Using Apple Cider as Hair Conditioner- Does It Really Work?

     One of the things that annoys me about health and beauty articles is the somewhat authoritarian way that the writers dispense advice, without ever mentioning any one person- especially themselves- who has actually tried and used the product. At least, most of them don't. Some of the posts and articles make me wonder....does that actually work? Or is someone just filling up article or blog space?

    I ran across one of these recently and decided that for Shelli Shouts, I'd go ahead and try it out and report the results. I was reading up on good hair conditioners and came across articles like the one below, touting the use of apple cidar vinegar as a hair conditioner. (There are many such articles; I chose this one as it gives numerous good reasons to use apple cider vinegar on one's hair). 

http://www.naturallivingideas.com/wash-hair-with-apple-cider-vinegar-rinse/ 

  Wait! I know apple cider vinegar is great in a salad dressing, great for detoxes and general health, but...hair conditioner?  Firtst of all, what about the SMELL?  Want to go for a romantic evening with a special person, and have a seductive slow dance with a special lover, where the scent of my hair wafts up to his yearning nostrils, and the scent is...apple cider vinegar? I don't think so.

        

   So I decided to try it. One thing I do know is that apple cider vinegar is a very good, non toxic solvent for counter top grease. So it stands to reason that vinegar would minimally dissolve the gummy deposits that build up on ones hair over time, from regular conditioner and other hair products. For that alone it was worth a try.

   I put some in a spray bottle, sprayed on a goodly amount and rubbed it in after shampooing. One thing I have to say that is different about using apple cider vinegar for hair conditioner is that you'd better make sure not to get it in your eyes. It stings like hell! Lesson learned.

    I then rubbed it in well, and did not leave it in for long, lest it then dissolve hair dye in my hair. None of the articles I read mentioned anything about the effect vingar might have on hair coloring.  I rinsed it well.

   To my surprise, my hair did comb out smoothly and nicely. And when it dried, my hair was glossy and fluffy and definitely cleansed of all the residue that had made it clumpy and limp. It did give my hair a good "re-boot", so to speak. And my hair coloring was not affected at all.

   Since then, I have not used apple cider vinegar solely, but use it every three washes or so to keep my hair squeaky clean. It works great, and I'm happy to verify that apple cider vinegar DOES make a good conditioner and clarifier. (I have received no kickbacks for free or discounted products for saying this.)

   And about the smell? Yes, for a little while after I dried my hair, that sharp smell did waft around me, making me feel like part of a salad. But, because it is a natural substance with no chemicals that artificially preserve fragrance, it dissipated after about 30 minutes. 

  That said, I still wouldn' t use it on the same day as that hot date for slow dancing. Just sayin'.

  For any apple cider vinegar uses, I recommend Bragg's Organic apple cider vinegar, which is the highest quality, has a very good price, and is easily found in a grocery store or health food store. Then you can use it for salads as well!

  Where I live in Southern California, a bottle of Bragg's AC vineger is about $6.00 in a grocery or health food store. If you cannot find it in your area, you can get it on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Bragg-Organic-Apple-Cider-Vinegar/dp/B001ID6MIC/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?

ie=UTF8&qid=1499210147&sr=8-2&keywords=bragg%27s%2Bapple%2Bcider%2Bvinegar&th=1

     Hope you found this data useful. As Apple Cider Vinegar is natural, inexpensive, and not a "hip" brand of hair conditioner, you won't see much advertising about it. I thought to give it a good word in my blog. 

    #AppleCiderVinegar,#NaturalHairConditioner,#BraggsAppleCiderVinegar,#ShelliShouts,#ClarifyingHairConditioner 

 Uptown Cosmeceuticals Retinol 2.5% Cream 

Helps Skin Naturally

        I'm using this Retinol cream and definitely recommend it. This is why. Two reasons.

        First, there is a fact about skin that is not well-known, or so it seems. The skin itself is an organ, and one that is highly absorbent. That means that whatever rubs onto the skin will then be absorbed into the body and then into the bloodstream. That's why things like nicotine patches or estrogen patches work- they are placed on the skin, where they are then absorbed into the bloodstream. It's highly effective, as it bypasses the digestive system.

       The downside to this is that many body lotions contain heaps of chemicals, and those get absorbed into the skin too. In fact, I have had such a hard time finding inexpensive but natural body lotions and nightcreams that I started my own regimen. I used olive oil, and rubbed and massaged it into my face and neck every night. The little mini-massage seemed to help relax the tense facial muscles and in my opinion help to prevent wrinkles. 

       Olive oil is great - doesn't need to be refrigerated, and it's totally natural with no chemicals or preservatives at all. However, it does not have any anti-aging properties or change the skin tone. 

      Having done lots of Google research, which I'm sure you have too, I did find that Retinol actually helps the skin and does have anti-aging properties. The problem was, how to get the Retinol without a bunch of nasty chemicals? 

      Here is a list of main ingredients in another brand of Retinol: Ceteareth-20, Glyceral Stearate, Mineral Oil (known to actually dry out the skin), Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolnone....I rest my case. I did  not want all these chemicals soaking into my skin.

     This Uptown brand has 71% organic ingredients and it shows in the label: Organic Aloe, Sunflower Oil, Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter, Cassia Seed, and more. 

     The second reason I recommend it is that for me, most creams do not really soak in (a blessing if there are a bunch of chemicals!) but leave a greasy film on the skin, causing the skin to feel oily, not moist, and causing make-up to run. I've lost count of the number of skincream bottles I have had to toss for this reason.  This cream does not do that at all. When I put it on, it soaks fully in, and from the first application my skin felt more moist and full. I was able to easily put make-up in over it and it looked good and stayed in place. 

         My skin looks way better with some of this 2.5 Retinol cream under my makeup. 

    This cream has a pleasant and natural smell, unlike other chemical-based creams. Also, it is "full" enough that I am able to do my nightly massage of my face and get it nice and relaxed. See below photo of my skin with the 2.5 Retinol Cream and makeup. NO Photo Shop here, I promise. I am 61 years old, so you have a reference guage. I usually don't post personal data about myself, but felt it was necessary in order to accurately report on this product. 

    It is 1.7 fl oz. I find that it works best when using a smaller amount, so this jar will last quite some time. 

     Here's the Amazon Link to this product: http://www.amazon.com/Retinol-Uptown-Cosmeceuticals-Nourish-Wrinkles/dp/B017QZKLY6?m=AZKEVAAQIEO3Q

    I got this product at a reduced price in exchange for an honest review, and here it is. I requested to review this product as I thought it might handle my problem with skincreams, and it did. 

     #uptownretinol, #ShellisShopping, #BudgetShoppingTips,#Retinol, #Facecreams,#AntiAging,#Nightcreams 

       

   Crest Whitestrips Supreme 

   Professional Whitening Teeth Strips 

  Get a Five-Star from Shelli's Shopping

                                             


    I have been buying and using these strips for some time and thought to make a note about how they work. But let me tell you the first part of my story.

    Yellowed teeth run in my family. And to add to that, I like to drink tea, V-8 juice, and occasional wine, all of which stain the teeth. 

    I did not think I had that much of a problem until one day at work, an inspector came by to check everyone's appearance and to make suggestions for improvements. This was a well-meaning effort by the management at improving the workplace image. The inspector, a nice guy but mis-cast for this duty, tactlessly said, "Is there anything you can do about your yellow teeth?"

   Well, that was enough. That's when I began my campaign for whiter teeth. First I tried a tooth whitener paste by Arm and Hammer that you squeeze onto your toothbrush along with your toothpaste. My daughter's friend used it and had brilliantly white teeth. However, it produced no results at all for me. I privately wondered if the fellow was genetically blessed with white teeth and only needed a little boost. 

   My next stop was to the local pharmacy shelf for tooth whiteners they had there. I had done no research, so just picked some tooth strips that looked like they would do the job. They were neither the cheapest or most expensive brand. I did the full set of strips, but again there were no discernible results.

   Finally I saw these Crest Whitestrips Supreme Professional Whitening Teeth Strips at my dentist's office. She said they worked, and the box label (if one believes those) said that they had 80% more whiteners than the leading retail brand.

   These strips come in a box saying "Only Available Through Your Dental Professional". There are 42 pouches, each with a strip for the upper and lower teeth. That is about a month-and-a-half of strips if you use them each day.

   I got them and did a full round of the strips. They are very easy to put on, do not taste bad, and stay put for the half hour you leave them on. It is noted that some people have sensitive teeth so need to use them less ofter, but I have never experienced this. The only downside is that while they are on, you can't eat or drink or talk much for an half hour. That's harder to do than one would think! 

   I began to notice results after just a few days. By the end of the box, my teeth were very noticeably whiter and being commented on by friends and family.

   As I had started from such a sorry point, though, I decided to do a second round. Halfway through the second box, I arrived at what I felt was a nice clean whiteness, but without my teeth being so white that they was fake-looking and people would look at my teeth and say "Oh, she whitened her teeth". I was very happy with the results.

   My teeth remained at this level for months. After about 7-8 months, I noticed they were beginning to yellow again, surely due to my teeth-staining habits. So I did a brush-up with more strips, and after a week or so they were back to their original whiteness.

  I have carried on this way now for about three years, just doing a brush-up as needed with as many strips will do the job to restore whiteness.

  I also developed a handy trick. My two front teeth were damaged by some dental work years ago, and since then have been darker than all my other teeth. So as I whitened all the teeth, they would get whiter but not as white as the others. I took one pouch and some nail scissors and cut the strips into "mini-strips" that would cover just my two front teeth. I would then use these for awhile. This worked really well, and enabled my front teeth to "catch up" to the others.

   I also want to note that though the protocol is apparently that one gets these strips only at dental offices, I have been able to find them on Amazon. A link to one source is below and there are others. 

   I see ads in various places for teeth whitening procedures at dental offices that cost hundreds of dollars. Personally I see no need for that expense as one can just use these strips. 

   Here's to smiles for all, where we can show off our white teeth! 


http://www.amazon.com/Whitestrips-Supreme-Professional-Whitening-strips/dp/B005GRGA5G?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s0
    
   Shelli's Shopping is a blog for shoppers of all kinds and in particular those looking for a good buy, from starving artists to working poor to those who are on a budget for whatever reason or just want good value for their hard-earned money. Shelli Pruett is a blogger, cartoonist, proofreader, product reviewer, and communications director at a marketing company. She lives in Southern California with her family and four dogs, who provide an ample stream of dog product purchasing experiences.


#ShellisShopping,#TeethWhiteners,#Shopping,#WhiteningStrips

Are You a Watermelon Fan? If So, This Tool Is a Must For You

        My family are true watermelon fans. We eat it through the summer, and our favorite is watermelon with lime (or lemon) juice sprinkled over it with a dash of salt. Definitely try this combo sometime, it is just about the tastiest thing ever.

          I have spent many kitchen hours trying to pry out the bottom of the melon with spoons and knives, and it is time consuming, messy, and inefficient. As a solution, I just tried this stainless steel Watermelon Slicer/Corer by Daro USA.

          I can say this little tool really did the trick! The very best thing about this stainless steel tool is that you can easily scrape out every last bit of melon, even the part that is right next to the rind (which is often the most delicious part). The wire and tool itself are quite sharp and cut easily, even if (like me) you do not have strong hands. It cuts down the time taken to scoop a melon to 1/5th the time. That alone is a deal-maker for me.

          The instructions were easy to follow- just dig the wire in and scoop, then flip the tool over and use it as prongs to lift out the slice. The slices are about 1" wide with the tool fully open, though I discovered you can squeeze it closed a bit and make thinner slices. It took me a little practice to get it right, so if you are planning a fancy dinner with watermelon I'd advise using a practice melon to start with. It was pretty simple though.

           I also am using the small melon scooper that comes with it that makes perfectly round balls. They are about 3/4" in diameter. This was super easy to use and the balls look very pretty. See photos of a watermelon ball/lemon  dish I made for my husband which he loved. I'm looking forward to some heavy use of this product through the summer, and it is so sturdily made I am sure it will last forever. I will note here that I received this product for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review, and here it is.

Here is a link to the product on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Daro-USA-Watermelon-Slicer-Corer/dp/B01D5GQ2Y8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461789084&sr=8-1&keywords=daro+watermelon+slicer

    Shelli's Shopping is a blog for shoppers of all kinds and in particular those looking for a good buy, from starving artists to working poor to those who are on a budget for whatever reason or just want good value for their hard-earned money. Shelli Pruett is a blogger, cartoonist, proofreader, product reviewer, and communications director at a marketing company. She lives in Southern California with her family and four dogs, who provide an ample stream of dog product purchasing experiences.


#DaroWatermelnSlicer,#WatermelonSlicer, #Melon Corer, #FruitCuttingTools,#ShellisShopping,#Watermelon

Is the Toshiba Windows 10 Laptop a Good Buy? Read This and Decide for Yourself    Following is a review of the Toshiba Windows 10 Laptop, and services connected with it. This is a story from personal experience and I think it will give you a good idea of what you are in for when you get one, for better or worse. I hope this will aid in any computer shopping experience you may have.    My husband got the laptop for me about seven months ago, specifically so I could handle work traffic for our startup marketing company. Previously we had shared a Mac Book Pro laptop, but now I was going to be online all day, thus needing my own. We could not afford another Mac, so had to go with the budget buy.    Let me begin by saying that I am not much of a 'computer person' so embarked on the Windows experience with much trepidation. My husband wisely bought me a year of virus protection and warranty service, as well as some other service doo-dads which I have yet to take advantage of ( though the story is certainly not over and they may come in handy yet).    I had heard horror stories about using Windows as compared to Mac, that Windows were likely to have more problems and meltdowns, and that Toshiba was a cheap and junky brand. Here's what happened and you be the judge.    On getting the new laptop, I followed along with the set-up instructions on my own - yes, little old me! And I actually managed to wade my way through. All went well until the part where it was recommended to back up the system right away. The Windows 10 laptop is a satellite version- something I knew nothing about prior to that day. And for you fellow luddites, satellite means there is no CD or DVD player, though there are two USB ports.   After becoming very baffled, I noticed that there was a number listed to call for technical help. Now, that's what I'm talkin' about! I called it and quickly reached a nice young man who explained that he could walk me through the procedure. As it is a satellite version, he could log right into my laptop and run the cycle through. I breathed a sigh of relief and felt the nervous knot in my neck begin to relax.    He began to move ahead with the steps. Then he told me that he had checked the settings and discovered that although the computer was sold to me as a Windows 10, in fact when it was manufactured it was a Windows 8.0. Apparently it had been upgraded somewhere along the way and then repackaged and resold as a Windows 10. And furthermore, because of this, he was not able to back it up. He told me to go into Best Buy where I had purchased it, and report the problem.    I had a bad feeling about this. I told my husband who kindly said that he would try to do the backup...when he had time. That is pretty much equivalent to a "no" as just about any wife can tell you.    In desperation to complete the setup before my next workday started, I had to invoke my secret weapon- calling in a favor from my son. He sat down and had it figured out and backed up in 30 minutes onto a flash drive. Now the little drive sits in a box on my desk like an idol at a temple - and I pray I never have to use it.    In spite of this inauspicious start, I managed to not only get going on use of the computer, but by poking around was able to figure out just about all the functions and apps on my own. And for those I couldn't, the nice young people at Tech Support were easily reachable (no long waiting lines) and helped me quickly and efficiently. And I have to say that this speaks well of the Toshiba design, as for me to navigate on my own on any computer is quite a milestone, and one I am proud of.    All went well as I continued and I noticed there were two things that made my Toshiba a terrific work tool. First- it is as fast as lightening, far faster than any other computer I have ever used. Second, I could store ten or more tabs/pages on the top bar and keep them open with programs running, and pop back and forth on them all day at great speed. This made a significant improvement in my work pace and being able to multi-task on the computer. I could get my work done without ever having to sit there waiting for a page to come up.    My Computer Life was blissful until one day, about two weeks ago, the battery abruptly stopped taking charge. It worked fine if plugged in, but the battery was just plain gone.    I called trusty Tech Support, who logged into my computer, scoped it out, and confirmed that indeed my battery had failed and must be replaced. He then informed me that as the computer was still under warranty, Toshiba was going to replace it for free. I was to send it in and they would repair it at the depot. This would take 7-10 days.    While I was happy this would be free, nonetheless being without a work computer (and forced to cope using my personal IPad) meant certain disaster. But there was no other choice.    I promptly received an email with instructions to sign up for the repair. I could mail my laptop in myself, or pay $30.00 for a special added box and that price would cover the shipping as well. This solved for me the dilemma of how to safely pack my computer, so I happily paid for it.    The box arrived promptly a few days later. It had a nifty airbag that would certainly keep the computer safe, and a mailing slip to address the box. It was all very easy and I packed it and then sent it off. I received a tracking number and an email saying they would let me know when it was on the way back.    Overall I'd have to say their service is excellent and efficient- though I have a feeling that if I'd gotten a Mac, I would not have had to use the service in the first place. My husband's MacBook Pro has been going for years and never, ever breaks down or needs service. And it was the same on the Mac laptop he had before- it ran for over eight years perfectly, until it became too antiquated for today's data useage needs, programs and apps.    But here I sit after several days of being Toshiba-less, and I am missing my little rocket-ride laptop badly. Work is going incomparably slow as I mush along using my IPad and at times borrowing my husband's Mac. I find myself tidying up my desk while I wait for commands to run through. I have always found that phenomenon to be really annoying as my mind works very fast and I need a computer that can keep up with me. My Toshiba Windows 10- in spite of the glitches- really filled that bill.    One other minor adventure to this. On the instructions for sending in my laptop for service, it was recommended to back up all files and remove sensitive data, as it could not be guaranteed that all files would be saved when repairs were done. Check- One of the doo-dads my husband got me was a backup drive! So before I mailed it off, I called my new best friends the Toshiba Customer Service guys, and they walked me through the installation and backup.    Today I needed a work document, so had a call to use my trusty backup drive. When I plugged it in to our Mac, however, it did not work. So, there I sat with no access to my work files. When I called Customer Service, the young lady kindly and serenely explained (without any insinuation that I was as dumb as an ox for not knowing this already, which I appreciated) that Mac cannot read Windows files, and vice versa. So my backup drive could only be read by another Windows computer, which I do not have.    I can now see myself gliding down a slippery path of getting more and more Windows equipment to match with my Toshiba ware as time goes by. But do I want it?    If I won the lotto, high on my list would be getting a Mac. But in the meantime, in spite of the glitches, my little rocket-ride Toshiba will do. I just hope it comes home soon.     Shelli's Shopping is a blog for shoppers of all kinds and in particular those looking for a good buy, from starving artists to working poor to those who are on a budget for whatever reason or just want good value for their hard-earned money. Shelli Pruett is a blogger, cartoonist, proofreader, product reviewer, and communications director at a marketing company. She lives in Southern California with her family and four dogs, who provide an ample stream of dog product purchasing experiences. #Windows10, #ShellisShopping, #MacBookPro,#ToshibaWindows10,#computershopping,#toshibaCustomerService,#bestcomputerstobuy

              
<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOPbd65e109a9ee2c40e5807496aeee35cb" rel="nofollow"><img style="display: none" src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" /></a>


             Zesty Paws Pure Natural Salmon Oil Benefits Dogs' Health and Immune System

        I have found this ZestyPaws Salmon Oil to be an excellent product for our four dogs, ranging from a tiny Chihuahua to a giant pit bull.

         I've been using it daily and the dogs all eagerly eat their food with this added. I make them a mixture of high-quality kibble, a spoonful of tasty soft dog food, a spoonful of probiotics, and the appropriate amount of ZestyPaws oil.

         Our Chihuahua Renny is very fussy about food and often will refuse even treats. But she loves this stuff! It does by nature smell like salmon oil, but does not smell "fishy" at all. Fish oil often smells rancid but this has a fresh, pleasant smell.  It mixes well and adds some good texture to the food. I also really like the push-dispenser on the top, as it makes it very easy to squeeze out a dose right onto the dog food, then mix. Speed is of the essence when you have four hungry dogs waiting!

         And as should be for any pet product, it is fully made in the U.S.A. It is all-natural and from wild-caught Alaskan salmon. The side label on the bottle gives suggested dosages for each serving which are very easy to measure with the push-top. I'll include photos of two of our dogs gobbling up their food...wish I could make a video so you can see how excited they get.

        I also want to share here an anecdote about the benefits of Omega 3 and 6s healthy oils. I was at a doctors office some years back and was invited to join a clinical trial. It tested the effects of high quality Omega 3 and 6 oil (from fish) on mood, attitude, and memory. I joined up, and after about three weeks, noticed a distinct improvement in my daily outlook and definitely my memory. An example is that I could make a shopping trip without needing a list- I could remember what I needed, which hasn't been the case for years. For a young person, who cares about this small victory? But for an older person, this is fairly major. This trial made a believer out of me for Omage 3s and fish oil. I know too that Omega 3 and 6s are also recommended for dogs for the health benefits.

       Of course, it is impossible to gauge the effect of one supplement on a dog's behavior and health. But knowing my dogs are getting something that helped me a lot feels good. I will note here that I got this product at a discount in order to test and review it. However this was at my request as I was impressed by the listing and felt this would be a good health aid for the dogs. I was very pleased.

Below is the link to the Amazon listing. #Zenwise

http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Salmon-Oil-Dogs-Cats/dp/B01BVRL4UA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1457719653&sr=8-3&keywords=PURE+SALMON+OIL+FOR+DOGS+%26+CATS+-+16OZ

#ShellisShopping, #DogHealth,#FishOilforDogs,#DogSupplements

<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOMbd65e109a9ee2c40e5807496aeee35cb" rel="nofollow"><img style="display: none" src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" /></a>

       A Review of the BohemianMulti-Colored-Sequin-Gold-Necklace made by SPUNKYSOUL.com

   Anyone who is female is on the lookout for interesting and pretty jewelry to wear for everyday and for special. I recently changed jobs from one where I used to wear a uniform every day to work. After years, this had become insufferably boring. Now with my new job I can really break out and wear whatever I want. So where is some cool stuff?

   I came across this Bohemian necklace on Amazon and was surprised at how nice it is. First, the gift box is really pretty (see photo) and this would make a really nice gift for anyone. Second, it is unlike any beaded-type necklace I have ever seen.

    The colors are muted, not garish, and all go together to make a pretty palette of shades that would match with any outfit. I found myself looking at all the sequins closely for some time to figure out how they managed to make such a unique look.

      In addition to the colored sequins/beads, interspersed are a series of rhinestone/diamond rings with tiny stones, that elevate this from casual wear only to something you could wear out to a restaurant. The stones catch the light and accent the colors nicely. (see photos). There is an extender at the clasp so one could double up on layers. Then to offset those are tiny gold sequins that also shine nicely.

     The clasp is sturdy and large enough to open and close easily by oneself. The sequins are about 1/4th inch in diameter, not too small, not too large. I'm looking forward to wearing this on many occasions and as a favorite item of jewelry.

     As a note I received this product at a discount in exchange for a review. But that said, it was me that requested the product as I thought the photo and description from the listing was so attractive. I was not disappointed. I'm going to be on the lookout for more creations from SPUNKYSOUL.com

   Here's the Amazon link below and some photos.

http://www.amazon.com/Bohemian-Multi-Colored-Sequin-Gold-Necklace/dp/B01D0NZCE2/ie=UTF8?m=A8GLE6WORXFTC&keywords=long+necklace

  Shelli's Shopping is a blog for shoppers of all kinds and in particular those looking for a good buy, from starving artists to working poor to those who are on a budget for whatever reason or just want good value for their hard-earned money. Shelli Pruett is a blogger, cartoonist, proofreader, product reviewer, and communications director at a marketing company. She lives in Southern California with her family and four dogs, who provide an ample stream of dog product purchasing experiences.


#jewelry, #ShellisShopping, #BohemianNecklace,#Necklace