Thursday, December 31, 2015

How to Get Rid of Mice - The Easy Ways

Mice are mostly nocturnal and they are not wild animals. Their natural habitats are buildings. They have evolved alongside us, like cockroaches and other vermin. They are no better adapted to living outside in the park or wherever than we are, and their natural reaction to being "released" is to just run back in to any dark warm place with food.

If the infestation is severe, it is most likely mice will be seen. Mice often leave behind droppings in pantries, drawers, kitchen cabinets and any other place where they can smell food. It's imperative to close off the source of entry. Eliminate any food source and check under the sink and other areas for any holes. Where there is one mouse there is likely to be more.

Diet and Habitat
Generally, mice eat almost everything, like seeds, grains and any sweet food stuff especially peanut butter. Mice have quite large habitat that consumes around 17% of their total body weight in a single day. They make their nests at crawl spaces, in ceilings, in basements, under upholstery, under the major appliances, weeds and their complete life cycle is generally spent in the same house they born. A fully matured mice can reproduce 50 to 60 pups in a single year and because of such quite high reproduction rate they easily out number other species on this earth.


Fact
According to an article "Controlling House Mice", published by the University of Missouri, a female mouse has between five and ten litters per year with about five or six babies in each litter. The young are capable of reproducing at the age of six weeks. A mouse infestation can easily get out of control if not dealt with as soon as it is recognized.


Cheaper and Affordable Ways on How to Get Rid of Mice
One of the cheapest and most effective ways is by using a snap trap. There are different models available but it can also be dangerous to children. Snap traps work best when baited. The bait should be sticky to ensure the mouse will disturb the trigger mechanism even if the mouse or rat touches the bait only lightly. An effective bait you can use is peanut butter because mice loves it so much.


Another affordable trap is mouse glue traps. But very inhumane way to get rid of mice and the effects could be dangerous to your own health. It comes with lock-tab tents to hide mice. A pest-attractant scent is dispersed throughout the glue, therefore, no baiting is required just place and catch. With glue traps it's really horrible picking up the squeaking, terrified, wriggling mouse. Plus it might bite you and it probably has fleas that could transfer over to you.


You can also use mouse poison is also kind of inhumane because it isn't instant and can be painful. The reason rats and mice respond to poison is because they are unable to vomit, so it is a slow, painful death. But it's not recommended on how you're going to get rid of mice in the house because of the danger it can cause to health. Also it will cause the mice to search for water and they usually find their way to your toilet or sink.


Humane and Environmentally Friendly Method
Live mouse traps are more expensive than other traps, but they are humane. So if you want catching a mouse and let it go without killing it, live mouse trap is the way to go and are available in various sizes, depending on the size of your problem. When the rodent enters, the door closes and contains the mouse for live release.


Most live traps consist of a platform on which you place food to lure the mouse. The weight of animal triggers the door to shut once the mouse enters the platform therefore trapping the mouse. Bring the trap outside and release the still living mouse. They love peanut butter and it's best for luring them. Place traps along the edge of room, around where you last saw the a mouse, or near areas where you have found mouse droppings.

Another effective method is using essential oils such as peppermint, mothballs, ammonia and onion have been known to drive mice away. Some people even say fox urine will send your mice packing because the fox is a natural predator of mice.


Nothing can beat the effectiveness of cat. They are the natural predator of mice. Once they smell cat, mice just go away. Cats known to be notorious mousers and many people still keep cats for the very purpose of scaring mice from invading their house.


One very important thing to remember is that mouse infestation can easily get out of control if not dealt with as soon as it is recognized. A clean surroundings and regular maintenance of the place are the keys to avoid getting invaded and don't get troubled of how you're going to get rid of mice in your house.

How to Get Rid of Mice In the Attic

The House Mouse is a common pest because they like to live in, well, houses. That certainly includes the attic of the house. Once inside the home and attic, mice cause the following problems:
  • Mice scratching in the attic
  • Mice scratching in the walls
  • Mice leaving droppings everywhere
  • Bad smell of mice in attic
  • Gnawing on electrical wires
  • Concerns over health risks
For these reasons, many people wish to have these nuisance rodents trapped and removed from the attic. Need help?
 

Yes, mice definitely prefer to live in the attics of homes. An attic is perfect shelter for the house mouse - a warm, safe, dry place in which to live and create a nest of baby mice. But there are several problems that come with mice. First of all, they breed prolifically. Just one pair of mice can result in hundreds of mice in a year. Your home or attic can become infested with mice if they have enough resources. Like all rodents, the House Mouse is a chewer, and it can chew on electrical wires, which can cause outages or a fire risk. The mouse can also chew on PVC piping. They also spread disease and can enter the house and contaminate food.



If you don't take care of the problem, you can end up with considerable damage in your attic or home, such as seen in the below photographs. To prevent this, follow the five steps that I've outlined below. This work can be very difficult for beginners. It took me over a year, and several dozen mouse removal jobs, before I started to really get the hang of it, so if you're having trouble doing it yourself, you may want to hire a professional off of my directory to help you. Don't wait too long, because a mouse problem only gets worse with time. And please, under no circumstances should you use poison to try to get rid of mice in the attic. It will only kill a few mice, and the rest will keep going, but the mice that the poison does kill will rot and stink, and you'd be amazed at how this small animal can create such a big odor!  Trapping and removal, as discussed below, is the far better option.



How Do You Get Mice Out of the Attic? Follow these steps:

FIRST: Inspect your entire house or building, and find all the open holes and gaps that mice are using to get into the structure. This can include vents, eave gaps, roof lines, etc. Check from the ground up, and definitely the entire roof. You need to look for VERY SMALL areas, like a quarter of an inch, or a hole the size of a dime. It takes great attention to detail. You can use a blacklight to see the mouse urine at night, which can help you find popular entry points. Once inside, a mouse can scurry though any part of the architecture, the walls, the ceiling, and get into the attic, where they like to live and nest.

SECOND: Seal up all of these entry holes, using steel, which mice can't chew through. I bolt the steel in place. Use a sealant to block off all air flow, and to discourage mice from trying to get inside (they can smell air coming through a gap). This is an essential part of the mouse removal from the attic process.

THIRD: Only AFTER everything is sealed should you bother to trap and remove the mice. Set mouse snap traps. They are definitely the best type of trap to use - on the mouse runways in the attic. Mice are pretty fearless, and easy to trap. If the numbers are really high, you can use a repeating trap, like the Tin Cat, but I like to use a lot of snap traps for mice.

FOURTH: Remove the trapped mice until you hear no more sounds in the walls or attic. That's how you know all the mice are gone from the house.

FIFTH: Clean up the crawl space afterward. You want to remove all of the droppings. Click here for photographs of mouse poop so that you can identify it. Learn more about the attic cleanup process, including methods and products, in my attic cleanup page.



Go to my mouse removal page for more info on how to solve the problem.

Customer Mouse Email: Hello. We have had a rodent in our attic since October. We have had mice every winter. We have been in this house for 3 years. Unfortunately they reside in an inaccessible part of the attic where no person can go. The rodent guy we have is unable to figure where they are getting in from the roof as we have a tile roof. So he had a roofer come out (extra cost) to lift up the tiles so he could see under and discovered a vent. After putting some mesh on that vent ... we still continued to hear noises. Not crazy ones like the mice were trapped ... just the same kind we have been hearing. There may be some where else they are getting in from ... but where? All your advice on your web page refers to when you can get to them from the inside, or you can visibly see where the mice are getting in from the outside. What would we do in our situation? Please help ... I am frantic now! Tazeen

My Response: Yes, barrel tile roofs cause the biggest problems. It can be very challenging to solve. Simply put, you need a good expert with tile roof experience, to find the openings. Where do you live?

Customer Mouse Email: I do not know your name, but I figured I'd ask for your help. Some pest control trappers I hired came to my house and sealed it from the mouse problem we were having in the attic. The bill was $400. It was not successful. He returned and sealed a few more places with foam. Again, the problem persisted. I put out poisoned bait...my mistake...and had to hire the trapper again to find the dead animal in the rafters. He was not successful, but the bill was still $160. I have called a few times to try to get someone to come out and re-inspect the house as the pests are still getting in somewhere. His website says he guarantees his work, ("We offer repairs of animal entry points and animal waste cleanup and we guarantee our work") but I cannot get anyone to come out and finish the job. I have been told that if hire independent contractors and the original pest control company no longer works, that I will have to pay again to have someone come out. That is unfortunate, but not my problem. A guarantee is a guarantee and I want someone to come out and finish the job or I want my $400 returned so I can hire another company. I do not want to have to contact my brother, an attorney who deals with fraud, but I feel I am being left with no choice. As I sit here at my computer I can hear something crawling in the walls. I want the problem fixed, as per his guarantee. Please contact me as soon as possible so we can resolve this matter. I just want the problem fixed. Thank you.

My Response: That's really unfortunate! What a bad company you must have hired. Any company that offers a guarantee should honor it. Also, I wouldn't charge a customer if I was unable to find the dead animal. I'm sorry you had a bad experience with a pest control company. I don't know how I can specifically help unless I know the person you are talking about, but in the end it's up to that company to do good work and honor their guarantee. As for me, I do my best to provide educational materials online, and I try to refer good companies myself, but I can't be responsible for the actions of any other company other than mine in Orlando.

Customer Mouse Email: to whom it may concern: my name is shawn I have a mouse problem in my attic or crawlspace and I work out of town so I cant control the problem. it has been going on to my knowledge for about a month maybe longer. I have a close by neighbor who has a key. I need an estimate of removal, and clean up (if you offer it.) Could you give an estimate as to approximate cost of eradicating the mouse? You may contact me by email.

My Response: I'd be happy to help with your problem with a mouse in the attic. There are likely many mice. I will need to do an inspection in order to provide a proper estimate for the job, because I'll need to seal the house so that no more mice can get inside.

How to get rid of rats in your house

How to get rid of mice in your house  

Rats

Mice are small and hairy creatures that can easily damage most of your household appliances, upholstery, eat all types of food items, and because they feed on wasted food, they carry various harmful diseases.
It can get very complicated and frustrating to control the increase of mice population in a home because these rodents are small in structure and can easily get between small gaps and cracks. They can easily be found in almost any area in a home and also in garbage cluttered areas. Mice are not that easy to spot during the day, but during the night or when the lights are turned off, they can often be heard scurrying around looking for wasted food items.                          

Getting rid of mice is not an easy feat. They crawl through small holes and tend to hide in small corners. The good news is that even if it is not an easy task, it is possible to get rid of these pesky rodents on your own. By applying a variety of techniques, you can effectively and completely clear your home of mice. Keeping an organized, uncluttered, and clean home are some of the best ways to prevent mice from invading your home. Food attracts mice, so food that is put away in secure bags and containers is another way to prevent mice from showing up.
    
Mice are also known to find the smell of mothballs and ammonia repelling. This is a scent that these creatures stay away from. Peppermint is another scent that can have them running in the opposite direction. If you soak some cotton balls with peppermint extract and place them near the areas where you see or hear mice can help keep them away. Mice are also flexible small creatures and they have the capability of running and jumping up and down walls. Sealing any vents, cracks, and open spaces, thin openings from the inside and outside of your home are other ways to prevent mice infestation. If your home is already infested by these rodents, you can always try to use traps.

Mouse traps are an effective way to getting rid of mice. You can place traps in corners of your home or the places where you often see them running around. Another option is by applying mice repellents. This is a safe and eco-friendly way to get rid of house mice.

How to Get Rid of Rats Naturally

How to Get Rid of Rats

Rats that manage to infest homes are generally either the brown rats also known as Norwegian rats, or the roof rats also known as house rats. It's important to get rid of rats because they create a lot of damage, and they pose a serious health risk. Here are some ideas on how to get rid of rats by yourself. 

Get rid of Rats




Now that you've blocked all entrance points you just need to know how to get rid of rats already in your home. The best tool is a snap trap. These look just like a mouse trap only a lot bigger. They are easy to set and they instantly kill the rat. There are also glue boards. The problem is that when the rat steps on the board, if it works (which is rare) the rat is still alive so now you are faced with trying to pick up the trap without getting bit and you have to kill the rat.

You can also use a rat zapper, which lures the rat into a box that then delivers a lethal shock. That said, in many cases the zap is not enough to kill the rat. This is why snap traps are really your best bet. Use peanut butter for bait and check the traps at least once a day. Always wear gloves when disposing of the rat bodies, double bag, and place in outside garbage container.

Rat Trapping Tools

Featuring Wooden Snap Trap, Victor Trap, Tomcat Trap, Havahart Trap, Glue board and the Electric Buzzer

 Have you ever seen that face people make when they smell something bad? That's the same look you get when you mention the subject of rat trapping. Anyone who has ever trapped rats instantly has visions of creeping through piles of insulation and removing putrid dead rats from snap traps. That's enough to make anyone put it off another day. But, if you've got rat problems, you know you've got no choice. Getting rid of rats becomes priority number one.          
                           

Since some people cannot stand the idea of killing anything, it is time to mention the live trap. Live traps such as the Havahart, will for sure catch rats. The drawback is you must transport the live rat a goodly distance from your house to release them or they will instinctively head back home. Also, please don't release them near other people's homes and cause them a new rat problem. Unfortunately, if dealing with a real rat infestation, live trapping is generally not feasible as it would cost quite a bit to purchase a large number of live traps to catch them quickly and reduce the population sufficiently. It might be an acceptable method if trying to remove one or two rats from the home though.

Finally, some people like to use glue boards. Glue boards will catch rats, but you'd best be prepared to remove a squirming, dying, and even screaming live rat stuck to a thick layer of glue. It is for those with strong stomachs and no qualms about dealing with suffering rodents. This is probably one of the least humane methods of trapping rats and also carries a higher risk of an injured rodent dragging himself off to die somewhere hard to find. Some will disagree with me, but my take is just don't use them.

Study the strengths and weaknesses of the various rat trapping devices and decide what would be best for your trapping project. It isn't fun getting rid of rats, but knowing what your options are will be vital to laying out a plan to eliminate these furry pests.

How to Prevent a Roach Infestation

How to Prevent a Roach Infestation


 

Every one of us has seen cockroaches in our dinning rooms or kitchens. These small nocturnal bugs could attack your house without any warning. They are horrible crawlers that stray everywhere including the toilet, over your cooked meals and dirty dishes. This explains why they spread diseases. Roaches carry germs that are harmful to human health. They spread allergies and asthma. If you happen to find any cockroach in your house, you must immediately look for the source. This is the only way to get rid of the problem. Else, the roaches will multiply and grow. Roaches are capable of surviving on minimal resources. They even survive a house explosion. This could give you an idea how difficult it is to show them the way out of your home. Hence, it is important that you deal with roach infestation issue very seriously. Deal with it as soon as it occurs.
                                      

Before you get in to how to deal with roaches, you must remember a few points about them so that you can handle them well:

  • Roaches crawl only during night. Therefore, if you are not getting their source you must check out at night
  • The areas where roaches occur are normally dark, warm and moist. You must try to keep the corners of your house clean and dry. Roaches breed in wet areas and maximum roach infestation happens near the sink.
  • The most likely target areas, loved by roaches include below the sink, in the cracks and crevices, behind the cabinets and drawers and near sink areas.
  • Roaches will mostly only enter your house if there is left over foods or spillages. If there are several filthy hiding places in your house, roaches will celebrate
  • Try to keep your house as clean as possible and pick up all the left over food and secure it in tins, boxes or in the refrigerator.
  • Clean all vessels of the day before you sleep so that there are no dirty plates in the sink.
  • If there are several cracks and crevices in your walls, you must get them repaired at the earliest. Roaches love to stay in cracks and can hide there for days. Hence, it is important that you seal them soon.
  • Roaches do not like naphthalene balls. These white balls are effective in keeping the roaches away. Moreover, they emit a good fresh smell in your cabinets, cupboards and drawers.

In case you find roaches, you could take the following steps:
  1. Use Sprays: There are sprays available in the market that instantly kills these pests. You can keep a bottle so that whenever you find a bug, just spray on it and the job is over. Take care of the children. Take the spray far from their reach.
  2. Bait: If you are uncomfortable with spray due to the smell and its effects on health, you could buy bait. It is as a gel applied at places where roaches frequent. Bait works really well by luring the roaches first. Then the roaches die after consuming them.
  3. Home remedy: Make dough with sugar, flour and boric acid. Boric acid kills roaches and sugar attracts them. Flour will make them stick to the balls and thus this is very effective in keeping the roaches away.
  4. Exterminators: If all steps to prevent roach infestation fail then you must take professional help to deal with roach problems.

How to Get Rid of Mice in House Naturally

How to Get Rid of Mice in House Naturally

Get rid of Mice

Remove and keep out rodents from your home can be a real headache, but here you will find some simple tips on how to get rid of mice in house naturally and fast to make sure that the mice remain in their natural habitat!

Try with the essential oil of peppermint. The smell is simply too intense for rodents and not even try to get close to its source. It is also useful to cover up the flavor of any piece of food escaped the cleaners. You can find the peppermint oil in herbal medicine or pharmacy. Pour a drop or two on each cotton ball, then place the cotton balls in areas where it is more likely that the mice are trying to get into the house, such as near doors, vents, etc.. Another way to keep mice away is to cultivate seedlings mint near entrances. In addition to using it to ward off the rats, you can also use the mint in the kitchen.

Close the possible access points. Mice can also go through very small holes (if there goes your head, then there goes the whole body), but the best way to not end up with rats in the home is to close any entry. Although this may be a difficult task in older houses, is the most effective solution. A good way to clog the holes is to use scouring pads (the ones with the green side, used to clean the dishes) cut according to the shape and size of the hole.

Place the boxes of cat litter used near the front door of the house. The mice will smell of cat urine and if the give-legged in a flash.

Use snake dried droppings. You can ask the zoo, reptile or pet stores. Place them near the front door (even when you have guests) and in places where the mice seem to go, but out of the reach of children and pets.

Kill the rodents will not disappear mice long. When animals are killed, more are arriving from outside to use the resources available. A large sudden decrease in the number of mice may result in a temporary surge in food reserves that pushes the rodents survivors to mate. This creates a vicious circle in which many animals suffer and die needlessly.

Try with deadly traps. There are pitfalls that trap the mouse in a container in which the rodent can enter but from which it can not escape. This can be a more humane method to eliminate mice. When you release them, remember to do it at least a couple of miles from your home, perhaps in an area with lots of greenery, so that they have another place to live.

Use Electronic Ultrasonic. There are electronic devices that emit ultrasonic mice that disturb and hinder them from communicating. The sound is not a problem for dogs and cats, and the device can easily be found in home improvement stores or shopping centers. They work very well in most home environments, usually by placing a device on each floor you will get good results.

Keep clean your home. If there is nothing to eat, the mice will not be so interested in staying. Why do not you go out to dinner? Seriously, it preserves all the food and the food in airtight containers and in places protected from the attacks of mice.

Place the garbage cans as far away from your house. Mice smell and they are attracted to.

Use of products based on organic compounds. There are companies such as Indigo Group or the American Earth Kind (which accepts orders also abroad) who offer products consisting of mixtures of organic natural repellents that keep mice away in a completely ecological.

To catch a mouse, Throw him over a towel or rag. The mouse will remain under the cloth for a short period of time. Put a basket or bowl upside down on top of the cloth. Shoves the parts of the fabric which have remained outside under the basket, so that the latter is in contact with the floor. Slips under the basket and cloth something flat and rigid, like a piece of cardboard, office or a folder from a vinyl record. Knock over the trash, taking care to keep it closed, then leave the house and brings the basket, the cloth and the mouse as far as possible. When you're at least 100 meters from home, free of the rat.

A domestic cat may be able to solve the problem. Cats that are free to enter and exit the home, in particular, are used to obtain food by themselves and may be able to capture the mouse (or mice). It should be noted, however, that not all cats have enough energy or "much like" to hunt the mice.

Dogs have an immune system different from that of cats and are vulnerable to the diseases carried by mice, if they come in contact with their carcasses. At home is much better to use the repellent rather than traps. Would not you rather drive the mice out and keep them away rather than having to deal with it in their own home?

Obtain an owl is the ultimate solution. A family of owls can also be eaten 15 mice in one night! Build a birdhouse with an entrance large enough and place it in your garden to attract some owl (you can also try putting the food inside), making sure there are no nails or other hazards discovered: the owls and barn owls are protected animals and you could be fined if the bird is injured on your property. You can also buy owls, but you need a special license.

More Useful Tips on How to Get Rid of Mice in House Fast
1. Try to put some candy mint wet near the garbage bins.
2. Close all the revenue it could use a mouse to enter the house.
3. Keep the house clean.
4. You can also use the smoke, like incense, to drive away the mice in a natural way, but you can not put it in the same confined area where you could use mint.
5. To attract mice can create traps of sweet foods, eg using figs or some candy.
6. Kill as many mice will not solve much, as explained above. If your problem is a single field mouse and you are not in a place with large amounts of food, avoid to kill him and deliver him away from home.

Hopefully, these tips on how to get rid of mice in house can help you get rid of them fast. If you find this blog useful, feel free to share it to your friends. You can subscribe to get update on more tips and tricks on how to get rid of mice in house.

How to Get Rid of Mice in House with Peppermint Oil

Ger rid of Mice

Peppermint oil to get rid of mice


Get rid of mice is difficult, especially if you do not want to kill them. One sure way to get rid of them is to use the peppermint oil.


How does this peppermint oil mice work?

The peppermint oil is an excellent deterrent for mice, it casts a very strong scent that drives them away. Their strong sense of smell can not withstand strong odors, such as those of mint and eucalyptus. Using a small amount of peppermint oil around your house will drive rodents away naturally.

How to use peppermint oil and mice?

Soak cotton in oil of peppermint and place it wherever you have seen traces of the passage of a mouse or where you suspected. You can also add two teaspoons of peppermint oil in a cup of water and place it in a spray bottle for a quick remedy. Change the oil after a few weeks.

Although peppermint oil helps to keep mice away, it also has medicinal benefits. For example, peppermint oil helps to clear the nasal passages. Rub this oil on the stomach to relieve digestive problems.

Finally, we hope this useful tip on how to get rid of mice in house will be worked for you if you want to get rid of mice naturally. To get update on how to get rid of mice, you can subscribe to our feed. Thanks for visiting and if you have any suggestion or comment, please feel free to leave your comment on the comment section below.

How to Get Rid of Mice in House with Pepsi or Coca Cola

How to get rid of mice in house

How to Use Coke or Pepsi to Kill Rats

We all know what happens combining diet coke and mentos, but here we will teach you another use of this soft drinks. The step by step instruction explains how to get rid of mice that infest the house and garden, with a very simple helper and not harmful to environment or human health such as pesticides.


With Pepsi or Coca Cola, in fact, it goes to attack the ability of the mice to make burps, and then release the gas contained in the carbonated soft drinks. Pour some Pepsi or Coca Cola into a plate and put it near the places of passage of these animals, or even under a sink or in dark corners, rodents will be attracted by the sweetness of the drink. After they drink some of this carbonated soft drink, they will die because they are unable to free your body from carbon dioxide.

If you are having a problem with mice in house and try to get rid of them naturally, below are some of helpful tips that you can try.

Information on this article is free for distribution. If you find it useful and want to share to your friends, relatives, etc., feel free to do it so. To get update of more tips, please subscribe to our blog feed via email.

Benefits of Black Seed Oil

Image of Benefits of Black Seed Oil 
Black seed oil derived from the seeds is packed with medicinal properties, which for hundreds of years, herbalists in Asia have utilized for treating several illnesses.
Black seeds are also variously known as onion seeds, black cumin, fennel flower, black caraway or Roman coriander. These seeds belong to the fruits of the Nigella sativa plant, which is a native flowering plant of southwest Asia.
  • Black seed oil is a popular remedy for cough and cold. Rubbing the chest, neck and nostrils with black seed oil, helps to dissolve the congestions in the chest and nose. Inhaling the vapor of black seed oil diluted with hot water helps to remove mucus congestions. The decongestant property of black seed oil is effective in reducing the symptoms of asthma.
  • People experiencing sleeping difficulties or insomnia can benefit from black seed oil. To have a sound sleep, add a teaspoon of virgin black seed oil to a cup of warm milk, and drink it before going to bed.
  • Black seed oil is effective in treating body pain. Gently massaging the painful areas of your body with warm black seed oil provides relief from pain.
  • Folk healers in the West Asian countries believe that intake of virgin black seed oil mixed with mint could help to improve memory. It can also help to reduce stress and anxiety.
  • Black seed oil could prevent cholesterol deposition in the blood vessels. Regular intake of black seed oil mixed with a hot drink could help to dissolve the plague clogging the coronary arteries.
  • Digestion problems could be treated with black seed oil. It can also help to cure diarrhea.

Medical Uses of Artichoke

Artichok 
The globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) is originating in Southern Europe around the Mediterranean. Its can be made into an herbal tea. It affords some of the qualities of the whole vegetable, acting as a diuretic and improving liver function. The majority of the cynarin found in artichoke is located in the pulp of the leaves, though dried leaves and stems of artichoke also contain it. It inhibits taste receptors, making water (and other foods and drinks) seem sweet.

Medical uses:

  • Strengthens the liver
  • Fights flatulence and nausea
  • Overall detoxifying
  • Protects against skin cancer
  • Prevents nasal bleeding in children

Health Benefits of Spinach

Image of Health Benefits of Spinach 
Spinach (Basella alba) is a perennial twining, sprawling vine found in the tropics where it is widely used as a leaf vegetable. It has high levels of vitamins (A, B, C, E), calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, manganese, zinc, and decent amounts of iron and copper. It has good levels of mucilage which is a valuable aid in detoxifying the body.
  • The abundance of vitamin K in spinach contributes greatly to a healthy nervous system and brain function by providing an essential part for the synthesis of sphingolipids, the crucial fat that makes up the Myelin sheath around our nerves.
  • The high amount of vitamin A in spinach also promotes healthy hair, skin, and nails by allowing for proper moisture retention in the epidermis, thus fighting psoriasis, keratinization, acne and even wrinkles.
  • One cup of boiled spinach provides RDA of vitamin K that can prevent excess activation of osteoclasts, and the protein that is essential for maintaining the strength and density of our bones.
  • Strengthens hormone production.
  • Eating one cup of spinach contributes to this process that fights atherosclerosis, improves heart functions and stroke.
  • Improves mental and sexual capacities.
  • Detoxifies the intestine.
  • Flavonoids, a phytonutrient with anti-cancer properties abundant in spinach have been shown to slow down cell division in human stomach and skin cancer cells.
  • Furthermore, spinach has shown significant protection against the occurrence of aggressive prostate cancer.

Nude Lipstick is the Answer to Everything

Lipstick

I’ve decided. Nude lipstick is the answer to everything. Well, at least in terms of beauty. Okay, sometimes bronzer may also be involved. BUT. If you’re not feeling festive enough or pretty enough or your favorite dress suddenly doesn’t look quite right but everyone is waiting for you in the car (ummmmm), the answer, sweet peas, is nude lipstick. It’s modern. It’s chic. It makes every outfit look better. People will probably ask you what lipstick you’re wearing so be sure to find a nude that brightens up your face, not makes it look like death warmed over. Oh, you’ll know. But it may require a bit of experimentation first. To get you started, I’ve pulled together a few of my favorites over at eBay, where I once bought a limited-edition MAC pinky-nude lipstick from Canada for $50 because it was sold out everywhere. Like I said, nude lipstick.  

P.S. Check out my other buying guides for ebay, where I like to shop and often write about it.

Are You Satisfied?

Okay you guys. Thanks to your encouragement, I’m going to commit to writing every Monday about what’s on my mind or weighing on my heart. I’ve never kept a journal—why write it down if you can talk about it?!—and often wondered if I was missing out. This will be an interesting experiment. I may burn out or run out of things to say, in which case maybe you can help me out with some topics? As long as this remains a positive forum, I totally open to suggestions!

itsokay

Over the weekend I caught the pilot of Satisfaction. For a USA network show it wasn’t nearly as trashy as I expected (though still not as good as Suits.) Based on the trailer, you might think it’s all about sex and marriage and cheating spouses. And while that is the premise (this is USA network, after all), at the core are characters questioning whether they are truly satisfied with the life they’ve created. It’s a theme I spend an inordinate amount of time obsessing about with friends: Are you satisfied?  Will we ever be satisfied? Wait—what does it even MEAN to be satisfied? What would that feel like or look like? Clearly I don’t have the answer to this one. My lack of sophistication in the satisfaction department is evident by the constant furniture rearranging I do at home. Why can’t I just be satisfied with the placement of the throw pillows or the color of those walls? Mr. Bets often asks me the same thing.

In moments of clarity I know that my fussing and zhoushing is a combination of decorating as creative outlet (totally healthy) and placing too much emphasis on stuff to satisfy my soul. I love beautiful things and have made a living writing about them, but I’m beginning to think that all the stuff our first-world lives afford is often a distraction from our inner voice telling us what we need to feel more satisfied. The same goes for social media, which creates so much noise in our daily lives that we can’t possibly get quiet enough to listen to what our inner self needs. Again, guilty as charged. And yet, I keep getting little nudges, like a TV show, or spending time a ton of precious with my family this summer, that confirm what I already know and just need to lean into: That it’s okay to want more, as long as going after it doesn’t diminish your appreciation for what you already have.

Natural Tips To Get Fair Skin Complexion

Every girl want to get attractive and fair complexion for this today bring. Having great skin will make you look younger and feel healthier no matter how old or young you are in years, and nothing makes you feel as wonderful as having glowing or radiant skin. Women with a fair complexion are often considered too beautiful that they neglect caring for their skin. So, thought of sharing with you some essential beauty tips for a fair complexion.

Healthy Diet
Healthy diet is very important. As we all know, to grow and survive we need to have food daily. Keeping that in mind we must include certain things in our daily diet to get healthy fair skin.

Sleep Well
You have heard this number of times that our sleep pattern does have effects on our skin. So take a “good night sleep” and let your skin show its results. A proper sleep of 7-8 hours is enough for you and your skin to rejuvenate.

Yoga
Yoga is a most effective and result oriented thing that you can do. Yoga is not only good for your skin but also for many other things that indirectly support your skin’s health. For example- Breathing exercise, Digesting, blood circulation, etc..

Get Fair Skin
Get Fair Skin

Orange Peel Paste
Orange peel paste is an effective way to bleach skin naturally. You will need dried orange peels and milk to make this paste. Grind the orange peels in a grinder. Add milk to the ground peels to make a paste, and apply it evenly over your face and neck. Keep it for 15-20 minutes and then wash it. This method is safe for your skin and can be done daily.

Exfoliate Your Skin
Exfoliate your skin on a regular basis to revive your skin and hearten new cell growth. Exfoliate your skin few times a week to eliminate the dead skin cells and reveals a fresh skin that is fair and fresh. You should make this a part of your beauty regime, if you want to become fair naturally.

Home Remedies for Fair and Glowing Complexion

Many women with dark skin tone wants to lighten their skin color and use different techniques to get fair complexion. If you are looking for something safe and natural then nothing is better than homemade and natural and that is what you are going to give you today, safe and healthy and absolutely effective.

Home Remedies for Fair Skin :
Potato juice mask is one of the most effective face masks for skin. Get a bowl and squeeze a potato juice in it and apply it on your face and leave it for at least 15 – 20 Minutes. It will not only make your skin fair but will also make the skin soft.

Use a face pack consisting of cucumber juice, lemon juice and some rose water. These face masks have to be used for some time, at least for a week for noticeable results.
Banana Glow Face Pack is ideal for those who are getting tired of their dead looking skin and face, if you feel that there is not attraction in your face then keep an eye on your food and see what you eat or what you drink and maintain a healthy lifestyle including a diet and workout balance and with that apply this magical mask.
Fair Skin Complexion
Fair Skin Complexion

Tomato is other natural ingredient for fairness. Take a tomato,grate it well and mix it with 3-4 drops of lime juice.Apply it on your face wait for 15 minutes and then rinse it off..Repeat it daily and feel the change on your face.

A Paste of turmeric and gram flour should be prepared. Apply it on your face for 15 minutes and leave it for some time. When it gets dry, scrub it for at least 5 minutes and then wash it off with warm water.

Good and Safe Exercises For Pregnant Women

It is very important for the health of not only the mother, but the child as well, for the new mom to stay active. There are many safe activities that expecting mothers can do to keep in shape. If you are already exercising, you may be able to keep up with your routine and adapt it as you grow.

Cardio
Low to moderate intensity aerobic workouts like walking, swimming or water jogging, and stationary cycling or elliptical are beneficial for heart health, stress relief and maintaining a healthy pregnancy weight.

Yoga
Your body becomes flexible and malleable. Be careful when stretching. Do not overdo it. Your body becomes more flexible under the influence of the hormone relaxing, which weakens the bond. Do not stretch too long, and do not try to significantly improve its flexibility.

Kegel Exercises
Pregnant women who perform Kegel exercises often find they have an easier birth. Strengthening these muscles during pregnancy can help you develop the ability to control your muscles during labor and delivery. Toning all of these muscles will also minimize two common problems during pregnancy: bladder leaks and hemorrhoids.

Walking
One of the best exercises because it gets your heart pumping without being too hard on your knees and ankles. The best thing about walking is that it can be done anywhere and all it requires is a good pair of supportive shoes. This is something that can be done all nine months of pregnancy. If you’ve been walking, keep it up.

Swimming in Pregnancy
Doctors and fitness trainers agree that swimming is the safest and most effective exercise for pregnant women. During swimming exercise muscles and limbs. It has good effects on the cardiovascular system and allows expectant mothers not to notice weight gain.

Hold On for One More Day

hold on pin

I celebrated my 37th birthday over the weekend. Which means I’m of the generation who totally listened to Wilson Phillips on a yellow Sports Walkman. Over and over and over again I played that Hold On cassette. Yes, those things that came before CDs. And the internet. This was the early 90s and I was playing the starring role of Angsty Teenage Girl. I wanted SO MUCH. To be understood. To be accepted. To be pretty. To have a boyfriend. To drive a car. To grow up. To live in a big city. To be anyone but who I was. My heart physically ached 24 hours a day. That kind of longing is something I hope to never experience again because it was so debilitating—and probably annoying as hell for my poor parents (sorry, greg + pat!). I’ve spent most of adulthood learning how to be grateful and content with what I have and who I am IN THIS MOMENT. That doesn’t mean I’m complacent or okay with the status quo. 

It means I’m accepting in a way that allows me to go after what I want without anxiety or fear of not achieving it. I believe that I’ll be okay no matter what because I am okay. This past year, however, really challenged me. Just when I thought I had “it all” figured out, the ground started to give way. Suddenly I wasn’t sure what I wanted in my career, for my life and in some of my relationships. Everything that had been so certain and so clear looked different. Or rather,

I was different. For someone who likes to think she’s in control of her life, there’s nothing more unnerving than watching even the tiniest thread unravel. What I learned this past year (often the hard way), is that the key isn’t to try harder or push against what’s happening, it’s to be patient. Only with patience can we truly hear our inner voice and allow change to flow in—without fighting it, forcing it, or even trying to understand it. That’s when the good stuff happens, even if it doesn’t feel that way when you’re in it! I may never get super comfortable with change or being in limbo, that’s not how I’m built. But right now I’m going to hold on, have patience and see where life takes me. Love, Bets

P.S. I don’t talk about my personal life very often on the blog because, quite honestly, I get bored listening to myself talk. But lately I’ve been wondering if I should, if it would help to have a forum for sharing the struggles that we all face in our careers, relationships, and in our own heads, where so much of the damage gets done. Thoughts?

So, What’s the Deal with Those Lip Balms?

Lip Balms
I get this question all. the. time. What’s up with those lip balm ball things? Exact wording.
Well. Let me tell you!
Those lip balms are by EOS and they are bundles of pure joy.

Fahim Ahsan

Inside that egg-like structure is an all-natural, shea-butter lippie. The colors are fun, the flavors scream summer (in fact, summer fruit takes me right back to junior high—in a good way), and the price is almost too good to be true.

 Sexy Lips Pro

While you’re filling your handbags with lip balms (let’s face it: these buddies aren’t’ gonna fit in your pocket), pick up an EOS hand lotion or two. They’re equally cute and the formula is so light and lovely. Enjoy!

Italian Beauty Discoveries

Bongiorno! I’ve been on an Italian beauty kick since my trip to the spa there last month. France gets all the love in this department but there’s something about the Old Country that speaks to me. Here beauty is the ultimate therapy, a daily ritual not an occasional luxury. No Italian brand does it better than Perlier, who for over 80 years has been creating products derived from the active ingredients of medicinal plants. It’s a timeless approach, looking to nature for what our skin and body needs, but one that many modern beauty companies have tried to replicate with synthetic ingredients. That might be cheaper, but fast beauty doesn’t do nearly as much for your skin or your soul.

Perlier_SheaButter

In my quest for a good shea cream, I discovered Perlier’s. The benefits of shea butter are astounding for anyone with dry, irritated or aging skin (so, pretty much everyone). I’ve seen shea soothe wind burn and chapped skin, calm redness almost instantly, and restore moisture to dry, flakey skin that hadn’t responded to anything else. Rich in Vitamin A, it’s a natural form of retinol that smoothes fine lines and refines skin tone without any irritation. A game changer. Unfortunately, most so-called shea creams on the market only contain five percent actual shea. They might feel nice but they aren’t concentrated enough to offer much else (seriously, this drives me nuts!). Perlier Shea Butter, however, contains a whopping 99-percent pure shea and is free of parabens. I could practically eat the almond-scented version with a spoon.

Perlier_Honey_web

Perlier is also known for incorporating honey in its treatments. A natural humectant, honey is wildly hydrating and dewifying. It also smells out of this world. The Imperial Honey Nourishing Body Butter is so silky and nourishing, not greasy at all. Plus, you know I can’t resist that gold packaging! So regal. I also can’t stop reaching for the Honey Lip & Contour Ant-Wrinkle Plumping Serum. The delicate cream is like a mini-facial for lips that leaves them supersoft and rosy without any weird tingling. It’s also an awesome lipstick primer.

Best Makeup Brushes Ever? Meet Sigma Beauty

Although my plans for Indie Beauty Week were foiled last week by a power outage, I’d be remiss to deprive you of this discovery! Minneapolis-based Sigma Beauty has taken the industry by storm with it’s almost-too-good-to-be-true makeup brushes. They perform like many pricier alternatives yet cost way less. The collection is a bit overwhelming if you’re not a professional artist, which is why Sigma’s quick tutorials are so fab. Like How to Contour, which makes me want to collect contouring brushes!

Best Makeup Brushes

Then there are the foundation brushes, my favorite. Once you apply foundation with the right brush, you’ll never go back.

Best Makeup Brushes

And the blush brushes, oh my! I’ve always wanted one made specifically for STIPPLING cream blush, haven’t you?

Best Makeup Brushes

If it’s time to invest in a full set, consider the Essential Kits. Starting at just $98 for 12 full-size brushes, these are all most of us will ever need—and then some. There are also plenty of fine vegan options for those of you who prefer synthetic versus animal hair. I definitely do when it comes to applying creams, liquid and concealer, because they don’t soak up the product.

How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes the Natural Way

How to Clean Your Makeup Brushes

I don’t remember the last time I actually washed my makeup brushes. I know, I know! It’s totally gross, but washing brushes always get trumped by more important things, like catching up on Orange Is the new Black or painting my nails. But after battling some not-so-pretty adult acne and noticing that my brushes were turning pretty icky, I figured it was time to give them a much deserved day at the spa! Turns out, washing makeup brushes the all-natural way is easy peasy, and you already have everything you’ll need in your kitchen cabinets.
Here’s a quick and easy recipe I recently perfected to keep brushes squeaky clean.

What you’ll need:
1 part all natural dish-washing liquid (I used Mrs. Meyers in Basil)
1 part organic olive oil
Note: if you have oily skin, I’d recommend 2 dish-washing liquid + 1 part organic olive oil 

Directions:
1. Mix together your soap & olive oil on a plate or ramekin.


2. Apply the mixture evenly to your brush, spinning each side around the plate. You’ll begin to see makeup and other debris start to fall away from your brush (prepare get a little grossed out…)


3. Work through the brush with your fingers to ensure all bristles are all getting equal love. Rinse off the soapy solution under cold water with the brush pointed down, gently squeezing out excess water.


4. Lay brushes flat or at an angle to air-dry so moisture doesn’t break down the base of the brush.


That’s it! Any other DIY makeup brush cleaning recipes you’d like to share? We’re all ears!

How to Have a Beautiful Summer!

Summer Fashion
Summer has officially arrived! Before it passes us by (as it is wont to do), get out there and soak it up right with our summer beauty rules to live by:

1. Include an SPF in your daily beauty routine. Keep skin looking it’s best by applying an SPF moisturizer to your face every day. This summer I’ve been loving Bare Minerals SPF 25 Tinted Moisturizer ($30).

2. Declare “no shower day” at least one day per week. Give you hair—and hot tools—a break and use dry shampoo instead. Our favorite tip: spritz into roots at night, wake up with cleanish hair!

3. Ditch the lotion and switch to a body serum. If you’ve never used a body serum or oil, then you’ve never known true hydration. Body oils moisturize deeply and leave skin soft, dewy and lightly scented. Naturally we love  One Love Organics Vitamin C Body Oil ($58)and the new Gardenia Body Serum ($39).

4. Spend less time blow-drying and embrace fun accessories, braids, and hats. Both Forever21 and H&M overfloweth with cute and affordable hats, wraps, turbands and headbands.

5. Stay hydrated, especially when in the sun or at an outdoor event. If you struggle to get in enough water, try flavoring it with watermelon, pineapple, mint, basil, berries or citrus fruits!

6. Take advantage of the season’s locally grown fresh vegetables and fruits. They’re good for your glow! Locate your nearest farmer’s market and stock up on your weekly produce there to not only help your diet, but help you glow from the inside out!

maxidress

P.S. We never get tired of a maxi dress or this orange + pink combo!

Ciao for Now, Bellas! - Venice

Venice

Sometimes, the universe offers you up a gift so unexpected and marvelous you can’t imagine what you did to deserve it. Come to think of it, those gifts appear rather regularly, they just don’t all come in the form of a trip to Italy. Yes, tomorrow I’m off to Venice and nearby Abano Terme, a region known for its hot springs and mud baths. I’m staying at the recently renovated Abano Grand Hotel & Spa, touring the Venato wine region, and sipping prosecco like it’s my job . . . because on this particular trip it is. Sometimes, being a beauty writer has its perks.

Team BB will be blogging while I’m abroad (I see a makeup brush cleaning tutorial in your future!), but I’ll be on instagram all week, possibly posting a disproportionate number of photos in my fluffy robe. See you there!

5 All-Natural Makeup Removers

Making your own natural makeup remover is one of the easiest beauty hacks in the book, and you can successfully scour your kitchen cabinets or grocery aisle without breaking the bank. Best of all, it makes sensitive skin extra happy, and happy skin makes a happy lady, right? Here are a few common oils and foods that double up as ah-mah-zing makeup removers. Give them a try!

Avocado: All you need is a fresh avocado and a q-tip to make some makeup removing magic happen. Gently swab the avocado to pick up the nourishing oils (no need to take out any chunks), and watch those raccoon eyes disappear. Plus, the omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A, D and E found in avocado oil double as a moisture-rice eye cream.

Grape Seed Oil: This lighter remover is one of my go-tos. Use a little cotton pad to soak up some grape seed goodness and you’ll be fresh-faced in no time. Multitasking tip: use grapeseed oil on your entire face to prevent acne, clear up sun spots and kick wrinkles to the curb.

Cucumber Slices: There’s a reason everyone’s mental image of an at-home facial involves cucumber slices. Although they’ve become synonymous with depuffing eyes, they’re also a great way to wipe off makeup the all natural way (and you look pretty awesome laying on your couch with cucumber eyes too.)

Jojoba Oil: Awkward name aside, Jojoba (ho-ho-bah) means business. For makeup remover, mix 2 parts water to 1 part Jojoba oil and voilá! Say adios to those stubborn mascaras and eyeliners. I also use Jojoba oil as a moisturizer, cuticle cream, or even as a warm hair masque.

Coconut Oil: Is there anything coconut oil can’t do? Hair smoother, skin soother, teeth and gum cleaner . . . Check out Meghan’s post from Lash Week on DIY coconut oil makeup remover and see how she uses her own mix in her daily skincare routine.

Have any other all natural makeup remover hacks you swear by? We’re always down to try something new!

MAC Autumn/Winter Trends

Today, Last day of this year!!
Here is a glimpse of the new looks brought by MAC for Autumn and Winter 2015. the styles are: Modernist, Ambre Gris, Tough Love and Disco Tech.

first up, Modernist:



this is a contemporary look at an old classic. light lipsticks, winged eyeliner, and lashes lashes lashes. the Modernist brings back the Mod we all love, in a current way. dewy glowing skin is key for this look.

next, Ambre Gris:


Ambre Gris is the romantic look of the season. soft lines, no harsh color and diffused pigments. Ambre Gris is the look for lovers.

Tough Love is the name of this look:


with all the attitude of Kate Moss and just the right amount of smoky, Tough Love works for the leather enthusiast. smoke out your eyes, eyebrows, lips, whatever, Tough Love does not discriminate.

last but not least is Disco Tech:


Disco Tech embodies all things color. embrace the color of your mood and apply pops of golds pinks and blues in unexpected places.

these looks are designed to inspire. surely we wouldn't walk around town with a gold eyebrow, but perhaps gold eyeliner? take a look through these pics and see if there is something you love. like the idea of being a romantic? then try this Urban Chic makeup tutorial. if Modernist speaks to you, check out my liquid eyeliner tutorial, it is a must for the Modernist. Tough Love loves a rebel. if that's you then try my Rebel Look tutorial. and if Disco Tech is your thing, you'll have to learn that one on your own :)