now carry those style-cramping baby products in their handbags and they'll be covered in chic camouflage.

Blueberry Moon is announcing their first product giveaway for fellow bloggers! Two easy steps could win you the baby essential above.

1. Write a post on your blog about Blueberry Moon telling others about this giveaway and one of the products you like in their store, either the Designer Travel Wipes Case or something else that caught your eye. You can review their inventory at http://www.bbmoon.etsy.com/ Your post has to include a link to their blog to qualify--www.blueberrymoon.blogspot.com

2. Email the link to your post to blueberrymoon@live.com

The best post by August 8th wins. The winner will get to choose this style travel case or have one made with any fabric and embellishment they choose, even their child's name!

How to Grow a Healthy Head of Hair

1. Eat healthy. This will not only help your hair, but also the rest of your body. You'll have more energy and your hair will shine.

2. Drink plenty of water. Again, not only for your hair, but also for your body. Many people do not get enough water each day.

3. Vitamins. Take a vitamin that is high in folic acid. This is found in most prenatal vitamins. Just because it says prenatal, doesn't mean you have to be pregnant, nursing or trying to conceive to take them. They are full of the best vitamins and minerals that your body needs daily. The folic acid will also help your nails grow fast and strong. You can't go wrong taking vitamins.

4. Stay active and go outside. Studies show that exercise as well as great sunny weather speeds hair growth. The increase of endorphins means that your body is operating at its fullest potential, meaning hair growth is optimized.

5. Take care of your hair. Wash only when needed. For some it is twice a week, others just once a week. Don't over wash, this dries out your hair and scalp. Brush carefully and be sure to trim the ends every 6-8 weeks.

More Great College Fund Ideas

Here are a couple of other money saving tips to boost your child's college fund.

FreshmanFund offers a way for gift givers to directly deposit money into your child's college fund account. And, it's FREE! Check it out today!

Also, a friend of mine does this and it is great for the environment too. She takes her daughter for walks everyday on her rural country road. They pick up aluminum cans in the ditch and stock pile them at home, and when they have enough, mom recycles them and puts the money into her daughter's savings account for college. She's also asked neighbors and friends who don't bother recycling to save cans for her daughter. She'll pick them up once a month from all of her contributors. They've made a lot of extra money so far and her daughter is only 13 months old.

Thanks for the tips everyone! Keep them coming.

Great College Fund Idea

Here are a couple great tips for helping to add to your child's college fund.

Starting from when they are babies, instead of toys or presents, ask friends and relatives to get savings bonds (or the money and you can buy the bond) as birthday or holiday gifts. I believe that the parent should be getting their child the most memorable gift anyway, so save the "it" toy of the season as your own gift to your child and ask that they purchase the bond. It may not mean much now, but when those bonds mature, your child will be at the age when they will appreciate it most, and your house won't be full of useless toys and clutter.

When you want to cut your child's hair (if it is 10" or longer), instead of throwing it away or donating it to one of those organizations (I've heard many disheartening things about LOL), you could sell it and put the money into their savings account. Throughout their life, they may be able to cut their hair several times, adding to their college fund.

Sign up for Upromise. It allows you to earn money for their college fund while you spend as you normally would.

If you have any other college fund and money saving tips, please feel free to contact me.

Hot Summer Hair

The hottest trend for hair when the weather seems to get hotter is a braid. French, English or whatever you want to call it, braiding is in. A messy braid is a great casual look, while a more sleek French with an accent accessory is great for the evening.

High or low. Tuck in the end. Upside down. However you braid it, it will never go out of style.

The photo was taken from a great book I own called Beautiful Braids. It can be purchased from Amazon.com at a great used rate.

If you have any great hair tips or photos, be sure to email them to me.

Time to Think About Back to School Shopping

The time is nearing. Back to school shopping is just around the corner. In fact, you will see plenty of school items already on the store shelves. To get the best deals, you need to wait until a week prior to school for supplies and a week after for clothing.

I would say wait until a week after the start of school to get supplies too, but you need to send them to school with something.

As a general rule of thumb, the longer you can wait, the greater the savings.

Sell Hair, Buy Hair, Easy!

Sell your hair. Make money. Easy!

Selling your hair is an easy way to make some extra money without doing a lot of extra work. You just take care of your hair the way you always do, eat healthy like we all should, and, after a few short years of growth, you'll be able to cash in.

Visit EasyHairNetwork.com for all the details.

Rainy Day Solutions for Kids

It's another rainy day. What can you do to keep your kids occupied indoors?

1. Bake
Use this opportunity to teach your kids the essentials of cooking. Let them help you measure and pour, stir and set the timer.

2. Create
Why spend money on non-personal, commercial greeting cards when you have capable artists at home? Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays or just because—this is sure to keep them busy for at least an hour or two. And, you'll have your cards ready for the next few months.

3. Sort
Go through old toys and clothes that they don't use anymore and prepare them for a garage sale or Good Will.

4. Visit
Call a nearby friend and see if their kids are in need of some visitors. Offer to bring something to share for lunch or a board game that everyone can play.

5. Crafts
Teach your kids how to sew, knit, crochet or cross stitch.

6. Relax
Use this time to make a bowl of popcorn, put in a movie and snuggle under a blanket on the couch.

7. Plan
Plan an upcoming birthday party or weekend plans. Allow the kids to help you prepare lists of things to do. Keep them involved with all the decision making.

If you have any rainy day tips, send them over.

A Much Needed Plug

Visit these very talented graphic designers. They do fabulous work for a great deal.

Perfect for small businesses, like myself. They are fast and professional.

Fusion Creative Team

Coming Soon!

Affordable Glamour is all about being chic and fabulous without spending oodles of money. Some topics I'll be discussing are fashion, beauty products and elegant home accessories.

Tune in each Friday for great tips from Affordable Glamour.

Funny Celebrity Forward

My friend Jenna sent me one of the funniest email forwards today. I just had to share it with you.

You know how you get those forwards that ask for personal information? "When is the last time you cried? Do you like chocolate or vanilla?" Or sometimes you get the ones that ask for lists of things? "Name four places you've lived. Name four jobs you've had." Or there's the ones that have a long list of something and you either you fill in the missing anniversary or birth dates or you add to the end of it and then send it on to all your friends? This one was like the latter. Except it was asking for a huge compilation of celebrities that we think are ugly. As I was scrolling down the list, I was saying to myself, "Uh, maybe. OOOh, definitely. Yes, he is really gross." Some people were adding comments to the names as well, as if to justify why they wrote it, or perhaps to persuade others that may think that person is still hot "in a creepy sort of way."

Oh, another thing: the directions were that you could only pick one celebrity. Your top, all-time, super gross, ugly, nasty celebrity. You were allowed to duplicate answers though.

Anyway, here are some from the list (as they were posted):
Napoleon Dynamite
Alan Alda (and Clinger and the whole cast of MASH)
Billy Crystal
Cher (what is she like 80 and still wearing spandex and sticking that tongue out, ew)
Morgan Freeman
Matt Damon (something about his face is not right)
Marc Anthony
Seal
Meatloaf
Steve Buscemi (not sure of the spelling, scary eyes and mouth)
Angelina Jolie (she is ugly to me because she is a wh*re)
Morgan Freeman
Elijah Wood
Hilary Clinton
Bill Clinton (bulb nose)
Julia Roberts, Steven Tyler and Liv Tyler (they tie because their mouths and lips are waaaaay too big)
Lindsey Lohan's girlfriend
Mathew McConahey (he is so not cute, his accent is gross too)
Paris Hilton (guess all her money can't buy her un-ugliness, not just looks either)
Conan OBrien

...and this is just a sampling. Feel free to comment with your most disgusting celebrity.

A Common Complaint About Hair

Since I am growing out my hair again, I wanted to address a very common complaint about long hair that can easily be managed.

Brushing.

When your hair length is beyond your shoulders, it is a serious chore to brush everyday. Now take a shower and add in two other terrible factors: wet and heavy. And, let's not forget that you lathered well, as the bottle says. I've heard time and time again from friends, "I would love to have long hair like yours, but I don't think I'd want to deal with brushing it all the time."

Solution.

Brush your hair before bed. Then braid it and lightly secure with a hair binder. In the morning, remove the braid and run your fingers through it lightly. You may spritz it gently with leave-in-conditioner and brush minimally to remove any waves that you don't want. When you shower, brush your hair before you get wet. This way you are able to remove any drain-clogging stragglers first and brushing when you are done is a million times easier because all the snarls were fought out prior to getting wet. Easy on the lathering too. Unless someone dumped a bucket of sand on your head, you shouldn't need to tangle up your hair that much.

A FREE Teaching Tool

I've often been tempted to buy my children those expensive book sets on different learning topics, but I could never drag myself, or my pocketbook, to go through with the transaction.

My family started a garden this year. I encourage the children to take an active roll in caring for the garden. They help me pull weeds, turn on and off the sprinkler, fetch various tools, etc. I don't force them to do anything they don't want to do. (I was forced to tend to our family raspberry patch as a child. I love raspberries and have my own patch, but to this day I've harbored some animosity towards raspberry bushes, so I don't make the effort to care for them as much as I do the garden. Strange, I know.)

Each day I take the children to the garden and explain the various processes that are taking place. For example: Why do we need to water the garden? What do the flowers mean? What do the leaves do? What types of animals are interested in our garden and how do we keep them away? Why do some grow tall and some stay short? My children love to ask more questions and I take great joy in being able to answer them and fill their inquisitive minds with knowledge.

In fact, just the other day, my son used some of the things I taught him in the garden in an everyday scenario. I was floored!

This is a great way to teach your children valuable, everyday lessons, FREE!

Eggplant Anyone?

Eggplant has always been one of those weird, indecisive veggies. To me, it's like caviar. You don't like it really, but you eat it because it makes you look wealthy and like you have exquisite taste.

My neighbor brought a eggplant dish to the neighborhood bbq on the Fourth of July. It was pretty good.

Sliced into rounds, she covered them in a mixture of 1/2 cup of cornmeal, 1/2 tsp chili powder, 1/4 tsp oregano and some salt, and then fried them until golden brown on each side. Strange texture but tasty. And, you get the added bonus of knowing you are eating veggies...or eggplant for that matter.

You can also do this with zucchini. I can't wait until my garden in ready this fall. I plan on trying and creating new recipes. I'll let you know how it goes.

Welcome!

Hello everyone. My name is Beth. I am here to write about my life and experiences, and hopefully offer useful tips .

Let's get started. For my first tip, I would like to get the word out about my new website.

Have you ever considered selling your hair? Have you ever been in a financial crunch and wondered, "Gee, if I could just get a couple of extra bucks...but how?"

http://www.easyhairnetwork.com

It's an easy solution for people with long hair to list their hair for sale, in a classified format, for potential hair buyers to view. Unlike other hair selling/buying sites, EasyHairNetwork.com offers you ad space for your hair for only $10 until it sells. Plus, I think EasyHairNetwork.com is so much more visually appealing than those other places. And, there's another site out there that claims to have the highest traffic count of any hair selling website, however, they charge double and will only list your hair for 3 months. I am determined to spread EasyHairNetwork.com's popularity and offer the highest traffic count for my listers.

You may get slack from others for selling your hair instead of donating it. Well, it's your hair, and ultimately it is your decision, not theirs. They can donate if they want. If they don't have hair to donate, I'm sure those charities will take monetary donations. And, you might find that the process of growing your hair was so easy that you'll grow it out again and donate it next time. It's your choice. I started EasyHairNetwork.com as a way to help me out of a financial crisis. I was glad I had my hair to fall back on. Now I am growing it back out. Who knows what I will decide to do with it this time?