Simple Pleasures

With the world creating quick solutions to problems, like drugs and therapy, I wanted to grace the topic of ways to make your life more full-filled without medicating yourself to the point that you don't feel feelings anymore. When life gets you down, as it so often can do, give these simple pleasures a try and see what happens.

*Be kind to strangers. You would not believe the kind of euphoric high it can give you knowing you did something nice for someone else. It can even be as small as smiling at someone, slowing your car so another can sneak in through traffic, helping an older person with their bags, or paying someone a compliment.

*Get just the right amount of sleep. Too little adds up and makes you look and feel tired and sluggish, and too much sleep can put you in that coma all day long. I think 8-9 hours is perfect.

*Spend some time with people you love. I find myself seeking out my cousins and their children when I'm feeling particularly low. The love they show me is enough to bring me out of any sort of funk. Especially Ella, the 18 month old--she can drag any bad mood out of me in five seconds flat.

*Make your bedroom your sanctuary. I always feel better when my room is cleaned and it looks nice. Light some candles, turn on a fan, and enjoy the quiet.

*Surround yourself with positive people only. If someone is a negative influence on your life in any way at all, cut ties immediately. Laugh, as often as you can.

*Drink! I'm not talking get hammered every night, but I love sitting down with a glass of wine or sangria.

*Workout. Find something physical that you love to do. It releases endorphins and makes you feel better about yourself.

*You spend most of your life at work. If you hate your job, FIND ANOTHER ONE. It's not worth wasting your life.

*Find something you love to do and make a hobby out of it. For me, it's writing and the beach. Either join a sports league, book club, learn to knit, etc.

*Read the news. There is always someone having a worse day than you.

*Find a place that always brings you a sense of peace whenever you are there, and go to it whenever you're feeling low. For me, it's the beach. I remember going at sunset when my Dad was getting really sick. Watching the sunset always helped me.

*Figure out who you're best friends are, and go out of your way to spend time with them.

*Do you have a significant other? Love them, and show them you love them every chance you get. If they don't reciprocate, get out of it.

*Finally, realize that there are things you can control, and simply things you cannot. Trust in a higher power, your friends, and most importantly, yourself.

Summer Sun Survival

Summer time! A time of lovin', nights that never end, and if you live near the water, it also means beach time! Just like all good things in life, the sun needs to be taken in moderation and the proper precautions need to be made before your day of basking in it. I have put together a little guide to the products you'll need to use your beach days to their fullest potential.

Bathing Suit~ Victoria's Secret. These bathing suits are amazing. Whether or not you get a bikini, tankini, one piece, or cover up, these babies fit like a glove. I think Victoria's secret was that she knew how to design for a woman's body. Hundreds of styles are available on the website, and they are moderately priced.

Sunscreen~ Anything by Neutrogena. This brand comes dermatologist recommended and don't contain any oils or fragrances, perfect for the sensitive skinned. My pick is the mist version, cuts down application time and gives you more relaxation time.

Facial Sunscreen~ Mineral is everywhere nowadays, so jump on the bandwagon with Natural Mineral Oil-Free Block, scented with Aloe and Vanilla. The combination of the mineral and oil-free ingredients are perfect for the face.

Lip Protection~ The lips are often ignored but are the most sensitive to the sunlight. Any gloss or balm that contains sunscreen is your best bet. You can go cheap with a $2 "Chapstick" brand with SPF, or you can indulge your puckers with Clarins "Summer Fever" gloss.

Hair~ Raise your hand if you put sunscreen on your hair... If I were looking at you, I'd probably see no hand raising. Who knew there was a way to protect hair from the UV rays, besides covering up in a cap? Fekkai, which is a more expensive brand, has a product called "Summer Hair Sunshine Shield Spray" which contains SPF and shields your hair from UV rays and environmental pollutants. Cool! Also, if you want those beachy waves without dunking your head in the salt water, try Sunsilk "Waves of Envy" salt water spray for those sexy beach bum waves.

Now that you are fully protected from any harmful rays, I think the only thing missing would be a cocktail. Try this perfect summer concoction: White Wine Sparkling Sangria. In a big punch bowl, mix together a dry white wine, sparkling water, and a variety of cut fruits like strawberries, oranges, lemons and peaches. Also, for a little kick, add in a shot or two of Peach Schnapps. Cool, serve, and enjoy.

See you at the beach!

Turbo Time

In my quest to get myself fit, I have been turned onto something called "Turbo Kickboxing" at my gym, 24 hour Fitness. There are clubs located all throughout California, and this is an investment I would definitely make if you're looking for a fun and efficient workout.

This class, with the right teacher, can add years to your life. You work every muscle group, and you don't even realize you're doing it because you're too busy craving for water, listening to the music, and concentrating on the moves so you don't look like an idiot in front of the whole class. The class consists of 5 or 6 "turbo's" which combine a set of moves together, working both the left and the right sides of your body. The last 10 minutes or so are designated just for your abdominals. I have never sweat like that in my life--and I didn't feel like I needed to quit halfway through--double bonus! Seriously--you move and flex every part of your body in this class! The music is loud, sending an adrenaline rush to your brain telling you to move your A**. I am starting to take this twice a week--and I think my body (as well as my boyfriend) is going to thank me for it by August.

Bring a towel--you'll sweat--and have a drink of water handy for those occasional breaks. If you don't have a 24 Hour Fitness near you, look for gyms that have "Cardio-Kickboxing" or something like that. Careful with the title, you don't want to end up in a martial arts class.

Do's and Don't's of Fashion

I am in no way even near qualified to write about this. I have not studied fashion, worked in fashion or studied about working in fashion. The only thing that even remotely entitles me to write about Do's and Don't's is a long-time obsession with clothes, beauty, cosmetics and style TV--an obsession that I fear will one day take over my life, but that's neither here nor there.

I spot people all the time whose fashion sense literally makes my body quiver in embarrassment for them. I wonder if people own mirrors or if they do own them, utilize them. This posting may seem terribly superficial and downright snotty, but I am an American who is entitled to "Freedom of Fashion Speech" just as much as the next gal.

So, that being said, here is my list of fashion do's and don't's.

DO- Wear white after labor day. I don't think anyone has actually practiced that rule since Reagan was in office.

DON'T- Go crazy when it comes to denim. Just because your office has "Jeans Friday", does not mean you wear jean pants paired with a jean jacket and jean button down shirt.

DO- Mismatch. You can wear colors together that don't necessarily "match" but are in the same color palate or family.

DON'T- Wear anything in a flannel plaid. Ever. Even to bed.

DO- Pair a smokey eye with a nude or frosty lip. Very sexy.

DON'T- Pair a smokey eye with a bright red lip. Can we say, workin' girl?

DO- Accentuate your shape. If you were given an hourglass figure, by all means, use it to your advantage.

DON'T- Put your cleavage on display or dress like a teenager if you're not. You'll just look ridiculous and people will talk about you.

DO- Wear the messy bed-head look. It's really pretty and easy to do.

DON'T- Tease your hair too much. Your end result will be a stiff beehive/hair helmet. Guys like to run their fingers through your hair, not get them stuck.

DO- Wear old vintage T-Shirts. Graphics with guitars, diamonds or black and white 1950's movie sirens are very cool.

DON'T- Wear anything that contains a Disney character on it. Unless you're a five-year-old or dressing like one for Halloween.

I am available Monday-Friday for personal Do's and Don't's, contact me by email.

Calling All Bargain Shoppers!

My favorite “rage” of the moment is bargain shopping. With most of my money going towards gas, I have little left over in the budget for fashion. So what’s a fashionable chick to do in these times of economic trouble? I figure there are two alternatives—either shop at Wal-Mart, or start hunting for sales.

LA is a haven for bargain shoppers, with sample sales being offered all over the place. Finding them is the tricky part. Now, sample sales do have their drawbacks--crowds, tricky sizes and unorganized displays make for a difficult shopping day. As long as you leave your house with a game plan and a positive attitude, you’re bound to strike gold.

The New Mart, 127 E. Ninth Street, has a sample sale on the last Friday of every month. Many different designers participate in this, but the variety can change with each sale. It can tend to be a “hit or miss” shopping experience, but when you “hit”, it’s usually a big one. Leave your credit cards at home, this sale is cash only.

Fashion Co-Op, Santa Monica Civic Center on Main Street, features sample sales on Saturdays from 1 PM to 5 PM. This sale features designers like Rock Scissor Paper, Michelle Frantz and Fighting Eel and are usually up to 80% off retail price. If you RSVP before you go, admission at the door is only $3, but if showing up at the last minute is your cup of tea, it’s only $5 to get in.

Sample Angel, 528 La Brea Avenue in Hollywood, features designers like Mint, Dutchy, and Alice & Olivia. Also up to 80% off and you can feel good when you make a purchase—20% of these proceeds go to a children’s charity. Sale is Saturdays, 10 AM to 6 PM.

A-List at Milo’s Studio’s, located on South Cochran Avenue, has one giant sample sale every season, and features designers like Tracey Ross, And Cake and Grass. Check out their website for more details and sample sale dates.

Also starting to take part in the “sample sale wars” are home furnishing stores. House Boutique on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica offers up to 50% off on bedding and house wares, but the early bird catches the worm—it’s only open from 9 AM to noon on Saturdays.


A few tips when shopping at sample sales:

*It’s always hit or miss. If you don’t see anything good the first time you go, keep going back. Merchandise can be different each time.

*Do Not pay attention to sizes. They are called samples for a reason. Just pay attention to what fits your shape best, not what the number on the tag says.

*Bring cash. Most places do not accept anything but.

*Make good decisions. These are all final sale.

*Last but not least, keep your cool. The mess and the crowds are enough to get even the sanest person flustered. Just keep your eye on the prize and think of how good you’ll look and how much money you’re saving.

Sugar is Sweet

I am a 25 year old woman who just recently (like we're talking really recent, months ago) started wearing lipstick. I've always hated the stuff. I thought it was too sticky and smelly and if I got even a bit of it inside my mouth I would gag for an hour because of the awful taste. I was starting to think that maybe I was missing the lipstick gene. In all other aspects, I was totally female but where was my appreciation for lucious red lips???

Then, the cosmetic companies started coming out with long wear lipstick, which was more of a stain that dried, rather than a wet, beeswax feeling goo. I got into that, definitely. But once it dried, there was no kissable gloss or shine to my puckers. Not very sexy at all.

We recently had an event at work, and one of the items in our gift bag was a gloss called "Taste Like Sugar" by a brand called..."Sugar." Hmmm, I thought, I sure do like sugar. So I experimented with this little tube of gloss (which came in a pack of 12) and was pleasantly suprised at first. It actually smelled at tasted like sugar, the actual sugar that you put in your coffee. I put it on top of my usual lip stain, and that seemed to be the cherry on top of my lipstick sunday. Now, not only did I have lips with some color on them, but a lucious shine that didn't make me want to lose my lunch. A pleasant suprise turned into an addiction, and now I do not leave the house without one of these little babies.

The pack of 12 is available at Sephora, and come in beautiful shades of pink. They are small enough to keep in your pocket and deliver just the right amount of shine. They taste so good I could almost eat them...but I won't.

I'm Addicted to You

Now here's music to my hears... an addiction that's actually beneficial.

Addiction Cosmetics is my new favorite mineral makeup line. I use everything from the pore perfecting primer to the mineral bronzer. My favorite, however, is the Mineral Wear Tinted Moisturizer (it comes in porcelain, medium, and deep). This miracle in a tube is like calorie free velvet chocolate cake for your face--just too good to be true. It is made of minerals, contains SPF 20, and gives you enough coverage when you wear alone. No joke, this stuff literally transforms your complection. It's thick enough to cover your entire face with only a dab. One tube will last you at least 3 months, if not longer. Short on time in the morning? A perfect day look--a layer of primer, a layer of tinted moisturizer, a coat of mascara and some gloss--takes only a couple minutes. Check out the website, www.addictioncosmetics.com. They have a whole line of products which I assume are just as great as the ones I've tried. Add this rage to your beauty regimine and you'll definitely be thanking me.