Have you ever come across tips and tricks that literally blew your mind or changed your life?  Well, I know I have!! Though some of the following "life hacks" are ones I'm sure you've seen, there are quite a few to peruse and I'm sure you will find something helpful and inspiring to help you streamline and organize your life!  (The fitted sheet hack was such a mind blow for me because I have some OCD tendencies and always get frustrated when folding sheets).  

Millie Garret is a former skin care pro looking to educate women young and old about their skin. She does not believe that wrinkles are a “problem” that you need to “fix”, but believes that if a woman feels more confident being proactive, then she needs the knowledge to make the best decision for herself.

There are as many remedies for wrinkles as there are causes. Some women embrace their wrinkles and simply aim to maintain healthy skin, but others choose to take action to have wrinkles treated or altered.

Natural remedies
Homemade exfoliators are great for a wide variety of skin problems. It is easy to know exactly what you are putting on your body because you choose the specific ingredients, so no unnecessary chemicals are added in. Exfoliators help relieve the skin of dead cells and increase natural collagen production. Certain ingredients like honey can help improve the elasticity of skin as well.

{source}

Nutrition also plays a huge role in wrinkles and skin health. Vitamins A, C, E, and B-complex vitamins are all antioxidants found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and they promote healthy skin. Even a multi-vitamin can help fill any deficiencies and leave your skin (and entire body) looking fresher and healthier.

Peptide creams
Peptide face creams are becoming more and more popular in the struggle against wrinkles. The peptides tackle the same two causes of wrinkles that many homemade exfoliators and creams address: collagen production and hydration. Wrinkle creams help the production of collagen, and should also be a deep moisturizer.

Dr. Oz recommends Peptide face creams saying that they, “…get through the surface of the skin and plump up collagen, the protein-rich connective tissue that gives shape and support to many tissues… to give your face a more youthful look.”

When choosing a wrinkle care product, it is still important to look for paraben-free, phalate-free formula.
Botox and non-surgery procedures

Some women choose to go for Botox or other forms of medical procedures to reduce wrinkles. They can be highly effective, but can be costly and have some side effects.

{source}

Botox works best on wrinkles that are formed when you move your face—like smile lines and brow furrows. However Botox can cause headaches, pain, and bruising, so it should be thoroughly discussed with your doctor.

Laser procedures are another non-surgery cosmetic enhancement that can reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Similar to the peptide creams and homemade exfoliators, it stimulated the production of collagen to reduce fine lines. This procedure may cause pain or temporary redness of the skin.

Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is the most extreme way to get rid of wrinkles. It is extremely expensive and has certain health risks and side effects.

A fat transfer is one way that surgeons can reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the face. In this procedure fat is removed from one area of the body, and transferred to the lips, cheeks, or under the eyes. This procedure requires anesthesia, and patients may need to recover for up to a week before returning to work.
Face lifts are another popular form of plastic surgery that can reduce wrinkles. It involves reshaping the skin on the face, and may also be done with facial implants or soft tissue augmentation. Incisions are made around the neckline or ear, and any excess skin is removed.

Face lifts will usually cost a minimum of $5000, and carry the risks associated with surgeries and sedation.
It’s important to weigh the benefits and risks of skin treatments. Some people prefer to be familiar with every single ingredient of their beauty products, while others take more rash approaches and jump under the knife. Whether you choose to fight to get rid of wrinkles or embrace every single line of your face, your priority should be to achieve a healthy look that you love.

---

Why sweat the small stuff?  It's all too easy to get wrapped up in the small dramas and the little details of life.  Instead, keep your focus on God and your walk with Him and making sure that you live a Godly life and use your time to share God's love with all those you encounter.  Whether you're a Christian like me or not, I'm sure you can agree that time is better spent enjoying the important things instead of disputing over the minor details.  This is a wonderful devotional from one of my favorite pastors Alistair Begg of Truth for Life.  I hope you enjoy this devotional and the new segment I'm adding to this blog called faith for life.

Of Minor Importance

"Avoid foolish controversies." - Titus 3:9

Our days are few and are far better spent in doing good than in disputing over matters that are, at best, of minor importance. The old scholars did a world of mischief by their incessant discussion of subjects of no practical importance; and our churches suffer too often from petty wars over obscure points and unimportant questions.

So you guys know or if you don't, now you do... that I have been on somewhat of a hiatus as of late.  I just couldn't find the time to blog with my increased job responsibilities, homeschooling my 11 year old and getting involved in my church.  I was running ragged there for awhile but things are starting to regulate for me more so I am starting to slowly dip my feet back into the blogging world.  I went to check my email and saw that about a month ago, Sarah and the other lovely ladies who were running the Aloha Friday Blog Hop for me while I was away had pulled back and stopped the hop. It made me sad but at the same time, I completely understand why they did it... because man, running the hop is HARD work!!  Anyway, for now the hop has been put on hold for all of us.  Thank you to all of you who participated in the hop and linked up.  I may revive it after I get married in January but no promises.

And oh yeah... the new beginning I mentioned in the title?  I'm getting married on January 4, 2014!!! Yeah... remember when I blogged about how it would never happen for me?  Yeah...this girl was way wrong.  So excited and so blessed by Jesus!! My fiancé Andrew is amazing and wonderful and I love him so much, it's kind of ridiculous.  Anyway, I will be blogging more on that later. I just wanted to say "hi" and give a quick update on the blog.

I hope and pray that you all are doing well and are extremely blessed.   Side note: other than wedding and being engaged stuff, what topics do you want to see on this blog? Anything in particular?  Feedback and such is greatly appreciated!!

xo,

Oh my lovelies, it's been quite awhile for me but my beautiful Sarah and Angie have been rocking the hop while I was away. I've been terribly busy with my day job AND homeschooling Alaka'i but there's so much to catch up on and no time for it today.  So it's time for the Aloha Friday Blog Hop!!  Come link up!

Aloha Hoapili translates as Hello Close Friend. So, without further ado let me introduce you to this week's featured friend ...

Clairity at Hip 2b Mom. 

Clairity blogs all about raising a family, cooking up a storm and everything in between. Want a little taste of her blog? Check out these posts to find out what you've been missing:

Accidental Apple Tarts     Hip to be a mom     Cajun Chicken

Now let's start hoppin'! Click on the links in the linky to visit some lovely bloggers and make new friends. Oh, and don't forget to link up yourselves!

Aloha and have a great day people!

get the InLinkz code