Friday, February 22, 2013

5 Steps to Eliminate Under-Eye Circles & Puffiness




1.  Be sure when using skincare for eyes, use a serum or eye gel.  These products are specifically designed for helping with darkness and puffiness.  Eye creams are great for lines and wrinkles.

2.  Brightening sticks are great when applied first to the under-eye area, corner to corner.  This helps lighten the area so less concealer is needed.

3.  Color correctors are great when used before concealer.  They help to neutralize any green or blue tones circles may have.  Use a mauve/rose color for lighter skin and an orange/yellow color for darker skin.

4.  Conceal!  Always apply with a brush and only at the inner corner where the concern lies.  You are not dark or puffy on the outer corner!

5.  Finally, set with a thin, loose powder so the makeup can stay in place all day.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Spring Break Activities for the Family: On a Budget!


Thanks to Angie Freel of the Saline County Cooperative Extension for sharing this great spring break ideas.
·         Have a camp out in the yard.  Pitch a tent and barbecue outside.
·         Plan an afternoon at a local park. Take a picnic lunch, kites, and balls & bats for a softball game. Let the kids invite several buddies and you’ve got a memorable spring day.
·         For a Spring learning adventure, take a hike in a nature area and learn to identify birds, trees, plants, and flowers. Spring is a natural time for kids to explore science and nature.  The library offers lots of books to help! State Parks have great Spring Break programs!
·         Have a board game day. Fun to set up a board game table outside too!
·         PJ parties still rock! Get ready for popcorn, DVDs and pillow fights. No matter what age sleepovers are always a hit!
·         Do nothing.  Yes, that’s right. In today’s time of over-scheduled kids and parents, a day or two of totally unscheduled time, when your kids can sleep late, play creatively, or work on a hobby, and generally relax, may be just what the doctor ordered.
·         Museum Day – many museums offer Spring Break specials. Check their websites for details. Trucks Galore Saturday, March 16 10am - 2pm. At Mid America Science Museum’s 4th annual ‘Keep On Truckin'. Children of all ages have a chance to explore full-size fire trucks, police cars, construction equipment, and a variety of other vehicles in a family festival atmosphere. Enjoy hands-on activities in a safe environment, while supporting the Museum. $5 per person (all ages), and the first 100 kids will receive a free event t-shirt. Admission to Keep on Truckin' also entitles you to a discounted admission to the Museum (good for that Saturday only).
·         Movie Day – movie theaters usually offer movies during spring break at discounted rates during the day
·         Downtown LR Day – trolley, presidential library, Razorback, great food, Museum of Discovery, Old State House, The Department of Arkansas Heritage, Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum – USS Razorback and more! $6 adults $4 children
·         Scavenger Hunt – Easy – use photos for smaller children
·         Library – Always something going on and usually FREE
·         Help out Community – serve your community – Meals on Wheels, Maintaining flower beds, yard work for elderly, etc.
·         Spring Break Skatearama - Each day of Spring Break, the Arkansas Skatium hosts special events and themed skates for youngsters. From noon-1 p.m. on Mon. and Fri., children ages 5 and up are invited to a free skating or hockey class. Dress up in western wear on Texas Tuesday or beachy duds on Tropical
·         Thursday for free skate rentals. And on Winter Wednesday, snow will come down inside the ice arena, and kids can build a snowman.
·         Geocache – Great family treasure hunting activity that can be done right in your home town. Using a smart phone or GPS unit, you will search for hidden treasures that are hidden everywhere! See www.geocaching.com.

Wednesday, February 06, 2013

Valentine's Wisdom from Rebecca Ward


Thanks to Rebecca Ward for sharing this great Valentine's Day blog post.

Valentines Day is a marketing bonanza for jewelers and florists, no doubt about it. Probably restaurateurs too as dining out is usually part of the Valentine Day scenario. Do you know what your significant other wants for Valentines? What is he or she expecting you to do...or say or buy? Most have expectations on such a media hyped holiday just as planned.  And that's my focus in this blog...expectations. We've all got 'em and too many times we don't tell anyone what they are. We keep them a secret magically hoping that the one who needs to know what they are, WILL know and follow through to the letter to meet each of them.  And how often does that really happen? Not nearly enough or who would write songs and poems?

My father, one of the most thoughtful men I've ever known, resented holidays because he said they forced him into buying something so that the gift itself never meant as much as a gift that was given "just because."  I can understand his thinking but my thinking was if it's time to recognize a person because it's Christmas or a birthday or whatever the occasion is by giving them a gift of goods or services, the doing of it says there is meaning. Most always Dad would bow to custom but I remember vividly one year when Mother said "Don't worry about it.I don't expect anything." Ha! He believed her, came home empty handed, and she was tearful and quiet all evening. I was confused. He had asked what she would like for Valentine's Day, she had said "nothing" and he didn't bring her anything. He got her nothing which is what she asked for. I wondered why she didn't tell him what her expectations really had been. I ate my little note-hearts from school and pondered the mystery of adult communication. Wow. I asked Santa Claus for everything I could imagine and the Easter Bunny too. No problems there for me.

Many years later I learned that most of us have some difficulty asking for what we want, trouble sharing what our expectations are so we just keep quiet and hope that the power of voodoo supernatural magic will transmit our deepest and most detailed expectations to the ones from whom we expect and all will turn out just great! When you're all grown up and have to take responsibility for yourself, it feels a little risky to ask for something from someone who really matters to you. Maybe he/she will say "No." or not have the time or care enough to try to make a wish of yours come true. So that would not feel good but better to find out sooner than later.

If you want a box of candy in a heart-shaped box covered in red satin with a big old bow on top, tell your sweetheart. And if you only want creams in milk chocolate, let him know. If your heart is set on red roses or yellow or even calla lilies, let the poor guy know. And if you don't say a word to him, then don't say a word to him if he doesn't get it right!!

And guys, if you're hankering for something special from your lady, let her know or see above!

Monday, February 04, 2013

Post Workout Makeup & Skincare


Thanks to Tess Wilmans-Higgins for sharing these post workout makeup and skincare tips. For more like this this, visit Tess' blog: http://www.peaceandlipgloss.com/ .

I love that awesome rosy glow I get after a session at the gym. However, I don't love the smeared mascara and sweaty pores that can be left behind. Here are my favorite ways to get ready in a jiff after a workout.
  1. Makeup Remover Wipes Use these after you shower off to remove any dirt and leftover makeup.
  2. Tinted Moisturizer or BB Cream Don't cover up that rosy flush with tons of heavy foundation. Sheer formulas are more youthful anyway. Tinted moisturizers will provide moisture, SPF protection and a light coverage. BB creams pack a whollop and act as primer, moisture and coverage all in one. Some don't have SPF, tho, so be on the lookout for one that does.
  3. Concealer Gotta have a great concealer to brighten up under the eyes. I like Makeup Forever HD concealer.
  4. Multitasking Products Use a cream tint for lips and cheeks. I like Stila cream blush. Julie Hewett makes a beautiful cream product called Shimmy that is awesome for eyeshadow and to highlight the face. Products that do double-duty save you time when you've got to hustle back to work.
  5. Lovely Lashes My clients LOVE their eyelash extensions and many say they don't need eye makeup after a workout because their extensions look so good! If you don't have lash extensions, a great mascara is a must. Find your fave and place a business or credit card behind the lashes and wiggle the wand upward from the base of the lash line. That will catch any mascara from getting onto the eyelid and will give the base of the lashes a thick, black look and eliminate the need for eyeliner.

I hope you try out these tips after your next trip to the gym!

Love, Sweat, and Lipgloss
Tess