SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS WE HAVE ALL COME IN CONTACT WITH...

PROBLEM: Bad Breath....
*salt water, fennel, licorice sticks or fresh parsley*
After each meal, sprinkle 1-2tsp into a glass of water and swish in your mouth for about 20 seconds; SPIT then repeat this three or four times.
WHY DO THIS? Bacteria thrive on food stuck in your mouth and this can cause bad breath. The salt rinse helps to remove those bits of food. Chewing on fennel, licorice or parsley after eating can sweeten your breath and mask that bad breathe smell!

PROBLEM: Hickey.....
*frozen spoon, pure aloe vera gel*
Coat the hickey with aloe vera then rub it in with the back of the spoon ( keep one in the freezer ) for about 10 minutes daily to speed up the fading of the hickey.
WHY DO THIS? A hickey is basically a bruise. Ice constricts blood vessels, so theres less bleeding under the skin; the aloe vera helps reduce inflammation.

PROBLEM: Gas/Bloating....
*peppermint oil, water*
Put a couple drops of peppermint oil in an 8oz glass of water and drink it. If discomfort continues then have another glass.
WHY DO THIS? Most painful gas occurs when stubborn bacteria in your intestine don't easily digest, resulting in spasms and pain. The menthol in peppermint oil helps ease those spasms and controls your discomfort.

PROBLEM: Menstrual Cramps.....
*about 1tbs dried raspberry leaves, decaffeinated tea bags (caffeine will make you cramp up more), and water.*
Steep raspberry leaves and tea bag in boiling water. DRINK UP!
WHY DO THIS? The heat relaxes the uterus and can prevent pain causing contractions. Raspberry leaves have been used for years to alleviate cramps, though doctors aren't sure why this plant is so soothing....

THE SIX MONTH COUNTDOWN TO BEAUTY PERFECTION

"Planning your hair, nail, skin and body regimen before you say I DO" By: Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa.......Found this article in Chicago Bride Magazine and thought I would share this with all your newly engaged women out there!

ENJOY!!

 **6 MONTHS**
-Schedule complimentary skin and makeup consultations
-Begin booking facial, massage and body services every 4-6 weeks
-Consult now with your colorist about hair color changes or highlights
**4 MONTHS**
-Strengthen weak nails by setting up bi-weekly manicure appointments
-Schedule a series of customized hair and scalp treatments for shiny, healthy wedding day hair
**2 MONTHS**
-Decide on natural eyebrow shape with a waxing specialist
-Confirm all wedding day hairstyling/makeup appointments for you and your bridal party
**1 MONTH**
-Try out hairstyles with your stylist using your headpiece or veil. Share photographs of your favorite looks with your stylist
-Book a Bridal Trial appointment with a makeup artist to find your perfect wedding day look
-Purchase any cosmetics you need for wedding day touch-ups
**1 WEEK**
-Meet with your hair stylist for final touch-ups on highlights and hair shaping
-Schedule a facial to relax and prep your skin to glow
-Have your eyebrows, legs and bikini line waxed
**1 DAY**
-Schedule a manicure, pedicure and relaxing massage for you and your groom
-Wash your hair the day before for a wedding day up-do, Natural hair oils will help set the style
**THE BIG DAY**
-Final hair and makeup appointment for bride and wedding party
-Makeup application no more than a few hours before photos
-Nail polish touch ups
-Smile and enjoy every moment of this special day!!

 :)

Things men HATE but women LOVE about beauty/makeup

1.) HEAVY FOUNDATION and HEAVY POWDER APPLICATION
"no guy wants to kiss a girl on the cheek and then find he wearings foundation himself." Don't cake on the foundation and powder to disguise your "imperfections" everyone has them so embrace them and be YOU.
2.) BUMPS or POOFS
"be wary of anything that makes your head look unnaturally larger."  Its one thing to pull your hair back out of your face but we don't need any more Snooki's in the world.
3.) NEON LIPSTICK
"orange lips are definitely a departure from what we're used to and not necessarily something a lot of guys I know really respond to just quite yet..." most guys are "hip" on the trends so bright, bold colors on your lips might freak them out a tad.
4.) TOO-THIN BROWS
"overly plucked brows"Bold brows are in..... stay natural ladies
5.) BOLD EYESHADOWS
"smoky eyes when don't right are great, very sexy, very attractive but when done wrong they look a total mess"Learn the proper way to apply eyeshadow before branching out and trying "new" colors and techniques at home.
6.) ROSY CHEEKS
"rouge is for old ladies" Bronze is the new "blush" it gives a more natural appearance to the face rather than a bold image that the rosy blush color would.
7.) TWO TONED LIPS
"when I see thin lines drawn around a pair of lips, I think : is this part of some gang initiation?"
Lining your lips is not necessary and more, but if you must stay natural and closest to your lip color.
8.) GLITTER
"women need to be judicious with it" Every girl loves shimmer and glittery things.. so when the whole concept of "eye" glitter came out... it was a craze. The issue is glitter goes everywhere it never stays in one stop so be sparing when applying to your face. REMEMBER LESS IS MORE.




Article by Piper Weis from the Shine Staff... when I read this article I just knew I had to share this with you all, I am guilty of doing some of these things and it is funny to have a males perspective on our appearance to truly see what they do and do not like. ENJOY! :)

SPECIAL THIS DECEMBER 2011 ONLYYYYY

Don't miss out on the DEAL BREAKER SPECIALS!!!!!
Do you need your haircut before the holidays but cant find the extra cash???
Is your haircut dull and you need something to spice it up a bit for those holiday gatherings?
What about your eyebrows??? Whens the last time you gave them attention??
HERE IS WHERE I CAN HELP YOU :)
I realize that the holidays are a money clinching time so here are some special deals just for you :)!! Take advantage of them because they are only until the end of this month!!!!!

$20 for a haircut with a FREE eyebrow wax
$60 for haircolor with a FREE haircut 
$5 for an eyebrow or lip waxing

BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!!!!!
 <3 Danielle Ruggiero

29 ways to STAY creative

Like anyone thats creative we always tend to have those funks where we cant think of anything... or a moment where we just feel drained from creativity.... Some of us have the opposite problem where we have so much going on in our heads that functioning like a normal person has become a chore in itself..
Heres a few ways to stay on task and get everything in that creative mind out.....

1.) MAKE LISTS
2.)CARRY A NOTEBOOK WITH YOU EVERYWHERE
3.) TRY FREE WRITING
4.) GET AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER
5.) QUIT BEATING YOURSELF UP
6.) TAKE BREAKS
7.) SING IN THE SHOWER
8.) DRINK COFFEE
9.)LISTEN TO NEW MUSIC
10.) BE OPEN
11.) SURROUND YOURSELF WITH CREATIVE PEOPLE
12.) GET FEEDBACK
13.) COLLABORATE
14.) DONT GIVE UP
15.) PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
16.) ALLOW YOURSELF TO MAKE MISTAKES
17.) GO SOMEWHERE NEW
18.) COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
19.) GET LOTS OF REST
20.) TAKES RISKS
21.)BREAK THE RULES
22.) DONT FORCE IT
23.) READ A PAGE OF THE DICTIONARY
24.) CREATE A FRAMEWORK
25.) STOP TRYING TO BE SOMEONE ELSES PERFECT
26.) GOT AN IDEA? WRITE IT DOWN
27.) CLEAN YOUR WORKPLACE
28.) HAVE FUN
29.) FINISH SOMETHING YOU'VE ALREADY STARTED

EASY spot treatment for your skin.

I know as well as any of you that our daily lives can become very stressful with work, school, and just life in general. There always seems like there is so much to do but not enough time in the day to accomplish it.
So naturally with stress comes breakouts... doesn't matter what age you are, if you are stress your skin is the first place to show for it. If you have an unhealthy diet, lack of sleep, too much caffeine or just emotionally overwhelmed.... ALL OF THESE THINGS can lead to breakouts.....
I want to give you guys a easy way out these things.. Obviously as a women we wear makeup but I challenge you to on a weekend where you might not have as much going on, RELAX. Take a hot shower or bath whatever you prefer and apply this mask...
This mask is great for clearing up acne and itchy patches on your skin that caused by stressed and weather changes.


HOMEMADE ASPIRIN MASK
Ingredients:
*1-3 (white) aspirin pills
*coffee cup or glass cup
*shallow dish or bowl
*warm honey ( runny honey ), moisturizer made for the face or natural oil such as almond oil, olive oil or coconut oil.
PREP:
Depending on the amount of coverage needed.. ( the amount of breakouts on your face ) use about 1-3 aspirin. Crush the aspirin into small pieces by rolling the coffee cup or glass cup over them. Place aspirin in a shallow dish or bowl. Stir in a few drops of water to help the aspirin dissolve creating a paste like substance. Add warm honey, moisturizer or a bit of oil. STIR WELL. Apply the mask as a spot treatment to treat each individual pimple or itchy area. Allow the mask to dry and wash off after about 10 minutes.


ENJOY!!! xo

SOFT SKIN MOISTURE TREATMENT

With all this cold weather brewing in your face and skin can take a lot of wear and tear.... so help secure your face and add moisture back into your skin with this simple treatment :)

AVOCADO MOISTURE TREATMENT
1 ripe medium sized avocado
2 tbsp grape seed oil ( at health food stores)
3 tbsp soy mayonnaise

Halve an avocado and scoop just the soft insides out into a blender. Mash into small pieces with a  fork and then add the soy mayo and grape seed oil. Blend for about 10 seconds at a time and make sure the mixture is very smooth.
Get out of the tub and pat skin dry after cleansing...Rub treatment onto damp skin and leave on for 2-3 minutes.. then remove with wash cloth.

HAPPY MOISTURE :)!!! <3