Doesn't Hurt to be Beautiful

Choosing a Wedding Dress for your Body Type

2012-05-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

Ball Gown: This is the style of dress that fairy tales are made of. With a fitted bodice and full skirt that can either be one piece or separate, this dress is perfect for big, traditional weddings. You can even pair a ball gown with long gloves and a dramatic train for even more of a “wow” factor. Everything from satin to chiffon is used on top, along with layers of taffeta or tulle on the bottom to create a floating effect.

Who It Flatters: While many brides will look beautiful in a ball gown, the cut is ideal for slender or pear-shaped figures as the full skirt helps to accentuate the waist and hide the lower body. Additionally, this style helps create the hourglass look because it emphasizes the waistline. If you're shorter, beware that a skirt of this size can overpower a small frame.

A-Line/Princess: This style is classic and simple. The A-line dress is fitted around the bodice and flows out to the ground. Its length can range from above the knee to full length that flows into a large train, and it can be made with everything from free-flowing silks to heavier fabrics such as satin. The princess cut version of the A-line dress is more dramatic and emphasizes this style’s clean lines by utilizing vertical panels that run from the neckline to the hem.

Who It Flatters: The full skirt of the A-line can hide a rounder lower body or create the illusion of curves on a narrow frame. If your main goal is to slim, the princess style is a great option that elongates lines creating a slimming effect as the eye naturally focuses on the length of the dress.

Mermaid: This cut is a very sexy look that highlights a woman’s curves. Its silhouette contours to the body from the chest to the knee, and then flares out to the hem. This dress style comes in various versions from strapless, to halter, or trumpet flare and even flamenco—so the sky is the limit.

Who It Flatters: Because of its body-hugging cut, the mermaid is best worn by brides who are confident and comfortable in their skin. It is flattering on slender, short and tall figures, however, girls who love their curves can rock this dress as well.

Empire: The empire dress is unique for its raised waistline that sits just below the bust, from which the rest of the dress flows down. Empire dresses can have varying sleeve lengths ranging from longer bell sleeves to sleeveless, along with different skirt cuts that can flow freely or contour to your body. Additionally, empire dresses are usually made from lighter fabrics, so this style of dress takes on a romantic feel.

Who It Flatters: An empire dress works well on a bride looking to enhance her bust. This dress is also ideal for pear-shaped figures, as it is forgiving of the legs and hips.

Column/Sheath: As you can probably guess from its name, the column dress has a narrow shape that flows straight down from the top to the bottom. This dress, also referred to as a sheath, tends to hug the body and show any and all of your curves. A column dress can be a simple slip dress to a more contoured dress made of heavier fabrics such as damask.

Who It Flatters: Although a column dress style is timeless, it's typically not as forgiving as other styles and is best suited for lean brides. Petite brides can look taller and longer in a column dress, but there's not much room for hiding problem areas. Also beware that some column dresses are very tight and may restrict movement on the dance floor!

How to Make Your Blow Out Last Longer

2012-05-12T09:30:00.001-04:00

Dirty Hair? Who knew?

I am not sure about you, but it takes me 40 excruciating minutes to blow out my hair. For all that hard work.. I am determined to make it last. The crazy thing is, my hair actually looks better dirty. Here are my tips:

Heat Style

Dirty hair can hold curl better than clean hair, so grab your blow-dryer and round brush, or even your curling iron. You'll add volume to your dirty locks and smooth it out. Also, dirty hair tends to hold the style longer.

Pony Up.. with a braid

If your hair is really dirty, the last think you want is it touching your face. Also, the eliminate the chance of it getting more stringy throughout the day. Adding a braid will give you a part and help your hairdo look more put together.

Texturizing Spray by Oribe

My sister turned me onto this spray, it's not cheap, but well worth the investment. You can't just use any dry shampoo.. I have tried them all. Oribe’s Dry Texturizing Spray far exceeds any expectations. It's a less messy alternative to dry shampoo. It absorbs the oil and helps add volume with no stiff or unnatural residue. While it’s a bit pricey ($19.50 for travel size, $39 for full 8.5 fl. oz. bottle), it really does provide a salon makeover. I have had the big bottle for 6 months and it's still going. The travel size one is perfect to keep in your purse. I typically just buy it directly from their website: http://oribe.com/ .

They also have other good sprays - for after the beach, anti-humidity, etc. - that are now available in purse sizes, too. I got all of the purse sprays and they all seem to be awesome. Great for travel and styling on the go!

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Bad Hair Days Just Got A Little Better

2012-03-13T17:07:00.000-04:00

We all have those days when our hair is not up to par, but we just don’t have the time to get it fixed professionally, can’t retry the dry in the shower, or can’t shampoo the oil that seemed to come out of no where over night. The good news is that there are time friendly ways to get you away with a hair day.

If your hair is really frizzy: Try using BeadHead’s After Party serum. This is a product that takes away frizz and adds luster to already dry or frizzy hair. Apply to the ends of your hair and make sure to avoid the top of the head unless it is completely necessary. If you need something to help you out on the top-of-the-head frizz department, after you think there is no more After Party left on your hands, rub your hands on the top of your head, there will still be a tiny bit left to calm wild frizz.

If your ends look like hay: Put your bottom 2-3 inches of hair in the sink and soak them with water. Then apply a nickel sized squirt of conditioner to the wet ends. You can let this conditioner soak for 5 minutes and then rinse. Some people prefer to leave the conditioner in the ends without washing it out ever, which is fine, just be careful to make sure that the ends do not look too greasy if the rest of the hair is dry.

If your head is greasy: After you brush out your greasy hair, lightly apply baby powder to the top of the scalp. Make sure to pat off any white that may have gotten its way through your hair to your scalp entirely. Rub the powder into your greasy hair. Use your brush to comb the power through your hair.

If your bangs are untamed or your hair is in your eyes: do a medium sized French braid from where the bangs start all the way down your hair line.

If your curly hair is not curling the right way: Brush the hair and put it in a bun. When wrapping the hair into the bun, keep a section of the hair out. Use this section to disguise the elastic band you used to tie up your hair and bobby pin it when you’re done wrapping. The bun will take care of the crazy curls and the section of hair will look like your bun was on purpose, instead of a makeshift cop out of a bad hair day.

If your blonde roots are growing in: Use your powder foundation liberally on the hair that lines your face. It will actually lighten up the hair to a lighter color for the day.

If your hair went flat: Flip your head upside down and blowdry your scalp. While doing this, rub your fingers back and forth quickly on your scalp to liven roots. After, brush your hair starting two inches away from the scalp.

If your hair is painfully tangled: Put your brush under the faucet and get it wet, then mix a dime of conditioner and water onto the brush and try to brush it again. You can also use detangling spray.

Your hair is puffy: put half of it back into a half ponytail. If the pulled back section looks weird in a ponytail, braid it tightly so it does not look puffy.

If your hair smells: Blow dry it for a minute to try to blow away any bad scents. If that does not work, spray your favorite perfume into the back of the dryer so it sprays out of the dryer into your hair on the other side. Make sure to point the air away from your eyes. You may need two or three sprays.

----by guest author: Cousin Lilly

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Slim Down Your Face in 3 Steps: Blush, Bronze, Shimmer

2012-03-11T15:38:00.003-04:00

It seems impossible that models have the highest cheekbones in the world whenever we open magazines and the truth it is impossible, those perky cheeks are and illusion! The good news is that you can get those same cheeks yourself. It is all about contours. Don’t be afraid, it only takes a minute to get this face-slimming-magic on a goddess like you.

BLUSH: After you perfect your foundation, use a soft bristled, circular brush to apply blush to your cheekbones. When applying, move the brush in circles that go from your hairline to the apple of your cheek. Meanwhile, tilt your head side ways and make a kissing face, so you can see where your cheekbone is.

BRONZE: Then, apply bronzer to the bottom of your cheekbone, right where the shadow should hit in a dimly lit room. Still, use the kissy-tilted-face. This brush stroke should be linear, following the end line of the cheekbone, with small circle swirling the bronzer up the cheek slightly, merely to blend the two colors.

SHIMMER: Finally, add a highlighting shimmer to the top of your cheekbone to pronounce the highest part of your cheeks. For this step, instead of tilting your face to the side, keep it strait on. Cock your chin up slightly to allow yourself to see the natural high points of your cheeks, and use these high points as your guide.

Finally, with freshly clean hands, lightly move your fingers from the top of your cheeks in a circular motion then gradually move your circular motions down the cheek. This final step is to blend the three layers. If you want you can use a brush very lightly, just make sure that it blends, or even a tissue.

BONUS

If you want to pronounce your eyebrow bones, use the same shimmer that was on your cheeks on the brow line and bring the brush all the way to your cheekbone in a heart shaped stroke. This will further highlight the pronounced parts of your face.

----by guest author: Cousin Lilly

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Wardrobe Staples Worth the Investment

2011-12-24T18:35:00.001-05:00

There are a few wardrobe items that spending more money means you'll end up with a substantially more comfortable, flattering, or long-lasting garment. I'm not suggesting that you drop outlandish amounts of cash; many of the the items on my list can still be found for substantial discounts at places like Overstock or TJMAXX. But when you're shopping for the following five things, it will serve you well to consider quality and fit above cost.

1. Shoes

There are many reasons why expensive shoes are worth the indulgence, but my big two are comfort and longevity. In my experience, it's much more likely that cheap shoes will cut into my feet, cause blisters, irritate my bunions, and generally provide poor support. Furthermore, well-made shoes can last several seasons as long as you show them some TLC. Have a cobbler fix any rubbed-down heels or soles before the shoes become unwearable.

2. Handbags

Like shoes, a well-made bag can continue looking good for several seasons, and it's much less likely to suffer from ripped straps, broken hardware, and fussy zippers. Don't go all out for a bag that's made to get dirty — a cheap canvas tote does just fine for the beach — but a stylish clutch in a color that matches a lot of your going-out wear or nice everyday leather bag should serve you well for quite some time.

3. Coats

A good-quality coat can last for several seasons, as long as you don't purchase anything too trendy.

4. A Dress You Love

Whether it's the "little black dress" or a bright-red stunner, this should be something that looks great on you and you can always count on when you need to look awesome...something that's versatile and can be accessories different ways to look different.

5. Good Jeans

I don't care if you think your butt is weird, you don't like your thighs, or you feel like your inseam is outlandish. There are so many companies making different cuts of jeans now, you should be able to find a pair that fits and flatters you. Like other items on this list, properly cared for jeans can last for years. That said, don't think this is an excuse to pay $300 for jeans. There's a difference between paying for quality and paying for a brand name. Hello Nordstrom Rack!

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Animal print never goes out of fashion.

2011-12-13T19:02:00.003-05:00

If there’s anything new, it’s purely a matter of interpretation. The question isn’t about “should you” or “should you not” own an animal print. Every fashionista must own at least a piece of this print be it a dress, a top, a pair of shoes, a scarf or a bag. The question therefore is – how do you make it right?

Don’t be too matchy

Choose only one large part of your outfit that’s wild. For instance, if your top is a leopard/tiger/zebra print, let the tights/skirt/pants be non-animal. If it’s your dress that has the print, then let your shoes be plain black or nude. You don't want to look like you are going on a safari.

..unless it's with accessories

If you feel the urge to go matchy, you can do so on your accessories provided, they don’t clash. For example, if you wear leopard printed boots, you can take a tiny purse in leopard print. If your tiger bag is with considerable size, you can take a pair of tiger print stilettos.

Tone it down

If your outfit is too wild, tone it down. If you wear an animal print mini dress, you can tone it down by wearing a single-colored-cardigan over your dress in color that blends well with your wild print. If you wear a leopard print tights, for example, you can tone it down by wearing a knee length boots in color palette that blends but suppresses the strongest shade of your animal print.

You can never go wrong if you take only a single item of animal print, either for your top, bag, shoes or scarf, while the rest of your outfit is entirely a shade of black or white.

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Shoes to Flatter your Figure

2011-06-16T16:12:00.000-04:00

Choosing the right shoes is more important than just matching your outfit. Certain shoes have the ability to elongate your legs and flatter your figure for a thinner appearance.

Heels will Make Your Legs Appear Thinner

The heels don't have to be terribly high, but there's no doubt that if you want to appear slimmer, a bit of a heel will help dramatically.

Pointy Toe Shoes will Help Make Legs Appear Longer

If your legs look longer, they will also appear thinner - and shoes with pointy toes will help make your legs seem longer. So, even if you think your legs are long enough, if it's a thinner appearance you're after, try a shoes with pointed toes.

Match Your Shoes to Your Hose, Tights, or Pants

Matching your shoes to your hose, tights, or pants will help your legs look thinner. Avoid wearing light-colored hose with dark shoes and a dark skirt. Nude colored shoes are a great summer investment for pairing with skirts and dresses.

Opened-Toed Shoes

Shoes with an open toe or high heeled sandals will give your thighs and calves a slimmer appearance than a closed-toe shoe will.

Avoid Shoes with Ankle Straps

Shoes with ankle straps will give the appearance of shorter legs and, as discussed above, longer seems thinner whether it is or not - so skip the ankle straps if you want your legs to look slimmer.

Wear Slingback or Backless Shoes

If you wear backless or slingback shoes instead of pumps, your legs will look thinner and longer.

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How to Wear Acid Brights

2011-05-29T11:04:00.000-04:00

If you are wearing bright-colored accessories, such as shoes or a bag, wear them with basic neutrals such as a white or black top and jeans or a simple white dress so the accessory pops and becomes the focal point of the ensemble.

For wearing brightly colored separates without looking or feeling like a clown, pair bold separates with nude shoes and subtle or no accessories.

When wearing an acid-bright piece with jeans or trousers, opt for dark indigo denims, so the look is clean, or crisp white pants, which is fresh, modern and summer-y.

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Appropriate Wedding Guest Attire

2011-05-22T10:13:00.009-04:00

Look closely at the invitation, it usually specifies the formality of the event. Nothing is worse than showing up to an event inappropriately dressed. Here is what I have found is the typical school of thought when it comes to appropriate wedding guest attire for women:

Informal Daytime: Short dress or suit (business attire OK for morning weddings)

Informal Evening: Cocktail dress

Semi-Formal Daytime: Short dress or suit

Semi-formal Evening: Cocktail dress

Formal Daytime: Short dress or suit

Formal Evening or Black-Tie: Long or dressy short cocktail (beading, glam accessories, wrap)

Ultra-formal or White Tie: Long gown, extra glitz (furs, diamonds, etc.)

Do's and Don'ts:

Don't wear white because it competes with the bride. There are plenty of other colors available.
Don't wear black or sequins during the daytime.
Don't worry about wearing the same colors as the bridesmaids or mothers. You can't possibly coordinate with everyone in the wedding party.
Do wear something feminine and appropriate, out of respect for your hosts. Clubwear, overtly sexy clothing (see-through, etc) doesn't belong at a wedding. If you have to ask if it's appropriate, it probably isn't.
Do use good judgment if the invitation doesn't specify the formality of the event. A soft floral dress for daytime or a little black dress for evening (after 6 p.m.) will take you almost anywhere.

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Finding the Right Jeans for your Body Type

2011-05-07T11:04:00.004-04:00

Since the posting Favorite Jeans, I have been getting many questions about what jeans are good for each body type. Step one: identify your body type.

Here is a very helpful guide for identifying your body type:

Regular: This body type is not common. Shoulders and hips are of equal width, with little waist definition. Bust size is average, rib cage large, waist not marked, flat butt, and thin legs. Tend to gain weight in the abdomen, thighs and love handles, and tend to have a little pot belly. Click here to find out what jeans work for a rectangular body shape.

Pear Shape: Rounded hips with defined waist. Full rounded hips and bottom. Narrow shoulders and small bust. Tend to gain weight in bottom and thighs and are prone to saddle bags while their stomachs remain relatively flat and their waists small. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to camouflage a large rear end. Click here to find out what jeans work for a pear body shape.

Hour Glass: Balance of curves and angles, straight shoulders, defined waist, curvy bottom. Bust and hips in proper proportions. Shapely legs and usually fine boned. Weight gain is usually in the love handles, stomach and thighs. Even for this "ideal" body type, it's not easy to find the best fitting jeans, as you will see in the link that follows. Click here to find out what jeans work for an hourglass body shape.

Inverted Triangle: Broad shoulders, medium to full bust, average waist, narrow hips and shapely long legs. Weight gain usually is apparent in the stomach, midsection, breasts and arms. Rear usually remains flat and thighs slender. The best fitting jeans in this case may require handling optical illusions! Click here to find out what jeans work for an inverted body shape.

Full Rounded: Round body with fuller shorter waist, wider rib cage, rounded neck and back. Lower hips and slender legs. A great deal can be done to find the best fitting jeans for an oversized rear end. Click here to find out what jeans work for a full rounded body shape.

Diamond: Narrow shoulders, small bust, broad hips generous thighs and slender calves. Click here to find out what jeans work for a diamond body shape.

Source of this information: www.jeans-and-accessories.com

6 Tricks to Appear Thinner

2011-05-01T09:37:00.003-04:00

Many women would like to look a few pounds lighter and with some clever dressing you can do just that. Some of the best ways to dress thinner include; wearing flattering fabrics, choosing the perfect fit in both clothing and lingerie, keeping the silhouette simple, dressing in monochrome and highlighting your smaller areas.

1) Wear shoes that elongate your legs

Everyone always looks slimmer in a heel. However, there are some that are even better than others. Try a simple nude or skin colored shoe. This gives the optical illusion that your leg is actually longer, because your skin blends in with the shoes. Try to avoid ankle strap shoes (unless it's nude) if you have short or thick legs. The ankle strap gives the illusion that your leg ends at the strap, thus making it appear shorter.

2) Wear fabrics that flatter

You can appear slimmer simply by choosing to wear flattering fabrics. The fabrics I am talking about are the ones that don't cling to your body, but drape nicely over it. Silks, softly structured fabrics like stretch denim, and wool blends can hide many small flaws. Lightweight knits can work well, but avoid heavy knits because they have a tendency to add bulk. Avoid flimsy fabrics, shiny fabrics and all Lycra fabrics. Lycra fabrics only tend to look good on very toned bodies, because they cling to every curve of the body.

3) Moisturize

It's amazing what moisturizing your skin can do. Not only does it prevent your skin from aging, it makes it smoother and tighter looking. There are many skin firming products on the market that actually work. I stick with Bliss' FatGirlSlim or basic cocoa butter lotion.

4) Get the fit right

This is an obvious one, but still needs to be addressed. Different brands run differently, and sometimes even different styles within the same brands do as well. Many women buy based on psychological size rather then buying what fits them. To look slim you need your clothes to fit nicely, you don't want them to cling and you don't want them to hang off you like a sack. You should be aiming for a nicely tailored look. If have real difficulty getting a good fit, buy the size up and have your clothes altered to fit perfectly.

5) Draw the eye to your smallest points

By highlighting your smallest points and playing down you fuller regions you can make yourself appear slimmer all over. This will vary from person to person, but most people are slimmest through the top of the ribcage, wrists and just below the knee. Having hems or details in these points can be effective.

6) Dress in monochrome

Those in the fashion world know that dressing in monochrome has a powerful impact on how slim you appear. Wearing black from head to toe has the most potent effect, but any color worn head to toe will make you look leaner then a mix of different colors on top and bottom. So if you want to wear light, or bright colors, consider wearing them consistently in the one line.

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How to Look Great Without Makeup

2011-04-20T21:14:00.003-04:00

There are times when makeup just isn't an option... you are either in a rush, traveling, or unequipped with your favorite products. This doesn't mean you can't still look great, and here is how:

Skin Care / Perfect Skin.

A good skin care routine is an absolute must to be able to get perfect looking skin without makeup. Exfoliating, cleansing, toning and moisturizing are a few essentials whether you decide to wear makeup or not and so is wearing sunscreen. Aside from these recommendations, you should also include additional rituals that are meant to help you look your best depending on your age. Steam facials might be particularly useful in your teen years, while a retinol cream is beneficial if you are trying to fight skin aging. Homemade facials, when chosen properly, can also help you get a more radiant skin naturally.

Emphasize your facial features.

When it comes to emphasizing the eyes, curling your lashes is a simple and quick solution. This simple gesture will open up your eyes while also emphasizing your eyelashes, even if you don't wear mascara.

Shape your eyebrows.

The shape of your eyebrows will also influence your overall look, so make sure they are properly groomed. It's a good idea to have your eyebrows plucked or waxed professionally initially to ease your efforts and ensure the best results.

Minimize under-eye circles.

Not using concealer can be a real challenge for those who want to correct dark under eye circles. However, there are plenty of options you can use to diminish this problem naturally. Although cucumber slices and tea bags are two popular homemade remedies that are used to solve this problem, some say that a low temperature is the secret to get rid of dark under eye circles and puffiness. Therefore, cold water or even an ice cube can be an effective solution to solve this problem relatively quickly.

Choose flattering hairstyles.

A good hairstyle can be just as important as a flattering makeup style. A hairstyle that flatters your face shape can hide a lot of flaws by changing the main points of interest or by creating all sorts of optical illusions. Do your best to find the hairstyles that most compliment your features and you will be one step closer to the desired look.

Wear colors that flatter your complexion.

A sensible clothing style is also essential in order to look great in spite of wearing no makeup. Paying attention to the color choices you make is extremely important. The right pop of color along with a few accessories can do wonders for your overall appearance, not just your face.

When all else fails... resort to sun glasses!

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Drinks for Dieters

2011-04-15T16:00:00.059-04:00

4 oz. Chardonnay – 90 Calories

4 oz Dry Champagne – 105 Calories

6 oz. Rum and Diet Coke – 65 Calories (1 oz. Rum, 5 oz. Diet Coke)

6 oz. Vodka and Soda – 65 Calories (1 oz. Vodka, 5 oz. Soda Water)

10 oz. Bloody Mary – 180 Calories (2 oz. Vodka, 8 oz. tomato juice, Dash of Tabasco and pepper)

7.5 oz. Gin & Diet Tonic – 115 Calories
(1.5 oz. Gin, 6 oz. Diet Tonic)

12 oz. Guinness Draught – 126 Calories

12 oz. Bud Light – 110 Calories

4 oz. Cabernet Sauvignon – 90 Calories

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Are you getting enough sleep?

2011-04-08T08:49:00.001-04:00

We all need our beauty sleep. So how much sleep do we really need?

According to sleep experts you’re getting the right amount when you are able to get up easily, stay alert throughout the day and then go to sleep easily at night. The right amount of sleep can vary from person to person, says psychologist Dr. Joseph De Koninck, president of the Canadian Sleep Society. “It’s a bit like your height or the size of your nose, it’s something that is most likely genetically determined.” Everyone is different – some people feel rested after 4 hours while others may need 10 to feel good.

De Koninck also says that if you need an alarm clock to wake you, you probably aren’t getting your ideal amount of sleep. “You’re interrupting your natural sleep needs. So if you require an alarm clock you should go to bed earlier.” Once you adjust the time you go to bed to suit your sleep requirements you may not need an alarm clock to wake you on weekdays.

Here's a trick to find out how much sleep you require to be fully rested:

On a non-work night, go to bed at your regular time and set your alarm as you would for a normal work day. Wake up, turn your alarm off, and go back to sleep. See how many hours you keep sleeping. That is the amount your should add to your regular sleep routine.

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Eye Makeup for Your Eye Shape

2011-04-01T09:15:00.001-04:00

Determining eye shape is just as important as choosing the right colors for your coloring. Depending on the shape of your eyes you should choose different colors and ways of applying eye makeup. Learn how to determine eye shape and apply eye makeup for each eye shape.

Eye Makeup for close-set eyes

If the space between the inner corners of your eyes is shorter than the width of one eye, you have close-set eyes. So your aim is to make your eyes look further apart. To create the illusion of width, you should emphasize the outer corners.

Apply light eyeshadow from the inner corner of your eye to the middle of your eyelid (from lashes to browbone) to widen the space between the eyes. Keep small highlight color in the inner corner of the eye.
Extend the darker eyeshadow to the outer corner of your eye from lashline to browbone.
Use the most intense color of eyeshadow in the outer corner.
Use eyeliner to draw a very thin line along the upper eyelashes. To bring the attention to the outer edge of the eye thus making your eyes appear further apart, apply eyeliner so that it becomes thicker near the outer corner of your eyes (both top and bottom). You should draw the line as close to the lashes as possible.
Use mascara in the outer corners of the eyes.
Widen the space between the brows by plucking. Extend the brows with a brow pencil line at the ends.

Eye Makeup for wide-set eyes

If the space between the inside corners of eyes is wider than the width of one eye, you have wide-set eyes. So your aim is to reduce the space between the eyes to make your eyes look close together. To bring eyes closer together, you should emphasize the inner corners by using darker colors in the inner corners.

Reduce the space between the eyes by applying dark eyeshadow in the inner corner.
Apply the lighter eyeshadow to the outer two-thirds of the lid from lashline to browbone.
Use eyeliner to draw a very thin line from inner to outer corners on both upper and lower lids.
Pencil eyebrows a little closer to the nose. Don't extend eyebrows out at the ends

Makeup for prominent eyes

Prominent eyes which set far forward in the face tend to dominate the facial features.

With special makeup prominent eyes can be made less obvious:

Apply dark eyeshadow over the entire lid and extend eyeshadow into entire eye crease
Use a highlighter under the brow to lighten and lift.
Use the eyeliner to minimize the lid
Apply plenty of mascara to emphasize top lashes.

Makeup for almond eyes

These are the most common eye shape. Almond eyes are characterized by upswept outer corner. Almond eyes considered the classic eye shape and therefore if you have almond eyes you can easily experiment with various eye makeup looks.

Apply light eyeshadow on the lid from lash to brow. Use neutral eyeshadow.
Apply dark eyeshadow of the same color on outer corner of the eyelid.
Blend light eyeshade under the brow for highlighting.
Use eyeliner on the upper lid to make almond eyes appear large. If you want your almond eyes look more round, stop eyeliner before the outer corner of the eye.
Apply mascara on upper lashes with emphasis on outer corners.

Makeup for small eyes

They are proportionately smaller in comparison to the rest of the facial features.

Apply light shadow on the eyelids.
Apply medium-toned shadow in the creases.
To give the eye more prominence, apply highlighting shade under the brow
Line upper and lower lids with soft-colored eyeliner to enhance small eyes.
Apply black mascara on upper lashes.

Makeup for hooded eyes

If you can't see your eyelid, you have hooded eyes. To enhance hooded eyes:

Apply lighter shadow in the inner corner of the eye and on the brow bone .
Apply medium or dark shadow on the crease and hooded area.
Line upper lid to open the eye.
Apply black mascara to upper lashes.

Makeup for round eyes

To elongate round eyes and make them appear more almond-shaped:

Apply medium eyeshadow on the eyelid up to the crease.
Extend the shade to the outer eye corner and continue down along the lower lid.
Use darker liner to line top and bottom lid. Extend eyeliner out and up beyond the eyelid at the outer corner.
Apply mascara for top lashes only, more on outer half.

Makeup for deep-set eyes

You have deep-set eyes if you can see some of your eye lid in the outer corners of your eyes, but this section of eye lid narrows as it gets closer to the inside corners of your eyes. If you have deep set eyes:

Apply light or medium eyeshadow from the inner corner of your eye to the outer to bring deep set eyes forward
Apply dark color on the eye crease
Use eyeliner on upper lids
Use mascara on top lashes only.
Raise the brows slightly by penciling in a little above the born

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How often should you weigh yourself?

2011-03-31T18:00:00.000-04:00

Many popular weight loss plans, such as Weight Watchers, do not recommend weighing yourself daily. Instead, they recommend stepping on the scales once per week or even less frequently.

Our weight fluctuates somewhat from day-to-day, and daily weighing can lead to discouragement and potential diet sabotage if you see a higher number on the scale than you saw the day before. Most diet experts believe that a once-weekly or even monthly weigh-in is a more accurate reflection of weight control progress.

But a group of doctors who studied obese and overweight adults who were trying to lose weight as well as overweight adults who were trying to prevent weight gain found that those who weighed themselves more often lost more weight and prevented more weight gain over two years than those who weighed themselves less frequently. Contrary to the advice given in many popular weight loss regimens, this study suggests that at least some people can benefit from the accountability brought on by daily weigh-ins. Potential advantages of daily weighing include recognition of slow patterns of weight gain that may not be immediately apparent and the chance to modify lifestyle habits before the total weight gain becomes extreme and difficult to control.

The personality of the individual dieter likely plays a role in deciding how often to weigh oneself. If you're easily discouraged, daily weighing might cause you to give up your attempts if you don't see rapid progress. On the other hand, if you crave control and feedback, daily weighing might satisfy more of your needs and fuel your motivation.

Whatever weigh-in frequency you choose, keep these tips in mind when stepping on the scale:

1. Weighing yourself first thing in the morning is usually best. Because of variations in food and fluid consumption, we often "gain" different amounts of weight throughout the day.

2. If you're weighing frequently, remember that daily fluctuations in weight are common. Just because you're heavier today than yesterday doesn't mean your weight control program isn't working. Don't become a slave to the numbers.
3. Monthly variations in weight are also common in menstruating women.

4. "Plateaus" in weight loss aren't necessarily bad. If you're exercising a lot, your weight may remain constant for a time even though you're still decreasing your body fat content and getting healthier.

5. Finally, cues other than the numbers on the scale are equally important. How do you feel? Are your clothes getting looser or tighter? Do you feel stronger, healthier, leaner? Your own perceptions can be the most valuable tools to help you track your weight control progress.

Source: MediceNet.com

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How to be Photogenic

2011-03-25T12:12:00.025-04:00

Secret No. 1: Turn partially sideways to the camera, planting one foot in front of the other. Point your toe to the camera and place your weight on your back foot.

Secret No. 2: Pull head forward slightly to minimize any appearance of a double chin.

Secret No. 3: Hold arms slightly away from your body. This keeps upper arm flab from flattening out and therefore appearing flabbier (much like thighs do when one sits on a couch).

Secret No. 4: Pull shoulders back, chest forward and gently suck stomach in. Be careful not to suck stomach so far in that your ribs show, thereby causing those who later see the photo to cluck to themselves in a bemused, sing-song voice, "She's sucking i-in."

Secret No. 5: If you can get away with it without looking like a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Girl wannabe, try the look away trick. To do this, look away from the camera, then turn towards it, breaking into a smile just before the camera clicks. Your smile will appear fresh, not frozen. This trick takes practice behind closed, locked doors.

Secret No. 6: When taking a photo it's also important the photographer does not snap the picture from below. This adds another 20-50 pounds to the 10 pounds automatically and annoying added by the camera. Ever have one of those photos where you are thinking, "Do I really look like that??" - chances are the photo was taken at a lower angle.

More tips on looking 10 pounds thinner in photos:

Use objects you are holding to your advantage by placing them in front of parts of you you'd prefer to hide. A purse or corsage in front of your belly. A jacket slung over the shoulder.

Check out Spanx hosiery. The very modern version of the corset, Spanx are famous for making women all over the world appear 10 pounds thinner. (Don't invest in the panty hose, like most hose, they tend to tear and these are pricey).

Fake tans will make you look and feel skinnier.

It's not just black that makes you look thinner. Wearing an entire outfit of just one color will do the trick as well, whether it be white, beige, brown, blue or red. One color tends to elongate your figure.

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How many calories in Sushi??

2011-03-17T17:45:00.002-04:00

We are all dying to know....

Based on eating a FULL ROLL, here is the calorie & fat info:

Avocado Roll

Calories: 140
Fat: 5.7 g

California Roll

Calories: 255
Fat: 7.0g

Kappa Maki (cucumber roll)

Calories: 136
Fat: 0.0 g

Spicy Tuna Roll

Calories: 290
Fat: 11.0 g

Shrimp Tempura Roll

Calories: 508
Fat: 21.0 g

Salmon & Avocado Roll

Calories: 304
Fat: 8.7 g

Tuna (Maguro) Roll

Calories: 184
Fat: 2.0 g

Eel (Unagi) and Avocado Roll

Calories: 372
Fat: 17.0 g

Endame (1/2 cup)

Calories: 100
Fat: 3g

Miso Soup (no tofu)

Calories: 40
Fat: 1.3g

Seaweed Salad (2oz)

Calories: 70
Fat: 4.0 g

Wasabi

Calories: almost none, and no fat

Rice (1 cup)

Calories: 240
Fat: 0.4

Source: http://www.sushifaq.com/sushi-calories.htm

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9 Ways to Wear a Scarf

2011-03-06T16:11:00.002-05:00

If your outfit is lacking in style, just throw in a scarf. Scarves add flavor and flair to almost any lacking look. Many people shy away from wearing scarves simply because they do not know how to wear them.

Here's how:

1) The Bandana-like Scarf

Fold the scarf in half, corner to corner.
Lay the triangle on your chest with the point facing the floor.
Wrap the other ends around your neck and tie.

2) The Headband Scarf

Put your hair in a temporary ponytail, leaving a few pieces down on the sides of your head to go under the tie.
Take a square scarf, hold two opposite corners and roll the ends to form a long skinny hair tie.
Place the middle of this tie at the crown of your head (where you would normally place a plastic headband) and tie a tight knot at the back of your neck.
Then let your hair out of the ponytail and you are ready to go.

3) The Looped Scarf:

To create this looped effect, a long rectangular scarf must be used.
Lay the scarf across the back of your neck and let it hang, but leave one side slightly longer than the other.
Take the side that is longer and wrap it around your neck, moving it around your head in a counterclockwise motion.

4) The Shoulder Shrug

To achieve this look you will need a scarf that is quite wide as well as long, so that it can expand to cover the shoulders.
Loosely drape one end across your shoulder and wrap the material clockwise around your shoulders.
Remember to keep the shrug loose while you wrap, almost creating a wide boat-neck overthrow.

5) The Neckerchief

For a less casual look, try a scarf tied around your neck as a neckerchief.
Fold the square scarf diagonally, just as with the bandana.
Tightly roll the material to form a long, skinny tie.
Tie the scarf around your neck with one simple knot.

6) The Draped Scarf

Use a long rectangular scarf.
Lay the scarf across the neck with the center at the middle of the back of the neck.
This look is perfect for casual outfits, updating simple styles.

7) The Shawl

For the shawl, you will need a large scarf, almost comparable to a small blanket.
Place the middle of the scarf high on your neck and let it drape around to each shoulder.
It should be touching your frame all the way from your neck to just below the elbow on both sides.
The excess material should then cascade over your arms to the mid thigh.

8) The Scarf Belt

For this look, it is best to dress in basic solid colors and choose a bright bold scarf to act as your belt.
Fold an oblong scarf horizontally to the width of your choice, then tie the scarf in a knot or bow at the waist-line.
You can place the tie at the center of the waist, but rather slightly to the right or left side and let the ends hang.
Try loosening the belt and tying it in a knot just above the hips to elongate the waist.
Wearing it with a basic dress really makes a difference.

9) The Purse Tie

Tie your scarf to the base of the handle on your purse to add a little something.
This look is best, with over-the-shoulder purses.
You can carry the same purse all week without looking bland or boring or taking all the time and trouble to jostle all your lipstick, sunglasses, money and mascara from one purse to another. Just change up the scarf tied to your handbag, and you can have a new look each day without all the hassle.

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What do your earrings say about you?

2010-11-06T09:15:00.003-04:00

Earrings are some of the most telling items a woman can wear. Have you ever gone on a job interview and reached for your pearl or stud earrings because you thought they looked more "professional"? Or you were out to a fancy event and reached for your dangles because they looked more "fun"?

What are your earrings saying about you?

Stud earrings & pearls: you are confident and self-reliant. You are more conservative and probably prefer elegant and practical over fashionable. You like to appear professional.

Dangles: you are outgoing and friendly, and quickly connect to people. You are very communicative and speak your mind without hesitation. You like looking feminine.

Hoops: you are romantic and vivacious. You are drawn to people and ideas who are different, challenging, and original. You like risks and are comfortable in your own skin. You like to appear sexy.

Chandeliers and other large earrings: you are fun loving and always ready to go out and spend time with your friends. You like to appear fashionable and trendy.

Huggies: you are practical and clean cut. You are very goal oriented. You like looking crisp and put together.

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Best Jeans for your Booty

2010-10-13T19:27:00.000-04:00

Have you ever noticed that some jeans just look awesome on your butt? To follow-up on my previous post, finding the right jeans for your body type, here is a quicker guide to find jeans that specifically accentuate your butt the right way.

Best Jeans for a Flat / Little Butt

The problem with jeans and flat butts is that they aren't really compatible together. Denim is a stiff material. When a flat butt is stuffed into denim jeans, the butt looks even flatter because the denim will squish and flatten your butt even more. But a flat butt can still look good in jeans. Find a pair of jeans made from lightweight denim. The best jeans for flat butts will also contain some spandex or other stretchy material to lessen the chances of your butt going flatter.

Try to get jeans with some sort of design on the back pockets to add the illusion of more being there. Any sort of design on the backside of your jeans will make your butt look better. Look for lots of contrast stitching, flap pockets, or other design elements. If you have a flat butt, avoid jeans without pockets or jeans made of heavy denim.

Best Jeans for a Saggy Butt

To help make your butt look more firm and toned, here a few to tips to find the best jeans. Try skinny leg or straight leg jeans if you have a saggy butt. This makes your legs appear longer, so your butt seems higher and firmer. The best jeans for a saggy butt will have pockets. If you can find jeans with pockets that are placed higher than normal or with angled pockets, these are the very best jeans to enhance a saggy butt.

Best Jeans for a Big Butt

Jeans that give a little, such as jeans that have spandex, help make big butts fit better in jeans. The best jeans for a big butt are boot cut jeans. Avoid wearing jeans with widely spaced pockets. The wide apart pockets could make your butt appear too wide.

If you feel that your butt appears too big, the best jeans for your butt will not have heavy decorations or stitching on the back side. Don't wear jeans with flap pockets or button pockets. Try wearing jeans with small, angled pockets.

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How to Make Cheap Clothes Look Expensive

2010-07-22T21:35:00.001-04:00

Pay attention to fabrics. You can add style an outfit, but for this the quality of the fabric is essential. Regardless the cut of a clothing item, if it's made from a cheap fabric this can be easily seen. In this case natural fabrics should be your choice. Therefore, avoid buying clothes that contain more than 20% synthetics. Moreover, synthetics are hard to make them look good due to their bad edges. Buy cotton, linen and silk instead, and avoid shiny fabrics.

Buy expensive accessories. Even if you decided to save money, you have to invest much more when it comes to shoes, handbags or belts. Every girl should have at least one leather bag and shoes. Optionally, you can wear a silk scarf or a good watch. These items are more like investments. They will be worn year after year, and stay in style.

Don't spend your money on basic items. There are a few classic pieces that are not worth spending on. Therefore, whenever going shopping, buy cheaper t-shirts, blouses, skirts or jeans. You can wear them with very stylish accessories and you can match them with other pieces in order to create a designer look.

Black is back. Black has always been the color of elegance and versatility. Besides this, it can be used for so many occasions from casual to formal. You can mix and match a black cheap item in so many ways in order to get a glam and expensive look.

Mix and match. It's already known that all the money in the world couldn't buy the sense of style. Therefore, even if you spend lots of money on branded clothes it doesn't mean that you are very well dressed. Put your creativity to the test and mix cheaper pieces with pricier ones. A beautiful and unique style means knowing how to mix and match less simple items with more simple ones.

Quality check. When shopping around look for high-quality items in a bargain. "Quality" can be in certain situations synonym with "expensive". Pay attention to the seam edges and make sure that they are finished, to buttons and colors, and symmetrical patterns. There are details that could make a difference.

Make changes. You can add a bit of glitz and glam to your wardrobe just by changing a few buttons on your shirts or your dresses. Buy buttons of different shapes and sizes, and apply them on your favorite shirt for a modern and sophisticated look. You can do the same thing with your old dress. Apply a few sequins and you'll instantly get a chic and versatile effect.

Color matching. Your look should be in perfect balance from head to toe. If you mix all colors possible you'll just obtain a ridiculous and cheap look. Find out what colors flatter you and learn how to match them in a chic and elegant way.

Avoid the extremes. Try to not over exaggerate and always know the limits. Everything that is too short or too long will ruin your look. Choose clothes that flatter your body shape and add elegance and style to your appearance.

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How to Thicken Eyelashes Naturally

2010-07-10T09:50:00.003-04:00

Olive Oil: Olive oil has a miraculous effect both on hair growth as well as the condition of our hair. Eyelashes can also benefit of the effect of a similar natural resource of vitamins and nutrients. Pour a few drops of olive oil to a cotton ball and apply it to your lashes. Leave the treatment on for 5 minutes then rinse it off with tepid water. This will eliminate all traces of oil from your eyelashes still would leave them with a shiny and fabulous condition. Keep on with this ritual for at least 4 weeks for guaranteed result.

Vitamins: The lack of vital vitamins in our system can also lead to the decrease in the quality of our eyelashes. The regular consumption of a healthy nutrient as vitamin B and D is of crucial importance to increase the resistance of our eyelashes towards harmful factors as inappropriate use of mascara or eyelash curlers.

Vaseline: One of the ageless methods to increase both normal hair growth as well as the texture of the lashes is Vaseline. This ingredients can have a magical effect on our lashes especially when treating them regularly.

In order to have the desired effect make sure you apply some Vaseline to the particular spot right before going to bed. The Vaseline will exercise its effect overnight. Apply some on an eyelash brush and comb your lashes with it. In the morning rinse it off with tepid water. You'll see the immediate results.

Skip Eyelash Curlers for a bit: In order to give your eyelashes time to recover from the damages it is highly recommended to skip eyelash curlers for a month. This will allow the hair follicles to benefit from the miraculous effect of thickening remedies. Test the effect of the treatments mentioned above while not appealing to artificial curlers. Often these instruments can exercise a harsh effect on the texture of the lashes and in severe cases can result in breakage.

Vitamin E Oil: Enhancing the growth of eyelashes can be also done through the external use of nutrient oils. Vitamin E oil is one of the great remedies to stop hair fall and restore the spotless quality of the lashes. Purchase a little bottle of this vitamin from the local green shop and use it with confidence. Use an eyelash brush to apply a few drops of this oil on your lashes. Brush them with care to boost their growth and thickness. Keep on with this ritual for at least a month.

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Spices that Help your Diet

2010-02-27T07:58:00.006-05:00

Cayenne Pepper: This is one of the time-tested ingredients also used in the past centuries to lose some extra-pounds. The best asset of this spice is indeed its ability to boost our metabolism and burn the excessive fat. This way the free agents will leave the body and won't sabotage our diet.

Studies also demonstrated that the main area it targets is the abs, therefore nutritionists use it with great confidence. Consume them in the form of pills or added to various foods. Cut back on calories with a similar easy-to-handle trick.

Ginseng: Despite it's caffeine-like qualities Ginseng still manages to lead the top of weight loss spices. As a natural supplement it can be used in the form of pills as well as naturally.

Scientists demonstrated the beneficial effect of this spice or rather herb when consumed during a slimming project. The pharmacy as well as green stores are flooded with various supplements that contain a large amount of ginseng. Ask the help of professionals to include this ingredient in your nutrition.

Cinnamon: Specialists claim that cinnamon has a great effect on burning belly fat. In order to have a toned abs make sure you consume foods that contain Cinnamon as a chief ingredients. Whether you sprinkle it on the healthy treats or take some supplements that point is to have it in your daily or weekly menu.

The various studies proved that cinnamon has the ability to reduce your glucose level. This factor can contribute to the loss of extra-pounds on the level of the belly as the main body area that is mostly affected by the imbalances of insulin level.

Cumin: Similarly to Cayenne Pepper, cumin can also increase the functioning of the metabolism. Being one of the main spices of Mediterranean cuisine it can be added to chili as well as other dishes.

One of the main assets of this ingredient is undoubtedly its ability to burn calories by increasing the heart level as well as the blood flow in our body.

Turmeric Powder: The discovery of the turmeric's miraculous effects date back to earlier decades. India is one of the great fans of turmeric used in various traditional meals.

However the main advantage of this spice lies in its ability to eliminate the main harmful toxins from the liver. Those who are willing to polish their silhouette should look for various turmeric supplements as well as natural recipes that use this fabulous ingredients.

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One Shoulder Dresses

2010-02-22T20:24:00.003-05:00

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