A Woman's Network - for when life is like juggling huge exercise balls

Fall Colors

When I speak of "fall colors" I am not referring to the foliage during the first two weeks of October in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  I am talking about hair color, eye shadow, lip tints and blush.  Yes -- it is time to rethink those summer highlights. Time to tone down your simmering hot look and take on some earth tones that will soften your look this Autumn.

If you are like me, your hair has probably seen enough highlights until next season.  It is time to tone it down one or two shades.  I have gone from a double process -- dark blond base with highlights a shade brighter -- to a light brown single process.  It has softened up my look in time for the festivals of fall. 

As far as eyeshadow choices -- I will put away my shimmering bright colors -- and begin to use warm browns, and other earth tones.  A few great products that have caught my eye this season are:

Smashbox Eye Shadow Trio  - These versatile, perfectly coordinated shadow trios take the guesswork out of the picture-perfect, three-color eye. 

Paula Dorf's Eye Color Collection -- particularly the Bark, Safari, Tribal and WetSand.

For your lashes -- you must get a good conditioner and lash builder -- Paula Dorf's Perfect Lash fits the bill.  This lash conditioner thickens every lash for a full, lush look. Plumps up thin, sparse lashes and also works great as a pre-mascara.  And don't forget a good mascara -- I use Lorac.

For the lips I always recommend soft natural colors for any season.  Nudes, soft pinks and natural browns are perfect for Autumn days and nights.  Lip Fusion color shines and lip liners are the answer for the soft look of this fall.  They also make a fine lip conditioning product.

Finally for the cheeks -- I say go easy.  A soft earth tone with a shimmer of pink on your upper cheek will highlight your cheek bones and open your eyes. 

Lauren Hutton's Good Stuff is really good stuff.  With different shades for different skintones -- you can't go wrong with this purchase.

Skin Care

I have to let you all in on a wonderful inexpensive secret for beautiful looking, smooth, wrinkle-free skin.  My sister who is two years older than I am and has always been very beautiful has been looking younger and better over the past several months.  She has changed her diet and lost several pounds.  She has also embarked on a new exercise routine where she is aerobically working out several times a week, and she is in the best shape of her life.  She has more energy than she has had in many years -- and she looks absolutely fabulous for any age. 

While all this good healthy living undoubtedly contributes to her clean healthy glow, she claims that one product is responsible for her satin smooth skin.  She has been using Alpha Hydrox for several months and I have seen her wrinkles literally disappear.  I have been out with her when people have stopped her on the street to tell her that she has beautiful skin.  So, two weeks ago I took it upon myself to purchase a pot of the Alpha Hydrox formula and I have seen a difference in the way my skin looks already.  It costs around $10.00 and you can pick it up at your local CVS or at drugstore.com.  Based on the two week results and the way my sister looks --  I say go for it -- what can you lose -- just a few years off your appearance.

Fresh Summer Scents

I like to change my perfume with the season.  During the winter I like the rich fragrance of vanilla and musk in Gucci Rush.  In the spring I go for a more floral aroma, such as Prada.  And, in the autumn I like the earthy scent of Donna Karan's new Cashmere Mist.  But in the summer I like the fresh, clean smell of citrus, I like grapefruit and I like tangerines. For those of you who are not so lucky as to live around the corner from a Fresh cosmetics store, may I recommend a few of their really wonderful and crisp scents for summer.  The Fresh Index fragrances can be worn alone or layered.  The scents that I favor for the summer are... Index Grapefruit Musc, Index Tangerine Lychee and Lemon Sugar.  However, my very favorite Fresh scent for the summer is Index Pomegranate Anise -- You will love it too.  All Fresh Index fragrances are available at sephora.com.  Search fragrance -- keyword: Fresh.

Live - Love -and LAUGH

Julia Griggs Havey, Ediets Master Motivator

June 13, 2005

Link: No joke: Study finds laughing can burn calories.

If you don't know it, laughing is good for you.  It will raise levels of cells in your immune cells, increase the chemical output that gives you that euphoria feeling, helps keep stress at bay....and now, apparently it's good for burning calories, too!

If you observe children and observe those of retired age (over 65), you'll see a difference in who laughs more. Maybe this could be a part of the equation that contributes to obesity - a lack of laughter.  "No..." you say?  Well, think of it this way: doesn't your ability to laugh bear a direct reflection of your attitude?  I think it does.  I believe if you can laugh at the simple things and the humor about those simple things, then you probably have a pretty good attitude.  Of course we're not  talking about laughing at someone else's harm or bad fortune - that could be considered cruel.  This kind of laughter should be pure - something cute a child says, a character in a Jim Carrey movie, or your 94 year-old grandmother telling you she wishes everyone were as perfect as we are (that really happened, and she was really kidding!). 

If you think that your attitude is a reflection of how well you can laugh, then maybe it's also a reflection of how well you can get out and move around and take a walk or go on a bike ride or try roller blading.  Laughing is child-like and if you want to stay feeling young and energetic, then you've got to keep some of those child-like qualities.

Does life beat us up to much as we age that we stop laughing as much as when we were kids?  Could we take the time to smell the flowers, and enjoy some time finding humor?  My husband and I enjoy watching funny movies with the kids every now and then, and I think we sometimes get carried away.  And we like to joke with one another as long as we all know it's not at the other person's expense.

So go ahead laugh it up!  It will improve your mood, your energy level, your overall health.... and you'll know you're burning some calories too!

Hair Essentials

Three main things are needed for a good-looking head of hair -- good health, the right attention to cleanliness, and caution when using cosmetic treatments.

1 . Adequate Diet

Hair growth depends on an adequate diet. A widespread diet problem which causes loss of hair is iron deficiency Anemia. The cause is too little iron in blood, brought on by a diet containing too little meat, eggs, cereals or peas and beans. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also needed to provide vitamin C, which enables the body to absorb iron.

2. Cutting the hair

Although cutting the hair is not essential to its well-being, it is easier to keep the scalp clean if the hair is kept reasonably short. Regular cutting does not make the hair grow strong or faster.

3. How hair can be damaged

Although scalp hair is hardy, and can withstand a lot of abuse, it can be damaged by too much or inexpertly applied perming, dyeing, bleaching and massage. The amount of treatment the hair can take varies from person to person. Occasionally the scalp is allergic to the dye and becomes inflamed and swollen. To prevent this from occurring, the dye should be tested by applying it to a small area on the arm. If a patch of inflammation has developed, the dye must not be used on the hair.

Most people who bleach their hair do so with hydrogen peroxide. If the peroxide is repeatedly applied, it may make the hair brittle. If this happens the hair may turn rough, develop split ends, or become thinned or shortened.

Treat Yourself Well - Bare Essentials

Have you ever worn a bra that was very uncomfortable? 

Never wear an uncomfortable bra again! Bare Necessities  From sports bras to very sexy bras -- find all quality designer name lingerie and much more at very affordable prices

Treat Yourself Well - Beauty Products

Not feeling so pretty these days?

md Formulations -- for beautiful skin

Free complimentary sample at Prescriptives

Ahava skin, hair and body treatments

Spa Finder -- Health and luxury day and extended spa stays

Sephora.com -- Skin care, cosmetics, hair care and fragrances, HUGE SELECTION

Beauty.com -- Skin care, cosmetics, hair care and fragrances, DAILY PROMOTIONS

Greatskin.com -- Wonderful skin care products at affordable prices

Drugstore.com -- Health and beauty products, FREE SHIPPING with orders over $25.00

The Perfect Travel Companion

If you travel these days, you know that sitting in the cabin of a jumbo jet can be exhausting.  The seats are uncomfortable, the guy sitting next to you can be uninteresting (to say the least), and the air can be stuffy and moisture-less.  To top it off, while traveling in the summer one can become overheated and dehydrated.  While you can't control who sits next to you on the plane, the comfort of the seat, or the temperature outside --  with a simple spray you can feel as cool as if you were taking a plunge into perfectly tempered swimming pool.  Cool off with Evian Mist.  Evian makes wonderful hydrating products for your skin.  Recently, my friend Joyce reminded me of their fantastic travel spray that you can carry in your handbag while traveling cross country, cross the city, or just to the beach.  I use to use the product when I traveled cross country on stuffy airplanes and I found it excellent.  Use nature's own H20 to feel cool, and hydrate your skin.

You can buy all Evian hydrating skin products at drugstore.com, purchases over $25 receive free shipping.

Hints of Summer

Summertime Beauty

In the summer, all you need is a sprinkling of bronzer, a sweep of mascara and a bit of shimmer for your lips.  Heavy foundation is not necessary, however; sunscreen and moisturizer are essential in any season.  If you feel you need all three sunscreen, moisturizer, and a light foundation -- you can find it in Paula Dorf's Face Tint SPF 15. For the summer, consider a shade one tone darker than your natural skin tone to match your naturally darker summer skin.

If you want to highlight you cheekbones try Lorac's Multiple Rush in Love Rush dab it under eyes and on your cheekbones -- it reflects light in all the right places for a healthful and sun-kissed glow.

In the summer, all you need is a sprinkling of bronzer, a sweep of mascara and a bit of shimmer for your lips.  Heavy foundation is not necessary, however; sunscreen and moisturizer are essential in any season.  If you feel you need all three sunscreen, moisturizer, and a light foundation -- you can find it in Paula Dorf's Face Tint SPF 15. For the summer, consider a shade one tone darker than your natural skin tone to match your naturally darker summer skin.

If you want to highlight you cheekbones try Lorac's Multiple Rush in Love Rush dab it under eyes and on your cheekbones -- it reflects light in all the right places for a healthful and sun-kissed glow.

Fox Hat

Every once in a while a friend sends me an email that cracks me up!  Check this one out!  Download FoxHat.wmv .... Thanks Mez!