It’s fun to spend time at the spa getting pampered and enjoying the results of the wonderful skin treatment.  But you don’t have to spend time and money to get those results.  Here’s a tip for getting those same results at home:

Turn your cleansing gel into a gentle face scrub by adding a little ground oatmeal or wheat germ.

Blend them together in the palm of your hand and massage gently onto your face, then rinse and pat dry.  You’ll love the way your skin feels and you’ll love knowing that you can have beautiful healthy skin without paying for the high priced treatments.

At this time of year you’ll see pumpkins everywhere you look; all shapes and sizes.   They work in soups, stews, pies, smoothies and of course jack-o-lanterns.  But most people will throw away the seeds.  Instead of doing that think about roasting them for a nutritious snack.  You can buy them already roasted and that’s fine but why not roast up a big batch yourself without spending any extra money?

One quarter cup of pumpkin seeds provides 46 percent of the daily recommended value for magnesium, 29 percent of iron, 52 percent of manganese and 24 percent of copper. Pumpkin seeds also are a good source of zinc, with 17 percent of the daily recommended value.

One quarter cup of roasted pumpkin seeds contains 169 calories and 4.34 g of carbohydrates. They serve as a good, vegetarian source of protein with 8.8 g, or about 16 percent of a day’s worth. Fiber in pumpkin seeds comes in at almost 2 g per 1/4-cup serving.

To roast simply rinse in cool water pulling off the pulp and string.  Lay in a single layer on a non stick baking sheet and sprinkle with sea salt. Roast at 325 for 20- 30 minutes checking and stirring the seeds at 10 minute intervals.  Some people like to coat the seeds with oil.  If you choose to do this use it very sparingly so as not to make the seeds too greasy.

Sprinkle the seeds on soup, over stews or vegetable side dishes, or eat them straight up as a snack.  Store in an airtight container.

In honor of the class that’s currently running in the members area (Back to Booty School…Saddle Up!) we’re going to celebrate the great outdoors AND the inexpensive get away today.

Check out this article from VegNews.

It gives some great tips for an awesome vegan camp out.  If you’re looking to make the most of the last days of summer why not try something that’s fitness friendly?

In honor of Thrifty Thursday in our Lighten Up class  we’d like to share a SPA ON A BUDGET TIP from “Marilu Henner’s 30 Day Total Health Makeover”  .  Not only does this tie in with our theme today but it’s also a timely tip for summer days.

” Foundation bottles are often shaped in such a way to make you have to buy a lot more, a lot sooner.  If you add some moisturizer with sunscreen to your foundation, you’ll end up with a tinted moisturizer.  It’s really nice on a light day, or if you’re going to work out and want a little makeup to even out your skin tones. ”

It’s estimated that Americans eat 200 pounds of meat (including chicken and fish) every year.  According to VegTimes magazine, by replacing the meat with  healthier, more compassionate options each individual could save up to $4,ooo.oo a year.

What can you do with the extra energy you’ll have from a plant based diet AND an extra FOUR GRAND a year? 

Give yourself an egg white facial. I learned this when I was eleven years old (not that i needed to tighten my pores at eleven, but i knew what was coming): 1. Crack open an egg, make sure that the yolk doesn’t break. 2. Switch it back and forth between the two half shells, and make sure you get the yolk out of there, so you just have the egg white. 3. Put it on your face, as if you were washing your face with it, and let it harden. 4. Rinse off with tepid water.

(And don’t forget to pre-order your copy of Marilu’s latest book “Total Memory Makeover”.  The link is right here on our homepage.)

Getting organized can help you find extra time in your day and money in your wallet.    Looking for keys and important papers can make you feel disorganized. 

Whether you do a spring housecleaning or not this is a good time to do a spring cleaning of your paperwork.  Take some time to organize your file cabinet, and to have an in and out box for your mail.

Go through old receipts. File appliance warranties where you’ll be able to find them.  Put your insurance policies and your pet’s health records in an easy to find spot.

Take a look at your cell phone bill and your cable bill.  Know what you’re being charged.

Think of this as taking stock before the seasons change and your schedule along with them.  Make time to get involved.  We’ve got a great class just around the corner.  Booty Camp is always a good time here at Marilu.com and this year it’s all about being vibrant and vivacious.  You won’t want to miss it !

WHAT you buy isn’t the only decision you need to make at the grocery store these days.  How you pay for those purchases is important also.  A recent report in The Journal for Consumer Research indicates that people who are paying with a credit card are more likely to make impulse purchases of expensive snack foods, while those paying with cash will lean towards whole foods and healthier fare.

Studies have suggested that when we use credit cards we don’t feel the “pain” of the purchase and may not put as much thought into what we’re buying. 

We’re not suggesting that you ditch your cards.  Many of us use them wisely, earn cash back and save ourselves trips to the bank and the inconvenience of carrying cash.  Lose a wallet with cash and you’ve lost the money but credit cards can be cancelled with no financial cost to you.

So if credit is your preferred means of payment go right on using it, but be aware that you may need to think twice when you’re traveling the snack aisle. 

Stick to the perimeter of the store and put your hard earned money to work keeping you healthy.

Take a few minutes today to estimate how much you’re spending on lunch each week.  Chances are there’s a connection between how much you spend and how much you could improve the quality of your lunches. 

Taking the time to pack a lunch is a great way to have control over what’s going into your body and it will save you money as well.  You can make sandwiches and wraps healthier by choosing Veganaise over mayonaise.   Take it a step further and choose mustard or hummus or just load it up with wet veggies like tomatoes and cucumbers. 

Add healthy fats with guacamole and olive oil. 

Pressed for time?  If your workplace has a place to heat food you can take leftovers from your meals.   

Save yourself time and money AND protect your health !

A vegetarian, or vegan, lifestyle is not only good for the planet and good for your health but it can be good for your wallet…..unless you fall into some common traps. 

 The most common trap might be buying something you don’t need or want just BECAUSE it’s vegan.  You’re really full, you weren’t planning on dessert but there’s a vegan cupcake on the menu so you just HAVE to have it. 

Or you wander into the grocery store hungry and load up on every cookie and snack food that fits the bill. 

Of course this happens to everyone, not just vegans and vegetarians but after so many years of limited choices it’s tempting to load up your cart.

Resist temptation.  In the first place, processed food is still processed food and you do want to have a HEALTHY lifestyle.  And secondly, this way of eating is becoming more mainstream so that pack of cookies is NOT your last chance at a vegan treat. 

Visit the recipe forum here at Marilu.com for some great ideas that will keep you healthy AND fiscally responsible.