Song Of The Week: How I Roll

I was a bit skeptical of the new Britney Femme Fatale album but was pleasantly surprised by how good the CD actually was.  Yes this album is a lot more electric but that is why I kind of love it.  The debut track "Hold It Against Me" was weak in comparison to her follow up hits "Till The World Ends" and her latest single "I Wanna Go" .  I think my favorite song on the album however has to be ""How I Roll".  It reminds me of old school Britney and also of my besties Mrs. R and Mrs. F with the line "9 lives like a kitty kat".  Also, Miss Spears gets a little naughty dropping the F bomb - loves.

The album contains many girly fantastic songs that get you in the mood for summer and fun, that's just how she rolls.

Happy {Birthday X 2} Weekend

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After a catchup week at work, allergies that led to the loss of my voice, this three day weekend ahead is much needed.  A weekend to celebrate my lovely girl Feliss and sweet B.  A weekend full of celebrations, happiness, friends and fun. 

Sending hugs and happiness to all of you!  May your weekend be full of sunshine and cheer!

XOXO

Forever Frugal Friday ~ Steal vs. Splurge

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I am not generally a "watch person".  However whenever I see my roomie sporting her Michael Kors 'Runway' Rose Gold watch or my girl Christy sporting this stunner I am ever so tempted to become a "watch person" (I have my eye on this one specifically) and just spend the money. 

However, today I saw this awesome Timeless Fashion watch at Forever and am considering buying it to test out if I can really become a "watch person".  At under $20, it is the perfect "gateway watch". 

Anyone else not a "watch person"?  And those who are sporting these gorgeous bold watches, do you use them for the functionality of a watch or more as an accessory (like a bangle)? 

SKIN CANCER SYMPTOMS

                   

How to Check Moles and Spots for Signs 

Thousands of people are plagued with skin cancer each year. In fact, Melanoma is one of the most deadly forms of skin cancer. It can spread extremely quickly and often patients have no idea they even have this deadly cancer before it’s progressed far into their body. This is most due to the fact Melanoma doesn’t often present symptoms until it has progressed greatly.

Another common skin cancer is Carcinoma (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma included) which progresses much slower, but is just as difficult to diagnose. Most people understand sun damage can lead to these horrific cancers. While people understand these cancers are very serious, they often have no idea what to look for in regards to being warning signs of skin cancer. If you have suspicious moles or want to know how to identify skin cancer, use these tips.

1. The first step to screening yourself for possibly suspicious moles is to set a routine. Make sure you check and examine your body regularly. Make note of any area featuring something unusual or any change in the skin (blistered skin, spot, sunburn, skin rashes, lesions, sores or other issues). You may need a magnifying mirror for this or a digital camera to take photos of anything you feel is unusual. You can always ask a family member to help you with this task.


2. Look at each mole you have to check for asymmetry. If your mole is much different on one side than it is on the other, it’s likely suspicious. Look at the size of the mole, the color of the mole and take note of when you discovered it. You will need to talk with a dermatologist for a proper diagnosis of these.


3. Look at any skin rashes you see. Look at the size, the color and the shape of the rash. Make notes to share with your doctor and document if you suspect the rash is a result of an allergy of some type. There are many types of rashes and their causes vary greatly. Thus, a rash alone is not often a warning sign. However, sometimes a rash called actinic keratosis can be a precursor to skin cancer. It’s often seen as a rough, dry skin lesion. It’s often limited to one area and is gray, pink or red. Sometimes it starts as a flat, scaly area of skin and then turns into a hard surface.

While it’s important to check your body for possible signs of skin cancer, remember most moles are benign and not malignant. So, even if you find a suspicious mole there is no reason to panic. Instead, make an appointment with your doctor and get it checked out further.    In the meantime, it’s vital to protect your skin on a daily basis. Often ladies understand the importance of protecting themselves from sun damage and sunburn when they are planning to be outdoors for an extended period of time. However, there is a great deal of sun damage occurring simply by being outdoors for short periods or even driving in a car on a daily basis. Instead of simply wearing sunscreen when you hit the pool or the beach, be sure to be using lotions on your face, hands and body that have included SPF protection with them. This provides a very easy way to fit sunscreen into your daily routine and can help protect you on a daily basis.

LIGHTING AND BEAUTY

                  HOW TO LOOK GLOWING IN ANY LIGHTING  CONDITIONS


Beauty is all about light. We are constantly in search of glowing skin, sparkling eyes, and shiny hair. In fact, (as any movie star will tell you) much of what passes for external beauty is a carefully controlled mixture of reflection, absorption and shadow.

Glowing Makeup: Tips that Help with Shine & Skin Appearance

People with shiny, oily skin try to make it matte, absorbing light so pores also appear smaller. Powder is the most frequent remedy for shiny skin, and the finer the powder, the more likely your chances of applying it effectively. Cheap powders can cake, or may contain talc that irritates skin. Some foundations also claim to contain powder, to minimize shine, but I haven’t found a good one yet. I’ll let you know when I do!

--Editors Tip ----------------------------------------------------------------------

A Quality Lighted Magnification Mirror is Must-Have Beauty Item

Perfect makeup and brows begin with being able to see yourself in the right light. Many bathroom vanities are constructed with low-wattage or even dim fluorescent lights that don't show you what other people will see. Do you work in daylight, under office lights or with halogen lamps? All these things affect the color of your skin and makeup, the visibility of blemishes or facial hair, even the lines on your face or the circles under your eyes. If you're blessed with great light, terrific! But most of us aren't, and it makes a difference in your overall look.

For plucking the perfect brow (or eradicating other unwanted facial hair), there's nothing more helpful than a mirror that magnifies. With magnification, you can grasp the unwanted hair with the right tweezers the first time. Add light to the mirror, and you can see everything up close; perfect for applying moisturizer, makeup, and tweezing.

See our favorite selection of lighted magnification mirrors that will make you morning beauty regime much easier to do and see. 

As women age, our skin tends to dry out, so older women are often concerned with achieving a slightly shiny finish, which can be done with powders or foundations containing mica. Unfortunately, mica can also irritate skin or create sparkle (not glow), which is all right in the evening, by candlelight, but looks garish in broad daylight. Best of all in achieving glow without sparkle or grease, is finding the right moisturizer. A good moisturizer combines water with some sort of lipid, which helps skin absorb the water and hold onto it. The most popular lipids these days come from the all-powerful soybean plant.

Natural Light is Best for Applying Makeup

Aside from using the right cosmetics, there are a few things you can do in regards to light to increase your outer beauty. First of all, pay attention to the light in your house. Your bathroom, or the room where you do your makeup should have strong, natural light. It plays hell with your ego, but you’re more likely to catch stray hairs or makeup mistakes before leaving the house, not after. Replace anything fluorescent with halogen track lights, use bright but soft-white bulbs in common areas, and make sure your reading lamp is bright but without glare, to prevent eyestrain.

Sit with the Light Behind You & Keep Direct Sun off Skin

If you’re going out for lunch and want to look your best, sit with the light behind you, and let the other person get the light in his or her face. You’ll get a halo, and your lunch partner will be temporarily blinded. Choose a shadowed spot over a bright window: it’ll keep the UV rays off your epidermis, defray crow’s feet for another month, and soften the focus.

Everyone Looks Better in Soft, Dim Candlelight

Anytime you can opt for candlelight at dinner, do that. I can’t think of a person in the world who doesn’t look better by candlelight: its soft, flickering play softens features, tones uneven colors and hides a multitude of skin imperfections. (Why do you think the best restaurants are also the candlelit ones?)
You can’t give makeup for a gift (it would be like giving control-top panty hose), but you can give the gift of perfect light. When I’m not sure what to give someone, I always choose candles and candleholders. I’m of the firm opinion that you can never have too many candles, and you can make them fit any gift occasion by altering their number or composition. If you want to spend a hundred dollars on something great, you can buy beeswax pillars. If you have six bucks, you can get a nice scented candle in a glass holder. Last week, I bought some terrific, exotic sandalwood candles for a co-worker’s birthday present, and had enough money left to buy myself a bunch, too.

Light and Inner Beauty: Light Exposure (i.e. Vitamin D) Keeps Humans Happy

Light has another important role in beauty--the beauty that comes from feeling happy and healthy. Research on light has shown that the amount of light most of us experience from day to day is inadequate for keeping us healthy. You have probably heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), in which people experience profound depression during the winter time, when light grows scarce. In northern regions like Scandinavia, Canada and Siberia, depression is significantly greater than in sunny, southern lands. But there are ways to mediate the effects of short, northern, winter-time days. SAD has long been treated by having sufferers sit under full-spectrum lights that mimic sunlight. A short exposure to bright light in the morning increases energy, decreases appetite and makes us feel better.
The human brain needs light coming through the eyes in order to create and release optimal amounts of serotonin, an important chemical for brain functioning. Without enough serotonin, we become sleepy, slow and depressed. Our bodies don't metabolize the way they should, leading to weight gain. As research becomes more sophisticated, we begin to understand the importance of daily amounts of bright light for our mental and physical health.
Outdoor light, even on a rainy day, is approximately twenty times the amount of normal indoor light. Since most of us spend our days inside, the available light is drastically cut, resulting in depression, lethargy, and a craving for sweets that hits hard once or twice a day. It is possible to remediate the effects of inadequate light by purchasing a full-spectrum light, or by making an extra effort to get outside for an hour during the day.

HOW TO CURL YOUR EYELASHES

                      HOW TO CURL YOUR EYELASHES


Why Curl Your Lashes?
One of the best ways to accentuate your eyes and make them more noticeable is by curling your eyelashes. This gives the effect of having wider, brighter eyes. Your lashes will seem to extend and be longer when they are curled. Women who have straight lashes or lashes that point down find that the change is dramatic when you curl your eyelashes. Once you apply makeup, like eyeliner and mascara, the results can be quite glamorous.

How to Choose an Eyelash Curler and How to Care For It

All you need to curl eyelashes is an eyelash curler, which can be purchased at any nearly any drugstore or supermarket with a cosmetics section. They come in plastic or metal versions. Eyelash curlers come with pads that should be changed every few months. Choose a curler that has comfortable finger holes so that you will be able to get a good grip while you are curling your lashes.

Step-by-Step Eye Lash Curling Instructionss

1. Start with bare lashes. Always curl eyelashes before applying mascara. When you curl the lashes after applying mascara, you can damage or pull out your eyelashes. You are also very likely to smudge the mascara and have to touch it up, too. You should curl your lashes before applying other eye cosmetics, like eye shadow or eyeliner.
2. Use clean equipment. Clean the eyelash curler well with alcohol or makeup remover before each use to prevent any dirt or bacteria from accidentally getting into your eyes. Even if you are the only person using the eyelash curler, it is best to be sure that it is perfectly clean.
3. Warm things up for lasting curl. Heat the eyelash curler before use with a hairdryer on LOW setting, for about 10 seconds. If you do not have a hairdryer handy, you can accomplish this by running the eyelash curler under hot water for a few seconds. When the tool is heated, it is easier to curl the lashes. Just be sure to double check and make sure that the curler is not too hot before putting it too close to your eyes.
4. Positioning the eyelash curler. Be careful to avoid gripping the lashes too close to the eyelid. You can either pinch the eyelid or pull the lashes out. Position the curler toward the tips of your eyelashes, and gently pump and squeeze the curler and hold for a few seconds. Do this at the base, in the middle and at the tips of the lashes. Some people have shorter lashes, so this may be more difficult. You should always use gentle motions when working on your eyelashes; the skin in this area is very delicate and the lashes are easily pulled out. You can curl both the upper and lower eyelashes, but most people tend to only curl the upper lashes. Because the lower lashes are generally shorter, they are more difficult to “grab” with the curler and less likely to hold the curl properly.
5. Comb lashes and apply mascara. After curling your lashes, use a lash comb to comb out any overlapping eyelashes so that they are perfectly ready for the application of mascara. Comb gently again after applying mascara to remove any clumps and even out the coverage.

What to Avoid When Curling Lashes

• Never apply mascara before curling lashes
• Be sure to not grip lashes too close to the eyelids
• Be sure that the curler is not too hot—use a low setting on the blow dryer and test before using
• Use even pressure to avoid crimping lashes or leaving a crease

Now you are ready to use these tips and curl your eyelashes properly, and also what to avoid if you want to have the appearance of a little extra lash length. Curling your eyelashes is a great way to add brightness to your face, without having to opt for false eyelashes to get noticed.

Word Up Wednesday

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Summer, Summer, Summertime...

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Summer has finally arrived!  Anyone else so pumped for the long summer days, and warm summer nights?  June 21st is one of my favorite days of the year because it instantly lifts my spirits and reminds me of being a kid. 

This summer I am the most excited for...

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lots and lots of watermelon.  watermelon juice, watermelon beer, watermelon water, watermelon popsicles, watermelon itself.  yum.

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late night lounging with friends around a fire pit.

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remember the days of water balloon fights???? yeah, i decided it is time to bring those into my weekends way more often this summer

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splashing in the ocean, strolls along the beach.

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inner tube lounging in any pool.

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poolside beers are my favorite.

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visits from and visits to loved ones.

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oh my gosh i am so excited!  what do you dolls have in store or look forward to the most this summer?

all together now...

summer

summer,

summertime.

time to sit back and unwind.

Song Of The Week: The Big Bang

The other morning while I got ready for work listening to VH1's "Jump Start" I heard the song "The Big Bang" and since I couldn't see the TV assumed from the sound of it that it was a new Maroon 5 song featuring Amy Winehouse.  When I stepped closer to the TV I saw Miley Cyrus and the boy who played drug dealing Damien from Gossip Girl and I became very curious. 

Turns out this awesome song is by the band Rock Mafia and came out back in November of 2010 (where have I been).  It's a little bit jazzy, a little bit pop-y and a whole lot of goodness.  I have been listening to it nonstop since Friday and have yet to grow tired of it.

Even if I am little late to the party, this song is sure to help summer go out with a big, big, bang!

FUR fashion shoes

                                        FUR FASHION SHOES

Forever Frugal Friday - Steal vs. Splurge

Carrie Bradshaw Photo Via Here

Back when SATC2 came out, I was loving this Halston Heritage Pleated Cocktail Dress.  However I wasn't loving the $435 price tag for a dress that essentially doesn't do much for any figure but was worn by Carrie Bradshaw so it is instantly fashionable.  Fast forward a year a few months and good old Forever 21 has this Tired Pleat Dress for a smashing price of $22.80.  Now that is more to my liking. 

This dress is perfect for those hot summer days (hint, hint, LA) and warm summer nights.  Plus it never hurts to let your inner Carrie Bradshaw out to play. 

fur fashion collection

                                                   fur fashion collection