Castor Oil for Longer, Thicker Hair

by Carmen Beckett

Castor Oil is an age old trick for growing longer, stronger and thicker hair. A year ago, my hair was thin and brittle from the overuse of heat along with a string of other unhealthy hair habits. I started applying castor oil to my hair weekly, and a year later, my hair is so much longer and thicker. It’s a great aid to use for those of us who prefer natural beauty products and remedies.

Castor oil has several uses. It can be used to grow hair longer, treat dry scalp, fill bald spots, and prevent hair breakage.

Three Ways Castor Oil Can Be Applied:

-Add 1-2 teaspoons of castor oil to the deep conditioner of your choice

-Apply castor oil directly to the scalp

-Apply castor oil after using the hair moisturizer of your choice


All three ways of application have helped me tremendously. Applying castor oil to a deep conditioner strengthens the hair follicles and gives the hair a nice shine. Applying castor oil after using a hair moisturizer helps to lock in the moisture for long-lasting, daily nourishment. Lastly, applying castor oil to the scalp provides a healthy environment to stimulate faster hair growth.

Using castor oil is always a real treat for my hair. I love it! It can be purchased online or at your local health food store.


Warning: Due to castor oil’s thick consistency, hair should be washed often when used.

Six Tips to More Confidence

By Carmen Beckett

The one thing that I love about confidence is that it’s something that each and every one of us can have and wear well! Although this is true, confidence is something that we’ve all battled with at one point or another. Sometimes this battle can feel like it never ends from comparing ourselves to the perfect looking models on television to the superwoman of Proverbs 31.

The truth is, confidence doesn’t come over night. It takes practice and the best way to practice is with real tips that work. So it is my hope that you try out and enjoy these 6 tips to more sassy and classy confidence!

1.) Play up your beauty – What’s one of your favorite physical features about yourself? If it’s your eyes then wear eye shadow colors that highlight them. If it’s your gorgeous set of pearly whites then smile more often to show them off. Paying attention to the features that you love can be an instant confidence booster.

2.) Embrace change – We all have areas of ourselves that we would like to improve. I encourage you to identify these areas and start making changes to them. These changes can be both inward and outward. Below are two examples.

Inward change: If you know your decreasing faith and constant worrying are wrecking havoc on your self-esteem, map out a time in your day to start reading your Bible more. As you begin to get closer to God, your confidence will skyrocket in him.

Outward change: If you don’t like your body then start a healthy diet and get on a good workout regimen to shape it the way you desire.

There are tons of ways to look gorgeous without going to extremes. So pick a few and wear them with all you’ve got.

3.) Positive Friends – Confidence is contagious so go get a power circle of girlfriends who are happy and secure in their own skin. You can’t be confident if you are surrounded by “Debbie Downers” who are always putting you or themselves down. This is why I love being a part of networks like Pinky Promise; it’s a great way to meet fabulous women from different walks of life.

4.) Dress up – The saying is true: when you look good, you feel good. So have fun with your wardrobe and only wear clothes that you are proud of. Wearing clothes that go well with your body type as well as fun pops of color can do the self esteem quite well.

5.) Treat yourself – Every once in a while, it’s good to treat yourself to something nice. This could range from buying those cute new pair of heels that you’ve been eyeing to simply taking a day off to relax and cater to yourself. It doesn’t matter what you do just make sure you enjoy it!

6.) Good role models – Powerful women who hold their heads high are inspiring. I encourage you to find a couple of women that you like for role models. I personally look up to women like Jennifer Lucy Tyler and Heather Lindsey. Both women are classy with hearts after God so their confidence radiates from within.

So there you have it – 6 tips to more confidence! I pray that these tips help you to become the beautiful, confident women that God created you to be.

Delicious Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas

By Carmen Beckett

Quick recipes are the key to a busy woman’s sanity! There’s nothing better than unwinding at a table full of loved ones who are utterly amazed at how delicious the meal you just served tastes. In their minds, they wonder how you’re able to do it all.You work hard, you love hard, and you cook hard. Or so they think! I can’t tell you how much of a lifesaver easy recipes have been for me! This is why I shouted for sheer joy when I found this amazing chicken quesadillas recipe that even has a video to go along with it as a step-by-step guide. Since trying it, this meal has been a complete staple in my household. I don’t know if it’s the tender, cheesy texture or the amazing, zesty flavors that always have my family BEGGING for more! Enjoy.

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken thighs
• 1 Tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cilantro
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ t. black pepper
• Pinch of cumin (optional)
• 1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
• 8-10 (8 inch) flour tortillas
• Mexican cheese blend
• Smoked Cheddar, finely shredded
• Smoked Gouda, finely shredded

• Guacamole, salsa, sour cream (optional)

Instructions

1. Mix the seasonings together.
2. Season chicken thighs generously with the seasoning (you may not need all of it)
3. Heat a buttered skillet over medium heat.
4. Cook thighs about 6-8 minutes per side or until juices run clear.
5. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels and let cool.
6. Cut or shred the chicken into small pieces and place in a large bowl.
7. Toss in the diced tomatoes.
8. Add butter to a grill pan over medium heat and place a tortilla in the center.
9. On one side of the tortilla, add an even layer of Mexican cheese blend, followed by a layer of chicken mixture and then a layer of smoked cheddar and smoked gouda.
10. Fold the other half of the tortilla over to cover the cheese and chicken. Press down on the quesadilla with a spatula.
11. Let it cook until the cheese has melted. Reduce heat if needed.
12. Serve hot with guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.

For more information on this DivasCanCook Recipe, visithttp://divascancook.com/2012/05/smoked-chicken-cheese-quesadila-recipe-easy.html

Feel free to share your favorite easy recipes here!

Friend or Foe

By Carmen Beckett

What happens when hanging out with your old crew just doesn’t do it for you anymore?  You used to love listening to your girlfriends’ gossip about which ballers they were sleeping with, but now, for some reason it just doesn’t quite feel the same.  Sometimes it even tempts you to go back to living that way even though you know it isn’t right.  Why is that?

Proverbs 13: 20,  “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.”

Truth is, who we surround ourselves with is who we eventually become.

Friendships with people who aren’t living for Christ can serve as awesome opportunities to share His Word.  But what happens when your attempt to try to help pull someone else up only ends uppulling you down?  You can only help someone who wants to be helped.  Also, you can only help someone if you yourself are delivered from what you are trying to help in.  This is why we must use the gift of discernment to really evaluate which friendships are right for us.

Matthew 7:4, “ How can you think of saying to your friend, “Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,” when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?”

Our relationships with others should always have a purpose behind them.  That purpose should always be leading to Christ.  Knowing where we are in our walks with Christ can tell us who belongs in our lives and who does not.  This is why a woman recovering from alcoholism no longer hangs with alcoholics or an ex-drug abuser no longer hangs with users of the drug.

We all have a kryptonite that has the potential to cause us to go stumbling down; it’s apart of being human.  We must allow that kryptonite to help indicate which relationships and situations we should stay in as well as which ones to avoid.  Thankfully, we don’t have to do this alone because we have the Holy Spirit.  And as we allow the Holy Spirit to show us who is and isn’t supposed to be in our lives, it is our responsibility to follow His direction.

And you know what I’ve noticed?  God has a wonderful way of sending amazing people into our lives as we sacrificially let go of those who aren’t meant for this season.

Hello Gorgeous Body, Goodbye Calorie Counting

By Carmen Beckett

As we embark upon this amazing New Year, the luring thought of fad dieting is at its all-time high.  However, if all of the torturing, time-consuming calorie counting has never really worked for you, then this article is for you! Honestly, measuring out my food and having to do math at breakfast to track every calorie eaten has never really fit well with me, which is why I had to find new ways to stay healthy and in shape.  So below, I’ve listed a few steps that have allowed me to shed off many unwanted pounds and I know they can help you to do the same! 

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Now let’s start!

1.) When you wake up in the morning, drink a glass of water. – Every night before I go to bed, I like to place a bottle or a cup of water on my dresser so that it is right there for me to drink when I wake up.  This easy, simple step has been such a great aid in regulating my appetite, and I’ve also noticed how I no longer crave bad food in the morning (you know, those blueberry muffins or that bacon dripping in grease).

2.) Do not buy junk foods - If it’s in your kitchen, you will eat it!  This is true for almost all of us so why tempt ourselves?  Just like a recovering alcoholic doesn’t keep a cabinet full of liquor in their kitchen, fabulous women who are becoming healthier do not keep junk food in theirs.

3.) Ignore the last rule – Yes you read that right.  Step #3 is to ignore the last rule every once in a while. Wondering why?  Well, have you ever noticed that when you try to cut out a food completely, you end up wanting it EVEN more?  Join the club! In fact, most of us are like that, which is why it’s important to treat yourself to the food or dessert of your desire every so often.  So start with a schedule that works for you! This could be once a week, every other week, or maybe even only once a month.

4.) Find a FUN exercise – Everyone doesn’t enjoy the same workouts so find an activity that you genuinely like.  If you like to dance, try going to a local dance class or getting a few fun dance DVDs.  If you like sports, then go play one.  It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you do it!

5.) Get a partner – Living healthy is so much easier when you have a partner in crime to share your latest victories and sometimes even struggles with.  If no one in your life right now sounds like they would fit this role, then there are several online health & fitness forums likeMyfitnesspal and Beachbody that you can check out.

So now you know 5 totally doable steps to give you an awesome kick start to a healthier new you!Have fun in your new, gorgeous body!