Be true to your team. Not sure ...]]> Today, football fans around the world will be tailgating as Super Bowl 46 kicks-off. From New York to New England, people will be showing off their commitment to the biggest game of the NFL Season. Fans will be at the big game in Indianapolis, watching from their favorite bar or restaurant, or getting together with friends at home. From babies to grannies, dressing up in honor of the Super Bowl can be fun. Here are some hints and tips on what to wear in honor of Super Bowl Sunday.

Be true to your team. Not sure who to cheer for? New England Patriots gray not your color? New York Giants red and blue not cool enough for you? Don’t worry, there are plenty of playful jerseys and team related sportswear and pink!

Get a head start. If you are at the big game today, you will want to keep your head warm. According to the Indianapolis Star, it will only be 36 degrees today in Indianapolis. Keep warm and cozy with a variety cool caps, scarves, gloves, and jackets with the NFL logo on them. Staying in for the big game? No shortage of accessories like headbands, caps, and ribbons will keep tresses together in true team spirit. Go for the real bling and wear earrings and necklaces in true team style.

Shoulder pads stay on the football field. Padded shoulders went out of style years ago. Women need not to look like a football player. Big, bulky shirts and sweats are for the couch. Dress in fitted shirts, skirts, and pants. Keep the sneakers at home and put on fun, chunky heals or boots. If your feet get tired, give your feet a breather, but make sure you’ve got a pair of cute socks on today!

Be cute, but not uncomfortable. It is not secret that Super Bowl Sunday is a day of eating and drinking. From chicken wings to chili, stomachs will be all a bloat. For those of you who can resist the temptation to eat the entire day away, you are my heroes. If you do indulge and get a belly bulge (it happens to the best of us), Spanx are an option. If you are like me and love to sample all the foods at a party, keep the painted on jeans and skirts in the closet. Remember, this is a day of fun, not fashion frustration.

Do you dress-up for Super Bowl Sunday? Are you more about comfort or class when it comes to sporting events? No matter what you wear, celebrate responsibly and don’t drink and drive.

Plan a healthy menu. Chicken wings in the crockpot are sensational. Cook them in advance and on Sunday just heat and serve. Serve with a side of avocado salad and salsa. For extra crispy cravings, serve with corn ...]]> This Sunday, people from New England and New York will be tuned-in for the 46^th Super Bowl. For those that can’t afford to go to the actual game in Indianapolis, this is not an issue. No matter what team you are a fan of, here are some helpful hints that will make you the winning host this year!

Plan a healthy menu. Chicken wings in the crockpot are sensational. Cook them in advance and on Sunday just heat and serve. Serve with a side of avocado salad and salsa. For extra crispy cravings, serve with corn chips. Also great in the crockpot is chili. Instead of beef, use ground turkey. This can also be served with taco shells, or just in a big bowl. Add fresh cilantro, chopped onions, and tomato. If you have an extra crockpot, or even an extra pot, make a vegetarian and gluten-free chili as well. Serve with brown rice or sweet potato fries.

Beverages. If you don’t want to schlep to the store for gallons and gallons of seltzer, invest in a Soda Stream. Serve it up just plain seltzer, or add some of Soda Stream’s delicious flavors like mango or green tea. Make sure you have plenty of ice and water bottles as well.

Dessert. Don’t crazy with baking a cake with all the toppings. Keep things simple and make a variety of cookies. Everybody loves oatmeal, chocolate-chip, and sugar cookies. Reduce the gluten factor and use spelt flour instead. Smooth it all down with a strawberry and banana smoothie.

Serving style. Reduce the amount of clean-up and use paper and plastic in the colors of your favorite team. Look for serving items that are made from recycled paper and plastic.

Game daze. If you are not the biggest football, here are some ways to get through the game. The commercials. Take a toll and see what commercials are a hit and miss. If you are online, keep up with what people are saying on Twitter and Facebook and follow the hashtag #superbowl. Don’t worry, by the time Madonna is on, the game is half over.

Do you have any big plans for the Super Bowl this year? Is there a favorite dish that you are planning to serve during the big game this year?

Short and sleek. I just loved how Michelle Williams wore her short hairstyle with style and grace. Her bangs were lightly dusted to the side and accentuated her delicate features. Her choice of dress in red went beautifully with her light skin and blonde tresses.

Up and away. ...]]> This past Sunday evening, the red carpet was all a glow as some of Hollywood’s most glamorous women arrived at The SAG Awards. I was very impressed with the trends in both clothing and accessories and here are some of them.

Short and sleek. I just loved how Michelle Williams wore her short hairstyle with style and grace. Her bangs were lightly dusted to the side and accentuated her delicate features. Her choice of dress in red went beautifully with her light skin and blonde tresses.

Up and away. There are some actresses that look even more beautiful after they have had babies. When I saw Natalie Portman on the red carpet, I could see that motherhood does agree with her. She wore her hair in a tight bun, accompanied by fabulously long earrings. This girl has some strong ear lobes. Several other actresses wore their hair “up and away” with a in a bun this past Sunday evening. Another recent mom, Tina Fey, wore her hair pulled back in a bun as well. Instead of sleeking her back and away from her face, two loose pieces framed her face. These hair pieces were not curled, but completely straight. Emily Blunt also looked amazing in a similar hairstyle.

Long and luscious. I really love the long and luscious look that was also very popular this year at The SAG Awards. Angelie Jolie and Brad Pitt were looking fantastic. Not only are they very in love, but their choice in hairstyles is also in sync. Both Brad and Angelina had their long, loose, and away from their striking facial features. Lea Michelle and Melissa McCarthy showed-up with their lengthy locks parted to the side. Maria  Menounos also decided to go with this haristyle, but she decided to part her hair down the middle. This soft and sensuous look is so soft and classy.

Did you watch The SAG Awards last Sunday evening? Did you see a hairstyle that you would love to have for your next big night out?

This year, I fell in love with the way Berenice Bejo took us back in time in her role as Peppy Miller in “The Artist”, directed ...]]> The 84^th Annual Oscar nominations went out earlier this week. There are so many spectacular films nominated this year. One of my favorite parts of any film are the hairstyles and costumes. I am not referring to the red carpet. What I absolutly love is a film that transcends time and brings back styles that have gone, but are not forgotten.

This year, I fell in love with the way Berenice Bejo took us back in time in her role as Peppy Miller in “The Artist”, directed by Michel Hazanavicius. It is no wonder this film already won a Golden Globe and has 10 Academy Award nominations. If you loved the 1920s, this is the film for you to see.

“The Artist”, filmed completely in black and white and with minimal dialogue, was set between 1927 and 1930. Facial expressions, eye make up, and body language were soar in this film, based on the silent movie era just as the “talkie” was coming into the picture. One of the main characters, Peppy Miller, was just getting noticed as her love interest, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) was fading. The musical score was wonderful and expressed what could not be communicated in words. Then there was the fashion.

I just loved the hairstyles, hair accessories, and hats during this era. In this film, the hairstyles were just as they were back in 1920; simple in shape. For more bling and special occasions, bandeaus, barrettes, airgrettes, turbans and exotic feathers were added. Something I find very interesting is that the most popular style hat from this era, the cloche, required tresses that were short and close to the head. The cloche came in many designs. One of the most popular was zigzag seaming and construction lines.According to Fashion-era.com, this hat was fashionable from 1908 to 1933 and was one of the most extreme forms of millinery ever, with an appearance that resembled a helmet. To wear one correctly the hat had to be pulled over the eyes, making the wearer have to lift up the head, whilst peering snootily down the nose. How to make a hat like a helmet fit over lucious locks of hair? Cut it. Eve though tresses were trimmed significantly, make up was used to accentuate the lips and eyes. This enhanced the already soft and feminine characteristics of the face.

Is there a certain fashion-era that you loved? Could you see yourself wearing a clochet hat?

Shampoo less. Even though we love the smell of ...]]> You know winter has arrived when O’Hare International Airport has cancelled all flights for the day. Blizzard like conditions and the cold will make any uncovered head a target for below zero feel. So, it is hats on to keep warm, what not to keep on is static hair. This can be especially embarrassing when arriving to a meeting, special event, or first date. Here are some hints and tips on how to avoid static hair this winter.

Shampoo less. Even though we love the smell of freshly washed hair, that fresh smell is stripping moisture from the hair. Put down the shampoo. Less is more, but when it is time to wash hair, use a herbal shampoo combined with herbal conditioner as well.

Food for thought? There are some food products that help our hair and the cuticles behind it. Do you have a ripe avocado handy? A bottle of mayonnaise? These two products act as natural solution to conditioning hair and keeping hair cuticles where they belong. Close to your head! Your tresses will be static free and fabulous! When hair is dry, warm-up a little coconut, almond, or olive oil and massage it into the scalp. Start at the tips and work down to the roots. This is great to do at least an hour before washing hair. Leave it on overnight and rinse off in the morning with a gentle light shampoo.

Hair maintenance. It is also important to keep hair neat and trim. Not only does this look more attractive, it is healthier for your hair and will keep split ends away. Also, think of Marcia Brady and how many times she brushed her hair. Her hair was gorgeous! Admit it! There is a reason behind this, as it prevents knotting and matting. Find a soft brush and use it on the hair at least three times a day. However, one must remember not to brush hair when it is wet. While this may feel good, this process actually weakens the roots. Weak roots cause hair loss. For those hairs that don’t fall-out, they will result in static.

Stay hydrated. Winter is a time for dehydration. Drink less caffeinated beverages like tea and coffee. These beverages affect the moisture in your body which ultimately affect the moisture in the hair. This lack of moisture is an open invitation to static.

How do you avoid static in your hair?

Washing hands. Germs love metal surfaces, keyboards, and telephones. During these days of viruses running wild, always take the time to wash hands. Think of the work place as an adult ...]]> Even though the weather has been mild this winter, hats and gloves are still in order. There are many people that bundle up at the slightest drop in temperature for fear of getting sick. Is it a hat and gloves that will combat the flu this season? According to MedicineNet.com, there is more to it than that.

Washing hands. Germs love metal surfaces, keyboards, and telephones. During these days of viruses running wild, always take the time to wash hands. Think of the work place as an adult day care. Children in day care and school should wash their hands after playing with toys and other children. Teach them to wash their hands long enough to recite the alphabet song.

Don’t touch. Feeling an itch on your nose or eye? Something hanging from your mouth? Again, do not touch these areas unless you have washed your hands first. This is an open invitation to viruses. If you can’t always get to the sink in time, keep a pack of baby wipes near your desk or in your purse.

No double dipping. This is the time of year for a lot of party going. When you see the vegetable dip with the appetizer, think again. Many people do double dip! They may also hover over certain foods and not think twice about coughing in that direction. Kids aren’t as conscious, so if you are at a party with a lot of children, keep an eye on out for sharing of sippy cups and cookies.

Cover-up. When a cold has hit your home, encourage those around you to cover their mouths when coughing. Try to keep tissues within arms reach to avoid spraying those around you with a major sneeze. Always set a good example and cover your nose and mouth when that cough is coming on.

How do you try to stay healthy during the cold and flu season?