by Stephanie Berenbaum – January 19, 2012

Buggin’ Out?

Given the rotten job market and downer economy, I am happy to say I have recently encountered a business which gives me confidence that this country is going to be ok: I am speaking, of course, about Professional Lice Removal.

In general, I try not to make impulse purchases.  But when I got a call from my son’s school that his hair was infested with lice – well, let’s just say all logic (and money) went out the window!

Pricey Lice!

Instead of weighing my options, I immediately called a salon near me we’ll call “Pricey Lice” – yes, a professional lice removal salon.  In that instant I lost all faith in my motherly abilities to de-louse my child and assumed only a professional could do the trick.  At this point I was sure all of our family members, babysitters and close friends had also been infested by associating with our family, and I just wanted them GONE.

So, of course, in my frenzy, did I even stop to ask about price?  No, I didn’t.  I was just thrilled to get an appointment and we rushed right over…

Back In The Day

If I had stopped to think about it, I might have recalled having lice back in the 70s, when my mother took on the role of cheif de-louser with Rid shampoo and a fine toothed metal comb.  There were no lice salons back in the 70s, of that I am pretty sure!

Fast forward to Pricey Lice, where our whole family  got checked and miraculously only one son had it.  The checkers were as nice as could be, and even my 6 year old was relatively happy, sitting there for several hours playing video games and eating snacks …and no, the snacks were not free.  As they combed product through his hair and checked through it all in tiny sections, I have to say I was relieved to have this resource right around the corner!  That is, until…

Feeling Like A Nit-Wit

I went to pay the bill – and I honestly thought there was an error – it was almost $400.  This included the de-lousing for my son, which took a couple hours, checks for the other 3 of us at $30 a head, and purchase of the deluxe home care product kit they sell, for $80.  Plus a few more bucks for goldfish crackers and Yoo-Hoo.  I did then what I should have done in the first place – looked at the pricing!

They, like many lice removal services,  charge by the hour – this includes evaluating, removal and treatment.  It’s $95 for the first hour (the minimum) and then $23.75 for each 15 minutes thereafter.  Keep in mind only one of my sons needed lice removal – he has long hair for a boy but nowhere near as long as the girls in his class – so I can only imagine how much it cost for them or multiple siblings to get treated!

Due to his level of infestation, we were told to come back for a second treatment a few days later – priced the same way as the first visit (but took less time).  The second check ran us about $100, so, in all we’re talking about a staggering $500 total.  And as far as I could tell, they didn’t offer financing plans – though apparently they said many customers were able to get partial reimbursement from insurance…

by Stephanie Berenbaum – January 18, 2012

A Quick Spray Does Away With The Grey!

(Please note – the following is NOT a paid review – it is just a Fab & Fru Find we love and wanted to share with you!) 

I’ve found it – a hair product I cannot live without.  All of you ladies out there who battle with grey roots – help is just a spray away… So, I’ve written before about my pesky grey hair.  Well, to be honest it is actually stark white hair – ALL of it.  But of course you wouldn’t know it to look at me – because I color it constantly to bring back the chestnut warmth of my youth.  And while I still love my favorite at home D.I.Y. haircolor, Naturtint, and even splurge at the salon on occasion, I found a new product which has taken first place in my heart (and on my head)!

Rita Hazan Root Concealer

As I mentioned,  my hair is 100 % grey – and it grows like a weed. I started going grey at 17 and I am 39 now – so it’s been over 20 years of dealing with this crap.  Basically, if I get my hair colored on Monday, by Friday grey roots are popping up, mocking me. Between running a business and being a mom, I just didn’t have the time or energy to keep up with weekly hair maintenance. Which led to me walking around sporting a white streak in the middle of my head most days – as you can imagine, not my best look.   And that’s when Rita walked into my life…

I admit, I was a bit skeptical when I saw the can of Rita Hazan Root Concealer sitting on the shelf.  A little can of spray paint for your roots?  It seemed to good to be true.  I’d tried other temporary covers from hair crayons to mascara wands before – and never been happy with the results.  But, catching a glimpse of my skunk like hair in the mirror, I bought it and hoped for the best.

Life Changing Product

Let me cut to the chase – this product literally changed my life.  Here’s why – now when I wake up in the morning and see grey popping up, I just lightly spray a little Root Concealer on my part, and in literally 5 seconds the grey is gone!  Granted, it’s just a temporary fix, but that’s all I need.  Plus, it is actually water resistant and stays in until shampoo’d out.  Since I don’t shampoo my hair everyday anyway, it can last for days.

Do Up Your Hair for the Holidays

Ok, I admit it.  I love to splurge from time to time as much as the next girl.  And I have to tell you, my new favorite splurge is going to see celebrity stylist Ryan Crupi at the Andy LeCompte Salon here in West Hollywood, CA.  But since I am Fabulous AND Frugal, there is no way I can go to see Ryan to prep for all of my holiday festivities – so I asked him for D.I.Y. tips on how to do holiday hair at home.  It turns out, that you can recreate the salon experience – with you as your own on call stylist!

Celebrity Style

Ryan is known for doing the hair of celebrities like Kate Walsh, Rachel Bilson and Emanuelle Chriqui. Having long hair myself, I wanted to know how to re-create their natural, sexy beach-y look at home. Here are Ryan’s easy steps.  In just 15 minutes you too can get the look I WISH I had when I roll out of bed!

Ryan’s 15 Minutes To Fabulous Hair

Follow these easy steps and you too can rock tousled waves without spending a ton of dough!

1. After washing hair towel dry very well – remove as much moisture as possible.
2. Spray all over with R Y A N C R U P I • O C E A N S P R A Y™
   (this is the only product I use, by the way)
3. Blow dry with your fingers – keep your fingers running through it constantly.  And yes, this is way more fun when Ryan
   himself is doing it!  But a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do….  Then flip your hair upside down and keep your fingers running through it.
4. When dry, take a flat iron or curling iron and smooth it out or add curls, whatever you would normally do.  The key is to NEVER use an iron on wet hair – it will BURN it.  And to keep the iron constantly moving – you don’t want 400 degrees sitting on your hair!
5. After you use heat, let it cool.  As Ryan explained to me, hair is like metal – use heat to form it and then let it cool to set.  You need to let it cool down before finishing up your look.
6. After it cools off, comb your fingers through your hair to achieve a more natural look (as he puts it, so you don’t end up looking like Shirley Temple). Loosen your hair with your fingers to achieve a natural, sexy look, and he advises to “pull with tension” – don’t be afraid to get in their and work with your hands.  And … that’s it!  You don’t need to spray again or add anything else to it.

By Megan Segura – July 21, 2011

Being Pretty Isn’t Cheap

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a good beauty product. From the $2 nail polish at the drug store to the $100 face cream at the Bloomingdale’s makeup counter, I want it all. Each pretty tube and jar seems to hold a promise that this will be the product that changes my life.

Although it’s healthier than, say, crack, my addiction to beauty products is just as intense – and certainly NOT Fab & Fru! Until now, that is… There’s a new company in town that will have you asking, “Where have you been all my life?”

The Beginning of Birchbox

Birchbox is the brainchild of Hayley Barna and Katia Beauchamp, two Harvard MBA grads. In the simplest of terms: It’s the Netflix for beauty products. Each month, a small box arrives in the mail containing sample sizes of the latest products to hit the market.  A reasonable payment of just $10 each month keeps the boxes coming.

Why It Will Save You Money in the End

How often do you buy something only to be disappointed by it? Maybe a shade of lipstick didn’t look particularly flattering or a brand of body butter wasn’t quite as moisturizing as it advertised. Now you can sample all of those products you’ve been eying in stores for without wasting big bucks on a product you’ll never use.

My Personal Experience

I, myself, am a Birchbox subscriber going on three months, and I haven’t been disappointed yet!  Since you never know what products will be delivered, I was a bit hesitant to sign up for the service.  I have extremely fair skin that is easily irritated, and I was worried I be sent a bunch of samples that I wouldn’t be able to use.   But these ladies know what they’re doing. -Did I mention they went to Harvard?

When you first sign up, you answer a list of questions about your skin and hair type. If you’re fair, you’re not going to be sent makeup made for women with Jersey Shore skin tones, and women with curly hair won’t be sent products made for straight hair ladies.

What’s Inside the Box?

My first box was a mixed bag…  It contained a bottle of Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion before it even hit stores.  I also received Herban Essentials Towelettes, Xen-Tan Face Tanner Luxe, Kate Spade’s perfume Twirl and a bronzing powder. While I really loved some of the items in that particular box, I wasn’t thrilled with all of them. But the point of Birchbox isn’t for you to like every product that you’re sent. The entire purpose is for you to test out new products yourself and decide if they’re worth the spend.

It Gets Even Better

Let’s say you do love one of the items in your box so much so that you want to buy the full-size version. Instead of going to a store, you can just go to the Birchbox’s site to order it. You can even use your loyalty points to get money discounted off the item!

By Kathy Pape – June 9, 2011

Taking Care of Yourself from Head to Toe

Did you know that the average woman takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, and that each of those steps add up to approximately 115,000 miles over the course a lifetime – and that doesn’t even take in account additional exercise. Now consider the types of shoes we subject our feet to…  It’s no wonder why so many women are addicted to getting their monthly pedicure!

If you’re like me, your painted toes act as the ultimate Fab & Fru accessory to all your summer outfits.  But when I do the job myself,  my feet just don’t look or feel, well…’polished’!  Read on to see why spending a few bucks on an in-spa pedi may be well worth the splurge to look and FEEL your best all summer long!

Get Your Toenails Trimmed Correctly

Let’s face it – it’s just not that easy to trim your own toenails.  If you’ve ever given yourself a pedicure you know you have to be a bit of a contortionist to get the job done right.  It can hurt your back, but it can also hurt your toes.  A lot of people trim their nails too short, cut them at an angle or rip and tear them because they’re hard to reach.  That can set you up for ingrown toenails!  Cutting and clipping properly can prevent toenails from growing inward which may lead to infection.  So having an expert cut them for you can save yourself a lot of pain in the long run.  Good manicurists can also spot problem areas that you may not even know about.

Be Sure to Get Rid of Dirt & Bacteria

Yes, feet can be gross!  A lot of people have aversions to feet because they can be smelly and look filthy.  When you get regular pedicures, not only does it look nice, but you are cleaning places you don’t normally maintain – like under your nail and around the cuticle where fungus can grow.  And fungus can cause foot odor, discoloration and can cause the nail bed to lift.  YUCK. And, if you leave it untreated for too long it will cause permanent damage!

Exfoliate & Moisturize

Exfoliation for your feet is just as important as your face, but most of us rarely do it.  Sloughing off of dead skin prevents the cells from accumulating and causing bunions or corns, which can be painful and have a serious impact on the way you walk. Removing dead skin also encourages new skin to grow which makes your heels look smoother and a lot prettier!

A pedicure also moisturizes your feet because it typically involves a soak in soapy water and a rubdown with oil or lotion. It’s so important to keep feet moisturized because moisture helps to prevent getting blisters and cracks on your feet.   It’s also important to keep your cuticles moisturized because it can damage the matrix of the nail, which is at the very base.  Damage to the matrix will cause the nail to grow out with ridges, split ends (just like your hair), and in the worst case scenario, it could completely cause the nail to lift out of the nail bed.  Again, YUCK.

by Stephanie Berenbaum – May 13, 2011

From Grey To Hooray

As I may have mentioned, I’ve had grey hair since I was in my early twenties.  Now, at age 39, I am basically 100% grey.  To make matters worse, my hair grows so fast that if I dye my hair on Monday, by the weekend little grey roots poke out just to taunt me.  And while I do at times think I should just stop coloring all together and embrace my inner silver fox, for the time being, I am still committed to maintaining my dark brown locks.

Cheating on Your Favorite Product

I have written a couple of times on Fab & Fru about how much I love my at home hair color, Naturtint.  But I have to be honest – I did cheat on her recently. It had been so long since I had my hair colored in a salon that I figured I’d give it a shot.   I wanted to treat myself, and I thought it might be fun to sit in a chair reading Elle Magazine and sipping hibiscus tea while someone else doted on me.  I was excited, and I really wanted to LOVE the experience.  The colorist was charming, and mixed a variety of shades which probably got me closer to my original color than I’d been in years.  Plus,  I have to admit it was fun to have a cappuccino, spring water and cookies delivered to my station with a smile.

But after spending a couple hours and a couple hundred dollars (this is LA, remember!) I have to say, I am happily back to my at-home Naturtint. It’s not that the salon color didn’t look great – it did.  But it really didn’t look much different than my Naturtint ‘Natural Chestnut’ does.  And it still didn’t seem worth it to me to spend that kind of time and money.  So, since I feel sort of bad for cheating on her, I’m giving my true love another Fab & Fru  shout out!

Naturtint, Why Do I love Thee So?

Coverage – My hair is not only 100% grey – it is “hard to cover” grey.  Those ‘just ten minute’ colors never work on me.  My hair needs to be saturated for a good long time until it submits to the brown, and Naturtint really does the trick.

Natural - I have become increasingly more concerned with the health effects of the beauty products I use.  And while I know it would be best not to slather on loads of dark hair color as often as I do – I still do it.  The good news – though Naturtint does contain chemicals, it is formulated without Ammonia, resorcinol or parabens.  An added perk – they do NO animal testing, and the products do contain natural & organic ingredients.

Price - You can readily buy Nutratint at Whole Foods where it usually costs between $15-$18 – but you can get it on line for much less if you plan ahead.  Also, it finally dawned on me the other day that I should just buy a case of it and get the Whole Foods 10% off discount!

Waste Less Product - Because I have to touch up my roots so frequently, I go through lots of product, but never end up using the entire box because I’m typically only coloring my roots.  I finally went on line and saw that it is possible to just use what you need and save the rest for later – as long as you leave the excess unmixed and in their separate containers.

According to Naturtint,  “If you are touching up your roots…mix up separately in a glass or plastic bowl and keep back the remaining tint and developer – separately in their individual bottles with their tops closed.  Both will keep for several months, making the mixing both practical for you to achieve the exact shade you require and cost effective too. Using only small amounts when required also means less environmental waste of unwanted mixture, and it is even kinder on the hair and skin.”

Returning to My True Love

So, yes I had a one-afternoon stand at a serene and fabulous L.A. salon. And I have no regrets about it -  really, it was a fun experience.  As much as I wanted to embrace an afternoon of being a lady of leisure, I didn’t really enjoy it all that much – at least not enough to warrant the amount of time and money I had spent on it.

So: the other night I blissfully opened a bottle of wine, turned on my latest Tivo’d show from the Science Channel, and colored my own hair with my old friend Naturtint – at 10 o’clock at night.  Sure, it wasn’t quite the salon experience, but for $15 bucks and 30 minutes, it was time – and money – well spent!

by Brandi Savitt – April 18, 2011

Spend Less By Treating Your Hair Right

Need to cover those grays every four weeks?  Can’t live without your highlights, low lights, or crimson streaks?  Well, you’re not alone ladies!  According to a 2010 British survey conducted by Tresemme, the average woman spends a staggering $50,000 on her hair over the course of her lifetime!  Luckily, we have some Fab & Fru color saving tips from master colorist & celebrity hair expert Kim Vo to help you make your color – and money -  last longer!

Wash Your Hair Less

Back in the day, the expression, “I can’t – I’m washing my hair”, was not just said to let a gentleman caller down easy – certain nights of the week were actually reserved for washing and setting one’s hair!  And although today’s wash and wear hair styles may seem easier to care for, Vo says washing your hair everyday not only dries it out- it FADES your color MUCH FASTER!

Depending on your hair type, he suggests waiting 3-4 days between washings.  –You can certainly wet and restyle your hair in between, but if you can hold the scrub, you’ll make your color last weeks longer!

Use Quality Products

It may cost you an extra few bucks more up front, but using a higher quality shampoo and conditioner will save save you much bigger bucks over time.  Vo says when shopping for a shampoo for colored hair, look for a product that does NOT contain sulfates or sodium chloride. A good shampoo should also contain active ingredient ME-10 – this helps to lock in color!

Glaze Once a Week

Vo suggests applying an at-home glaze after shampooing once a week.  This will help to protect against free radicals, heighten color and add lustrous shine.

* Suggested Glaze: Kim Vo Brilliant Luster or ask your stylist for a recommendation.

Get a Tinted Gloss in between Colorings

If you’re not totally gray, but your roots start to show after a 3-4 weeks, you can actually avoid another month of harsh chemicals, and avoid paying the price for a full color!  For $20-$30 you can extend the life of your color by weeks – go to the salon and get a tinted gloss treatment instead.  Much like the glaze that Vo descirbes above, a professional grade gloss can be applied every 3-6 weeks to help heighten shine, protect your hair and soften your grays – without using a permanent color!

Use Sunscreen

Did you know that you should avoid sun exposure on your hair – not just on your face and body!   To protect against overly dry hair, just spray some 30 SPF sunblock on your locks

Get Salon Results for Next to Nothing

Has the dry winter weather done a number on your hair?  Are you in need of a visit to the salon before the holidays, but realize that you’ve spent your monthly surplus on buying gifts instead?  Well, Tymeka Lawrence, founder of Brock Beauty salon and their celebrity adored product lines, has some cheap and easy expert tricks to bring back some style & shine to your lackluster locks this holiday season- and all year long!

A Cheap & Deep Hair Conditioner with Gorgeous Results!

Don’t spend money on an expensive protein treatment for your hair.  Your refrigerator holds a natural & super cheap trick for “better than the salon” results!  Just mix an egg with your regular conditioner and apply to your hair.  Leave in for 15 minutes and rinse.  Your hair will instantly feel stronger and healthier!

Don’t Buy Your Hair Products at the Salon!

Many salons’ exclusive products are actually sold online for less money!  So, before spending a pretty penny at the salon for your essentials, check to see which online resources carry your favorite products and see where you can get the best deal.  Remember to factor shipping costs into the equation, but you will likely be pleasantly surprised how much you’ll save by shopping online instead!

Get a New Style Without Going to the Salon!

Don’t spend a fortune getting your hair styled before a big holiday party.  Instead, spruce up your look with accessories.  Tie a scarf around your head for flair, or add sparkle to your ‘do’ with some fun hair pins.  Accessorizing your hair can give you a fresh look without a big expense!

Get an ‘Up Do’ at Beauty School!

If accessorizes don’t fit the bill for your formal holiday event, book a styling appointment at a local beauty school before your big night.  These students are in the final stages of their training and are overseen by experienced stylists.  You don’t need to pay any where near full price to get a picture perfect professional hair styling or a blow out!

Sleep on a Satin Pillowcase!

Believe or not,  sleeping on a satin pillowcase will help your hair retain the moisture it needs.  Not only will a the satin help prevent your ends from drying out and splitting, the luxurious feeling just might help you get some extra beauty sleep too!

D.I.Y. Dye!

As you may have heard, Steph swears by Naturtint hair color to cover her grey hair.  Though Naturtint is pricier than your average D.I.Y. hair color, it is also gentle and natural – and at $15 a box- WAY WAY less than a salon visit.  And if you use hair color as much as Steph does, chances are you’ll want the least toxic thing possible next to your scalp!

It’s A Wrap!

We all know that a great hair-do is like fabulous wrapping paper – it really finishes off the look of the whole package!  But, like wrapping paper, a hairstyle often doesn’t last that long…  The health and natural beauty of your hair is another story.  Take good care of your lovely locks in between salon visits, and by following these Fab & Fru tips, you’ll be able to save even more by needing fewer visits to the salon throughout the year!

by Brandi Savitt – May 10, 2010

Wax On, Wax Off

By the time most American women have reached their twenties, we’ve been shaving our legs and under our arms for years.  We’ve been plucked, waxed and tortured by various hair removal treatments promising smooth, clear, pain free results, all in the name of beauty…  No matter how it’s done, removing unwanted hair from intimate places (or anywhere for that matter), is not only unpleasant chore, it can become shockingly expensive!

With summer fast approaching, we thought we shed some light on the Fab & Fru pros, cons & costs of some of the most popular methods of hair removal. Not all skin types or wallets are created equal, so choose the technique of torture that works best for you.  You know what they say- the more you do, the easier it gets!

*Note: Because we have millions of hair follicles, no method can guarantee ABSOLUTE permanent hair removal.

Shaving

Shaving is the easiest, quickest and the cheapest way to remove hair yourself.  Unless you cut yourself or have extremely sensitive skin, it is pain-free.  To avoid nicks, always use shaving cream or lotion and a sharp razor.  Shaving works best on legs and underarms. While some women do shave their bikini area, it is common to get uncomfortable ingrown hairs in that area.

Effects: Because shaving cuts the hair right at the skins surface, stubble develops in one-three days.

Cost: Cheap- the cost of a razor & cream

Plucking or Tweezing

With a good pair of tweezers (one with slanted prongs work best), you can easily remove stray hairs on your brow, face or bikini area.  However, tweezers are more a tool for maintenance rather than a method of significant hair removal.

Effects: last 2-5 weeks

Cost: $3-$40

Cream Depilatories

Hair removal creams are typically sold over the counter and dissolve hair at the skin’s surface.  They are easy to use and work quickly.  However, be careful! The harsh ingredients can cause skin irritation or even chemical burns. -Use gloves & an old towel when applying the cream.

Effects: Lasts one to five days.

Costs: Anywhere between $3.00 to $15.00 a bottle/box.

Waxing

Waxing works on all body areas, from the legs to the face, and whether you go for a regular, a Brazilian, or you get rid of it all, it is one of the more popular hair removal techniques for the bikini area.

Of course it hurts because your hair is being pulled out at the root, but you DO get used to it over time and the more you do it, the hair does grow back thinner (we swear)!  It works as the resin binds hair to a strip of cloth, which is yanked off ( the opposite direction of hair growth).  -Some thick waxes are applied and then peeled off.

You can wax all areas yourself using hot or cold wax kits sold in stores, but we do recommend seeing a professional for the best results- especially for the bikini area!

Effects: Lasts 3-6 weeks.

Cost: Home kits range between $10-$25.  SPA prices depends TOTALLY on the body part and prices can range from $5-$100.

Sugaring

Sugaring is a more gentle wax alternative where a warm sticky paste has been made from a base of sugar, lemon and water.  The paste is applied and removed just like waxing- but often less irritating to the skin.  It does not always work as consistently as waxing does, but clean up is simple because the mixture washes off easily.  Home kits are commonly sold, but it is difficult to find a professional spa that uses the pure method.  -Be careful, many places that advertise that they do sugaring, really are using a wax that has some of the ingredients added.

Effects: Sugaring breaks the hairs off just below the surface of the skin (not at the root) so treatments last 1-3 weeks.

Cost: Home kits range from $10-$20.  SPA prices depends TOTALLY on the body part but prices range from $5-$100

Entice Your Honey with Chocolate & Vanilla

By Kathy Pape– February 4, 2010

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, it seems fitting to discuss the power of fragrance.  Isn’t Feb 14th all about surrounding oneself with the the scent of flowers, decadent food and (hopefully!) good memories?  Scientists have proven that our sense of smell is our most powerful form of memory  – and actually triggers our emotions! Because scent has the power to pull on our heart strings, and Valentine’s Day is the holiday of love, Fab & Fru set out to find which fragrances will give you the most bang for your buck. It turns out the sweetest staples of childhood — vanilla and chocolate — are the top two picks!

Personally, the smell of vanilla reminds me of baking cookies with my mother as a little girl.  This is what perfumers call a “scent memory,” when a familiar scent reminds you of a special place, a wonderful time in your life, or a favorite person.  In fact, scent is why I dragged my son’s blanket across the country with me on a business trip.  The smell of it made me feel close to him. (Let’s face it, we also all have negative scent memories too! An ex-boyfriend’s cologne or that musk that your mean math teacher wore too much of? But for now let’s focus on the positive…)

“Studies show that men associate the scent of vanilla with love,” says our Fab & Fru fragrance expert, Jane Hendler, founder of Organic Parfumerie Ajne Rare & Precious. “The history of Vanilla goes all the way back to the Aztecs who drank it with chocolate and swore by it’s power of seduction.  In modern times, neurologist Dr. Alan Hirsch has scientifically proven that vanilla is the number one fragrance that attracts men!”

And speaking of chocolate, Hendler tells us the Aztecs were actually onto something. “Chocolate contains chemicals associated with feelings of happiness, love, passion, lust, and stamina”.  Many consider it a powerful aphrodisiac and cacao (cocoa) is found in many popular fragrances, including many of Ajne’s. The word Cacao means “food of the gods” and the Mayans actually worshiped the magical bean.  Researchers have spent years studying the effects of chocolate and whether it can truly be classified as an aphrodisiac.  While they haven’t proved that it causes feelings of sexual arousal, scientists have agreed that chocolate does release serotonin into the body, causing a rapid mood change, a rise in blood pressure and feelings of well being that are usually associated with love.

Ladies, did you know that your sense of smell acts directly on the limbic system, which regulates emotions and memory? A study by the Fragrance Institute shows the average person can actually recognize about 10,000 fragrances, and can recall smells with 65% accuracy after one year of smelling them.  This is amazing when we compare it to the rate we recall images, which is just 50% accuracy- 3 months after we see them.

There’s a reason delicious smelling chocolate, perfume and candles are popular gifts for Valentine’s Day, and it seems we should all be adding a little more cocoa and vanilla to our daily lives.  Both scents make us happy, attract the opposite sex and give us a feeling of well being. And best of all- they’re Fab & Fru! You don’t have to spend a lot of money to smell sweet.  Just dab a little vanilla extract on your wrist the next time you have a date, or try baking some chocolate chip cookies to get your honey in the mood…

Aside from raiding your pantry for vanilla extract, there are other reasonably priced ways to wear vanilla. Some of our friends’ favorites include: the Vanilla eau de Toilette from The Body Shop, and Bath and Body Works  Warm Vanilla Sugar.  And you know I just love the drugstore brand St. Ives.  They make a Swiss Vanilla lotion that will only set you back a few bucks, yet give your whole body a light flavor you will love!

We’ve found a ton of D.I.Y recipes online for making your own vanilla extract perfumes, and we want to know – have any of our readers ever experimented with making their own Fab & Fru perfume? How good (or bad) did your scents turn out? Here’s to a sweet smelling Valentine’s Day! Sending lots of LOVE to all our readers!  xoxo