Would You Like Fresh Ground Pepper With That?

We all get blackheads and some of us are even obsessed with constantly pressing, squeezing and pinching our faces for the satisfaction of "getting" one!

My husband insists that I don't get many, regardless, every couple of weeks, I do get that greasy, film-like feeling on my face that just doesn't seem to go away ... even if I have just washed my face with my expensive cleanser.

I tried out this simple homemade recipe (with my husband as a guinea pig companion) and we both liked the results.

BLACK PEPPER for BLACKHEADS

(There's Lead in Your Lipstick by Gillian Deacon, page 85)

Simply mix 1 tablespoon of fresh ground pepper with 1 teaspoon of plain yogurt. Apply the paste onto any blackheads and leave for 5-10 minutes.  Wash it off and the blackheads should be gone or very loose easy to remove.Only use fresh ground pepper.

Okay, so maybe I went a bit overboard as the recipe says just to put it where you have blackheads, but I wanted to make it worth my while.

More than noticing my blackheads being gone, I notice a really clean and clear feeling to my pores and skin.

There is a bit of stinging as you remove it, but it's natural and goes away within a minute.  Better to know that the sting is from all natural products and is working, than from lead and chemicals peeling away your precious skin and damaging it and your body forever ;) And for the record, my husband has been saying he wants to do it again.

P.S.  Reminder that if you are a follower and leave a comment this week, you will qualify for a fitness-related giveaway.

Getting Outside With The Kids

Isn't it nice?

Being able to exit the premises without having to add 15 minutes onto your departure time to incorporate heavy coats, boots, hats, mitts, scarves and snow pants.  It's just dreamy after enduring the months of winter.

Source

I find it so easy to get outside and get the kids active with the warmer weather. It could be as simple as a walk around our yard to check out everything that is growing or a walk to the mail box.  It sure beats the sub zero temps and trying to motivate myself to leave our cozy interior and a warm cup of tea ... bring on the juicicles!

This year, now that my kids are almost two and four, I am looking forward to being more active. It has been a tough juggle the past couple of summers trying to keep up with my eldest either with a stroller or being pregnant. Now that they are both running, loving balls and playing, the things we can do together are more numerous. 

I don't know about you, but I find it very hard, as a Mom, to fit in formal exercise into my daily/weekly routines.  I mean I walk a lot and am very "active" but actually setting aside time to go for a jog and pick it up a couple of notches doesn't happen that often.  Another reason I am looking forward to the stage my boys are at right now.  I'm hoping that I can consciously get a bit more exercise myself during the warm weather as we head to the park or field to get moving.

As I mentioned yesterday, I am giving away a couple of fitness-related prizes this week for all followers who comment on the blog this week. Today I would love to hear about some creative activity or game that you play with your kids or ways you incorporate your exercise into play time with your kids.

I Did It ... I Signed Up

Yup, signed myself up for Booty Camp Fitness last night.  Not sure what I was thinking ... must have been intoxicated with Easter eggs or something.

I signed up for a four-week program with Booty Camp Fitness. It's a hard core fitness program designed for women and by women that often runs outdoors in your community (if you see 30-50 women doing jumping jacks in your town park, it's probably this group).

The program seems to have a lot of great components - twice-a-week workouts, before and after personal assessments, workout videos, nutrition plans, etc.

I signed up for the four (versus eight) week program as I wanted something I could realistically bite off and not be too daunted by.   Worse case: four weeks of hell ... I can do that!

So apart from New Year's resolutions, tis the season for fitness start up plans.  The weather is getting warmer (I hope), the bathing suits are in all the stores and you just ate a whole bunch of chocolate this weekend.

So this week we are going to give away some fitness-related prizes. In order to be eligible, you have to be a follower and leave a comment to any of this week's posts.

So tell me, anyone have any grandiose plans to kick up their fitness levels for shorts season?  Do tell.

Edible Easter Nests (by Nigella Lawson)

This is a super fun, not bad tasting and really cute sweet to make with the kids at Easter/spring time.  The recipe - Easter Nests - is by Nigella Lawson and can be found in her Domestic Goddess book.  They look like macaroons, but are not.

Basically the recipe is consists of:  

Chocolate

 + Shredded Wheat

+ Mini Eggs

... and voila - the cutest little Easter nests!

The recipe:

Easter Nests
(From Nigella's Domestic Goddess book):

This makes 5 nests, so increase as needed.
7 oz milk chocolate
1 oz bittersweet chocolate
2 tbsp unsalted butter
4 oz shredded wheat
about 25 mini eggs for decoration
1 baking sheet, lined with oiled foil

Melt the chocolate in the microwave for about 2 minutes.  Crumble the shredded wheat into it and mix.  Form a nest shape about 3 inches in diameter, don't worry if it doesn't look like it will stick together, it will as it cools.  Leave to cool until set, then fill the centre with the mini-eggs -about 5 per nest.

Recipe Source

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Backyardigan Mania

Yesterday I posted about successful shoe purchases, today it's the Backyardigans ... welcome to the polar opposites of my life (note that these swings happen on a minute to minute basis).

My eldest is into the Backyardigans in a big way right now.  Fortunately? we have Netflix so we can just pull them up whenever we are watching television. This is very handy given the fact that on Treehouse's last programming switch they are only viewable occasionally quite late in the evening and at 4:30 in the morning. Much as I love my son and the singing quintet, there ain't no way we're getting up at that hour for some imagination and singing, especially when my household just began to sleep (relatively) through the night!

I must say, out of all of the kids shows out there, the Backyardigans are one of my favorites.  there's music, imagination, friendship, all different types of adventure and of course snack time.  My son's favorite character is Tyrone, but he insists it is pronounced "Kyrone" and will argue with you until you give up.  His second favorite is Tasha who he insists is his "wifey" and "princess."  He lights up when he talks about her, it is quite funny and cute.

Another favorite for months was Max & Ruby and Zoboomafoo. If you haven't checked out Zoboomafoo, I highly recommend it, even for older kids - very educational, non-cartoon, fun and one that adults can easily watch as well.

 So what shows are on high demand in your household?

Which ones are your least favorite?

Any that are totally off-limits?