Publishing some of my favorite people, places, and things.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

A Women's Need for Beauty

Have you ever gazed at a painting by Monet and felt as if you had been instantly transported to a lovely garden in Giverny, France? Have you ever walked into a flower shop and felt wonderfully overcome by the blended fragrances of sterling roses, stargazer lilies, and English lavender? Or have you perhaps recently redecorated your master bedroom in your favorite colors and have now created your perfect sanctuary?


As women, we tend to be the caretakers of everyone around us, leaving little, if any, time for ourselves. For that reason, it’s important that we circumvent the outer chaos of our hectic lives by surrounding ourselves with things that evoke calm and tranquility, if only for moments at a time. And those “things” can be as different and unique as each woman is different and unique. We’ve all heard the old saying “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.” And so it is with this concept of surrounding ourselves with beauty. It’s whatever elicits and captures this visceral response for you. And if you’ve been tightening your purse strings of late, try any of these budget-friendly, simple, but effective, “beauty” tips:

1. Buy fresh flowers from your local Farmers Market, where they‘re generally less expensive than the flower shop or even the grocery store. Or if an entire bouquet is beyond your current budget, one single rose stem will do the trick. Place them on your nightstand so that these fragrant blooms are the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning and the last thing you see when you retire in the evening.

2. Instead of listening to the news, play a feel-good CD as you’re getting yourself ready in the morning. This may be your favorite music artist or perhaps a personal-growth audio. The key is that it moves you in some positive, uplifting way.

3. Commune with nature by taking a walk through a local park, or stop by one on your way home. Enjoy the simplicity of nature and all of her inherently calming ways. Let Mother Earth nurture you.

4. De-clutter and organize your office space or work area. You’ll discover this will do wonders for reducing stress levels (not to mention create a more efficient environment).

5. Take a luxurious candlelit bubble bath before bed. Be sure to play soothing music. Then close your eyes and picture your body soaking away all of the day’s anxiety and worries.

6. Reach out and offer to help someone in need. Run an errand for a neighbor who has been under the weather lately. Call a loved one who has been facing challenges and offer your support or simply a listening ear. Visit your local library and offer to be a volunteer reader.

7. Give yourself permission to indulge in a favorite treat on occasion, and do it without guilt. That tiramisu may be just what your soul has been craving.

So, whether your “beauty” is visual, auditory, sensory, or tactile, begin surrounding yourself daily with whatever that is for you. Be good to yourself. You’ll soon begin to see your days magically transform into more positive and enjoyable experiences. After all, that’s the “beauty” of it.

by Tina Clark

The Beauty Industry

Spa treatments, beauty treatments, massage, manicures, pedicures, make-up, and holistic treatments. Welcome to the fast growing and diverse world of the beauty industry!

The exciting world of the beauty industry has endless career opportunities and pathways. Where would you like to work one day? Health farms, where you work closely with dieticians and fitness instructors, or would you prefer the calm, ambient nature of the spa world where you combine holistic massage therapies, water therapies and products derived from the sea and other natural ingredients.

There are many types of spas: Destination Spas, Day Spas, Resort/Hotel Spas, Medi Spas, Cruise Ship Spas, Spa Towns and Mineral Spring Spas. Beauty treatments are also available on cruise liners, where you have the opportunity to work with other therapists from around the world and even travel whilst working. Some airlines even have the luxury of having a beauty salon on board.

Make-up is one fun and creative side of beauty therapy. As a make-up artist you can work in any salon performing make-up treatments and perform day and evening, bridal and photographic make-up applications.

If you are more interested in skin treatments, there are many skin clinics today offering specialized treatments. There are even cosmetic surgery clinics offering non-surgical treatments that a knowledgeable skin therapist is able to perform.

Beauty, journalism, teaching, franchising, mobile or home-based therapy. The list of possible careers goes on and on. If the above appeals to you, then beauty therapy is definitely the career for you!

by Andrew Johnstone

Boost Your Image - The 4 Easy Tips You Should Know

Body language can give us many clues about one's personality, relationships, level of confidence and personal qualities. It is a fundamental part of one's body image i.e. how you portray yourself to others. As an indication, 93% of our communication is non-verbal. Therefore the famous phrase "it's not what you say but how you say it", is true, especially when you are making your first impression. First impressions or lasting impressions can give one a boost during job interviews, networking opportunities and even when trying to find the right partner. Below are some important body language techniques that can boost your image:


1) POSTURE

Think about how it feels like when you meet someone for the first time. If they are standing or sitting up straight, it would seem that the individual is very confident, perhaps even arrogant in their personality. In contrast, a relaxed posture i.e. arms relaxed, uncrossed and hands visible, shows that the individual is open and shows no boundaries and encourages conversation. We naturally move closer to the individuals we prefer to make relationships with and move away from people we dislike. Therefore one must think very carefully on how they want to come across to other individuals.

2) HAND GESTURES

Boost your image with a strong, firm hand shake. This shows no fear and confidence in the individual, whereas sweaty "weak" hand shakes seem that the individual has a nervous disposition and finds it difficult to handle stress or difficult situations. Hand gestures made during conversation, portrays confidence in the ability to express one self, it shows ease with oneself and the ability to communicate well.

3) EYE CONTACT

Eyes are the mirrors of one's soul. They give away more than you think. Boost your image with maintained eye contact. This shows that the individual is trustworthy, sincere and caring and has nothing to hide. Whereas, shifty eyes, continuous blinking, indicates that this individual is capable of deception and lies. Would you employ this type of person? Or consider dating someone like this? Probably not, and therefore it's very important to look at the person you are interacting with and nod to acknowledge the information. Interestingly, dilated pupils in an individual can reveal attraction and appeal towards the other person.

4) SPEAK CLEARLY

Nobody likes listening to people who mumble or speak under their breaths. Are they speaking to you or muttering like mad men to themselves? What they are saying doesn't seem to be too important and can be irritating. Boost your image by speaking clearly, with a confident tone to make yourself heard and prove that you are not somebody who one can ignore or dismiss lightly. Sometimes deception can be seen through long pauses, lots of ''ums' and 'uh' during conversation because it may seem that the individual is creating time to make lies. So try not to do this.

To boost your image, one must gain conscious control of your body language. Are you crossing your arms and legs defensively or are you relaxed and open? Are you fiddling with objects and getting distracted or are you nodding and showing that you are listening intently. The best way to win someone over is to mirror his or her body language. Being aware of your body language and what it means, can help you gain control over your image and boost it in a positive way.

by Amanda Walker

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Look Like a Princess with Ball Gowns

If you have read the story of Cinderella, then you know that ball gowns are critical to every fairytale fantasy. This is just one of the indications that choosing the right attire for a special occasion is an important task indeed. You'll surely find a gown for a ball that's just perfect for your shape or size. You should not try to be trendy or hip when selecting one because a gown should to reflect the most feminine part of your personality. Ball gowns have the classic large bell shaped bottom, but the bodices can vary widely.


There are some things that you should consider when choosing a gown for a ball. Maybe you want to create an impression of wealth and elegance through your gown. The material is the first thing you want to pay attention to if you want the elegant well-to-do look. Some designers create gowns that have lace bodices with skirts of other materials while some have the entire gown of the same fabric.

The truly classical ball gowns are made of satin, and impart a sense of wealth and grace. Materials that do not occur in nature can provide a modern twist to the gown. For instance, metallic materials constructed from silk thread over polyester will shimmer in all lights. If your gown is rich in fabric, then cotton won't do at all. You should choose translucent or shiny materials if there are many curves and dips in the material of the skirt.

The next issue that should be addressed is the cut of the gown. The cut you choose depends on whether you're going for a classical look or a modern one. The classical look is best suited to those with prominent curves and well defined figures. Classical ball gowns are usually off-the-shoulder, have cap sleeves, and have an accompanying sash or shoulder wrap. These gowns usually are laced or buttoned, not zipped.

Classical ball gowns usually have a matching bodice and skirt. The waist is also slightly cinched, with the hooks concealed in the back. The bust line is decorated with folds of material that match the shoulder sash. The bodice should have some kind of embellishment, like embroidery or an embossed print.

The modern styled ball gowns may be the best pick for you if you are a thin or petite woman. There are modern styles that have a tank top with spaghetti straps and zipper in the back. This style can detract the appearance of a fuller woman but is flattering to very thin or petite women. Modern ball gowns usually have lace tops which contrasts with the smooth material of the bell shaped bottom. Although faux fur sashes are sometimes used, these styles usually aren't accompanied by shoulder sashes.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Ball Gowns. Visit our site for more helpful information about Evening Gowns Patterns and other similar topics.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Morgan_Hamilton