My Perfect Little Black Dress!

Finding my perfect little black dress - the ABCs!

This being the holiday season there's a particular interest in and attention to dressing. Whether you're a social butterfly with a full calendar of events to attend or you have limited your activity to some small intimate gatherings, what you wear will be important to you. The little black dress, also known as LBD, is a perennial wardrobe staple, the epitome of elegance, the term finding its origin in 1920s [its history stemming from the incomparable Coco C. [1926] and her iconic looks.]

While it debuted in a very simple, classic, slim silhouette, today's offerings run a gamut as wide-ranging as our fashion tastes dictate.

What are some important features in selecting my little black dress?

To my way of thinking you first assess your particular body type [like the Johnny Mercer song, 'accentuate the positive / eliminate the negative'] then you'll have an idea of what looks good on you. Aim to show your best features and play down the others. This includes looking at different necklines, hemlines, sleeve lengths [or sleeveless], bodices and silhouettes.

High on my list I consider the fit and feel, not just the correct size but the style [does it 'fit' me, my personality, do you match?] Ask, will I be comfortable in this look? Can I 'pull it off'? After all you want to shine - your dress should showcase you and not compete for attention. "Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman." [Coco C.]

Then I'd want to consider how versatile does this dress have to be: Will it need to perform at multiple functions [day into evening, cocktails to formal sit-downs, does it travel well, etc.] in which case the fabric choice becomes essential as well as its potential for accessorizing. The little black dress is such a timely expression of your individual style. We are very fortunate today with the range of what's available for our choosing, that we can find such an abundant array in terms of cost from the frugal all the way to the extravagant, we really should not have a difficult time in our search. Do you gravitate toward the vintage looks or are you more sculptured or modern? Are you a trend- setter or more classic in your taste? Frou frou or formal?

Carry on, your dress is out there waiting to be discovered; but in your quest to find the perfect little black dress remember Coco's words... "The best color in the whole world is the one that looks good, on you!"

Until next time God willing!

Karen

Copr. 2013 Karen Hodge

How to Get Perfect Wedding Dress Cleaning From Professionals

Your wedding; that wonderful sweeping romantic event that starts your life down the path of discovery of your eternal love with your new husband.

And let's face it; you, as the bride, were the spectacular centre of attention and beauty at that event. Indeed, weddings are designed to accentuate the bride and yours did exactly that, didn't it?

Why Clean And Preserve Your Wedding Dress?

Of course, a huge part of accentuating your beauty was your wedding dress. This is now one of the most important gowns in your life; loaded with memories, memories of the search for it, the trying of many until you found the perfect one you fell in love with, the memories of the delightful day of the wedding and the fun had by all at the reception after it.

And now you want to preserve those memories forever.

Why do it now?

So now that happy day is over and relegated to your storehouse of wonderful memories.

After the excitement and stress of the wedding and all things leading up to it, most brides just want to kick back and relax a bit. They are in honeymoon mode!

Although the best intentions are to deal with the cleaning of them very soon, over half of all wedding gowns suffer the same fate at this time. They are simply folded and stuffed back into the box from whence they came. Only this time, it is not the brilliantly clean and crisp garment it was when it came out. Stains both visible and invisible remain lurking on the fabric to do their damaging work. About 4 to 5 months later, the bride or mother of the bride finally may decide to do something about it.

However, damage can already be present from these stains after only a few months. Yellowing and browning can occur within just a couple months. Stains can also migrate to other places on the garment. After the wedding, immediate attention to the garment is of utmost importance.

With all the details preparing for the wedding and reception, it would be a shame to cut this level of attention to details short in relation to your beautiful wedding dress.

You wouldn't want to inspect your dress months or years down the road only to find it is too late to do anything about its deterioration.

The Grit And Stains Assaulting Your Dress

With all the beauty and grace at your wedding, there was grit and dirt there too as well, wasn't there? How could there not be? It is almost a certainty that your matrimonial dress was assaulted and violated by some foreign grime.

In and out of the car (or limousine), the floor length hemline of your gown may be caught in the door, picking up grease! If it is left sticking out of the door during the trip, then heaven knows what you picked up in terms of road dirt. Simply walking across lawns and parking lots, dirt and grass stains may be ground into your hemline as well. And this can happen just during the wedding photographs!

Then, of course, there is the reception.

Eating, drinking, dancing, talking and bumping into people, sober and otherwise. Of course, this is the occasion of yours and your husband's nuptials where you are the centre of the celebration and everyone wants to have a piece of your attention! Your friends and loved ones close to you wanting to touch, grab, pull and tug you and your gown. And who knows what your beautiful bridal attire picked up in the washroom? It is inevitable; some undesirable stain is going to be slopped, ground or otherwise transferred onto your bridal gown.

There will be the visible grime of course; grease, road filth, grass stains, dinner and dessert blotches, colourful drink splashes, and maybe even some mysterious makeup intrusion.

Then there is the invisible and insidious soiling; champagne, sugars and colourless alcohol. Even your own body can betray you with perspiration which can introduce acids, body oils, salts, ammonia, enzymes and bacteria to the fabric of your gorgeous gown. These stains are all unseen until they yellow after a time.

What's more is all of these stains can be transferred to other parts of your garment if left alone. It is absolutely best to address the cleaning and preservation of your wedding dress immediately.

Other Dress Damage

Of course physical damage can occur as well such as stepping on the garment hemline, by both you and others. Dancing, bending and tugging will stretch and stress the seams in your waist, bustle, sleeves and neckline. Your delicate endowments such as lace, embroidery and beading on your matrimonial dress, sequins, belts, sashes and jackets can easily be damaged by the events of the day.

A Quick List Of Troubles For Your Wedding Dress:

- food, drink and make-up smudges and stains

- ground in dirt

- grass stains

- yellowing and browning

- oxidation

- mold

- mildew

- ripped and stretched seams

- permanent and unwanted creasing

- light

- dust

- bad odour

So what do you do to keep these undesirables from damaging your wedding gown?

Here Are 9 Easy Tips You Can Do On Your Own (after cleaned by a Professional):

1. Don't store your dress in a plastic bag including dry cleaning bags and the bag your dress came in when your purchased it. Good only for transport or short term storage, the plastic in these bags will exude chemical fumes that can damage your dress over a period of time.

2. Store your dress in a box with tissue; both the box and the tissue completely acid-free. Don't be fooled by boxes promoted as acid-free, when all they have is an acid-free coating.

3. Seal the box with tape. This can help prevent unwanted fingers from handling your dress, curious pet investigations and bugs and other pests from making themselves at home in your matrimonial gown.

4. Although promoted by some cleaners, do not use a vacuum sealed bag.

5. Once cleaned and preserved, store your gown in a cool dry dark place. Your basement can be damp and will promote the growth of mold and mildew. Your attic can get very hot and promote yellowing. The ultraviolet in sunlight can accelerate the deterioration of the delicate fabrics in your wedding dress.

6. If you are storing your dress long-term on a hanger, be sure to sew some straps to the waistline to reduce stress and stretching on the shoulder straps. Again, no plastic. To use what's called a muslin covering or white sheet is the best.

7. Prevent wrinkling in the bodice by stuffing it with acid-free tissue paper.

8. Take your garment out from time to time to inspect it for stains that may appear over time. This way you can address them immediately before they cause irreparable damage.

9. Be generous with tissue when packing the dress to prevent permanent and unwanted creases from occurring.

What Process Does a Qualified Wedding Dress Cleaner Use On Your Dress?

Every dress is different; from a simple dress to a complicated designer full length wedding gown. The design, construction, and the use of various fabrics and accoutrements sewn, weaved and otherwise attached to the ensemble is all important in the determination of a proper cleaning and preservation plan.

Of course, the knowledge of all visible and invisible stains and how to remove them is absolutely important as well.

Inspection

Every dress should be individually inspected by the cleaner, preferably with you or someone you trust in attendance. Your intimate knowledge of the dress and of the accidents resulting in the stains and other damage is paramount to getting the job done right.

A thorough investigation of the entire garment is essential to identify the stains both visible and unseen. A black light should be used to identify the invisible ones.

The fabrics and the various stains in them will determine the most precise treatment to be used on your dress.

The hem should be inspected for dirt and grass stains.

The gown should be inspected for tears and other damage. In addition to recognizing these for repair considerations, this inspection protects both the bride and the cleaners. Both you and the wedding dress cleaners will be aware of all damage to the gown before the cleaning begins.

It is critical as well that you make sure you are not using a cleaner that is a mass-production wedding dress cleaner. Your gown is unique and should not be involved in an assembly line affair.

Spot Treatment

Once you have selected the best wedding dress cleaner for the cleaning and preservation of your family heirloom, the first thing they should do is approach the stains that require special attention with the appropriate cleansing agents. The hemline should be soaked to deal with its stains. The sugar, salt and acid stains in the garment should be hand-cleaned. Inspections between the cleanings to ensure the removal of the stains is critical and may have to be repeated several times.

Cleaning

Whether your gown will be dry cleaned or wet washed will be determined by its fabric content. Some gowns are entirely made up of silk; some entirely of polyester or other materials. Many are made up of a combination of a couple or several of them! Even though most dresses have cleaning labels, they are not to be trusted because sometimes they are simply wrong. The cleaner should test all fabrics to ensure proper treatment.

Like the spot treatment, there should be an inspection done post-cleaning to ensure as perfect as job possible.

Your Inspection

Before final packaging of it, you should be invited to inspect the dress yourself. This way you can see that the cleaning and preservation was completed to your standards. This also eliminates surprises down the road when you unpack your garment and find something wrong. If there are further touch-ups to be done, it is easier to leave your dress there, than to bring back to the cleaner for corrections.

Wedding Dress Preservation

Once you have made the final approval, then your gown should be layered with the acid-free tissue. It should then be packed into an acid-free box. There varying boxes at varying prices for your pleasure.

This is the preservation part of this process and it should be guaranteed for many years by the wedding dress cleaner.

3 Reasons a Bespoke Bridal Gown Is Better Than Ready Made

For many women, the ultimate wedding dress comes in the shape of a bespoke bridal gown. If you want to look and feel your best when your big day arrives, here are three reasons why a custom made dress will be much better than a readymade one.

You can get a dress that is made to measure from the very start

No two women have exactly the same measurements all over. That's why a dress in a certain size will fit one women of that size like a glove, and yet be completely inappropriate for another woman of the same size.

With custom made designs you will be properly measured from head to toe. This means you can have a dress that will fit you exactly, rather than having to adjust something that has already been made. As you can imagine this will have some distinct advantages, so you can look forward to the best fit you can possibly get.

You can take photos and pictures of dresses you like to act as inspiration

When you buy a bridal gown 'off the rack' you are limited to what is already there. This isn't the case when it comes to buying a bespoke bridal gown. In this situation you are able to bring together the ideas and gowns you like so your wedding dress designer can see exactly what you want. From this point your designer can then create something that brings together everything you want to see in your perfect gown. This simply wouldn't happen if you went for a dress that was already made. In this situation you'd simply have it altered so that it fitted you more closely - you wouldn't have any say in the actual design.

You will never have to compromise

If you have the budget to go for a bespoke bridal gown you can be sure you will get the exact dress you have always wanted for your big day. Many of us have to compromise in some way when we get married - we have a budget to stick to and this means settling for something that might be slightly below what we would ideally like to have. However, if you opt for the couture dress instead of one that has already been made, you won't have to compromise on this particular feature. Since your wedding dress is one of the most important parts of the event, it is important to stick with your design ideas so you can get the exact dress you want.

If you are prepared to go down the bespoke route, you'll walk down the aisle in the dress you have always dreamed of. On one of the most important days of your life, this makes perfect sense doesn't it?

Nothing to Wear? Here's How to Get Your Style Mojo Back!

Well the kids are back in school... or almost. And, despite the summer temperatures, there is no doubt that you will be carving pumpkins before you know it!

No doubt all that back-to-school shopping for the kiddos has you wanting a few things for yourself. But before you start spending your hard-earned money on new clothes, I want share a simple trick that will shake up your look, revitalize your wardrobe... and make the most of what you already have.

That's not to say some new pieces aren't in order, but, before spending an afternoon shopping, buying even more things you won't wear, first try my super savvy tip...

A few things to prepare:

First of all get ready to have some fun, and forget the idea that if you haven't worn it in a year throw it away. I don't generally agree with that guideline, and have regretted it many-a-time.

Second of all, pull out all the extra jeans, scarves, accessories, belts that you have stuffed in drawers and the back of your closet, now is time to use it or lose it!

And thirdly, you're gonna immediately get excited about the boost in your style, but the complete overhaul may take more than one session. The important thing is getting started.

So let's get going...

Do you remember Garanimals? They're an easy to pair kid's line of mix and match separates launched in the 70s that made putting together children's outfits a snap.

Using the idea of ready-made outfits, my style solution is to create complete outfits for yourself in advance, much like professional stylists do for their clients.

So let's get shopping in your closet! Begin my going through your hanging clothes (try simply left to right if you're not sure where to start) and start putting together outfits, placing them on a shared hanger - important! Keep the outfit pieces together.

You know that gorgeous blouse you love with the tag still on it... ? Combine it with a pair of slim slacks. Fold the slacks over the hanger and add the blouse. Find a belt that works with it and hook it on the hanger, too. Don't have a belt that works, how about a colorful scarf you can wear through the pant loops or wrap around your waist or tie loosely around your neck. One outfit down.

Now where is that cute (too short) sundress... ? Layer it over some tights and add a cute jean jacket over it. And those ballet flats you got on sale, but never wear... now is the time! If you don't wear them because they don't seem to fit right, wear a band-aid to protect your feet when you wear the outfit. If they still hurt your feet after you wear this outfit once, donate the shoes right away.

That maxi skirt that you have, but aren't sure how to wear... ? Pull a fitted tee out of your drawer and add it to the hanger. It will complement it perfectly. Add a large wrap around your shoulders to keep yourself cozy if you're likely to chill. And in the cooler months, you can layer a long-sleeved fitted tee under your cute short-sleeved tee and have virtually the same look. And DO NOT wear high heels with maxi skirts. Period. Flat sandals, flip-flops, boots... yes, yes, yes! Just NO high-heels.

So there's your start... now keep it going, and dig deep and don't stop this process until you've paired together ALL your clothes.

And what about the pieces that don't work with anything? These are the pieces you want to consider letting go of; give to a friend, donate them, or if you have the room, set them aside for a month or two and see if you miss them.

My garanimals principle will instantly change the way you feel when you get dressed... not only will you smile and think of me; you never, ever have to feel like you don't have something to wear.

Discount Prom Dresses - How To Choose The Right One

Are you looking for a great prom dress that suits you perfectly? It is not easy to locate outfits that make you look fabulous, but you have to be extra careful when selecting discounted outfits for a prom or any other important occasion. They might have quality issues that detract from the overall look.

Be sure to look for the following features when buying a prom dress at a good discount:

1. Differentiate between a discounted and used dress. The former is a brand new dress, preferably from a good designer, that is available at an attractively low price.

2. Check that the dress is made of high quality materials. It should also be stitched well, with all seams and hems done correctly. Poor quality tailoring will look awful and the dress will also not last very long. Be especially careful about quality in case the dress has beads, rhinestones or lace which need to be stitched on with a great deal of care.

3. The store selling the dresses should offer a wide range of the latest designs or else you will have an outdated look on account of trying to get a dress at a low price.

4. You should ideally be offered alteration and customization services. This is necessary in order to ensure that the dress fits you like a glove. After all, very few people have the figure to fit perfectly in a store bought dress.

5. The store you buy from should be a reliable one that follows fair business practices. For instance, it should have a good policy on returns or exchanges. If the store in question is an online retailer, then you need to be certain that it will deliver exactly what has been ordered.

As you can see, what you need is an inexpensive dress for your prom that does not look cheap. Thankfully, there are stores that specialize in offering these outfits. They are able to offer lovely prom dresses at low prices on account of getting them stitched at low prices and using economies of scale. Some of these stores make very close copies of designer dresses.

It is best to try out different types of dresses in order to find one that suits you the best. Finding the best discount prom dress will enable you to look fabulous without going broke; after all, you need to spend money on matching accessories and make-up as well.

How To Keep Your Concealed Carry Purse In Good Condition

If you are looking to invest in a concealed carry purse, you'll discover that a popular choice for many is a leather purse. The reason for this is because they are very durable and able to keep their shape. Considering the weight and structure of a gun, factors such as durability and shape retention become very important.

If you buy a leather concealed carry purse, you want to make sure that you are caring properly for it. Proper care will prevent your purse from becoming dry, which can cause cracking. It also is going to protect it from the excessive moisture which can cause mildew and swelling. Here are some tips that you can use to care for your purse.

Keep Your Handbag Off The Ground

This sounds very basic but many purses become damaged or stained because they are left on the floor or the ground. Purses should not be put on the floor of a restaurant, movie theater, store, outside or anywhere else. Always keep your handbag up on a counter or in a drawer. With concealed carry purses, where a gun may be in the handbag, it is especially important that the bag be kept out of the way and in a safe place. Children are curious and likely to dig through a purse looking for all sorts of things. Better to keep the temptation from them, while helping to keep your purse clean and in good condition at the same time.

Use Clean Hands to Handle Your Purse

Concealed carry purses made of leather often absorb oils, grime and grease. Wash your hands frequently and always before cleaning your handbag. Occasionally use a dampened white cloth made of cotton to wipe your purse's surface. But make sure you don't make the cloth too wet since leather will take time to dry.

Use Leather Cleaner Formulated for Purses

This kind of soft soap is put on using circular motion. You then wipe it off using a lightly dampened cloth so the leather's pores aren't clogged. This only has to be done once or twice a year to keep the purse clean, soft and supple.

Remove Stains Quickly

Here's a tip: stains that are organic (like blood or food) often can be removed using chalk powder. Crush some white chalk and allow it to remain on your stain through the night. Then use a clean cloth to wipe it off in the morning.

These are just some of the ways you can ensure that your leather concealed carry purse looks great for years. Take care of your purse the right way. You'll find that it will allow you to make the most out of your investment.

How You Can Become a Professional Hair Stylist

If you want to pursue a career as a professional hair stylist, you need to be trained in cosmetology so that you will be prepared to get a license. Doing hair for your family and friends will not give you the needed experience to get hired as a stylist as you need to be licensed before you can practice legally.

You should attend a school of cosmetology and some high schools have special vocational programs that you can participate in after school. If you have passed out of a high school, you can apply for an independent cosmetology school program so that you will be able to learn hair styling and design.

Furthermore, you will need to participate in a certification test in order to become an official cosmetologist. The certification process will enable the state to monitor the activities of cosmetologists who deal with the public regularly in order to be sure that they are competent. In majority of the states, you will need to renew your license every year or as may be required by the law of the state you are practicing in.

In addition, it is important to enroll with the career services department of your cosmetology school because they can assist you to get job or an apprenticeship under an experienced hair stylist. In many states, you must complete a specific number of apprentice hours before you will be qualified to get a license.

You can also practice latest hair styling skills on friends as well as relations and the pictures of the results should be taken. You can also offer to do hair for free at local photo shoots and these photos can later be used for your hair stylist portfolio. You should carefully compile and prepare your portfolio, and you should include hair styles on models and mannequins you have handled. The photos can be displayed online and you should get a link that can be given to potential employers.

It is important for you to search for employment or apprenticeship at hair salons that are not too far from where you are residing. You should endeavor to speak with managers or owners and your resume, including your portfolio, should be left with them. The portfolio will go a long way in showing your proficiency and you can also leave a link to your online portfolio. The owner or manager of a salon may decide to test you so that your skills will be displayed right in front of him or her.

Why 'NO' Is the Hardest Word for Women to Say Confidently?

Remember the famous sentence - Love is never having to say you are sorry - from the movie Love Story? It spawned a thousand jokes. Some people believe that sorry is the hardest word. I place No at the top of the list and especially relating to unwanted gifts of clothing and unwanted fashion advice.

Why is No so hard a sentence?

It is estimated that you will hear the word No at least 120,000 times over your lifetime.

As a Baby Boomer child, you were probably taught that you could happily say Yes or Yes please without a second thought or the need to add an explanation. You were taught to be polite and not hurt anyone else's feelings. When you asked for something and got a No answer, sometimes you accepted it, especially if you were just trying it on. At other times you added that dreaded why? Then your parents or whoever explained, justified, apologised, procrastinated, fudged, lied or got angry.

That is how many of us learnt that Yes is a complete sentence and No is not.

With age and experience, you have also learnt that some people play games. They are desperate for you to say Yes because what it will be an advantage to them but not to you.

Clothes are personal statements of who you are. You can learn to say No and mean it without justifying or explaining.

Saying No is About Setting Boundaries

Boundaries are necessary so that you have control over your life and your wardrobe.

Every time you let someone else talk you into taking or buying clothes you do not want or that do not suit you, they, not you, are controlling your life. You may not see them often or ever again but they are still living in your head.

No is a way of setting your boundaries and claiming your right to determine who you really are and who you want to be. It is a way to teach others how to treat you.

Saying No is Not a Personal Rejection

People say No for lots of reasons. Most of their reasons are not personal rejections of you. Also, most of your Nos are not personal rejections of the other person.

Saying No honestly helps people learn that you are not exactly like them. They can then decide if they want to discover who you really are and that is a much more interesting person than they first imagined.

Four No Techniques

There are many people who will teach you how to say No.

Allan and Barbara Pease, the body language experts, teach a 'You are Right. But... ' technique in their 2006 book, Easy Peasy People Skills for Life. This involves acknowledging the other person's truth which is the You are right words at the beginning of your sentence. Then you add your truth beginning with the words but or but for me which asserts your right to have a different opinion to the other person.

William Ury, a negotiator, teaches a 'Yes. No. Yes' technique in his 2007 book, The Power of a Positive No. Your first Yes asserts your values. Your No respectfully states your boundaries. Your second Yes is an invitation to an alternative, positive solution.

Byron Katie, a psychologist, teaches an 'and no' technique in her 2005 book, I Need Your Love - Is that True, which she co-authored with Michael Katz. This again starts with repeating the other person's truth. Then you add the simple words and no to the end of your sentence without any explanation.

Finally there is always a straight and simple 'No' or 'No thank you' if that suits you better.

Do Not Argue. Re-state Your Position.

This is the key point. As No is a complete sentence, you need to stand firm in your own personal power and refuse to be drawn into an argument.

Follow these basic guidelines -

• Make your statement calmly and firmly.

• If necessary, repeat your original statement as many times as you need to.

• You have the right to say No without explanation or justification.

Last Words

Remember the words of William Ury, - 'If you can learn to say No skilfully and wisely, you can create what you want, protect what you value and change what does not work.'

Great Skin Care Finds at the Health Food Store

If the ingredients in your usual cleansers have you horrified at the thought of bathing in a chemical potion of sulfates and parabens, then consider switching to organic products. Head to your local health food store or vitamin shop and keep your eye out for these items that are sure to offer you wholesome, natural ingredients.

Aztec Indian Healing Clay

This ancient skin care method involves mixing powdered clay with water and raw organic apple cider vinegar to help neutralize the acidity. The result is a foamy, mousse-like paste that's worn as a mask for about ten minutes at a time or until you begin to feel the clay pull away from your skin. The clay is supposedly made of mineral-rich volcanic ash with a negative charge, pulling positive charged dirt and debris from your pores. In addition to cleaning pores, the clay also claims to increase circulation.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil soothes the senses as well as irritated skin. Its anti-bacterial properties make it a veritable opponent for acne and blemishes without the unwanted side effects that come with other treatments like benzoyl peroxide. Tea tree oil is also effective in treating dandruff and preventing nail disease.

Goat's Milk Soap

Unlike water-based soaps, un-processed goat's milk offers many skin-nourishing benefits. Fat molecules moisturize, vitamin A repairs damaged skin and fights acne and wrinkles, alpha hydroxy acids promote cell turnover and minerals like selenium help to prevent skin cancer. And I just liked it for the smell!

Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap

This magic soap is certified organic, fair trade, vegetable-based and has about a million uses. It's comprised of coconut, jojoba, and hemp oil as well as pure essential oils that produce a rich lather without the use of harsh sulfates. The soap is incredibly concentrated so diluting in water is recommended, which means one bottle will go a long way.

Beeswax

I love using beeswax-based lip balms. The wax provides a barrier, protecting your skin while still allowing it to breathe and works as an emollient, to soften the skin. Beeswax is also anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory making it an excellent treatment minor skin irritations.

Pumpkin Peel

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Incredible Pumpkin Peel is a cruelty-free, magical blend of pumpkin pulp, enzymes and fermented juice, which works to exfoliate and nourish the skin. This rejuvenating, antioxidant-rich formula leaves skin feeling smooth, clean and glowing. An added bonus is that you'll smell like pumpkin spice!

Buckthorn Facial Cream

Sibu Beauty's Repair & Protect Sea Buckthorn Facial Cream is free of parabens, allergens and preservatives, but it's chock-full of skin nourishing benefits. Omega 7 fatty acids boosts collagen production and promotes tissue recovery, fighting against signs of aging like dryness and wrinkles.

The Most Effective Way to Slow Skin Aging

Many today are finding ways to counteract the aging process of the body. Though the "wonder drug" to stop aging is yet afar off, we have enough knowledge to slow the process and lengthen the years of youth in one's life.

The main factor for aging are diet, environment, lifestyle and the physiological make up of the body. With this in mind, one will see that aging can be slowed, if one can make sure to always have proper diet, be in favorable environmental situations, having the right lifestyle and making sure the correct maintenance of the body's health. In doing so, it is possible to completely halt or slow the aging process.

Out of all the body parts, the skin seems to be the one of the worst affected by aging. Its effect is visible which clearly signals to everyone that you are aging. The toll of time is evidently observable; wrinkles, blemishes, dryness and the loss of elasticity are seen dramatically occurring on people that age.

For many, aging is such a big issue, especially for women who are particularly sensitive and self-conscious about their looks and how they appear to people. Because of aging problem, medical experts and dermatologists from all over the world have provided medical and alternative solutions to combat the aging process, especially of the skin.

In order to better understand the solutions provided by dermatologists, we must first learn that aging is a process of decay. Nutrients that keep the body healthy are slowly decreasing due to time which causes aging. As we understand that aging is compared to decay, one can easily see that if we can slow the loss of nutrients and halt the cellular oxidation of the body, halting aging is achievable.

This is what dermatologist has been researching for decades and all of this culminated research is now seen on products like face skin creams, face skin treatment and face skin products. These products and supplements will encourage the healthy nature of the skin, particularly the face where the most attention is focused.

The face skin cream is one of the most popular face skin treatment products available on the market today. The skin on the face, like on other parts of the body becomes dry through age, especially if the proper face skin treatment is not observed. The dryness of the skin, due to environmental factors such as Ultra-violet radiation from the sun, pollution and other environmental factors "kill" healthy skin cells because of dehydration thus make you age.

Face skin creams moisturizes the skin thus inhibit the promulgation of dead skin cells and increase the life and vibrancy of the skin. Most of these face skin creams have vitamins such as C, A and minerals like zinc, which are all anti-oxidants. Once you stop the oxidation of the skin, you can stop "aging", though it does not stop aging completely, but this can be the first steps in realizing the fabled, elixir of life.

The choosing the best face skin products for you, one must first consider face skin types in order to use the correct products for you. There are many types of skin and each person is different and unique. However, one can easily categorize skin into five main types, normal skin, Dry skin, Oily skin, Combination skin and sensitive skin. Once you know the type of skin you have you can now find the best skin care product you can use.

Normal skin will only need regular face skin cream moisturizers and do not need any special creams to ensure its health. Dry skin will mostly use moisturizing face skin cream, Oily skin do not need excessive creams, one must use face cleaning products to make sure the oil and grease which can result in acne is washed away and cleaned regularly.

Combination skin is both dry and oil, so the best thing to do is the combination of moisturizers and face skin products. Persons with sensitive skin must avoid strong soap, lotions and creams with heavy perfume, it is best to use unscented soap and other mild facial cleaners.

However, before you invest on different kinds of face skin treatment products, make sure that you are keeping a good and healthy lifestyle and you will marvel on how effective such products can "halt" the onslaught of time and aging. The most effective way to slow aging is to maintain your youth through living healthy, having a good, vice-free lifestyle and most importantly, being happy and contented with life always. Once you have these factors, your youth will stay longer with you even as the years pass by.

If you are not interested in sex girls in moscow , then you have already missed a lot.

The Baby Boomer Woman's Guide to Looking Younger Than Your Age

Can you really accurately guess a person's age? I think it is the hardest thing to do. Is a child 2, 3 or 4? Is a teenager 13 or 17? Is a Baby Boomer woman 51, 59 or 67? We take lots of things into consideration when we make age judgments - physical body, dressing, posture, words and attitude.
When a woman says she wants to look younger than her age, it is about perceptions and expectations. Today's Baby Boomer woman has grown up and participated more openly and actively in society than her mother. She will usually have worked longer, be better off financially, be healthier, have travelled more and have a global rather than a small community awareness.
As we age, we fear becoming invisible, overlooked and not actively contributing to society. It is stagnation we fear more than growth. Stagnation makes others perceive you as being older.
Each day you live you are getting older. If you stop to think about what age you want to be perceived as being, it is more about being active, noticeable, vital, energetic and seen as a valuable consumer.
Read on for my three-point Baby Boomer woman's guide to looking younger than your age.
Your Skin
As you stayed in or came back into the workforce, you have been judged on your skin. Australians spend $300 million a year on Botox to get rid of facial wrinkles. Some of that amount includes men. Women have always been judged more on looks than men and many industries have judged older women harshly. Botox was seen as the No 1 way to look years younger.
It is changing as now the UK President of the Plastic Surgeons Association openly says that looking younger was never about wrinkles. It is about skin tone and texture. The young have clearer dewy skin. He admits that plastic surgery cannot create that. So skin care and cosmetic retailers, Multi-Level Marketing companies and beauty therapists provide products that reduce the pigmentation of aging and add light to create a younger, dewy look. It is a massive growth industry.
Look after your skin and choose the products and treatments that fit your budget and your environmental focus.
Your Hair and Makeup
After your skin tone, people notice your hair and makeup. Grey hair does not necessarily age you nor does coloured hair always make you look younger. Our skin tone lightens with age: so add lighter variations of your basic colour to keep your hair looking natural. It is easy to recognise when a woman is trying too hard to look younger.
Keep your hairstyle modern. A small tweak can make you look younger and slimmer regardless of your wrinkles. We judge a woman's age on how current her hairstyle looks.
It is the same with makeup. Modern makeup is more natural than heavy. So is eye makeup and lipstick. How long has it been since you changed your foundation, eye shadow, eyebrow pencil and lipstick colours? Eyebrows (particularly thin shapes and darkly pencilled colours) are aging giveaways.
Your Clothes
Women's fashion has always been in evolution. Yes, styles are recycled but they are never interpreted exactly the same way. Because your clothing covers a large proportion of your body, its prominence is a focus for guessing your age. First impressions count.
It is not about slavishly following every trend or sticking rigidly to one style forever. It is about being selective. Choose what suits you and interpret it in modern, stylish ways to look current and individual. That is the secret.
Last Words
As a Baby Boomer woman you have to decide how you want your physical appearance and dress to be perceived. Is it as being a certain age or as having a certain ageless attitude? It is your decision.

Competition Between Women - Does Beauty Cause Jealousy?

Women can be so beastly to one another. Women can also be the perpetrators of hate towards other women. Women can instigate and continue a trail of destruction towards another woman.

It can be very uncomfortable to acknowledge that women can act just as aggressively as men and cause the emotional breakdown in others especially towards other women.

There are many diverse and oddly strange reasons for women behaving badly and jealousy is one of those reasons.

When the green eye of envy glares from the pulpit of internal vision in a woman, the results can range from mild verbal contact to being downright unbelievably heinous. Due to jealousy, a woman could temporarily appear insane. Some behaviours include verbal rages appearing irrational and incessant; her stiffened body taut from the venom squeezing from every pore. Jealousy is potent and can destroy both the holder and the receiver.

I covered my perspective on the Beauty Myth in another article but wanted to pay particular attention to jealousy in a woman because of beauty noting the Beauty Myth.

The Beauty Myth looks at the overall impact on women and I will be examining the psychological impact on women. To surmise the concept and explain the Beauty Myth, here is a quick précis.

The Beauty Myth is an allegorical ideology about what a woman should look like to be readily accepted in society. Men, for control over women construct this ideology. The ideology of beauty as in the Beauty Myth is not defined, therefore there are no clear guidelines or demarcation.

There are many ways in which a woman gravitates towards making herself appealing and to appease men and the resulting language, spoken or not, determines how women view themselves. Women then systematically enshrine the essence of the Beauty Myth by plundering themselves to a regime of incessant grooming including the use of surgery, cosmetics and diets. A woman does not have to be aware of the Beauty Myth to be complicit in its language. The control over women by men renders women out of control in mind and body as she strives for attainment of acceptance. Remember, what the actual concept of beauty should look like is not defined! Whilst this is happening locally for women, the woman then sees other women as potential rivals. Women compete with other women vying for the attention from men creating a war on each other that may appear comical to some but is in no doubt very debilitating for women reciprocally.

Women readily accept striving to achieve the 'ideal' weight and maintain this notion even at the risk of their own health. In some contexts, this ideal is nothing short of experimenting with their life. In an attempt to mask over her own lack of self-esteem, a woman may originate a furtive competition with her colleagues, peers and even friends to appear to be the better looking therefore more acceptable to men. Is the archetypal jealous woman real or fictitious? Just take a look around you.

Women eyeing up other women whilst measuring their own selves and sometimes leaving others feeling as though they are below standard. If a particular woman measures against another woman and feels she is more attractive than she perceives her 'rival' to be, just watch her physiology prolifically change in an instant. If she perceives this same 'rival' to be featuring an attribute she is keen to personally gain this same change in her physiology is evident but this time, she retreats within herself. The Omni-presence of the Beauty Myth is indeed powerful even if not understood by its participants. The concept of the Beauty Myth makes women jealous towards other women a certainty.

Throughout my working experiences in some companies, I have sometimes felt it was better to have a man as a manager than a woman. I work passionately to improve women's lives so how can I possibly justify the previous statement? Well, if your female manager is managing her own set of negative self-perceptions and gracelessly views you as having something that she does not, well, put it this way, your working day can be hell. This information should not be taken out of context. Women are able to manage effectively managerial roles, I am speaking about the female manager who may allow her position to denigrate another female based on the idea of perceived threat. I am also admitting, however uncomfortable that women in 'powerful' positions can use this to feather their own pride by reducing another women's intent. The inception of jealousy not just in thought but put into practice has some very untenable traits for the recipient, the acts done against her is nothing short of bullying. Even in an informal group of friends, there is always some kind of rivalry going on, some form of argument stemming from the lack of something, the underbelly being self-esteem. Yet, if we took a look back into the lives of much younger females (ages 4 - 8 years old), you can see a characteristic in them that might explain the neuroticism that follows later on.

Young girls are tenacious; they are determined and self-assured. They can appear bossy and knows how to get their wishes completed. They can manipulate others for their gains without blinking. The young female knows who she is and will fight for control in her circle. (This description is architypically of young females before society teaches them that their voices are not to be heard, another discussion!) Many times, the young female who views herself as mentally and emotionally strong will seek friends who appear to her to be the opposite of her traits. This way, she will continue to reign. When she does befriend another young female who then goes on to outwardly presenting with the same strong traits, they may remain friends but will experience bouts of rivalry towards each other. However, why they would remain as friends needs further explaining. The need to reign is secondary in spiritual terms to the more important aspect of having, nurturing and maintaining friends. This means that whilst the need to reign is strong, this is borne from the pressures put on them from their outside world. The need for friends is borne from their inner world (subconscious) and is much stronger than the need to reign. Young females, growing females and grown females will find a comfortable place with each other that accommodates their rivalry as long as they are friends. So does this mean that the Beauty Myth perpetuates the traits already found in females and uses it against them? In my opinion, most definitely a YES.

The competition between women to beautify self to surpass their 'rival' is not done explicitly. There are no words that are used that determine such acts of rivalry; the competition is clandestine. There are times when a female will depict her sense of being at war when she negatively calls on the 'flaw' of her rival, teasing her about her perceived 'afflictions.' Or when a female has been perceived to have 'achieved' the mythological beauty, the backlash from her peers is all too evident. The sniping, the backbiting or even the silent treatments towards to the poor female are tools that are used to demonstrate the discomfort women feel towards their 'rival' but borne from their own lack of a positive self identity. The need to reign (starting in early age) is ever-present but made more complex when they become older and now also vying for acceptance from men.

Young girls in the playground demonstrably sending some other poor girl 'out to Coventry' merely for having a super pair of shiny shoes that the reigning girl does not. The teenage female who turns on her friend because that boy she likes is not reciprocal with her attention-seeking activities. The new woman at work who makes the standardised corporate uniform look incredibly perceptively sexy even without trying. Supermodels are dicing with their health in an attempt to be the thinnest therefore prettiest amongst her peers. She has learnt that this ensures continuous work for her. Media depict background scenes of the clichéd females behaving beastly towards each other in the same attempt to reign and be accepted. Movie celebrities all seeking the reduced weight as the camera 'puts on pounds' and media shouts out any imperfections on a woman in a public way. Not all publicity is good publicity! Feuds are started by women with other women just because of perceptions based on looks. Especially worsened if the female celebrity is newsworthy and over-exposed. So all women are somehow affected by beauty and can become, coupled with a typically feminine trait, extend into jealousy. The levels to which jealously can extend to, is dependent upon what the attacking female feels she has to gain to extinguish her rival or equally how she much she has to lose.

Here are a few explanations of jealousy:

Fearful or wary of being supplanted; apprehensive of losing affection or position; resentment or bitter in rivalry; having to do with or arising from feelings of envy, apprehension or bitterness; vigilant in guarding something; intolerant of disloyalty or infidelity, autocratic.

The need to feel beautiful therefore accepted by self and others is inextricably linked to having better self-esteem. This increases the competition in and for women. The 'rewards' are both self-serving to women and for men. However, with the Omni-presence of the Beauty Myth makes jealously a sure fire win for men, whoever wins the competition, they cannot lose. Until women build their self-esteem on feelings on individualism, compassion for other women and acceptance of other women and their equally beautiful features, the war with jealousy will continue. The Beauty Myth continues to reign over the female who thinks she reigns. Until women understand that they are men's half-witted sense of delusions and will never aspire to true equality, they remain incarcerated spiritually. The creation of 'the woman' needs to happen and how this is done is by understanding who they are and remove self from men's expectation. Women then need to build up spiritually by becoming aware of their inner resources to begin the trade off with men for equality because at the moment, men do not have to trade with women on equal grounds.

Dress Up to Impress

Here's a method chart and reference guide so that you can project your visual communication, at least from a clothing perspective, really does project the right image for you.

A person's style includes many distinct parts. Decisions concerning style ought to be determined by environment, the necessity to meet bound and expectations to gain your desired result. It's an ordinarily command belief that individuals can get ahead if they standout in terms of style, but analysis doesn't support this. In fact, we have a tendency to typically become suspicious of these who are too uncommon or completely different from our expectations. Bearing this in mind, the following ought to be taken into consideration when trying to form the right impression...

CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
Believe it or not, studies have found that most hiring decisions are for the most part based mostly upon employment applicant's appearance, despite interviewers denying that someone's appearance is important. Entry-level salaries are higher for those that make a higher physical impression, and those who dress higher at work are a lot of seemingly to induce promoted. The importance of being fittingly dressed is apparent. Both men and girls when going for interviews ought to dress in garments slightly smarter than what they would commonly wear to figure. Geographical point TIPS for ladies.

WOMEN'S SUITS, TROUSERS, AND DRESSES
Women who wear refined feminine-cut suits or skirts and matching jackets with simple white, off-white or pale-colored blouses don't seem to be only seen as robust and assured, but additionally as trustworthy, likable and humble, but detain mind that this may not work for all careers.

In more high-fashion professions, the suit ought to be a lot of fashionable, with a lot of communicative accessories with your goal being a "ladylike" but skilled look. Suits ought to be soft, ladylike and strike a balance between unpretentious and conservative, feminine and trendy. Colors can range from navy, grey, and blue to cream and mahogany. The planning ought to be rich but businesslike.

A masculine-cut suit reflects a lot of power and authority, but is understood as a lot of aggressive and bossy and less inventive. A feminine-cut suit can show a lot of quality and a heightened level of friendliness, expertise and confidence. Slacks and a jacket or a dress and a jacket are even a lot of approachable, but less skilled. A pant-suit is less skilled and will not enhance your image of friendliness. A dress without a jacket is the least skilled different.

WOMEN'S SHIRTS AND BLOUSES
Silk blouses in white, off-white, light blue, beige or alternative pale colors are a lot of skilled. Blouses with lapels project a lot of authority and competency, while those without are a lot of feminine and project a friendlier image. Blouses mustn't be sleeveless if they're meant to be a part of a professional outfit. You must additionally take into consideration a blunder or camisole if a bandeau or strap is showing. For skilled occasions, the neckline ought to never be low enough to be the slightest bit revealing.

WOMEN'S SHOES
Trendy designs have the same negative associations and stereotypes as alternative parts of your wardrobe. A lot of practical shoes enhance image as long as they're not too flashy. Less practical but a lot of fashionable shoes send a message that you simply are a lot of concerned with appearance than performance. If ladies wear heels taller than 2 inches they accentuate their sex. Boots mustn't be worn with dress apparel unless they're terribly often worn by others in your skilled environment. Shoes that are simple and stylish are best. Closed toe pumps with one and a 0.5 inch heels prime the list. Shorter ladies can wear 2 inches heels but they ought to not be spiked heels. Stay with basic colors and don't try and match your shoes to bright colored clothing. Always keep your shoes clean and polished for a professional look. If the soles or heels are worn or broken, then replace or repair them.

WOMEN'S ACCESSORIES
For women, belts are available many colors and designs. They ought to not be gaudy, dangle or resound. If a lady is sporting dress trousers then she ought to wear an easy, skinny belt with associate unobtrusive buckle. Accessories, like belts and shoes, ought to be plain, no furbelow leather.

For purses, leather is perceived as a lot of skilled than cloth, especially in black or brown. A colorful purse that matches the color of associate outfit is a lot of for casual occasions. A woman's tights ought to be flesh tone, black or navy. White or alternative colors distract from skilled image.

For eyewear, a lady mustn't get too stylish, unless an image of quality is a lot of vital than an image of intelligence and expertise. Ladies are rated a lot of skilled when they wear less jewelry. Keep it simple and keep one's eyes off from the massive or gaudy.

WOMEN'S WORK
Women's dress trousers ought to cover their ankles utterly and for the foremost skilled and conservative look ought to touch the highest of their shoes. In contrast to public toilet trousers, women's ought to have little or no "break" and the hem ought to be horizontal to the floor.

Skirt length is usually an issue for ladies. For a professional look, stay mainstream. Whether or not you wear your dress skirts a couple of inches on top of or a couple of inches below your knee is largely a matter of non-public preference and a call that ought to be supported what looks best on you and what you're feeling most snug with.

For His Eyes Only: A Wedding Boudoir Photography of A Dazzling You

Would you dare to surprise your groom with a sneak preview of your zealous side? Why not do it with the most innovative wedding photography trend? Do a wedding boudoir photography of a desirable you.

This is the newest style in wedding picture making. Clue: You are not exactly wearing your bridal gown; instead, you have on some delicate clothing to reflect your sex appeal. Quite daring, but boudoir photography is fast catching up among soon-to-be brides. Is it for you?

Simple Definition of Boudoir photography
Boudoir photography is a new style in picture taking. It is actually a surprise from you to your groom come your wedding day!

The actual photography shows you in your playful and sexy poses, wearing delicate lingerie; or if you so want it, with nothing at all. No, it is not even close to X-rated pics; it is more of "implied exposure". You do not bare your physical assets, you just sort of tease with your poses. You can show a bare back; you can lie on your tummy or show your body profile in artistic positions.

Important Factors to Consider In Boudoir Wedding Photography

1. Plan for your pictorial
Consider cost and time. Your boudoir pictorial takes at least two hours, at times even more, as you have make up and hairstyling, setting up lighting and other props, perhaps even costume changes.

The cost adds more with additional prop setups and rentals, and wardrobe changes. It would be a good idea to include a personal pictorial session in your wedding package, so you have the same wedding photographer to do your boudoir photography.

2. Look for a trusted and professional wedding photographer who offers great options
Choose a photographer you feel comfortable with, while you are doing your pictorial. Some boudoir wedding photography services provide you with possible attire and accessories you can use for your pictorial. This saves you time and effort in thinking about what to wear for the pictorial. Likewise, you could have your pictures arranged in a small album exclusively for your groom's eyes only.

3. Schedule your pictorial
Consider a pictorial, preferably a week or so, before your wedding day. Choose a comfortable place, with natural lighting such as a hotel room, a friend's plush home, a studio or a rented luxurious house. Either way, consult your photographer.

Take note, do not schedule on the day of your wedding as you have a lot on your mind, and your strain would show on your pics.

4. On what to wear
Choose wardrobe that makes you feel desirable and attractive. Mix and match bright colors with white and black tones. Wear fashion accessories like jewelry, beautiful shoes, and show off that engagement ring in your creative poses.

5. Have someone with you
A good friend makes you feel comfortable and confident. Perhaps, some sparkling champagne can help, too.

Think About Boudoir Wedding Photography As...
During your pictorial do try to loosen up a bit and think that you are doing this for the love of your life. This is a special moment captured in real photography that would last a lifetime, and only for his eyes to enjoy.

A Comfortable Place For Women To Lactate

Public lactation and nursing is a very sensitive subject for many businesses. The laws vary from state to state, but almost all states have provisions for public breastfeeding, and some states require businesses to provide a space for their employees or customers to breastfeed. Although many businesses want to respect these women, they don't always have the proper solutions in place.

A recent news study out of Texas told the story of a young woman who was at a Target store with her infant son. Her son was getting a little fussy, and he was hungry, so the woman breastfed him in the store. Unfortunately, this did not bode well with the staff, and eventually the woman was asked to finish breastfeeding in the changing room.

The woman was very offended at her treatment and how Target handled the situation. This in turn led to a massive multi state protest at Target stores. These protests involved nursing mothers showing up at many different Target locations and breastfeeding their children.

This is a rather unfortunate situation, but it could have been easily avoided through the use of a lactation room. These rooms are simple private areas that allow mothers to comfortably nurse their babies in a secluded area. These rooms can be equipped with a host of accessories, such as benches and lights, and the walls are available in a wide variety of colors to match the rest of the store.

Because many of these retail lactation rooms are added after stores have already been built, traditional construction methods can be problematic. Traditional construction generates a lot of dust and debris and may require employees and/or merchandise to be moved during the construction phase. Furthermore, all the construction materials will need to be moved to the retail site and will require an army of contractors and framers, painters, drywall workers, electricians and many others.

Modular construction is a great alternative to traditional means of construction. Instead of doing all the fabrication on- site, modular construction builds all the components in an off-site factory. When the walls, doors and other components are completed they are then shipped to the retail store where an installation team can quickly install the lactation rooms. The installation is completed in about half the time as traditional construction and is far less intrusive.

In conclusion, lactation rooms are a very important asset for many customers. Providing lactation rooms is a great service to offer, and it shows your customers that you are sensitive to their needs.

Lead Free, Nickel Free Jewelry and Why You Should Care

We've all been there before, you're out shopping or browsing online when lightning strikes and you see those amazing earrings that would tie your outfit together or the necklaces that just defines you. You're blood starts pumping faster, you get excited and only want to know where you can get it, how much does it cost and can it be here by the weekend. The problem is one little question we are all forgetting. Is this jewelry actually safe for me to wear? If you think this sounds like crazy talk you're not alone. I too casually dismissed the signs when the jewelry would read lead and nickel free. Why? Perhaps because it seemed like a boring sales pitch or maybe because I really wasn't that scared of the big-bad lead or nickel boogeyman. So is there a reason to be alarmed? Well that depends on where you are getting your jewelry.

First let's talk about what you need to know about lead, nickel and how it's not your friend. The human skin is porous and reacts to irritants. Nickel has been proven to cause skin allergies that produce mild to severe reactions within 12 to 48 hours after contact. A minor reaction to nickel would be a rash, red blotches, bumps, itching or redness. The more serious side effects of a reaction to nickel is dry patches of skin that resemble a burn, blisters or pus oozing skin. Sound nasty? You bet. Fortunately most of these symptoms can be alleviated by removing the nickel jewelry or by seeking treatment from a medical professional. A nickel allergy generally develops after prolonged or continuing exposure. Once you develop a nickel allergy you will continue to be susceptible to the symptoms and must avoid contact.

It would be hard to find anyone surprised that prolonged exposure to lead is harmful to your health. Lead poisoning happens after there has been a buildup in the body over months or years of exposure. You may be surprised to learn that even small amounts of lead exposure can cause serious health issues. Larger doses of lead poisoning can be fatal and the effects on children can impair their development both mental and physical. The list of ailments associated with lead poisoning is long but just to name a few would include memory loss, declines in mental functioning, headaches, mood disorders, muscular weakness, miscarriages and premature birth.

It's safe to say that there needs to be more consumer awareness on the dangers of jewelry containing lead and nickel. The good news is that the US and several other countries have banned the use of lead and nickel in jewelry. The challenge is where jewelry manufactured in third world countries is not held to the same standards or the regulations are not strictly enforced. If you've purchased jewelry manufactured in a third world country where they often make imitation jewelry, cheap costume jewelry, knockoffs, or low quality accessories you may have been exposed and should consider upgrading to something new.

The next time you're off the beaten path shopping online or stumble across the jewelry stand at a concert and find that amazing bracelet or that ring that just catches your eye, don't forget to make sure it is lead and nickel free. Depending on where you get your jewelry will take the guesswork out of the equation the majority of the time. Most of the jewelry purchased in the US is safe but it is up to you to ask the question when you venture into the unknown or unfamiliar.

The Beauty Myth - How Do Women Really Feel About Their Looks?

In 1991, Naomi Wolf published The Beauty Myth detailing her understanding on how women continue to be oppressed throughout society for the benefit of men.

Wolf argued that the instigation and use of the myth of beauty would be men's ultimate weapon against women and their perceived rising power.

Women continue to face blockades in the workplace due to the political and systemic use of beauty to define worth. Although men define the ideology of beauty, the demarcation of beauty is not defined thereby leaving the female confused about her own feelings of self.

This allows big corporations to levy unfairly the work that women do increasing their revenue whilst enriching both female expenditure and manageability. This has in turn reduced the female's self-esteem, a powerful tool for control.

Naomi Wolf wrote this book in 1991 following both the first and second wave of feminisms. Are we embarking upon a third wave of feminism? Many skeptics of feminism report that the previously overwhelming injustice towards women and their cries that created and sustained Women's Rights movements have now been diluted to a mere whimper. Is there any truth to this statement?

I want to use this article to examine what if any changes have happened since 1991 and how women's lives may or may not have changed.

Women have always been necessary to the workplace even if not respected for their contribution. Latent history informs us that due to the First World War (WW1) in 1914 -18, women were necessary to move out of the home where they worked to fulfill the employment gap due to men being at war. When the war ended, women did not naturally want to give up this level of financial independence and return to the home. Cross-referencing historical information, the fight for Women's Rights began much earlier therefore women were already aware of the injustices towards them thereby informing of the reluctance to 'return to the home.' In 1848, 68 women and 32 men outlined grievances towards women including women having the right to vote and signed a Declaration of Sentiments in New York. It was in 1872 that saw the national movement begin in the UK in the form of the National Society for Women's Suffrage and later the more influential National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. Without this cross-referencing, one would be forgiven for mistaking that up until WW1 in 1914, women were not knowledgeable about their unjust treatment towards them.

With the knowledge that women did indeed know that they were being treated unfairly and that they actually felt strong enough to take action in different forms showed both tenacity and strength; words that were not used to describe women at all. Since 1991, what has changed to strengthen Women's Rights to being more equal to men?

Not much in my opinion from the viewpoint of entry-level top careers for women although according to a recent research carried out by Astbury Marsden, they found that this year has seen an increase of 100% of women in management positions. This equates to 12% overall from 6% overall last year. We should be grateful! What about the significant pay gaps between men and women for equal jobs? Well, according to Dr. Carla Harris from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), the gap is widening, currently for every dollar a man makes, his female counterpart earns 82 cents. I doubt very much that you will find a noticeable difference in the UK. In fact, upon research, women earned 15% less than men. Is this gap made worse in poor economic times?

So not much has changed in terms of respect for females and the contribution they make in society and for society. Not much in terms of how females are viewed, mostly negatively and for sexual pleasures. However what is more startling (perhaps an over-exaggeration) is that although there have always been women 'night-workers' (prostitutes), women appear to be engaging in their own war against themselves. Let me put this into perspective about this internal war going on with women. Notwithstanding the 'glamour' needed for night workers to attract for work, women are now using this same concept for approval from men and in the meantime waging an unsubstantiated war on their self-esteem. Not that those women did not care for their looks previously, as their grooming ritual is natural in attracting a mate. However, because of the Beauty Myth, the natural birthing process of grooming for a mate has become blurred, confusing and instills a lack of confidence in a female. The precocious instigation of the Beauty Myth undertaken by men but calculatingly not clearly defined (Naomi Wolf) has left women attempting to attain not just the indescribable but the unattainable as beauty is left open for interpretation by the beholder (men).

What has been the result?

Financial contributions to cosmetic, diet and surgery have all seen a surge in willing captors, all seeking this beauty myth and all rather quite despondent when they realise that the goalposts keeps shifting. Cosmetic companies revel in ascribing what their latest product is and how wonderfully powerful some ingredient is, now contained in their product. I mean, who on earth really heard of Pentapeptide, let alone researched what it did before buying the product?

Companies such as those in the cosmetic industry rely on the poor self-esteem of women to direct their products to. Women in return respond in an impassioned grab for the 'miracle' product that will stave off or at least slow down the ageing process. Women are made to feel that they no longer visually please and according to Wolf, companies can take steps in removing the female from her role in the workplace in favour of a younger model. Remember Miriam O'Reilly winning her claim against the BBC for what she alleges being dismissed on ageism and victimisation grounds? A second rate victory because she did not win on the grounds of sexism. What this tells me is what Wolf already identified in her book, that it is very difficult for a woman to claim against sex discrimination as the law fully supports what it calls a BFOQ (bone fide occupational qualification- USA) or the UK's version of GOQ (genuine occupational qualification- Wolf). What this means is that a company may dismiss a woman if they feel that she does not measure up to their ideology of beauty. Now remember, this level of beauty is not defined and what would this really say? As beauty is in the eye of the beholder (self) is it not?

The tribunal for Miriam O'Reilly was held on the 4-19th November 2010, 19 years after Wolf's publication therefore women are still demonstrably being targeted and treated according to how they look and not what talents they may have in the workplace. So no real progress here then!

Next time you go shopping, look out for the number of different beauty products. Be aware of the amount of time and energy that commercials use to sell you their copious amounts of products and the images they use. The use of anti-wrinkle creams on models probably not even yet 20 years old yet. Why on earth they need anti-wrinkle cream is beyond me. Next, these kinds of adverts will be shown using a 13 year old!

Now look at grounded products such as lipsticks. Now you can get ones that last all day. In fact, you need another product to get the lipstick off because normal cleanser and water does not always work. Companies have to keep re-inventing the wheel to keep their profits up so their imagination runs riot and comes up with all sorts of products all doing the same thing but differently. Women fall for this; just take a look at her make up bag, products of the same but different thing, hardly used due to the copious amounts.

What about products containing a certain ingredient that will 'benefit' perceived 'bags' under the eyes. Do you really think that by buying this product will alleviate 'baggy eyes'? Why should it, because if it did then you would have to stop buying the product once you have been cured? So companies use only enough to make a slight difference and you have to keep re-buying to secure better results. I imagine companies laughing at women as they stand far at the side of the room throwing in the magic ingredient (that is to say how offensively low the ingredient is in terms of weight and productivity). Now, I am not saying that a particular ingredient does not work, for example caffeine. However, following your lovely cup of tea, you could quite easily reconstitute the teabag and put this on your eyes. Probably has more caffeine in the teabag than in the expensive product you buy.

Let us look at how other companies have cashed in on the creation of poor self-esteem in women. An ostentatious amount of money is spent by females on diet products in the hope that the 'extra' pounds they think they are carrying will disappear leaving the female with a sense of acceptance and perceived beauty. The sugars used in many foods are replaced with a substitute that is less calorific. To me, this is just a lot of useless chemicals being pumped in the body and for no real gain. Processed sugars are not good for anyone in huge amounts and a wise thing for health purposes would be to reduce your intake not substitute this with something that requires the body to work harder to break it down if it is able to use at all.

For research purposes, I typed in 'what effect does artificial sugars have on the body?' and I did not have to look far to clearly see the dangers of artificial sweeteners. According to author Marcelle Pick, (Obstetrician and Gynecologist) she speaks openly about being properly informed of possible side effects of sweeteners. I will not mention the company as I do not wish to give them any form of exposure but you can do your own research. This particular name brand is the trade name for Sucralose; a synthetic compound stumbled upon in 1976 by scientists in Britain seeking a new pesticide formation. (Marcelle Pick) What this company did was twist the sugar component of their product by citing the 'natural sugar' aspect. Yet more importantly, did you catch the word 'pesticide?'

Now we go onto cosmetic surgery. This phenomenon has increased tenfold since the 1970's. Now you can book a botox in your lunch hour and be back to work. The lackadaisical procedure should be seen as worrying and not that companies are seeking to make life easier for women to attain this face stiffening procedure. Remember the poor actress infamously known for her 'trout pout?' I will leave this here to save her blushes! The point I am making is some of these procedures are downright dangerous yet women are still clambering to risk life or limb.

We do not have to search our brains too hard to recall some other poor soul who underwent breast surgery to enlarge her already natural assets and perceptually ended up looking misplaced. The female body is perfect as it stands and whilst some females may have to undergo a surgical procedure on medical grounds, this should not be confused with the female body, being nature at its finest.

Women are undergoing all sorts of procedures in an attempt to gain the unattainable body. Bum enhancements, face lifts, eye lifts, neck lifts (anything that is deemed lift-up-able), nose adjustments, liposuction on any part of the body and do not get me started with lace fronted weaves or extensions. The woman spends a great deal of time and money on products and services to achieve the ideology of beauty and remember this perceived beauty is undefined. So what this means, is they end up chasing a mirage that disintegrates the moment they think that they are now acceptable. This results in a cyclical pattern in women dabbling in metamorphosis, re-inventing something else to feed that ever-growing pit in lost souls leading to other behavioural and emotional difficulties.

If you look at the objective of The Beauty Myth, the power is monumental and the devastation that this myth leaves behind is great news for those instigating this concept for nothing more than mind-control over women. This concept reminds me of the Lynch (Willie Lynch) method; create a divide and rule mask, in this case, in women.

Rediscovering Your Feminine Self

The spirit of femininity is generous, graceful, nurturing, supportive, sensitive, intuitive, and oriented towards love and care. Despite all of these wonderful attributes, feminine energy, especially as it pertains to sexuality, has been suppressed, condemned, and vilified on a global scale for thousands of years. It is no wonder, then, that so often we associate shame, fear, and guilt with sex and sexuality. Through reawakening our feminine energy, we can learn to celebrate our femininity in all its forms and bring greater joy and intimacy into our lives and with ourselves.

Reintegrating our spiritual and sexual selves is an important first step in rediscovering our feminine self. Our culture's separation of these two aspects may be an ill-conceived view and therefore counter to fostering well-being, health, and joy in our bodies, hearts, and spirits. When we bring conscious awareness to the integration of the sexual with the spiritual and the spiritual with the sexual, we return to a sense of wholeness within.

In order to allow healing to occur, we have developed a particular healing practice for the woman that provides her with a rediscovery of her sexual-spiritual connection by teaching her to clear blocks, residual memories, and views that no longer serve her. The word healing is used here in terms of letting go of what keeps her from being fully integrated and whole. She might get in touch with experiences from earlier times in her life that might trigger an emotional process. Energetic blocks, memories, or unpleasant feelings that may have been stored as residual memories on the cellular level of the yoni or vaginal walls may be released so healing can occur and the experience of unity, joy, and harmony within herself can show up.

When Kristy learned about this practice, she had been afflicted by gynecological complications such as recurring yeast infections for many years, which made intercourse extremely painful. She shared that she felt like a "broken" woman and wanted to explore ways in which she could express her sexual self despite her physical concerns. She entered the woman's healing workshop feeling nervous, uptight, scared to open up, and afraid to trust. When it came to choosing a partner for the homework healing practice, she partnered with a most supportive and attentive man. She experienced him as patient and felt that she could slowly open up and begin to trust.

The most impactful experience of the healing ritual was that for the first time Kristy felt her male partner was simply present with and for her, absent of any agenda of his own or expectations of her. Being in this space of acceptance and presence, she could let go of the guilt and shame connected with her yoni and release her sadness and frustration with the pain she had been experiencing. Following the workshop, Kristy felt a sense of aliveness, an inner groundedness, and a newfound confidence she had not had before. To her great surprise, a lot of her physical pelvic pain subsided along with the frequent headaches that had plagued her.

My Perfect Little Black Dress!

Finding my perfect little black dress - the ABCs!

This being the holiday season there's a particular interest in and attention to dressing. Whether you're a social butterfly with a full calendar of events to attend or you have limited your activity to some small intimate gatherings, what you wear will be important to you. The little black dress, also known as LBD, is a perennial wardrobe staple, the epitome of elegance, the term finding its origin in 1920s [its history stemming from the incomparable Coco C. [1926] and her iconic looks.]

While it debuted in a very simple, classic, slim silhouette, today's offerings run a gamut as wide-ranging as our fashion tastes dictate.

What are some important features in selecting my little black dress?

To my way of thinking you first assess your particular body type [like the Johnny Mercer song, 'accentuate the positive / eliminate the negative'] then you'll have an idea of what looks good on you. Aim to show your best features and play down the others. This includes looking at different necklines, hemlines, sleeve lengths [or sleeveless], bodices and silhouettes.

High on my list I consider the fit and feel, not just the correct size but the style [does it 'fit' me, my personality, do you match?] Ask, will I be comfortable in this look? Can I 'pull it off'? After all you want to shine - your dress should showcase you and not compete for attention. "Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman." [Coco C.]

Then I'd want to consider how versatile does this dress have to be: Will it need to perform at multiple functions [day into evening, cocktails to formal sit-downs, does it travel well, etc.] in which case the fabric choice becomes essential as well as its potential for accessorizing. The little black dress is such a timely expression of your individual style. We are very fortunate today with the range of what's available for our choosing, that we can find such an abundant array in terms of cost from the frugal all the way to the extravagant, we really should not have a difficult time in our search. Do you gravitate toward the vintage looks or are you more sculptured or modern? Are you a trend- setter or more classic in your taste? Frou frou or formal?

Carry on, your dress is out there waiting to be discovered; but in your quest to find the perfect little black dress remember Coco's words... "The best color in the whole world is the one that looks good, on you!"

Until next time God willing!

Karen

Copr. 2013 Karen Hodge

Fabulous Summer Fashion Tips to Keep Cool in The Heat

If you're having a hard time digging anything out of your closet because you have no idea what to wear that is stylish yet still cool enough, never fear! I'm here for you and I've got the top fashion tips for summer that will not sacrifice fashion but that will still keep you super cool!

Wrap Dresses
Whether you are heading to the beach for the day or you are out for a night out on the town with your girlfriends, this is the ideal fashion statement for you! Wrap dresses look great on any body type and there are so many styles that you can get, it's impossible not to find one that works for you! Wrap dresses are a staple in my closet and they are a fashion tip that is impossible not to love!

Formal Shorts
Shorts are very in right now, but I'm not talking about cut-off daisy-duke shorts, instead, opt for shorts that you may be able to get away with wearing to the office to keep you cool! Formal shorts are something that really are amazing. They can be printed or just a solid color, but they are more professional in nature and can even be a bit structured. Formal shorts are also longer, so you can get away with wearing them anywhere and still looking stylish!

Peep-toe Heels
Ah, the classic peep-toe heel! This is an adorable fashion trend that has been around for ages - but is a staple in the summer! Pattern heels, patent leather or even just matte heels - it doesn't matter! They are all amazing and you can really pick one that goes with whatever you are wearing! Slip into a pair of heels with a wrap dress or even some formal shorts for a really fashionable summer outfit!

Flowing Tunics
Finally gals, what about those flowing, floating tunics? Instead of a shirt that is heavy and can weigh you down and overheat you, why not go for something lightweight and something that won't weigh you down at all? Tunics are another fashion trend that is really in for the summer and they come in so many different styles!

Just because these are a few of the fashion trends for summer out there, doesn't mean you always have to opt for them! What if you want to slip into a sundress for the day or you want to beat the heat in your swimwear? These are just a few of the many ways you can beat the heat and still look oh-so-chic! So ladies, what other fashion tips for summer do you have to share with me?

Trapped in a Fashion Rut? Here's the Secret to Getting Out!

You want to get out of your fashion rut and feel good about how you look, but every time you go shopping you leave discouraged or overwhelmed. The reason has as much to do with your mind as it does with your body and by incorporating two very important changes to your shopping experience, you can find new success every time you shop.

Think about it. You have been in a fashion rut for years (or maybe it just feels that way!). Nothing you buy ever feels right any more. You've resorted to reading fashion magazines with titles like "99 Little Ways to Your Best Body" or "200 Secrets to Looking Great Now" with less than flattering results, and you even allowed your two best friends to take you shopping. Yes, they helped you choose new clothes, so why don't you feel any better? Even after that intervention, you are still in a rut (you can't remember what you are supposed to do with that long flowy plaid vest anyway?). You feel like an imposter every time you look in the mirror where a poor imitation of your friend stares back at you. You're $500 lighter and no closer to finding a wardrobe that makes you happy. A cloud of hopelessness is descending so now what, you wonder!

The key here is that you don't feel confident choosing clothes that you feel good wearing because you don't love your body and you think nothing looks good on you. You feel like your body parts are shifting nearly daily or you've gained weight (or both) and somehow clothes just don't fit the way they used to. You hyper focus on the parts of your body you don't like and when you do go shopping all you see are things that don't look good. You walk into a store and walk out again empty handed or you take those two well-meaning friends with you and walk out with clothes, but you don't really feel any better when you get dressed than you did before you went shopping. Fashion magazines aren't helping -- they are all written for svelte twenty year olds who could be your daughters -- and you don't know where to turn. All you can think is that nothing works and that you're doomed to look frumpy and boring for the rest of your life.

You're left wondering that if magazines and makeover TV shows (where all the style gurus are handing down valuable fashion advice) and even your stylish friends can't help, what hope is there for you? Wow... with that kind of attitude I can see where shopping would not be fun and it certainly wouldn't be productive.

I promise, however, there is plenty of hope. First of all, when you look out into the real world, do you see women (be they female friends, family or strangers you've seen at the mall, work or grocery store) whose image you admire -- women who look like they are well put together whether it's for work or leisure? Of course you do. Get a picture in your mind's eye of two or three of them and ask yourself this one important question: Are they all built like a super model? No, of course they are not and this is good news! Chances are good you are not shaped like a super model (I know I'm not!) and you just confirmed that you do not have to be super model tall, thin and very young to look great. You can look great no matter what size you wear, how tall you are or how young or old you are. These women prove it -- they are just like you with things they like and don't like about their bodies.

What these women do have that you don't is two things:

1. Fashion guidelines to help you identify garments/outfits that have potential, and
2. The belief that you CAN create a look you love.

These two things lead to increased self-confidence and the well put-together look you want for yourself.

Is this learnable? Yes.

Did they learn all of this in one day? No.

So, give yourself a break, use the information I'm about to share with you to move you step-by-step closer to having that put-together look you long for and the self-confidence will grow with each positive step.

So, where do you start?

Begin with your mindset. Otherwise, the fashion tools will be ineffective. Why? Because you get what you expect and if you expect not to find anything you love or you find something you love but they don't make it in your size or you approach the shopping experience as if you were going into a losing battle, guess what you'll get: nothing you like (everything will seem ugly, shapeless and too trendy) and things that don't fit. You will prove yourself right.

Even if this has been true in the past, you must find a glimmer of hope in your shopping experience because if your expectations are based on the past and the past wasn't good, then guess what you'll get now? That's right... more of the same.

Or, if your past shopping experiences were terrific, but now your body has changed (and not in a way that makes you happy) and you can no longer wear what you used to, but you wish you could and berate your body for not staying the way it was (you can see where this is going... ), then you will go in with frustrated energy and all you will see are things that were created for your former body. Your mindset is crucial to a successful shopping experience.

Okay, you say, but how do I do that when I can feel my anxiety rising when I simply think about shopping, never mind step into a store!

Create a positive affirmation and visualize success. You have to train your mind to approach the shopping experience from a different place. Here's a great one for starters: "More and more I find clothes I love and that look great on me." Notice I didn't say, "Everything looks good on me." Or "I look great in everything I try on." Even I (who knows what I am doing when it comes to shopping for clothes) do not look great in everything I try on and I won't even think about shopping when I'm crabby or don't think I'll find anything I like. My results will be the same as yours would be -- my mind will say, "You think you'll only find things you don't like or that don't fit you well or are too young or badly made? Great... let me go find those things for you so you won't be disappointed!" I've had this happen and I now know to laugh at myself and realize I went in with a bad attitude!

Create a positive affirmation that you can relate to. Then, don't just say the affirmation once and wait for fairy dust to sprinkle down on your head and the perfect new store to open next door (although, hey, wouldn't that be nice if it happened!). Say it over and over. Say it with as much joy and positive expectation as you can muster. Your mind/body believes what you tell it, so tell it something good and positive. Give your mind the assignment of finding things that will make you happy rather than prove you right that there's nothing out there that looks good on you.

Then, as you are heading out to shop, visualize yourself having a great experience finding things you love in your size and color. Picture yourself trying something on and feel amazing. (It's less about the specific item -- so you don't have to visualize exactly what that amazing piece is -- and more about the feeling attached to it.) If you start to get overwhelmed and some of that old history comes flooding back (which it will from time to time), take a deep breath and repeat the affirmation and visualization.

Getting your mindset heading in a positive uplifting direction first is critical. Once that is flowing we can add in a few fashion tools to get you started.

Most of us, myself included, need to have guidelines when we shop. Understanding how to create a look you love takes more than just walking into a store and grabbing something random off the rack hoping it will work because it looks good on the mannequin or you saw it in a magazine. It is important to make your selections with intention. Knowing what to look for helps you ignore the parts of the store that don't work for you and concentrate on the parts that do. Follow these rules for more success when you shop:

• Search for colors that look great on you. If you don't have a personalized color palette here are some basic guidelines. Do not buy light gray, yellow, army green or beige unless you are absolutely sure it is your perfect color. When in doubt (which should be most of the time with those colors), choose one of these colors: emerald to forest green, deep periwinkle, medium to deep teal, or watermelon. These colors all look good on a lot of people.
• Make sure it fits. While this is not the only criteria for choosing a garment, it is very important. For instance, be sure the fabric skims your body and doesn't cling too tightly or look too big and messy (lift your arms and if there is a lot of excess fabric there that creates buckling at the bustline, then the top is too big). And, if it doesn't fit consider whether it can be altered by a tailor. Yes, if you love the garment it is ALWAYS worth having it tailored. A word of caution: a current trend is for oversized, shapeless tops. I generally recommend avoiding these, but if you love them, try wearing one with a pair of skinny jeans or leggings.
• Make sure you love it. There is no substitution for loving something you are wearing. Look for patterns that make you smile, textures that feel good and fabrics that feel nice on. Never buy something because you think you should (remember how that worked out when your friends took you shopping). You will never feel happy wearing it unless you are excited about it.

When you combine these tools with positive affirmations and visualizations, you are setting yourself up for success -- one step at a time.

Remember, keep these ideas in mind when you shop:

• Look for color, good fit and things that make you smile when you look at them.
• Don't go shopping until you have done your affirmations and visualizations. Don't just say them rotely -- they won't work. Say them with passion, desire, as much positive belief as you can muster and say them often!

You WILL make progress if you do this.

You have to start somewhere or you'll stay mired in doubt and frustration for the rest of your life -- never feeling good about how you look and envying the women who do. That is no way to live and, better yet, it's absolutely unnecessary. You CAN look great. I have just shared several steps you can take in your journey towards feeling like one of those women whose image you admire. Just take it one step at a time and celebrate each success no matter how small. You will get there!