Dr. Oz Metabolism Boosting Drink
For a powerful metabolism-boosting drink, try Dr. Oz’s Tangerine Weight-Orade. According to Dr. Oz, the Tangerine Weight-Orade is brimming with metabolism-boosting properties. The green tea is reported to boost metabolism by 12% and the tangerine has a chemical composition that increases sensitivity to insulin and stimulates genes that burn fat.
Tangerine Weight-Orade
Ingredients
- In a large pitcher, combine:
- 8 cups of brewed green tea
- 1 tangerine, sliced
- A handful of mint leaves
Instructions
1. Stir this delicious concoction up at night so all the flavors fuse together. Drink 1 pitcher daily for maximum metabolism-boosting results.
* Extra Tip – Dr. Oz’s website says that it’s fine to use mandarins instead of tangerines and if you can’t find either, use ripe oranges.
Sow What You Want to Reap
by Joyce Meyer – posted September 25, 2012
Sow for yourselves according to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God); reap according to mercy and loving-kindness. Break up your uncultivated ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, to inquire for and of Him, and to require His favor, till He comes and teaches you righteousness and rains His righteous gift of salvation upon you. — Hosea 10:12
There is never a harvest without a time of sowing (see Ecclesiastes 3:1–2). God can do anything He wants to, but He has established a life principle that works for everyone: “First you sow, and then you reap.” It always happens in that order.
Those who sow trouble and mischief reap the same. Those who sow righteousness reap mercy. If God tells you to do something, and you sow obedience, and once you have passed the test, you will reap a good harvest.
Remember the sequence: What you sow today, you will reap tomorrow.
From the book Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2003 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.
Our Daily Bread – For His Glory
Read: 1 Peter 4:12-16
You can learn a lot by walking with others through tough times. That’s been the case for us as our friends Sam and Carol have trudged through Sam’s cancer journey. For a year we watched and prayed as he endured the treatment and the pain. And just when it seemed he was in the clear, a new diagnosis reported more cancer.
The disappointment was obvious. Year two would look a lot like year one as Sam would have to go through the chemo and the sickness and the side effects all over again.
But when Sam told us about what he faced as more months of treatments loomed, he said something we can all learn from: “We want to make sure that through it all God gets the glory and we reflect His love to others.” Imagine that! As he faced another year of pain and struggles, Sam’s first priority was to show God’s love through it all. He was anticipating the time when God’s “glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13).
Carol wrote to friends, “It has been a year of trials, but God has always pulled us through with His mercy and grace. May we never take our eyes off Him and His love for us.”
What mountains do you face? Like Sam and Carol, you too can depend on God’s grace to get you through. Pray also that you might reflect His love.
And trials are too much to face,
Remember God’s strength in your weakness;
He’ll give you His power and grace. —Sper
Set Forth His Word
Today’s Scripture:
For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:10-11, NKJV.
Today’s Word:
Are you going through a difficult time today? Let me challenge you: don’t use your words to describe your situation, use your words to change your situation! All through the day you should go around saying, “I have the favor of God. I can do all things through Christ. I am blessed. I’m strong. I’m healthy.” When you speak like that, you are blessing your life. You are speaking favor into your future.
When you get up in the morning, if you aren’t feeling up to par, don’t set the tone of the day by speaking it. Don’t ever say, “This is going to be a lousy day. I don’t want to go to work. I’m tired of dealing with these children.” No, get up and say, “This is going to be a great day. I’m excited about my future. Something good is going to happen to me.”
Always remember, send your words out in the direction you want your life to go. Let His Word always be on your mouth. His Word will never return void. It will accomplish what it was set forth to do. So set forth His Word and move forward in blessing and victory all the days of your life!
Prayer for Today:
Father, today I send forth Your Word. I declare blessing, favor and victory over my life. I choose to set the tone for the day in peace, joy and victory today and every day in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Copyright © 2012 Joel Osteen Ministries
Faith and Patience
Posted by Victoria Osteen on 9/25/2012
Have you been praying and hoping for something specific, and it seems like it’s taking a long time to come to pass? I want to encourage you to stand strong because God is faithful to His promises! Scripture tells us that the moment we pray, the tide of the battle begins to turn. If you’ve been praying for a long time, I believe the currents of God are flowing in your direction! The currents of God are going to rescue you and usher you to your place of victory. The currents of God are going to turn things around! They are going to shift things in your favor! We may not see those results instantaneously, but that’s when we have to walk in faith and patience so we can see His promises come to pass.
Hebrews six says that it’s through faith and patience that we inherit His promises. I heard someone who was being funny say, “Lord, give me patience…and hurry up!” I think sometimes we’ve all prayed like that, “Lord, I’m being patient about this thing, so please hurry up!” But we have to remember, when we are in faith, we are content to wait as long as it takes. It doesn’t have to be done our way or in our timing. Our faith, our confidence in God is what causes that patience to rise out of our hearts. Because of faith, we trust that God is working even when we don’t see it.
Today, whatever it is you are believing for, rest in Him. Allow faith and patience to quiet your heart. Put your confidence and hope in Him because He who promised is faithful! The tide of the battle is turning! As you stand in agreement with His Word, You are activating His power in your life, and I believe you will see those dreams and desires come to pass in Jesus’ name!
“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” (Hebrews 6:12, NIV)
DIY Monday: Homemade Febreze
I love the smell of a fresh & clean house and when it comes to making your house smell good, there’s nothing like some Febreze to do the job. Ever since Febreze made it’s debut in stores I buy this stuff like crazy. Honestly speaking I go through two bottles a month but at over $5 per bottle, my pocketbook isn’t as fond of it as I am. But not anymore. You see my friends, I have stumbled across a recipe on my new best friend Pinterest for homemade Febreze. What You Say? YES! Homemade Frebreze. So put that money back into your wallet and make you a batch today. You and your home will be glad that you did.
Here’s What You Need:
1/8 cup Fabric Softener
2 tablespoons Baking Soda
Hot water
Spray bottle
Large measuring cup
Mix fabric softener and baking soda in a measuring cup until smooth.
Fill measuring cup with hot water and stir until well mixed.
Pour into spray bottle and fill the rest of the way with water.
Twist the nozzle over to the LOCK position and shake well.
Ready, Set, Go! and spray every fabric surface in your house.
Source: FakeitFrugal
Butters & Pomades & Whips!
If you have been a part of the natural movement as long as I have, you would have seen hundreds of “natural” hair products come and go. From having nothing specifically geared towards our natural hair in 2000 to 2012 and having the choice of hundreds of hair products has been quite a surge, and a goldmine for those jumping on the natural bandwagon to try to get us to purchase their hair care lines. It can all get confusing.
So I am now going to attempt to decipher for you, the most popular hair product types and their purpose…
GELS
USE: Gels are used to hold – to tame the hair flat –or slick it back. Also used to maintain a curl which is set when wet. Gels can defy humidity and gravity, and are valuable for the times your hair must stay in position.
PROs: Gels impart shine and control. Used as a last step your hair can be set in position by using a simple satin scarf or warm heat of a bonnet dryer. Light, natural gels such as aloe and flax seed gels can be used to start locs.
CONs: Gels often contain alcohol which is incredibly drying. Cetearyl Alcohol is an exception to this rule. If you use a gel that is too strong or drying, it can make your hair very stiff and brittle.
POMADES / BUTTERS
USE: Pomades are an old school term we used to use when talking about “grease”. These days, pomades take on many names. You may see them as butters, whips, puddings and creams. Pomades are used to add lasting moisture and control, sometimes shine to dry hair. Pomades may also contain oils and therapeutics to treat hair and scalp conditions.
PROs: Pomades are very valuable additions to the natural hair care routine. They nourish, moisturize and protect your hair. Used correctly they can assist in length retention and heal dandruff and other scalp conditions. Pomades are usually used on dry hair on a daily basis.
CONs: Be very careful what type of pomade you use. They can and do often contain ingredients which coat the hair shaft and can be very difficult to wash out. The wrong pomade can attract dust, dirt and lint to your hair. If a pomade contains glycerin as a main ingredient, use with caution and if petrolatum is listed, be extra careful as this will coat your hair and can aggravate scalp conditions. Never, ever use pomades on locs.
WHIPS
USE: Whips are normally lighter versions of pomades, used for defining and hold – rarely containing heavy ingredients such as petrolatum and heavy oils.
PROs: A true whip can be used more generously than a pomade and does not cause the buildup that pomades can. Think of a whip like a heavier version of a mousse.
CONs: Whips can be expensive as they are more processed than ordinary pomades and do not last as long since you tend to use more, and more often.
SPRITZES
USE: Spritzes are mixtures of water, carrier oils, essential oils, glycerine and other refreshing ingredients. Spritzes are sometimes promoted as leave-in-conditioners and can be used on wet or dry hair. Used on dry hair, the water fluffs the hair out and eventually evaporates, leaving whatever other conditioning mixtures on the hair.
PROs: Spritzes have a cooling effect on the scalp and can be valuable to prevent itching when wearing styles that require a tight base, such as with box braids and locs.
CONs: Spritzes containing glycerine will have the effect of drying your hair out if you use too much of it. Otherwise, not many cons about spritzes!
MOUSSE
USE: Mousses are like a hair cream similar to shaving cream in a bottle. Under pressure you press the button on the can and into your palm where it expands like shaving cream. You then apply it throughout your damp hair.
PROs: A mousse can give your hair an incredible shine, which is what it is intended to do. It can also have an effect similar to gel, where it provides a light hold to your hairstyle.
CONs: Mousses normally contain some amount of alcohol which is drying. Mousses can be costly and if used to often (eg daily) will dry your hair out.
OILS
USE: Carrier oils such as Jojoba, Olive, Argan, Black Castor are used to condition the hair and scalp. They can be used as is on wet, damp or dry hair, or as an ingredient in shampoos, conditioners and pomades.
PROs: Oils can create a healthy environment for the scalp, encouraging growth relieving some scalp conditions. Oils can protect the hair from drying elements. You do not need much of any oil and they are generally inexpensive and easily found in supermarkets and health food stores.
CONs: Oils coat the hair shaft. If you use to much of any oil you will end up with an oily, dripping mess. Some hair types do not respond to oils at all. Some people are sensitive to certain oils and you should always test inside your elbow or on a sensitive part of your scalp before using an oil all over your head.
MASQUES / MUD
USE: Hair masques or muds are deep treatments. Used after shampooing, a masque is applied to damp hair and usually left to dry to a hard helmet on the hair, then rinsed off. Masques are often used to repair broken and damaged hair.
PROs: Using the correct masque for your hair can have an instant restorative effect. Masques repair and smooth the cuticle and are left on long enough to allow its nutrients to penetrate the hair shaft.
CONs: Masques are often protein-based so if you have natural afro hair, you need to ensure it is not over the top in protein. Protein is valuable to damaged straight hair, but can cause brittleness in natural hair. Ensure your masque is specifically made for natural afro hair before using it.
PUDDINGS
USE: Hair puddings are called puddings because of their texture. They are like pudding or jello. Puddings are often deep conditioners and designed to be rinsed out, though many are left in and used prior to heat styling as a protectant or as a simple leave in. Puddings impart shine and hold.
PROs: It generally depends on what the pudding is used for that determines its pros and cons. Conditioning puddings can be very effective leave in conditioners and styling aids. Most puddings contain water as a main ingredient, so can impart long lasting moisture to your hair.
CONs: Puddings are for specific use and don’t last long as you generally use much more of a pudding in a single application. Again, the cons depend on the purpose of the pudding. As with any product, make sure it does not contain ingredients that will dry your hair out, or is too high in protein.
HAIRTYPING : Beware the Trap
What is it you say? Hairtyping is a trap? But I need to know what “type” my hair is so I can find the right products for me, right?
Well, yes and no and how far are you going to push it? You can analyse every strand on your head and check for a curl. Then you can scour Andre’s system and hope you qualify to be a Type 3 and if not, buy hundreds of $$ worth of product seeking that elusive “curl definition”. You will start comparing your hair to the hair of others and yours will not be as “good a grade” as who you are comparing to, but a “better grade” than that of others. You will scour the internet looking for websites that promise to deliver the texture YOU want and promote re-texturizing, sometimes by using untested, potentially dangerous chemical and vitamin combinations in an effort to achieve what your scalp stubbornly refuses to give you.
The internet is clogged with websites promoting miracle texture-changing devices, gadgets and tonics to fix your “bad grade of hair”. You will see the pictures of the before (with their nappy hair) and the after (with their curly, shiny hair). And these are all ‘regular folk’ just like you! These websites are all primed to sit there and take advantage of your money and your time. When it doesn’t work for you, you will buy something else, then something else, then something else… maybe take some extra-strength pregnancy vitamins (even though you’re not pregnant) or hair-miracle growth pills in an effort to speed up the growth process; and put substances into your body that aren’t meant to be in your system.
Or you can check your hair out in the mirror, wash it, dry it, look at it and understand what you are seeing is what your body has given you, how you have treated it has resulted in its condition – and then decide to work with your unique crown to make it the healthiest it can be.
It’s your choice.
Of course you need to know what you have on your head in order to use the right tools to work with it. Of that there is no doubt. Since you are on Nappturality seeking hair advice, then chances are your hair or the hair you are seeking information on is natural, non-chemically re-texturized, afro-type hair.
Natural afro-hair in general has a natural spring to it, a lift and a density that characterizes its rich texture. In saying that, your hair is unique in its pattern, density, thickness, strand strength. With every twist and curve, your hair defines itself. You may even have multiple textures in your hair. Your own natural, afro—type hair is not like the hair of any other on the planet.
Once you know you have afro-type hair, then you can start working with your crown in a way that enhances what is naturally yours. You can see your hair by looking in the mirror and putting your hands on your tresses. Does your hair feel dry or coarse? Does it feel soft and moisturized? Does it spring back when you push it or does it just hang there, limply with no life at all? Because what you see may not be in the best condition, so it may not reflect itself in its healthiest state.
Focus on using healthy products meant for your hair and healthy styling techniques. It may sound cliché, but in order to have healthy hair on the outside, you must feed your body with healthy food on the inside. In order to have hydrated hair, you must have a hydrated body. Drink plenty of water, limit your sugar intake. Cover your hair when out in full sun for extended periods of time and stay away from petroleum based pomades and greases or too much glycerin. Use rich, natural conditioners and leave ins and be gentle in styling techniques. In basic terms, that is all you need to do to succeed.
Obsessing about your hairtype and comparing yours to others will not make you feel good about your hair. Don’t fall into the trap.
Copyright 2002 – 2012 Nappturality.com (TM) All Rights Reserved
Our Daily Bread – Fighting Off Jealousy
Read: 1 Corinthians 3:1-10
The story is told of two shopkeepers who were bitter rivals. They spent each day keeping track of each other’s business. If one got a customer, he would smile triumphantly at his rival.
One night an angel appeared to one of the shopkeepers in a dream and said, “I will give you anything you ask, but whatever you receive, your competitor will receive twice as much. What is your desire?” The man frowned and then said, “Strike me blind in one eye.” Now that’s jealousy of the worst kind!
The self-destructive emotion of jealousy had the potential of tearing apart the Corinthian church. These believers had received the gospel but had not allowed the Holy Spirit to change their hearts. As a result, they became jealous of one another, which led to a divided community. Paul identified their jealousy as a sign of immaturity and worldliness (1 Cor. 3:3). These believers were not acting like people who had been transformed by the gospel.
One of the clearest indicators that the Holy Spirit is working in our lives is our contentment and our thankfulness for what we have. Then, instead of experiencing jealousy, we are able to genuinely celebrate the gifts and blessings of others.
we need and so much more. Help us to be content
with what we have, knowing that without You
we would have neither life nor breath.
The Difference Is Doing What God Says
by Joyce Meyer – posted September 24, 2012
You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice. —Deuteronomy 13:4
I remember a woman who attended one of my conferences. It was a banquet, and she was sitting with a group of ladies. She came to me and said, “You know, I really learned a lesson this weekend. As I listened to all those ladies talk about their problems, their breakthroughs, and about what God has done for them, I realized that many of them have gone through the same thing I went through.”
Then she said, “Every single thing God has spoken to these ladies, He has spoken to me over the years. Everything He has told them to do, He has also told me to do. The only difference is, they did it, and I didn’t.”
The woman received a great revelation that day. She realized that she was no different than anyone else, that her problems were no worse than many other people’s. What she needed to do was begin doing what God told her to do.
The devil tries to convince us that we are different from everybody else so we will keep asking, “Why is everybody else getting their breakthrough and I’m not?” God delivers people at different times—yours may come soon, or it may take some time. But it is also possible that God has told us the same thing He has told others. The difference may simply be that they have done what He said, and we haven’t.
You are going to spend your time doing something. All God is asking is that what you do is what He says.
Love God Today: Be willing to do everything God asks of you.
From the book Love Out Loud by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2011 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.
I Am Lady Fab 