Health and Beauty Tip -- Discolored Nails

Stop discoloration on your fingernails and toenails before it happens -- always use a clear coat under your polish. It takes a little extra time, but your nails will be much better off!

Health and Beauty Tip -- Sensitive Teeth

Before bed, rub a tiny bit of toothpaste along the gumline near the sensitive teeth -- you shouldn't brush or rinse afterwards.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Overnight Undereye Treatment

Dark circles under eyes can be caused by a lack of oxygen to your skin. To combat this, combine one teaspoon of whole, plain yogurt with half a teaspoon of fast-acting baker's yeast. Apply under your eyes with a clean eyeshadow brush right before bed, and make sure to rinse it off in the morning.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Coloring Your Hair

Don't wash your hair immediately before applying color. Your hair needs that natural oil to protect your scalp from the dye, and it also helps the hair shaft absorb the color more easily.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Avoiding Dye Stains

To make sure no dye gets on your skin after you color your hair, rub a little shampoo along the hairline and anywhere else the dye has touched your skin right before rinsing it out. This will lessen any staining without affecting the color of the dye.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Shower Gel

Believe it or not, those popular bath and shower gels can dry out your skin! You're better off using a simple moisturizing bar soap. If you still want to use body wash, check the ingredients and find something that doesn't contain sodium laurel sulfate -- that's what gives gels their negative effects.

IN MEMORY OF A WONDERFUL PERSON - ABEL DESESTRESS

Today makes 6 years since the sad news of your death was told to me as I tried to find you in our home in Chetumal, Q. Roo, Mexico. T he policeman who delivered that very shocking news did not know who I was and so he spoke without thinking of the effect his words would have on me.

Not a day has gone be without tears and memories of our time together.

I am grateful that you came into my life and taught me so much about love and living. You also taught me how to write a blog and many were the nights we sat across from each other in out home in Mexico and Corozal while we wrote articles in our respective blogs. The world was a better place as I shared so many things with you and now I go through each day knowing that your lessons are not lost in time but ever present in my heart and my life.

REST IN PEACE MY TEACHER, MY FRIEND, MY HUSBAND.

I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YESTERDAY AND LESS THAN TOMORROW.

NI LA MUERTE NOS SEPARE!

Health and Beauty Tip -- Soft Feet

The tough skin on your feet benefits from the heavy moisturizing properties of lanolin. Whether you apply it during the day or under socks before you go to sleep, you'll notice softer skin on your feet in no time!

Health and Beauty Tip -- Stained Fingernails

If your fingers and nails are stained from nicotine or dark nail polish, use a toothbrush and whitening toothpaste to scrub the stains away.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Green Tea Tonic

For a refreshing trick that's also good for your skin, mix two tablespoons green tea with half a cup of water. Sweep the mixture over your face with a cotton ball and let it evaporate -- you don't need to wash it off.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Choosing Jeans

If you're looking for a new pair of jeans but aren't happy with your figure, go with a darker color. Dark blue, indigo, or black jeans are slimming, as are angled back pockets. Don't buy jeans with no pockets at all!

Health and Beauty Tip -- Avoiding Dry Lips

If you suffer from chapped lips, make sure to apply lip balm before you go to bed every night, whether or not you feel like you need it. During the day, use a moisturizing lipstick.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Take Care of Your Hands

To counteract the rough treatment your hands get every day, scrub them with a facial exfoliater once a week.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Avoid Backaches

If you're prone to backaches, especially in the morning, try sleeping on your back with your knees raised on a pillow. If this is uncomfortable, sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Smooth Flyaways

For small, fine flyaways, don't layer on even more hairspray. Take a baby toothbrush, spray it with hairspray, and brush the flyaway hair gently into place.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Using Body Scrub at Home

If you have a good body scrub you use at home, scrub towards your heart when you use it. Start at your feet and work up to your torso. When doing your arms, start at the fingertips and work up to your shoulders. Massage gently in circular motions to avoid scrubbing too hard.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Soft Feet

The tough skin on your feet benefits from the heavy moisturizing properties of lanolin. Whether you apply it during the day or under socks before you go to sleep, you'll notice softer skin on your feet in no time!

Health and Beauty Tip -- Coloring Your Hair During Pregnancy

A lot of pregnant women worry about getting their hair colored, but medical experts agree it's safe after the first trimester. Use highlights rather than full color, though, as it's best to keep as few chemicals from touching your skin as possible.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Facial Hair

If you have dark hair on your face, don't shave it! It doesn't grow in thicker, as many think, but it feels like it does as the shaved ends are coarser. In-home waxing can be painful, and salon waxing or hair removal tend to get pricey (especially the latter). Many women are better off simply lightening the hair to make it less visible.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Exfoliate Before Makeup

Many women skip a very important step in their makeup routing: exfoliate! Use a gentle exfoliant (there are many made just for the face) beforehand, and you'll find that makeup, moisturizer, and concealer go on more easily ... and look better, too!

Health and Beauty Tip -- Quick Dye Job Fix

Didn't choose your color so well? if you've done a home dye job with semipermanent color, use dandruff or clarifying shampoo to strip out the color (the exact reason you're often told not to use it!). SemiPermanent color takes about 48 hours to set, so make sure you shampoo in that time. If not, it should fade in 6-8 weeks.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Essential Oils

If you suffer from acne, try essential oils like tea tree, bergamot, clove, lavendar, or rosewood. The more sensitive your skin is, the more you should dilute it before applying it -- be sure to follow the instructions on the bottle. If rash or irritation occurs, switch to a milder acne-fighting product or consult a dermatologist for other suggestions.