DIY Honey Sugar Facial and Body Scrub

It's a good idea to use natural beauty products whenever you can. Not only is it less expensive, but it's also better for your skin, and way more fun to use. This scrub will exfoliate your skin, removing dead skin cells that can clog your pores and make your face feel dull. The honey and sugar work together to moisturizer your skin without chemicals, giving you healthy, radiant skin.

Summer Sweet Treats

Got the urge to bake something this summer?  These delicious, time-tested recipes are perfect for poolside treats, travel snacks, or a sweet surprise for your Grandmother!  Does the thought of baking in the kitchen seem daunting and time-consuming?  No worries, these recipes are quick and easy.  So grab an apron and a friend, and let’s get baking!

Watermelon Strawberry Lemonade Recipe

Looking for an easy, refreshing treat to beat the summer heat? Texas weather can be crazy hot, and this sounds super yummy right now. Strawberries, watermelon, sugar -- what's not to love?

Tiny Pizzas

Looking for an easy weekend recipe to make for your family? It doesn't get simpler (or yummier) than this! I promised you fun recipes in the February issue of our e-newsletter, so here it is, complete with nutritional info to help you look and feel your best.

Prep time: about 15 minutes

What You Need
•1 standard-sized bagel, cut in half
•tomato sauce
•shredded mozzarella cheese
•toppings like diced green pepper, chopped onion, or chopped tomato (whatever you like)
•seasonings like oregano, basil, and pepper

What to Do
1.Set the oven to low heat.
2.Spread tomato sauce on each bagel half.
3.Sprinkle the shredded cheese all over the tomato sauce on each half.
4.Add your favorite toppings.
5.Put a light sprinkling of seasonings on each half.
6.Put your bagel halves on a baking sheet.
7.Bake in the oven on low heat for about 5-8 minutes. You'll know they're done when the cheese is bubbly.
8.Let cool for a minute, then enjoy your tiny pizzas!

Serves: 1
Serving size: 2 tiny pizzas

Nutritional analysis (per serving):
210 calories, 9 g protein, 4 g fat, 34 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 11 mg cholesterol, 633 mg sodium, 144 mg calcium, 1.9 mg iron

Special thanks to KidsHealth.org

Healthy & Yummy Snacks!

# delicious, easy, healthy food ideas. Whether you love to snack or chow down on meals, here's a few simple low-calorie ways to bump your nutrition intake. Plus, it actually tastes delicious!

Breakfast: forget the Fruit Loops, they don't count as fruit

• TRIPLE BERRY SMOOTHIE In blender, place 1 package regular-flavor instant oatmeal (about 1/3 cup), 1 cup frozen mixed berries, 1/2 cup cacium-fortified orange juice, 1/2 cup fat-free milk, and 1 tsp. honey; blend till smooth (300 calories)
• WHOLE-GRAIN PANCAKES with peaces and raspberries (275 calories)
• APRICOT GRANOLA Mix 1/3 cup low-fat granola with a 6-oz. container of plain low-fat yogurt and 8 dried apricot halves, chopped (290 calories)

50 Calorie Nibbles for those who love to snack!

• 10 baby carrots with ranch dressing or salsa for dip (50 calories if using salsa)
• 20 thin pretzels with 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard or peanut butter for dipping (50 calories if using mustard)
• 14 frozen grapes...green works best
• 7 strawberries with 2 Tbsp. Cool Whip for dipping
• 3/4 cup fresh raspberries
• 1 Breyers All Natural Pure Fruit Bar

Review: Target's Choxie Chocolate

Who doesn't love chocolate? Especially when it's wrapped in ultra-fab packages. Target's CHOXIE chocolate is advertised as "unique" and having "something for everyone", from "rich and creamy to peanut buttery". But is it too good to be true?
In May 2007, Consumer Report's testers sampled chocolates from three of Choxie's collections. "Each collection was different," they said. "It was very waxy. It was OK, but not stellar."

The Voice of Mom added about Choxie Flakey Truffles, "Smooth and creamy, these truffles have a delicate and soft chocolate taste, without being too sweet," but noted that they were too soft and melted instantly in your hands.

Taquitos reviewed that the inside chocolate wasn't as pretty as the box, but "the chocolate was soft and quite delicious."

The Girl Tastes fell in love with Choxie's many coffee-flavored chocolates but said non-coffee flavors were bland.

I recieved some Choxie truffles after performing in Pride & Prejudice and thought they were delicious. Rich, creamy, with a light flaky outside.

There are mixed reviews -- from bland to delicious -- so it's your call. Go to Target and try some Choxie for yourself!

p.s: they make pretty party favors and tag-alongs to gift cards for your friend's birthday...(and your mom will probably want some, too!)

Eat Your Way to Great Skin

This is not a diet plan -- it's a great way to get great skin and a healthy body. Check out our quick guide to get your vitamins -- and look and feel like a million bucks.

Vitamin A
What it is: a powerful antioxidant
What it does: produces kerain (strengthens skin cells, maximizing protective role) and proteins that regenerate cells
I need more if: your skin is drier and flakier than normal
Where to get it: juices with Beta-carotene (good eyesight is a bonus), orange fruits and veggies like carrots, peaches, pumpkin, sweet potatoes

Vitamin C
What it is: food for collagen, which is one of the most important substances of your skin (keeps it firm and toned)
What it does: kills collagen enemies and rejuvenates collagen
I need more if: have low energy, unhealthy skin
Where to get it: kiwis, oranges, red peppers, blueberries, melon (YUM!)
Beauty Bonus: One kiwi holds the minimum recommended daily dose of vitamin C -- pop 4 or 5 in your mouth and you'll dramatically boost your skin's health

Iron
What it is: a mineral
What it does: give blood more oxygen
I need more if: my skin is pale, my eyes have dark or puffy circles under them
Where to get it: lean red meat, plenty of dark green leafy veggies

Zinc
What it is: a mineral for anyone wanting to get rid of acne!
What it does: heals skin and reduces acne
I need more if: my skin is oily and acne-prone, broken out, scratched, cut, or scarred
Where to get it: shellfish, hard crumbly cheeses, nuts, seeds

Essential Fatty Acids
What it is: fatty acids =]
What it does: smooths your skin and boosts overall appearance
I need more if: I'm on a low-fat diet, have flaky, dry, or scaly skin
Where to get it: oily fish, nuts, seeds (which also contain Vitamin E, a skin boost)

Water
What it is: essential substance for life, most important thing on earth besides oxygen
What it does: flushes out complexion, glows skin, clears face (reduces acne!), cleans your guts and makes you healthier!
I need more if: I get sick a lot, get stomaches or headaches, have trouble breathing in hot weather, my skin is dry or dull, I feel lazy or just plain icky
Aim for: 6-8 glasses a day -- but don't guzzle them at once. Drink 1 glass an hour

What you DON'T Need:

• Salty foods. These are high in iodine, which is believed to trigger acne.
• Caffeine. Every cup of coffee needs 3 cups of water to flush it through your system -- and this water is often taken from your skin. Caffeine increases stress hormones, which leads to poor health.
• Hydrogenated fats. Margarines and almost all processed food generate free radicals which eat away at your skin and leave it damaged and sick.

PRINT IT OUT! Print this information out so you'll have a simple, easy skin guidline to help you eat your way to healthier, prettier skin. Keep track of what you eat normally, and try to replace some of the bad stuff with the good stuff mentioned above, like Zinc, Water, and Vitamin C.