Get Up And Glow

Clear and beautiful skin is every woman’s dream but with our busy schedules, polluted environment, and the suns harsh rays it is more difficult that one might imagine maintaining a healthy glow. No to mention that every woman’s skin is different; some of us have dry skin, oily skin, or a combination of both, but no matter what your skin type over 24hrs dirt, makeup, and oil are going to build up. The first step to clear skin is washing all the buildup off at night.

If you wear makeup on a daily basis be sure to invest in a good makeup remover. I like Cetaphil’s
Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths. This will ensure you have unclogged all your pores and will not leave bacteria on your pillow. When washing with soap, be sure to use a gentle one that cleanses but doesn’t strip your skin of its natural moisture. I like Cetaphil daily facial cleanser for normal skin. Be gentle around your eyes because the eye area is too delicate for cleansers. When rinsing off your face be sure to splash with water and then pat dry. Do not rub. If you have oily skin, follow with a toner to remove excess oil the soap missed and to close your pores. If your skin is dry then using astringent can actually cause acne oil glands to overcompensate. This is why you should use a light and natural toner. I like Thayer’s Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel with Organic Aloe Vera Formula Toner (Rose Petal) and Kiss My Face Balancing Antioxidant Toner. Apply a few drops to a cotton ball and swipe over your face. Follow with a moisturizer. Use a light moisturizer during the day. I use Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer with sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15. This is very important, every time you step outside you need to wear SPF. Following this rule will leave your skin dewy and supple for years to come. It only takes 15 minutes to burn and the tan is not worth it. I know a great tan looks amazing but lucky for you we have so many products that offer a glorious tan without the sun. I like….If tanning lotion is not your cup of tea, then try a tinted moisturizer with SPF which will give you light coverage and color. At night use a heavier moisturizer. I like Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. Be sure to apply moisturizer all over the face including the neck.

If your skin is extremely dry then you should exfoliate once a week to clear all the dead skin cells. Some facial scrubs contain scrubbing agents to gently remove the top layer of skin on your face. Broken pieces of seeds, like apricot seeds, or nutshells are commonly used. However, the University of Maryland Medical Center warns that these ingredients may damage skin. Instead, choose scrubbing cleansers that use micro beads, which are less likely to scratch skin.

You can turn your regular facial cleanser into an exfoliating cleanser with a few simple steps. Add a small amount of white sugar or corn meal to your cleanser, then rubbing it gently onto your face to avoid scratching your skin. Additionally, cold coffee grounds and baking soda added to your regular cleanser will help to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells. Oatmeal is also effective as a gentle scrubbing agent, and scrubbing your skin with a soft washcloth or other fabric with texture will remove dead skin cells as well.
Along with an exfoliation once a week you should also apply a face mask once a week to create a flawless and glowing complexion.

The skin is composed of many layers and tissues, and each of them needs certain requirements according to age. The first requirement is energy, and this is supplied by sugars in honey and fruits, and medium chain triglycerides present in milk.

Certain vitamins play an integral part in the health and integrity of the skin, like vitamin A which acts like a hormone on the skin cells, vitamin B complex which is necessary for all the metabolic processes when the cells are active, and vitamin E which acts as an antioxidant to guard against the harmful effects of free radicals. Fruit acids (alpha hydroxyl acids) requirement appears with age, when the superficial layer of dead skin cells is required to be shed off more quickly, and this is done by fruit acids when they reduce the stickiness of the cement material that holds the dead keratinized cells on the surface of the skin. There are some phytochemicals present in plants that have specific effects on the enzymes of the skin cells. To sum it up for you, Face masks that supply energy, vitamins, and membrane components are going to show the best results.

It is hard to find a facemask that fits your skin tone perfectly and some of the facemasks on the market today are quite expensive. With that being said below are a few recipes for homemade face masks that will leave you wanting more.

1. Neem, gram flour, and curd face mask

The yogurt softens and moisturizes while the neem helps to create a natural glow.

You will need:

• Neem powder

• 1 tsp. gram flour

• 1 tsp. curd

Put curd and gram flour in a bowl to create a paste. Slowly add the neem powder and mix thoroughly. Apply this mixture to a clean and dry face. Wash with cold water.

2. Almond, Honey, and Saffron Face Mask
This pack gives a glowing effect. The saffron helps to lighten your skin tone and reduce the appearance of spots, while honey tightens the skin. The almond and lemon aid in the removal of dead skin.

You will need:

• 4 to 5 Almonds soaked in water or milk overnight

• 1 tsp. Honey

• Some strands of Saffron soaked in 2 tbsp. warm milk

• 1 tsp. lemon juice

Grind the soaked almonds into a paste. Next, add the saffron infused milk, honey, and lemon juice to this paste. Apply to dry, clean skin and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Once dry, wash off with cotton pads soaked in milk or cold water.
3. Banana and yogurt face mask
Lemon is a natural bleaching agent (you can also use it on blond hair to accentuate highlights) Banana is great for glowing skin (the skin of a banana can be used for teeth whitening)

Yogurt is a moisturizing agent

You will need:

• 1 Ripe banana peeled and mashed

• 1 tsp. Honey

• 1 tbsp. yogurt

• 1 tsp. lemon juice

Add the mashed banana and yogurt to a bowl and mix. Next add the honey and lemon juice and mix into a smooth paste. Apply to the face and neck, let dry, then rinse off with cold water.
This is just a sampling of all the wonderful homemade facemasks you can create. Why depend on expensive packaged face masks when you can get better results from your kitchen.

Are you tired of your loose caboose? Follow my tips and you’ll be tighter from tush to toe.

Everyone wants a little junk in the trunk, but little is the key word here. While some women are just blessed with curves others have to work at it. First things first let’s start with your diet. This is the most important step because you can work out all you want but it won’t do any good if you fuel up on the wrong foods. It’s important to flood your body with vitamins and antioxidants that will crush the free radicals that age your body. This is easy to say but hard to do. It’s tough to eat the recommended amount of daily veggies especially if you barley have time to cook. There is an easy fix to this dilemma and its called juicing. You can eat up to five pounds of leafy greens in one sitting and juicing removes the fiber in veggies so the nutrients will enter the blood stream at warp speed. An important thing to remember is to go raw in order to preserve the nutrients in your veggies. Spinach, kale, and leafy green goodness is low in sugar and high in polyphenols and carotenoids which protect the body from sun damage. Add some fruit to your veggies and get your daily servings of fruit and veggies in one sitting. Just remember to go raw and all natural. Make your daily dose of juice with fruit and veggies only do not add sugar like a lot of store bought smoothies do. If you must go with a store bought version be sure to read the label. Juicing is a great start to a healthier body. Making healthy choices can be hard but the benefits are worth it.

Once you have your diet on track you will need to add some tush tightening exercises to your daily regime to tighten and lift your butt. Butts are the new boobs and you don’t have to go under the knife for this lift.

Exercise #1: Get Down On All Fours

Wearing ankle weights, get down on your forearms and knees (similar to the hands-and-knees position, but you bend your arms and support your weight on your forearms instead of your hands). Keep your back straight and your head in line with your back so that your eyes are looking down. Keeping your back straight and leg bent, slowly swing your right leg back and lift your right foot toward the ceiling until your thigh is parallel to the ground. Your foot should remain flexed throughout the exercise. Hold for 1 second, then return to the starting position. Do one set with your right leg, then switch and repeat with your left. Don't arch or hunch your back during the exercise. This will prevent you from putting stress on your back. You can also make the exercise easier by doing it without ankle weights. If you don't have ankle weights, you can do the exercise with a light dumbbell held behind the knee in the crook of your working leg.

Exercise #2: The Dog Walk

Get down on all fours with your arms fully extended, your palms on the ground, your back straight, and your head in line with your back so that your eyes are looking down. Contract your glutes and, keeping your knee bent, raise your left leg out to the side at a 90-degree angle until it is parallel to the floor. (The position resembles a dog lifting its leg on a fire hydrant, hence the name Dog Walk.) Pause, then return to the starting position. Do one set with your left leg, then switch and repeat with your right. Remember, while doing this exercise, keep the rest of your body still; swaying back and forth can put unwanted stress on your back.

Exercise #3: The Side-Lying Side Kick

Lie on your left side, resting your head on your upper arm, and place your right hand on the floor in front of you for support. Bend your lower leg back for balance, and bend your top leg toward your chest, holding it in front of you so that it's parallel to the floor with your foot flexed. Keeping the rest of your body stationary and your top foot flexed, slowly straighten your right leg up and out at a 45-degree angle from your body. Pause, then slowly bend the top knee and return your leg to the starting position. Do one set with your right leg, then roll over and repeat with your left. Lift Tips Avoid swaying forward or back during the exercise; keep your body completely stationary, except for the working leg. You can make this exercise more challenging by adding light ankle weights.

Exercise #4: The Standing Press Back

Wearing ankle weights, stand facing a sturdy chair with your feet about hip-width apart. Hold on to the chair for balance and keep your knees soft. Keeping the rest of your body stable and your hips stationary, contract your glutes and slowly extend your right leg up and back at a 45-degree angle. Pause, then slowly return back to the starting position. Do one set with your right leg, then switch and repeat with your left. Resist the urge to bend way forward while raising your legs. Standing close to your supporting chair can help.

Your Workout Plan:

Perform the exercises 2 or 3 days a week (just not on consecutive days; your muscles need a rest), and you'll feel significantly stronger after just 3 to 6 weeks. After 6 to 8 weeks, you'll start seeing and feeling an improvement in your butt's firmness and appearance

Blogging for Beginners: Tips and Advice to get the Blog Rolling

I recently received a comment on one of my posts asking me if I have any recommendations for aspiring writers who would like to start a blog. Instead of commenting back I figured I would answer this question with a post, a sort of how-to on blogging. If anyone reading this posts thinks they can’t be a blogger, think again it’s a lot easier than you may have thought. All it takes is a little inspiration, a love of reading and writing, moderate level computer skills and a lot of free time to dedicate to your blog. The blogosphere is your oyster.


Step 1: Choose a platform

The first thing you need to decide is whether to go with a hosted platform or a non-hosted platform. A hosted platform sits on the platforms server. For example, if you have a blogger blog it will be hosted on the blogger server. A hosted platform is either on your own server or a web host server, which is a third party you usually pay to host your blog.

There are pros and cons for each type of platform.

The pros of a hosted platform are:

They are very user friendly making them easier to get started and they are inexpensive. Type pad offers tiered pricing depending on your needs and some, like Blogger, are free of charge. If your site becomes popular and you begin to get thousands of hits they will actually pay you to put up a few ads on your blog. Hosted platforms are self-intuitive so you will not become overwhelmed if you are not a computer whiz. For example, hosted sites control your HTML and CSS codes for you and offer a tab allowing you o see your HTML code if needed.

The cons of a hosted platform are:

They do not offer domain names. You can change various parts of HTML code but not all of it and your theme customizations are limited as well.

The pros of a non-hosted platform are:

You can control your HTML and CSS codes but you will have to pay for this option. It isn’t very expensive, it only costs about 5$ a month. With a non-hosted platform, you own it, you control it, you do it all this may seem overwhelming for all of you newcomers but don’t fret. There are tons of sites out there ready to lend a helping hand. Sites like Wordpress.org, Codex, Cyberspace, and Wordpress101.org to name a few. The internet is also abundant with plugins and widgets which will help to add functionality to your blog.

The cons of a non-hosted platform are:

The biggest con for this platform is the fact that you do everything. This is not a good way to start as a newcomer.

I started on a hosted platform and found it very easy to get started. As a beginner to the blogging scene you will be able to get a taste of what the blogging world has to offer. Once you have mastered this platform you can buy a domain and move to a non-hosted platform if that is something you are aiming to do.

I hope this post has been helpful for the blogging newcomers. I am going to leave you with a few key words of advice for a new blogger: Write from the heart about things that make you happy and interested. Most importantly, take baby steps so you don’t become overwhelmed and give up. There is a blogger inside each and every one of us, you just have to learn how to let it out.

Friday Night Fashion: How to Dress Sexy and Chic

Whether you are going out with the girls or even your typical birthday party, anniversary, or special event, these occasions call for the proper Performance Gear.  And when I say Performance Gear, it's a tongue-and-cheek way to describe your right outfit for the right event.  These events are special and you want to look your best for the occasion.  Specially at serious events like weddings or graduations where life-long pictures will graze the pages of Facebook.  The art of subtle, sexiness is the  best way to go when trying to pull off that sexy look.

The clothes you choose should accentuate your silhouette without revealing too much of your body.  There is one main rule to follow in these situations, choose one body part to show off.  For us women the main go-to in these scenarios is show off your chest or legs.  I agree both of these can accentuate the sexiness factor, but my advice is to stick with one.  Pushing the boundaries with too many revealing body parts can fall into the "trashy" category.  You always want to leave them guessing, so showing off just a little will tease your audience enough to inquire more about you!

Make sure your clothes are fitted; not too big or too small.  Tight does not always equal sexy!  Do however wear a form-fitting outfit with very few layers.  Keeping lines consistent with few layers will help accentuate your curves.  A sweater or jacket are fine if it's cold, but be sure they are fitted well enough.  A chic way to top off a sexy dress is with a fitted blazer.  There are loads of options out there, you just have to experiment to what works with your specific body-type.  And remember don't get discouraged!  Rome wasn't built in one day.  Sometimes getting together the right outfit is like putting together a puzzle, once the foundation is built, the pieces fall into place!  

Health and Fitness Fact sheet: 32 Tid Bits of Knowledge to Improve Your Overall Health

There is a plethora of information out there to help you lead a healthier lifestyle, but who wants to take the time to look for it? That's what I'm here for, to give you some health and fitness information.  All it takes is a few subtle changes to your diet or fitness routine to improve your overall health. Enjoy!                                           

Oatmeal, citrus fruits, and honey can improve sec drive and boost fertility. Oats produce a chemical that sends testosterone into the blood stream which increases your orgasm and sex drive as a result.  Vitamin c ups a males sperm count and vitamin b produces estrogen who his key for arousal and blood flow. 

Getting in plenty of fruits and veggies can help the body produce it's own form of aspirin. A study done by the Journal of Agriculture and Food  proved this. The test subjects ate fruits and veggies containing benzoin acid causing them to produce there own salacytic acid, the main ingredient in aspirin. 

Garlic can help cure athletes foot and Honey can soothe a hangover.

It’s harder to put on 10 pounds of muscle than it is to lose 10 pounds of fat. It takes a deficit of 3500 calories to loose a lb. 

Once an adult, fat cells can be created, but they cannot be lost – only shrunken. 

Eating late at night does not make you fat – overeating does.

The perimeter of the grocery store is where 90% of the healthy food is. 

Thyroid hormone output and exercise intensity are positively correlated.

Healthy levels of testosterone are good for both men and women. 

Unless you weigh less than 100 pounds, it’s unlikely you need less than 1000 calories a day to loose weight. 

There are 3 types of skeletal muscle fibers – type I, type II-A, and type II-B.

80% of people who begin an exercise program will quit.

The body has 3 energy systems – ATP-PC, anaerobic glycolysis, and aerobic. 

Dehydrating a muscle by 3% can cause a 10% loss of strength. 

The more muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn at rest.

You can lose weight and still gain muscle; likewise, you can also gain weight while still losing fat.

Consistency and patience are key to long term successful weight loss.

Carbohydrates, protein, fat, and alcohol have 4, 4, 9, and 7 calories per gram respectively.

It takes about a 3500 calorie deficit to lose 1 pound.

Insulin and growth hormonehave an inverse relationship.

The average person can store 500 grams of glycogen.

Only fat and protein areessential macronutrients – carbohydrates aren’t (but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat them).

Muscle glycogen is about 3 parts water to 1 part glucose.

The fat burning zone does not burn more total fat calories – only a higher percentage of calories from fat.

You’re never too old to dosquats.

Weight loss is not a physical challenge – it’s a mental one.

You can eat anything you want and still lose weight – but weight doesn’t always equal fat.

You can’t target fat loss – fat loss is systemic.

Muscle does not weigh more than fat – it’s just denser than it.

0 grams of fat on a label doesn’t always mean there’s no fat in the food product.

Whole grain bread can be highly processed – pick one that has few ingredients. 

Beauty Care for Healthy Skin and Hair

Photo courtesy of google images

Do you suffer from damaged hair? Ever wonder what causes hair to break, or better yet a solution to fix it?  To answer that you'll need to start at the root of the problem. While breakage is a normal occur acne for most people the reason behind it lies in the caretaker. We loose between 50! And 100 strands of hair every single day so take care of the hair you have.

Start a hair routine to manage the damage. First, dry hair is usually the first to break so add some moisture and oil to your hair.  Be sure to massage the oil into your scalp this will increase blood circulation and stimulate the hair follicles which will improve the quality of your hair.   You don't have to buy expensive hot oil treatments to moisturizer your hair.  You have a product sitting in your kitchen pantry.  That's right, olive oil isn't just for cooking it can be used as a treatment for your hair. You can also use coconut oil which will leave your hair smelling like you spent the day laying on a beach in Hawaii. You can heat a towel and wrap it around your head after you soak your hair in oil. This will increase the moisture and leave your hair soft and smooth. The time of the treatment depends on the damage. You can't overdue it so don't worry if you leave it on longer than desired.  When your ready rinse your hair with warm water, then shampoo.  After a shampoo you should condition your hair. The most important thing to remember when conditioning is to use it on the tips only.  Massaging conditioner into the scalp actually weakens the hair follicles.  Another tip to beautiful hair is to get a regular trim. When your hair is trimmed on a regular basis it will not only look and feel healthier, but it will make your hair less prone to breakage.  The old adage "you are what you eat" is so true. Make sure you eat lots of fresh fruit, veggies, healthy fats containing omega 3,6,&9.  Eat lots of Salmon, sweet potatoes, eggs, oysters,  walnuts or almonds, spinach, Greek yogurt, blueberries, and poultry.  Following this diet will not only help moisturize your hair, it will moisturize you from the indside out. 

Now that your hair looks amazing your going to want your skin to match.  Creating clear and beautiful skin doesn't have to be a daunting task. Start with cleansing, which should be done twice a day. Use a mild and natural cleanser, then add a few drops of your favorite essential oil  to boost its cleansing effect and aromatic quality.  At night your body excretes toxins through your skin as you sleep so be sure to wash your face every night before bed. This is extremely important if you have on makeup as your skin needs to breath while you sleep. Exercise as much as possible. If you go outdoors the fresh air will help to oxygenate and Facilitate waste removal through your skin. Another way to keep a lustrous glow is to get plenty of sleep. Sleep deprivation causes puffy eyes and makes your skin look sallow, tired, dull, and saggy. Soak up some rays for 10 to 15 minutes a few times a week to keep your bones and skin healthy. Your body converts the sun rays into vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium. If you can't sunbathe there are vitamin D supplements you can take. 

One last tip to keep you looking beautiful: Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, more if you exercise. The skin is sometimes referred to the third kidney because all the impurities you didn't wash out with water come out through your skin. Those impurities take the form of pimples, blackheads, and rashes. So be sure to drink plenty of water for hydrated and moisturized skin.  

Wildlife Wednesday: The Fossa

You are probably thinking what is a Fossa? The Fossa (pronounced "foosh") is an extremely rare mammal that can only be found in Madagasgar. While the Fossa looks similar to a mountain lion it is actually more like the Mongoose.  It is the largest member of the Civet family as we'll as the largest mammal on Madagascar.   There are only about 3000 of these mammals alive today. They are endangered due to habitat loss. Only about 10% to 15% of Madagascar remains forest.  of Madagascar's original, intact forest cover, the Fossa's only home, remains today.

The Fossa is nocturnal just like the mongoose. There bodies are slender and they somewhat resemble that of a cats,they have very long tails, and their faces hold a similarity to the weasel. They have gray or brown fur and some can have patterned markings in different varieties. They also have big ears and big eyes. They walk on the soles of there feet just like bears. They have retractile claws and long tails which aide them while hunting and maneuvering through the tree branches. 

  The Fossa, like all members of the Civet family have glands in a pouch near their rear ends which are used to produce scent. The scent helps them mark their territory and keep other Fossa out. The musky odor is also used to lure the females or males as the case may be. A bright yellow fatty acid is secreted from the glands and has been known to be used in perfumes. Hunters will capture or kill the animal for its natural perfume. The Fossa is also hunted for its fur which is gray or brown with dark spots or rings around its tail. It is about 3 feet long, not including it's tail which can be up to 22 inches and weighs about 25 pounds.  
The male Fossa is larger then the female of the species. Being that Fossa are very private animals we don't know that much about their daily rituals or habits. They wield their tails like a tightrope and move so fast in the trees that scientists have trouble observing them. The 
carnivorous Fossa eats almost anything he can scavenge for, from small mammals to insects and birds.  If a Fossa could eat just one thing for the rest of its life, it would eat Lemurs. The 
Fossa sneaks up on the Lemur while it is asleep.

 They lead solitary lives except during mating. They breed once a year but have been known to have 2 litters. The gestation period for a Fossa is about 60 days or 2 months.  They have between 2 and 6 babies who are born covered in fur, with eyes closed, and no teeth.   A Fossa  is considered an adult at 3 years of age. Fossa's breed in September and October and if successful in about 60 days they will birth a baby in a tree or a den cave. The Fossa has no known predators, they are only preyed upon by humans because of their attacks on domestic livestock. 

Sources Used: 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossa_(animal)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Fossa_(animal)

All pictures courtesy of Google Images

It's Just Another Manic Monday

For those of you who haven't heard of the song manic Monday by the bangles you are missing out. The Bangles are an American all-female band from the 1980s. They had a few hits but Manic Monday is still my favorite.

Lyrics to Manic Monday

Six o'clock already
I was just in the middle of a dream
I was kissin' Valentino
By a crystal blue Italian stream
But I can't be late
'Cause then I guess I just won't get paid
These are the days
When you wish your bed was already made
*It's just another manic Monday
I wish it was Sunday
'Cause that's my funday
My I-don't-have-to-run day
It's just another manic Monday
Have to catch an early train
Got to be to work by nine
And if I had an aeroplane
I still couldn't make it on time
'Cause it takes me so long
Just to figure out what I'm gonna wear

Blame it on the train
When the bus is already there

CHORUS

All of the nights
Why did my lover have to pick last night
To get down
Doesn't it matter
That I have to feed the both of us
Employment's down
He tells me in his bedroom voice
C'mon honey, let's go make some noise
Time it goes so fast
When you're having fun

You Can't Buy Class

Some of my fashion icons are the classiest women I can imagine.  I think the reason they become fashion icons has more to do with the way they present themselves than their actual clothes. Jackie O, Katherine and Audrey Hepburn are my inspiration.  They exude class and confidence which makes them beautiful in anything they wear. After all, she who has confidence in herself will gain the confidence of others.  This is a motto, which every woman should live by. Confidence is the key to success. I am a firm believer that nothing is more powerful. Women today strive for perfection, yet all they really need is a dose of self confidence. Dressing classy also needs an injection of personality; show your personality and inspiration though your clothing. It isn't just about wearing certain clothing it is also about being modest while still being elegant. A few tips to keep in mind when trying to pull off this look:

Groomed Perfection

If you want to exude class you must look the part. Looking the part involves more than clothes, it involves grooming as well. Rule of thumb, the razor is your friend. You can wear short skirts as long as your legs are fit to be seen, especially if you aren't going to wear tights. That means hairless and with the least amount of bruising. If you are someone who doesnt want to shave your legs then don't wear a skirt as the look of hairy legs in a skirt is a bit unsightly.  Obviously this doesn't ring true for little girls or young women who have yet to shave. A good compromise for hairy legs is to wear a Skirt with tights.  Another thing to remember is not to show too much skin. Classy and fashionable women will usually choose to exhibit one bare part of their body at a time.  If you decide to show off your legs be sure you cover up your top.  For example don't go out with your boobs busting out of your top while wearing a mini skirt. It doesn't exactly exude class it will however make you look like trash.  Another thing to remember is to live a healthy lifestyle. Staying healthy and clean will help your classy appearance. Make sure you keep your skin hydrated by drinking lots of water. Never go to bed with makeup on; wash your face and follow with a moisturizer and eye cream. Also, please use deodorants and shower or bathe daily! Body odour is not classy! 

Get Down to the Basics

Classic styles of clothing that were fashionable decades ago remain classy today and will continue to be stylish in the future. Developing a classy wardrobe does not necessarily mean spending a tremendous amount of money. On the contrary, classic fashion is based on several key wardrobe staples. Pulling off the classy look requires confidence, neatness and an overall polished look with a little attention to detail. When choosing the basic garments of your classy wardrobe, remember that trendy pieces are not usually classic pieces. Busy patterns and overly bright colors do not coincide with classy fashion. Choose traditional fits that are neither too tight nor too loose and avoid clothing that is overwhelmingly revealing. Dresses and skirts should cover at least most of your thighs, while tops should cover most -- if not all -- cleavage. Basic, neutral colors, such as whites, browns and black, are always classy. Crisp, collared, button-down blouses, basic knit tops, trousers or slacks, pantsuits and moderate dresses and skirts should make up the bulk of a classic wardrobe. When dressing casual classic, choose white denim pants and pair them with a traditional cardigan.

Choose Shoes and Undergarments Carefully

Every classy woman needs shoes and boots that complement her outfits. However, some footwear is flashy and overzealous. Stick to traditional, elegant styles, such as basic flats or heels. Boots can help complete a classy look if they are a classic style, rather than trendy. Choose a color that will add flair to your outfit without overpowering it.To further help pull off a classic style, remember to wear appropriate undergarments. Wear a slip beneath thin skirts and dresses and wear supportive bras that provide a smooth, seamless look. Underwear lines should not show through your clothing, and showing undergarment straps is unacceptable for the classy woman. If you are wearing a top that could expose a bra strap, consider a strapless bra.

Accessorize Yourself

Once you have mastered the classic look of clothing, concentrate on tasteful adornments. Accessories can be more bold and give you a chance to show your individual style. However, choose only a few pieces to avoid a cluttered look. For example, wear a bright or bold necklace and a ring or bracelet, but do not wear several necklaces, bracelets or rings at once. If you aren't sure if you are wearing too much jewelry, less is more. 

Pay Attention to Details

In addition to accessories, grooming, neatness and posture complete a lady's classy look. Keep your hair well-groomed and wear long hair up in a twist, bun or neat ponytail on windy days. Fingernails should be well-manicured and either buffed or polished with a light, neutral color. Your makeup should be light and neutral, accentuating your features rather than covering them. In the evening, choose one facial feature, such as your eyes or mouth, to accentuate with a bold color. Well pressed clothing in order to look classy is a must, creases should be ironed properly, in jeans, suit trousers and in slacks in order for that classy looked. Purchase a starch spray, which you spray on your clothes just before ironing, this will give you 'the whole outfit has just been dry-cleaned' look.

Posture Pitch

 Start walking with elegance and grace, you are beautiful and you must remember that. Be confident yet not cocky; be gracious and kind to other. Also avoid the potty mouth habits. Nothing is worse than a potty-mouth!

Stay Classy 

Anyone can wear classy clothes but it's the woman who makes the clothes not the clothes that make the woman. Classy women are loving, kind, polite, and considerate. Become those things and you'll exuberated that aura of classiness in no time.  

Therapy Thursday: How to Deal With Life's Hardships

When was the last time you went through a rough patch in life? Maybe you are going through one right now. Maybe you recently lost your job, or you're dealing with a death in your family. Or maybe you are starting to think nothing good will ever happen to you again. Whatever you're dealing with, I want you to know that you're not alone and something good can come from the tough spot you're in right now. Inknow after I have gone through a really hard time, I've looked back and thought that I wouldn't be half the person I am now had I not gone through those hard times. Haven't many of us experienced this? Don't we wish we could just grow in good times?  Nobody gets through life without losing someone they love, someone they need, or something they thought was meant to be.  But it is these losses that make us stronger and move us toward future  growth and happiness causing opportunities. I've learned quite a few lessons about dealing with hard times on my journey through life. Maybe they can help you get through a rough patch. 

First things first: Your past does not define you– No matter how chaotic the past has been, the future is a clean, fresh, wide open slate. You are not your past habits or failures. You are not how others have at one time treated you. You are only who you think you are right now in this moment. You are only what you do right now in this moment.

Second: A natural Part of growing is having to deal with your problems- part of living and growing up is experiencing unexpected troubles in life.  People lose jobs, get sick, and sometimes die in car accidents.  When you are younger, and things are going pretty well, this harsh reality can be hard to visualize.  The smartest, and oftentimes hardest, thing we can do in these kinds of situations is to be tempered in our reactions.  To want want to scream bloody murder and throw things or worse, cause harm to something or someone.  Keep in mind that emotional rage only makes matters worse.  And to remember that tragedies are rarely as bad as they seem, and even when they are, they give us an opportunity to grow stronger.

Third: Life is short- There may not be a tomorrow – not for everyone.  Right now, someone on Earth is planning something for tomorrow without realizing they’re going to die today.  This is sad but true.  So spend your time wisely today and pause long enough to appreciate it.  Every moment you get is a gift.  Don’t waste time by dwelling on unhappy things.  Spend it on things that move you in the direction you want to go. 

Fourth: Don’t unnessicarily inflate your problems – You should never let one dark cloud fill the whole sky.  The sun is always shining on some part of your life.  Sometimes you just have to forget how you feel, remember what you deserve, and keep pushing forward.

Fifth: Life is full of lessons: Learn from your hardships and failures because everything that happens in life is a lesson- Everyone you meet, everything you encounter, etc.  They’re all part of the learning experience we call ‘life.’  Never forget to acknowledge that especially when things aren't going your way.  If you don’t get a job that you wanted or a relationship doesn’t work, it only means something better is out there waiting.  And the lesson you just learned is the first step towards it.

Sixth: View every challenge as a learning experience– Ask yourself:  “What is this situation meant to teach me?”  Every situation in our lives has a lesson to teach us.  Some of these lessons help us become stronger, communicate more clearly, trust your instincts, express your love, forgive, know when to let go, and to try something new.

Seventh: Things change, but we always have tomorrow– The bad news: nothing is permanent. The good news: nothing is permanent.

Eigth: Don’t let others make decide for you-Sometimes you just have to live not caring what others think of you, shake off the drama, and prove to YOURSELF that you’re better than they think you are.

Ninth: It’s better to be hurt by the truth, than comforted by a lie. – You must see things how they are instead of how you hoped, wished, or expected them to be.  It’s always better to be slapped with the truth than kissed with a lie.

Tenth: Mistakes don't have to be bad-We’ve all made mistakes.  We’ve let people take advantage of us, and we’ve accepted way less than we deserve.  But if you think about it, we’ve learned a lot from our bad choices, and even though there are some things we can never recover and people who will never be sorry, we now know better for next time.  We now have more power to shape our future.  Remember, failure is not falling down; failure is staying down when you have the choice to get back up.  Get back up!  Oftentimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.

Eleventh: You always have a choice. – No matter what, there are always at least two options.  If you can’t physically change something, you can change the way you think about it.  You can sit in the dark, or you can find your inner light and discover powerful pieces of yourself you never knew existed.  You can view a crisis as an invitation to learn something new, viewing the shake-up in your outer world as an enlightening opportunity to wake-up your inner world.

Twelvth: The end is a new beginning. – Say to yourself: “Dear Past, thank you for all the life lessons you have taught me.  Dear Future, I am ready now!”  Because a great beginning always occurs at the point you thought would be the end of everything.

Thirteenth: Music makes everything better- Music is a splendid thing. It has the power to take hold of you. It's amazing how one song can evoke different emotions for different people. It can make you happy, sad, aggravated, or even angry.  Music is a form of therapy and can be used as a treatment for feelings that ail you.  Try setting aside a specific amount of time each day for feeling low while you’re waiting for the dark clouds to lift. Next time you get the blues think about making a soundtrack for your sadness session to help you cope with whatever you are going through. Feel sad and have a good cry. After you let it all out get on with your day. 

Travel Tuesday: The Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands are located in the North Atlantic, halfway between Norway and Iceland. The islands inhabit 48,193 people. Oyrareingir is the largest island and home to 19,000 people.  Klaksvik, the second largest island inhabits 4,600 people. The other islands are Torshavn, Kikjubour, Velbastaour, Nolsoy, Hestur, Koltur, Hoyvik, Argir, Kaldbak, Kaldbaksbotnur, Nororadalur, Syoradalur, Hvitanes, Sund, Kollafjorour, and Signabour. The islands are rugged and treeless.  This archipelago is part of Denmark. Faroese is the national language but English is widely spoken. 80% of the locals are evangelical Lutherans and 10% are Christian brethren. 97% of the islands export is from the fishing industry. The weather is ever changing, one day it's foggy or raining and the next its sunny. The Gulf Stream that encompasses the island tempers the climate which is 3.5*C in the winter and 12*C in the summer. The islands are self governing with their own parliament and flag. All trade is governed by special treaties.  The islands are not part of the European Union.

Multicolored cottages and grass roofed wooden churches add focus to the treeless moorlands. Puffins, skuas, and fulmars glide over the islands. Wave ravaged headlands end in breathtaking cliffs. The biggest island is Streymoy, it's capital is Torshavn. The cities are filled with art and music and it's said that the locals are friendlier than you could ever imagine. The tourist season begins in May and ends in September. If you feel the need for some fresh air, deep blue ocean, vertical cliffs, green mountains, and picturesque valleys remnant of something out of a J.R.R. Tolkein story, then come to the Faroes islands and get lost in the mystical landscapes. 

Work Cited:

Wikipedia.com

Wiki travel.com. 

All pictures courtesy of google images