Hello, listeners! Below is an overview of what we discussed on the radio show today with product links, coupon codes, and websites to check out.

Seasons of Skin

Our skin can get very dry and irritated during any seasonal change. Check out some of the products below if your skin is in need of some support!

 

 

 

 

 

Why buy when you can DIY? There are always amazing at-home remedies you can try for your skin as well. Below are some recipes and tricks I use for my skin when it needs help waking up.

I’m sure you have all heard of the cold spoon trick for tired and puffy eyes. If you haven’t tried it yet, try it! Cold stimulates circulation and helps work away and retained fluid causing that puffy look. I would use a barrier between anything cold and your eyes so you don’t burn your skin with that shocking cold. Try a cheese cloth, paper towel or cotton t-shirt around frozen spoons, ice packs or frozen peas.

 

Coffee and tea help eyes de-puff using its natural ingredient caffeine. Caffeine reduces swelling by constricting blood vessels. Steep 2 black tea bags in warm water for a few seconds, ring out excess moisture (but not all of it) and place on eyes for as long as you can. Coffee grounds work as well. Mix ground coffee in coconut oil making a paste. Apply to eyes and let sit as a mask. With coffee grounds, it’s easier to rinse off in the shower so nothing gets in your eyes. You can also soak a facecloth in brewed coffee and lay it on your face.

 

Aspirin is a hard worker for inside your body but it also does wonders for the outside as well! Aspirin contains salicylic acid which is an anti-inflammatory and a natural exfoliant. Salicylic acid also brightens skin while reducing redness. Simply dissolve a couple of tablets of uncoated aspirin in water making a paste and apply to face as a scrub or mask. Scroll down to my Girl Expo post to read more benefits of salicylic acid.

 

Another DIY recipe in my Girl Expo post is one for lip balm and lip scrubs. Coconut oil, sugar, shea butter, olive oil, avocado oil or seed oils are all great for skin care recipes. This lip balm is just two ingredients using shea butter and instant juice mix.

 

Soon to be Summer

Ahh, summertime. Warm weather, summer travels, and barbecues. If only it were as blissful and simple as Nat makes it out to be. Schedules are usually packed and it seems our invitations can double when the kids are out of school and the weather is nice. Help is on the way! Below you will find some planning guidance and military discounts for any travel you may have to face this season.

Military.com provides excellent resources and discounts for all things travel. While I am planning a trip, I always refer to military.com even if it’s to get ideas of who offers what. If I’m booking with a group that isn’t listed on the site, I just call or ask for discounts when booking. When I phrase the question in an unoffensive way, they usually are open to offering a discount or upgrade. Example: “I noticed on miltary.com that (hotel’s name) wasn’t on the list of hotels that offer a military discount. Do you have any discounts for military families?” this sounds better than “The Radisson offers special rates – why don’t you?” which sounds accusatory. When traveling, I ask everyone what discounts they offer even after I’ve booked. Airlines may upgrade your seat at the terminal, restaurants may throw in a free item, hotels may upgrade or discount your room and so on.

 

Disney is listed on military.com but Disney being Disney, there is a lot of information involved in planning a trip to this magical place. Disney offers their Armed Forces Salute discount to active and retired members only. The 2016 pricing is a 4-day admission with the park hopper option included for $196 plus tax. When booking, call the military resort Shades of Green at Disney to book rooms and ask about purchasing tickets. The rules and eligibility page on the SoG website explains accommodation rates. The SoG website offers a ton of important information so thoroughly go through their website to learn the ins and outs of all of their offers.

If you’re flying with children, you may be full of dread. Travel is unpredictable already then when children are involved, you never know what to expect. Plan what you can plan, be prepared for the worst and it may end up being the easiest trip you’ve ever taken. Packing activities and snacks are necessary but research the airports and airlines for what they offer as well. Some airports have play areas to get energy out and some airlines offer activities and games for kids. When booking a flight, book during your child’s calm-down time if possible. If mornings are a bad time for your little one, a morning flight will be very stressful for your family. For one aisle planes, the back seats can be beneficial being close to bathrooms and for 2 aisle plane, the middle seats offer more move room. A stockpile of devices can be a savior so investing in a few spare battery packs can help with long travel days. Make a detailed list, research for more ideas, call the airlines, airports and TSA for information and hopefully you have smooth(ish) travels.

Packing light will minimize a lot of travel stress. Pack comfortable, versatile and wrinkle resistant clothes. Lay out your clothes and make as many outfits as you need with only a few pieces. Stick to a neutral color palette and dress up items with a colorful large scarf. Scarves can be used as tops, hair wraps, beach cover-ups, blankets and more. Minimize your toiletries. If you are renting a car, you will be able to purchase toiletries when you get there. If you will be at a hotel, they will have shampoo, conditioner, and soap. The front desk usually has other items too if you ask like toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, etc. If you are traveling to a remote destination, check out solid liquids. Solid toothpaste tablets, solid lotion, sunscreen sticks, shampoo, conditioner, perfume, and more.

Minimize your toiletries. If you are renting a car, you will be able to purchase toiletries when you get there. If you will be at a hotel, they will have shampoo, conditioner, and soap. The front desk usually has other items too if you ask like toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, etc. If you are traveling to a remote destination, check out solid liquids. Solid toothpaste tablets, solid lotion, sunscreen sticks, shampoo, conditioner, perfume, and more. Lush Cosmetics, JR Ligget, and Etsy have great solid options. There are also a number of DIY recipes that you could try at home.

Try packing cubes. You can squeeze clothes into a cube and create more space throughout your suitcase. A travel scale will let you know if you are over the airline’s weight limit. Travel with your travel scale if you plan on bringing home souvenirs.

 

Planning an itinerary and getting to know the area you will be in will be worth its weight in gold. I usually itinerary plan for a year before a big trip and a few month prior to smaller trips. For areas I know nothing about, I read travel books from a few different authors like Lonely Planet and Frommer’s and research online through TripAdvisor. I then research the area with Google Maps to see what’s around like shops, restaurants and site seeing adventures. I never pack a day full of things to do. I plan a half day and leave plenty of time to lounge or explore. Some of the best things we’ve done we’ve found by talking to locals and asking for their advice. If you’re at a hotel and in a touristy area, the concierge or front desk will usually have a list of day tours available through trusted companies. These are usually very affordable and sometimes come with discounted entry tickets to museums and other sites.

Will there be language barriers? Google Translate is a great resource and it offers a download option if you will have limited wifi service.