Ginger Garrett

So many women are trying honey on their skin for the first time after reading the sneak peeks from Beauty Secrets of the Bible. But of course, honey has been used on the skin since antiquity: a tablet dating back to 2000BC offers a recipe for honey as a skin treatment.

Science is only now discovering what the ancients knew: honey heals.

The Washington Post is featuring an article on honey’s new frontier: wound treatment. If the constant warnings about drug-resistent bacteria has you unsettled, you won’t want to miss the article.  

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/03/AR2007080301651_pf.html

I am receiving a lot of questions about the Serpent Moon Trilogy, and when the next two novels will be released.

I posted a message on my blog a few months ago about this issue, but my older postings didn’t make it onto this new website. So, here’s the scoop:

I am sad to say the next two books will not be released anytime soon. The publisher changed management, and made some decisions that ultimately led me to cancel the trilogy with them. But all the copies of Dark Hour say the next installment is due out this fall. I wish that were true, but it’s no longer the case. Publishing is a crazy business, both for writers and management. I wish everyone well who worked with me on the trilogy, and hope our paths cross again sometime soon.

So here’s what I’m working on now:

This September I am releasing Beauty Secrets of the Bible with Thomas Nelson, a book about rediscovering the ancient arts of beauty and perfume. And next year, my new novel will be released from David. C. Cook Publishers, entitled The Scribe. It features angels, so you’ll find me frequently posting here on angels.

Sign up for my newsletter online and you’ll get sneak peeks of both books!
Blessings,
Ginger

           The sea’s shattered dreams washed ashore and my children picked each one up, crying out at the beauty in each piece, carrying them to me for inspection. We carefully dropped each one into our bucket to wash later with great care and display in their bedrooms.

          Each shell, though broken, was a miracle beyond our ability. We cradled each one delicately, whispering how beautiful it must have been whole. Our hearts praised this world beyond our reach, a world so magnificent that even to find a shard washed up at our feet, discarded, was to find a coveted treasure.

         I wonder if our dreams are like these broken shells: infinite, delicate, patterns and colors and textures, churned by rough sand and sweeping tides. I imagine them washing ashore in heaven, where angels gasp in wonder and bring each shattered treasure, in joy, to God the Father. Yes, when it was whole, it was magnificent, but just to dream, to imagine new worlds and breathe them into being, is a thing of awe and wonder to the angels, because angels can’t dream. To dream, to call into creation a new world of thought, deed, or love, is the gift of God that we alone of all His creatures are blessed with.

        Someday, perhaps, when I walk through the gates of heaven, an angel will rush forward to meet me, carrying a big jar of the broken remnants of my life, displayed with love and awe in heaven. So dream today: a tiny one, or an extravagant one, it doesn’t matter. Angels are watching for them on the shores of heaven. 

Neem seed oil is purported to cure splitting, peeling nails, giving you gorgeous nails in record time.

But does it work?

Well, Dr. Hauschka®, the luxe brand of alternative beauty remedies, seems to think so. It’s a key ingredient in his Neem Nail Oil. But the price tag for this runs about $38 for one ounce, and contains a long list of other ingredients, including peanut oil and apricot oil.Comparably, a one-ounce bottle of 100% neem seed oil cost us about $8.We sampled both products. Dr. Hauschka’s has a mild, neutral scent. 100% neem seed oil, however, has a remarkable bouquet, reminiscent of burning rubber, with a lingering burnt hair finish. But the stuff works. In fact, I’d dare say, this is as close to a miracle cure as it gets in the natural beauty arena. Within days, my nails stopped splitting and peeling. I quit using it, and my nails remained strong for weeks. Now I use neem seed oil only as needed. If you don’t mind a brief, unpleasant olfactory encounter, and want to save significant money, use the 100% neem seed oil. But if you’re in for a splurge, Dr. Hauschka Neem Nail Oil is a great choice. 

Neem Seed Oil for Weak Nails
Use 1-2 drops per hand. Rub it into the nails and cuticles. Wipe clean any excess oil. If you like, layer a scented lotion on top of this. 

You’ll find neem seed oil—and Dr. Hauschka Neem Nail Oil, at Whole Foods Market®. 

Make the most of these last few weeks. Here are a few of my favorite tricks and tips… 

1.      Before sunning at the pool or beach, run conditioner through your hair. (For a natural, nourishing option, use 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil or coconut oil.) Pull hair up into a ponytail, or slick back under a hat. It’s a spa-rific hot oil treatment, without the spa-shock price tag.

2.    Need an emergency under-eye concealer? My favorite concealer is diaper rash ointment! I use the Burt’s Bees brand, and the high zinc oxide content gives me a nice concealer plus a little extra protection from the sun. Be sure to wear your regular sunscreen over this.

3.    Research has shown that consuming antioxidants can protect our skin from premature aging, as well as fight a host of ailments. Farmer’s markets are in full swing right now, so make plans to stop by one this week.

4.    If you spy some lovely tomatoes, my summer favorite, don’t be afraid to buy more than you’ll eat this week. They freeze! Just rinse, dry well, and pop the whole thing in the freezer. Add the whole, frozen tomato next time you’re making soup or sauce. The skin will float to the surface after it heats, and the tomato will be easy to mash into the soup. Nothing is easier, and nothing beats the taste!