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Check back in each week with more ideas to save you time, money and sanity! The show will launch in July!

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“To achieve your goals, make the right thing to do the easy thing to do.” Dr. Oz

Usually the fastest, best and smartest way to do something is also the easiest way to do it!

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To feel better when you haven’t slept enough the night before:

1. Eat a protein breakfast to avoid the carb crash and don’t load up on caffeine. One cup is the max!

2. Keep moving.  If you feel yourself feeling sleepy take a walk or do 15 jumping jacks.

3. If you take a nap drink a cappuccino or  coffee immediately beforehand.  The caffeine will take effect in about 30 minutes and the short nap will feel refreshing.

To look better when you you haven’t deposited enough in your sleep bank:

1. Splash your face with cold water to constrict the blood vessels or use frozen veggie bags on your face for 5-10 min. This will reduce puffiness!

2. Use caffeine based products around your eyes to reduce bags.

3. Exercise for 5-10 minutes to create circulation and a rosy look.

And let’s not forget the need to camouflage!

1. Use a yellow and green based concealer to counter the blue tones.

2. Open up the eyes with eyelash curler and mascara

3. Use a pink/peach blush.

And when all else fails, wear the coolest, big sunglasses you can find – Think Angelina Jolie! She is a mom of six and I don’t care how many nannies she might have, somebody is keeping her awake at night.

BUT don’t make these tips a habit! Faking it long term is never a good idea!
As infrequently as possible! It is called Beauty Rest for reason so while these tips help every once in while it is ultra important that women get their rest for their health. Long term sleep deprivation hurts our weight loss efforts, causes premature aging and cognitively impacts our ability to make decisions, manage stress and perform at our best. It also puts us at a higher risk of hypertension and heart disease. So for new moms –  take advantage of friends, family and dad to take baby and sleep when baby sleeps.  Keeping the house clean is not as important as your well being!

Products that I mention and LOVE in this segment…

You can find Clairsonic at Sephora or Ulta.

Now this is a new product I discovered by Dimitri James. It is part of his Skinn collection and I love it. Combining caffeine, green tea and cucumber this one really delivers on it’s promise to reduce puffiness. It also improves and lightens dark circles with continued use. Click on the image to take you to their website.

Dark Circles? You’ll love this from Bremann labs.

If if is good enough for SJP, it is probably good enough for me! This new eye roll-on from Garnier is fabulous. Feels good too! You can find it at most drug stores.

I found this in my local Sprouts and I am addicted. This DMAE firming gel reduces puffiness by tightening and firming your skin. It comes from Reviva Labs.

And finally Bobbi Brown’s fabulous concealer. You can find it at Nordstrom or Sephora.

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Here are her tips, courtesy of Clarky!

Mani/Pedi
Why send Mom to a pricey spa when a mani/pedi at home is fun and frugal?

Step 1: Remove all old polish from your feet. Skip name-brand polish removers in favor of store-brand and save $1.

Step 2: Soak If don’t you have a foot bath great, a large salad bowl it a great alternative… be sure wash before using it for food purposes! Soak feet for 5-10 minutes.

Step 3: Exfoliate Think ahead and mix up your own simple, inexpensive scrub made of sea salt and olive oil. (Basic recipe: 1 part sea salt or coarse sugar with 1 part olive oil). Rub gently but firmly into Mom’s feet, starting at the heel. Rinse feet well.

Step 4: Moisturize A foot moisturizer that Mom is sure to love is Norwegian Formula Foot Cream by Neutrogena… under $5 at drug stores and only $3.64 at Ulta.com

Step 5: Polish Instead of buying toe separators, wrap bath tissue around Mom’s toes to avoid a mess. Start with a base coat. Add two coats of toe color and finish with top coat to protect color and helps the polish last longer. Let dry for at least 20 minutes.

SAVINGS
· Mother’s Day Spa mani/pedi- $100 plus tip
· Debt Diva’s Mother’s Day DIY mani/pedi- $20

Mother’s Day Movie
Mom loves going to the movie theater to see her favorite flicks and indulge in yummy treats like popcorn and candy. But with tickets and over-prices concessions, a trip to the movies can really add up. Throw a movie party at home for a fraction of the price can make Mom feel special without breaking the bank

Snacks: Pop movie-theater style popcorn. Have Dad pick up Mom’s favorite candy from your local convenience store or grocery (buy in bulk to reduce costs even more). Offer an array of cold soft drinks

Set Up: Chose a room with lots of space. If there’s not enough seating for everyone, move the furniture aside and spread out blankets on the floor for a “drive-in” movie experience.

Screen: Broadcast your movie of choice on your home television or computer (the larger the screen, the better) or rent a projector from your local library

Watch: Any movie that shows Mom being the hero!
For Younger Kids: The Incredibles or The Sound of Music
For Older Kids: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood or Erin Brockovich

SAVINGS
· Mother’s Day Movie in the Theater (including snacks)- $35 for 3 people
· Debt Diva’s Mother’s Day DIY mani/pedi- $25 for 15 people

Mother’s Day Brunch
Brunch is an important Mother’s Day tradition, but we all know that eating at home instead of going out is a tried-and-true money-saver.

Kids can make a delicious meal for the Moms in their neighborhood! Brunch classics like eggs and French toast can be made with a few ingredients, a few cooking tools, and a microwave. Walk kids through these simple steps until they learn to cook alone.

Elementary kids and older can cook their own breakfasts, as long as they can:
o Measure
o Crack eggs without getting shells in (or remove shells from) the bowl
o Use the microwave.

For kid-friendly recipes, see Kids Cooking Suite 101!

SAVINGS
· Mother’s Day Brunch for four at a mid-priced restaurant – $60
· Debt Diva’s Mother’s Day DIY Brunch for four- $10

Mother’s Day Bouquet
According to the About Flowers.com (a web site hosted by the Society of American Florists, the U.S. floral industry trade association), about one-third (32%) of adults (37% of men; 27% of women) bought flowers or plants as gifts for Mother’s Day 2009. But you can save money by making your own flowers that will show Mom how much you love her after even the freshest of blooms has wilted.

You’ll need: some colorful tissue paper and a healthy dose of imagination.

Learn how to make paper flowers for kids with the craft instructions on the following links:
o Paper Carnations These sweet, simple flowers will be the center of attention.
o Paper Roses These roses don’t wilt, they don’t have thorns, and they can be any color of the rainbow!
o Tiny Paper Flowers These tiny paper flowers make a big statement.
o Tissue Bouquet Why stop at just one? Craft a whole bouquet of beautiful flowers.

SAVINGS
· Mother’s Day Bouquet from florist- $35
· Debt Diva’s Mother’s Day DIY Bouquet- $5

TOTAL SAVINGS:
o Traditional Mother’s Day celebration: $370
o Debt Diva’s progressive “Mother’s Day Out”: $60

About The Debt Diva
Clarky Davis, The Debt Diva is a debt management expert with more than 10 years of personal and professional experience. As The Debt Diva she offers financial fitness education and “real world” money saving tips to help consumers trim their spending in just about every area of their lives. Davis’ expertise is founded on her own personal experience in racking up debt and learning to live within her means while paying it down. Her personal debt management success piqued her interest in the industry and prompted her certification in credit counseling. As The Debt Diva for CareOne Credit Counseling, Davis shares her savvy debt management tools with consumers and provides free downloadable guides at www.TheDebtDiva.com. As The Debt Diva, Davis has appeared on ABC News Now, Fox Business, Fox and Friends, and Nightline and has partnered with the bargain retailer TJ Maxx.

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I’m Shay Pausa, the creator of Faster, Better Smarter TV and I’m here to tell you, I am on a quest to make life easier and more enjoyable.  So I’m looking for all the little tips, tricks and ideas that will help us get things done without stress. I want to know how to make being green easy and affordable.  I want to learn the best techniques to save time, money and most importantly, my sanity.  And I promise to share EVERYTHING that my team reviews and deems “Faster, Better and Smarter”!

So we’ll start posting our shows, segments and articles today.  We’d love to hear your comments, suggestions and challenges.  Our team is made up of brilliant women that, just like you and me, struggle to be the best wives, moms, business women, friends, daughters etc!  We are part of the ChiKiiTV network, a group of digital properties dedicated to empowering, entertaining and engaging you.  We are owned and operated for women by women.  We are you!

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