Awesome discovery: MyCokeRewards.com

Truth be told, I drink coke: A LOT. Granted, while I mainly indulge in Coke Zero and Diet Coke, it still pains me to know that I am addicted to caffeine. However, what is great is that I finally figured out how to put my addiction to good use: www.mycokerewards.com!

Seriously, check it out. Basically, for every Coca-Cola product you drink (individual bottles and cases of cokes) there is a code number located on the bottle cap or on the case of cans. Simply register with the website, enter your codes, and wham! You get 3 points for every bottle of coke you drink, and more for the cases of coke you enter!

What do you get with these points? Well, do you like free yearly-magazine subscriptions to publications such as Cosmopolitan, Fitness, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and other popular media? When you save up 100+ points, you can get free magazine subscriptions, all for drinking soft drinks that you would have consumed any way!

Check it out, and start tallying up your points pronto!

Those dishes just won't do themselves....

With the recession still impacting the tightness of our wallets, it is important to save where we can. Fortunately, you can kill two birds with one stone by mixing your own dishwasher detergent-- not only is it all-natural (and safe), but it also is so much cheaper than the store-bought fare

First of all, add equal parts Borax andbaking soda into a Gladware, or similar product, container. I recommend using 2 cups of each, but add as much or as little as you like, as long as they are equal amounts to one another.

If you wish, add 2 cups (or whatever your decided ratio) of your regular powdered dishwasher detergent to your mixture. This is not necessary, but you can preserve your typical store-bought detergent longer by doing this.

Make sure to mix everything together very well. I like to snap the lid shut on the container and shake it for a few seconds. However, do whatever works best for you.

Add two or three tablespoons of the soap to your dishwasher. If desired, you can add some distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle, as well, to eliminate hard-water stains.

Seal your mixture tightly and place in a convenient location. Viola!

On the rocks, hold the calories...

When it comes to "budgeting," I generally refer to 3 things: money, time, and, yes, calories. Unfortunately, as a 23 year old grad student, I have a fondness not only for frugality and name-brand items, but also yummy alcoholic beverages. However, were you aware that the average frozen margarita can have about 400-600 calories, or that a 5-ounce serving of spumante (piddly amount!) can pack around 138 calories? Well, in order to have our liquor and drink it, too, I have comprised a collection of low-calorie options for alcohol. Read on!

1) First of all, never underestimate the health benefits of a red wine. The average 5-ounce serving of a dry red wine is 83 calories, which truly isn't terrible. One glass a day of red wine packs a huge punch of antioxidants, heart disease-fighting properties, and other delicious benefits. Vella (you know, the wine that comes in a large box) has an absolutely delicious red wine, properly titled "Delicious Red." For 5 liters of wine in a box, you are also chalking over a mere $13. Can it get any better than that? (Also, boxed red wine is great for having in your fridge if you like adding a bit of wine to your favorite pot roasts and other fancy recipes.)

If you are more of a fan of fruity, girly drinks (like me), then a little ol' site called Hungry Girl will be your saving grace. A blog created by the ingenious Lisa Lillen, HungryGirl offers low-cal versions of your favorite comfort and junk foods. Thankfully for us, it also offers low-cal versions of cocktails and other delicious alcoholic drinks, complete with the alcohol. While I recommend scurrying through the website (and the two best-selling books, the first with an entire chapter devoted to alcoholic beverages), I will share their margarita recipe here, complete with my own twists:

Hungry Girl's Low-Cal Frozen Margarita

You will need:

*2-3 tablespoons of silver tequila

*To-go packs of Great Choice zero-calorie lemonade mix (an entire to-go stick, or 2 servings)

*2 tablespoons of lime juice

*3/4 cup of diet lemon-lime soda

*A few cubes of ice

Simply combine all ingredients in a blender, pour, and enjoy! It's only 100 calories :)

Want more low-calorie recipes, such as low-cal mojitos, mudslides, and daiquiris? Check out Hungry Girl's website and books for more!

Sephora Swap: NARS Orgasm Blush vs. Cover Girl's Cheekers in Pretty Peach

vs. If you ask any die-hard Sephora fan, "What's the 'it' blush of the moment?" the answer would be clear: NARS Blush in Orgasm. While NARS carries a highly respected line of blush, lipsticks, and the like in naughty-sounding titles, is it's signature cheek product really distinguishable from the rest? Well, let's find out!

NARS BLUSH in ORGASM: Retailing for $25 at your nearest Sephora, or its website equivalent, this 0.16 ounce unit is presented in a very pretty package. It goes on smoothly, lasts for hours, and, let's face it: when you whip out a NARS blush packet from your pocket, you earn credibility from anyone who knows what they are talking about in beauty and fashion. As far as the most popular color Orgasm goes, it tends to be VERY peachy, and may not show up well against tanned or darker skin types. However, it is a very smooth, gorgeous color.

COVER GIRL CHEEKERS BLUSH in PRETTY PEACH: For 0.12 ounces, this blush costs a mere $4.50 at your local drugstore or super-center (a.k.a. Walmart or Target), making it a definite bang for your buck. Additionally, the color goes on very well and, much like its Sephora counterpart, lasts nearly all day. The color Pretty Peach is the closest color twin I've found to NARS's Orgasm, but I prefer also one color up, Deep Plum, which is actually still pretty light.

THE VERDICT? While each product is essentially the same in terms of results, color, and longevity, is there any reason why you shouldn't stick with Cover Girl Cheekers Blush? It is fraction of the cost, and much more readily available in your area. However, I would suggest, if you have darker skin, to try Deep Plum, and to use a professional blush brush to apply the blush to your cheeks.

"You have puuuurty eyes"....

From Loreal to Neutrogena, it seems that everybody has a magical solution to help reduce eye puffiness, prevent wrinkles, and overall revitalize your eyes. However, if you don't want to spend an arm and a leg on a jar of eye cream, please read on...

For a range of eye problems, such as sore, tired eyes, buy a few teabags at your local grocery store. Depending on what is ailing your eyes, you may want to buy different flavors. For instance, buy peppermint tea to revitalize tired eyes, or chamomile or lavender tea to soothe sore eyes. Place the tea bags in a glass of warm water for about five minutes. After removing all of your makeup, preferably at night before you retire tobed, lie down and place a tea bag over each eye. Remove anywhere from five to ten minutes, depending on how long you want the effect to last.

To prevent and treat wrinkles and puffiness of the eyes, simply head to your local drugstore and purchase a tube of Preparation H, or any other generic hemorrhoid treatment cream. Dab a bit of this cream to the wrinkles of your eyes to help fight against wrinkles, or dab onto the puffy areas of your eyes. Wear this to bed, and wash off in the morning.

In order to moisturize very dry eye areas, dab a bit of petroleum jelly onto the area. You can also rub petroleum jelly onto your eyelashes to moisturize them and make them appear longer!

Cure your acne scars with lemons

If you have read my other articles on acne, you now are able to successfully battle future acne attacks. However, what can you do about those pesky acne scars from the past days of poor skin care and misguidance from TV advertisements? Have no fear-- you don't need to shell out tons of money at the dermatologist; instead, all you need to do is take a trip to your grocery's produce section....

First of all, wash your face with your regular cleanser. Make sure that all of your makeup is off, and that your skinis clan and dry. Don't apply a serum, moisturizer, or toner yet.

Squeeze the juice of one fresh lemon into a shallow bowl. Cut a piece of gauze, or a paper towel, down the middle, and soak the gauze or paper towel in the lemon juice for a minute or two.

Either lying down or reclining slightly, slightly wring out each piece of lemon-soaked fabric and lay them over the portion of your face that is riddled with acne scars. Make sure that the lemon juice does not come into contact with your eyes or your hair, as it can sting or discolor. Leave the soaked fabric in place for up to 20 minutes, depending on how sensitive your skin is. You may need to only leave them in place for 5 minutes or so until you can gauge your skin's reaction.

Repeat this procedure abut 3-4 times a week, until your scars noticeably fade.

An easy, breezy coffee dessert.... yuuummmmm!

There is no doubt that, following a meal, dessert is perfect and satisfying. However, what is NOT satisfying to some is the hard, dutiful work of cooking and/or baking these post-meal pleasers. If you are scrapped for time, but still want to satisfy your craving for sweets, this easy-to-make, delicious dessert is perfect for you...

First of all, put two or three scoops of Breyer's All-Natural Vanilla Bean Ice Cream in a small bowl (or soda glass, if you prefer). As mentioned previously, it is possible to use other ice cream, but Breyer's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream is simple, delicious, and has the perfect texture.

Second, either using freshly-brewed coffee or warmed coffee from earlier in the day, pour coffee over the vanilla ice cream. The coffee should be warm or slightly hot, depending on your preference. Also, adjust the amount of coffee you place on top of the ice cream accordingly-- for coffee-flavored ice cream, drizzle a few tablespoons over each ice cream scoop. For more of an ice cream/coffee float, use much more (about a cup to 2 scoops) and place it in a tall, fancy glass.

If you desire, garnish your dessert with various toppings, such as whipped cream, chocolate covered espresso beans (found the cheapest in the candy section of Wal-Mart), chocolate shavings, and the like.

Serve your dessert to your guests-- or simply yourself. Enjoy with a big spoon and a sweet tooth!