How to Get Rid of Chapped Lips

Dry, flaky lips are the worst. Below, a few beauty editor-approved tricks that really work.

You’re probably fighting the good fight by slathering layers of lip balm over your rough skin. The problem: the dead, dry skin could actually be blocking the skin-healing ingredients in the balm from penetrating the skin on your lips. So before you pick up another tube or pot, gently exfoliate first. Here’s how: Dampen a washcloth (one with rougher fabric is best) with warm water, then massage your lips in circular motions.

If this manual trick isn’t getting the job done (and your lips still aren’t feeling smooth), you may need to upgrade your exfoliation method to a pro-powered tool. Meet Bliss Fabulips Pout-o-Matic Lip-Perfecting System , a battery-powered device that has a silicone head with massaging nubs that rotate to slough off dry skin. Fill the head with a dab of lip scrub, then glide it over your lips. I thought I could use my electric toothbrush instead, but derms say it could be too harsh. Editor truth: This slim brush has become a stable on my bathroom counter (it’s cute!) and my secret weapon to fighting chapped lips. I find the yummier your products are, the more you want to use them, so splurge on a sweet-smelling lip scrub, like Sara Happ The Lip Scrub , which comes in delicious flavors, including Creme Brulee, Brown Sugar, Sparkling Peach, and Midnight Blueberry (is your mouth watering yet?). Or DIY using this recipe: Mix a tablespoon of brown sugar with a dab of honey or olive oil. Repeat this a few times a week. Now that your lips are soft, you can treat them.

During the day, look for a nourishing formula (derms recommend unscented formulas) with sunscreen, like Aquaphor Lip Repair & Protect SPF 30 . At night, crank up the hydration with a lip oil (yes, there is such a thing). Try Yes To Coconuts Cooling Lip Oil , which has refreshing eucalyptus. And while you’re rehabbing your lips, skip matte, bold colored lipsticks, which will act like a spotlight on your flakes. Start with a lip tint that contains some nourishing ingredients, plus a little color if you like. Try Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm , which are packed with shea butter and coconut oil. Finally, up your water intake, avoid licking (and picking!) your lips as much as possible, and if you want to go the extra mile, sleep with a humidifier to prevent your lips from drying out at night.

5 Foolproof Winter Decorating Tips From Nate Berkus

Everyone wants a cozy home during those long, cold winter months, butnot everyone has the time (or the budget) for a complete overhaul. Enter Nate Berkus.  the  designer was inspired by texture and details—he wanted to create pieces that would make a home feel well-traveled, collected, and lived-in, (not stark and minimal). Berkus’s designs feature cozy textiles, fringe details, neutrals paired with metallics, and woven materials—elements that are guaranteed to bring some warmth into your home.

1. Refine Your Space
   “The winter months are all about creating cozy spaces that feel polished,” Berkus says. In addition to the endless cozy throw blankets and pillows, plus glowy candles, you can pull a space together with some classic neutral colors and warm metallics.
2. Think About Texture
   “This season I’ve been reaching for cable-knit pillows and throws, wool and tweed, boucle, leather, and mineral accents,” he says. “They add so much texture and warmth to a space.”
3. Make Small Changes
   You don’t have to completely redecorate each season. “Add a bold piece of wall art or a set of woven stools for a well-traveled feel,” Berkus says. “I’m also loving all the fringe elements in my winter collection at Target. It could be as simple as bringing some greenery in, too, like a fiddle leaf fig or a vase with eucalyptus branches.”
4. Remember: It’s All About the Details
   A layered, collected look just screams “cozy.” But for those of us who haven’t lived in our homes for that long or who might not be able to put together the perfect layered vignette without it looking cluttered, Berkus has a couple of solutions. “It’s all about mixing different materials, finishes, and textures,” he says. “Choose natural materials and objects that feel well-worn or have patina. Antique and vintage furniture are great for this, and also metallics, geodes, and wood.”
5. Beat the Winter Blues With Decor
   We’re all prone to some form of the winter doldrums. Combat them with some strategic decorating choices: “You want your decor to feel light and airy—think wovens, seagrass, and jute materials,” Berkus says. “For my winter collection, I took inspiration from my travels to places like Peru and Mexico. It’s amazing the power the objects in your home can have to make you feel happy, and remind you of special (and sunnier!) times.”

Roasted White Chocolate Mousse

INGREDIENTS:

1. 6ounces white chocolate, roughly chopped
2. 1tablespoon vegetable oil
3. 1tablespoon powdered gelatin
4. 1½cups heavy cream, divided
5. ¼cup kosher salt and black pepper
6. raspberries, optional

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat the oven to 300°F. Set the white chocolate and oil in an 8- or 10-inch oven-safe skillet. Place the skillet in the oven just until the chocolate has melted, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir chocolate until smooth, then return the skillet to the oven. Roast until chocolate is golden brown, 15 to 20 total, stirring every 5 minutes. (The chocolate may stiffen a bit but as long as it doesn’t burn it will be fine.) Transfer the chocolate to a medium bowl stir until slightly cooled.
2. Meanwhile, sprinkle the gelatin over 1 tablespoon cold water in a small bowl and let stand for 5 minutes. Bring ½ cup of the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan. Stir in the gelatin mixture, then add to the white chocolate. Stir in the salt.
3. Chill the mixture until it is the texture of thick caramel, about 20 minutes. Whip the remaining cream to stiff peaks. Fold whipped cream into the chilled chocolate mixture. Divide the mousse between 4 (4 oz.) ramekins. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours. Serve with raspberries, if desired.

7 Easy Money-Saving Ideas

                                                     Photo by Jamie Grill Photography/Getty Images

You don’t have to make drastic lifestyle changes to improve your bank balance. Try these quick tips and start saving today.

Order Staple Items Online

 it's actually great for anyone who likes discounted goods—and dislikes having to make frequent runs to the grocery store.

The premise: You choose items that you often need to restock—toilet paper, soap, detergent—and then set up regular, free shipments. Plus, many of the items are discounted on top of that.

Drop Change Into a Jar

It may sound crazy, but we sometimes forget that coins carry value. If you have loose change in your wallet or purse, you're more likely to spend it … or lose it in the depths of your car or couch cushions.

By putting your excess daily change into a jar, you’re preventing frivolous spending. And once you have a healthy stash, you can take your coins to the bank and deposit them. More savings!

Earn More Doing the Same Work

If you’re putting the time and effort in—and you have the results to prove your worth—it may be time to ask for a raise. As the saying goes: no risk, no reward. So put yourself out there, and earn a better salary for the job you've already done.

Just make sure that you have a strategy in place before meeting with your boss. When negotiation a salary increase, split the difference between what you currently make and your asking number. For instance, if you earn $30,000 a year, but you want to make about $35,000, ask for $39,500. And make it a point to show your manager just how your work has benefited the company, as well as how you’ve exceeded expectations and responsibilities.

Automate Your Savings

It’s payday ... and Groupon’s deals have never looked better. Even if we know that we should be saving up for a new car, our desires can cloud our better judgment. That’s why it’s in your best interest to buildup your savings before that money disappears into a flash-sale pit.

The solution? Ask your employer to auto-deposit your paychecks, so you can set up automatic transfers to your savings account, guaranteeing that you squirrel away some cash each pay period.

Dry-Clean Your Clothes at Home

Stop schlepping things to the dry cleaners, and use Dryel  on your “dry-clean only” items instead. The starter kit costs just $7 (a pack of six refill dryer sheets is an additional $9), compared to $5 or more for each blouse that you bring to the dry cleaners. Just be sure to spot test more expensive and treasured items before using the kit to clean them.

Take Up an Easy Side Job

Making a little extra cash on the side doesn’t have to be time-consuming or inconvenient. For instance, you can take online surveys on your own time for well-respected sites, such as ValuedOpinions.com, SurveySavvy.com and harrispollonline.com.

Or check out Craigslist to see if there are any surprising ways you can make extra money, like being a mystery shopper or a brand ambassador. In other words, we're talking about positions that offer extra money and lots of flexibility.

Go Generic

There's no need to spend extra money on over-the-counter medicine just because it’s a name brand. The same goes for that box of cereal or jar of peanut butter. In fact, generic house brands are often identical ingredient-wise to name-brand products—they just lack the fancy labeling. Luckily, it’s just as easy to get your hands on generic products as it is name-brand items—they're usually on the same shelf.

I hope that these information were helpful to you.

A Washing Machine That Uses Tiny Beads Instead Of Water To Remove Stains

The washing machine looks normal: you load clothes, let the machine do the work, and then take them out to dry. However, instead of using water, tiny nylon beads suck up stains. It takes loads up to 44 pounds per cycle (that is a lot of laundry...) and gets rid of stains from mud to red wine to ballpoint pens. See a video demonstration here. 

Xeros explains how the beads work:

"The nylon polymer has an inherent polarity that attracts stains. Think of how your white nylon garments can get dingy over time as dirt builds up on the surface despite constant washing. However, under humid conditions, the polymer changes and becomes absorbent. Dirt is not just attracted to the surface, it is absorbed into the centre. This is exactly what happens when Xeros nylon beads are gently tumbled with dampened garments."

Whose Idea: Xeros Ltd. 

Why we like it: This isn't anything earth-shattering, but Xeros claims to save money, the environment, and stained clothes. It almost sounds too good to be true.  

Their machine uses 90% less water than your current contraption. Chief executive of Xeros, Bill Westwater, says: "The net saving in water, detergent and electricity and including the cost of the beads, we calculate, is about a 30% cost saving for the user.

Flip Flops With Interchangeable, Velcro Straps So You Can Switch Your Look Without Buying Multiple Pairs

SwitchFlops are sandals with interchangeable, Velcro straps. Customers are able to buy one sandal and multiple strap designs so their shoes can match every outfit.

There are several base styles to choose from, including flat, wedge, and kitten heel. The base sandal costs $35 and additional straps are $12.

Whose idea: 25-year-old Lindsay Phillips came up with the idea for SwitchFlops at 16, as part of a high school art project. Officially launched in 2007, her company - Lindsay Phillips - now employs 35 full-time staffers and is projected to bring in $30 million in revenue this year.

Why we like it: Switchflops was right on target with current consumer need and spending. In these tougher economic times, these sandals will allow consumers to save money without sacrificing their inner fashionista. No need to buy pair after pair - the versatility of Switchflops gives the consumer a wide array of styles to choose from and coordinate their outfit with.

Furthermore, Switchflops are of the first truly successful amalgamations of fashion and interactive experience. More and more businesses are offering design-your-own-experience products. While technology has made this possible for gadget-type of consumer products, fashion products have been largely left out of the stampede. Switchflops puts the fashion back in the new wave of interactive products.

An app for touchscreens that predicts which letters are least likely to be typed next and shrinks them

ThickButtons is a free download for touchscreen Android phones. As the user types a letter on the virtual keyboard, ThickButtons predicts which letters are leastlikely to follow and shrinks them. Meanwhile, the keys more likely to be used grow larger. 

Whose idea: Dmitri Lisitski

Why we like it: For the fat-fingered, touch phones can be aggravating. While autocorrect can be really annoying, with an invention like thickbuttons, typos could become a thing of the past.

A Double-Sided Peanut Butter Jar So You Can Get Every Last Bit

A peanut butter jar with a lid on each side for easy to access the last few spoonfulls of the delectable treat.

Whose Idea:Sherwood Forlee, among others  

Why we like it: Few snacks have as devoted a following as does the gooey, sweet-yet-salty butter of the peanut. From pre-schoolers to seniors, and Combos to Reeses, no one can get enough of it. 

So it must be demoralizing when, heading spoon-first into another indulgence, you reach for the nearest jar in your home and find only a small layer of peanut butter at the bottom. It hits your right then: It will take minutes to get your spoon at just the right angle to gather the remaining delicacy, not to mention the fact that your hand will probably emerge a hot, sticky mess thanks to all the digging around.

Instead, imagine simply turning that same jar upside down, twisting off a second lid, and getting to the last remaining peanut butter---at the top of the jar. Simply spoon, and enjoy. You never see it in stores, but If it makes eating America's favorite snack easier, it has to be worthwhile....right?

A $150 Wonder Pen With A USB Drive That Records Every Written And Audible Word

The Pulse Smartpen is a nifty tool that transforms your handwritten notes and audio recordings into interactive Flash videos, called pencasts, that can be embedded into any website.

Here's how it works: The pen has a microphone and built-in speaker to record audio.  It also has a camera that captures everything you write and draw.  Once all of the audio/written notes have been recorded by the $150 1GB wonder pen, you can hook the device up to your computer via USB and transfer the files.  Then, just copy and paste the HTML into a website or blog.

You can also share pencasts directly on Facebook, save your notes as PDF files, or export your recordings into an audio file.

Whose idea: Livescribe

Why we like it: Something as simple and mundane as handwritten notes can metamorphose into something as flashy as, well, Flash videos. Furthermore, the fact that they can be uploaded on the Internet with just a few clicks makes these Pulse Smartpens powerful little tools.  Taking notes is a pain, and so is transcribing calls. This pen solves both of those annoyances.

why-japanese-women-cover-mouth-laughing

Have you ever wondered why Japanese women cover their mouth with their

hand when they laugh or even smile? This is not a cultural phenomenon as Japanese men laugh without covering their mouth but as a Japanese woman, I can tell you that there’s more to it than that.

In this article, I want to explore why we cover our mouth when we laugh.

Reason #1: Unlike American culture that cherishes beautiful smiles, Japanese women smiling while showing their teeth showing are often frowned upon. Why? Because Japanese women aren’t supposed to laugh out loud, which is considered lacking grace and unladylike in Japanese culture.

Reason #2: Japanese people generally have very misaligned teeth. Many women have really crooked teeth and they are simply embarrassed to show their unaligned teeth.

Reason #3: Because that’s what other Japanese women do. Japan is a collective society and people tend to mimic other people’s behaviors. We may not be aware of this consciously but Japanese women naturally follow other women’s lead. It is a learned behavior.

Reason #4: Japanese society sees this behavior as graceful and women are encouraged to just smile because that is a sign of attraction and grace.

This doesn’t make sense to foreigners but once you live in Japan for a while you would get used to it. Whenever I go home to visit my family in Japan, I see my friend who covers her mouth even when talking and I am truly impressed by her grace. It is kind of beautiful and elegant. I almost never see that in California so it was refreshing to me.

I grew up in Japan and feel very fortunate to have lived in two very different societies. American women would never cover their mouth while laughing unless they have a missing tooth as Americans are very conscious about their teeth. They believe that straight and perfectly aligned teeth makes beautiful smile. It is a social status thing so why would they hide that status?

At the same time, I want to embrace this traditional etiquette among Japanese women. It is kind of cute and elegant.

There is a universal etiquette among women around the world. When they are surprised, they cover their mouth with both hands. Some of them even cover their whole faces with hands. For example, The winner of the Miss Universe would do that almost every year because she is so shocked to win this prestigious competition. Japanese women do that too, so there are some similarities among women regardless of cultural backgrounds.

Don't Google And Read Information, Google And Watch It

 Qwiki is an information experience and reference tool that you can actually watch and interact with, rather than just read. It's like Wikipedia, but instead of text, it brings you quick, minute-long videos, as well as an array of graphics and narration.

Qwiki's enormous platform can be produced from any content and on any device. The technology works by evaluating then compiling different kinds of information, including rich text, structured data, and mixed media. Unlike other information resources, Qwiki is generated by machines, which perhaps explains its futuristic look and feel. 

Qwiki transmits information via storytelling, in a way that is almost human. Although a lot of the information comes from Wikipedia, Qwiki is also building its own media index, and the reference library, which started with 3 million topics, should reach tens of millions in the next couple years.

Qwiki is still invite only, so companies must request Qwiki pages and content. Within the next few weeks, individuals will also be able to attain personal Qwikis, adding social media network to the information resource's list of functions. Mergers with Facebook and LinkedIn data lie in Qwiki's future. And another great feature? The truly personal alarm clock, brought to you by what seems almost like a real person, albeit the voice is a little robot-like.

To read the full Q&A with Qwiki's founder, click here.

Whose idea: Qwiki co-founders Doug Imbruce and Louis Monier

Why we like it: Qwiki revolutionizes information gathering, transmission, and consumption. The graphics, sounds, and videos are much more technologically advanced than what you've ever encountered. Watching the demonstration does in fact feel like you're part of the future. But all of this doesn't come easily: the technology is quite difficult to create and update. We look forward to seeing how Qwiki continues to build and power its platform.

DAVIDS BRIDAL Cap Sleeve Floral Lace Mother of Bride/Groom Dress with Jeweled Neckline

Fishers Finery 100% Cashmere Hat, Gloves, Scarf Set With Gift Box

home based business idea

For some people, working 9 to 5 in an office is the right career choice. For others, however, the dream is waking up and working from the comfort of their own homes. If you're one of the latter and you're looking to take advantage of your entrepreneurial spirit, you can try starting a home-based business. Not sure where to start.

If you've got business expertise already, you can help other entrepreneurs launch and maintain their own businesses by offering your services as a business plan consultant and writer. Help your clients figure out their ideas, goals and finances for their businesses and put them all in one organized business roadmap. You can also help conduct market research for your clients, so they can determine how successful their businesses can really be, or if they need to make changes or go in another direction before wrapping up their business.
Even though consumers are constantly upgrading their phones, tablets, laptops and other electronic devices, a lot of people still don't understand how important it is to recycle their old electronics. According to DoSomething.org, 20 million to 50 million metric tons of e-waste are disposed of worldwide each year, and only 12.5 percent of e-waste is recycled. Allow people to drop off their unwanted electronics at your home, or go mobile and offer a pickup service. In addition, you could help your customers back up their files and clear sensitive information from their devices as well. 
Becoming a massage therapist requires proper training and licensing, but if you're looking for a great career to pursue that you can also turn into a home-based business, massage therapy might be the right choice for you. And with a massage therapy business, you have options: You can either invite clients into your home for appointments, or make house calls for massages.
If you understand design and have a passion for décor, a career in interior design could be a great path for you. While you may not technically need a formal education to be an interior designer, having a bachelor's degree in interior design will definitely give you a huge leg up in the field. But if working for a design firm doesn't feel right to you, try running your own interior design business from your home.
If you're fluent in multiple languages, you can turn it into a business as a translator. Businesses that work with international partners need to make sure their documents are accurate and in order, so offer up your linguistic skills to translate their documents for them, and you can do so from the comfort of your home.
Do you have a knack for knitting, jewelry making or creating other small crafts? If you can produce a large quantity of items in a short amount of time, consider selling your goods to the public. In just minutes, you can set up an online store and start promoting your business.

The Armenian Ceramics of Jerusalem: Three Generations, 1919-2003

A Robot Car That Does The Driving For You

Google has been secretly creating and testing a car that can drive itself automatically through artificial-intelligence software, as well as computer hardware resting in the trunk.

This car even has a personality of its own, such as "cautious" or "aggressive," to fit driving conditions.

Says Google, "Our automated cars use video cameras, radar sensors and a laser range finder to “see” other traffic, as well as detailed maps (which we collect using manually driven vehicles) to navigate the road ahead. This is all made possible by Google’s data centers, which can process the enormous amounts of information gathered by our cars when mapping their terrain."

Whose Idea: Google

Why we like it: It seems like the Google car can be a huge safety hazard (ever heard of computers failing?) but one of its purposes is actually toincrease safety on the road. Apparently, the technology involved could drastically reduce the number of automobile-related deaths. And the reasoning behind this? Computers are still less prone to error than humans in most driving circumstances.

Google claims that computers are better than humans in other areas of driving as well - the accuracy, awareness, and instant reaction time of computers would significantly cut not only traffic, but also gas consumption, overall, saving the driver a lot of time.
by: http://www.businessinsider.com/

Lamp That Can Read Your Mind - It Turns The Color You're Thinking About

The Mind Lamp is a $189 electric lamp with a random-event generator (REG) built in. When plugged in, the lamp gives off a white light before cycling through eight other colors.  It then stays on the one that you're thinking about.

How does this mind-matter interaction occur? Scientists aren't sure, but they claim that products that use REG behave "very differently" when subjected to human consciousness.

The inventors attempt to explain the phenomenon: "The REG uses a quantum phenomenon called electron tunneling, which is measured as a randomly fluctuating current across a potential barrier in an electric circuit. Surprisingly, and in a way that violates conventional theories in science, the PEAR researchers found statistically significant correlations between the output of the device and human intention in a variety of well-controlled experiments. The mechanism by which this occurs is unknown, and is the subject of ongoing research."

Whose Idea: Princeton, NJ-based Psyleron, a for-profit company and a non-profit research cooperative, based on the findings of the Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (PEAR) laboratory.

Why we like it: The concept of a mind lamp is fascinating because it draws a direct connection between the mind and physical objects. It's almost like the lamp is a living being - you stare at it and it knows what vibe you're giving off. Maybe this all sounds a little hard to believe (or even scary), but according to John Valentine, CEO and co-founder of Psyleron, "We are taking something that science says should be totally random, and we have evidence that suggests it’s not actually random, that people’s thoughts influence it." The Mind Lamp can be used to represent the human mind and, if anything, certainly helps us understand it.

Copied from http://www.businessinsider.com/

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