So Long Sweet Summer

Although Fall is not officially here & despite this four day heat wave we have had, Maya starts Kindergarten tomorrow (tear ) therefore starting a brand new exciting chapter and ending much of our summer festivities. We have had the most AMAZING summer with family and friends but I am looking forward to the fall so much! HAPPY SEPTEMBER EVERYONE!

*jumping in leaves*

*pumpkin spice lattes*
*slippers*
*caramel apples*
*new tv series*

*warm blankets, sweaters and bundling up*

*starting Make up classes*

*Maya's 5th Birthday!*

*apple picking*

*football season*

*waking up and going to sleep with hot tea*

*apple cider & yummy pies*

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO IN SEPTEMBER?

this song brings me back. .ohh memories

Products I am GA GA for ;)

Finding the right products for your skin doesn't always come easy. Everyone has their own opinion on what works for them but that doesn't mean it will work for your skin type/ color. The first step in finding products that work for you is determining your skin type. My Skin type is Normal to Oily. The products I use may not work for your skin type. Email me and I would love to recommend products for you!

SKIN TYPES & CHARACTERISTICS

DRY

~Minimum to no oil in T-Zone or perimeter
~No shine directly caused by oil
~Skin feels powdery soft
~No breakouts


NORMAL
~Moderate oil and secretion in T-Zone with some oil in other areas of face.
~Hormonal breakouts
~Skin feels velvety soft


OILY
~Visible shine due to oil
~Skin feels sticky or coated
~Heavier oil and prone to breakouts


ACNE PRONE
~Skin appears blemished and sensitive

Once you have determined your skin type the next step is determining products that best suit your skin..These are the products I have found to work BEST on my skin:

MY FAVORITE FACE WASH FOR EVERY SKIN TYPE HANDS DOWN IS...

Vitamin E Cleansing Gel

Skin Type: All skin types

Leaves skin feeling SQUEAKY CLEAN!
If you like the feeling of a fresh, CLEAN face I would recommend this cleanser.

You can purchase at elizabethgrady.com

MY FAVORITE TONER

The Regenerating Anti Aging Toner by ARBONNE
Its never too soon- or too late to offer your skin the anti aging and vitamins it

needs to slow down the aging process.

MY FAVORITE MOISTURIZER
Again... ARBONNE!!!

Oil Absorbing Day time Lotion with SPF 20 ( a must for your daytime lotion!) Contains grapeseed oil, pomegranite extract, Vit A & E
Can be purchased on Arbonne's Website

 Arbonne.com.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOLY GRAIL PRODUCTS?? Please E-mail me for Questions Comments or for a recommendation of products.

SOAP vs CLEANSER

In the past years as I worked with Arbonne products I have had the opportunity to speak with many women about their skin care routine. One thing I hear over and over that now makes me CRINGE is that they wont give into a good cleanser because they simply can't part with their Dove bar soap...ON THEIR FACE! First of all, soap is the most drying and irritating thing you can put on your skin. It makes your skin feel tight and dehydrated and often very itchy! When you put soap on your face you are stripping your face of its acid mantle or protective barrier which allow your skin to be vurnerable of bacteria and water loss leading to dehydration which leads to FINE LINES and WRINKLES!! The more you are hydrating your skin the less likely you are to experience wrinkles and over production of oils that cant excape. Your skin is very smart! Now that you are over producting oils because your skin senses dehydration it has nowhere to go because your epidermis (top layer of skin) is too tight for the oil to flow which can now lead to acne. So.. now you are prone to wrinkles, completed dried out, your face is itchy as can be and you will more than likely have an acne breakout. Time to switch to cleanser?!

If you are a soap PUT IT DOWN.. and PICK THIS UP!... Vitamin E Gel Cleanser. (as seen in previous post ) It will give you the same clean feeling bit its SO good for your skin!! you can purchase it at elizabethgrady.com.

Benefits of Cleanser:
-PH balanced, which means it will not strip our skin of the protective barrier which prevents bacterial invasion.
-Prevents dehydration and sensitivity
-Oil removes Oil which means our skin will get COMPLETELY clean
-Nourishes our skin with Vitamins & Minerals to prevent WRINKLES and leave our skin soft & supple!

HAPPY WASHING!

WHY USE A TONER?
Up until recently I NEVER used a toner and never fully understood the importance of a good toner in between cleansing your face and moisturizer. Here is some info I thought may be helpful on why and how to use toner as part of your skin cleansing routine.

WHAT DOES A TONER DO??
A toner is a skin care product that you apply to the face after you cleanse and before you moisturize. Toners can also be classified as fresheners and astringents. Toners are supposed to restore the pH balance of the skin, remove any makeup that was not fully removed, or any soap residue. Toners leave skin feeling very refreshed and clean. There are also toners that claim to help fight the aging process and to help prevent and clear blemishes.

CHOOSING A TONER
If you decide to use a toner, it is important to know just what product is right for you. One of the best things that you can do to find a toner is to experiment with many different brands and formulas to find the toner that is ideal for you.

Ask yourself questions like:
Does the toner make my skin feel too oily or too dry?
Does my skin feel clean and refreshed after I use it?
Does it make my skin feel too tight?
*If your answers were good to all of these questions, then chances are that you have
found a good toner for you.

APPLYING TONER
Not knowing when to apply their toner is one of the most commonly made mistakes. There is just the right time to apply the toner in the skin care process that many people aren’t aware of. You’ll want to cleanse the skin thoroughly and try to get rid of all traces of makeup. Pat face with a towel until skin is completely dry. Then apply a thin layer of toner with a cotton ball or sponge all over the face. Follow immediately with moisturizer.

TONER TIPS
*Find a toner that has very natural ingredients, some toners can have a high amount of chemicals in them.
*Always apply moisturizer after you use toner, otherwise your skin will get very dry and feel tight.
*Toner is supposed to make your skin feel refreshed, if it burns or gets becomes red, you are using the wrong toner.
*Toner is suppose to make your skin feel clean, if your skin feels oily or have residue after use, try to find a new toner

CARAMEL FRAPPE, YOU MAKE ME HAPPY

I recently fell in love.. w/ a frappe! It was an amazing romance until I learned he was bursting with over 400 calories a delicious cup!!! It was too good to be true... or was it?!?

Here is my take on this delicious recipe.. LOW CAL STYLE..
& MCDONALDS EAT YOUR HEART OUT!

In a blender mixOne Cup of Light Coffee Ice Cream :100 calories per cup
1/2 cup NON FAT milk :40 calories
1/2 tablespoon of INSTANT COFFEE (optional for coffee kick)
2 or 3 ice cubes

BLEND UNTIL SMOOTHPOUR INTO THE TALLEST GLASS YOU CAN FIND
DRIZZLE with INTERNATIONAL DELIGHT SKINNY Caramel Macchiato

ENJOY!

TRUE LOVE REALLY DOES EXIST!

Mcd's Caramel Frappe SMALL 450 calories!

MY Low Fat Recipe is around 140 calories!

5 reasons to wash your face at night
I loved these skincare tips, so I thought I'd share them with you all!
Skincare Tips from Renée Rouleau: 5 Reasons to Wash Your Face at Night


What’s the #1 reason someone will go to sleep without washing their face? Exhaustion. I certainly understand the discipline and effort it requires to perform your nighttime Skin Care routine, especially when you’re exhausted. But, you really must do it.

Here are five reasons why:
1. Touching your face all day long, without intentionally doing so, is making your face one of the dirtiest parts on your body. It’s important to clean the skin to avoid the spread of acne bacteria that can cause increased blemishes.

2. Cleansing your skin at night will reduce oil and the ability for acne-causing bacteria to thrive inside the pores. This means less break outs!

3. Your skin repairs itself at night, so removing makeup gives your skin a clean palette for applying your night time performance products for maximum absorption.

4. While you sleep, your skin is at rest allowing regeneration to occur. For the best anti-aging results, clean your skin with a gentle sulfate-free cleanser like Luxe Mint Cleansing Gel or AHA/BHA Cleansing Gel and use a high performance serum and moisturizer.

5. Moisturizers evaporate when on the skin all day, so washing your skin and applying moisturizer at night ensures it will stay moist and hydrated.

Skin Tip: Too tired to wash your skin at night? Perform your nighttime skin routine at 7:00 or 8:00. Earlier is better than never!

Voila! The skin is calm, healthy and refreshed!

Military Family Reunions

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES

&

THANK YOU

GIVEAWAY

To encourage friends to follow my blog I wanted to do a giveaway to to show my appreciation for friends who are helping me launch my website. To enter you must PUBLICALLY follow my blog and also leave a comment on this post requesting a topic you would like to read more about in an upcomming post. I also am interested in learning about new things, doing some research and reporting back. I will use RANDOM.ORG to select a winner of a prize (health/ happiness related ) on August 31.

Thanks everyone!

TO FOLLOW ME CLICK THE "FOLLOW" BUTTON IN SIDEBAR

& CHOOSE TO FOLLOW PUBLICALLY------->

Hungover?

Let me introduce my SAVIOR after a night out...

Coconut water is PACKED with electrolytes that you need to hydrate your body after alcohol consumption. You can feel results almost IMMEDIATELY after consumption.

*Be careful not to mistake energy drinks for a quick fix as they contain electrolytes but are packed with sugar & caffeine.

Here are some other tips to ensure a hangover free recovery from the night before:

• Load up with Vitamins and lots of water before you go to bed and when you wake up. Alcohol increases dehydration and vitamin deficiencies so you need to put back what you took away! Vitamins B & C are crucial to restore the morning after.
• CARBS! Carbohydrates such as bread and pasta will help absorb the alcohol slowing it down from entering your bloodstream initially. If you know you're in for a night of drinking stock up on carbs.
• Avoid coffee and energy drinks! Caffeine dehydrates you further.
• Drink white wine or lighter colored alcohol. Darker beverages contain more impurities that contribute to headaches.
• Do not mix alchohol. If you start with a beer stick with beer for the night. When mixing alcohol you are more likely to loose track of alcohol that has been disquised in your cocktail and will maximize the potential for a hangover.

BE SAFE! & ENJOY YOURSELF..

HAPPY FEET

Summers not over yet and its never too late for some TLC for your toes! Here is a step by step for the prettiest toes at the beach this summer!!

Step One.
Remove any old nail polish thoroughly. Cotton swabs are helpful to get closer to the sides of your nail.

Step Two.
Soak your feet in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes. Add Epsom salts or other commercial foot soak.

Step Three.
Clip your toenails straight across using a toenail clipper or scissors. Clipping straight across will help prevent ingrown toenails.

Step Four.
File the toenails to smooth any rough edges.

Step Five.
Push back your cuticles. Use a cuticle moisturizer if they do not push back easily after soaking.

Step Six.
Massage your feet with a moisturizing lotion. Use an exfoliating lotion if the skin is dry and/or roughened. Use a loofah or pumice stone on roughened areas.

Step Seven.
Separate your toes using a toe seperater or cotton balls.

Step Eight.
Apply a base coat and give it time to dry.

Step Nine.
Apply polish, cleaning up any stray marks with a cotton swab dipped in polish remover. Add a second coat for deeper color.

Step Ten.
Complete the pedicure with a top coat of clear polish.

HAPPY FRIDAY

After a long week sometimes you just need to unwind...ANTIOXIDANT -RICH, LOW -CAL SANGRIA
This antioxidant-rich sangria recipe from nutritionist Christine Avanti, author of

Skinny Chicks Don’t Eat Salad, is also low in calories.

Ingredients:
½ pound fresh strawberries, sliced
1 peach, thinly sliced
1 orange, thinly sliced
1 lime, thinly sliced
2 cups red wine
1 ounce cherry liqueur
1 cup club soda
Mint, for garnish

Directions:
Place fruit in a large, chilled glass pitcher. Add wine and liqueur, stir lightly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 12 hours. Remove from refrigerator, and add club soda; stir. Fill 4 glasses halfway with ice cubes; add sangria. Garnish with lime wedge, strawberry, and a mint leaf. (Serving size: 12 ounces)

Nutrition:
Calories 173

Fat 0g (sat 0g, mono 0g, poly 0g)

Cholesterol 0mg

Protein 1g

Carbohydrate 20g

Sugars 12g

Fiber 3g

Iron 1mg

Sodium 18mg

Calcium 37mg

HOW DO YOU UNWIND??

Don't Worry...Be HAPPY

In my quest of complete happiness I spend a lot of time with quick PICK ME UPS throughout my day that make a huge difference in my overall mood...

WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY!?

9 Things You Can Do to Be Happy in the Next 30 Minutes

1. Raise your activity level to pump up your energy. If you're on the phone, stand up and pace. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Put more energy into your voice. Take a brisk 10-minute walk. Even better...

2. Take a walk outside. Research suggests that light stimulates brain chemicals that improve mood. For an extra boost, get your sunlight first thing in the morning.

3. Reach out. Send an e-mail to a friend you haven't seen in a while, or reach out to someone new. Having close bonds with other people is one of the most important keys to happiness. When you act in a friendly way, not only will others feel more friendly toward you, but you'll also strengthen your feelings of friendliness for other people.

4. Rid yourself of a nagging task. Deal with that insurance problem, purchase something you need, or make that long-postponed appointment with the dentist. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a rush of elation.

5. Create a more serene environment. Outer order contributes to inner peace, so spend some time organizing bills and tackling the piles in the kitchen. A large stack of little tasks can feel overwhelming, but often just a few minutes of work can make a sizable dent. Set the timer for 10 minutes and see what you can do.

6. Do a good deed. Introduce two people by e-mail, take a minute to pass along useful information, or deliver some gratifying praise. In fact, you can also...

7. Save someone's life. Sign up to be an organ donor, and remember to tell your family about your decision. Do good, feel good―it really works!

8. Act happy. Fake it 'til you feel it. Research shows that even an artificially induced smile boosts your mood. And if you're smiling, other people will perceive you as being friendlier and more approachable.

9. Learn something new. Think of a subject that you wish you knew more about and spend 15 minutes on the Internet reading about it, or go to a bookstore and buy a book about it. But be honest! Pick a topic that really interests you, not something you think you "should" or "need to" learn about.

REALSIMPLE.COM

Love the Skin You're In...

As an esthetic student my mind is a sponge and I am eager to learn everything there is to know about the skin . I am excited to begin my new profession and have learned SO much already about how to care for my skin and so excited to be able to educate my clients to do the same.

I just purchased this book, although it was published in 2006 it has great reviews and anything I can learn directly from a dermatologist is helpful!

It's Not Just About Wrinkles by Neal B Schultz M.D - Written by a dermatologist who shares his knowledge on how to perfect your skin tone and texture in 4 weeks.

I have also recently purchased...

Survival of the Prettiest by Nancy Etcoff -An inquiry into what we find beautiful and WHY

and for fun...

(recommended by my theory teacher )
SECRET SERVICE by John R. Dijulius III - Teaches you how to always be on point with your business provide excellent & unique customer service to your clients and keep them coming back!

I always have a book with me in case I can sneak in a few minutes of reading throughout the day..My personal reviews to follow..

What are you reading???

Skinny Bitchin'

Hit the pavement with Ipod in hand at 7 this morning for a one mile run to start my month right!I came home and FULLY indulged in one of these...

Arbonne makes these DE-LICIOUS protein shakes in YUMMY Chocolate & Vanilla flavor- I feel like I'm in heaven..Thank you Arbonne..

I am also an Arbonne independent consultant and in LOVE with Arbonne products. 100% VEGAN. They are responsible for my obsession with skin care, make up and healthy well- being. They're an amazing company! Check out their website ARBONNE.COM

I worked today & by around noon in addition to loading up on water I had a Nutri Grain bar to hold me over until dinner. I plan to eat bigger lunches but knew I'd be eating dinner shortly. For dinner around 4 I enjoyed dinner @ Longhorn with good company :). I had the 7 pepper steak salad with LITE ranch dressing..& of course water w/ Lemon!

For a late night snack it was freshly picked Zucchini from the garden :) Organic veggies make me happy!

*tip to save calories with dressing- try dipping your fork or the salad in the dressing before each bite instead of pouring it on your salad

Now Im home "relaxing" (w/ I- Carly re- runs on the backround ;) )and I have decided to RE-READ my bible- SKINNY BITCH By Rory Freedman & Kim Barnouin.

Not your typical boring diet book, this is a tart-tongued, no-holds-barred wakeup call to all women who want to be thin.

Happy reading, running & dippin'

Today, say “yes” to things that are totally outside your comfort zone. This is your life! What are you waiting for?