New Year's Resolution: The January Winner is...

Cynthia!!!

Cynthia contact me within 24 hours to claim your $40. gift certificate!!!

contact at info (at) jacksonsage (dot) com

Thanks for all the wonderful comments. Keep up the good work!

Have a wonderful snow day.

New Year's Resolution: Hydrate

We all know, drink your 64 oz of water each day. But did you know that drinking too little water makes the body retain water? It is said that some people carry 10 pounds or more of extra water. This can be caused for a myriad of reasons but consuming too little water, food allergies and hormonal fluctuations are top on the list of causes.

Water isn't the only thing that helps flush the system. Herbs, fruits and vegetable can have the same effect (when combined with the proper amount of water).

This week I voe to drink my 64 oz and incorporate some of the follow recipes into my daily routine.

Hot Lemon Water

Purpose: Your kidneys need water to help flush out all that waste from your system. The lemon water helps your liver and kidneys do their job.
Directions: Heat up 8 oz of water and add 1/2 a lemon.
Drink before breakfast.

Cranberry Water

Purpose: Cranberry juice cleanses the lymphatic system from accumulated wastes, reduced water retention, and helps with cellulite.
Directions: 4 oz of REAL Cranberry Juice (find it in the health food section at your grocery store not on the juice isle) to 28 oz of Water. You can drink up to two of these a day to get your 64 oz of water. It is a little dry tasting at first but soon you will really like the taste. This mix is so good for you after a week you will be able to see the difference it makes on your skin.

Green Tea

Purpose: Rich in antioxidants, can help speed up metabolism, and is even said to help protect skin from sun damage.
Directions: Drink Green Tea as desired throughout the day. Best to drink in the morning since too much caffeine can disrupt sleep.

Water

What I don't get from the above, I will drink in Water to get my total of 64 oz a day.

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The New Year's Resolution Contest!!!

Here are the Contest Rules and how to enter:
To enter, post a comment on the Jackson Sage blog about your New Year's Resolution or a comment about how I am doing. Each week you can post a comment to the New Year's Resolution post. (only one comment per blog entry will be counted towards the contest). Posts that are part of the contest will be marked "New Year's Resolution."

As the end of the month, comments from the months posts will be entered into the contest. The winner will receive a $25. gift certificate to Jackson Sage Online Shoppe. Winners will be posted on the blog the last day of each month.
(you must make comments on the blog and not on Facebook!)

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Want to increase your chances to win? Here are ways to have extra entries. Make sure you leave a separate comment for each item you do and each time you do it.


Extra Entries that you can do more than once for the life of the contest:
(Please leave a separate entry for each one/time you do this):
* Use the Share button below, Leave a link or User name. Do as many or as few as you like- this one can be done more than once

Extra Entries: (You can only do the extra entries once for the life of the contest. Please leave a separate comment for each or it will not count as multiple entries.)
* Subscribe to Jackson Sage Newsletter.
* Follow Jackson Sage on Twitter
* Follow Doggie Sage on Twitter.
* Tweet this contest
* Become a fan of Jackson Sage on Facebook
* Become a fan of Doggie Sage on Facebook

The official rules: 1) A no purchase is necessary; 2) Start date is the first day of each month, the end dates is the last date of each month that there is a posting for New Year's Resolution; 3) Must be 18 years or old and a resident of the United States of America; 4) No purchase necessary, just sign up by posting a comment on the Jackson Sage Blog; 5) See above for how to enter; 6) odds of winning depend on the number of entries; 7) prize is a $25 gift certificate to shop online at jacksonsageshope.com; 8) you will be notified by a blog post. Once notified you have 24 hours to respond to claim your prize; 9) No restrictions apply other than those previously listed; 10) winner will be picked using http://www.random.org/and 11) and Sponsored by Jackson Sage Botanical Skin Care, Richmond, VA, www.jacksonsageshoppe.com
**** We reserve the right to cancel any order due to ineligible use of coupon code and to modify or cancel this offer due to technical error or unforeseen problems. Void where prohibited. Other restrictions may apply.

New Year's Resolution: Food Journal

OK, I will admit it... I love junk food. I love pizza, beer, wine, and chocolate. You might not think that would be the case since I make natural and healthy skin care but I will admit it, I love junk food.

Since my goal this year is to build healthy habits, I figure the best place to start is with sitting down and seeing what those unhealthy habits are (and even finding out what good habits I have!).

I will keep a food journal. In that journal I will write down everything I eat and the portions. I also will write down any exercise that I did.

I will not count calories till the end of the week. At the end of the week, I will sit down and figure out the calories per day and what my daily caloric intake for the week was. I will also begin to see patterns in my eating habits and places where I can substitute a better habit for healthy alternative.

Once I sit down and calculate my caloric intake for the week. I will also need to find out how many calories a week I should be taking in to maintain my current weight or to lose weight. You can go to the Mayo Clinic's Caloric Calculator to find this out. I will use a site like Calorie King to figure out the calories in the food I am eating. Also, we currently use a meal planner site like relish! to plan our dinners. They include in their recipes calories for each serving making it easy to know what you are eating (and even easier to plan).

Remember I am not making any judgements against myself this week. I just want to get an idea of what my typical habits are.

One habit I want to add this week is to make sure I am drinking my water. I am usually great about this but I fell off the wagon during the busy winter season.

Next week, I will give some H2O alternatives that help to flush the system and make water more fun (and make adult beverages more fun and healthy too!).

Side note: People say that those that keep a food diary not only lose more weight, they keep it off!

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The New Year's Resolution Contest!!!

Here are the Contest Rules and how to enter:
To enter, post a comment on the Jackson Sage blog about your New Year's Resolution or a comment about how I am doing. Each week you can post a comment to the New Year's Resolution post. (only one comment per blog entry will be counted towards the contest). Posts that are part of the contest will be marked "New Year's Resolution."

As the end of the month, comments from the months posts will be entered into the contest. The winner will receive a $25. gift certificate to Jackson Sage Online Shoppe. Winners will be posted on the blog the last day of each month.
(you must make comments on the blog and not on Facebook!)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Want to increase your chances to win? Here are ways to have extra entries. Make sure you leave a separate comment for each item you do and each time you do it.


Extra Entries that you can do more than once for the life of the contest:
(Please leave a separate entry for each one/time you do this):
* Use the Share button below, Leave a link or User name. Do as many or as few as you like- this one can be done more than once

Extra Entries: (You can only do the extra entries once for the life of the contest. Please leave a separate comment for each or it will not count as multiple entries.)
* Subscribe to Jackson Sage Newsletter.
* Follow Jackson Sage on Twitter
* Follow Doggie Sage on Twitter.
* Tweet this contest
* Become a fan of Jackson Sage on Facebook
* Become a fan of Doggie Sage on Facebook

The official rules: 1) A no purchase is necessary; 2) Start date is the first day of each month, the end dates is the last date of each month that there is a posting for New Year's Resolution; 3) Must be 18 years or old and a resident of the United States of America; 4) No purchase necessary, just sign up by posting a comment on the Jackson Sage Blog; 5) See above for how to enter; 6) odds of winning depend on the number of entries; 7) prize is a $25 gift certificate to shop online at jacksonsageshope.com; 8) you will be notified by a blog post. Once notified you have 24 hours to respond to claim your prize; 9) No restrictions apply other than those previously listed; 10) winner will be picked using http://www.random.org/and 11) and Sponsored by Jackson Sage Botanical Skin Care, Richmond, VA, www.jacksonsageshoppe.com
**** We reserve the right to cancel any order due to ineligible use of coupon code and to modify or cancel this offer due to technical error or unforeseen problems. Void where prohibited. Other restrictions may apply.

New Year Resolution: Take My Vitamins

This week I am in Houston on business (and to visit my Family and Friends!). This means I need something this week I can work on while away from work and home while eating Mexican food with margaritas and not being able to work out.

So taking my vitamins will be my goal this week!

But what vitamins should I take, especially for healthy skin? Now the most obvious answer, is to eat healthy and get the vitamins and minerals you need from food, but unfortunately sometimes we need to supplement our diet.

Here is a list of a few vitamins that also give you healthy skin and a list of the ones I will be taking everyday this week!

Multi Vitamin: Good all around. I prefer one with whole-food ingredients.
Zinc: Assist in wound healing, astringent, heals acne, reduce inflammation. Helps with the absorption of Vitamin A. Regulate hormonal production.
Essential Fatty Acids: I will take a fish oil but you can take flax or Evening Primrose Oil. Helps with Dry skin, white head and black heads. Helps to keep skin looking younger.
Vitamin B Complex: Helps keep skin hydrated. Assist in new skin cell growth. Helps to prevent premature aging and acne!

Read more on vitamins for acne at my previous blog.

Also WebMD has a good article on vitamins for skin.


Always check with your health care provider to decide what supplements are right for you.

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The New Year's Resolution Contest!!!

Here are the Contest Rules and how to enter:
To enter, post a comment on the Jackson Sage blog about your New Year's Resolution or a comment about how I am doing. Each week you can post a comment to the New Year's Resolution post. (only one comment per blog entry will be counted towards the contest). Posts that are part of the contest will be marked "New Year's Resolution."

As the end of the month, comments from the months posts will be entered into the contest. The winner will receive a $25. gift certificate to Jackson Sage Online Shoppe. Winners will be posted on the blog the last day of each month.
(you must make comments on the blog and not on Facebook!)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Want to increase your chances to win? Here are ways to have extra entries. Make sure you leave a separate comment for each item you do and each time you do it.


Extra Entries that you can do more than once for the life of the contest:
(Please leave a separate entry for each one/time you do this):
* Use the Share button below, Leave a link or User name. Do as many or as few as you like- this one can be done more than once

Extra Entries: (You can only do the extra entries once for the life of the contest. Please leave a separate comment for each or it will not count as multiple entries.)
* Subscribe to Jackson Sage Newsletter.
* Follow Jackson Sage on Twitter
* Follow Doggie Sage on Twitter.
* Tweet this contest
* Become a fan of Jackson Sage on Facebook
* Become a fan of Doggie Sage on Facebook

The official rules: 1) A no purchase is necessary; 2) Start date is the first day of each month, the end dates is the last date of each month that there is a posting for New Year's Resolution; 3) Must be 18 years or old and a resident of the United States of America; 4) No purchase necessary, just sign up by posting a comment on the Jackson Sage Blog; 5) See above for how to enter; 6) odds of winning depend on the number of entries; 7) prize is a $25 gift certificate to shop online at jacksonsageshope.com; 8) you will be notified by a blog post. Once notified you have 24 hours to respond to claim your prize; 9) No restrictions apply other than those previously listed; 10) winner will be picked using http://www.random.org/and 11) and Sponsored by Jackson Sage Botanical Skin Care, Richmond, VA, www.jacksonsageshoppe.com
**** We reserve the right to cancel any order due to ineligible use of coupon code and to modify or cancel this offer due to technical error or unforeseen problems. Void where prohibited. Other restrictions may apply.

Recipes: Kiwi & Pomegranate Masque

Kiwi has it all. It contains Vitamin A, a free radical scavenger. Free radical scavengers help protect the skin from oxidation which causes skin to become dry and dehydrated. Kiwis have high amounts of Vitamin C, which is know to be effective against fighting fine lines and wrinkles, and stimulating collagen production. Large amounts of alpha-hydroxy acid, know to slough of tired dead skin cells living your skin younger and more radiant, and to stimulate collagen production producing smoother skin. If that wasn't enough, it has it own build in exfoliation with its gently seeds.

Kiwi & Pomegranate Masque

For All Skin Types
•Jackson Sage Tea Tree Microscrub 1/2 tsp
•Kiwi & Pomegranate Puree 1/2
tsp
•Jackson Sage Rose & Honey Cleanser 3 pumps
•Jackson Sage Lavender Serum 4 drops
•Honey 1/2 tsp

Directions
Kiwi & Pomegranate Puree
Mix 1 Kiwi and 3 TBS Pomegranate Juice in a Blender. Refrigerate remaining
or add to a smoothie.
Masque
Mix ingredients together. Cleanse face with Rose Cleanser. Mist face with Rose and Aloe Hydrating Mist. Leave face damp from Hydrating Mist. Apply masque in a circular motion to face, avoid eyes. Leave on for 5-10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Post Masque Care
Mist face with Rose and Aloe Hydrating Mist. Add two drops of Lavender Serum to a pea size
amount of Lavender Skin Cream, apply to face.


Highlights of Additional Ingredients
* Shiitake Mushroom Extract (in the Rose Serum): increase cell turnover, improve firmness and hydration, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles
* Atlantic Kelp (in the Tea Tree MicroScrub): Helps to remove toxins, and improves skins elasticity
* Licorice Root Extract (in the Rose Cleanser): anti-inflammatory and moisturizer, and brightens and lightens skin
* Rice Bran (in the Tea Tree MicroScrub): A gentle exfoliate that helps to prevent
wrinkles, heal blemishes, absorb dirt and balance oils.

New Year's Resolution: Week One Goal Completed!

I have completed week one's goal to get rid of junk in the bathroom!!!!


Here is a picture of all that I threw away, along with my helper Brice. Brice is an Aussie, which means that he is always with me no matter what I am doing. If he can't be with me, he is outside the door of where I am. He defines the term "Velcro dog."

Now bathroom is clean with just the right about of products that I use every day!



We would love to hear from you. Keep us posted on how your first week New Year's Resolution is going! Don't forget all comments for the New Year's Resolution will be entered into our NEw Year's Resolution Contest.

Don't forget The New Year's Resolution Contest!!!
To Learn more click here >>>

New Year's Resolution: Trash that old Make-Up Stash

OK world, I will say it "I am a product junkie." I love everything from lipstick to nail polish and before I started my own skin care business, let's not discuss the "research" I conducted in the name of skin care. On top of that, after YEARS of being loyal to a brand of make-up I switched to a mineral based make-up. This left me with a lot of old products that I am no longer using.

So my bathroom is filled with half empty tubes, eye shadow colors from college and black nail polish. I know, I know, I have to let it go. This week's resolution is to get rid of all the expired products.

But how do I know if a product has expired? Here are a few rules of thumb. Do remember that each brand has it own shelf life.

Rule Number One: If it looks bad, smells bad or feels bad, it is bad.
Rule Number Two: The more natural the product, the shorter the shelf life. In other words, Jackson Sage products are on the shorter end of the shelf life due to the lack of chemicals to prolong the shelf life.
Rule Number Three: The more water, the shorter the life span of the product.

Skin and Body Care Products:
* Cleansers/Toners: 6 months to 1 year from purchase.
* Creams/Lotions: 6 months to 1 year from purchase. Look for separate to let you know it is really time to say good bye.
* Oil Based Serums: 1 year from purchase.
* Oil Free Serums: 6 months to 1 year from purchase.
* Masques: 6 months to 1 year from purchase.
* Powder Clay Masque or Cleansers: 1 year from purchase.
* Bar Soap: Rarely do they expire. Natural soaps will over time lose their fragrance due to the lack of chemicals to hold the fragrance.
* Liquid Soap: If it is a detergent based cleansing gel, I suggest throwing it away on principle alone. It is bad for your body and the environment. But if is a natural cleanser, 1 year from purchase.
* Nail Polish: 1 year from purchase, or so I have heard. Not sure how something so toxic can expire. My guess is this number is based on the fact that it starts to dry up after being exposed to air. But it is a good rule of thumb since although flat black was recently in, that might not be the case by the time I actually get around to using it again.

Make -up:
* Liquid Foundation: 1 year from purchase.
* Powders: 2 years from purchase.
* Eye Liner Pencil: 2 years from purchase.
* Mascara: 4 months from purchase.
* Eye Shadow: 2 years from purchase.

Hair:
* Shampoo: 1 to 2 years from purchase.
* Conditioner: 6 months to 2 years from purchase.
* Styling products: 1 to 2 years from purchase.

Mouth:
* Toothpaste: 2 years (see expiration date).

Since most things seem to expire around year. January is a good month to have as the throw away and replace month. This makes it easier to keep track of when it is time to let go of that flat black nail polish.


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Don't forget The New Year's Resolution Contest!!!

Here are the Contest Rules and how to enter:
To enter, post a comment on the Jackson Sage blog about your New Year's Resolution or a comment about how I am doing. Each week you can post a comment to the New Year's Resolution post. (only one comment per blog entry will be counted towards the contest).

As the end of the month, comments from the months posts will be entered into the contest. The winner will receive a $25. gift certificate to Jackson Sage Online Shoppe. Winners will be posted on the blog the last day of each month.
(you must make comments on the blog and not on Facebook!)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Want to increase your chances to win? Here are ways to have extra entries. Make sure you leave a separate comment for each item you do and each time you do it.


Extra Entries that you can do more than once for the life of the contest:
(Please leave a separate entry for each one/time you do this):
* Use the Share button below, Leave a link or User name. Do as many or as few as you like- this one can be done more than once

Extra Entries: (You can only do the extra entries once for the life of the contest. Please leave a separate comment for each or it will not count as multiple entries.)
* Subscribe to Jackson Sage Newsletter.
* Follow Jackson Sage on Twitter
* Follow Doggie Sage on Twitter.
* Tweet this contest
* Become a fan of Jackson Sage on Facebook
* Become a fan of Doggie Sage on Facebook

New Year Resolution: $25. Gift Certificate Contest Rules

The New Year's Resolution Contest!!!

Here are the Contest Rules and how to enter:
To enter, post a comment on the Jackson Sage blog about your New Year's Resolution or a comment about how I am doing. Each week you can post a comment to the New Year's Resolution post. (only one comment per blog entry will be counted towards the contest). Posts that are part of the contest will be marked "New Year's Resolution."

As the end of the month, comments from the months posts will be entered into the contest. The winner will receive a $25. gift certificate to Jackson Sage Online Shoppe. Winners will be posted on the blog the last day of each month.
(you must make comments on the blog and not on Facebook!)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Want to increase your chances to win? Here are ways to have extra entries. Make sure you leave a separate comment for each item you do and each time you do it.


Extra Entries that you can do more than once for the life of the contest:
(Please leave a separate entry for each one/time you do this):
* Use the Share button below, Leave a link or User name. Do as many or as few as you like- this one can be done more than once

Extra Entries: (You can only do the extra entries once for the life of the contest. Please leave a separate comment for each or it will not count as multiple entries.)
* Subscribe to Jackson Sage Newsletter.
* Follow Jackson Sage on Twitter
* Follow Doggie Sage on Twitter.
* Tweet this contest
* Become a fan of Jackson Sage on Facebook
* Become a fan of Doggie Sage on Facebook

The official rules: 1) A no purchase is necessary; 2) Start date is the first day of each month, the end dates is the last date of each month that there is a posting for New Year's Resolution; 3) Must be 18 years or old and a resident of the United States of America; 4) No purchase necessary, just sign up by posting a comment on the Jackson Sage Blog; 5) See above for how to enter; 6) odds of winning depend on the number of entries; 7) prize is a $25 gift certificate to shop online at jacksonsageshope.com; 8) you will be notified by a blog post. Once notified you have 24 hours to respond to claim your prize; 9) No restrictions apply other than those previously listed; 10/ winner will be picked using http://www.random.org/and 10) and Sponsored by Jackson Sage Botanical Skin Care, Richmond, VA, www.jacksonsageshoppe.com
**** We reserve the right to cancel any order due to ineligible use of coupon code and to modify or cancel this offer due to technical error or unforeseen problems. Void where prohibited. Other restrictions may apply.

New Year's Resolution: $25. Gift Certificate Contest

OK, so every year we set out goals for ourselves. We evaluate things we want to change and voe to transform ourselves this year. Usually the resolution involves things we know we can't keep or live up to such never eat another sweet again, become a millionaire, not ever say another curse word. Those goals are great, and they make up think about our past bad habits, and for awhile change them.

But here is my New Year's Resolution. I voe to post one thing each week that I am personally working on to be happier and healthier. Each weeks goal will not be a mountain to climb, but one small healthy habit that I need to try to integrate into my life (or reintegrate) for that week. I will try to keep that healthy goal going after that week but the goal is to integrate healthy habits in small doses to make trying healthy habits the goal not just for one habit to stick.

Each week will be simple goals, and if you want you can try some of the goals as well. Or post in the comments your goals for the year, month, day, week. Or give me a suggestions for a healthy goal of the week.

The New Year's Resolution Contest!!!

Here are the Contest Rules and how to enter:
To enter, post a comment on the Jackson Sage blog about your New Year's Resolution or a comment about how I am doing. Each week you can post a comment to the New Year's Resolution post. (only one comment per blog entry will be counted towards the contest). Posts that are part of the contest will be marked "New Year's Resolution."

As the end of the month, comments from the months posts will be entered into the contest. The winner will receive a $25. gift certificate to Jackson Sage Online Shoppe. Winners will be posted on the blog the last day of each month.
(you must make comments on the blog and not on Facebook!)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Want to increase your chances to win? Here are ways to have extra entries. Make sure you leave a separate comment for each item you do and each time you do it.


Extra Entries that you can do more than once for the life of the contest:
(Please leave a separate entry for each one/time you do this):
* Use the Share button below, Leave a link or User name. Do as many or as few as you like- this one can be done more than once

Extra Entries: (You can only do the extra entries once for the life of the contest. Please leave a separate comment for each or it will not count as multiple entries.)
* Subscribe to Jackson Sage Newsletter.
* Follow Jackson Sage on Twitter
* Follow Doggie Sage on Twitter.
* Tweet this contest
* Become a fan of Jackson Sage on Facebook
* Become a fan of Doggie Sage on Facebook

The official rules: 1) A no purchase is necessary; 2) Start date is the first day of each month, the end dates is the last date of each month that there is a posting for New Year's Resolution; 3) Must be 18 years or old and a resident of the United States of America; 4) No purchase necessary, just sign up by posting a comment on the Jackson Sage Blog; 5) See above for how to enter; 6) odds of winning depend on the number of entries; 7) prize is a $25 gift certificate to shop online at jacksonsageshope.com; 8) you will be notified by a blog post. Once notified you have 24 hours to respond to claim your prize; 9) No restrictions apply other than those previously listed; 10/ winner will be picked using http://www.random.org/and 10) and Sponsored by Jackson Sage Botanical Skin Care, Richmond, VA, www.jacksonsageshoppe.com
**** We reserve the right to cancel any order due to ineligible use of coupon code and to modify or cancel this offer due to technical error or unforeseen problems. Void where prohibited. Other restrictions may apply.