Some Good Organic Beauty Products

Looking to switch to some organic beauty products, but don't know where to start. Here are some items to try that have great reviews and work comparably to non organic brands. If you have sensitive skin like me it's worth a look.
Try your local Health Food store or online shopping sites for deals.

Tela Beauty Organics Measure Shampoo, $50- Works really well.

One with Nature Lemon Verbana Soap, $3- Smooth lather, works great.

Aveda All-Sensitive Body Formula, $19. Not greasy, feels smooth.

Pangea Organics Facial Scrub Egyptian Geranium With Adzuki Bean & Cranberry, $33- Soft, works good.

Hamadi Shea Pomade, $24 -Smells really good, works well.

Photo from thenest.com

Rebates: How to Get Cash Back

Looking for a way to save some money? A great way to do this is is by joining one of the many rebate sites like      Mr. Rebates or Ebates. Joining is free and it costs you nothing. Simply sign up and start to save.
How does it work? Simply login to the site before you shop online. Look up the store you want to shop at (on the site) and it tells you how much in rebates you get back (example: 1%...5% etc..) They also have coupon codes and deals for many stores. It's a great way to get some money back for shopping.
This is a great way for newlyweds to start saving some cash, especially when your shopping a lot for housewares. Check it out.

Images from Mr Rebates and Ebates

Deal!

Ladies, shop now at Express and get $15 off every $60 you spend with promo code 4114!

6 Newlywed To- Do's

So, you're married, now what? Here's a list of some things you should get done now your back from your honeymoon.

1) Clean and store your wedding dress; have your dress dry-cleaned within six months. Check that they specialize in wedding dresses so that they use the right solvents. Ask them to stuff your dress with acid-free tissue and store it in a box. Put it in a cool dry closet for storage.

2) The name change. Try to do this within around 90 days of you wedding. You need to change your drivers licensee, passport, credit cards, checks, and social security card. Check sites like the DMV and socialsecurity.org for more info.

3) Tax Time. Now that you're married, you need to decide whether you're going to file together or continue to file separately. It isn't a law that you have to file jointly but it is recommended. Consult your accountant to see what they advise.

4) Thank you's.  Make sure to send your thank you cards in a timely manner. It is best to send them out within 2 months of your wedding.  Set aside time to do them, it doesn't have to be all at once, but get a start on them soon.

5) Money talk. Hopefully you had this discussion before you walked down the aisle. Most couples decide to merge their "single accounts" into a "joint" account. Take a trip to the bank to fill out the  paperwork and get new debit cards and checks made.

6) Paperwork. You have more paperwork to fill out and more talking to do. You will need to decide life insurance beneficiaries, health insurance policies, and forms from work you will need to fill out.

photo from thenest.com 

Great Simple Mac and Cheese Rescipe

Here's a great recipe that, yes, actually isn't bad for you and takes under 30 minutes to make. The recipe comes from Weight Watchers in 20 Minutes:

Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients
1 1⁄2 cups ditalini or small bow ties (farfalle)
1 1⁄2 cups fat-free milk
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
1 (14 1⁄2-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green pepper and onion, drained
3⁄4 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
3⁄4 cup shredded reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese
Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Preparation
Cook the ditalini according to the package directions, omitting the salt if desired; drain and keep warm.
Meanwhile, whisk together the milk, cornstarch, mustard, and pepper in a large saucepan until smooth, then set over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens and bubbles, about 4 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and cook, stirring, until heated through, about 2 minutes. Add the cheddar and Monterey Jack; cook, stirring, just until melted. Stir in the pasta and cook until heated through, about 1 minute longer. Serve sprinkled with parsley, if using.
Per serving (1 1⁄4 cups): 322 Cal, 5g Fat, 2g Sat Fat, 0g Trans Fat, 12 mg Chol, 703 mg Sod, 50g Carb, 4g Fib, 19g Prot, 404 mg Calc.

photo by Deborah Hardt 

Build Your Own At Home Gym For Under $100

So, your New Year's resolution is to get fit, but you don't want to pay for that gym membership! Here are some items you should get for your own at home gym, on a budget.

1) Resistance Cord. You can get this at Target for around $15. Great for stretching and building, what else, resistance.

2) Medicine Ball. You can also get this at Target or a sports store for around $20. This is great for balancing, stretching, and core training.

3) Free Weights. Range in price from about $15 to $30 on Amazon, weights vary to from 5 to 15 lb. These will obviously get you toned.

4) Yoga Mat. Priced for around $23 at Target, this is a perfect item for workouts. You can use it for doing yoga, obviously, crunches, and stretching.

5) Swiss Ball. Grab one of these at Walmart for around $20. This ball it filled with air, so it is light, it's also big. A Swiss ball helps with yoga, core training, toning and more. This is my personal fav workout item.

So there you have it, great workout items for under $100. No excuses now!! -Mason

pictured above Swiss Ball, from thenest.com

New Year's Eve Date Night Ideas On A Budget

Here are some great ideas! Staying close to home is usually cheaper. You can have tons of fun without blowing the bank.

1) Turn your house into a club. Download some great dance songs on your ipod and hook it up to your speakers. Turn the lights down and break out the bubbly, keep it private or invite your closest friends.

2) Pub crawl. Pretty self explanatory. Hit a few of your favorite local spots with a group of friends, keep a taxi on speed dial.

3) Recreate your teen years. Stock up your car with sodas, chips, blankets, etc... and hit a great "lover's lane."

4) Comedy Night. "Grab some friends and get a table at a local comedy club. Admission rates are cheaper when you watch amateurs get on stage, but the comedic value—intentional or not—is more than worth the cover charge and cost of a few drinks."

5) Dinner and a Movie. Let your movie pick inspire your meal. Rent The Godfather, whip up an Italian feast.

Ideas from thenest.com