OMG, Did You See The Oscars?

Did you watch this year’s Oscars Ceremony?

I usually don’t watch them, but I do like to see the pictures of the “Red Carpet” fashions to see watch all the celebrities are wearing.  What one image stood out (like a sore thumb so to speak) concerning the fashions of the evening?  I’m sure there was more than one that comes to mind.

But the one image that went viral and caused “no small stir” was Angelina Jolie’s right leg.  You outta “google” it for a real laugh!

Angie wore a pretty black velvet gown with a slit up the side.  But what was so funny was that she strategically revealed her right leg every time she stopped to pose for a picture, and especially when she walked up on stage to present an award. Personally I thought that was very tacky of her.  Maybe she’s still trying to compete with the killer sexy legs of Brad’s ex Jennifer?

What bothered me even more than her exposed lower appendage was that no one even noticed her gown or her face.  Sure it was partially because her black dress was such a stark contrast to her pale legs, like her bright orange/red lipstick on her pallid white face . But the truth of the matter is that the color of her dress was not right for her to begin with. This time she got away with it because her dress is low-cut, so it doesn’t take away from face too much, and she was wearing the right shade of lipstick at least.

You’ve probably noticed that Angie LOVES black, it must be her favorite color as she wears it alot.  BUT Black is NOT the best color for her skin tone, her eyes, or her hair color.  Black just doesn’t flatter her natural Autumn features.  The most flattering colors Angie should be wearing are earth tones, like deep orange, dark green, and golden brown to name a few.

I guess I can’t help but notice these things being a certified color analyst and all.

Here is another photo showing her wearing the wrong color, doesn’t she look washed out, and pale in this drab grey dress?

It is very unflattering to say the least. Makes you wonder, What was she thinking?

What’s funny is you’d think that famous people would know and wear what looks best on them, especially when they have to constantly make public appearances.  You’d also think that the top fashion designers of the world that make their gowns would tell them “this is a beautiful design on you, but the colors are wrong, let’s see what I have in your colors”.  But amazingly they don’t. Neither do their hair stylists or their makeup artists!

It is very rare to see Angie in her right colors.

But look, I found one!  Here’s a pic I dig up from a few years ago.

Now can you see the difference?

This emerald-green dress just brings out the best in her.  Yeah Brad’s also in the picture, but try to focus on her, ok?

This beautiful gown in her proper color draws attention to her face, and not away from it like the gray dress did.  You see the hazel color of her eyes stand out and she just has a more naturally beautiful, elegant look.

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This is just a quick example of how “color” can make a big difference in one’s appearance.

Want to know more about how color can change your appearance, your attitude and your life check out my article on “What Season are You?”.  

I think Angie needs to read it too!

Instant Gratification

Ever heard the phrase “Patience is a virtue” ?

 It used to be a common phrase when I was growing up, but is pretty much unheard of today.

Who plants their own fruit or vegetables and waits for the harvest anymore? That’s what grocery stores are for.  Though it is a wise choice to raise your own crops, if you have the land, especially with food prices constantly rising.  Not to mention the taste of your own fresh food is so much better than store bought.

Ever made your own clothes?  It is rather rewarding to choose fabric that you like and a design that is unique to your own tastes, then making it with your own hands.  Does anyone even use sewing machines anymore?  I have one, but rarely use it just for small seam repairs.  Or how about spining fiber into yarn to use for kniting?  Do people still knit or crochet today?  Maybe, but not like in my grandmothers day!

Patience was a way of life. Now we have no idea what that is.

Wonder why?

Our modern society is into instant gratification. We are used to everything being at our fingertips.

Some examples of instant gratification:

Instant tanning (who wants to spend hours in the sun?)

Digital Photos (no waiting to develop film)

Microwavable or fast food (who wants to cook full meals anymore?  who has time?)

Audio Books or Videos (no one likes to read more than a page of text)

Pain pills (to treat symptoms instead of the cause)

Remote controls (can’t even move 5 feet to switch channels anymore)

Plastic Surgery (quick results, but don’t always meet expectations)

Liposuction (quickest way to loose weight)

Winning the lottery or any gambling (the odds are against you!)

The problem with instant gratification is that it can produce longterm disappointment when immediate expectations are not fulfilled.  It tends to make us loose patience, or become unthankful for things that take time to produce.

Delayed gratification has its rewards:

Relaxing with a good novel vs. watching a condensed 2 hours movie version (allows you to use your imagination, and read at your own pace)

Home cooked meals  vs. pre-cooked, ready-made

Healthy prepared food vs. quick junk food

Picking fruit from your own tree vs.  store-bought, under ripe fruit from out-of-state or country

Improving your looks and health through better nutrition and regular exercise

Treating the cause of a health problem and eliminating it naturally and permanently

Full time education to produce a career vs. low paying job due to lack of experience

So many things in life you just can’t shortcut on.  Relationships including marriage and parenting are the most important things in life that require longterm patience, and are the most gratifying.

Life is full of rewards when we take time to enjoy each and every minute.

PMS Relief

Some of the funny definitions for P.M.S. are:

• Putting up with Men’s Shenanigans (g rated version)
• Part Monster Syndrome (what I call the Jekyll and Hyde Syndrome)
• Punish Men Severely (payback time for all they’ve done all month)
• Purchase More Shoes (shopping always makes you feel better, doesn’t it?)
• Pass my sweatpants (for the bloated feeling)
• Perpetual Munching Spree (sweet tooth working overtime)

Putting fun aside ladies, we know this time of the month is anything but fun!  Right?

Premenstrual Syndrome can be a very tough time for many.  Even though it is a natural part of the menstrual cycle it can be very painful, either physically or emotionally or both.  Symptoms can vary greatly from woman to woman, and even from month to month.  I can remember having severe back pain and cramping one month, then the next month extreme irritability and little to no physical pain.

Some common physical symptoms include:

• fatigue
• breat tenderness
• migrane headaches
• cramping
• acne
• bloating
• food cravings

Whereas the emotional symptoms include:

• Depression
• Anger
• Irritability
• Aniexty
• Fuzzy headed
• Mood swings

Without relieve we just make ourselves and those we love most miserable.

So what can we do about it?

Dietary Suggestions:

• Decrease intake of fatty foods and red meat
• Increase Calcium in your diet
• Reduce the use of sugar and salt
• Eliminate caffeine, which can aggravate anxiety, depression, and breast tenderness
• Increase foods that are rich in potassium, like broccoli, fish, and beans
• Eat smaller portions and more frequently to help stabilize your blood sugar
• Eat alot more fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, and fish
• Avoid alcohol

These natural remedies are also commonly used to relieve PMS symptoms:

• St. Johns wort
• Wild yam
• Dandelion
• Ginkgo Biloba
• Vitamin E
• Uva ursi

Last but not least:

Exercise and relaxation are both very important in decreasing the affects of PMS

So eat healthy, get plenty of exercise and relaxation so you can stay away from those seven dwarves of PMS!

The Difference between Men and Women

Need I say more? 

And we wonder why men have a hard time understanding us!

We only have a hard time communicating because we think men think like us.  But they don’t!  Why would we want them to? 

Men are really not complicated at all as you can see.   

For more on this subject check out this article:

From Differnet Worlds?

 

It’s Not Too Late to Exfoliate

Exfoliation is an important part of any skin care regime.

Why do I need to exfoliate?   Exfoliating removes the dull dead outer layer of  skin cells, unclogs pores, helps reduce acne breakouts, and keeps skin clean.  It also allows the new layer of cells to emerge, making your face look more healthy and radiant.

How often should I exfoliate? Once or twice a week is suffiicient depending of course on if you have dry, normal or oily skin. Two times a week for oily and once a week for normal to dry skin is good.

Should I wash my face before exfoliating?  Yes, you want to remove the surface dirt first.

Will it dry my skin out?  It can depending on what type of products you use.  It’s important to apply a moisturizer to your face after exfoliating.

Should guys exfoliate? YES!  Men need to take care of their skin, and remove dead skin cells just like women.  It also helps men get a better shave by exposing the hair follicles.

There are 2 basic types of exfoliation:

1. Mechanical Exfoliation– involves physically scrubbing the skin with an abrasive. They can include such things as microfiber cloths, adhesive exfoliation sheets, micro-bead facial scrubs, crushed apricot kernel or almond shells, sugar or salt crystals, and abrasive materials such as sponges or brushes.

Professional treatments include Microdermabrasion and Micro Diamondabrasion.

2. Chemical Exfoliation– includes facial scrubs containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid, fruit enzymes, citric acid, or malic acid.  These can be applied in high concentrations by a medical professional, or in lower concentrations through over-the-counter products.

It is recommended for people with acne to use products that contain alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs).

One of my favorite products is Adrien Arpel’s Microderm Cleanser.  It’s both a gel cleanser and exfoliator in one!  It’s gentle but effective, with the same crystals used in professional micro-dermabrasion treatments.  It’s enriched with vitamins A, C and E to help repair and maintain healthy skin.  I love how it makes my skin feel!

Professional methods can be very costly, but there are many inexpensive exfoliators you can make yourself with household ingredients such as coffee grounds, baking soda, sugar, even asprin.

Here’s a video for a great do-it-yourself facial:

Aspirin Mask

So in conclusion there are many ways to exfoliate, the main thing is to make it part of your regular beauty regime to help keep your skin looking radiant, silky smooth and refreshed.

Related Articles:

Beauty Only Skin Deep?