•  We all know that when we look good, we feel good. The same is true for the inverse. If you feel good, you look good. If you need to improve your self image or just continue to feel beautiful, try concentrating on innovative ways to enhance your appearance and feel better about yourself. Maybe it’s time to try a red-hot lipstick or cut your long hair short. Whatever you decide, remember that it’s all about what makes you happy both inside and out.

  Every now and then, take a weekend out and treat yourself to a full beauty tune-up for your skin. When your skin is looking its best you’re bursting with energy and well being. Make an appointment for a relaxing oxygen facial or a full body massage and manicure. Want to look like you flew to the Caribbean for the weekend? Then take a few hours to try out the latest self-tanners that provide a safe, real-looking tan, while moisturizing your skin. Sometimes having that healthy golden glow, even in the middle of the winter, can just make you feel so good. Indulge yourself regularly with things like massages, facials, bubble baths, long walks and alone time to read and contemplate your life. When your mind is at rest, your body will appreciate the effects of this state of relaxation. Proper rest is very important to your overall health and the health of your skin, so get plenty of rest. Reduce stress by gardening, hiking in the woods, or playing a round of golf. Or try simply parking your car a few blocks from work. This regular exercise will most definitely make you feel and look better. Don’t forget to drink lots of water. When you drink water, it not only hydrates you inside, but it hydrates your skin as well. Eating healthy foods can also provide essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals and fiber, and are often lower in calories than processed foods. And last, but certainly not least, do something for someone else. This will make you feel good on the inside, which always makes you more beautiful on the outside.

  Take care of your body by following some of these tips. When you feel good about your appearance, you’ll be amazed at how good you will feel about yourself. These two aspects tie in together so closely that you must consider them both carefully to become a complete and healthy being.
   

             General Beauty Tips
 

• Quick and Easy Lip Shine

  Rub a generous layer of Vaseline onto your lips and around them for a lasting lip shine; also prevents chapping and cold sores.

Music Relaxation Therapy

Music can be magical. We often use it for background “noise” as a distraction, but it can also be used as an enlightening, therapeutic experience. The music appreciation center of our brains, for most people, can be found in the right side of the brain. When you listen to music, you switch from the left hemisphere (presides over logical, analytical, sequential activities) to the right (intuitive, integrating, emotion-based activities). Find music-jazz, blues, rock ‘n roll, country, classical, new age, whatever relaxes you-and spend a few minutes every day just listening. Don’t answer the phone, make dinner, or try to be productive; just close your eyes and listen. Your body and mind will be refreshed and ready to meet the rest of the day.

Deep Breathing

When we become stressed, our breathing tends to become shallower. Less oxygen is taken in with each breath, and our blood is forced to move through our bodies more quickly to get enough oxygen to our brain and vital organs. Deep breathing techniques counteract this stress response and help us to let go of tension. Repeated, long term use of deep breathing exercises can relieve physical symptoms of stress such as headaches, backaches, stomachaches, high blood pressure, and insomnia.

Deep breathing exercises can be done sitting, standing, or lying down. You will want to wear comfortable, loose clothing. Begin by inhaling through your nose. Count to five and let your lower abdomen fill with air. Exhale through your lips silently counting to five. Do this for at least two minutes. To increase relaxation, imagine that you are on a beach, in a forest, or any other relaxing place, smelling pleasant scents and hearing pleasant sounds. Eventually, you may be able to slowly count to ten.

Invigorating Bath for Aching Feet

Add six drops of eucalyptus oil and six drops of rosemary oil to a bowl of very warm water. Soak your feet for 10 minutes. Run hot water over your ankles and feet for 30 seconds and then run cold water over your ankles and feet for 30 seconds. This will relax your muscles and improve circulation.

Jet Lag

Keep sachets of lavender, rosemary, and lemon with you when you travel. The scent of lavender will relax you; rosemary and lemon will keep you alert. Lavender, rosemary, and lemon scented candles, baths, and facials are also excellent ways to counteract the effects of jet lag.

Diet

Boost your immune system, lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, feel and look ten years younger! You’d be amazed at what a healthy, balanced diet can do for you.

Vegetables and Fruit: 3 or More Servings Per Day Each

High in fiber, vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, and antioxidants. Low in fat and calories, fruits and vegetables can satisfy your stomach without the unhealthy additives and refined sugars that exist in so many pre-packaged snacks and meals. Fruits and vegetables are best when consumed fresh, but some fruits and vegetables can be frozen and still retain most of their nutrients; you will want to check packaging for nutritional content. Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables by adding them to salads, blending them into dips, include them in omlettes, and make sure you top your pizza with them.

Meat, Poultry and Fish: 2 to 3 Servings Per Day

Protein, B vitamins, iron, zinc, and amino acids: meat, poultry, and fish have it all. When shopping for meat, make sure that you always choose leaner cuts and use poultry and fish rather than red meat for a majority of your meals. If you’re dying for a nice, juicy piece of meat, make sure that you cut away all visible fat and broil or grill it rather than fry it. Legumes (peas, beans, and lentils) are an excellent substitute for meat, poultry, and fish. Chickpeas, refried beans, texturized vegetable protein, and soy products such as tofu and tempeh are all tasty ways to incorporate meat-free meals into your weekly dinner routine. Vegetarians will want to make sure that they include fortified cereals or supplements containing B12 into their diets since many meat substitutes do not naturally contain this vitamin.

Whole Grains: 5 or More Servings Per Day

Who doesn’t like a nice big bowl of pasta? Whole grains are a staple in the diets of most cultures for a good reason: high in fiber and loaded with energy, grains can give you that boost you need to get through that 10K race. Choose breads, cereals, rice, and pastas with as few additives and preservatives as possible. Cakes, cookies, and pastries, may taste good, but they are packed with fat and sugar. Enjoy healthier variations of these snacks such as rice cakes or bran muffins (sweetened with honey). If you need to make that macaroni and cheese, use only half the butter or margarine suggested. Always use lowfat milk instead of whole milk or cream.

Dairy: 2 to 3 Servings Per Day

Cheese, yogurt and milk are all wonderful sources of calcium. Cottage cheese tastes great, but has less calcium than most cheeses. Low-fat, fat-free, and part-skim dairy products are kindest to your heart and waistband; many cheeses are high in fat, particularly saturated fat, and should be consumed sparingly. If you’re craving a triple-scoop banana split, do your body a favor and make it with frozen yogurt or ice milk. You’ll never taste the difference!

Alcohol: Not a Food Group!

Alcoholic beverages supply your body with little more than empty calories. If you drink alcoholic beverages, drink in moderation and make sure that you do not have to drive after you drink. Alcohol consumption is the cause of many health problems, vehicular accidents, and can lead to addiction.

Exercise

Exercise should be a part of any long-term beauty enhancement program. With a good diet, stress management, and plenty of exercise, you can have a naturally toned face and body that will amaze your friends and family.

Stretching

As an important part of any workout routine, stretching increases muscle flexibility, reduces your chances of injury, and can improve your posture. Stretching before your workout warms up your muscles and prepares them for more vigorous exercise; stretching after your workout cools down your muscles and can prevent soreness and stiffness later. Your muscles and joints should feel relaxed when you stretch so if you experience any pain, ease yourself out of your stretching position and move on to less demanding positions. Yoga and Pilates provide structured stretching techniques that can benefit your body’s various organ systems and functions, and if you prefer to exercise your artistic side, ballet is a wonderful way to stretch and focus your creative energy.

Cardiovascular Fitness

Conditioning your cardiovascular system can help you decrease your risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and other life-threatening diseases. When you condition your cardiovascular system, your body’s demand for oxygen increases and your heart becomes bigger, stronger, and more efficient. Aerobic exercise (steady, prolonged motion of large muscles) is an excellent way to improve your cardiovascular system; walking, jogging, running, swimming, and cycling are all forms of aerobic exercise. For best results, you will want to increase and sustain your heartbeat to a target rate between 60-80% of its maximum capacity for at least 20 minutes a day, three times a week. If you are just starting an aerobic conditioning routine, start out slowly and, as your body becomes more fit, gradually increase your workout until you work up to your target heart rate. As with any other exercise program, you will want to consult with your healthcare professional to make sure that it is the right program for your needs.

Weight Training

If you’re apprehensive about weight training because you don’t want to look like the guys and gals in bodybuilding magazines, the following information should alleviate many of your concerns. Lifting weights has become one of the most popular fitness activities for people of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds. Even if you’ve never touched a weight, education and implementation of the right strength training program can help you increase muscle, tendon, bone and ligament strength, improve your metabolism, and lower your risk of injury. Generally, if you’re a beginner, machines such as universal gyms are the best because they are convenient, tested for safety, and usually come with tapes and booklets that will help you begin a new strength training program. Machines tend to be on the expensive side, so you will want to do some research before you purchase any home exercise equipment. Free weights can be used to supplement conditioning provided by machines, and if you are involved in sports that demand strength training, you may actually prefer to use free weights since they allow you to work on certain areas that many exercise machines are not able to target. Again, you will want to consult with your healthcare professional before you begin an exercise program or make significant changes to your existing program.

Wellness

The search for general wellness can be found through measures taken to achieve a healthy diet, regular exercise, and plenty of rest. Good nutrition should be part of an overall healthy lifestyle, which also includes regular exercise, not smoking or drinking alcohol excessively, stress management, limiting exposure to environmental hazards and other factors. And no matter how well you eat, your genes play a big part in your risk for certain health problems. But don’t underestimate the influence of how and what you eat. At least 4 of the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S. – heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes–are directly related to the way we eat; diet is also implicated in scores of other conditions. But while the wrong diet can be deadly, eating right is among the key cornerstones of health.

As part of a healthy diet, you need vitamins, minerals and other substances from many different foods, and while some foods are better than others, no single food or food group has it all – so eating a variety of different foods is essential. Moderation means eating neither too much nor too little of any food or nutrient. Too much food can result in excess weight and even too much of certain nutrients, while eating too little can lead to numerous nutritional deficiencies and low body mass. A diet with lots of sugars has too many calories and too few nutrients for most people and can contribute to tooth decay. Choose a diet moderate in salt and sodium to help reduce your risk of high blood pressure. Maximize your use of fresh vegetables and fruits, complex carbohydrates (tofu, beans, brown rice, and lentils), white fish, chicken and turkey breast meat. Drink at least 6 glasses of liquids daily. Eat a good breakfast, eat slowly and properly chew the food, eat small meals. Don’t eat after 7 pm, don’t eat while stressed and don’t eat between meals.

A second and very important factor in wellness is exercise. Exercise benefits the whole system, but to be truly successful at exercise, you must schedule a time for it every day and stick to it just as you would any other appointment. Find a time that fits you and your lifestyle. You may have to change your lifestyle, but it’s worth it. Next choose an exercise that is right for you. You must enjoy the type of exercise you choose and be able to engage in it wholeheartedly. Start out slowly and build up your endurance and capabilities. What are some of the best exercises? They are exercises that use the majority of muscles in the body, increasing the need for oxygen in the lungs, a factor which causes the heart rate to increase. Regular exercise helps you to maintain a healthy weight and helps your heart to work more efficiently. Fitness is a combination of muscular performance, body composition, and cardiovascular fitness. Of these components, cardiovascular fitness is perhaps the most important because it reflects the body’s ability to use oxygen to release energy.

Relaxation and stress management are also critical to health and wellness. Exercise is a great way to combat stress, which, as mentioned previously, is also a crucial part of wellness. Unmanaged stress can cause muscle tightness, which can contribute to headaches, leg pain and stomachaches. Regular exercise can reduce tension and improve functioning. People are constantly on the go, but also constantly encouraged to be physically fit. However, it is rarely mentioned that to balance our busy active days, we also need enough rest and sleep. Sleep will allow your body to feel completely rested and the desire for wellness will be reached.

For a manicure that can’t be beat, follow these easy steps.

• Soak your hands in warm water with lemon juice or olive oil and apply our Natural Cuticle Softener (below) to loosen dirt and soften your cuticles. Massage your fingertips. Dry your hands, and then clean with a brush.
• Apply a base coat to your nails holding the brush parallel to the tip of your nail and sweep topcoat under nail to prevent polish chipping.
• Apply nail polish. If you’re in a hurry, use a light or sheer shade that is less likely to reveal mistakes. Use thin layers of color; lots of thin layers are less likely to chip or flake than thick layers. Apply a top coat.
• If you’re struggling to achieve the perfect French Manicure, color in the nail tip with white nail pencil. This is much easier than polish and lasts just as long! Remember to apply a top coat.
• Finish by fixing runny spots or smudges on your cuticles by dipping a cotton swab in polish remover and dabbing on problem area.
• Moisturize your hands with lotion when nail polish is completely dry.
• To extend the life of your manicure, apply a coat of clear polish every other day.

Feet

Why spend the summer hiding your feet in clumsy clogs or sweaty sneakers? Pedicures are just as easy as manicures, and the results will have you wearing strappy sandals from spring to fall!

Follow these steps to get great looking, healthy feet.

• Remove calluses and rough spots with a loofah or pumice stone and apply an exfoliating scrub. Treat cracked heals by applying mashed ripe banana to the affected area. Leave on for 10 minutes, then wash and rinse the area.
• Apply our Natural Cuticle Softener (below) to cuticles and gently push them back with your fingertips. Soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes.
• Massage your feet with moisturizing lotion. When lotion has been completely absorbed, clean the surface of your toenails with an astringent (witch hazel works well) applied to a cotton swab.
• Apply a base coat followed by nail polish. If you are short on time, use a sheer or light colored polish to minimize mistakes. Tip: separate toes with cotton balls or mini-sponges before applying base coat to keep polish smudge-free.

Natural Cuticle Softener

Mix 1 egg yolk, 2 tbsp. pineapple juice, 1 tsp. almond oil, and 1 tbsp. aloe vera juice into a pasty consistency. Apply to cuticles of clean hands or feet, leave on for 5 minutes and rinse with warm water. Push cuticles back and apply moisturizer.

 

Hair Treatments

Banana Almond Conditioner

Mash a ripe banana and mix with a few drops of almond oil. Massage into damaged hair and then leave on for about 15 minutes. Rinse with soda water and shampoo and condition as usual.

Yogurt and Honey Moisturizing Treatment

Softens, smoothes, and moisturizes dry or damaged hair. On clean, damp hair, mix 1/2 cup plain yogurt with 1 tbsp. honey and 1 egg yolk. Massage into hair, cover with a plastic bag or shower cap and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse, and shampoo thoroughly.

Egg and Olive Oil Hair Whip

Whip 2 whole eggs with 4 tbsp. of olive oil until emulsified. Smooth through hair making sure ends are coated. Cover hair with plastic bag or shower cap and allow Whip to penetrate for 10 minutes. Rinse well.

Avocado and Olive Oil Shine Treatment

Combine a mashed avocado with 1 tbsp. olive oil and 1 tsp. baking powder. Work mixture through hair, making sure that ends are covered and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.

Honey Lemon Shine

Mix 1 tsp. honey into 4 cups (1 quart) warm water. Blondes may wish to add a squeeze of lemon. After shampooing, pour mixture through hair. Do not rinse out. Dry as normal.

Oil Reducing Aloe Recipe

Combine 1/2 tsp. aloe vera gel with 1 tbsp. lemon juice. Blend with 1/8 cup of your regular shampoo, massage into hair, and rinse well.

Dandruff Deterrent

Infuse 2 tbsp. of fresh or dried rosemary and sage in 1 gallon of water for 24 hours. Use daily as a hair rinse.

Healthy Hair Spray

Boil 1 unpeeled, chopped lemon (or 1 chopped orange if your hair is dry) in 2 cups of water until half the original amount of liquid remains. Cool, strain, and pour into a spray bottle and refrigerate. If mixture is too sticky, add water. Pour 1 oz. rubbing alcohol into mixture as a preservative and spray will last for up to two weeks unrefrigerated.

Odor Eliminator

If the odor is very bad (think skunk), pour undiluted tomato juice on your hair and let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Less noticeable odors can be fixed with a diluted tomato juice solution: 1 part tomato juice to 10 parts water.

LONG GOWN

SHORT DRESS

TUBE DRESS

 HALTER TOP

TUBE DRESS

By: Jessylyn Gonzales

I once loved you so much

And for so long.

Why did you leave

When I did nothing wrong?

Your smile was once the sun

On a dark, rainy day.

It would clear up the sky

And keep it from being gray.

Your eyes were once the shine

Of the world’s glowing light.

Or were they the twinkling stars

That once filled the night?

Your hands once had power

To give me the softest touch.

They’d always give me a slight tingle,

Which is why I loved them so much.

Your hugs were once the medicine

That’d change a frown to cheer.

A shiver would run through my body

Every time I feel your love near.

Your kisses were once the wind,

They were fresh and breezy against my face.

They were gentle, so gentle,

It’s something no one will replace.

But, now you like someone else,

And it’s driving me insane.

Although it’s over for us,

The love we had still remains.

And so I tell myself…

Never again will I cry.

You were once everything to me,

That I can’t deny.

But I couldn’t keep my promise

And broke out in tears.

The hours I’ve cried feel like days,

The days feel like years.

As I bury my face in the pillow,

And cry my heart out and grieve,

I’ve learned to never give away love

If love I don’t receive.

Setting the Foundation 
     When planning to establish a new non-profit organization it is important for the board of directors to have a clear and mutual understanding of the values and mission of the organization. This effective practice explains how to work with a strategic planner and suggests issues that should be considered before filing for non-profit status.

Communication skills are just the beginning

In Communicating With Confidence,you are far beyond what you’d normally cover in a traditional communications program. With her trademark no-nonsense approach, she demonstrates simple but remarkably effective techniques and responses for communicating with greater confidence and dealing with difficult people. You’ll learn how to find your true voice, how to speak up and be heard, how to resolve conflict quickly and how to stay calm and focused in a variety of tough situations.

The table should have a centerpiece that performs a solely decorative function. If an informal dinner is being served that will fill the available places at the table, care should be taken to not make the centerpiece too large so that there will be sufficient room to place serving dishes. However, at a formal dinner in Europe the centerpiece may be huge and, including candles, may extend the full length of the table. Centerpieces should be of low height, so as not to obstruct visibility of diners’ faces.
     

Food is usually eaten with European cutlery, though with variation: the tablespoon is the main utensil, held in the right hand; the left hand holds the fork, but only as a helper to scoop food into the spoon. Unlike other Asian cultures, it isn’t considered a faux pas to use a knife to reduce foods to smaller portions at the dining table. Eating with your hands is acceptable in some cases – although rare these days, especially in the urbanised areas of the country. One would find this practise most dominantly in rural provincial areas.Eating with hands is not practised in formal dining situations, except of course with foods that normally are consumed that way, such as table breads (i.e., buttered buns). Generally, mid-level restaurants and social gatherings are also not appropriate venues for this.

If you are answering the phone at a job, your employer may have a specific way they would like you to answer the phone. If they haven’t told you, take the initiative and ask – it will show that you care about your performance and how your company is perceived.

Receiving your Business Thank You cards for business from CardsDirect, your valued Customers, clients, Colleagues and Business Associates will get a gracious “thanks” of your company’s appreciation for the professional relationships that you thankfully support and hold in highest regard. Business Thank You cards are a telling expression of professional gratitude, thankfulness, and loyalty.

CardsDirect can customize your Corporate Thank You cards for business order by professionally printing your company name or message inside, printing your return address on the envelope flap, even business logos and artwork. Show your business customers and corporate employees how much you value them by sending them Corporate Thank You cards in appreciation of their business, thank you for the referral cards, or thanks for a job well done.Save up to 40% on personalized Business Thank You cards from CardsDirect. Free ground shipping on all orders! CardsDirect also carries a full line of Personalized Business Greeting Cards for all your Corporate needs