DIY Nails

I know a bunchhhh of girls who go every few weeks to get their nails done and the #1 excuse I hear why they absolutely NEEEEED to spend money to get their nails done is because they "work face to face with customers". I hate to break it to you ladies, but your customers really aren't going to care if you get your nails done professionally or by yourself for them. You can still look well-manicured by painting your own nails. I'm not saying I don't go to salons to get my nails done because I do, but it's more of a treat for myself instead of a necessity. In fact, I get compliments all the time on my nails and I do them myself. Let me just put things into perspective for you girls....

HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING... let's say it costs $20 for a manicure and you go every 2-3 weeks, and in this example you go every 2 weeks..

$20 X 26 weeks (52/2) + $2 tip X 26 weeks = $520 + $52 = $572 a year
Now I know girls who have been going consistantly for years so let's just say 3 years consistantly...
That's $1716 you've just spent on something you COULD be doing yourself...no? I don't mind going every once in a while to pamper myself but I don't know about you but I certainly don't have money to constantly be getting my nails done and keep in mind that's ONLY manicures that's not even pedicures or the specialties salons offer. My point is, the little things add up.

SOLUTION? OF COURSE:
Here are a bunch of AWESOME nail design tutorials with some of today's hottest products...
http://www.beautylish.com/videos/popular/nails?page=5
compliments of Beautylish

Mila Kunis Makeup Tutorial

I went with the movie theater with the boyfriend this weekend and saw "Friends With Benefits" starring Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, good movie by the way. I LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEE her makeup, and researched how she does her makeup.

I will again say that for all makeup tutorials I COMPLETELY/HIGHLY/STRONGLY RECOMMEND www.beautylish.com for the most amazing makeup tips ever AND follow them @beautylish [I get their tweets sent to my phone to keep up with the latest tips and trends] (follow me if you join "Ali O.")

So, with that being said, I hope you enjoy this makup tutorial by piki2woo (go on her channel on YouTube) if you have any questions feel free to ask me

Toning Shoes? = Your Heels!

(Photo credit by MysTeRious_GiRL_x3 on Photobucket)

I was reading an article interviewing Khloe Kardashian and she mentioned the fact that wearing heels helped get those legs! So I did a little research....

According to HighHeelsDaily.com, "It’s no secret that one of the big benefits of wearing high heels is the way they flatter your silhouette. But a new study has suggested that the wearing of tall shoes doesn’t benefit the wearer by illusion alone. Rather, it says the wearing heels can actually improve the muscle tone of your legs.
The study, conducted by researchers at Harvey Mudd College in California, tested a group of 18 to 33-year-old subjects and found that “those who walked in high heels activated their inner and outer calf muscles much more evenly than those who used flatter shoes.”

Also, Livestrong.com stated that fitness classes are offered involving working out in heels! Insane isn't it? I've never heard of that until tonight.
       "A high heels workout involves exercising in high heels to become more comfortable wearing them on a daily basis. It also incorporates intense leg exercise. The classes are meant to also tone and tighten the leg muscles so you look better in your high heels. The high heels workout is not meant to be a weight loss workout, but the leg exercise portion of the routine can help tone your legs with traditional leg exercises such as squats and lunges."

There you have it ladies! Toning shoes you've already had in your closet! Now there's another reason for you to wear heels to class or the grocery store or wherever! :)
Sources:
* http://highheelsdaily.com/2011/02/03/study-heels-improve-leg-muscle-tone/
* http://www.livestrong.com/article/444686-heels-workout/
* http://media.photobucket.com/image/high%20heels%20photography/MysTeRious_GiRL_x3/redshoes-1.jpg?o=42

Simple Ab Exercise You NEED To Do

When it comes to working out on your abs there are a few things to keep in mind...
* More weight less reps for adding bulk and getting your body cut (6 pack for example) that's why you'll see some guys do ab workouts with free weights. Most women do the exercise with no weights and more reps. This will help tone without adding bulk.
* Give it a rest every other day - doing workouts requires some recoop time so your body heals itself and makes it stronger, that's why it is essential that when wanting to work out every day of the week alternate different days with different body parts you want to work on. For me personally, 3 days a week I do ab/lower body workouts while 2 days a week I do upper body and back.
* It is also important when working on your abs that you work on your back as well.

An Ab exercise you NEEEEEEDDDDD to incorporate:
Lay on your back and do deep breathing. Inhale and push your stomach outward. Exhale and let your stomach sink down as if your trying to push your navel into the floor. Breathing like that is that simple. 10-15 reps (and 2-3 sets if you can)
WHAT IT DOES: works other abdominal muscles UNDERNEATH the ab muscles we are dying to make perfect. Without working those muscles underneath, you're not going to have that flat stomach.






(Please note: not a personal trainer or expert)

Curl Your Hair with Your Flat Iron

Whenever girls ask me what I use to curl my hair, their reaction when I say "my straightener" is priceless. Yes, it's true.... the trick is to using a slim straightener instead of a bulky one. I saw some celebrities' hairstyles and HAD to figure out how they do it. I went on YouTube and looked up some videos but the main website I COMPLETELY RECOMMEND FOR ALL BEAUTY Tutorials, is www.beautylish.com.

 I bought my straightener at Target for around $20 its a simple slim straightener that has a set temperature. Be sure to work with small sections of hair (1-2 inch sections) when curling.

 Step-by-step How To Curl:

1. Start from the root of your hair as if you were going to straighten it and clamp down

2. Immediately rotate your straightener around 1 complete rotation so the hair wraps around the outside (trick: when curling rotate the straightener away from your face)

    When working on the left side of your hair, clamp and twist your straightener to the right, when working on the right side of your hair, clamp and twist your straightener to the left.

3. When you've clamped and rotated your straightener, pull downward (the saem motion you do when straightening your hair

The best way for me to describe what this action looks like is how people make curls with scissors and ribbon when wrapping a present. Your hair needs to wrap around the straightener after it is first clamped within the heated plates in order to curl so while pulling down the hair is heating up and then twisting around the straightener causing it to curl.

It's good to curl away from your face so that way the curls look symmetrical instead of flowing in the same direction all over.

Here's a demo video:

Chicago Fashion Trend

Alright I'll be honest, sometimes it looks like I'm hardcore creeping on someone. Truth be told, if you catch me staring, I'm actually looking at what works in terms of clothing//style on that particular person. This summer I've been noticing a few great looks for young women that I would totally recommend.

Clothing Trends
So some of the common themes I'm noticing that are becoming more and more popular are pastel colors, floral dresses, skinny jeans, etc. Now, don't quote me, I am by no means a fashoin expert nor do I know the proper terms for style//clothing design, but I feel I have a pretty good sense on what works.
* I've been notcing a lot of young women in simple business casual dresses with open long sleeved sweaters with flats. It's business casual and soooo appropriate. Besides open long sleeved sweaters, women are also using blazers..so ridiculously trendy and fabulous. (And I know I've seen some nice blazers @ New York and Company!)
* Another look I see that's too cute to be forgotten is a floral print dress with a high-waist belt. The other day I saw a young woman wearing a pastel yellow dress with floral prints and a brown leather braided belt ....and she looked gorgeous! Wearing these dresses with gladiator shoes or flats completely tops this outfit off.
* For a more casual look, I've noticed a good dark pair of skinny jeans with a v-neck fitted tee. This simple look with sandals or flats is another really great look.

Hair Trend
With all this humidity going on, a lot of girls are keeping their hair up and out of their face. What's popular is a side part with  low neat bun (more towards the nap of the neck & ballarina style). This look is ridiculously simple and only takes less than 2 minutes to do. (Stud earrings are perfect with this hairstyle as well)

Makeup Trend
Yes...I also creep on girls' faces but AGAIN...it's only because I'm looking at what is working for them (honestly it's true). So if you catch me staring, I'm only learning how you did your makeup so don't be offended.
LADIES: KEEP IT SIMPLE! Au Natural seems to be a very popular look. Foundation...sure...but with this heat don't cake it on! Keep it light and elegant so it looks moe natural (I recommend loose mineral powder) and some eyeliner on the top lid with some mascara and a little bit of lip gloss. An easy process that will take less than 5 minutes of your morning routine! Also, brown eyeliner seems to be a more popular choice for an even more natural look with a very light neutral eyeshadow just to add some highlights to your eyes.

Best Facial Cleanser I'd Recommend (for ALL skin types)

|| !! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !! ||

$8.49 according to Walgreens.com

Not only does my dermatologist recommend it, I swear by it. This daily cleanser is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin (like mine). My acne breakout happened (mostly) my Sophomore year in college where my stress levels and lifestyle completely changed. I saw a dermatologist and along with other acne face washes and creams, he recommended I use this at night. My complexion has cleared up immensely, nowadays I use Cetaphil to keep my complexion in good condition.

Truth is... people use too many products at a time to fix these imperfections on their faces, keep it simple. Not everyone washes their face in the morning, but BE SURE TO wash your face every night. Also, change your bed sheets at least once a week (sounds simple but its the little things that also help). Exfoliate 2-3 times a week with a good scrub or even a facial mask.

*It's a common rumor that chocolate and pop make people break out, however there's no specific research that everyone's complexion fits that mold. In fact, some foods might cause breakouts for some and have no affect on others. The trick is to be concious of what you eat and see if anything transpires within a few days. I, for example, do in fact break out from chocolate and carmel, so I try to avoid those items. My dad also suggested I could be breaking out from beef products and said that his friend found that he breaks out within a few days after eating beef products (due to the fact that there are chemicals and steroids injected in some of those products). So just be aware of what you're eating.

HIGHLY Recommend this drink.

Need a morning boost? Try Starbuck's Venti Green Tea instead of coffee

This morning on my way to my internship I was reading through some old magazines for different workouts. In an issue of M&F Hers Magazine I stumbled upon an article about what drinks//food you should try and what food//drinks to avoid. In this case, they recommended trying Starbuck's Venti Green Tea. I'll be honest my favorite drink from there is the Coffee Frappuccino, but in this case I was willing to try it and it turns out I really enjoyed it. Also, it was only $2.72 (with tax) so it was definitely worth it.

 The magazine says,
"Green tea contains caffeine, which improves alertness and metabolism, and epigallocatechin gallate, an antioxidant that promotes fat-burning, enhances joint and muscle recovery, and reduces the risk of certain cancers." 

WebMD states "Green tea and its extract have been shown to fight obesity and lower LDL "bad" cholesterol -- two risk factors for heart disease and diabetes -- but in very limited studies. One study in the Netherlands and a study in Japan showed that green tea did both.

In the Dutch study, participants who drank caffeinated green tea lost more weight, but even those who typically drank the decaf variety saw a decrease in their waistlines and body weight. Researchers speculated that the caffeine helps with fat oxidation.

In the Japanese study, 240 men and women were given varying amounts of green tea extract for three months. Those who got the highest amount lost fat and weight and had lower blood pressure and lower LDL "bad" cholesterol.

 Green tea's antioxidants, called catechins, scavenge for free radicals that can damage DNA and contribute to cancer, blood clots, and atherosclerosis. Grapes and berries, red wine, and dark chocolate also have potent antioxidants."

Resources:* WebMDhttp://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/health-benefits-of-green-tea
* M&F Hers Magazine

'BERRY' POWERFUL

WHY YOU SHOULD ADD BLUEBERRIES TO YOUR DIET

According to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry council,
"Blueberries are packed with vitamin C.

In just one serving, you can get 14 mg of Vitamin C – almost 25 percent of your daily requirement. Vitamin C aids the formation of collagen and helps maintain healthy gums and capillaries. It also promotes iron absorption and a healthy immune system^1,2.

Blueberries are dynamos of dietary fiber.

Research has shown that most of us don’t get enough fiber in our diets. Eating foods high in fiber will help keep you regular, your heart healthy and your cholesterol in check. A handful of blueberries can help you meet your daily fiber requirement^1,2. What a tasty way to eliminate this worry from your day!

Blueberries are an excellent source of manganese.

Manganese plays an important role in bone development and in converting the proteins, carbohydrates and fats in food into to energy – a perfect job for blueberries³.

Blueberries are leaders in antioxidant activity.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), blueberries are near the top when it comes to antioxidant activity per serving (ORAC values). Their capacity is impressive – click here to see how the antioxidant activity in blueberries compares to other foods⁴. Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals — unstable molecules linked to the development of cancer, cardiovascular disease and other age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Substances in blueberries called polyphenols, specifically the anthocyanins that give the fruit its blue hue, are the major contributors to antioxidant activity⁵. "

M&F Hers Magazine also states "A recent study in rats -- follow-up trials on humans are already underway -- found that 90 days of blueberry-powder ingestion reduced abdominal fat, decreased cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and improved glucose and insulin sensitivity. Even more impressive was that blueberries actually upregulated genes that control fat-burning and downregulated those controlling fat storage."

Resources:

* U.S. Highbush Blueberry council

http://www.blueberrycouncil.org/health-benefits-of-blueberries/blueberry-nutrition/

* M&F Hers Magazine March/April 2010 issue

* Images found on Google images

Tweets to live by....literally

If you have a Twitter account, my suggestion to you is to follow @DaveZinczenko. He is the Editor and Chief of Men's Health & Women's Health and Author of Abs Diet and Eat This, Not That! These facts are from his page and if you don't have a twitter you should get one!

"YO! PLAY! Eating 6 ounces of fat-free yogurt daily boosts weight loss up to 81%, study says.

 

DAMN YOU, JIMMY KIMMEL! Staying up late can lead to up to 2 lbs a month in weight gain, says Northwestern U study.

 

CRACK THE CODE: Eating eggs for breakfast can significantly reduce your calorie intake for the rest of the day.

 

CEREAL HALL OF SHAME: Reese's Puffs. Oxford researchers rated this the unhealthiest cereal in the supermarket.

 

RIGHT IN THE NOSE: Coffee & tea drinkers are 50% less likely to carry MRSA superbug in nostrils, says gov't study.

 

SLEEPING GIANTS: Late risers eat more calories & make unhealthier food & drink choices, says new Northwestern U study.

 

GO GRANNY! One apple a day reduces the chances of stroke-related deaths by 36%!

 

&@$%#, YOU'RE STRONG! Expressing anger increases muscle force by 25%.

 

MAN-BOOB TUBE: People who eat meals while watching TV consume, on average, 288 additional calories.

 

FLAT AS A PANCAKE: Eating breakfast--especially one of protein & fiber--dramatically reduces your risk of obesity!

 

STRONG AT HEART: Just one workout a week decreases your resting heart rate by up to 11%.

 

HATE MOSQUITOES? Skeeters are 30% more attracted to people who consume the most alcohol, says new French study.

 

HOT COFFEE: Study finds female rats want more sex after a shot of caffeine.

 

A STRONGER HEART: Drink 5+ glasses of water a day to help lower heart disease risk up to 60%, says Loma Linda U study.

 

DOUBLE YOUR DIGESTION: Chewing gum settles your gut by creating more natural bicarbonate, which helps stomach-acid flow"

 

for more tweets like this go to http://twitter.com/#!/DaveZinczenko

Welcome!

Thanks for visiting! This blog will cover a variety of topics and insight that may help you live a better life. Check in every day for new information and feel free to comment (no need to be a member). This site is new so bare with me!

Have a topic you want to cover? Let me know!

--x||  ALi