Change Your Hair Style Once in a While!

I hate it when women wear the same old hair style year after year!  It's like:  let's not be so boring!  I love a fresh new hair do or hair cut.  Here are some ideas to change things up a notch:
1.  Wear a low bun.
2.   Wear a high bun.
3.    Wear a pony tail.
4.    Go for the straight look.
5.    Go for the full, curled look.
6.     Do a side pony tail.
7.     Do a braid.
8.   Pull your hair half up.
9.  Switch your part.
10.  Wear a hair accessory like a head band or a bow or something exciting like a scarf.

While You Were Sleeping

While you are sleeping there are ways to style your hair!  To create waves, just sleep with damp hair in a loose braid.  Then twist the braid into a bun.  The next day your hair will be fuller and wavey. 

You can even add a dash of leave-on hair conditioner.  To boost volume, wash your hair before bed and spray with voluminzer at the roots and leave-in conditioner at the ends.  Sleep in a loose knot on top of your head.  The upward pull on your hair adds volumes in the morning.  Lastly, sleep in a satin pillow case to extend your blowout.  I always recommend velcro curlers. 

Update For Fall

Instead of:  Cropped Skinny Jeans......Try High-Rise Skinnies
Instead of Polka Dot Jeans/Pants........Try Houndstooth Pants
Instead of Mint Green Jeans................Try Hunter Green Jeans
Instead of Floral Print Jeans.................Try Brocade Pants

Outlets For Emotional Pain When Grieving

Here are some outlets for emotional pain when grieving:
(No matter what happens in life, we are all bound to experience deep pain whether it be from relationship separations, work conflicts, health related difficulties, or the death of a loved one.  No one escapes these experiences in life and the pain they bring).  The old Chinese proverb says:  "You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your heads, but you can prevent them from building a nest in your hair."
1.  Reduce self-critical thinking.  Do not self condemn.  Sort out truth and reality.  Don't be hard on yourself, it is only self defeating.  You do not have to put yourself down for imaginary deficiencies or errors that you think you made in distressing personal circumstances.  Share your feelings with a trusted friend or counselor.
2.  Give your body a time-out.  Give your body some daily down time.  Never forget that what you think always translates into physical feelings.  Deep breathe, go for a brisk walk, read a good book...
3.  Change the scene.  Don't have constant reminders of your pain.  Cut down repetitive behaviors that keep reminding you of your loss.  Change the furniture, change your routine a bit, establish new goals.
4.  Work to change your perception of the event that is causing you grief and pain.  We all grieve in different ways and in different times, but try to get a new and fresher view of your loss.  Ask:  what new meaning can I give to this great loss?
5.  Take diversion side trips.  Become an expert in diverting painful thoughts.  Cut out magazine pictures and imagine what you DO like.  Say positive affirmations to yourself constantly like "I am good and have the ability to..."
6.  The ultimate outlet for emotional pain when grieving is accepting the loss and learn to move on.  Letting grief do its job is really about accepting what has happened and adapting to the new conditions of life.  Love never dies and nor do the memories.
7.  Feel free to talk about your loss.  Express your emotions.  Let it out.  Be good to yourself!
8.  Have HOPE and know that God has a plan for you!  He lives and loves each of us.  There is a heaven and an after-life!  Someday we will see our loved ones again!!!

How To Dress 10 Pounds Thinner

If you want to dress to look 10 pounds thinner follow these ideas:
1.  Go for monochromatic-dress in one complete shade.  Many colors break up the fluid look.
2.  You will appear smallest in blazers that fall below your hips!
3.   A strong shoulder makes your waist appear tiny!  I LOVE trench coats for this reason.
4.   Choose slim pants that have a higher waist and an ankle hem.  They elongate your legs.
5.   Choose a looser fit on clothes than a just-got-squeezed-into-this-outfit!   I think tight clothes makes you look fat!
6.  Ignore the size!  I know some women who will wear anything if it is a size 4 or 6 even though they are a size 8-10!
7.  Accentuate your waist.  This is usually the smallest part of your body.  A belt will work yes, even over a cardigan.
8. Go for the V-necklines.  When choosing a top, T-shirt, or neckline always for the V neckline rather than the scoop or rounded.  It draws the eye down and slims.
9.  Wear an A-line skirt.
10.  A pencil skirt with some stretch will hug your curves.
11.  High heels always make you look taller and thinner.
12.  Read Charla Krupp's book.
13.  Wear 3/4 sleeves or longer (hide flabby arms).

Raspberry Lemon Thumbprint Cookies

Raspberry Lemon Thumbprint Cookies:
(These are my childhood favorites)
1/2 cup raspberry jam
2 1/4 cup flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup butter
2 eggs
1 tbsp. lemon peel
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla
Butter cream frosting (to drizzle over the made cookies)
Preheat oven to 350.  Beat butter and sugar and then add the eggs, lemon, dry ingredients.  Gather dough into a ball and push your finger in the middle to make a small indentation.  Fill with jam a small amount.  Bake 10-15 minutes.  Cool a bit and drizzle your favorite butter cream frosting over it.

Three Months To a Healthy YOU

With the holidays fast approaching there are a few things we can do to get healthier.  Here they are:
1.   Eat breakfast.  Evidence gets even more convincing that eating a hearty breakfast is so important.  In studies, those who ate a big breakfast lost more weight faster than those who consumed most of their calories at dinner.  Think scrambled eggs and whole wheat toast.
2.  Ease stress with sound.  Listen to water rippling down a stream or classical music.  It will calm your nerves and reduce stress and produce a calm in your mood.  Download Fluid Free Live Wallpaper of Koi Pond.
3.  Cut down on salt.  We consume far too much salt in our diet.
4.  Get a flu shot.
5.  Stick to an exercise schedule.  People who exercised 2.5 hours per week lived longer by 3 1/2 years.
6.   Use a dental irrigator.  It produces a small stream of water to get your teeth clean.
7.   Give service on a regular basis.  It can be volunteer work or church service or being neighborly but studies have shown that people who render regular service actually live longer.
8.  Buy more houseplants.  Houseplants reduce home levels of pollutants.  Two great choices are gerbera daisies and ficuses.
9.  Quit washing raw chicken.  Most people do but it causes more germs.
10.  Say NO to sports drinks and energy drinks.  They are packed with sugar, sodium, and caffeine.

Allure's Best of Beauty Picks (For Cheap)

Here is a list of the cheapest and best beauty products:  (You will love them as well as your wallet)
HAIR
1.  Aveeno Pure Renewal Dry Shampoo $8
2.   Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Miracle Dry Oil $6
3.   Aussie Hair Insurance Split End Protector $3.50
4.   Suave Professional Keratin Infusion Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner $3.50

MAKE UP
1.  Cover Girl Clean Whipped Creme Foundation $7
2.   Almay Color and Care Liquid Lip Balm in Pink Pout $6
3.   NYC New York Color Appleicious Glossy Lip Balm $8
4.   E.L.F. Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Cream $3
5.   Wet and Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Don't Steal My Thunder $3
6.   Maybelline New York Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer $8

A New Fall Outfit

Try this simple yet classic fall look:
1.  Riding boots
2.  Leggings or ankle jeans
3.  Longer collared button down blouse
4.  A classic blazer in navy or camel
Tuck your jeans or leggings into your boots. VOILA!  You look classic!