Best Beauty Products of 2017

This results are in! The 20 Best Beauty Products of 2017! In my latest video I featured the 20 Best Beauty Products of 2017. These are best of the best of beauty products that I bought and tried this year and they were total winners. I will continue to use these into the future. You will find products for hair and skin care as well as some great makeup products. To be a winner, a product had to produce lasting and/or unique benefits. I tried many beauty products this year and of the many I tried these 20 products really impressed me. I'm excited to share them with you and I hope you enjoy learning about them and will consider giving them a try!

Building Collagen Naturally - Natural Retinol And Vitamin A

As we age we lose collagen in our skin at the rate of 1% per year after the age of 20.  Collagen is responsible for keeping our skin young looking. If you want to maintain youthful looking skin that shows minimal signs of aging, wrinkles, and fine lines, then it's vital that you provide your skin with the nutrients that it needs to stimulate the production of collagen in your body. You can do this by consuming foods that contain or boost collagen (see video above: 11 Superfoods to Boost Collagen), and by applying my nourishing all-natural collagen boosting facial mask to your skin (see video below: Collagen Building Facial Mask). This face mask is made from fresh ingredients that contain natural retinol and vitamin A. It will penetrate deep into your dermis to provide your skin with essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fatty acids necessary to help increase your collagen production in your skin.  For the recipe and how to prepare this wonderful natural facial mask, watch this video:

Best Holiday Gift Ideas 2017 - It's An Amazon Christmas!

Looking for that special gift? Something original for a special person who has everything? I have some great ideas for you this holiday season from Amazon. There are so many great new services and products you can give as a gift on Amazon that are perfect for busy people, elderly, kids, teens, etc.  Here are a few suggestions:

1. For the busy working guy or girl that has no time to go grocery shopping, how about a subscription to Amazon Fresh delivery straight to their home as often as they need it

2.  How about giving an elderly person in your life the gift of home services like handyman or repair services, cleaning services, or installation services so they can finally get things done
   
 
3.  Do you have a reader to buy for? How about a membership to Amazon Kindle Unlimited? Unlimited reading from over 1 million ebooks or unlimited listening to thousands of audiobooks.


4.  Or a gift for anyone and everyone, the grandaddy of them all: A subscription to Amazon Prime; Membership offers so many special benefits for just $99 per year!

5.  Did someone just have their first baby? How about a membership to Amazon Family? Do I hear diaper discounts!


6.  Shopping for a college student? How about Amazon Prime Student with special benefits for college students!


7.  You can always get your loved one a new cell phone. Nothing is more fun than getting a new phone!


8.  Give the gift of music with Amazon's Prime Music! The only music streaming service with free two-day shipping!


It's so simple to shop Amazon for your holiday gift-giving needs. Links are affiliate.

One-Minute Hairstyles - Look Fabulous In Only 60 Seconds!

How often do you find yourself running late in the morning with not enough time for styling your hair? For me, it happens a lot! That's why I did a video on YouTube called  7 One Minute Hairstyles where I show you how to do seven, no heat, no fuss, quick and easy hairstyles that you can do in literally 60 seconds and look fabulous.  So, if you're a new mom, on the run to pick up kids or do errands, going to work or school, or maybe you just want a lazy day hairstyle that doesn't take a lot of time and effort, watch my video below cause you will absolutely love these hairstyles, and I guarantee that you will do them often because they are just so easy. They also come in handy when you want a break from heat styling, which is very important for the health of your hair, especially if you have long hair or you're trying to grow it. With these one-minute hairstyles you'll look pretty and put together in only one minute!

-YouTips4U

The Fastest and Easiest Way To Increase Collagen Naturally

Collagen is one of the most important nutrients in our bodies when it comes to anti-aging skin care. It helps keep us looking wrinkle free and youthful. It helps your skin maintain it's elasticity and can help prevent skin aging and sagging. It helps your body renew skin cells and softens and hydrates your skin, keeping it smooth and young looking. It's vital for growing long strong hair and nails and it helps promote bone health and strength, joint health and mobility, and may even shorten exercise recovery time. As we get older our collagen begins to diminish which causes fine lines and wrinkles to develop, hair to thin, nails to become brittle, joints to stiffen, and arthritis to develop. Fortunately, there are ways you can improve your collagen, so you can look and feel your best. In my video above, you will learn a fast, easy, and simple way to increase your collagen naturally.

Why You May Want To Stop Getting A Manicure and Go Natural Nails

Did you know that natural nails are in! They sure are, and I'm so excited because I love natural nails and have been growing my nails and wearing them long and natural for years. Don't get me wrong, I love nail polish, but I know that when I polish my nails, I can expect them to become more brittle and to eventually break. It never fails. But there are many other reasons to go natural with your nails that you should be aware of if you get manicures and pedicures which I talk about in my recent YouTube video, 10 Reasons You Want To Stop Getting A Manicure and Go Natural Nails. In addition to the reasons why you may want to stop getting a manicure and pedicure, I also share some excellent tips on how to grow your nails that you don't want to miss. It's a very informative video that should not be missed if you love nails.

-YouTips4U

Is Your Ionic Hair Dryer Causing Your Hair to Be Flat, Dry, and Limp

I was recently in the market for a second blow dryer and doing a bit of research on what to buy. I noticed that nearly every hair dryer or heat styling tool on the market today boasted using negative ions technology. Their claim is that ionic infusion technology will shorten drying time, add shine, and eliminate frizz and static. As someone who is always interested in the science behind such claims, I wanted to know if this really worked or is it just marketing, and are negative ions good for my hair. I have long hair and had been experiencing some issues with dryness and lack of volume, so I did my own research into this ionic technology and then I did a little experiment comparing an ionic hair dryer with a non-ionic hair dryer. To find out what I learned and the results of my comparison, watch my YouTube video: Is Your Hair Dry, Flat, Thin, Or Limp? It Could Be Your Ionic Hair Dryer!
I think you will find it very helpful!

-YouTips4U

All My Favorite Products In One Spot

I'm happy to announce that you can now find all my favorite products that I have recommended in my videos in one convenient place on Amazon.  Here is my affiliate link:

https://www.amazon.com/shop/youtips4u

If you decide to purchase anything, I may receive a small commission.  You're under no obligation to do so, but if you do, thank you so much and know that it helps me with the cost of maintaining my YouTube Channel. ❤️😊

Best Bat Wings Arm Workout

Did you know that shapely toned arms are the new sexiest body part? That's right! They are an obvious signal to the world that you are fit, confident and in great shape. Anything that helps women feel empowered and confident is worth working toward and achieving and that is the case with toned arms.

It does take some work to build muscle and get rid of loose flabby fat, and dangly hanging skin, but commitment to weight-bearing exercises consistently done three times a week or every other day will give you the results you desire.  In my latest video on YouTube BAT WINGS WORKOUT: Get Rid of Flabby Arms , I walk you through an excellent workout for your arms with the best exercises to target those dreaded bat wings and help you get strong, defined, shapely, sexy arms. Bat wings are the loose flabby skin and lack of muscle that you see hanging from your triceps area or back of your arm, when you wave your arms.  If you do my video regularly, you will get shapely defined toned arms so you can go sleeveless with confidence, wear arm bracelets,  and wave hello and good bye without being self conscious. Having toned arms can even make you look younger! So get right to it today!

- YouTips4U

Spruce Up Your Wardrobe

One of the best ways to spruce up your wardrobe without spending a ton of money is to accessorize. With just the right addition of a rich leather bag or long layered necklace, you can revitalize many outfits, and don't forget about a trendy belt.

One of my favorite go-to looks is a white t-shit that's fitted, a pair of denim jeans, a black or brown leather belt, a black leather bag and some black shoes or boots. I bring this look together with a beautiful silver or gold long chain, some hoop earrings,  and I'm ready for anything. If it's chilly outside I grab my denim jacket or my black blazer or even my leather jacket. Instant chic.  Don't forget the red lipstick! You can substitute denim jeans for black jeans and have an equally dressy chic look. Want to make an even bigger statement, try red shoes!

-YouTips4U

Should You Go Unprocessed With Your Foods

A year ago, I decided that I would no longer eat unprocessed foods. I came to that decision as part of my journey back to nature and my desire to live as much of my life as I could in the way the human body was intended to live. That meant that if a food was cooked or manufactured by someone other than me and contained things like hydrogenated oils, sodium nitrates, sodium nitrites, artificial colors blue, green, red and yellow, high fructose corn syrup, etc. that I would avoid them. For me that meant reading ingredient labels and avoiding whole classes of foods like deli meats in order to stay as close to my eating unprocessed choice as possible without being completely impractical. By impractical I mean, I was not going to grind my own flour or make my own butter, I was simply going to eat whole foods, cooked by me or someone else, that were void of processing and chemicals.

In my research for optimum health and consciousness of the ecosystem which we share with all living things, it became obvious to me that our bodies were not designed to filter chemicals made in a lab. That in doing so, we slow down the body's natural processes and immunity and burden it with the demands of filtration and removal rather than regeneration and healing. That we should live our lives as much in harmony with the earth as we can.  That means getting fresh air and movement every day. Sunshine on our skin every day. Clean water to drink, and wholesome foods to eat, and rest. You literally are what you eat, drink, and breath on a regular basis. Unfortunately, in today's busy, fast-paced society, attention to these natural requirements can be difficult to achieve.  As I already do much of these natural requirements for optimum health, and already ate a healthy diet for the most part, I needed only to do some further tweaking. So I stopped eating any processed meats, frozen dinners, injected meats and any foods that contained the following toxic ingredients:

1. Hydrogenated fats -When a regular fat like corn, soybean, or palm oil is mixed with hydrogen and whipped into a solid, it becomes what's called a trans fat. These chemically-altered ingredients help packaged foods stay fresh longer so they can sit on store shelves for years without getting stale or rancid. Eating foods with trans fats can cause inflammation in your body and raise your "bad" LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while lowering your "good" HDL cholesterol. They also increase your risk of blood clots and heart disease. That means you should avoid them and foods that contain them; things like fried foods! Choose healthier, plant-based liquid monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, and peanut oil. I use olive oil almost exclusively when I cook with oil, with avocado oil coming in second.

2. White Flour - When a whole grain is refined, the bran and germ are removed which are the parts that contain the fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This leaves these refined grained void of nutrients and make them incredibly easy to digest. This is not a whole food and not natural for your body to process. Digesting them is too fast and easy and raises your blood sugar and insulin. This can lead to weight gain, mood swings, bowel issues, and other health issues.  I recommend replacing all processed grains with whole grains, like brown or wild rice, whole-wheat breads and pastas, barley, and oatmeal. You will feel full longer and much more satisfied when eating cause foods made with whole grains are much more hearty. They also help regulate hormones and carry unwanted cholesterol out.





3. Artificial Sweeteners - I have not had an artificial sweetener for approximately 26 years. These are chemicals, plain and simple, and they can make you think you can eat more of a food that you shouldn't eat a lot of. Chemicals knows as Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal), Saccharin (Sweet'N Low, SugarTwin), and Sucralose (Splenda) are worse than consuming regular sugar. The body doesn't recognize this man-made chemical and doesn't send the right satisfying brain chemicals you get with regular sugar leaving you wanting more. So have a sweet treat when you desire it, but limit the quantity and use real sweeteners. 

4.  High Fructose Corn Syrup - Refined grains are turned into high fructose corn syrup. Again, another man-made substance. It increases triglycerides, boosts fat-storing hormones, and drives people to overeat and gain weight.  Avoid it.

5. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) - is a processed "flavor enhancer."  How harmful MSG may be as a chemical flavor enhancer and it's effects on the human body are still being studied. As it is a chemical, I avoid it.



So after a year of cutting out processed foods, I can tell you that I feel wonderful. I feel more connected in mind and body and I have more confidence in my body's amazing ability to take care of me and keep me in balance and in optimum health. I have more muscle mass and I stay full longer. I was not trying to lose weight, however my daughter who joined me on this journey of eating unprocessed foods, lost 10 pounds eating this way in only 6 months, and gained more muscle and self-confidence. When you realize that foods have the power to affect how you feel and look in life, the choice to eat better is easy. Learn to listen to your stomach. Feed yourself when you are hungry and reach for foods that will promote healing and wellness like those that come from the earth and not a laboratory. It's actually quite fun to eat healthy.  Try it for a month. Shop healthy. Go organic. Make one change only if that's all you want to do, but do it. You will feel so much better and you will be healthier for it. Shop for food items online if that's more convenient 

For me it is a lifestyle habit now and I don't miss any of those processed foods. There are many wholesome alternatives on the market, or I just make it myself! I still eat chocolate which is my favorite guilty pleasure. It is a processed food and I won't make it myself, but that's ok cause I'm not aiming for perfection, just better.

Good luck!
- YouTips4U



Prime Day 2017 - 30 Hours of Deals

What To Do About Pimples on Your Butt Cheeks ?

Little bumps that pop out on your buttocks or butt cheeks can be cause by tight fitting clothing. Tight fitting clothing can slow the skin's natural exfoliating process and lead to the formation of bumps.  Normally, bacteria sit on the surface of the skin, but when you wear tight fitting clothing, it can rub the bacteria into the pores and cause breakouts. Also any sweat that you may have from sitting provides a moist  breeding ground for the bacteria to grow.

To remedy this, wear looser-fitting clothing and wash the area with a mild soap.  I can highly recommend Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash You should also avoid using fabric softeners in the dryer because they leave fibers on your underwear which can irritate your skin further.

- YouTips4U

Will Doing Facial Exercises Prevent Wrinkles

Facial wrinkles occur on our skin due to gravity pulling down on our facial muscles, and the natural breakdown of skin's elasticity due to aging. Lack of moisture and sun exposure will accelerate this process. In my opinion, as someone who has been practicing excellent skin care habits and health conscious living for my entire life, and giving advice to many people based on personal experience and my own research, facial exercises pull the skin too much, and once the skin starts losing it's elasticity, wrinkles can develop. Constantly wrinkling or furrowing or puckering will create wrinkles or worsen the ones you have. You need to do the opposite and that is to relax the facial muscles and help them smooth out, as I advocate in my facial massage videos on YouTube. Please check them out, I think you will find them very beneficial to smooth out your lines and wrinkles.
Prevent and Reverse Wrinkles With Facial Massage, Prevent and Reverse Forehead Wrinkles and Frown Lines with Targeted Forehead Massage

Is It Bad To Eat Moldy Fruit ?

Who hasn't eating something moldy! I have and I'm sure you have and it doesn't taste good. Molds  grow on food both in and out of the refrigerator. So what should you do if you open a box of strawberries and you see a few fuzzy berries but the rest are fine, or if you left a peach on the counter and you pick it up to eat it and you see a moldy spot, or if you find a slice of bread in the package with mold but the others look fine. Should you discard these foods or can you safely eat them?

First lets talk briefly about molds so you understand what you're dealing with. Molds are microscopic fungi that live on plants and animal matter. They are threadlike organisms that produce spores. Spores can travel around and land anywhere as they are transported by air, water, and insects. Once they land on your food, they begin to feed and grow and often mold grow deeper into the food.  The mold you see on the surface of your fruit can have invisible thread-like branches and roots that go deeper inside the fruit. The higher the moisture content of the food, the more the mold can have penetrated the food. So if you see heavy mold on the surface of your food, you can assume that its roots run deeper.  Molds can cause allergic reactions in some people and some can even produce toxins in the body called mycotoxins which can make you very sick.

According to the USDA, you can safely cut the mold away from some foods and eat the rest, but this applies mostly to hard food, including hard cheeses. The USDA advises cutting off at least one inch around and below the mold making sure that you keep the knife out of the mold so it doesn't contaminate the rest of the cheese. Mold on hard vegetables like pepper, carrots, cabbage, cucumber, etc. can be cut off at least one inch around and below the moldy area and safely consumed.  The USDA  recommends discarding certain foods with visible mold including lunch meats, left over meats and chicken, cooked grains and pasta, yogurt, sour cream, bread, jams and jellies, peanut butter and nuts. So if you see mold on your yogurt, discard it because it probably is moldy throughout the yogurt since yogurt has a high moisture content allowing the mold's thread-like branches to travel deeper.

But what about bread? If you see a slice of bread in your package with mold, you should discard the whole package because the mold may not yet be visible on the other slices, but is present. Again, bread has a higher moisture content.

The peach I talked about earlier. I think it's best you discard it. As for the strawberries, discard the moldy ones, but you can still eat the rest. Also always discard berries that are clumped together with mold or fuzz.  That's my rule of thumb.

If you are pregnant or have a compromised immune system, practice extra care and avoid eating anything with mold or fuzz.

-YouTips4U

Rules To Prevent Premature Aging and Wrinkles

I recently uploaded a video to YouTube to help share my best tips to young adults to prevent wrinkles and premature aging of the skin https://youtu.be/q6s6CsjKmZg. If you are conscientious about taking care of your skin in your teens and twenties, you will have younger looking skin in the decades to follow. Damage that we do to our skin when we are younger is cumulative and shows up on our faces and bodies decades later. Here are 10 rules to follow if you want beautiful ageless skin:

1.  Drink lots of water. Reach for spring water when you can.

2.  Don't Smoke. Enough said.

3.  Avoid drinking alcohol. Alcohol, like smoking, dehydrates the skin and causes premature aging.

4.  Exercise. Increases blood flow and nutrients to skin.

5.  Wear sunscreen to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. While I don't think you should be a vampire and avoid the sun because we all need sunshine to be healthy, I do want to remind you of the importance of having a barrier if you spend time in the sun. Ideally, you should always seek shade and cover up when you feel your skin becoming sensitive to the sun. That's your body's way of saying "I've had enough". However, there are times when we can't seek shade or we have to be outside for a bit longer than we would like (our kids' baseball games, hiking, etc.) For those times, sunscreen is a must.

6.  Get enough deep sleep. While we sleep, our bodies repair and rejuvenate.

7.  Eat a healthy plant heavy diet.

8.  Avoid dehydrating your skin with excessively long and hot showers or baths. Opt for quick showers.

9.  Wear sunglasses when in glare or bright sunlight. This helps to prevent squinting which causes fine lines to develop and they also help protect sensitive eye skin from the sun.

10.  Keep stress to a minimum. Excess stress starves your body of oxygen and prevents nutrients from reaching your skin.

11.  Moisturize your skin after you wash or shower.  Keeping skin hydrated and supple with deter the formation of lines. Our faces are moving all day. This repeated movement causes wrinkles to appear as years go by. You can slow this process down dramatically if you do not have dry skin. Lines are more easily etched into dry skin, so keep your skin soft and smooth and hydrated by moisturizing.

I know when you're in your teens and twenties, your forties and fifties seem far away, but believe me the years go by quickly and before you know it, you look in the mirror and see wrinkles. Better to see them develop in your fifties, than in your thirties.  You can start today taking better care of your skin, not just for your outer beauty but for your health as well.
-YouTips4U

Best Way To Get Rid of a Pimple

The best way to get rid of a zit is to prevent it!! Seriously, that's the truth! A pimple actually takes about 8 weeks from the time a pore gets blocked to the time it erupts on the skin in the form of a pimple. Therefore, by the time you are applying acne medicine to treat it, it's eight weeks too late! So, if you are prone to breakouts, you need to have a daily routine that helps prevent breakouts in the first place.  However, if you have an big date or important presentation or wedding photos and you need quick relief, pick up some 10 percent benzoyl peroxide. You can't beat the drying, exfoliating, and antibacterial effects of 10 percent benzoyl peroxide. The best brands are Clearasil and Oxy-10. I've used them for year and so have my children with great success.

If your pimple is like a cyst, and sometimes they can really hurt. Apply warm compresses on it several times a day for several minutes. If you are unable to wait a day or two until it heals and disappears on its own, you can see a dermatologist who will inject it with cortisone. That usually shrinks it in 24 hours. I had that done several times in my teens when I would get a large cystic pimple on my nose. It worked great!
-YouTips4U

Sunbathing To Heal Pimples

Contrary to popular  belief, getting a tan on your face does not make pimples better. It actually can make them worse. Initially, you will see a drying effect to your skin and the tan will conceal your pimples, but that is a only a  temporary effect . The UV rays actually stimulate your oil glands to increase oil production also causing a thickening of the outer layer of your skin. This can block your pores and lead to breakouts. If you desire a sun-kissed glow, best to use sself-tanning products or bronzer

May - A Busy Month - Remember To Take Time For You

May is one of my favorite months of the year. Spring is in full bloom and the days are longer now.   It's also one of the busiest months of the year! Lots to do before Memorial Day kicks off Summer! We have graduations, Mother's Day, Communions, Confirmations, Weddings, and lots of kid's sporting events to attend, not to mention the things that pop up that we don't expect, like engagements and new babies.  Be sure you have a plan for keeping stress levels at bay. Try to stick to a regular exercise schedule as best you can now more than ever eat a healthy diet and get plenty of rest. Get outdoors as much as possible. Fresh air and sunshine heals us and grounds us. If you need help, ask for it. Ask family members, friends, or hire a high school student! Most high schools have a career office where students go to obtain part-time jobs. I did it, my kids did it, and it is a great resource. And remember to take time for some deep breathing and meditation. Draw in some fresh oxygen to enrich your blood whenever you can.  This will calm your blood pressure, reduce stress, and relax and center you. Please check out my videos on YouTube if you need some help meditating. I have some great videos to help you relax. Meditation and Relaxation Videos | YouTips4U If you're looking for a gift for a graduate or for your mom for Mother's Day, how about a membership to Amazon Prime, or a gift card to iTunes, or some golf lessons, or a summer gym membership, or a great book! They are gifts that keep on giving.

Happy Mother's Day to all,
Linda
YouTips4U

Make Your Commute Count

If you're looking for ways to improve your commute to work, how about listening to an audiobook. I have found that I actually look forward to my longer drives now because I listen to an audiobook. I just love self-help and motivational books and listening to this type of content starts my day off with an incredibly positive spirit.  It's also a wonderful remedy if you're having a rather down day. You can get audiobooks in your local library, or on Audible.Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks I also recommend listening to audiobooks when you're doing mundane chores. It's something I've done for years and can really make you look forward to your chores! Let me know some of your favorite books, I would love to listen to them.
- Linda

Best Beauty Products of the Year

If you haven't checked out my best beauty products recommendation video on YouTube yet, here's the link for you: Best Beauty Products of 2016

Many of you have written to me that you've tried them and love them as much as I do. I'm so glad I could help!

I'm going to have more of these types of videos upcoming!

-Linda
YouTips4U

Rotator Cuff Shoulder Surgery Experience Ice Machine

So many of you have written to me about the ice machine that my husband used to help manage the pain from his rotator cuff surgery and where you can buy one.  It's called the Donjoy Iceman Clear 3 and you can buy this and other brands on Amazon.com  Ice Therapy Machine

I highly recommend you purchase it if you want to be able to manage the post operative pain and reduce the necessity for pain medication. My husband was able to get off the pain medication after only two days post surgery with the help of this machine which kept the swelling and pain manageable.  He could not have done without it. He used it 24/7 for the first week and then 2-3 times a day thereafter. It also came in handy to use during physical therapy. He would often be sore from the manipulation and exercises and being able to use the ice machine helped ease that discomfort tremendously.  This device can be used for pain management to any area of the body where cold compresses are needed such as knees, back, shoulders, etc. It's quite handy to have and we have used it many times since my husband's surgery.  If you would like to learn more about my husband's rotator cuff surgery experience as well as what you can expect from the surgery, recovery, and therapy process, then please view my Rotator Cuff Shoulder Surgery Experience video on YouTube, here's the link for you. I think you will find it very helpful and informative: Rotator Cuff Surgery Experience : What to Expect, Helpful Tips To Prepare, and Home Recovery



I was my husband's caretaker during the entire surgery and recovery process and decided to share my husband's entire experience to help others deal with the anxiety and fear surrounding this surgery, which my husband had plenty of.  I also shared post-surgery recovery videos which update you at his 4 months, 8 months, and one-year post surgery recovery anniversaries. Those videos can be found from the above link as well. If you have any questions about the surgery or recovery process, please comment on the video, I'm happy to help. I will always answer your questions.

If you have a shoulder tear and are having rotator cuff shoulder surgery, or any kind of shoulder surgery upcoming, then best wishes to you for a successful surgery and speedy recovery. I hope you will visit me on YouTube and Subscribe to my channel. It's full of helpful tips to help you lead a better quality life! You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel at the top of this page where you see the red subscribe button.

Thanks,

-Linda
YouTips4U

Holo Foil Nail Art Designs

Are you looking for something fun and festive to do for Valentine's Day? Well, I have the perfect idea for all you beauty lovers! How about doing some beautiful nail art on your fingernails.  It's such a fun way to glam up your look and make a creative statement about your style. It's also a fun activity for get togethers with friends and birthday parties. I had a nail art and painting party for my daughter when she was 13 and 15 and it was a huge hit with everyone!  The latest trend that is so popular right now is holographic foil nail art. You can learn how to do it in my latest YouTube video for Valentines Day.

Holo foils give your nails a beautiful and unique finish that you can't achieve with nail polish. They're super shiny, sparkly, and very reflective and they're sure to catch everyone's eye! I show you step by step how to apply them and give you lots of tips and tricks to achieve a beautiful manicure. Check out my video and let me know what you think in the comments below. You can purchase Foil Nail Art at: http://www.dollarnailart.com/catalog.html See the description box of my YouTube Video above for a coupon code for 15% off your order.

Happy Valentine's Day!
-Linda
YouTiips4U

Foods To Eat For A Natural Sun-Kissed Tan

Did you know that you can actually affect the color of your skin by eating certain foods.  Well it's true! By eating foods rich in beta carotene, you can give your skin a sun-kissed glow. Beta carotene that we eat in green, yellow, and orange fruits and vegetables and tomatoes is absorbed into our bodies and the excess gets deposited in the fatty layer under the skin.  These foods give human skin it's color.  This is a perfectly harmless affect and most often occurs in babies when they are introduced to orange fruits and vegetables.  The orange fruits and vegetables are the ones that will give you your skin the most noticeable affect. Foods like cantaloupe, apricots, pumpkin, and carrots.  I have found carrots to be the food that will affect your skin the most. Carrots give your skin an orangish glow, much like sitting in the sun does.  It's not as dramatic an affect as sitting in the sun produces but there is a noticeable healthy tan glow that occurs and I have found through personal experience it occurs quickest with carrots.  Cooked carrots appear to have the greatest affect on the skin. If you would like to include more carrots in your diet, I have an excellent recipe to share with you for a healthy carrot cake. It is my homemade recipe and it's super nutritious for you; very low in sugar and fat and it's full of fiber because it's whole grain.

Please see my YouTube Video for the recipe and to learn how to make it:  Homemade Healthy Carrot Cake Recipe

It's a healthy way to add some color to your pale skin in the cold winter months while providing your body with excellent nutrition!

See on YouTube,
-YouTips4U

Double Your Weight Loss By Using a Food Diary

Happy New Year! I kicked off another great year of YouTips4U this week with a video that will absolutely help you achieve your weight loss goals if that is your resolution this year.  How Changing One Habit Can Double Your Weight Loss

Experts have studied the benefits of keeping a food diary or food journal wherein you record all the foods and beverages you eat and drink daily.  They're studies have found that the act of recording what you eat leads to greater awareness of what, how much, and why you are eating and having that knowledge can result in greater weight loss when compared with people who did not record what they ate.  Keeping a food diary can also help you identify pitfalls in your eating habits or patterns of overeating or binge eating, so it's very important to record how you feel physically and emotionally prior to eating, and post eating foods.  For example, feeling bloated or nauseous or having diarrhea may indicate food intolerances. It can be a very important tool for identifying food allergies or that you are consuming too much processed foods or fast foods rather than nutrient-dense healthier foods.  Keeping a food journal can also help you if you have a disease such as diabetes or hypertension by helping you avoid certain foods that cause problems for your condition and helping you stick to your special eating plan.  You can also use a food diary as a tool to improve your diet using it as a reminder to make sure you are getting a variety of foods from all the major food groups. Choose the format you prefer and that's most comfortable for you: either use an app that you download onto your phone or book format. Both will be excellent.  See my YouTube video link above for recommendation and more information on this.



It's very important that you review your journal daily and weekly to see how you're reacting to your emotions, hunger, cravings, etc. by the choices and quantities of foods you eat. And don't forget about beverages! Much of our excess caloric intake comes from beverages like lattes, sodas, sports drinks, and alcoholic beverages. You can track your consumption of beverages to help cut down on consuming these empty calories which are many times packed with sugars and excess carbohydrates,  or in the case of water, drinking more of it.

It's a proven fact that writing things down in a diary helps people make major changes in their lives.  Give it a try and see. It worked for me and I think it will work for you too!

Let me know how your doing with your diary!

- Linda
YouTips4U