Skip the foundation If you have acne the first thing you want to do is slather on the thick foundation.  Don’t do it; foundation is for women over 35. Not only will it cover up your natural beauty, but foundation on a teenager looks anything but natural. Instead, cover up blemishes with concealer, then follow with a powder or tinted moisturizer. Tinted moisturizers tend to be lighter than heavy foundations.

You pat concealer in, you never rub it in We know this from watching the Tyra Banks show. When applying concealer, put a bit on the pad of your middle finger and pat it in; never rub. Got acne? Pat the concealer on top of it.

Play up your lips or your eyes, never both If you are wearing heavy eye makeup, go for nude lips with just a bit of gloss. Prefer the drama of dark lipstick? Keep face light (stay away from heavy blush) and wear only mascara on your eyes and a light eyeshadow. Don’t heavily line your eyes. Play up both and you’ll look like a clown. …And never, ever line lips in a darker color than your gloss or lipstick.

Less is more Ever notice how some of your friends look best with no makeup at all? No matter your age, too much makeup makes you look worse. If you wear foundation, powder, blush, liner, mascara, eyeshadow, lip liner and gloss on an everyday basis, then you’re overdoing it; tone it down.  All you really need is a great mascara, concealer for blemishes, and gloss. Add a pop of blush in winter.

Vaseline is your best friend Vaseline is a great, cheap eye makeup remover. It’s also great for fixing chapped, scaly lips. Slather on a bunch of Vaseline, then use a toothbrush to massage lips. Wipe the excess off on a tissue. Your lips will be smooth and soft.

You can never go wrong with layers Long layers are great for any hair type: Super curly, straight or wavy. It makes thin hair appear thicker, curly hair appear manageable, and wavy hair appear just-got-back-from-the-beach sexy. Just make sure you don’t get too many layers cut in. Too many short layers is dated.

When can you skip sunscreen?  Never Here’s a trick we wish we knew: The first beauty product you should apply every day is sunscreen, even if it’s cloudy or rainy outside. Why? Good habits start young and if you use sunscreen now, you’ll have gorgeous skin when you’re 50, 60, 70, and so on. Remember, the sun’s UV rays can penetrate clouds and car windows.

Wrapping hair around the barrel creates waves There’s nothing cooler than long, layered waves. To get them, wind hair AROUND the barrel of a large curling iron. Reverse direction for each 2-inch section (wind up for one, down for another).

Don’t let nails go Not into manicures and pedicures? No worries. Just make sure to keep nails clean and the same length. If you do want to paint them, don’t keep the polish on until half of it is chipped away. Also, there’s nothing worse than too-long toenails. Keep nails clipped between pedicures! People tend to judge others by the care they put into their hands and feet.

Don’t line the inside of your eyes It will make your eyes appear smaller. Instead, line just at the lash line. Also, an obvious line doesn’t look natural; smudge the line just a bit.

Oily hair? Invest in a dry shampoo If you have blonde hair, sprinkling a bit of baby powder on your roots and at your crown will soak up excess oils. If you have brown hair, you might be better off with a dry shampoo for your hair color.

Scrubs are great for dry skin If you have dry, itchy skin in winter, invest in a scrub and hand mitts and scrub away in the bathtub. Make sure to slather on a thick moisturizer afterward. For dry, callousy feet, buy a pumice stone. They work better than any of the other wimpy options on the market.

www.beautyabout.com

Looking Your Best at Any Age

Sure, you know all the latest trends and best designers, but there is more to fashion than simply wearing the newest looks. Dressing for your lifestyle and age are essential to help you look your best.

20’s Girls

Girls in their 20’s are young, fabulous and on the move, making it a great time for experimentation and fashion-forward looks.  The main fashion concern for this group is balancing fashion risks with creating a work wardrobe. “Chances are that you are on a budget too, so outfits that pull double-duty will be your BFF’s.”   Wear the fun, patterned dresses you love for weekends to the office with a cardigan or blazer — just be careful of skirt length. And sorry girls, but it’s time to ditch oversized sweaters, torn jeans and furry boots. However, you can replace them with classics like cardigans and pencil skirts in unique colors and patterns.

30’s Women

30’s is a time to get more serious about your style, and to hone and refine your image. Wear clothes that fit well and make you feel confident. “I know personally in the 30’s, we started to weed out miniskirts, but that was also because we don’t find them flattering to our legs. They no longer felt right,” it is time to keep your fashion edge in an age-appropriate way. “Now is the time to put aside the micro-minis and go with skirts that are a bit closer to the knee, especially for work.  Also, avoid crop tops, graphic tees or super-youthful prints. It’s OK to grow up,” and it’s important to incorporate quality, investment pieces — like a nice handbag or versatile dress.

40’s+ Ladies

Wearing clothes that fit naturally into your lifestyle becomes increasingly important once you’ve hit your 40’s. You need to invest in quality fabrics, cuts, and classic clothes that flatter your figure while steering clear of juvenile prints and tight or revealing clothing. You can still be fashion-forward by pairing simple patterns and monochromatic dresses with the right shoe and statement jewelry. You can get away with bigger pieces of jewelry because you exude the confidence it takes to pull these pieces off, so rock them.  Still have a hard time deciding what to ditch?  Get rid of clothes that came from your daughter’s favorite trendy store.

Enjoy every stage in your life.  At the end what matters the most is that you feel good with yourself.

www.sheknows.com

It is not unusual to find people needing a quick fix for their cash flow from time to time, especially when unexpected expenses pop up to throw a wrench into what might otherwise be a well managed budget. When this happens, an individual will have to decide what they are going to do. Are they going to let an already overdue bill go so that they can pay for car repairs or purchase the medicine they were just prescribed, or are they going to take out a short-term loan to get through to the next paycheck? The choice is not always pleasant, but it has to be made.

How Payday Loans Work

With a payday loan you can typically borrow from $50 to $500 and all the lender will require is some basic contact information along with verification of your employment. They will also require that you write out a post-dated check in the amount of the loan plus the amount of the finance charge and/or interest rate.

If for some reason you are not able to make the payment in its entirety on the due date, you can simply contact the payday loan company and ask for an extension. Most of the time this is doable, but you will then have to write another post-dated check for the previous amount plus an additional finance charge. Your loan company may also require that you give them permission to electronically withdraw the funds from your account to automatically repay what you owe.

Payday Loan Advantages

While most payday loans carry a higher finance charge and interest rate, they are easier to get and therefore, some people prefer them on a short-term basis over a bank loan or borrowing from family and friends. One thing that attracts people to payday loans is that the loan is not dependent upon you passing a credit check; in fact, a credit check is typically not even performed. The application process is easy and a loan can be acquired over the phone, in person, or online.

The approval process is generally very short and often times can be completed in a matter of hours with the amount of the loan credited to your bank account and ready to use. There are no upfront costs incurred so that you will have access to the full amount of the loan right away.

Payday Loan Disadvantages

As with anything else you do in life, there are naturally going to be some disadvantages to taking out a payday loan. The first disadvantage is that the interest rate is much higher than with most other types of loans, and when it is calculated over a 12 month period, you may actually be paying about 360% interest in cases where you are unable to pay it off on time. Another thing to consider is that your rates will continue to climb each time you extend the payoff date. And as for that post-dated check you wrote, if the loan company sends it for payment and it bounces, you will own a bounced check fee as well. Your credit rating will be negatively affected by this and you may lose your checking account for repeated offenses.

What Should You Do?

If you find yourself frequently in need of a little financial assistance to get you out of a crunch in the money department, you really should take stock in the way you handle money. If you find that you are spending more than you should on frivolous items, cut back and place the money you save from this endeavor into a savings account so that you will have that much needed financial fix when you need it.

Do not use payday loans as a source of funds unless there is NO other way to get the cash!

1. Mix it up. Every little bit counts! Missed your daily workout? Don’t worry; you can still fit something in. Watch one of your favorite TV shows and do strength training moves during the commercial breaks: lunges, squats, crunches—mix it up. Giving yourself mini, achievable health goals can go a long way.

2. Lift weights & your spirits. Studies show that even a little bit of exercise can affect the mood-controlling parts of your brain. Try a bicep curl by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart. Place your arms at your side and slowly bend your arm, bringing the weight up toward your face. Do 12 reps each and the next time you have a rough day remember to reach for a dumbbell instead of junk food.

3. Change your scenery. Are workouts getting a little boring? Trade the treadmill for some new terrain and explore a great path in your neighborhood. Tired of running? Go for a long hike or a swim. A new environment can breathe some fresh air into your routine.

4. Be a team player. Join a recreational team at work or organize a day for you and your friends to play a game of kickball. Don’t worry about not being a great athlete—you burn calories whether you make contact with the ball or not.

5. Leave the magazine on the coffee table. It might seem like a great way to keep yourself entertained during a workout, but if you can read captions in a gossip magazine, chances are you’re not pushing yourself hard enough. If you are really into reading material, try downloading a podcast or listening to an audio book.

6. Check your bags. Not your goals. Traveling these days will definitely get your heart rate up, but not in a good way. Take your gym clothes on your next trip and take advantage of hotel gyms and swimming pools. The equipment might not be state of the art, but there’s never a shortage of towels. Hotel with no gym? Try push-ups and lunges in your room.

7. Make prime time your prime time. Instead of taking a seat on the sofa, find a spot on the floor and concentrate on strength training during the half-hour episode. Side crunches and leg lifts will help tone your core without blocking your view of the tube. At a commercial, take your heart rate up a notch with sets of jumping jacks, lunges, and push-ups. You’ll stay caught up on your favorite shows and your fitness routine.

8. Defy your desk job. More and more occupations require workers to sit in front of a computer for 6 or more hours. And that lack of movement can take a toll on your body. Make a point to move every hour, whether it’s to physically deliver a message or just to circle the office. It will break up the monotony of your workday, help you get to know your coworkers and restore some fitness to your 9-to-5.

9. Take a class. Signing up for a spin or aerobics class at your local gym is obviously a great way to get into shape. But classes also come with more incentives to work out. The fact that you pay for it will push you to get your money’s worth and the energy from everyone in the room will help improve yours. Don’t worry if you don’t know all the steps at first—think of what a big step you’re making for yourself.

10. Optimize your playlist. Music has an amazing power to pump us up and get us going. Rather than relying on shuffle to get you through a workout, organize your songs carefully. Put your favorite songs at the beginning, middle, and toward the end of the time you’ll be working out to motivate you. Change it up every week by adding new songs or switching Mp3 players with a friend.

www.specialk.com

Hudson River Valley, New York

It should be a given that any visitor to New York City breaks for a day or two ‘upstate’ in the Hudson River Valley, a slice of rural Americana just north. It’s a real city break, with leafy drives, wineries and plenty of farm-to-table foodie options that draw even spoiled-for-choice Manhattanites away from the city. A favorite spot to stay is straight out of a B-52s video. No surprise. It’s former ‘52 singer Kate Pierson’s Lazy Meadow, a renovated ‘50s cabin complex near Woodstock designed by the same pals who did up the ‘Love Shack’ for the video.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Seen Cincy lately? The pretty city on the Ohio River – off the main cross-country interstates – gets bypassed by many road trippers, but it’s quietly transformed itself in the last decade into a worthy weekend getaway. Life centers around the river – much which can be seen by foot: river walkways are best on the Kentucky side, reached via a couple bridges including John Roebling’s Suspension Bridge (a prequel to his famous Brooklyn Bridge). Narrow, twisting (and steep) brick roads of the Mt Adams district lead past 19th-century Victorian townhouses and the free Cincinnati Art Museum, while the once-dangerous, emerging Over-the-Rhine, just north of downtown, is home to the Findlay Market and a sprawling collection of historic Italianate architecture. Best, though, is the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, open since 2004, on the banks of the river where many slaves escaped to freedom in the 19th century.

California Gold Country

Tahoe and Yosemite gets all the mountain love in California, but an hour closer to San Francisco (and cheaper and less crowded) is Gold Country. Towns that ooze century-old ambience are strung out like throw-back pearls along Hwy 49, a fun drive that passes stops like Jamestown’s historic train, a tiny gold town called Volcano (with no volcano), wineries (some even consider the region a contender to Napa and Sonoma), caves, gold-panning spots and a good overnight choice: the artsy town of Nevada City. Winter is also a treat with snow parks for kids and Bear Valley for hard-core winter sports – plus there’s sledding options galore. That’s how the locals do it.

Chicago

Chicago’s going to be busy in 2012, with G8 and NATO summits based here – though the main attraction lies outside politics. Instead, occupy the Magnificent Mile! Chicago has incredible art offerings at places like the Art Institute and Millennium Park, some of the country’s best restaurants and world-class festivals like Lollapalooza and Taste of Chicago. And the Obamas’ old neighborhood on the south side – Hyde Park – is seeing more visitors for its lakeside walks and a look at Frank Lloyd Wright’s ‘prairie style’ Robie House, up this year for World Heritage Site status.

Yellowstone National Park

The world’s first national park – turning 140 next year – attracts nearly four million visitors a year, but just a trickle go in winter; consider it. Rates are lower (the Old Faithful Snow Lodge has rooms starting at $95, a fraction of summer rates), and the scenery has its own wintery majesty, when waterfalls turn to curtains of ice, geysers shoot higher and boiling rivers billow with steam. You can get about by ski shuttles, snowshoe (rangers lead free tours) or – best yet – cross-country skis, as hiking trails of all levels transform into some of the country’s best trails. Why wait for summer?
 

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AROUND THE HOUSE BEAUTY TIPS

1. Right from the can, Crisco is a big secret among beautiful women. Use it to remove makeup and as a highly effective moisturizer. Hospitals even use it to treat psoriasis and eczema.
2. To remove the redness from pimples, rub a tiny spot of visine on the pimple.
3. Rubbing Pepto-Bismol® on your skin is a better facial than peel off masks.
4. Acne Home Remedy-Beat an egg white until frothy with a fork, and use as a face mask. Leave on face for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. For one or a few breakouts, use twice a day. For more severe acne, use twice a day for a week. You will be amazed at the results.
5. Raw potato slices contain potassium to take away dark circles under the eye.
6. To make your own facial mask, mix a handful of 100% all-natural kitty litter with a 1/2 cup water and apply a facemask.
7. Degrease oily hair with witch hazel when you don’t have time to shampoo. Apply to roots with a cotton ball.
8. The best leave-in conditioner for your hair is nothing other than laundry room fabric softener. It’s very strong, so be sure to dilute it. Suggestions: 1 cup water, 1/2 cup fabric softener.  When coloring hair – Color hair that has not been washed for 1 day, the natural hair oils will assist in making the hair color application more successful. The color will cling better to hair that is not dry.
9. Oily skin holds perfume scents longer than dry skin. So, before applying perfume, rub a very thin layer of Vaseline or petroleum jelly on your skin and you will smell delicious for hours.
10. Your nail polish will always be smooth and easy to apply if you store it in the refrigerator. Frosted nail polish will not separate; however, if it has hardened or is gummy, place the bottle in a pan of boiling water. The polish will be like new.

www.thefunplace.com

When it comes to trying to get a new car or a new house, there is nothing worse than having bad credit. Poor credit ratings show that you were extended credit and you either charged it all out or failed to pay back what you owed. When companies look at bad credit reports, they have a hard time believing that you will pay them back when you failed to pay everyone else back. Luckily, there is such a thing as Bad Credit Repair.

Starting Off Smart

Of course, the best thing to do is to avoid getting bad credit in the first place but sometimes things fall completely out of our hands and issues grow out of control. Maybe you lost your job and barely had enough to buy food. Or maybe you went through a divorce where your spouse damaged your credit behind your back without you even knowing about it. Then again, there is that possibility that you simply were not responsible with your credit and finances and you hurt your credit all on your own.

No matter what it was that caused the bad credit, all that matters now is stepping up to do something about it in order to fix it.

Steps to Take

The first step to take is to start making sure that your monthly expenses are being handled timely and correctly. This will begin your journey to better credit as the thirty-day late charges will no longer continue to build up. This will start to help your credit score right away but it will be a slow process and it is a bad credit fix that you need.

While doing that you need to make sure that you are doing everything possible in order to make sure that you are paying off your bills.

Turning To Credit Counselors

There are many credit counselors out there that can work with you in order to lower and pay off your debt. Within a matter of a few years working with them, you could very well find yourself out of debt, depending on how far in the hole you started in. Even though there are people who would not recommend credit counselors, it is important to remember that there are scam artist out there who will prey on the unsuspecting.

Before signing up to work with any company, you need to make sure that you have done research on them. The right kind of company really can give you help with a bad credit repair services. Once you get your debt under control, it is time to reapply for credit cards and possibly take out a small personal loan. Then make your payments on time and for the amount due each month. Even though one would think that this is the worst thing a person could do, there are benefits. A Better Credit Score for one thing.

More Credit

Secure credit cards will help you build your credit rating back up and since you are putting money into the card to charge out, you are in total control and not in much risk of going overboard. These steps for will help make sure that your credit is on the road to recovery.

www.financetips101.com

Heart Arrhythmia

Our heart is one of the most important organs in our body, and it’s important to make sure it is healthy. Regular visits with your family doctor will give you peace of mind.

Unbeknownst to most, inside all of us, resides a killer.  This killer has the stealth and cunning, far superior, than any militarily trained sniper.  This killer has a name…

This destroyer of life is called; an “irregular” heart beat.  Our heart is a mass muscle, which directs our blood flow, driven by electrical impulses to sustain our life.  Our sinus node is the mechanism which gives our heart, its natural rhythm.  When the sinus node malfunctions, an abnormal electrical impulse develops.

A person may become dizzy, feel lightheaded, quiver, have shortness of breath, chest discomfort, heart flutters or pounding, and even painful extra beats. Some people may have no symptoms at all. Thus the name arrhythmia arises, (without rhythm), a serious heart condition, up to and including death, if left undiagnosed and untreated.  There are many treatments for these conditions.

There are two major types of arrhythmias.  When the heart beats too quickly; over 100 beats per minute, it is Tachycardia.  When the heart beats too slowly: less than 60 beats per minute, it is Bradycardia.  Other common arrhythmias include A-Fid, or Atrial Fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), and Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome- delayed muscle reaction to the impulse and buildup of additional muscle pathways in the heart muscle.

I am not a physician, but I do have an arrhythmia.  I was born healthy and was athletic growing up, joined the Military and it was never detected.  It wasn’t until my mid-thirties, while employed by United Postal Service, that I went for a mandatory management physical.  It was discovered and deemed mild, nothing to be alarmed about, but I was now self-aware of my condition.

     I urge everyone to get a simple checkup, our love ones deserve to have the best of us; let a physician “take out, the sniper, from within”. May you all live a long life.

Phyllis R. Hurst