It's Just Hair!

Who the heck is that?! Oh wait...it's ME!

I keep getting startled every time I catch my reflection tonight. After being a red head for almost 2 years I decided to go back to being a brunette this afternoon. Not an easy task. Thank goodness I have an amazing hair stylist! (Kelly at Mia Capelli in Keene, NH)

Last week I had one of those days where I said "That's it. I've had it. I need a change." When I have one of those days, I want it taken care of quickly. So I did what we all do when we are looking for ideas....I went on Pinterest. It's funny, after a little searching I noticed that Cheryl Cole (a singer) and I have had almost all the same hair colors and cuts. So I started searching out her images for ideas. I found some super cute brunette shades. I decided I was doing it. Why not, right? It's just hair!

So for 2 years I've been "that red head". I had a gorgeous, show stopping color that was a secret formula my scientist, I mean hair stylist created in her lab, I mean salon. It's not that I didn't love being a red head. I actually REALLY loved it! Which is funny because for years I would never have even considered it an option. I thought I couldn't pull it off. Turns out I was wrong. But, it's a lot of upkeep. It meant hair appointments every 6 weeks and the original color faded after about 3 weeks, so half way through it was totally different. The molecular structure of red is different than any other color. To get really scientific....the color just up and falls out quickly. Plus, it's a hair color that clashes with a lot of clothing options and accessories.

Deciding to make this change was a big deal. Hard to get it back if I change my mind down the road without causing damage.

Making drastic changes to your hair color is something I would leave to a professional. If you are considering it, I have a few suggestions. Check out  In Style's website. The other thing you can do is look at pictures of you as a very young child. That's a great way to choose a natural choice. How many of you dirty blondes or mousey browns had gorgeous blonde hair as a tot? See my point?

Basically, you take a picture of yourself with your hair pulled away from your face. Then you upload it and you can try different colors and cuts. It's a great way to try it without the commitment. 

If you are doing a color that is 2 shades lighter or darker than your own or even highlights, I really do suggest a professional. You may think doing it yourself will save you money. It won't if you don't get it right and it might actually cost more if you have to get it fixed. Never mind the fact that you are damaging your hair.

We all get stuck in ruts, especially with our hair and makeup. Switch it up! Be brave! Step out of your comfort zone. You may find a whole new you. And if you're scared to make the commitment in real life, give it a try online.

xo
Bethany

Pucker Up Buttercup! Lipstick 101...

Pucker up buttercup!

In all of the times I have applied makeup to women I've noticed that they all have something in common. None of them are fans of lipstick. I get it. I have full lips and hesitate to wear a color that is too dramatic for fear that it will look like my lips enter the room before I do. I tend to like a color that is maybe a couple of shades darker than my own lip color and then I use gloss on top of that.

If lipstick is something that is new to you, here is your Lipstick 101.

Colors

Picking a Shade
Like I said for myself, when choosing a lip color, choose one that is 1-2 shades darker than your own lip color. If you're in a makeup store, where you can try colors on, apply it to one lip and compare. If you're in a drug or grocery store, go by the color on the label. Hold it up to your lips in good lighting to see how it matches.

All the Colors of the Rainbow
Fair skin - Choose nudes, apricot, coral or light pinks. Don't go with brown or purples. It tends to not be flattering.

Medium skin - Purples, rosey pinks, berry and deep colors like burgundy.

Dark/black skin - Plum, browns and reds.

Ruby Red Lips

Red lips are a huge trend right now but it's an intimidating color. It comes in many different shades, which flatter different skin tones. If you are fair (pink), go with a more cherry red color. If you have olive skin, you can go more vibrant like fire engine red. If you have dark skin, you can choose a deeper tone.

With red lipstick, I notice it tends to smudge easily. Line your lips first, fill them in and then put on your lip color. For a more solid color go straight from the tube. If you want it more subtle, apply with a lip brush.

Application

Lip Liner - My personal preference is to line the lips first and then fill them in. It's like coloring in a coloring book. It helps to give you a line to follow and keeps your lipstick on better. Choose a color that matches the lipstick. NEVER use a dark liner and light lipstick. It's very outdated and just looks like you ate a brownie and forgot to wipe your mouth.

One or the Other - If you do dramatic eyes, do a neutral lip. If you do a dramatic lip, neutral eyes. It really can be too much of a good thing or like you're in the theater.

Putting it On - You can go straight from the tube for a more solid color or use a lip brush for a subtle application. I put the color on the back of my hand to warm it and apply it with a brush.

Keep it in Place - To avoid getting it on your teeth, after you apply, slip your clean index finger into your mouth, wrap your lips around it and pull your finger out. Any extra lipstick will come off on your finger. Also, to avoid getting it on glasses, lick your lips before you sip.

Brighten Your Smile - If your teeth have a yellowish tint, choose a lipstick color that has a blue base to it. My all time favorite gloss on anyone that makes their teeth look whiter is Maybelline Super Stay 24 Color in Continuous Coral. It looks good on almost everyone.

Mix and Match - If a color is too dark, mix it with a lighter color to customize it.

Trying it On - Don't try samples in stores unless they have disposable brushes to apply them with. Germs, germs, germs.

Big, Beautiful Lips - To make your lips appear bigger, line your lips just on the outside of your natural line. You can also apply gloss just to the center of your lips. If you feel like your lipstick has gone too far outside the line, correct it with a little concealer.

Don't be afraid to try lip color if you never have. Start with with a tinted gloss or balm if you've never worn anything before. Then venture into "real" lipstick. Play around with colors. You can always wipe it off.


And if you're a big ol' smoocher, try the color stay options out there. They stay on great without leaving a trace. Just remember to gloss them up because they can be a little drying.

Kiss kiss!
xo - Bethany
  

Stepford Wife, a Troll and a Pony. A Guide to Finding Your Swagger.

Stepford.

That's the nickname I was given a few years back because of the way I walk. At first I was slightly insulted until the person who called me that explained why. He said it was because I walked with confidence, with a certain stride and that I walked like a "textbook" woman should walk. Like the women in the movie "Stepford Wives". I took back my moment of feeling insulted and blushed.

As a woman, we are more powerful than we tend to realize and our walk is one of the ways our body language speaks to others. We have legs, hips and booties. We are beautiful creatures. Don't be shy about it. Use it. I am not saying that you have to strut like a Victoria's Secret model on the runway but you also don't want to shuffle like a troll.

I've always been aware of how important it is to walk with purpose. I did the beauty pageant thing when I was younger which really did involve going up and down the hall with books on my head. I also could always hear that little voice inside my head (usually my mother's or grandmother's) telling me to "sit up straight, shoulders back..." In more recent years I've been very aware of my walk after having 7 ankle surgeries. It took awhile to master a walk that did not showcase my injury. My foot doesn't go up and down anymore, which limits my available high heel choice as well.

Think about how you walk. Do you take long strides? Do you shuffle? Do you waddle? Do you walk fast with your head down?

A lot of your walk has to do with posture. You can pull off a wearing a burlap bag with the right walk or look completely schleppy in an evening gown with the wrong one.

So here is your mini lesson on walking like a lady.

Posture - 
A beautiful walk starts with good posture. 

• Hold your chin up. Pretend you have an invisible string attached to your head going up to the ceiling.

• Roll your shoulders up and back.

• Slightly (and I stress "slightly") stick your chest out.

• Hold your stomach in like you are pulling your belly button to your spine, which cause you to pull your tush in and your pelvis up.

• Don't flop your arms down or put them on your hips. You want to bend them a little and keep them close to your body but not stiff

• Don't lock your legs or knees.

Time to Walk - 
You want to walk with fluidity, a stride but not like a pony. Here is a step by step guide on finding your swagger.

• You want to lead with your legs not your upper body

• Your steps should be about a foot in length. Too big and you'll look like you're pacing out steps for a treasure hunt. Too small and you'll be shuffling.

• The way your foot lands should be a roll. Your heel should hit first and then roll to the ball of your foot and then toes, keeping your toes pointed forward like you're walking a line.

• Don't swing your arms like an ape. You want them to slide forward and back with ease, keeping them somewhat close to your body.

•  It's also okay to swing your hips a little when you walk but remember, you're not Shakira. You don't need to full out shake it.

You may not want to try this out for the first time in the grocery store. Put a full length mirror at the end of your hall and practice going back and forth. THEN showcase that strut at the store. Also, high heels are a great way to improve your walk BUT find a height you can actually walk in. That's the difference.

You will be amazed at how much more confident you feel.

There are a lot of different aspects that go into improving your self confidence. Your walk is just one step to get you there. More to come!

Walk this way baby...
xo
Bethany

Olive You Olive Oil

If there is one product that I think everyone should have on hand at all times it would be...........

(drum roll please)

Olive oil.

Olive oil is not some new fancy product. It has been around for thousands of years and is as good for your insides as it is for your outsides. Olive oil has vitamin E and oleic acid in it. Both of those are fabulous for your skin and hair.

Dry Scalp...
Take olive oil and put it into a hair dye bottle or even one of those plastic bottles that you can put ketchup or mustard in. Then section your hair and put it along the hair line. Rub it in with your finger tips. Then brush your hair from root to tip and cover with a shower cap. Sleep with this on overnight. Then in the morning add shampoo to your hair and rub in. Rinse it out. Then shampoo again as normal. You will love how this leaves your scalp and hair looking.

Dry Hair....
You can also heat up the olive oil, apply to your hair from about ear level down, wrap it in a hot towel and cover with a shower cap. Leave it on for about 30 minutes and then wash your hair as normal.

Eye Makeup Remover...
You can use just olive oil or equal parts olive/almond oil. I put it on my clean hands or a cotton pad and swipe it across my lids, then wipe clean with a warm, wet washcloth. It works perfect plus it's great for your eyelashes and the delicate skin around your eyes.

Face and Body....
Add olive oil to sugar, table or sea salt and massage into your skin. The gritty texture will slough off any dry skin and the oil will soften your skin. On your legs, you can scrub with a brush in a circular motion and it stimulates the blood flow and benefits the appearance of your skin. You can also just put a couple of capfuls into your bath water.

Lips...
Slick on straight olive oil to your lips and you'll feel a difference instantly.

You have to love an all in one beauty product that you can buy for $5 or less. Plus, it is never a bad thing to have your beauty products mix in with your grocery shopping.

Stay beautiful!
xo
Bethany

Sandpaper Heels, Alligator Legs and Desert Dry Lips

Ah, winter. We pile on layer upon layer to stay warm protecting our bodies from the frigid temps and biting winds. The colder temps and low humidity have a big affect on our skin. But the alternative to being bundled up like Randy in "A Christmas Story" is getting frostbite.

With such a crazy schedule during the holidays, my beauty routine got a little neglected. I didn't really notice how dry my skin was until I went to put a pair of regular nylons on last week and almost ripped them with the sandpaper on my heels. My poor little dogs are in need of some TLC. And for that matter, my legs, arms and lips are pretty parched. Scaly like a darn alligator. You want to cuddle with me right now don't you?

So if your bod is also sending out an SOS for some serious lovin', here are some of my tips for getting back that soft, supple skin. I'll give you a store-bought product and then something you may just have in your cabinets.

Footsie Worthy Feet
You're cuddled up in bed on a cold winter night and you slide your foot over for a friendly little game of footsie. Sounds nice, unless your feet feel like 80 grit sandpaper. Sanding off your partner's skin with your nasty feet is not romantic.
 
In Your Cabinet:
Honestly, the easiest thing in the world to do is not fancy. I use Vasoline or Crisco. I know that sounds funny but it's an old school remedy. ("Thanks Grandma!") Before you go to bed at night, slather your feet and put on white cotton socks. It feels kind of funny but totally works. It may take a few nights in a row, depending.

At the Store:

My favorite is the Burt's Bees Foot Cream with Vitamin E and Coconut. It has a really rich texture and just like the Vasoline or Crisco, slather it on before bed and throw on a pair of socks.

The next day, after you take your socks off, wipe your feet if there's any excess. It's not a bad idea to take a pumice to your feet before you shower to slough off any rough skin.


Scaly Legs
We tend to indulge in super long, hot showers in the winter which feel amazing but leave your skin begging for hydration. Try not to have the water scorching hot. The best thing to do is to apply lotion as soon a you get out of the shower while your skin is still wet.
 
In Your Cabinet:
I refer you back to the homemade body scrub blog. Start with that. 

Then for a partially homemade lotion try this -
16 ounces baby lotion
8 ounces solid coconut oil
8 ounces Vitamin E cream

Fire up the mixer and blend it together until it looks like frosting. You can keep it in airtight container.

At the Store:
If you want to go with something that is fragrance free and just a basic lotion, I like Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy Plus Intensive Repair Lotion, 16.9 fl oz. It's under $10 and you can get it at any drugstore or grocery store. 

Irrestible, Kissable Pucker
For my day job I talk..a lot. And I am a chronic lip licker. Which means in the winter, my lips get chapped so easily. I tend to be a bit of a lip balm junkie. You have to be careful too because flavored lip balms and ones with menthol, although they feel or taste good, can actually make the problem worse.

In Your Cabinet:
Olive oil. Yup. Olive oil. First off, if you want to slough your pucker, mix a little olive oil with sugar and put it on a warm, wet washcloth and buff them. Olive oil is amazing for so many things! (Note to self...future blog - beauty benefits of olive oil.) I just put a dab of it on my finger and slick it across my lips. Works like a charm!

At the Store:
I love Aquaphor. It's under $3. It works immediately. Soothes dryness, chapped and cracked lips. Anyone who has had a baby has probably used Aquaphor. It's the best!

******************

It's easy to let yourself go in the winter, especially when you are so bundled up and most of your skin is not exposed. Don't forget that what you put into your body is just as important as what you put on it. Plus, you'll feel better if you take care of yourself now. When spring rolls around you'll be one step ahead of the game for throwing on sandals and maybe a little sunless tanner.

Stay warm!
xo
Bethany

The Diet Roller Coaster...Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Diets, workouts, success, setbacks, failures and repeat.... It's the roller-coaster ride that so many of us have taken.

I swear every year for as long as I can remember, every New Year's and glimmer of swimsuit season I would vow to lose weight and get in shape. It didn't matter if my medium build, 5'8" frame was 127lbs or 203lbs. It was the same vow, year in and year out. It never stuck. I have been everything from an emaciated looking size 7 to a voluptuous size 14. I always hid my weight well. I have always been constantly aware of every bite of food I take in. Food has been the enemy, the reward and the therapist.

When I found out 5 years ago that I had Celiac Disease I had to totally change my diet. My body started functioning properly and I managed to drop about 40 lbs in a month and a half. Wahoooo! So I thought until it slowly crept back on. 

Flash forward to about three years ago. I had done a live broadcast at a local gym. In talking with the owner we decided it would be "fun" for me to be her pet project. I was SO ready for it. She taught me about fitness and nutrition and kept me accountable. For 8 weeks I did whatever she told me to do. The big difference this time around...I changed my mindset. I wasn't on a diet. I wasn't trying to fit into a gown or a swimsuit. I wanted to be healthy, feel great and as a bonus, look great.

The best things I learned from that experience...
- Write down every bite of food, every drink you take
- Plan, plan, plan. If you plan your meals and workouts you're less likely to cheat
- What happens today can be corrected tomorrow
- Try new things
- Make yourself accountable to someone
- Just when you think you can't take it anymore, push harder
- Treat yourself now so you don't go overboard later

Nothing tastes better than success.

After my hard work I had gone from 203 lbs to 153 lbs. On my body that's going from a size 14 to an 8. I felt incredible. I was stronger, smaller and healthier. I used to always get sick, had asthma and felt tired constantly. Almost all of that went away.


I am by no means at my final goal. I've gone back up and now back down since then. It's always a work in progress but I have the tools for success. I'm smarter about it now than I used to be.

There are so many fad diets out there that make huge promises. They don't work! You know what works? Hard work(outs), healthier eating and the mindset that you are worth more than what you've given yourself in the past. If you think of this as a temporary fix and not a lifestyle change, it won't happen.


I am not a dietician or a nutritionist, so I can't really give you advice on what to do exactly. I will share this...these are a few of my favorite sites for advice. 

www.jillianmichaels.com
www.toneitup.com
www.weightwatchers.com
www.eatcleandiet.com

Make your workouts fun and hard, make your food delicious and healthy. Enjoy a healthier you and all the benefits you get from it.

Good luck!
xo
Bethany