Beauty Sleep

I love quotes. You know, those short, thoughtful little phrases that make us stop for a moment and think about life from a different perspective. Today I was visiting To Live Beautiful for the first time (looking forward to exploring that site more) and came across this French proverb:

“There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.”

How true! When we are consumed with guilt, fear, worry and the like, the problems of daylight follow us into the dark, haunting our dreams or even chasing sleep away all together. But nothing like going to bed with a clear conscience brings such refreshing "beauty sleep".

Conscience clear but still not sleeping well, check out these foods that may help you sleep better.

Looking at my heart today to ask God to show me anything that stands in the way of pleasant dreams tonight. Sweet and beautiful dreams to all of you, my dear readers. :)

Sale!

From now through midnight, Sunday 3/21, take 10% off your entire Affordable Mineral Makeup™ order at InnerBeautyGirls.com with the coupon code: charleston

What to Wear

I'm posting this verse by my mirror as a reminder that my attitudes are more important to the people in my life than the way I look...

“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

Colors and Time, Springing Up

If you are in a timezone that observes Daylight-Saving Time, don't forget to Spring Forward tonight! I've already set my clocks forward in hopes of getting my mind acclimated to the change and getting to bed and hour "early" tonight so I don't loose out on any sleep Sunday morning. While it's no fun to have mornings come earlier, I do love the longer daylight evenings of spring and summer!

Speaking of spring, Affordable Mineral Makeup™ has introduced six gorgeous new shades this week, just in time for spring. I don't name them (and honestly am not a fan of several of the name choices this time around) but the colors are amazing! You can find them all at InnerBeautyGirls.com

If you are following current fashion trends into bright colors, check out the vibrant blue of Eclipse or the green pop of Prana.

Eclipse

For earthy tones with a touch of shimmer, you are going to love Down Under and Nadis.

Down Under

Looking more for pink or purple tones? Then check out Wonderland and goddess. (Like I said, some of the names bother me, this one most of all. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one" Deuteronomy 6:4. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus..." Ephesians 2:10a.)

Wonderland

May your spring be bright as we look in anticipation to the celebration of our risen Savior!

Beautiful Servanthood

In reading the story of the last supper this week, something jumped out at me. On the night that Jesus would be betrayed, tried and sentenced to crucifixion, right there in the midst of the culmination of the greatest mission He had been sent to fulfill, then and there He stopped everything to wash the feet of His apostles.

I often serve others in the name of Christ. I often try to accomplish big things for God. But how often am I willing to set my important agenda to the side to simply be a servant right then and there in the middle of my big plans?

Too often I brush aside requests to "play a game with me Mommy" as I'm busy rushing around to get out the door to my "important" meetings. When was the last time I pulled over to help someone with a flat tire even though it would make me late to church?

I am more likely to serve when it's convenient, when it fits in my time frame and well-laid plans without squeezing me uncomfortably. But in looking at Christ's example as he wrapped a towel around His waist just hours before He headed to the cross, I saw with fresh eyes this week that beautiful servanthood is the uncomfortable kind that I "don't have time for" and doesn't fit in my neat little schedule.

I'm praying that God continues showing me such truths, to "makeover" my heart as He helps me put them into practice in my life, blossoming me into a woman of beauty, inside and out.

Gluten Free Makeup

I bet when you hear the term “Gluten Free," you don’t automatically think of your makeup, do you?
Well, if you’re gluten sensitive you may want to. Makeup can have gluten in it.

What is gluten sensitivity?
Read here for more information.
The symptoms are usually skin rashes, itchiness, headaches, bloating/cramping. Gluten is very hard to digest and can be found in wheat, rye, barley and oats.

Gluten can be found in your makeup and other beauty products in the Vitamin E, Olive Oil, Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Oats and Triglycerides are all sources of gluten that most people wouldn’t think about when purchasing makeup and body products.

Vitamin E is used as an antioxidant and is usually derived from wheat germ. Products that contain oils in them are usually preserved with Vitamin E to prevent them from going rancid. They can also be hidden in such oils as Olive Oil, Palm Oil and Coconut Oil.

Oats are another common ingredient commonly used in beauty products, such as soap and facial products.

If you are gluten sensitive you need to be aware of these ingredients that most people may overlook in cosmetics or body products.

There’s no definitive information regarding cosmetics / body products being harmful to those who are gluten sensitive but think about this; your skin is the largest organ of your body. It usually absorbs what you put on it and thus goes into your body system. So, that would suggest that if you’re gluten sensitive you might have reactions (skin rash/itchiness) from products that contain gluten additives.

Mineral makeup that has no additives or oils and is in loose powder form, such as Affordable Mineral Makeup™ offered at www.InnerBeautyGirls.com, is gluten free.

- Special thanks to Tara Burner, owner of Affordable Mineral Makeup™ for this informative guest post. Information in this post is copyrighted property and many not be reprinted without the permission of Affordable Mineral Makeup™.

Discount Code Happiness

I Want You to be Happy Day highlights inner beauty! It's a day set aside for doing acts of kindness purely to bring joy into the lives of others.

How can you brighten someone's day today? Maybe pick up the phone, drop a card in the mail, bake a batch of brownies for a neighbor? The goal is to lighten someone's load or bring a smile to their face. Please leave me a comment with your creative ideas!!!

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col.3:17)

I hope to make you happy by offering 11% off your entire Affordable Mineral Makeup™ order at InnerBeautyGirls.com when you use coupon code behappyday at check out today or tomorrow! :D Offer ends 23:59 EST, March 4, 2010.