Friends of the Revolution Launch Amivectio Clothing Line

Amivectio, the long-awaited clothing line that caters to the men's fashion revolutionaries, officially launched last week. The inaugural spring line is currently available on Karmaloop.com and at select boutique retailers across the country.

The brand's Creative Director Hector Estrada is the fashion veteran who also helped brands that include ECKO, MECCA and TRIKO rise to be industry juggernauts. Together with his friends of the revolution, the team introduces Amivectio.

"Amivectio will deliver useful and groundbreaking designs that will make you feel and look good, while inspiring revolution by design, communication, and community," Estrada says.

Amivectio has already proven to be a testament of streetwear's versatility offering strong messages in a softer, yet more confident voice. It is about being you. Amivectio's design philosophy and goal is to define modern Americana while re-interpreting classic fashion with innovation and functionality, guided by principles of quality, beauty, rhythm, balance, comfort, and inspiration.

Every piece is a functional and innovative re-interpretation of a classic garment: traditional collar button-down shirts with ventilation and adjustment systems; timeless crew neck sweatshirts with added side mobility and chain stitched messages, such as "Truth Seeker"; and classic lightweight knits made of 100% Peruvian Pima cotton that will feature asymmetrical design accents.

Every so often a dramatic change in ideas is needed. This transformation is usually made possible by a group of individuals who make it their passion to create this change and start a revolution. Amivectio is that revolution and embraces those who make it their mission to challenge and alter the system for the good of the masses.

Fashion Group International of Dallas presents Canine Meets Couture

Fashion Group International (FGI) of Dallas presents its first annual Four Legged Fashion (FLF): Canine meets Couture event on May 15, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at the Grand Pavilion in the Dallas Trade Mart where guests will enjoy a one-of-a-kind canine couture fashion show, auction, reception, Pooch Palace showcase and couture raffle made possible by our fabulous sponsors including: Spa Paws Hotel of Ft. Worth, The Dallas Market Center, and The Petropolitan.

The evening will feature professional canine models provided by Agent Beast Animal Talent Agency strutting down the runway in couture created by notable designers including: Abi Ferrin, Angelo Cerilli, Anyaa, April Miller, BabyLou Pooch Couture, Caroline Carlisle, Claudia Lobao Craig Muller, Dorey Designs, Duxiana , Finley, Frontgate, Greene's Jewelers, HKS Inc , John Bourgeois, Kayne9 of Jonathon Kayne , Krickett Goss, Leifers, Lou Saksen Architect, Mara Farr at JC Penneys, Maristella Citelli, Michael Simon, Nicolas Villalba, Prashe, Sarah Briggs Jewelry, Seed Sucker Inc., Shani, Todd Oldham, Under Dawg Apparel and Watters and Watters .

This is a brand new concept for North Texas and something we hope to build on each year. How exciting to utilize the great talent in FGI to benefit our community in this way Paige Anderson, of Agent Beast Animal Talent Agency (http://www.agentbeast.com) states, "Four Legged Fashion is the perfect vehicle for Beast. I get to showcase my canine talent in these amazing one-of-a-kind pieces and at the same time raise money for animal rescue, which I am very passionate about. "

The entire collection will be auctioned off during the evening with a portion of the proceeds going to create a grant fund for rescue groups called the FLF Fund. "This is a brand new concept for North Texas and something we hope to build on each year. How exciting to utilize the great talent in FGI to benefit our community in this way," says FLF founder and FGI member Terri Tomlinson who will also be on ABC's Good Morning Texas on May 13th with FLF Spokes-Dog Frank to promote the event.

Each couture collection piece will be partnered with other unique dog related items as well as a "Golden Ticket" worth $100 of spa services at The Petropolitan and a one night stay at Tailwaggers Country Inn. Guests will also enjoy strolling through the Pooch Palace showcase with spectacular homes and beds that they can bid on during the evening. Of note is the Dallas based architecture firm HKS, who has constructed a custom built dog house- a replica of their design for Dallas' W hotel whose dimensions are 6' H x 4' W x 7'L. Leifers has also donated a NeoClassical dog house that combine architectural elements, high-end design, and functionality to create a fashionable home accessory.

For those guests that enjoy raffles, there will be a 3 piece collection of canine couture from Roberto Cavalli's new pet line valued at $650 and a collection from Neiman Marcus which includes an Etro dog carrier valued at $1,100. In addition, each guest will receive doggie and companion swag bag and all vip's will receive a special gift box and 2009 FLF Collection Book.

We would like to thank our honorary chairs Karen Akin and Kameron Westcott and our sponsors, which include: Spa Paws Hotel of Ft. Worth,, Dallas Market Center, The Petropolitan, Leifers, RSC Shows, Brad Hughes & Associates, Agent BEAST, Barefoot Wines, BabyLou Pooch Couture, Campbell Wagner Runway , Kristina Bowman Photography, Yelp and SmartWater. View complete list of sponsors - FLF Sponsors.

Fashion Group International of Dallas is a global, non-profit, professional organization with over 6,000 members in more than thirty chapters, representing all areas of the fashion industry including apparel, accessories, beauty and home.

Fashion Window Treatments Makes DIY as Easy as 123

In a budget-straining economy that demands thoughtful consideration before spending even a handful of change, consumers are seeking product solutions that avoid costly middlemen while still embracing high quality. By offering its products and services directly to the customer, online home fashion manufacturer Fashion Window Treatments gives shoppers access to huge savings of 30 to 50 percent off the price they'd pay a designer or retailer.

Family owned and operated, FWT leads the online marketplace in custom and semi custom window treatments and custom bedding. Literally as easy as 123, the company takes customers through a three-step process that culminates in their product being sewn and shipped within seven days of placing their order.

1. Select style and size.
2. Select fabric(s).
3. Select options such as interlining, blackout lining and decorative trims.

"Our comprehensive process makes custom decorating at do-it-yourself prices accessible to anyone," explains Fashion Window Treatment's Kelly Stitt. "We enhance those savings with free shipping on orders over $100, a low price guarantee, and a turnaround time that's faster than some companies take just to ship products that were already sitting on its shelves."

Extending FWT's Fredericksburg workroom to the global consumer, swags and jabots, board mounted valances, upholstered cornices, decorative pillows, decorative trimmings, kitchen chair pads, custom shower curtains, decorative table runners, extra long shower curtains, and extra wide custom drapes.

A complimentary consultation can assist with measurements, as well as with fabric and style choices. If a consumer does not see their desired style of custom drape or valance online, a hassle-free inquiry will reveal if the company can fabricate it.

Stitt says Fashion Window Treatments adds 30 to 50 new fabrics and decorative trim to its inventory each spring and fall, with the new additions labeled as such on its web site. But if its constantly rotating 350-fabric offering doesn't encompass a customer's preference, they can send in their own, acquiring labor-only pricing and yardage quantity by phone.

Fabric swatches are free for the first 10 and only $1 thereafter. For the organic do-it-yourselfer, all of the company's fabrics and trims can be purchased as cut yardage.

Fashion Window Treatments is the consumer's premier resource for home decorating offering outstanding quality, workmanship and the quickest turn around times in the industry.

New 80s Fashions for Kids - 2009 Style

They called it the decade that taste forgot. Well, guess what? The era that brought us yuppies and BMX bikes is back, but this time it will be more stylish, especially for kids.

TheKidsWindow. co.uk are proud to anounce the launch of a new, excusive range of tee-shirts and all-in-ones featuring famous faces from the 80s. Available in a range of colours, the new range promises to outlast the whims of fashion and will appeal to all parents with a taste for nostalgia.

The Kids Window aren't the only clothing retailers to see the trend. The 90s and early 2000s have mostly seen fairly bland fashions, but now we're ready to express ourselves and our tastes again. Many high-street retailers have launched new ranges in more colours, and they have finally admitted that logos don't with style, according to upcoming designer, Joanna Doherty.

"Mention 1980s fashion and most people will conjure up images of shoulder pads and power dressing, but it was so much more that that" she explains. "It was the era in which the culture of celebrity really took off. Rather than using a brand name to represent their individuality, the public started to idolise and imitate the cult figures of the day. From Kylie to Rambo, people wanted to be associated with not only their heroes, but their heroes' characteristics and the demand for alternative designs soared."

With the trend set to continue until well into the autumn, retailers across the board are keen to capitalise on the public's new love-affair with all things eighties as Jason Lewis, director of The Kids Window, the UK's first web-only children's department store, explains.

"Not all of us want to start stocking up on cans of hairspray" he jokes "but it is clear that products that have a retro feel, or edge, are incredibly popular with children and parents alike. Our new range of unisex t-shirts and rompers, featuring exclusive prints of icons such as Mr T, Kylie and Rambo, for example, have been designed to offer customers a vibrant, on-trend product, that is perhaps more user-friendly than traditional eighties clothing".

[alternative 80s children's clothing, which features six designs including "Kylie", "Sly" and "Bad Attitude", is 100 per cent cotton and available in a choice of four colours. With baby rompers available in sizes zero to six months and six to 12 months and tees starting from zero to six months to nine to 10 years, the new range is set to prove a hit with first-time fans of the pop culture and those keen to revisit the idols of their youth.

Get out! It's good for you

Why outside?
Studies suggest that people burn up to 12 per cent more calories outside (in a cooler environment) than indoors because their body has to work to keep warm.

Exercising outside means no driving to the gym or extra electricity to work the machines, which helps the environment.

Getting fit will be more fun. Exercising with a friend is much better than pounding a treadmill with only perhaps your iPod for company. Studies show natural surroundings lift our mood, increasing the overall benefit of our workout.

Tennis
Tennis works all the major muscle groups, including the arms, legs, back and stomach, and burns about 390 calories an hour, more if you keep missing the ball. So if you’re new to the sport, you’ll burn even more fat.

Cycling
Cycling also works all the major muscles in your legs – and it keeps your stomach flat too because you work your abdominal muscles while trying to sit up straight and balancing on the seat. It’s good for all age-groups and is great for the heart.

Jogging
1) joging a brilliant fat-burner. You don’t need any fancy equipment to start you off, just a decent pair of trainers. And you can make it more interesting by changing your route.
2) An average woman will manage to burn off a whopping 260 calories in just 20 minutes of jogging – and it targets your bottom, hips and thighs.
3) It reduces overall body fat and is more effective than sit-ups. To burn even more fat, try interval training.
4) If you’re new to jogging, beware that it can be tough on the joints, especially your knees and ankles.
5) Stop if you experience pain and ensure that you are getting enough calcium in your diet to keep bones and joints strong.

Netball
1) It burns about 255 calories an hour and is especially good for toning up wobbly thighs and bingo wings.
2) It also quickly increases your fitness levels because there is plenty of stopping and starting, which boosts fitness and fat-burning a lot more effectively than just exercising at a steady pace. Better still, it’s also very sociable and fun, so you’ll be more inclined to go regularly.

Acupuncture is effective for back pain

Whether it is real or simulated acupuncture, the therapy can effectively reduce chronic low back pain than usual care, the study has found.

"Back pain is the leading reason for visits to licensed acupuncturists, and medical acupuncturists consider acupuncture an effective treatment for back pain," the authors write.

During the study, a team led by Dr. Daniel C. Cherkin, of Group Health Centre for Health Studies, Seattle, compared four different types of treatment in a randomised clinical trial involving 638 adults (average age 47) with chronic low back pain.

During the seven-week treatment period, 157 participants received 10 acupuncture treatments in a manner individually prescribed by a diagnostic acupuncturist; 158 underwent a standardized course of acupuncture treatments considered effective by experts for low back pain; 162 received 10 sessions of simulated acupuncture, in which practitioners used a toothpick inside of an acupuncture needle guide tube to mimic the insertion, stimulation and removal of needles; and 161 received usual care.

"Compared with usual care, individualized acupuncture, standardized acupuncture and simulated acupuncture had beneficial and persisting effects on chronic back pain," the authors said.

After eight weeks, 60 percent of the participants receiving any type of acupuncture experienced a clinically meaningful improvement in their level of functioning, compared with 39 percent of those receiving usual care.

And after one-year, 59 percent to 65 percent of those in the acupuncture groups experienced an improvement in function, compared with 50 percent of the usual care group.

"Our results have important implications for key stakeholders," said the authors.

"For clinicians and patients seeking a relatively safe and effective treatment for a condition for which conventional treatments are often ineffective, various methods of acupuncture point stimulation appear to be reasonable options, even though the mechanism of action remains unclear.

"Furthermore, the reduction in long-term exposure to the potential adverse effects of medications is an important benefit that may enhance the safety of conventional medical care," they added.

The findings appear in Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Rahul & Gunjan's Mother's day plans

Designers Rahul Jain and Gunjan Arora love their respective moms
and each other’s too!

Today, Gunjan is in Jaipur with Rahul’s mom and Rahul has hiked down to Dehradun to be with Gunjan’s mummyji. Confused ki kaun kahan ja raha hai? So were we, so we asked the designer duo about this unique way to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Rahul said, “Gunjan’s mom holds a very special place in my heart and Gunjan loves my mom too. We decided to trade places this time. I am gifting a specially crafted maroon-coloured saree to Gunjan’s mom – maroon is my mom’s fave colour. Gunjan will be gifting a hand-crafted blue saree to my mom. That’s Gunjan’s mom’s fave colour!” Don’t confuse your moms, guys!

What Pooja did on Mother's day?

So, to ask Pooja what she did on Mother’s Day toh banta tha. “I couldn’t do much,” she rued. Aisa kyun? “Life has been very hectic, especially since the last three days. I bought my mother sarees, a diamond set and a lovely bouquet of flowers,” said Pooja. So many gifts, what about quality time with her? “Yeah, that too! I made adrak wali chai for her for the first time in my life. I must say she was quite surprised. My mother is a rockstar. She has become the mother of the year and she deserves every bit of appreciation that is coming her way,” she says. And Pooja says that her mom was happy that she was working on Mother’s Day. “I was working because she has taught me that work comes first. She was happy that I was busy with work!” added Pooja.

And what about her father? Does she ever think about him? “Why would I? What dad did wasn’t good. I want to tell him – you didn’t want me, but look, I have done so much to make my mother proud of me. She is really happy today and that smile will remain forever,” said Pooja.

Don’t let age become a fashion hurdle

Ageing is an inevitable process. Earlier, stricter fashion rules forced our moms and grandmoms to dress to look much older than their age. But today’s fashionistas strongly believe in age appropriate power dressing – without looking boring.

However, some women still make the mistake of either attempting to hang on to their youth by dressing too young or dressing in dowdy, frumpy garments, adding unnecessary years to their looks. DT got the experts to tell you what you need to top that ‘Sexy Forever’ list.

Most fashion designers
say that the rising levels of health consciousness in society has resulted in older women being fitter and flaunting toned bodies. “Today, older women are smarter and can carry off most designs with as much elan as a 20 or 30-year-old,” says designer Narendra Kumar aka Nari.

So what are the style essentials that a 40 plus women should remember? According to designer Wendell Rodricks, other than getting rid of stuff from the wardrobe, it’s more important that women throw away things that look from a certain period. “It’s most important to do away with a look from a certain period. Women who grew up in the 60’s or 70’s should not have hair or make-up from that period,” he explains. “Know your personality and choose clothes that complement your body shape and style,” advises designer Lina Tipnis. Wendell adds, “Cleavage is great at any age. So go for it, armed with a good flattering bra. Take away attention from hips by layered, sheer effects. It’s not as much about the clothes as it is about good skin, hair and natural make-up.”

According to Nari, short kurtas or blouses with well-detailed necklines teamed with elegant trousers look great on older women. “Though dresses are still seen as clothes for the young, the longer ones, that end just below the knees, can also be a stylish option for those women who can carry them off well. But ensure clean and elegant cuts,” he adds.

Wendell’s list of strict no-nos include minis revealing dimpled knees, sleeveless garments if cellulite has taken over the arms and most importantly, excess make-up. “Also, no branded bling bags. It’s plain senseless when an old woman lugs around a massive branded bag that looks like it can house a football,” he adds. Meanwhile, Lina cautions against mid-riff revealing tops. “That’s definitely one thing older women must avoid,” cautions Lina.
Sarees with clean cut blouses, salwar-kurtas that flatter the body shape and sleek trouser suits make for other options for formal evening wear. “Make sure you focus on accessories. They go a long way in enhancing the overall look,” Lina adds.

Nari concludes, “For today’s smart woman, 40 plus is not old. Hence, as far as dressing sensibilities go, unless they are trying to ape teenagers in their style statements, they can opt for almost any garment.”

Delhi gets fashion pie, Mumbai the crumbs!

The Fashion and Design Promotion Council (FDPC), a three-month-old government body with sweeping powers, has gone back on its promise of dividing its favours between Delhi and Mumbai. Delhi is slowly being turned into the nation’s first fashion hub. And Mumbai is left with crumbs from this pie.

Look at what Delhi gets: a fashion complex spread over ten acres at Maidan Garhi in which will come up boutiques, offices, a textile museum and high-tech design equipment meant to manufacture fabrics. There’s also talk, by FDPC bossman Vijay K Singh, that the two private Delhi-based fashion bodies — Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) and Fashion Foundation of India (FFI) which organise Wills India Fashion Week and Delhi Fashion Week respectively — will come together under the FDPC umbrella. And, this will result in a single fashion week for the Spring/Summer’10 season in September’09.

These were the similar promises made to Mumbai, which ranks several notches higher than Delhi in the global fashion scene. Local designers and store owners are upset, naturally. However, Vijay K Singh promised, “We will start the Mumbai chapter of FDPC in May. A national trade fair calendar will be released in which designers from Mumbai, too, can participate. Plus, FDPC will fund designers invited to the Fashion Weeks in Milan, Paris and New York.”

He noted that the recent Lakme Fashion Week provided a great platform for designers even though this did not translate into encouraging business. “The FDPC will work towards this and will initiate talks with the LFW team soon,” he added.

Designer Raghavendra Rathore, who is Vice-President of FDPC, further assured Mumbai by saying, “There has been no oversight. The local government in Mumbai will soon start work with FDPC. Ideally, there should not be any replication of facilities in Delhi and Mumbai. So, the success of the hi-tech fashion hub in Delhi will decide what Mumbai’s strengths ought to be.” Significantly, Anil Chopra, LFW advisor, chose not to react to this assurance.

Ramesh Dembla’s fashionable do

The crowd could not have asked for more, as Ramesh Dembla’s designs proved to be quite a treat to the eyes.

The evening saw a huge crowd, having a whale of a time in their party attire, enjoying a drink. The hall roared as the models hit the ramp, in their exquisite garments. Top model Jackie Shetty worked the ramp to much applause, while our own city-boy Kenith set pulses racing with his smouldering looks. But the action wasn't restricted to the ramp alone; actress Lakshmi Rai was spotted at the do, looking as pretty as always. Stunt master Peter Haynes, who sported spikes was also present.

The evening was high on fun, partying and beautiful people.

Now, a 'magic' pill for dieters

The inventors also claim that the pill, a dietary supplement
called alpha-lipoic acid and widely sold in health food shops, also slows ageing, which is a known effect of low-calorie diets. However, the finding has triggered a dispute between two of the scientists who carried out the research, conducted on rats, over whether it can be applied to humans.

Malcolm Goyns, director of Immorgene Concepts, a scientific research company, who led the research, said he was sufficiently convinced to follow the approach himself. Evidence from the tropical Okinawan islands in Japan's extreme southwest, which has the highest proportion of centenarians in the world, demonstrated the life-prolonging effects of calorie restriction, he said.

Their traditional diet is high in vegetables and fish and low in fat, but they also have a cultural habit known as hara hachi bu - or "eat until you are 80 per cent full". This is based on the notion that it takes the stomach's stretch receptors 20 minutes to tell the brain how full it really is, preventing overeating - and Okinawans are among the leanest and fittest people in Japan as a result.

"While calorie restriction diets are followed as a matter of course in communities like Okinawa, the diet can be difficult to follow for most people. Our discovery indicates that by following a calorie restriction diet for six months and then taking alpha-lipoic acid while eating normally, the same life extension effects will be experienced," the Independent quoted Dr Goyns, as saying.

"Simply adding the supplement to the diet has no effect. It seems that alpha-lipoic acid fools the body into behaving as if it was still on whatever diet it was following before the supplement was added. We found there was an anti-obesity effect as well. Although weight does rise when you come off the restricted diet, if you take alpha-lipoic acid, even though you are eating normally again you still have a reduced weight," he added.

The study, published in Mechanisms of Ageing and Development , was carried out by Dr Goyns with colleagues from the University of Liverpool. The researchers investigated the effect of alpha-lipoic acid when given to rats on normal and low calorie diets
. Experiments have shown that curbing the amount of food, rats eat can extend their lives by 25 to 40 per cent.

However, anti-ageing benefits are lost when the rats return to a normal diet. In the study, researchers found the benefits of the low calorie diet were extended by giving the rats the supplement when they returned to normal eating.

Brian Merry of the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Liverpool, who carried out the study, said, "If you put the animals on to a restricted diet they would normally go on to an extended survival trajectory. When they were switched to a normal diet, this compound seemed to lock them into the benefits of their pre-existing diet.

"It is an unusual and interesting finding and it needs repeating in further research. That was as far as I was prepared to go, but Malcolm Goyns wanted to apply it to humans. I said I didn't agree with his interpretation and we had to wait for further studies."

Some baby foods are worse than a burger

During the study, researchers for the Children’s Food Campaign found that

Farley''s Original Rusks contain more sugar than McVities Chocolate Digestives, while Heinz Toddler Mini Cheese Biscuits have proportionately more saturated fat than a McDonald''s quarter pounder with cheese.

Cow & Gate''s Baby Balance Bear Biscuits, meanwhile, contain harmful trans fats – a processed vegetable fat which many manufacturers no longer use as there are concerns it poses a health risk.

“The results of this survey are staggering. Many foods marketed for babies and young children are often advertised as ‘healthy’. In terms of sugar and saturated fat content, some are worse than junk food,” the Daily Express quoted Children’s Food Campaign joint-coordinator Christine Haigh as saying.

“In particular, failing to correctly label products that contain dangerous trans fats is outrageous,” Haigh added.

Half of the 107 products surveyed were low in saturated fat, salt and sugar and only a quarter of the 24 Heinz baby foods had low levels of all three.

Farley’s rusks original had 29g of sugar per 100g – more than the 27.3g of sugar in a dark chocolate digestive.

More than 15 per cent of the Cow & Gate foods surveyed were high in sugar. Their baby balance animal friend biscuits were the worst, with 18.8g of sugar per 100g.

Even the reduced sugar rusks had 21.7g of sugar per 100g.

The Heinz toddler’s own mini cheese biscuits contained 7.3g of saturated fat per 100g – a McDonald’s quarter pounder with cheese has 6.7g per 100g.

Food giant Heinz, which owns the Farley’s brand, said the original rusks recipe was virtually unchanged since its launch 120 years ago.

It insisted the reduced sugar rusks were low in fat and had the minimum sugar content needed to keep their texture and dissolve easily enough to avoid choking.

The company also said that the mini cheese biscuits for toddlers came in 25g packs and contained only 1.8g of saturated fat per serving.

No problems hair-after

Situation One: I shampoo regularly, but the scalp gets oily within a few hours.
You will need : 2 tsp henna powder, ½ tsp fenugreek seeds powder, 3 tbs yogurt, 1 pinch powdered sugar.
Method : Whip all the ingredients together. Apply it gently on your scalp and hair. Leave it on for 10 minutes. Then rinse hair with water, to wash off the hair pack. Mix your shampoo with a few drops of water and massage on the scalp and then wash the hair.

Situation Two: I coloured my hair, but now it lacks lustre.
You will need : 1 tbs coconut oil, ½ tsp olive oil, 1 cup banana puree, 1 towel
Method : Mix both the oils and heat on low flame. Massage your hair and scalp with it. Dip the towel in a bucket of hot water and cover your hair with it. After three minutes, dab cotton in the banana puree and apply it on your hair. Leave it on for five minutes and wash with a gentle shampoo.

Situation Three: I’m losing a lot of hair.
You will need : 1 tsp fenugreek seeds (soaked overnight), 1 tsp henna, ½ tsp honey, 1 egg yolk (beaten).
Method : Grind fenugreek seeds and mix it with heena powder and honey. Soak cotton in the paste and apply it gently on the scalp and hair. Cover your hair with a shower cap and leave it on for 10 minutes. Wash off with plain water. Pat dry, with a towel and apply the egg yolk. Leave it on for five minutes and wash the hair again with a gentle shampoo.

Situation Four: Conditioning hair after every wash is a pain.
You will need : ½ avocado (mashed), 1 tsp honey, ¼ cup olive oil.
Method : Mix avocado with honey. Apply it on the hair and the scalp. Leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse. Heat olive oil and massage the scalp and hair with it. Leave it for 30 minutes and wash with a gentle shampoo. Follow this procedure once a week.

Transform self and world

Enlightened beings see Divinity in us as well as in all organisms, but we don't view it like that. They experience God within themselves and therefore perceive His energy pulsating in every atom of Creation. We cannot see God everywhere as we have trained ourselves to see Him only in places of worship.

How can we bring about a transformation in our perception of Divinity like these enlightened beings?

If we consistently follow four basic steps, as sages and seers did, we will also experience enlightened living:

Step 1: Principled and organised living : We think we are leading a principled life. However, according to seers, we should base our lives on sound moral ethics and principles like truth or satya, non-violence or ahimsa, unconditional love or amara prema and selfless service or nishkama karma. These principles are ageless cosmic laws that are expounded by the scriptures which enlightened beings scrupulously follow in their lives. If we emulate this, we link ourselves to Divinity which expands our hearts and purifies our minds. Like the pole star in the sky, these principles make us remain constant and guide us in the right direction so that we are not influenced by social pressures, changing desires or shifting priorities.

Step 2: Empowering the Conscience : As we follow Step 1, we integrate ethics and principles into our lives and empower our conscience. This changes our attitude, repels negativity and propels us towards Divinity. As our ethical base becomes strong, our conscience becomes clear and easily repels all negative influences like cravings, temptations and habits. We realise that our thoughts, words and actions are slowly shaping our ordinary lives into enlightened lives. We get empowered to see and shape our lives with clarity; we also get interconnected to each other. The words we speak and actions we perform will have a good impact because our conscience is crystal clear. This removes the conflicts, chaos, problems, worries and crises among peoples and nations.

Step 3: Self Control : When our conscience starts guiding us, this gives us the master key to complete self-control. We begin to control our thoughts, emotions and senses. We will no longer be carried away by temptations, cravings, addictions, desires and negative emotions. Our will power establishes itself. We gain Supreme Will. We stop resting on our past achievements and stop crying over past failures. We will not be troubled by the uncertainties of the future. Now we are completely tuned in to the cosmic law. Our lives become joyous and we gain control over our minds. Self control of the mind makes it pure and transparent. Awareness and intelligence blossom forth, revealing the existence of the Soul through experiences or anubhava.

Step 4: Divine Intervention : After establishing self-control, the divine effulgence in our hearts starts, that is, experiences of the existence of the Divine begin in us and everywhere around us. We see a paradigm shift in our perception and also experience waves of care, compassion, tolerance, patience and selfless love. Selfless love puts us in touch with the omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent power of the Creator. We become the light of all lights. We have just given birthto the "birthless and deathless", that is, the awareness of the Soul begins within us. We trigger this in others as well, making this world a powerful centre of the Creator to express solidarity, unison, unification and bliss for every Soul and every atom. Spirituality and tranquillity are established forever.

Mushrooms – the wonder food

Here’s a simple way to cut off major calories from some of your favourite comfort foods – and you won’t miss a thing.

When you’re making lasagna, chilli, and other ground beef dishes, use chopped mushrooms instead of meat. If you’re like the people in a recent study, you’ll naturally eat about 420 fewer calories with these mushroom-enriched meals.

Meaty Delight! People in the study also said the mushroom makeovers tasted just as good and kept them feeling full just as long as the beef versions did. And not only did the mushroom-based dishes mean a lower-calorie meal, but the mushroom eaters also ate fewer calories and less fat throughout the day than the beef eaters did.

Flavours from paradise

Whenever you see anything “Kashmiri” on an Indian restaurant menu, it will invariably have dry fruits or raisins in there somewhere and it’ll be somewhat sweet. Of course, nuts and fruit are native to Kashmir, but they don’t put them in all their dishes as any Kashmiri will tell you! In fact, both Hindu and Muslim Kashmiri food depends on a diet rich in meat and vegetables like brinjals, leafy greens, turnips and lotus root and spices like dry ginger (saunth), fennel seeds (saunf), Kashmiri chilli powder and the world’s most expensive spice, saffron.

Some of the most popular Kashmiri foods include lamb or chicken in yoghurt gravy (yakhni), mutton slow-cooked in milk (aab gosht), lamb cooked in red chilli, hing, dried ginger and dried fennel (rogan josh), a yellow curry or kalia, crispy churma, greens (haak), deep-fried ribs (kabargah), koftas and fried fish. Pandit dishes do not use praan, a small shallot onion with a garlicy flavour (which is predominant in Kashmiri Muslim food), nor do they use any garlic or onion. But, they eat all the meats and fish at every meal and give body to their gravies with yoghurt.

Muslim Kashmiris also eat a large variety of meats, cooked with garlic, onion and whole spices. A Muslim feast or waazwan (named after the professional cooks or waaza) would also have delicious, deep-fried baby lamb ribs, which are first cooked in broth and then fried — tabak maaz — and large, silky meatballs called goshtaba or rista. Both use the Kashmiri red chilli, which has a bright red colour and a mild flavour. Dishes often combine vegetables and meat — mutton and turnips, chicken and spinach, fish and lotus root. Pure vegetarian dishes include dum aloo, deep fried potatoes in a yoghurt-based gravy, chaman, fried paneer and turnips with greens.

I visited Gold for dinner recently. It’s a very smart terrace restaurant on the floor above Ccasanova in Kalyani Nagar, serving Kashmiri and North Indian food. The décor, as you would expect, is gold and black in a very stylish setting, which includes a bar in the middle, some low lounge seating and formal dining. The only thing that looks Kashmiri are the waiters with their salwar-kurtas and the occasional kangri — little warming baskets with hot charcoal, placed under the table to warm the feet – a nice touch for the oncoming winter.

For a restaurant that has only been open a couple of months and owners who are neither Kashmiri nor have any other links with Kashmir, I was astounded at the quality of the food and the attention to detail. Rachna Punjabi, the owner of Gold and the Italian restaurant Ccasanova downstairs, is ‘one hell of a lady’. She decided she wanted to serve this cuisine, took a flight to Kashmir, educated herself on the intricacies of Kashmir Pandit and Muslim cooking, sought out a couple of chefs and ‘Bob’s Your Uncle’, and a few months later she opens a Kashmiri restaurant! Although the setting is very contemporary, the Kashmiri food we tasted seemed pretty authentic.

To start with the Nadur Munji, crispy friend lotus stem, is an excellent starter with drinks. I had to have my favourite Tabak maaz (crispy mutton ribs) and Kabar gah (a similar style mutton chop flavoured with saffron). The main courses are a little overwhelming, quite rich, and thankfully not oily. All the Kashmiri favourites — Rogan Josh (the real McCoy, not the usual red mutton curry you find in most restaurants), Rista (large koftas which have been massaged and massaged till the fat binds the meat), Chicken and Lotus Stem Yakhni (the only dish I thought needed improvement since the yoghurt was quite sour), and an outstanding fish kalia called Kashir Gaad. If you are looking for North Indian favourites, the Tandoori Chicken is delicate and flavourful. And, the dals — dal bukhara, razmaah, and yellow chhaunki dal, were all excellent. The razmaah, flavoured with amchoor, is the chef’s speciality.

You cannot leave without trying the desserts — slightly dense Baklava, a traditional Middle Eastern pastry stuffed with nuts and layered with sugar syrup is served with mouth-watering rose ice cream. The firun (phirni) is homemade in small terracotta pots.

The service is excellent and the restaurant has a full bar licence and a very comprehensive wine list including some of the best champagnes in the world. Single malt and whisky lovers will be pleased. There are more than a dozen to choose from. Would I go back? For sure!

IPL mania at Chilly Seasonss!

Chilli Seasonss, the authentic pan Asian restaurant brings unique delights for the cricket-crazy foodies.

When at Chilli Seasonss the cricket patrons can not only dig into mouth watering delicacies from regions of Thailand, China, Indonesia, and Vietnam but can also enjoy the dining experience created to pamper a cricket freak’s instincts.

They have made special arrangements to create a relaxed and informal atmosphere to make watching the Indian Premier League (IPL) a lot better. Not just this, Chilli Seasonss is also offering happy hours during all matches.

To avail the offers, you just need to do show up and cheer for your team!

But that’s not the end! If you predict the winner (Winning Team) of the match, then Chilli Seasonss takes care of your dinner too (for two)!

So, get out and get guessing!

Starters special 3

CHEESY FOOTLONG

Serves: 2

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

Footlong (long buns)

Eggs - 2

Tomato (chopped)- 1

Onion - 1

Salt & pepper to taste

Butter - 3 tbsp

Parsley (chopped)- ½ tbsp

Capsicum bits - ½ tbsp

Tomato ketchup- 2 tbsp

Cheese - 2 cubes (grated)

Method

Heat 1 tbsp of butter in a pan. Fry onions and tomatoes until cooked.

Sprinkle salt, pepper and parsley. Beat the eggs well add to the cooked onion, tomato mixture.

Mix and cook until done. Cut the footlong into half lengthwise. Place them in a serving dish spread layer of butter and then a layer of tomato ketchup on both the slices.

Finally spread the egg mixture on top.

Garnish with capsicum bits and cheese. Microwave for 2 minutes & serve hot with chilli sauce to taste.

Starters special 2

GRILLED SANDWICH

Serves: 6

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

Bread - 6 slices

Onion - 2 medium

Tomatoes - 2

Green chillies
(finely chopped) - 2-3

Coriander leaves- 1 tsp

Salt to taste

1 cube Cheese (grated)

Chilli powder to taste

Butter for frying - 1 ½ tsp

Method

Mix onion, tomatoes, green chillies, coriander leaves, salt, red chilli powder and cheese.

Spread 2 tbsp of mixture on 3 slices & top with remaining 3 slices.

Heat griddle & grease with little butter. Place one sandwich at a time in centre of the griddle.

Press with back of the bowl until the lower side turns golden.

Turn and cook another side of the sandwich.

Similarly make all. When all are done divide each sandwich into two and serve with tomato sauce.

Starters special

ORANGE BLOSSOM

Serves: 1

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

Orange juice - 2 cup

Coconut cream- 4 tbsp

Ice cubes (crushed)- 5-6

Method

Blend orange juice, coconut cream & ice cubes together in a blender until frothy. Pour in a tall glass & serve immediately garnished with lemon and cherry.

CHICKEN CLEAR SOUP

Serves: 2

Preparation Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

Chicken neck - 2 pieces

Water - 2 cup

Garlic (minced) - 2 flakes

Tomato (chopped)- 1

Onion (chopped)- 1

Cloves - 2

Cinnamon - 1 stick

Salt & pepper to taste

For garnishing

Lemon wedges

Few Coriander leaves.

Method

Pressure cook chicken pieces, garlic, tomato, onion, cloves & cinnamon in a pressure cooker along with water. When done pass through a sieve & put to boil on a low flame shred chicken from the neck and drop in the soup.

Season with salt & pepper & serve hot garnished with coriander leaves & lemon wedges.

Mango mania

It is then no wonder that more mangos are eaten fresh the world over than any other fruit!

Known as the 'king of fruit' throughout the world, the mango derived its name from the Tamil word 'mangkai'. When the Portuguese traders settled in Western India, they adopted the name as 'manga'. And believe it or not, but there are over a 1,000 varieties of mangoes in this world.

In India, the ubiquitous mango has found its way into the intricate weaves of its traditional and cultural fabric. To the Indians, the mango is a symbol of love, abundance and prosperity.

The Hindus hang fresh mango leaves above their doors during festive occasions, invoking blessings to their homes. Mangoes leaves hung on weddings symbolise fertility and are believed to bless the couple with plenty of children.

The ancient Indian science of medicine, Ayurveda, uses different parts of the mango tree to cure various ailments.

And hey, what's with Indian women and their penchant for the mango motif? Very traditional and extremely popular, the mango motif gives in to the endless possibilities of design and creativity.

From exquisite jewellery patterns to traditional saree weaves, its popularity has spread from white chikan embroidery to kasuti of Karnataka, kalamkaris of Andhra, baluchar saris of West Bengal, bandhanis of Rajasthan and Gujarat and to the weavers of Tamil Nadu.

As it moves across India, taking on various shapes and colours, it spreads prosperity, fertility and an inexhaustible abundance of life.

And why not? Besides being extremely delicious, as mango lovers would fervently tell you, the fruit is rich in vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. Mangoes also act as a digestive aid, contain plenty of fibre. Mangoes are an excellent source of Vitamins A and C, as well as a good source of Potassium and contain beta carotene. What's more, they are low in calories!

Sigh! ...If temptation is a sin, I am a sinner.

What's pushing girls into cyber bullying?

Donna Cross, a professor of child and adolescent health at Edith Cowan University, says that internet anonymity
encourage girls to say things they might not say face-to-face.

And with the lack of immediate feedback from a cyber victim or playground audience, cyber bullies do not hesitate going to any lengths to torture their targets.

"The extent to which they can be nasty is greater than ever before," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Cross as saying.

Cross says that the effects of cyber bullying may be more damaging than playground bullying, not just because the slander and humiliation could be sent around the world and could last indefinitely.

She claims that victim paranoia is heightened when the bully is anonymous, which is usually the case online.

"She’s not sure who to avoid. If someone laughs in the playground, she wonders if they’re laughing at her," said Cross.

But still, if the damage to the cyber victim is potentially greater, the same goes or the perpetrators when exposed.

"What these girls have done is dreadful, but at 14 or 15 we’ve all done really stupid things. Unfortunately their stupid things are so public they’ll be affected for a long time," she said.

While boys also used modern technology to harass and taunt, it was the intimacy of girls’ relationships that has made them particularly vulnerable when a friend turns foe.

In fact, girls also spent more time on social networking sites than boys.

Cross says that young people do not realise the ramifications of online cruelty.

She suggests that parents set rules, monitor sites, and even become friends on their children’s Facebook or MySpace profiles.

Social petworking sites pose a threat

Online communities have witnessed a rise in the number of owners who are revealing breed information
, details of their walking routine and posting pictures, while creating profiles for their pets on the Internet.

Debbie Connolly, Animal Behaviourist and Founder of SafePets UK, fears that pet owners may easily be inviting troubles like dog-knapping, if they are not careful enough to limit their information on ‘petworking’ websites.

"Never mind the dogs, what about personal safety? Most of the users are women. It’s a ‘please stalk me and steal my dog’ site," Sky News quoted her as saying.

But some argue that such websites just offer fun for genuine animal lovers.

Geoffrey Roche, creator of Dogbook, an application from Facebook, said that the "dangers" involved were like anywhere else on the rest of the WorldWideWeb.

He said: "Of course you should be careful, but no more so than anywhere else on the internet. People can put up faux profiles anywhere, and the same sort of things to watch out for would exist for if you meet someone through your dog."

Readers willing to pay for online content

Conducted by accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers, the survey has revealed that readers are willing to pay almost as much for some high-quality online newspapers as they do for print versions, particularly in specialist news areas.

According to The Australian, the study of 4900 respondents in the US and Europe has found that sport and business are the areas in which consumers are most ready to pay for content.

The surveyors claim that consumers would not mind paying 97 per cent of the purchase price of a traditional newspaper for online business content, provided there are no free online products of equal quality on the market.

As regards online sport content, consumers would be willing to fork out 77 per cent of the purchase price of a traditional paper if there were no free Internet equivalents.

The findings might boost up plans by a number of the world’s major newspaper publishers to find more ways to make money from online content.

News Corporation Chairman Rupert Murdoch said at the company’s third-quarter results briefing last week that they would charge for some mastheads’ online content "within the next 12 months".

Gifts and Favours Image

How to: Green Tea Facial Scrub Tutorial

Five Fab Facts About Exfoliation

One of the best things you can do for your skin is to exfoliate it. Helping to ease congestion in spotty, blemished skin, it refines pores and can give dry skin back a bit of its lustre. But there’s more to exfoliating than whacking on some gritty stuff out of a tube every now and then. Here are a few things you may not know about how to get - and keep - skin looking its absolute best:

1. Oils have a mild exfoliative effect and this makes them brilliant for use as a moisturiser before bedtime. Over night, skin is renewed and you’ll wake up looking fresher. Plus, oils are really nourishing, comforting and brilliant for dry complexions. Try Irish brand Nadur’s Radiant Face Rescue Serum. Decleor, Darphin, Trilogy and Weleda are all good choices too.
2. Face cloths can help to gently resurface skin too - but not lovely fluffy ones. Nope, a cheaper, thinner version is yer only man. Use as a sort of Eve Lom/Liz Earle substitute with a creme or gel cleanser, and skin will be given that little extra bit of help.
3. How often should we be scrubbin’ with the exfoliating grains, gels or pastes? Two to three times a week, and no more.
4. Rice and fruit are brilliant ingredients for exfoliant products - the acids in fruit gently resurface skin without to much scrubbing, and rice is less harsh than pumice or the gritty grains you often find in cheaper brands.
5. Exfoliating skin does more than just clear congestion and blemishes - it can make you look younger too. How? Dead skin cells settle in lines and make them appear deeper. Clear the gunk out and it stands to reason you’ll look less lined.

Preparing your skin for your wedding day

One of the most important things you can do in the lead up to your wedding day is to prepare your skin. Every bride wants to look beautiful, and although a good makeup artist can hide blemishes, nothing beats having beautiful, glamorous looking skin for that big day. There are many ways to achieve this, but it is important to start thinking about your skin at least 3 or 4 months in advance of your wedding.

Drink lots of water

This is the most important thing you can do. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Water cleans your skin improving its texture and eliminates blemishes.

Eat healthy foods

Eating healthy foods make a huge difference. Eating loads of fruits and vegetables, and foods which are high in anti-oxidants, like berries, help to repair your skin. Avoid foods high in salt and sugar, as well as alcohol. It is also a good idea to take vitamins every day.

Sleep well

Your skin rejuvenates while you sleep. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, it will show on your skin! Try to get between 6 and 8 hours of sleep a night, if possible.

Exercise

Daily exercise is really important. The increase in circulation keeps your skin looking radiant (not to mention your body in shape!)

Develop a strict skin care regiment

It is so important to cleanse, tone, and moisturise twice daily (in the morning, and in the evening). You don’t have to use expensive products. Supermarket brands such as Loreal and Garnier can be just as effective (and are better than nothing!). The main thing is that your skin is clean. Never go to bed with makeup still on your face!!! This is a big no-no! Your skin needs to breath, particularly when you sleep, so even if you are dead tired, wipe off that eye-makeup and cleanse the skin before bed. If you really can’t be bothered, invest in a packet of makeup remover towelettes from the supermarket and use those to clean your face after a late night.

It’s important to GENTLY remove your eye makeup. A cheap and effective way is to wet the eye and remove the makeup with sorbolene crème on a cotton makeup pad. Use gentle upward and downward strokes. You’ll be surprised how easy it comes off.

Use an eye crème

It is important to use an eye crème with your daily skin care regime. For those with puffy eyes, an eye gel will be more effective.

Exfoliate at least twice a week

It is important to exfoliate at least once or twice a week. Micro-dermabrasion is very effective, and these days you can buy at-home kits relatively cheap. I would recommend the Nutrimetics Micro-dermabrasion kit as a start… I personally use this product and noticed the effects almost instantly!

Always follow with a good moisturizer.

Acne

It is better to flush out your skin of acne, rather than suppress it. Exfoliate regularly, and start months before your wedding to allow your skin to repair itself in time for your wedding. If you are using Acne products like Pro-activ or Clearasil, make sure you patch test first, and start using the product at least a few months before your wedding in case you have any reactions.

Facials

If you are adamant about getting a facial before your wedding, remember this….. the purpose of a facial is to draw out impurities… and often lead to break outs. If you’ve never had a facial before, please schedule one in at least a few months before your wedding, and get them done regularly right up until the wedding. Don’t get a facial done for the first time a week or two before the wedding. Chances are it will backfire and you’ll end up with skin you would rather not have on your wedding day! Some people react badly to facials (especially those with acne problems). However, for some people the results are fantastic!

Use sunscreen

Apply sunscreen to your face and neck every day. Many moisturisers and day crèmes come with an in-built sunscreen, which means less hassle.

Sun exposure can be detrimental to your skin, so avoid long periods in the sun unprotected, as well as tanning. If you are using a fake tan or spray on tan it is important to have a ‘trial’ at least a few months before your wedding. You will be surprised how many brides end up looking ‘orange’ on their wedding day!

There’s nothing wrong with going ‘natural’… Healthy, fresh, fair skin is very fashionable!

choosing the right foundation colour…

Choosing the wrong foundation colour is a common, but easily avoidable mistake.

The first thing to consider is your skin type…. for those with oily skin, you might find that a powder or mineral foundation works best. For those with dry or mature skin, you might find that a creme or liquid foundation is more suitable.

If you’re buying your foundation from a cosmetic counter, don’t be afraid to ask for assistance!

Most often the cosmetic consultant will remove the makeup from part of your jaw line, and will apply three different foundations that appear to be a good match… usually one is too dark, one is too light, and one should be just right. You will know it’s the right colour when it disappears into your skin. The reason the colour is tested in the jaw line is to ensure you choose a colour that transitions well from face to neck.

If you’re not at a cosmetic counter, it is quite easy to do this yourself if you have a mirror handy.

What people don’t often realise is that your face is often a different colour to your chest. You may be fairer in the face compared to your chest which may see the sun a bit more… if you match the foundation colour to your face, then often it will look too light against your chest area (or vice versa)!!! So choose a colour that blends from face to neck to chest - this is VERY important!!

It’s also important to check the colour in different lighting, if possible.

The right foundation will be virtually indistinguishable from your actual skin. If you want your skin to appear darker or tanned, add a light dust of bronzing powder or use a self-tanner, but please don’t attempt to create this look with your foundation. It could have disastrous effects, and look terribly fake!

Always remember to finish your foundation with a light translucent powder, being careful to avoid wrinkled areas or areas you don’t wish to highlight.

my favourite skin care and makeup products…

Personally, I think skin care is a very individual thing. What is good for some skin types is not that great for others. You can really only decide what’s best for you through trial and error.

I have always been a fan of Nutrimetics skin care products. I use their cleanser, toner, moisturiser and eye creme, as well as their micro-dermabrasion products (which I highly recommend). Their body products are GORGEOUS… particularly their shower gels. But my favourite is the Apricot Body Dew - it’s an amazing product. Your skin feels so smooth after having applied it. The Nutri-Rich Oil is a must have!! It is great for cracked lips, heels, elbows, and is my favourite foot treatment… After I’ve scrubbed them with the Nutrimetics foot scrub, I smother my feet in Nutri-Rich Oil, put some socks on, and go to bed!!! The next morning, my feet are so soft!!!

You can find the Nutrimetics website at www.nutrimetics.com.au

Other skin care products I have enjoyed over the years include Lancome and Estee Lauder.

If you’re on a tight budget, a lot of the supermarket brands can be quite effective as well. Brands like L’Oreal are an effective and affordable skin care product that I would also recommend.

A great website to visit for discount cosmetics is Strawberrynet - au.strawberrynet.com. I absolutely LOVE this website, and you will be surprised at some of the savings!!!

Now to my favourite - MAKEUP!

As a professional makeup artist, I have used a range of products over the years. My number one professional makeup brand is definitely Atelier - www.ateliermakeup.com.

Atelier is a professional makeup brand originating in France and is designed by a professional makeup artist to the highest international standards.

It is a high quality product giving excellent coverage and is long lasting. The foundation is by far the best I have ever used, and really does give a flawless finish. The eyeshadows are fabulous, and last all day. The shimmers are unbelievable, my favourite being the sunny biege shimmer - GORGEOUS!

If you’re after a lighter everyday foundation, however, I would recommend other brands like Nutrimetics, L’Oreal, and Maybelline. Liquid foundations are great, however, the latest trend is the mineral foundation, which I personally LOVE. The L’Oreal Mineral Foundation is light, but gives great coverage.

MAC is also one of my other favourite foundation brands. The coverage is excellent.

For a good mascara, the Chanel Inimitable Multi-dimensional mascara is brilliant! The wand is amazing! The mascara brush is covered in flexible rubber spikes of different lengths that actually do make each lash look thicker at the base and longer at the tip. You get curled, defined lashes with absolutely no clump.

Maybelline Volume Express is also a GREAT mascara (and a cheaper alternative). It really does make your lashes appear longer and thicker.

I personally prefer the non-waterproof mascara as I believe they apply much nicer than waterproof.

For that glamorous look, the rage at the moment are false lashes. The individual lashes are a must have, and look great when applied at the outer edge of the lash. You can buy these from most beauty supply stores, as well as from any Naploeon Perdis store - www.napoleonperdis.com.

Speaking of Naploeon, their eyeshadows are fabulous!! Not to mention the Air Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer, which is applied prior to your foundation to smooth the complexion and ensure your makeup lasts even longer.

Another good eyeshadow I enjoy is from the Revlon Colourstay range. They are long-lasting and come in a great range of colours. The Nutrimetics eyeshadows are also lovely, not to mention their bronzers and blushes.

My favourite eyeliners are definitely the Revlon liquid eyeliner and the Nutrimetics eye pencil.

For the lips - glosses are the rage at the moment, and Napoleon have a great range. Other brands I like for lipsticks and glosses include Revlon, Nutrimetics, Bobbi Brown, Atelier, and MAC.

As I said, it’s really a matter of trial and error when it comes to choosing cosmetics to find what works best for you.

acne scars

I would suggest that you see a dermatologist in relation to the treatment of your acne scarring. There are a number of treatments available, including Dermabrasion, Microdermabrasion, laser treatement, and skin surgery.

If you are on a budget, you can purchase home microdermabrasion kits which would enable you to treat your skin in the privacy of your own home… perhaps you could try this? Some brands I would suggest is the L’Oreal Microdermabrasion Kit or the Nutrimetics Microdermabrasion Kit.

whiteheads

Using sunscreen is not a guarantee that you won’t tan, but it is important for the protection of your skin against harmful UV rays. If you don’t want to tan, I could only suggest you wear sunscreen, clothing, a hat, and sunglasses. Also, ensure your skin is adequately hydrated after any exposure to the sun. Moisturising your skin is so important to prevent skin damage from the sun.

Whiteheads are caused by the accumulation of hardened sebum or oil, in the pores of the skin. They can be caused by diet, hormones, or unclean skin. There are many ways you can eliminate them.

I would probably suggest steaming your skin to clean the pores. You can do this by putting your face over a saucepan/bowl of boiled water, with a towel over your head (to keep the steam in). When the whiteheads have softened, prick the apex with a clean, sterilised needle. Then put your fingers on either side of the whitehead and press gently and apply pressure. This should dislodge the whitehead. NEVER USE YOUR FINGERNAILS - THIS MAY CAUSE SCARRING. They key is gentle pressure.

To prevent them returning and to help your skin, drink plenty of water and eat plenty of fruit. A basic rule is to make sure you remove all makeup before you go to bed.

It is important to cleanse, tone, and moisturise twice a day (morning and night), and to exfoliate at least twice a week. This is important if you get whiteheads and blackheads regularly. There are a number of exfoliants available on the market, or you could make up your own home remedy. A facial mask might also be a good idea… but don’t do this too often - once a week, tops.

You could try using topical treatments, like those that contain benzyl peroxide or witch hazel, on the affected areas, but do this after you have cleaned your skin. Don’t overuse these products, however, as they may dry out your skin.

Makeup tips for your wedding day

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. Your photos will last forever, so it’s important to look picture perfect on that special day!

A huge part of looking ‘perfect’ is your makeup.

Here are a few tips to ensure you look beautiful on your wedding day.

Use a professional

It is so important to use a professional makeup artist on your wedding day. Choose one that specialises in bridal makeup.

Using a professional is a good idea as they usually know the ‘tricks of the trade’ – for example, that pink tones are emphasized in flash photography, so it’s better to use a yellow-toned foundation.

Professional makeup will also ensure that your makeup stays on all day, and looks radiant in photos.

Organise for your makeup trial well in advance of your wedding, and bring with you some magazine cut outs of makeup ideas you have in mind. It’s a good idea to have your hair styled in the same way you will have it on your wedding day, although I know this isn’t always possible. Bring with you a fabric swatch of your wedding dress so that colours can be finalised. It’s also a good idea to bring a swatch of your bridesmaids dresses, so that the colours for their makeup can be finalised as well.

Keep it natural

You don’t want to look ‘overdone’ on your wedding day… so keep it simple and natural-looking. Don’t wear heavy shadows and liners, which will make your eyes look smaller.

A smokey eye is wonderful for night weddings to give that dramatic look. For a day wedding, stick with natural, neutral tones. A good makeup artist will know which colours will suit you.

Ensure you leave your makeup trial 100% happy with your look – it’s called a ‘trial’ for a reason… if you want changes made, then ask!! Most makeup artists (including myself) are more than happy to make changes. You are paying for this service, you need to be 100% satisfied.

False lashes are a glamorous way to bring out your eyes. Strip lashes tend to look ‘fake’ so stick with the individual lashes. These are usually applied with a latex glue that is extremely easy to remove.

Neutral and pale lip colours tend to look washed out in photographs, so choose a lipstick that’s one to two shades brighter than what you normally wear. Pinks, roses and plums are great choices for brides.

Place the emphasis on either the eyes OR the lips (never both). So if you are going for a smokey eye look, choose a pale lipstick, like a light pink. If you choose a red lipstick, go for a natural eye with accentuated lashes.

Weddings are emotional days for everyone, especially the bride. Your makeup should be waterproof and smudge-proof (including your mascara!).

Remember… your makeup on your wedding day will always be a little heavier than your everyday makeup. It is your wedding day, you don’t want to look ‘everyday’! Also, it is important to have ‘that little bit extra’ for photographs (which will last a lifetime).

Your handbag

It’s a good idea to take with you a touch-up lipstick for re-application throughout the day… it’s a long day, and no lipstick will stay on for 12 hours plus!

It is important to reapply powder throughout the day, to reduce unwanted shine. Pack a small retractable travel brush filled with translucent powder . It’s light, and easy to apply. Ask your makeup artist about this – I usually provide them to my clients for a small fee.

Or perhaps you could pack a small powder compact.

Photos

Take a photo of yourself after your makeup trial to get an idea of how your makeup will look in photos. Make sure you look at your makeup and how it looks in the sunlight, as well as indoors.

Weekend Fashion Update

This year Mal and Val have decided to start a healthy eating and fitness initiative on La Vie Cherie.com. Mal's goal is to get Val to have more healthy eating habits. And Val's goal is to teach Mal to cook.
So, we're here at The Classy Gourmet with Colleen Cleek to teach us how to cook healthy food quickly.
Colleen's first dish is homemade pasta. Colleen says, "If you want to eat healthy you need to learn to make it yourself utilizing fresh spinach and low-fat ricotta cheese." That way we've got the great flavors, but it's still healthy.
The next dish is fast, fabulous and easy to prepare. It's red beans and rice with chicken. It's a one pot wonder so you can get back to what you were doing a lot quicker.
To prove that grilling's not just for the guys, Colleen has some grilling tips as well. Colleen says, "You want to grab a book written by a female. You want to get your meat thermometer and your tongs and head out for summer and spring grilling.
To get creative you can add pork and white beans to turn regular chili into a fabulous dish.
And, to top off the perfect meal Colleen recommends the perfect glass of red wine to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
For more on fashion and health, check out the website La Vie Cherie.com. For more with Colleen Cleek and The Classy Gourmet, check out TheClassyGourmet.com.