Mind & Body
Web 2011
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09/27/12Your Dream Spa Come to LifeImagine a luxurious and tranquil atmosphere where all of your beauty, aesthetic, and relaxation needs are cared for by highly experienced, well-trained, and trustworthy individuals with your best interest in mind. Behind the doors of SIA Spa, you’ll find all of this and so much more. SIA Spa offers Medi Spa Services under the direction of Devinder S. Mangat, MD, FACS, SIA Spa’s Medical Director. They offer a vast array of services including Medi Spa Services – Injectables, Fillers, Microderm Abrasion, Peels, IPL Photofacials,Fraxel Laser, and Laser Hair Removal. SIA also specializes in Ayurvedic Treatments, Rejuvenation Journeys, Body Massage, Rejuvenating Facials, Waxing, Threading, Nails, and the recent addition of CoolSculpting, and Designer Hair... Posted at 01:35 PM | Permalink |
08/27/12Revamping to Bring a New StyleA day at the spa or stylist should be a relaxing and luxurious experience. It is unfortunate to enter a nice salon where the atmosphere is cold and you simply feel you don’t fit in. At Tanya’s Image & Wellness Salon, this is never the case. They strive to create a comfortable and homey environment for all of their clients. As guests enter the salon, a friendly receptionist greets them and shows them the way to a waiting room. But at this salon the waiting room is a living room where clients are encouraged to sit on a comfortable couch and enjoy a hot cup of gourmet coffee or cold glass of cucumber water. They offer gourmet snacks to enjoy. At Tanya’s Image & Wellness Salon everyone is welcome, and everyone receives the relaxing and luxurious experience they... Posted at 09:00 AM | Permalink |
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03/28/12JUST DO ITJUST DO IT It was 1988. A couple of ad agency execs were sitting in a meeting with some Nike execs and one (reportedly) told Nike: “You guys just do it right.” Hmm...nice ring to that. And Nike’s incredibly famous and successful slogan was born. Twenty-four years later, Nike’s simple three word mantra “JUST DO IT” is going strong. It has gone through many different target groups and fashion changes. But...the basic fact, the basic push, is the same. It, actually, is a timeless thought. Yes, you know what point I am going to eventually make. Every day we make choices. Now that’s a good thing. We all want freedom of choice. The downside is that we have a choice. The upside is that we have a choice. Stay... Posted at 09:33 AM | Permalink |
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03/01/12Want to Lose Fat? Start With Understanding Your Metabolism.In dealing with people who desperately want to lose weight and fat on a daily basis, I am continuously reminded that most people just don't have a true understanding of metabolism. Let's take a look at the components of your metabolism and how you expend energy: 1. Your Resting Metabolic Rate: This is the number of calories used by your body each day at rest and represents an astounding 70% of your total calorie expenditure. It might be hard to believe, but even if you simply sat on the floor all day long, your body would still burn a certain number of calories in order for it to function. An easy way to estimate your basal metabolic rate is to multiply your current body weight by 12. 2. Non Exercise Activity/General... Posted at 04:47 AM | Permalink |
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02/08/12Beat the BloatOkay, so you get this call from your friend (or sister or whomever, fill in the blank) and this person says to you: “Hey, I just won two tickets to a movie premier in Hollywood,” (okay, that may be a stretch, but you’re getting the picture) “We should go and you should wear that knitty black dress of yours .” And you are thinking “Oh, you mean the one that clings to every bulge and belly bloat? Yeah, right.” Belly bulge is not fun. It is something we all fight. However, in a pinch of needing to look as if we spend hours every day in the gym working on our abs, help can be found. If you have about 24 hours to look (and feel) suddenly slimmer, especially in the belly area, here are a few tricks that work: ... Posted at 11:29 AM | Permalink |
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01/11/12The All or Nothing MentalityDo your diet and exercise plans fall by the wayside during the holidays? Rebecca Hendrixson, owner of HenHouse Fitness, explains how to get back on track. Posted at 08:42 AM | Permalink |
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12/14/11Pump Some Iron and Beat the BluesAs if we all really need one more reason to exercise....let’s see, we’ve got the obvious reasons; because our mothers told us we should and because we finished off the last half of every pie that was left over from Thanksgiving. Believe it or not, there are still more reasons. One of them is the blue, sluggish, blah feeling that many of us battle. Depression symptoms often improve with exercise. Exercise most likely helps ease depression in a number of ways. First, exercise releases neurotransmitters and endorphins, our “feel good” brain chemicals. Two, exercise reduces immune system chemicals that can worsen depression. And three, exercise increases body temperature, which can have a calming effect. Exercise has psychological and emotional... Posted at 07:35 AM | Permalink |
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11/22/11Thanks and GivingDuring this time of year we celebrate the tradition the Pilgrims started so many years ago of Thanksgiving. A time when we start to think about what in our life we are thankful for and take time to be appreciative. Thanksgiving is the kickoff to the holiday season. During the holiday season most of us find ourselves filled with a giving kindheartedness we don’t always feel other times of the year. Why do we wait until the holidays to see our blessings, be appreciative and give openly? Wouldn’t our life would be happier more fulfilled if we lived it in a thankful and giving way all year? I must not be the only one that gets a lot from this time of year. Just a few weeks ago, I found research that talked about how being appreciative can actually change our brain chemistry.... Posted at 01:34 PM | Permalink |
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10/25/11Enjoyment as a Stress RelieverPositive Psychology research shows that the number one thing that counteracts stress is happiness, joy and fun. The research suggests that as we have fun we build our resiliency to help move through our daily stresses more easily. I like to use the analogy of a grain silo to explain this concept. Think of it as every time you have a joyful, fun or happy moment you are putting grain in your personal silo. When stressful events happen in life we then take grain from the silo to “feed” ourselves and give ourselves energy to get through the hassles and burdens of everyday life. When your silo is depleted you don’t have an energy source to help you overcome the stress. It can become a vicious cycle if you are someone that “runs on empty” a lot.... Posted at 02:53 PM | Permalink |
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10/13/11Go, Go, Power RangersIf you are over the age of 20, you probably remember the amazing Power Rangers, a team of young people trained by a mentor to morph into Rangers. These Rangers had special powers to defeat and overcome evil that would threaten humanity. Here is how it worked: They each possess their own unique individual abilities and weapons. Each team of Rangers obeys a general set of rules outlined by their mentors. Power Rangers may not use their Ranger powers for personal gain or for escalating a fight. They also may not make their identities known to the general public. The penalty for disobeying these rules would be the loss of their power. Their attire was a color-coded battle suit. Red, blue, and yellow appeared in every team. A fourth team member, dressed in either pink, green, black, or... Posted at 09:03 AM | Permalink |
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09/30/11A Pound of FleshOkay, so you gain one pound every six months. Not too bad. Manageable, right? However if you continue in that pattern, unpleasant things begin to happen. For example, you notice the dryer is shrinking your favorite shirts; you realize the size on the tag in the back of your jeans was a mistake by the manufacturer; your mother tells you that solid, darker colors work better with your personality; you laugh hysterically when someone suggests you try on your wedding dress. Weird stuff, right? Here’s the deal. If you continue on this path of gaining a pound or two every six months, you will have added: In five years of marriage - 10 pounds In 10 years of marriage - 20 pounds In 20 years of marriage - 40 pounds In 30 years of... Posted at 08:21 AM | Permalink |
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09/29/11Loving KindnessWe are loving and kind to our children, and to our coworkers, friends and family but too often don’t extend that same courtesy to us. We work hard to watch how we talk to others and most of us virtually ignore how we speak to ourselves. Whether you are aware of it or not, we spend a lot of time talking to our self. Not necessarily out loud, but we are constantly having internal dialogue with our self almost every moment of every waking hour. We don’t even realize that we are carrying on this internal conversation a great deal of the time. It turns out that most of us are frequently bombarding our self with negative messages and a good majority of these messages are about us. I challenge you to pay attention to what you are saying to yourself.... Posted at 02:17 PM | Permalink |
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09/26/11Crete Anyone?The Mediterranean diet is based on the eating habits of individuals living in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. So what do they eat? For starters, a large amount of fruits, vegetables, legumes, bread (awesome), pasta (yummy), rice (good), and other whole grains. Their diet also includes nuts, extra virgin olive oil, and a greater consumption of fish (we don’t mean batter-dipped shrimp from Long John Silver’s - no offense, LJS). Poultry and lean red meat also is part of the diet but to a lesser extent. Cheese and yogurt are included in the diet, as well, as are moderate amounts of wine. Now, this plan does not sound all that bad. Agree? Of course there is a pyramid shape to use as a guideline, which puts physical activity at the very bottom, meaning the... Posted at 02:26 PM | Permalink |
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09/02/11More is Not Less...It's Simply MoreIn the last 20 years, restaurant food portions have ballooned - as have our waistlines.A bagel 20 years ago was three inches in diameter and had 140 calories. Today’s typical bagel has 350 calories. Gone are the days when a bagel was the healthier choice over a donut. Seriously, choose the jelly donut.A blueberry muffin 20 years ago was 1.5 ounces and had 210 calories. Order one today and gobble up 500 calories in basically a side item that happens to be served along with your cheesy, gooey omelet.Let’s talk French fries. Twenty years ago a serving was 2.4 ounces and had 210 calories. Today’s typical serving is a whopping 6.9 ounces with 610 calories. Get this fact, folks – do not biggie your order.Okay, salad...right. Let’s see, a chicken Caesar salad was... Posted at 02:34 PM | Permalink |
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08/20/11Everything a Bride or Mother of the Bride Ever Wanted to Ask a Plastic SurgeonOne of our lead makeup artists here at BRIDEface, Penny Curtis, also works at www.cincyfacialplastics.com Cincinnati Facial Plastic Surgery for Dr Alex Donath. I recently had the enviable opportunity to pick his brain and ask many of the questions my clients and I frequently discuss in our consultations. I love his honesty and straightforward approach!Q: I see a fair number of sun-worshipping brides with hyperpigmentation and sunspots. What can she do to minimize this, and typically how many treatments will she need?A: We see quite a few sun worshipers as well! Fortunately there are several types of treatment that can be used to reduce sun spots. The most efficient way to reduce them is with either a peel, such as a TCA peel, or with our state-of-the-art Fraxel Dual laser. The... Posted at 09:26 PM | Permalink |
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08/12/11Forgiving OurselvesI spend a lot of time working with people on forgiveness. My definition is a little unusual and not the one you typically hear. To me, forgiveness is not saying what someone did is or was ok. It is letting go of the negative feelings of anger, hurt and bitterness that we hold toward that person. We don’t have to be friends with them or even have good feelings toward them. Letting go is a neutral feeling. It is saying, “What you did was wrong but I am letting go of the negative feelings about you and the situation.” Negative emotions and feelings that we hold and carry only affect our life not the life of the other person. This is complicated when the person you are mad and angry with is yourself. We all tend to have some anger and resentment that we hold toward... Posted at 01:16 PM | Permalink |
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08/06/11Embracing ChangeI see a lot of people struggle with change. Helping someone face they need to make a change or helping someone struggling with a change can be the focus or take up the majority of the time I spend doing therapy or life coaching. In life change is inevitable. We have all found ourselves struggling with it at one time or another. The most important thing to realize about any change is that we make it either better or worse for ourselves. Our mind can be our worst enemy when we start to fear change. Even when we are faced with exciting new changes, such as moving into a new house, we tend to let our worries or fears dampen our joy and excitement. We can allow ourselves to feed on stresses that arise which can stand in the way of our enjoyment. The fear we create may be realistic but is... Posted at 07:45 AM | Permalink |
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08/05/11Celebrate Food!In this day of endless multi-tasking (you know exactly what I’m talking about, i.e. talking on the phone while throwing in a load of laundry while making a mental grocery list, while making faces at our kids which mean “pick that stuff up”, while walking with cotton between your toes as the polish dries....you get the picture), we need to give ourselves permission to do just ONE thing. It’s okay, really.Eating food is a passionate and intimate event, or at least it should be. Some of us eat standing up at the kitchen counter as we’re reading through our notes for the business meeting. A few of us indulge in pizza as we watch mindless TV. And most of us nosh on breakfast, lunch, or dinner while staring at our computer screens or smart phones. Even as I write... Posted at 01:17 PM | Permalink |
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07/29/11Much Lighter Face With Their Warmer ChestA syndrome I am seeing quite frequently these days is the women having a much lighter face with their warmer chest. Most of us are hip to using spf on our face but are slightly lazy about taking it down our neck and decollate. The result is an eerie, floating head effect, which is even more obvious in photos.There are a few ways to combat this…I recommend to my clients that they have a “wardrobe” of foundations so they can tweak coloration when they get some color. For instance, I might take a client’s everyday foundation and mix it with a tinted moisturizer 2-3 shades darker. The sheer formula will not look muddy like a dark foundation would. You could also mix in a bronzing gel (Laura Mercier makes a great one)The other option is to simply use your regular... Posted at 01:33 PM | Permalink |
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07/22/11Donuts (and Do-Nots)Last summer my family went with another family on vacation to Destin, Florida. We stayed for a week in a lovely home near that beautiful emerald sea. I wanted to continue my regimen of walking so in the mornings I would get up and get ready to head out. My husband decided he would join me on these walks (hey, it’s vacation, a time to do things you don’t normally do). On one of our morning walks, we discovered a Krispy Kreme donut, no, not store, a Krispy Kreme donut factory. Now, if you are like me, the word “factory” connotes things like machinery, noise, dark, etc. No, not this factory.Think about your donut dreams coming true. From inside the factory/store, we were able to look through a window and actually watch the entire donut process. We could see those... Posted at 02:25 PM | Permalink |
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07/22/11Relationship = TeamIn my private practice, about 40% of my work is marriage therapy. One concept that I am always trying to teach is a relationship equals a team. Most people feel as if they are a separate unit in their relationships never truly understanding the interconnectedness that is inherent in any or all relationships. Maybe it is because my husband was Xavier University’s Sports Psychologist for years but I love the analogy that a relationship is a team. I use it with my marriage therapy clients to give them a frame of reference to help them understand what a healthy way to “be” in a relationship looks like. Most people have either been on a team or watched a movie about a team and understand what is needed to make a team successful. The “one for all and all for... Posted at 01:10 PM | Permalink |
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07/22/11What are the advantages of airbrush makeup?Though not a new technology, airbrush makeup is once again in the limelight due to the advent of evolving digital media, including Digital Photography and Hi-Definition Television. The precision application offered by airbrush makeup has two major benefits that stand up to the challenges presenting makeup artists today:1. Full Coverage, Sheer Texture: A true airbrush foundation is high in coverage, but thin in texture, offering a high-opacity or full coverage application that's dispersed as sheerly and evenly as possible. The result is perfect-looking skin achieved with a minimum of product2. Refined Pattern: The spray dot-pattern the airbrush puts down on the skin registers less on camera than the patterns and trace lines that brushes and sponges leave behind. However invisible these... Posted at 11:58 AM | Permalink |
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07/15/1130 Minutes a DayThe Center for Disease Control recommends getting at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days per week. This may include gardening, shoveling snow (don’t think about that right now), or other outside chores. This is great for heart health and staying active but if you are really looking to lose weight, you need to do more.I know what you’re thinking...more, really? I don’t get close to 30 minutes a day of activity. I hear you, I really do. Life gets busy and exhausting and you slink onto the sofa after dinner and lapse into a carb coma. Another day goes by and then a week and a month and three years, and suddenly you realize you’ve packed on 15 pounds and a lousy outlook to boot.So what do you do? First, you need a jumpstart (I can help you with that). You... Posted at 09:11 AM | Permalink |
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07/08/11Wake Me When I’m ThinSleep deprivation upsets our hormone balance, triggering a decrease in leptin (which helps you feel full) and an increase of ghrelin (pronounced “grayleen”) (which triggers hunger). Therefore, we think we’re hungry even though we aren’t, so we eat.I have found this, by experience, to be absolutely true. If I am pulling a late night of preparing for guests or finishing up a project, I find that I want to nibble as the evening begins melting into early morning. And on the other side of that, as I stumble through the next day, on four or five hours of sleep, I am on a consistent kitchen graze. I’m also really cranky, which only promotes the “who cares, I’m eating seven Oreos” attitude. This of course, in turn, only makes me more cranky... Posted at 10:55 AM | Permalink |
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07/08/11Shelf Life of CosmeticsOverall, most cosmetics are loaded with preservatives which keep them from “spoiling” or harboring a lot of germs. But if you are an aficionado of the “eco-friendly” lines, they will have a much briefer shelf life because they contain fewer of those additives. Moist environments (such as bathrooms; the most popular place to apply makeup!) can really hasten spoilage of cosmetics, so a dry, cool place is a better place to store them. You will read tons of articles that have rather arbitrary “pitch by” dates, but I think the way in which you use a particular product really dictates its shelf life-sloppy application habits will contaminate makeup faster. Makeup that is past its prime can cause breakouts, allergic reactions, and simply not have as true... Posted at 10:35 AM | Permalink |
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07/08/11When Things Go Bad, Don’t Go With Them…My husband’s favorite line when I‘ve had a bad day or a bad situation occur during the day is, “when things go bad, don’t go with them.” I don’t know how many times I have responded with, “I have every right to be upset and frustrated and all I am trying to do is vent!” Don’t tell my husband, but over the years I have found a lot of wisdom in that statement. I use it with my clients often but I soften it by saying, “you have every right to be angry.” “Are you sure that you want to waste your energy continuing to be angry over something you can’t go back and change?” Even though you see the wisdom in that statement actually shifting out of an awful mood is difficult; after someone has just hit your car,... Posted at 07:43 AM | Permalink |
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06/29/11Letting Go of Fear…I recently launched a whole new business and submitted a video and book proposal to a publisher and it reminded me of “my sky diving story”. It is a story about trusting yourself and trusting in God enough to let go of your fears. The reward can be exhilarating. Ask my friend Steve about letting go of his fears to take the leap in creating this magazine. Look at the pay off!We went to some small little airport in Indiana, went through a class and parachute fitting and signed waivers. The wavier said something about, “if you die or get injured we are not liable.” We took off in a small, old, rickety Cessna plane. Like the one JFK Jr. crashed in. It had 2 seats, one of which had been removed to make room for 2 tandem sky divers. The plane was so old and rickety... Posted at 10:45 AM | Permalink |
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06/29/11What exactly is FACEing?Our makeup instruction takes place in your home or in our Mainstrasse studio.We can do classes from one on one to a group of six women. First we assess the products you are currently using, (as well as the things you own but never use )And then we walk you through the steps of what you want to achieve. For one person, that might be learning to do a great “date night” face. For another it might be a polished, professional everyday work look. Because we are not pushing an agenda with sales goals, like the department store counters, you can trust our opinions and advice. You will leave with a detailed shopping list, as well as a face cheat sheet so you can remember how to recreate the look at home.Many of our clients love to do a late afternoon class with girlfriends and head... Posted at 07:45 AM | Permalink |
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06/29/11ConsistencyConsistency. A word we all know but probably one with a definition that we don’t fully comprehend.We think we are consistent with things in our life, but are we?Are we really consistent with the support we give our spouse?Or are we consistent with keeping our goals we set for our career? How about the goals we set for our fitness and nutrition? Did you know that it takes up to 12-18 months to see a notable change when we make small but consistent changes in our daily routine? Webster’s defines consistent as being “free from variation or contradictions.”Even when we set well thought out and defined goals, it is so easy to get distracted, bored, or complacent. Before you know it 6 months have gone by and we are either in the same place as before or even in a worse... Posted at 07:38 AM | Permalink |
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06/24/11Facebook Q & AThis question comes via our facebook page from one of my former brides, Jayne:What kind of bronzer brush would you suggest? Nothing too pricey though :)I personally don't care for a traditional bronzer brush-the dense, Kabuki style tends to pick up too much pigment and I don't feel it distributes it well-(which is probably why you see so many bronzer abusers out there!)I prefer a fluffy tapered powder brush-even better if it has flat sides. This is because I like to use bronzer as contour-slim down a round face, define jawlines, shrink a larger forehead, shorten a longer face...A good inexpensive pick is from Sonia Kashuk and runs in the twenty dollar range. It won't give you any harsh, obvious contour lines, just give you a healthy glow. Apply a number 3 shape from your forehead to... Posted at 07:55 AM | Permalink |
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06/24/11Body and Mind WorkoutA few days ago I was in a training session with one of my clients. She was obedient and counting away the reps, methodically and mechanically. I noticed that she was staring at the wall and, though sweating, was certainly not present in the moment. Just to throw her off, I said “Great, do 100 more.” She said “okay”, and began to pump away. “Susan!” I said sharply, “are you in there?” She blinked her eyes and reconnected with me. “Oh, sorry” she said. “I was thinking about my grocery list and what I need to do when I leave the studio.” I instructed her to put down the weights and look me in the eyes. “Here’s the deal, Susan. There is nothing you can accomplish by being here in this training... Posted at 06:21 AM | Permalink |
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06/16/11A Healthy ChoiceIt is 92 degrees outside. I am driving a car with no A/C and drinking steamy hot coffee. The joys of summer. A year ago I would have had steam coming out of my ears as well as my coffee. Things like that used to cause a frustration and anger that made my body even more sweaty! I don’t know, maybe it’s the wisdom that comes with time. But I prefer the summation that I am powerful. The fact that we choose our responses to situations is an empowering truth.There are myriad situations in life, in fact in every day of life, that are simply out of our control. The secret is discovering what is within our control and within that, how deep is our desire to change.Genetics play a role in our physical bodies. That cannot be denied. However, you can make improvements to your genetic... Posted at 04:24 PM | Permalink |
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06/16/11How to look 10 years older than you areMakeup can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Do you know what makeup habits can age you?10. Wear too-dark lipcolor. Deep tones can makes thinning lips look even punier. Go for rosy colors ; aim for a shade 2 levels deeper than your natural lip color.9. Ignore your brows. As we age, our brows tend to thin out, and what’s left can become unruly. Invest in professional brow shaping and fill as needed with powder or pencil. It will add so much structure to your face.8. Wear eyeliner only on the bottom. This will drag our eye down and make you look tired and sad. Think “lift”.7.Skip undereye concealer. Almost no one doesn’t need some lightening and brightening under their eyes.6. Forget your blush. Skin becomes more sallow as we grow older and you need to... Posted at 01:30 PM | Permalink |
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06/10/11Water PleaseIf you have not had water today and can’t remember when you drank anything that did not contain caffeine, you are dehydrated.When are are as little as 2% dehydrated, our bodies have to work harder than normal. If you exercise while dehydrated, your heart actually has to beat more times per minute because your blood volume has decreased.As the years go by, I notice I become wiser (funny how that works). In the past I would choose water because I realized I SHOULD. So, though I wanted a nice icy soda dripping with sugar and calories, I always chose “water with lemon, please”.However, I have come to realize that every choice I make with regard to hydrating and feeding my body, is a choice that is good for me. I no longer take the martyristic approach to drinking water. I... Posted at 06:56 AM | Permalink |
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06/10/11Foundation GimmicksHow important is your application method and does it really make a difference? What formula you use and how much coverage you are wanting will dictate how you apply it.For instance, a person who puts on tinted moisturizer probably wants to use her fingertips. It's already quite sheer and basically foolproof. I have also found tinted moisturizer people to be fairly low maintenance as well.For a traditional liquid foundation, I personally prefer a sponge. I find it gives less coverage than a brush-I might go back with a brush for some one who really needs coverage-say, someone with rosacea, or broken capillaries. But overall, I feel a brush gives more coverage than most people need or want. I adore the beauty blender because it has a great shape to get into nooks a crannies and is super... Posted at 06:56 AM | Permalink |
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06/02/11BrideChillasThis is not a bridal show - it is a series of presentations and the opportunity to meet with five members of The Bridal Studio to discuss one-on-one, any questions, ideas or concerns about your wedding plans. Each presenter will speak on a focused topic for approximately 20-30 minutes, and then will be available throughout the remainder of the evening for some one-on-one time and close-up demonstrations. You and your guest are welcome to attend any and all of the presentations, or simply participate with the professionals that will most directly assist you with your planning and details. In the interim, enjoy drinks and light bites, the beautiful setting of the Riverside Room at the Aquarium, chair massages and mini-make-up demos.The Bridal Studio is comprised of five wedding and event... Posted at 05:28 PM | Permalink |
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06/02/11Thin and FitWhat would you give up to be thin and fit?A newer car? All vacations? An ear? A toe? A shortened life (say, maybe give up six months at the end of your long life)? Your current house for something a bit smaller, not quite as new? I did a little straw poll just to get some reactions.The first person I asked was a schoolteacher in her mid 40’s. She is single and overweight, but works hard at the gym. She thought about it for a while. She told me she lives a very simple life; is not extravagant, has a modest home, a good car, friends. Her one big splurge is her hair. She (faithfully) spends a hefty amount each month on color and cut. She said she always stated that she would never have gray hair. After much thought, she said she would go gray if she could be thin and fit.... Posted at 04:43 PM | Permalink |
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06/02/11A Time to RememberMemorial Day is a time to remember and honor those who have died in service to our country. This day also is an opportunity to recognize other heroes. With this in mind, I’d like to tell you about two local heroines who live in my community of Mason, OH: Ria Davidson & Christine Neitzke. They are co-founders of The Dragonfly Foundation, an amazing charity that brings comfort and joy to kids and young adults with cancer and blood diseases. They work in partnership with the Cancer & Blood Diseases Institute of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to provide distractions to help ease the pain and fear patients and their families experience on a daily basis.My husband and I have had the honor of working with these heroic ladies, and have partnered with them... Posted at 04:17 PM | Permalink |
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05/27/11Ahhh . . . vocadosGlutathione is known as the “master antioxidant.” It is found in asparagus, walnuts, fish, and avocados. Glutathione is in charge of immune cells and can help protect against cancer. A deficiency in “G” can play a role in diabetes, liver disease, heart disease, low sperm count, and premature aging (WHAT?) Hand me a dozen, please.Avocados are also a source of L-cysteine, which helps protect us against environmental things like pollution, chemicals, radiation, and smoke. It also encourages healthy hair and nail growth. A little avocado with whole-grain crackers and some grapes or other fresh fruit make a great snack! So enjoy your ahhh-vocado and feel empowered about choosing such a healthy treat that tastes good and is good. Hey, this is win-win. What don’t... Posted at 11:29 AM | Permalink |
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05/27/11Brush School Part IINow that you know the bare minimum of brushes you will need to get started on a basic collection, here are some things to remember about protecting your investment.Storing your brushesPlease don’t cram a full-sized brush into a tiny makeup bag. You will mangle the hairs and eventually ruin the brush. If you must carry brushes in your handbag, find a miniaturized set for touchups. If you travel a lot, you may want to buy a travel-sized set that is more portable than your home assortment.You can stand your brushes in a cup or in a brush roll at home.Using your brushesWhen I worked retail, I used to see people bring in some of the most raggedy-looking brushes, and they always seemed clueless as to why they looked that way. Use each brush for its intended purpose: a synthetic bristle... Posted at 10:48 AM | Permalink |
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05/27/11Save Your Life and Be HealthyI have a lot of women tell me, “I just don’t enjoy working out. I will never get those feel good feelings that I hear other people talk about.” Well, I have to admit that I don’t understand why some of us get that feeling and others do not. But I do believe that enjoying exercise may be “a learned thing.”Traditional exercise may not be for everyone. People have different interests and different goals, and I think the key is finding the activity that excites you and that you enjoy doing.The most important issue is health. It is not healthy to be inactive most of the day. It is unhealthy to have a poor diet lacking in necessary vitamins and nutrients. If you don’t exercise because you enjoy it, then maybe you can exercise to live longer. The... Posted at 09:58 AM | Permalink |
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05/19/11Rainy DaysAccording to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the place in the country with the most sun is Yuma, Arizona (where it shines 90 percent of the time) and the least sun is in Juneau, Alaska (with only 30 percent sunshine). Right now I’m thinking Yuma.My son just walked in the front door and told me (with a growl) that due to high water, the Jason Aldean concert is canceled for Friday evening at Riverbend. He is quite disappointed! We live in a world of uncertainties: weather beyond our control, lost car keys, broken hearts. . . . However, that is what makes this life both incredibly challenging and inspiring at the same time. It is during these times that we “man up” or “woman up” as the case may be. We first must come to the knowledge... Posted at 05:57 PM | Permalink |
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05/19/11Brush School Part I; what you really needI have been doing a lot of one-on-one lessons lately, and I always want to see my clients start investing in some good quality tools. People ask me all the time what brushes they need, what is good quality, what each brush is designed to do, and how to care for them. Today I will cover what specific brushes you need.In my opinion, everyone needs a flat liner brush to do the tight-liner trick. If you don’t know what I am talking about, set up an appointment with me, stat! This is a Mercier brush:The size and shape are really important in this brush; most square flat brushes are too wide and too rigid to do the wiggle into the lash line. This is the perfect width and is soft enough to deposit a lot of pigment. It is synthetic, which is all you want to use with any type of wet... Posted at 04:11 PM | Permalink |
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05/19/11Balancing Life and FitnessDo you struggle with finding time to fit fitness into your daily routine? Do you put everything else in your life above your own personal needs? I’m here to help you put an end to that! My name is Melissa Matson, and I’m the owner, fitness coach, and nutrition coach at Keep It Tight Fitness.I’m a mom of 3 (and 3 stepchildren), so I know what it’s like to have a busy schedule and to have 100 things a day on my to-do list. I have gone through periods of weight gain and of not taking the time to make it to the gym for some much needed de-stressing time.Through trial and error, I have found the balance that works for my family and me. It takes commitment and dedication to find that balance, but in the end it makes me a better wife, mother, daughter, and friend.I have... Posted at 10:50 AM | Permalink |
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05/09/11FACEing-Tricks and TipsWelcome to Venue Magazine’s FACEing Beauty Blog ! So here we are - carving out a little place in the to indulge in pretty. It’s here on our blog that we’ll feature our favorite new beauty products, trends we love, and fun projects we’ve been working on. Of course the FACEing Beauty Blog will cover all sorts of beauty musings as well as tips and tricks, but we won’t be limiting ourselves to lipsticks and hairspray. If it’s glam, girly, or sparkly, its fair game... because we all need a little more pretty in our life.I have been in the beauty business for about 14 years now and for the past six years I have specialized in perfecting brides and their maids with my company BRIDEface. Then I found that I was being asked to teach women how to do their own... Posted at 06:46 AM | Permalink |
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05/09/11FitnessAim low. Obviously, we don’t hear those words very often. Most of the advice we receive and the messages that surround us are all about aiming high, going for the gold, and making our dreams come true, all admirable things. And in most areas of our lives we should aim high. I often tell my kids to take the high road. However, in the battle of health and fitness, it may be a good idea to keep your expectations somewhat low. Don’t expect too much too soon; it may lead only to discouragement. It is much easier to stay positive if you set some realistic goals, things that you feel confident and are actually doable. And when you do fall short of even those realistic goals, know one thing: you are human! And as our parents told us when we were kids, get... Posted at 06:41 AM | Permalink |
