Wonderfully Messy Mom: July 2016

To Love a Stranger: Book Review

Colleen Coble takes you on an emotional journey in To Love a Stranger.

The main character, Bessie Randall is thrust into a new life because her sister takes things too far in writing love letters to men looking for mail order wives. Bessie's sister in an effort to help her sister find a husband, deceptively uses her name to make these transactions and even signs a marriage license in her name.

Once Bessie finds out about the arrangement she is emotionally compelled to keep the marriage even despite her fears. Jasper, the unsuspecting spouse is awaiting a beautiful wife according to how Bessie’s sister described her, but what he gets instead is Bessie- a very drab and plain young woman.

The marriage is off to a rocky start from the very beginning once Jasper realizes what has happened. They never got a chance to annul the marriage right away because Jasper was called to move into Utah territory by the military. They will decide what to do when they get there.

All along the way they encounter many obstacles that threaten to destroy the marriage before it ever begins. They are attacked by Indians and while wandering around Bessie finds a newborn infant in the middle of the desert in her dead mothers arms. She decided to bring the baby back to the camp making things even more difficult.

Once they arrive at their new location they must decide what to do with the marriage. In the struggle to honor God's Word and see what happens, may challenges draw them together.

Bessie gets bit by a rattlesnake while Jasper is away at work, the baby gets kidnapped and Jasper starts having second thoughts about sending Bessie away.

I will be honest, I cried many times throughout this book. It's a great tool to show the true meaning of love!!

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, by ~Brandy~

In Beauty,

Tame Oily Hair Naturally

How to Combat Oily Hair

No one likes to look like an oil slick just passed through their hair. But did you know there could be a medical reason you have oily hair? How about using the wrong shampoo for your hair type? What about over washing? Yes, over washing can cause oily hair. Keep reading to learn how you can tame the oily hair beast naturally and what could be causing it.

Hormones: If hormones are imbalanced, which usually happens {unfortunately} during puberty and pregnancy, hormone levels can make the sebaceous glands produce more sebum than they’re supposed to. Once hormones are balanced again the production of sebum will slow down.

Illness: Different illnesses can affect sebum production. Diseases and disorders that affect the pituitary or adrenal gland, tend to increase sebum production. Also, any disorders that affect the ovaries will have the same effect.

Shampoo/Conditioner: You could be using a shampoo that isn't right for your hair type, which usually will mess up the way your scalp responds. Only use dry and brittle shampoo and conditioners if your hair is in fact dry and brittle. Also, using non-sulfate shampoos will help slow down the oil producing process, as the sulfates strip your scalp and follicles of all oil. Once all that oil is gone, the follicle will produce extra oil to replace what was lost. Your hair needs some oils to be healthy....

Heredity: The genes you were born with play apart in how your hair will look and the way it produces sebum. There is no way to change the genetic make up you were born with.

You may not be able to completely stop you hair from producing so much oil, but there are ways to help deal with it. Here are some ideas you can try at home to see if it doesn't help with your oily hair problem.

Sulfate Free Shampoo- Again, the sulfates are harsh detergents that strip the oils right out, you need those oils to keep your strands healthy. Sulfate free cleans your hair without stripping all the oils.

Lemon juice- This has vital vitamins and minerals that promote healthy hair and it can also help keep excessive oiliness at bay. Squeeze out the juice from one small lemon, dilute it with a cup of water, mix well and apply to your scalp. Leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse with warm water and a mild shampoo. The lemon juice is also an effective way of getting rid of shampoo buildup on your hair.

Tea Rinse-Tea contains an astringent substance called tannic acid; this helps to prevent the buildup of excessive oil on the scalp by tightening the pores. Dip a tea bag in some warm water and apply the resulting tea to your scalp. Leave on for a few minutes and then rinse out with a mild shampoo.

Apple cider vinegar -this also has an astringent effect that helps to reduce the oil buildup on hair. Dilute about one-fourth cup of apple cider vinegar to a litre of water; pour this liquid into a spray bottle and spray on your hair. Leave on for a few minutes and then rinse the vinegar out with some warm water.

Limit Hair Washings- Try limiting how often you wash your hair. I know this sounds counter productive, but wash only once to twice a week. This gives your scalp a chance to regulate itself from all the stripping, adding, stripping, adding of artificial oils in conditioner. Just like our internal organs need a break, our outer organ {skin} needs a break too.

While in between washes you may {ok, you probably will} experience an oil slick effect. Don't fret, this is natural. Your body has to regulate its sebum production after all the abuse it has gone through. It may take a couple weeks, maybe longer to regulate. Just apply some cornstarch to the roots of your hair and rub in. Brush through to distribute if needed. Eventually it will regulate and the oil will be less.

Now, you may still have a bit of oily hair if this hair type is inherited, but it shouldn't be to the extreme. Applying cornstarch will help soak up the extra oils.

Just remember, you get out of your hair what you put into your body. Think about your diet...if it's high in fats and sugar, your hair will reflect that. Try a low glycemic and low sugar diet and see if this doesn't improve the health of your hair....

You ever hear the saying....You are what you eat.....Well, it's true....

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, by ~Brandy~

In Beauty,

Ten Foods and Supplements for Healthy Hair

Foods and Vitamins For Healthy Hair

Everything you eat will either harm or benefit your body. Your hair actually can tell a person a lot about their health. Is your hair dry, brittle, or dull?

Healthy hair starts from the inside out!

Some of the best foods that will nourish our internal organs are also the best for our hair!!

Maybe you should check your diet to see what you are eating.

The old saying, you are what you eat is so true.

While using great shampoo and conditioners can be beneficial to your hair, what you put inside your body is even more important. Consuming foods high in sugars and fats do nothing for our bodies, so naturally we would assume that those foods are no good for our hair...that assumption would be correct.

Here are the Top 10 Foods For Healthy Hair

#1-Fish: any variety. The omega-3 fatty acids are essential for hair growth. Our bodies do not make this on its own and 3% of the hair shaft is made up of these fatty acids. Fish is also rich in vitamin D and protein which is also essential for strong hair.

#2-Walnuts: again with the omega-3 fatty acids...these are the only nuts that have a significant amount of these acids. Walnuts are also loaded with vitamin E and biotin!

#3 Sweet Potatoes: These spuds are chock full of beta carotene which converts to vitamin A. Do you ever experience dry itchy scalp? It's probably due to a lack of vitamin A.

#4-Eggs: These are a major powerhouse food that are full of protein, zinc, iron, sulfur and selenium. The iron helps cells carry oxygen to the hair follicle, which is important to prevent hair loss.

#5-Spinach: My personal favorite-This green leafy veggie has iron, beta carotene, folate, and vitamin C, all of which keep the hair healthy, shiny and strong.

#6-Blueberries: These blue dudes top the charts with vitamin C, critical for circulation to the scalp and supports the tiny blood vessels that support the follicles.

#7-Iron: I already mentioned a little about the importance of iron, but did you know that if you are low on iron you will experience major hair loss. Iron carries the oxygen to the hair that promotes hair growth. Iron rich foods include spinach, eggs, lentils, and chicken.

#8-Vitamin D: This is important for the cycles that hair follicles go through. You will need to take this supplement if your exposure to the sunlight is limited. Salmon, mushrooms, beef liver are excellent sources of vitamin D.

#9-Zinc: This will be needed if you exercise, sweat a lot or do not consume foods high in zinc. These foods would include lamb, turkey, pumpkin seeds and chocolate.

#10-B Complex: Biotin, niacin and cobalamin are among the most popular B-complex vitamins that help restore shine and thickness to strands. Load up on whole grains, eggs, avocados and legumes, as they are some of the best food sources for B-complex vitamins.

With these foods and vitamins you should not have any problem growing or maintaining healthy hair. If you are noticing considerable hair loss even after trying all these things, you should talk to your health care provider.

Taking a good prenatal vitamin even if you are not pregnant is a good option.

Another thing to consider...how hydrated are you?
Drinking at least half of your body weight a day in water can work wonders for your skin complexion and your hair!!

What regimen are you using to get healthy hair??

1Comments

, by ~Brandy~

In Food Recipe,

Homemade Vanilla Extract Recipe

5Comments

, by ~Brandy~

In book review, giveaways

The Things We Knew: Book Review

The Things We Knew by Catherine West

This book was so real- so in touch with what a real family looks like, what they go through.

The main character, Lynette Carlisle has tragically lost some of her memory and is taking care of her ailing dad all the while struggling with nightmares. These nightmares leave her bewildered and frustrated.

As her dad becomes worse, she is cracking under the pressure of caring for her sick dad while her own life is starting to crumble. She desperately needs to call in the rest of her family for help but they are reluctant to come.

Through this trying process, the boy next door comes back into the picture who she used to have a romantic relationship. With this difficult situation she struggles with fear all around- fear of failure, fear of being alone, fear of her emotions, fear of the unknown.

Her two brothers and sister come to aid Lynette in figuring out what to do with the family home and their dad. In the process you see that each brother and sister has their own personal struggles. The author brings you into each persons life that is filled with addiction, marital issues, and even abuse.

I love that hope is so expounded up throughout this book. Tiny shards of light penetrate in the midst of darkness. Each life that is shared end with some sort of closure or solution to help fix their issues.

As Lynette struggles with the nightmares that plague her, she finds comfort in painting the scenes that assault her mind....or does she? Gruesome scenes begin to show up in her art that leads her on wild journey to find the answers.

She begins to see images play out about her mothers death. Is her memory starting to come back??

If you want to know more about this book, you can read it yourself!!!

One lucky winner will receive this book from me- FOR FREE!!

Just enter below!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*I received this book free in exchange for my honest review

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, by ~Brandy~

In product review,

I Max Age Spot Reducer

0Comments

, by ~Brandy~

In product review,

GÖTZ Bad Ischl Oxygen Facial Tonic

GÖTZ Bad Ischl Oxygen Facial Tonic is made with all natural ingredients to treat blemished skin, oily and combination skin and to reduce redness.

I will warn you before I get into how great this product is...it stinks to high heaven and back.

But...and that is a big BUT...it works really well!

After you wash your face, spritz this onto a cotton pad or tissue, wipe on.

It really soaks up and oil you may have and prevents more from forming for HOURS!

There are many products out there on the market that are good for controlling oil, but this is by far one of the best remedies.

Here is what the company has to say about their product:

THE BEST ACNE TREATMENT: Our Facial Tonic Treatment is a powerful and effective drying solution for men and women with troubled skin types that are looking to attain a clean, clear and beautiful appearance. This fantastic treatment can control acne removal like no other!

FOR ADULTS & TEENS: Bad Ischl Tonic is suitable for adults & teenagers alike. Whether you suffer from dry, sensitive or oily skin, have no fear, our specially formulated tonic is suitable for all skin types.

MULTIPLE BENEFITS: Our Tonic provides hydrating benefits to your skin. This multi peptide formulation stimulates the production of collagen and cell regeneration, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It firms and hydrates skin, skin texture and tone are improved & minimizes the appearance of blemishes, blackheads and enlarged pores

ORGANIC & 100% NATURAL: GÖTZ Treatment is Paraben-Free, Gluten-Free, Cruelty-Free, & Fragrance-Free. Improve Complexion & Skin Tone, Extract Dirt & Impurities, & Leave Your Skin Clean, Hydrated, Soft and Radiant.

My skin was so soft after using this. I had a matte look to my skin which I am always trying to achieve. And the redness in my skin tone was toned down considerably.

I really like the ingredients too!

**I received this product deeply discounted in exchange for my review.