Recently, I’ve been trying  Ultimate Spa lotions on my hands and feet. I must say that it has been absolutely wonderful! These fantastic lotions were brought to my attention by Arts ‘n’ Crafts Israel, who generously allowed me to sample some products.

Arts ‘n Crafts Israel is run by a lovely English lady that made Aliyah (moved to Israel). Her site features an amazing variety of Israeli-made goods—Jewelry, Arts/Crafts, Judacia, and so much more! I really enjoyed the section on traditional Israeli foods, including a recipe called “Shakshuka” that I can’t wait to make.

Ultimate Spa products are a safe, natural choice. They contain no animal ingredients, no parabens, and an extremely high proportion of Dead Sea minerals. (For those who have never visited Israel, it is customary to take a dip in the Dead Sea. If you can’t be there in person, Ultimate Spa will allow you to sample the healing minerals firsthand!)

Ultimate Spa lotions are not at all greasy and the scent is mild—something that’s very important to me. I like to put the hand lotion and the foot cream on nightly, before bed. In addition, they both work perfectly when incorporated into a manicure, pedicure, or an at home Spa day!

With the current chaos raging in Israel, it is more important than ever to support Israeli-made products and artists. We can show our love, friendship, and solidarity by purchasing wonderful products like Ultimate Spa!

If you order before September 1, Arts ‘n’ Crafts Israel is offering a 10% discount, good on everything in the store! Simply use code “DEADSEA10″ at checkout.

How many pairs of jeans do you own? Probably a bunch. How many do you actually like and wear? Probably only a few! Good jeans sure can be hard to find. I’ve been on a lifelong quest for the perfect pair!

It all started when I was growing up in the 80’s and 90’s. Designer jeans were all the rage. Every young girl was dreaming of her own pair of Guess, Jordache,or Calvins. (Seriously, who didn’t want to be Brooke Shields?) Back then, it was more about logo than substance, but we didn’t care. I got my first designer jeans when I was 8, courtesy of Lord & Taylor.

Sometime around the year 2000, the jean market started to shift. It became less celebrity-based, with a focus on fit and function. Happily, prices have dropped, too, and there is a huge range of options for all budgets.

When buying jeans we need to take 4 areas into account: fit, length, rinse, and rise. (For additional details, check out my guide to pants, where I discuss this in depth.)

Fit:  Jeans should be purchased snug. Not skin tight, but snug, because they do stretch over time. When you try them on, sit and walk in them. Get a feel for the fabric on your body. If they’re not comfortable when you try them on, don’t buy! You may have to try numerous sizes and brands before you find the right pair. When you do find them, I recommend buying extra.

Rinse:  The rinse refers to the color, as in light rinse or dark. The lighter the rinse, the heavier you will look and vice versa. The only exception to this rule is white jeans. Dark rinse jeans should be washed inside-out, preferably in cold water and air dried.

Length:  Good jeans come in every inseam, but it’s always hardest to find the right pair of Petite or Tall. I am a Petite and I’ve had good luck with jeans from Old Navy and Banana Republic. (Check out their Factory Store for the same styles at cheaper prices!) For Tall ladies, I’ve heard raves about Gap’s Long and Lean jeans.

Rise:  A mid-rise jean will be the most flattering. Avoid the extremes of high and low-rise. Too high looks frumpy and too low is an accident waiting to happen!

Most flattering:

The most flattering pair is a straight leg with a dark rinse. Sometimes they’re also called Trouser Jeans. They are slimming and reasonably comfortable. Every single body type looks good in these, especially Plus Size!

Least flattering:

The least flattering is a high-waist, large pocket jean, evidenced by this god-awful picture of Jessica Simpson. Notice how the proportions look off; everything is magnified and she seems much larger than she actually was at the time. As if these jeans weren’t bad enough, she paired them with one of my biggest accessory no-no’s—an animal print belt.

* Boot Cut  – I have a pair of Old Navy Diva Boot Cut jeans that I bought on clearance for $1.47 at an after-holiday sale. They’re one of my favorites and get plenty of use. Boot Cut is good for most, except those that have very thick legs, because Boot Cut is slim in the thigh.

*Boyfriend  – These are the most comfortable pair of jeans, ever. Because they tend to be loose and slouchy, this is not a dress-up jean and should be reserved for casual occasions—errands, travel, lounging, etc. Reese Witherspoon is photographed in boyfriend jeans a lot and always looks cute.

* Skinnies  – Skinnies can be adorable when done the right way. Yes, this is a super-snug fit, but that doesn’t mean straight jacket. You should still be able to move and breathe! Balance skinnies with a long top, that’s preferably loose-fitting. Don’t ever wear skinnies with a tank top, halter top, or tight sweater unless you want to be Paris Hilton’s Double Mint twin.

* White  – My favorite bottom to wear in the summer, especially when paired with a black top! If you’re hesitant to try white bottoms, jeans will be easier than pants. They’re thicker and less see-through, so it’s not as scary. The only white jeans I avoid are skinnies. That’s way more attention than I can handle….

Jeans to avoid include:

* Whiskers  –  This refers to fade lines that run across the hips and crotch. Whiskers tend to highlight the widest part of the leg, which most ladies are trying to avoid.

* Lewd  – I’m not sure what this monstrosity is trying to accomplish…all I can say is don’t go there. This reminds me of a ’90’s reject, wearing super-low jeans with a thong peeking out. Sisqo isn’t calling; give it up!

* Large Rear Pockets –  Rear pocket placement must be taken into account. Small and/or angled pockets will make your behind look much better. Stay away from large, flap pockets, especially those with rivets or buttons. Embroidery and embellishment should also be avoided.

* Acid Wash  – I was surprised to see these featured in the August edition of People StyleWatch. According to model Kate Upton, “They’re coming back, which is fun.” No, it’s horrifying! They were bad in the 80’s, they’re bad now, and they forever will be.

 

What’s your favorite style of jeans?

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The wonderful folks at Madison Reed offered to let me sample their hair color. I was very eager to try it, because I color my hair on a regular basis. My main concern is covering gray roots—something Madison Reed color is supposed to do exceptionally well.

I was a little hesitant to buy color online; picking a color in the store is hard enough! Luckily, Madison Reed has a Color Crew that will help find your perfect shade. There’s a quiz to find your color, or you can match their colors to a competitor’s dye. I matched mine to John Frieda Foam Color, which I’d used (and liked) previously. A “6N Light Natural Brown” in John Frieda matched me with a “6NGV Tuscany Brown” in Madison Reed.

The hair color kit arrived quickly and is beautiful inside, with more than just dye. You also get shampoo, conditioner, 2 pairs of gloves, cleansing wipes, a cap, and barrier cream. It’s much nicer and more complete than a drugstore kit.

 

As you can see from my Before pics, my roots were looking really bad, so I set to work immediately. The directions for the kit are very easy to follow, and are printed in large type on the sides of the opened box. I like this better than fumbling with a little, folded direction packet like most kits have.

I put on the gloves, mixed the dye, applied the barrier cream to my hairline and started coloring. I began with the roots, and then applied the remaining color to the rest of my hair.

While the process is the same no matter what color is used, some dyes are much higher quality. Madison Reed was fantastic! Their products have no ammonia and it doesn’t smell horrible. It also contains keratin and argan oil, which isn’t supposed to strip hair and make it dry. I had no burning or stinging as the dye was activating.

After 35 minutes, I washed it out using the provided shampoo and conditioner. Both products were very gentle. I towel-dried my hair, and let it dry overnight. In the morning, I simply styled as usual. Here is how my Madison Reed color turned out, in my After pic.

I was very happy with the finished product. The process was easy and the color turned out perfectly! All of the gray was gone, as promised. Madison Reed is more expensive than typical drugstore color, but I think it’s worth it! A 20% off coupon code is available for the first box which makes it even more affordable.

If you’re looking for professional-grade color to use at home, I really think Madison Reed can’t be beat. It gets 5 out of 5 stars from me.

The spa experience is something every lady should be able to enjoy—regardless of cost. Even if you can’t afford a pricey professional spa, you can have an awesome at home spa day!

Spa treatments not only refresh your body, but also calm and quiet your mind. I love to take a whole day to myself and fill it with pampering and relaxation. Here are my tips for the ideal spa experience:

1. Make Time

Don’t schedule your at home spa day if you have other commitments. It is possible to do one or two quick treatments, but that doesn’t have the same effect. I find that a weekend works best for me and I block out about 4 hours.

2. Make a Plan

Decide in advance what treatments you want. Focus on what your desired outcome is. Do you want to look better? Feel better? Both? Not all spa treatments are created equally. Pick only the ones you enjoy. If you never paint your nails, skip the manicure.

3. Gather Supplies

You don’t want to run out to the store in the middle, so be organized. Make sure you have all of your beauty products, candle, music, book/magazines, a robe and slippers, fresh towels, etc.

Spa Treatments I’ve tried and enjoyed:

* Facial    (Wash face with a mild cleanser. Exfoliate with a gentle scrub or baking soda. Apply a mask, commercial or homemade. Place cucumber slices over the eyes. Lay back and relax! Rinse away the mask and apply moisturizer. Ahhhh….)

* Body Exfoliation   (Salt or sugar scrubs would perfectly. I’ve heard used coffee grounds make a great scrub, but I have yet to try it. After exfoliating, I love to apply lotion, neck to toes.)

* Bubble Bath  (Is there anything more relaxing than this? I doubt it!)

* Manicure  (I’ve always done my own nails.)

* Pedicure  (I love to soak my feet in scented water with essential oils and flower petals.)

* Deep conditioning hair mask   (Pantene makes a great one.)

* Apply Makeup   (This link has a full list of all the products I use.)

* Sauna  (Easy to do at home. Shut the bathroom door and crank the hot water in the shower. The whole room will get nice and steamy.)

Spa treatments I’ve never tried, but would like to:

* Paraffin dip (Hands and feet are dipped for moisture.)

* Stone therapy  (Warm stones are placed over the body.)

The only spa treatment I discourage would be waxing. This is a painful procedure and will not be relaxing at all! If you like to wax, that’s perfectly fine, but it’s not my idea of fun.

I’ve always done my at home spa days alone, but they certainly can be shared. Invite a best friend, sister, or older daughter to share it with you. Trade foot rubs. Have a meaningful conversation. Pray together. This can be a fantastic bonding experience.

 

What’s your favorite spa treatment?