Naked Naturals

Oh, I hear it now..."Rachel Ann, you are blogging about being naturally naked or naked in nature?"

No, no, no!!!

LOL!!!

Well, kind of....since you get naked to experience this product! (Collective gasp heard 'round the world!!)

Ok, back this train up...I'll explain! naked naturals is a great new natural shampoo on the market. I was given a sample of all natural Awapuhi & Lavender Shampoo and Conditioner. I am always up for experiencing new shampoo...I seem to have problems with dandruff, keeping color stay in my hair, and just plain thin blah hair. Now, I know that there are no miracle remedies out there, but there are definitely products that help enhance what you do have to make it look nicer, stronger, smoother and shinier! I used the shampoo last night and this morning and it really is pretty good! It didn't take me into shampoo ecstasy, but it was a nice feeling (yes, shampoo does make your hair "feel") when using it!

This all natural shampoo not only makes your hair seven times stronger but it is made without chemicals and sulfates. Instead it is made with a product called Keravis...a plant protein that Naked Naturals has exclusive to its line! So, go on out and try something that will not only help you but it also helps the environment by staying away from those nasty chemicals. Us Washingtonians can buy it at Walgreens or you can find it at their website.

This picture is of my sample before using it. I thought it might not be appropriate of me to take a picture of my USING it in the SHOWER (plus my camera would get wet....DUH!!!) LOL!!

Have fun getting naked naturally in your shower!

Shampoo

Ok, I know that shampoo seems like it might be a strange topic to blog about, but I have come across this great new shampoo product. It is a spray powder shampoo that you can use when you don't have the opportunity or access to give your hair a regular shampoo, or you need a quick pick me up shampoo in between regular shampooings (is that really a word?!).

As most of my friends and family know, I have travel a lot, and the last three years I have been over to SE Asia...let me tell you that there were many times that I wish I had a product like this. I can distinctly remember our second year over there our group was staying at Pastor Christopher's house...now keep in mind that this is a medium sized house (by Malaysian standards) that housed like 30 of us and his family....I slept in a room with about 10 girls, but ALL of us girls were using one bathroom. Let me tell you that it would have been great to have this spray powder shampoo to use...you put it on dry and it leaves your hair shiny and clean. The bonus is that it is a dry shampoo that doesn't leave oily residue or white stuff in your hair. It is quick and easy to use. Even better? They have shampoo for different colors of hair: Brunettes, Blondes, Black, and Silver hair. That means that they have experimented and perfected their shampoo to fit all different hair types, and haven't just clumped all of us into one pile of hair!

I can think of lots of times that having a shampoo like this would come in handy: camping, on long airline flights (and then you are stuck in the airport), emergency run out of your regular shampoo at home, and much more! It is also a product that is fairly reasonably priced...you can either but it off their site or they have retail locations (like Rite Aid....and all of us have a Rite Aid somewhere near us). Just think of the times this product would come in handy.

I Wanna Be a TV Star

Well it is only fitting that I write this blog post, seeing as I just wrote about being on the Price is Right for a brief few seconds! Susana and I have talked for years about writing and starring in our own TV sitcom. We feel as if our life is one long sitcom that others would definitely laugh at (hmmm, I hope they are laughing because we are funny, not laughing out of pity!!).

Well, in todays world the world of the internet is literally my oyster! What better way to share with the entire population my life! I already put pictures and videos here on my blog, but sometimes a much broader diving board is needed to let people know all about ME!! So do you want your 15 minutes of fame on TV too? Oh, now is your chance (Marcie, I know you are dying to get on TV :) ). What you need to do is upload your videos to the website YawpBox and wait and see if your video is chosen to be "discussed" on their 30 minute television show hosted by Lex and Terry. They will discuss the social networking of Yawpbox and the users who make up the Yawpbox community. This show is filmed in front of a live studio audience in Dallas, TX. Oh I love those words, "In front of a Live Studio Audience"!

Speaking of Lex and Terry, they have a CHALLENGE for all you people out there! They have various categories for you to enter for your chance to be on TV.....show them your best tattoo....show them your mullet (do you really want to admit you had a mullet?)...show them your best homemade commercial....show them your reenactment ofI ha your favorite movie scene....there are so many opportunities for you and ME to be a movie star!

Ok, so I have to leave you with this picture...it is posted under the "Do the most extreme thing" and you can be on TV....um, yeah I wish I knew what this was a picture of. Do you have any ideas?

So, what are YOU going to do to get your 15 minutes of fame? Are you going to create a video? Post a picture? WHAT???? The options are many, the audience is enormous, the opportunity to be famous is priceless!

Glasses

January seems to be that time of year that I notice lots of people getting new glasses. I am assuming this is because a lot of insurance plans have open enrollment in January!! As an eye glass wearer, I am always on the lookout for new places to buy cheaper (not cheap, just cheaper) glasses. I have made a Great Discovery: www.ZenniOptical.com where they are able to sell glasses of all kinds for less as they are direct manufacturers and have no middle man selling to you the customer. Just think...single vision lenses, sunsensor lens, tinted sunglasses, bifocals and more at your disposal. Check them out!



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I Confess

Confession is good for the soul. Isn't that how the saying goes? No, no I'm not Catholic (I was once!) and I'm not advocating confessionals...but have you ever wished you had a place where you could rant and rave, get off your chest and let the whole world (or at least one person) know about your past acts of revenge? Come on! Everyone has something that they've done to another person....everything from the biggest, baddest ruined someone's life (NOT an advocate of that type of revenge) to the teeniest itsy bitsy act of revenge! This blog is a safe place (only because not that many people read it! :) So tell Rachel what your secret revenge is? Did you plot mischief and mayhem against your college roommate for stealing clothes? Did you plot sweet, sweet revenge against your little brother or sister for things that might have done (imagined or real?)? Being the sweet innocent thing that I am (ok, keep the laughter down!) I don't really have acts of revenge that I need to get off my chest. If I had something against another person I just plain tell them and have it out with them! Nothing better than duking it out verbally...I can carry a pretty good argument. Why the morbid thoughts on confessionals? Oh because the new Johnny Depp movie Sweeny Todd is coming out in theaters very, very SOON!!!! visit the official Sweeney Todd movie site and check out all the GREAT things about the movie...and more importantly, about Johnny!!!! And of course (for all you young things who are myspacers) can visit Sweeny Todd on MySpace. So my sister and I are totally excited to see the new Johnny Depp movie as soon as it comes out! I have seen some trailers for it, and I'm not sure that I would want to sit in that barber's chair and confess anything!!!

Scared Spitless!

First of all, where does that saying come from? Scared spitless? Hmmm, just a random question for you.

Anywho...The Mist...a new movie about people stuck in a threatening situation and their true nature coming to the front and center is coming out! Are you going to see it? I think it looks interesting....more importantly, it looks real so I feel as if could actually happen in real life. UgH!!!!

So I have been in a threatening situation and the personalities of all us come out very clearly! So the situation wasn't threatening in that someone was trying to kill us, or the plane was crashing or anything like that, but it was definitely scary! When my sister Shannon and I were kids my Mom let us float down the Puyallup River along with a friend of my sisters. So, there we were...three girls (teenagers) on a two man raft. I know how to swim, my sister doesn't and I'm not sure about the other girl! The plan was for us to leave from our back property on the river and float down to the bridge, where my Dad was supposed to pick us up! Good plan...fun...we felt important as we were doing an adult type activity. The little trip started out good....then we spotted a group of guys (probably teenage punks) just up and across the river. So my sister, remember she doesnt' know how to swim and is wearing a life jacket, decided that she didn't want any boys seeing her with a life jacket on so she takes it off. We go a little further...then BAM! We got sucked into some trees that were over hanging on the river bank. We got thrown out...the raft kept on going down river...my sister got stuck on a tree branch (holding on for dear life with blood just pouring down her face)....I remember going underneath a tree face up underneath the water and pushed downstream from my sister...the friend got pushed downstream as well. Needless to say, it was quite a threatening situation...it was threatening my life!!!! Eventually we got ourselves up out of the water and found that we were down the river with no idea on where to go. We started walking through the trees and such trying to get to the main road while thinking that we hope our Dad doesn't see an empty raft float past him. We make it to a road, and start walking down it....here comes my Dad in the pickup...we are soaking wet and my sister is covered in blood...I'm sure he was feeling a bit shaky! How did we deal with the situattion? I cried over and over, "I want my Daddy!!!" I admit I was a big baby....my sister kept yelling at me to shut up...and my sister's friend was no help at all!

Now, you tell me what your threatening situation was and how people reacted. People react in such different ways when faced with threatening situations! Just like the people in the new movie The Mist by Stephen King!

Printer Cartridge

Are you one of those people who never knows which printer cartridge you need when the ink goes out in your printer? Do you have to open up the printer, dig out the cartridge and write down all the information before taking yourself to Office Depot and finding the right cartridge? Or are you one of those completely anal people who keeps the manual somewhere handy so you know exactly what to buy? Well, let me make it easier for you to find the exact printer cartridge! Cartridge Finder is a website that makes it easy to figure out the right cartridge for over 10,000 different models. What's even better? They also have pricegrabber.com on their site to help you find the merchant with the lowest price! Nifty!

Chocolate Chip Cookies!

So my family really doesn't have "family" recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. Every once in awhile when I eat something totally delicious at my Grandma's house, then I'll write the recipe down (but shame on me, I usually misplace the recipe or just don't use it....I know, I know, I need to treasure those Grandma recipes because one day she won't be around which means those recipes might not be around either!) Anyways...one "family" recipe that has been passed down is the wonderful Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, which goes like this:

1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks, 1/2 pound) butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated [white] sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 cups (12-ounce package) NESTLE TOLL HOUSE Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

1 cup chopped nuts

---

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large mixer bowl. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE in preheated 375-degree [Fahrenheit] oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

PAN COOKIE VARIATION: PREPARE dough as above. Spread into greased 15"x10" jelly-roll pan. Bake in preheated 375-degree [Fahrenheit] oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack.

FOR HIGH ALTITUDE BAKING (>5,200 feet): INCREASE flour to 2 1/2 cups; add 2 teaspoonfuls water with flour; reduce both granulated sugar and brown sugar to 2/3 cup each. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, drop cookies for 8 to 10 minutes and pan cookies for 17 to 19 minutes.

One way to make this recipe easier is to use a Hamilton Beach®Mixer or a Hamilton Beach

®Stand Mixer...both of these products will make your life so much easier when mixing together all the ingredients to make these yummy, yummy chocolate chip cookies. These wonderful mixers are the Ford Tough mixers of life...you can mix up to nine dozen cookies at once! That is great when cooking for the holidays! It features a stainless steel locking bowl, more power, more control, quieter operation an d my favorite...a two piece pourer and splatter shield....you can pour into the mixer as it is going and it won't splatter on you! Genius, I say, genius! The Eclectrics® Mixercan be bought in one of these fabulous colors: Sugar (white), Ultra Marine, Apple, Pineapple, Sterling and Licore...I think I'd either chose an apple or a sterling one! These are definitely a must have for any kitchen counter...especially a counter belonging to someone who is thinking about making my world famous Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Tooth Aches

Do you have fillings or caps in your mouth? Well, if you are like me and most of the American population, you DO. If you don't please let me know what you have been doing all your life to have such beautiful teeth and no major problems (not that I can ever achieve that, but maybe my kids can!!!). Seriously though, I have fillings galore...top, bottom and all around. Once, I had one of my fillings fall out....and let me tell you that it hurt. I think what hurt the most was trying to eat and drink while there was no filling in my tooth...UGH!!! Cold liquid going over a tooth that is missing a filling is NOT fun..it is agony!

There is a product though that helps you in situations where you have lost a filling, a crown or a cap...wouldn't that be excellent to have when you lose a filling after doctor's hours? I know I don't want to pay emergency fees for a missing filling. Dentemp OS is a product for temporary dental repair! This product, developed by a dentist, provides fast, temporary relief of pain and discomfort. It is a product that you can find at local retailers and apply at home. There is more than one application in a box...so it is worth your money. Better yet...you can eat on that tooth within thirty minutes of applying it to your tooth! Having this around your home may save you in emergencies when you can't get to a dentist...especially if you are on vacation or during the holidays! Of course, all these products have been tested by the required medical fields and such...so they are safe to use at home!

It would have been nice to have Dentemp OS when I lost my filling and was in agony for a few days before I got into my dentist to have my filling replaced. Plus, just think of the money I would have saved...hmmm!

Shopping for Charity

I know, I know...you read, "Shopping for Charity" and think how is that possible. Oh, let me tell you it is possible. There are many charities that fundraise through online shopping stores. You get something you like...OR...you buy a wonderful present for say a friend, a relative, a co-worker or someone you just want to be thoughtful towards...AND...then the charity you buy from makes money. And of course, now is the perfect time to buy a holiday gift for someone.
The Alzheimer's foundation has a wonderful website that you can browse through and do a little holiday shopping. Of course, the foundation benefits as well, as the proceeds are directed back into helping people suffering with Alzheimers and the family and friends that are walking day-by-day with those suffering as well. We don't want to forget charitable foundations during the holiday season. So many people turn their focus inward and forget that there are people battling every day with this disease as well as those who are battling every day to find a cure for this disease.

Ok, I know you are thinking, "What could the Alzheimer's website by selling that I would be interested in?" I see those wheels turning in your head. Well, let me tell you they have some beautiful jewelry....It is the Hearts of Care line and includes a necklace, a bracelet and a lapel pin. What better present to buy then something that is gorgeous but also a good conversation starter. When people ask you about your wonderful jewelry you can then tell them about the Alzheimer's site and their attempts to raise money to fight this debilitating disease.

Smile!

I'm sure you are asking why I have a picture of my toothbrush (which reminds me that I need to buy a new one!) and Biotene Toothpaste?

Well, over the years I've had off and on problems with sensitive teeth. There have been many instances where I've taken a drink of ice cold water and my front teeth hurt...terribly bad. There are also times when my teeth are even sensitive to the weather outside...I know that sounds weird, but when it gets really cold or even really hot my teeth hurt! What have I done to fix my sensitive teeth problem? In the past? Nothing...I've just grinned and bared it (pun intended). But now I've found a new product for sensitive teeth, it is Biotene Sensitive Toothpaste! I've tried it out a few times and it nice toothpaste. As I've only used a few times, and my teeth aren't acting up right now I can't tell you specifically how it has made my teeth feel better; however, I am hoping that I won't have to tell you that. This product is supposed to resolve my problem of sensitive teeth....so as I continue to use it, it should prevent my sensitive teeth issue and not mask it like other products tend to do! I have friends who fight this problem as well, so I think I'll pass the news on to them as well. One interesting fact that I read off the back of the box: "...#1 recommendation system for dry mouth protection. There is also a very good chance that a reduction of saliva can lead to sensitive teeth." Dry mouth leads to sensitive teeth? I didn't know that...I will be much more on the alert these days!

The Guys In Your Life

What are you going to buy those guys in your life for Christmas? Are they hard to pick something out for? Do you sit there pondering the life changing impact your Christmas present may have on your husband, dad or even granddad? Well, how 'bout something for the garage! I know gifts for guys can be hard to buy; however, gifts for the garage can be serious (like storage) or it can be fun and whimsical (oh, wait for guys it would be loud and manly!!). What about a NEON clock...hey it's the garage you can't see it all the time...go ahead buy it for him. Or how about a designer toilet bowl plunger with a car gear shifter handle and motorized coolers....He might think you are pretty cool if you go this route for Christmas!

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Christian Dating

Ok, so I am one of those thousands of people who doesn't date much...this is due to the limited places that a good Christian girl can meet a nice Christian guy. We don't go to bars to pick up people (seriously, do you really want to marry from there?) and spending years in ONE church kind of leaves the possibilities bare. So where do you turn? More and more individuals are turnign to online dating sites. There are many that are leery though...it can be a scary place. However, there are free dating sites that are specifically geared towards Christian men and women. This particular site is free to anyone in the world and is CHRISTIAN. I've heard testimony after testimony of how couples found each other online...maybe you can too. Just go slow and be safe! Who knows your prince charming might be waiting to hear from you!

This is a sponsored post.

Sales Training

Do you run your own business? Do you have employees that you want to coach in a sales capacity? Are you yourself needing some additional how-to's in regards to sales? Well, here's your chance to learn from a company that has taken sales training to a new level. Avand.co.uk started out as a plumbing training company in the UK a few years and has expanded to 3 training centers throughout the UK as well as training in actual sales not just plumbing. They must be doing something right if they are expanding their business and training so many people in the art of sales! Sales Courses UK are now available to more and more individuals who are looking to brush up their sales techniques, learn new techniques and make your business grow....if you own a business the obvious sign of success is that you are selling your product. Right?

This post sponsored by avand.co.uk

Get the Word Out

Ok, so I like to talk...alright, I LOVE to talk. More importantly, I love to share my wealth of information (where it comes from I don't know) to others. Where to buy things on sale, where to go for the best deals, and to let people know when the new things hit the market! So now there is a networking website, Chatterjam.com, that tells you when the latest and greatest hits the market...what's hot and what's not. Best of all, it is a Christian based company that offers readers the chance to try the product and share their experiences. We all know that the best way to get information out is by word of mouth, and the only way for people to share is if they have experienced it themselves! So go, get the word out...see what's hot!

This post sponsored by chatterjam.com

Theme Parks

Zip...

...Zoom....

....Wheeee.....

.....OMG, I think I'm going to DIE!.....

Those are just some of the sounds that you hear 'round the world at Amusement Parks throughout the United States and across the pond in Europe! You might also hear me laughing hysterically, as I feel like I am going to fall and die! OMG....I just love rides! The going way up....the plunging way down....and back up again! WOW!!! Fantastic.

There is a fantastic Amusement Park in Pleasure Beach, Blackpool (that's the UK folks). The 6 million (or more) visitors each year have voted their rides some of the best in the world. What are those rides? The Pepsi Max Big One, Infusion and Big Dipper! Right now they have unlimited rides for 20 Euro for their big Halloween Extravaganza....ohhh, can you imagine all the rides you want to go on? If I wasn't in San Diego, CA right now, I might be over there checking out all the rides...two of my favorites things combined....thrill rides and Halloween! Yeah!!! Maybe Susana and I need to add this place to our list of places to visit.

http://www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/

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Trade Show Truss

Do you work in an environment that requires truss? For example, a nightclub, concert arena, tradeshows...anyplace that might require truss. What is truss? It is modular material that helps build your stage area....a display, a background to hold curtains, etc. This website has truss for reasonable prices and they also build what you design. So if you can dream it, they can build it! Just think, whatever needs you have can be met and for a reasonable amount. They also have free designing for qualified customers. How do I know if I am a qualified customer? Call 877-268-7469 to find out and have any questions answered.

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Are you looking...

....for a media job? What does a media job mean you ask? Well, media jobs include: anything in media, marketing, advertising and public relations! Are you in one of those fields now and need a new job? Are you trying to get into these fields and need a new way to break in? There is a newly launched Media Jobs Network that helps you the employee find a job and the employer to post jobs, it is found at Mediajobs.net. They also include networks from regionally focused media job boards from places such as Seattle, Houston, Las Vegas, Nashville and much, much more. As a prospective employee you can post your resume for free and employers can post open opportunities for maximum exposure in the field. Working in this business can be hard to initially get started in; however, with a great tool such as mediajobs.net you'll be on your way in no time! So what are you waiting for?

This post is sponsored by mediajobs.net

Vacation

So if Marcie and I were to ever go on vacation together, I have a feeling that we would end up at someplace fun like oh, let's say, Disney World! We are both Disney fanatics....we are good friends and I think would enjoy time together exploring Disney World. Although her husband and son might object that we were going on vacation together! :)

However, a trip to Disney World can be expensive...seeing as how we live in the Pacific NW and would have to fly to Florida...but one way we can save money is on our Disney World tickets...discounted Disney tickets can be purchased very easily off the internet, and is a sure fire way to save money. You can save at least $10 a person when buying multiple day hopper passes...now $10 doesn't sound like much, but hey every penny counts when you need extra cash to buy goodies inside the park! In addition to Disney World Tickets you can buy tickets to all sorts of different entertainments...Blue Man Group, Kennedy Space Center, Richard Petty driving experience and so much (much) more! Wouldn't this make a nice gift for someone? You could make all the arrangements and buy all the tickets online and be ready to go the minute you get off the plane in Orlando!

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Let's Eat

Well, actually let's combine my love of traveling 'round the world with my love of food. This time our journey is taking us across the pond (oh, I've always wanted to say that!) to Chesterfield, which is located in the East Midlands in the county of Derbyshire (UK of course!). In this quaint little town, which is home to the famous landmark "crooked spire" atop of the Church of St. Mary and All Saints, are wonderful places to eat and enjoy life! Because we all know that part of enjoying life is eating good food! So as you are touring 'round through Derbyshire County and fancy a bite to eat and an overnight stay at a local bed and breakfast, look for a delicious Chesterfield Restaurant to help you out! Just remember to take me with you!