Has anyone seen these? A few companies (Avon and the like) are offering fake French manicures. It’s a pre-formed pink glob of nail polish with a pre-formed white glob of nail polish that is pressed flat and then placed onto a sheet.

You get a whole set for around $5-$7 that you just “press” onto your nail, when you peel away the paper backing, it is suppose to leave your nail with a French manicured look. Warning: This takes practice. The first time I tried doing it, I was all thumbs, I had a lot of the backing sticking to each other and at times I wouldn’t get all the polish transferred to the nail.

By the second time I tried the fake French manicure, I had success! It transferred well and lasted about a week. I did put a coat of clear nail polish over the fake French manicure to make it last longer, but all in all, I didn’t think $5 was a bad price for a “French manicure” – certainly a good product to try.

Scrapbooking has become a part of your life and lets you spend some of your down time doing something fun and creative. You may even wish you could quit your day job to spend more time at it!

Actually, this may be an option worth looking into. Scrapbooking businesses are becoming popular these days. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about the scrapbooking business:

Do I need special skills to do this?

Outside of the fact that you would need to have done some scrapbooking to be efficient at it, the only other skill would be a little business know-how. You would need to be organized, know how to market your business and be able to run the company efficiently. Most of those skills can be learned from the Internet or by taking some small business courses in your community.

What equipment would I need to get started?

This would depend on how you want to run your business. You should have some scrapbooking equipment that would include books, paper, design scissors, and whatever embellishment items you would want to provide.

Some of the equipment you may not need to purchase until you start to get your orders. You may want to invest in scrapbooking software to help you design unique one-of-a-kind pages you can offer to your customers.

You should have a website to promote your business and show your prospective customers your portfolio of work. You’ll also need packing materials for shipping the finished scrapbooks to the customers.

Photo editing software and a high quality printer might be nice for printing the photographs that the Internet customers would email to you. If you choose to only market your business locally, then you may not need some of the items like the computer and software. It all depends on how you want to execute your business.

I want to start my own scrapbooking business, but I don’t have the time to make all of those scrapbooks. Can I still get into this?

Yes, you can still have a scrapbooking business without having to actually make all of the scrapbooks. There are many direct sales opportunities out there to choose from – where you only need to sell the products to people so they can make their own scrapbooks!

Start up costs would then be minimal. You would have to purchase a starter kit and if you choose to sell on the Internet, you would need to have a website to sell them on. Browse through the different direct sales opportunities and find what suits you because some may offer you a website with their starter kit.

This allows you to make money from selling the products, and you can also have fun throwing parties to promote the scrapbooking products. Scrapbooking can be a lucrative business if you come up with a plan that fits into your budget of both time and money.

Our grocery store shelves are stocked high with “diet” food products that are supposedly healthy for us. We reach for them with the belief that because there are fewer or zero calories this product will help us lose weight or get healthy.

Don’t believe the hype.

Aspartame is one of the most often-used artificial sweeteners used in food production today. Just take a look at any label, from diet sodas to low-fat yogurts, and you will find aspartame on the label.

NutraSweet is the brand name for aspartame and it was discovered quite by accident in the late 1960s when a drug researcher who was working on creating an ulcer drug got some of the powder on his hand, licked it, and discovered its sweet flavor. The drug company G.D. Searle then conducted a test on monkeys who were given aspartame with their milk for 52 weeks.

The shocking results – which were never presented to the FDA when seeking approval in the 1980s – were that five of the seven monkeys in the test suffered grand mal seizures and one died.

Another doctor who was not associated with Searle conducted his own test with aspartame fed to mice and he discovered that the occurrence of brain tumors greatly increased. He discovered that when aspartame is ingested and starts to break down, it converts into 4 different chemical compounds, all of which are poisonous to our bodies.

Even though the FDA-approved the use of aspartame, many doctors continue to fight the approval with new studies still showing an increase in brain tumors. Even a single piece of chewing gum or a mint has enough aspartame in them to cause harm.

Become your own health advocate and read your labels carefully to avoid ingesting this deadly chemical.

About the Author: Are cravings running your life? Cravings for sugar, carbs, chocolate, coffee, sodas, and junk food are discussed in the Cravings Coach TIPS. Diana Walker provides natural solutions to mood swings, fatigue, and brain fog. Receive her free Cravings Coach TIPS at http://www.thecravingscoach.com

To listen to this full podcast episode about the Dangers of Aspartame, click here.

Note: You can find natural, nitrite free bacon in a natural food store or some larger grocery stores.

Ingredients:

3 1/2 pounds red potatoes
1 cup Mayonnaise
1 (4.5 ounce) can of green chilies, chopped
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
3 green onions, chopped
2 Tablespoons lime juice
1 garlic clove, minced
4 slices of nitrite free bacon, cooked and crumbled

Instructions:

Place a large pan of water over medium high heat. Bring water to a boil. Add the potatoes and boil 15 minutes or until just fork tender. Drain well.

Place them back in the pan covered with cold water for another 15 minutes. Drain and cut into quarters.

In a separate bowl place the green chilies, cilantro and green onions. Add the lime juice and garlic. Stir well. Fold in the Mayonnaise. Fold in the potatoes being sure they are completely covered by the Mayonnaise mixture.

Cover tightly and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Sprinkle the top with the bacon just before serving.

Find more salad recipes in the Ultimate 365 Salad Cookbook

Ingredients

4 ripe papayas
2 small avocados, diced
1/3 c cashews, coarsely chopped
1/4 c cilantro, chopped
Juice of one lime
1 shallot, diced
1 c arugula, chopped

Halve 2 of the papayas and discard seeds. Set aside.

Peel the other 2 papayas and discard seeds. Cut into small chunks and place in a medium bowl.

Add avocados, cashews, cilantro, lime juice and shallot to diced papayas and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Toss with arugula.

Fill the 4 scooped out papayas with salad and serve.

If you love salad, be sure to check out the Ultimate 365 Salad Cookbook.

I recently started writing about a house-cleaning Mama Hack and ended up on the subject of my delight over discovering the Baby Bjorn Carrier. I’d like to pick back up on that earlier train of thought today.

I previously mentioned that while most people’s houses get messier when they bring a baby home, mine actually got cleaner. This is due to the fact that my baby wanted to be in constant motion, and one of the few things that could keep us moving around the house with her in the carrier was for me to clean.

It was actually a little bit awesome.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure that the toddler years are going to bring about ever more messes, but I’m really appreciating the fact that for the first time in my life, I probably wouldn’t be completely mortified if my grandmother dropped by unexpectedly. (I’d be shocked, as she lives all the way across the country, but I wouldn’t be mortified.)

Once I got in the habit of cleaning, it got to be a bit easier. Still, there are times when I just don’t feel like it. That’s when I pull out one of my very favorite Mama Hacks. I call it “Three Things.” Whatever room I’m in, I decide that I’m just going to do three things, and then I can move on with my day.

Let’s say I’m in the kitchen. I can choose any three things to do in that room. Perhaps I want to do something small like put a glass in the dishwasher. On the other hand, I might be willing to put in a little more effort and actually sweep the entire floor. If I empty out the sink drain, then I have accomplished three tasks, and I am officially off the hook for the time being.

No matter which three things I choose to do now, the result is that I don’t have to do them later. If I manage to just do three things every time I walk into the kitchen, I can have the darned thing clean before lunchtime without really even trying. Even if I don’t get it all the way done, the fact of the matter is that if I’ve been in the kitchen four times that morning, there are twelve things done in there that wouldn’t have been taken care of otherwise.

I sometimes take this a step further by doing three things in one room and making sure that the final one takes me into another room where I will do another three things. For example, my third task in the kitchen might be to return the scissors to the drawer in the living room. Once in the living room, I’ll find three things to do in there. Maybe it’s silly, but just keeping myself moving from room to room rather than feeling like I must get one completely clean RIGHT NOW makes a huge difference.

Of course, your attention span might be a little longer than . . . ooh, something shiny . . .

Read more reviews of the Baby Bjorn Carrier

(Mama Hack: n. A tip or technique that reduces the chaos in a mama’s life and makes it easier to manage or more convenient. Because no one looks back and says, “There just wasn’t enough to do.”)

Product Name: Micro Spy Kit X-2
Submitted by: Caleb Lauth, Atlanta, GA
Rating: 8
Where to buy: Amazon.com

Description: The Micro Spy Kit X-2 contains a micro ear light that you wear around your ear which has an adjustable stem to make it fit. It has a secret agent pen that writes with invisible ink, and a decoder light to use with it to read the messages you wrote. It also has a spy micro listener with microphone, ear bud and carrying clip that lets you hear things far away. It also has a spy motion alarm that you can use to detect intruders. It comes with a utility belt that you can wear all the gadgets on for convenience. It costs around $20 at toy stores and needs.

Review: My favorite tool would be the secret agent pen and spy motion alarm. Sometimes when my brother isn’t looking I turn the spy motion alarm on. And the secret agent pen lets me write secret messages to my friends. I like the micro listener because I can hear what my brother is talking about even when he’s far away. The micro ear light is cool because it helps me see in the dark (I’m afraid of the dark). But if your kid likes Spy Kids, he’ll like this toy.

Criticism: The micro ear light doesn’t fit my ear so well.

Read more reviews: Click here

Avon has come out with some inventive products lately, the last thing I saw that really caught my eye (wink wink) was “Cheat Sheets for Your Eyes”

The claim is that “anyone can have a professional makeup application…instantly” I agree! I have tried this and it is awesome. I am sure the world is full of people who can expertly apply eyeshadow to the eye in the right place and in the right shades, but if you aren’t one of them, try this product.

It is pretty easy to use, you just peel the cover off of the pre-formed eyeshadow sheet, position it where you want the shadow to be (obviously the sheets are in the shape of a general eyelid) press it and rub.

When you peel it away you will have some blending to do, but the result does look quite professional. The cost is between $6-$9 for 14 eyeshadow sheets. I think the best use for these is to buy some and save them for special events, interviews, or photographs, etc.

Contact your Avon Representative for more information.

Note: Try to find nitrite free, uncured bacon for this recipe. It’s available at some grocery stores or natural food stores.

Ingredients:

2 tsp. granted yellow onion
1 tsp. sea salt
½ tsp. freshly ground pepper
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
½ C. extra virgin oil
½ tsp. freshly ground lemon juice
10 oz. spinach or greens of choice
6 slices nitrite free natural bacon, cut crosswise into ½ inch strips
6 to 8 button mushrooms, sliced
½ red onion, thinly sliced
3 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped

Directions:

Combine the yellow onion, salt, pepper, mustard, and vinegar in a food processor or blender. Process the items for 1 to 2 minutes until smooth. With the motor running slowly, add the oil to create an emulsion.

Pour the dressing in a small bowl and stir in the lemon juice. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Cover with plastic wrap set aside.

To prepare the salad immerse the spinach in a large amount of water, swish the leaves to rinse well, and drain. Repeat until no grit or dirt is visible in bottom of the sink. Pick off any large parts or stems and tear into bite size pieces. Dry in a lettuce spinner and transfer to a large salad bowl. Place in refrigerator and cover with paper towel until time to serve.

20 minutes before serving in a small sauce pan over medium heat, sauté the bacon for 5 to 6 minutes, until crisp. Remove the spinach from the refrigerator, add the mushrooms, onions, and eggs to bowl, and toss again. Remove the bacon, drain the grease and add to the salad, toss well. Serve immediately.

Find more main dish salads in the Ultimate Salad Cookbook.

It’s not easy to keep coming up with healthy and fun school lunch ideas. No wonder most parents tend to pack the same foods over and over again. So just how do you avoid packed lunch boredom? Here are some simple ideas to spice up your child’s lunch box.

Change the Bread – Or don’t use bread at all. Kids can get bored with sandwiches so why not try the same fillings but make it a little more exciting by changing the bread. You can try pitta bread, bagels, tortilla wraps or even crackers or breadsticks. You can place the fillings on the side and your child can assemble the crackers or sandwiches themselves.

Try a Salad – Not your typical lettuce and tomato salad, what kid would get excited by that? But instead try a pasta salad or potato salad. Cook and drain the pasta or potatoes and mix with a little mayonnaise or olive oil, add some cut up veggies such as corn kernels, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots; add some sliced turkey, chicken or ham and place in a plastic travel container.

Fun, Fun, Fun – On the days where you go for the traditional sandwich try cutting the bread with fun shapes using cookie cutter. You can also cut slices of cheese or ham into fun shapes. Cookie cutters are something every mom should make good use of. You’ll be amazed at how a boring cheese sandwich will get gobbled up when shaped into a flower or dinosaur.

Fingers Foods – Sometimes kids, especially younger ones, don’t like to eat a whole sandwich or bowl of food. Instead you can try preparing cut up cubes of cheese, grapes, carrot sticks, pretzels, mini crackers, and ham cubes. Place in a container with individual compartments or just a standard one for a fun lunch. You can also try cutting sandwiches into small rectangles or triangles for easier eating.

Pinwheels Anyone? – Instead of sandwiches try pinwheels. Cut the crust from two slices of bread, flatten bread using the back of your hand or rolling pin. Spread thinly with cream cheese. Place one slice of ham and roll each slice into a log shape. Wrap in cling film and place in freezer for about 30 minutes. Unwrap and cut into pinwheel rounds.

Dip It – Kids love dipping stuff. For an easy and nutritious lunch snack you can cut apple wedges and serve with a strawberry or peanut butter dip or cut up veggies served with a hummus dip or try a cream cheese dip. For a more substantial lunch add pieces of pita bread, breadsticks or crackers.

Lunch Notes – Write cute little notes once in a while to put a smile on your little one’s face. A simple note with a smiley face saying I love you or miss you can instantly make a child feel better. For older children (who will no doubt be embarrassed by smiley faces and cutsie notes) try a riddle or brain teaser instead.

Be a Creative Mama – Think outside the box, the lunch box that is. Pack mini pizza slices, mini hamburgers, meatballs or chicken drumsticks. Add some potato wedges on the side. Or try tortilla chips with strips of cheese, turkey and sliced tomatoes on the side. Add a sour cream and/or guacamole dip for instant lunch time nachos, perfect for older children or teens.

Or how about some bake savory mini muffins using chopped, cooked bacon and chives or grated cheese and ham. Sweet fruit mini muffins will be a big hit too.