Hand's down - and just in the nik of time - Imogen Heap's, not so new - video appeared before me. I absolutely fell in love with her voice and style of music - and "Just for Now" instantly became my favorite song for 2009. I can't wait to get my hands on her already produced cd's and will absolutely purchase her newly released, "Eclipse"
(Just for now) (x6)
It's that time of year,
Leave all our hopelessnesses aside (if just for a little while)
Tears stop right here,
I know we've all had a bumpy ride (I’m secretly on your side)
How did you know?
It's what I always wanted,
You can never have too many of these
Will ya quit kicking me under the table?
I'm trying, will somebody make her shut up about it?
Can we settle down please?
It's that time of year,
Leave all our hopelessnesses aside (if just for a little while)
Tears stop right here,
I know we've all had a bumpy ride (I’m secretly on your side)
Lie down
Deep breaths
Count to ten
Nod your head
(sniff sniff)
I think something is burning,
Now you've ruined the whole thing
Muffle the smoke alarm
Whoever put on this music
Had better quick, sharp, remove it
Pour me another
Oh, don't wag your finger at me
It's that time of year,
Leave all our hopelessnesses aside (if just for a little while)
Tears stop right here,
I know we've all had a bumpy ride (I’m secretly on your side)
Will ya get me outta her, Get me outta here, Get me outta here (repeats til end)
Just for now
Just for now.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Self Pedicure
Pedicures can be very relaxing, and if you have problems with your toenails, they can be very therapeutic. Unfortunately, they can also be quite expensive when administered by a licensed professional. If you enjoy pedicures, but do not enjoy the cost, you may want to consider learning how to give yourself a pedicure.
Self-Pedicure Steps
Just like a professional pedicure, a self-pedicure involves several different steps. It is very important that none of them are ignored. With that in mind, find yourself a quiet and comfortable spot. Then, using the step-by-step instructions below, begin your self-pedicure.
Step One
Remove any nail polish that was previously applied to your nails with nail polish remover. Try to use as little nail polish remover as possible. Nail polish remover contains very harsh chemicals that can damage nails and cuticles.
Step Two
Wash your feet with a gentle cleanser. If you need to trim the nails or cuticles, soak your feet in plain, warm water for three minutes (maximum). This will make nails easier to cut and make cuticles more manageable. However, you should avoid over soaking, which can dry the skin, damage the nails, and hurt the cuticles.
Step Three
Gently trim cuticles or push them back using a specially designed cuticle tool. Be extremely careful not to force, tear, pull, or rip cuticles. Over pushing or over trimming cuticles is the number one cause of nail problems.
Step Four
Using sharp manicure scissors or nail clippers, trim your nails straight across, slightly above the quick. Do your best to avoid cutting nails too short, as this may lead to painful ingrown toenails.
Step Five
Moisturize your cuticles with an emollient moisturizing cream. Though you can use creams made specifically for nails, a regular dry skin moisturizer will work just as well. After working on your cuticles, use small circular motions to massage more cream into the rest of your foot.
Step Six
Gently remove moisturizer from your nails with a soft tissue. Moisturizing ingredients can sometimes prevent nail polish from adhering properly.
Step Seven
Apply three coats of nail polish (color or clear coats) to your nails, allowing drying time between coats. If you’d like, you can use a quick-dry oil or spray after polishing to prevent smudges, but you still need to allow nails to dry well, as these products will not protect your nails from dents or scratches.
Self-Pedicure Steps
Just like a professional pedicure, a self-pedicure involves several different steps. It is very important that none of them are ignored. With that in mind, find yourself a quiet and comfortable spot. Then, using the step-by-step instructions below, begin your self-pedicure.
Step One
Remove any nail polish that was previously applied to your nails with nail polish remover. Try to use as little nail polish remover as possible. Nail polish remover contains very harsh chemicals that can damage nails and cuticles.
Step Two
Wash your feet with a gentle cleanser. If you need to trim the nails or cuticles, soak your feet in plain, warm water for three minutes (maximum). This will make nails easier to cut and make cuticles more manageable. However, you should avoid over soaking, which can dry the skin, damage the nails, and hurt the cuticles.
Step Three
Gently trim cuticles or push them back using a specially designed cuticle tool. Be extremely careful not to force, tear, pull, or rip cuticles. Over pushing or over trimming cuticles is the number one cause of nail problems.
Step Four
Using sharp manicure scissors or nail clippers, trim your nails straight across, slightly above the quick. Do your best to avoid cutting nails too short, as this may lead to painful ingrown toenails.
Step Five
Moisturize your cuticles with an emollient moisturizing cream. Though you can use creams made specifically for nails, a regular dry skin moisturizer will work just as well. After working on your cuticles, use small circular motions to massage more cream into the rest of your foot.
Step Six
Gently remove moisturizer from your nails with a soft tissue. Moisturizing ingredients can sometimes prevent nail polish from adhering properly.
Step Seven
Apply three coats of nail polish (color or clear coats) to your nails, allowing drying time between coats. If you’d like, you can use a quick-dry oil or spray after polishing to prevent smudges, but you still need to allow nails to dry well, as these products will not protect your nails from dents or scratches.
Home Manicure
Ten Steps to Give yourself an at Home Manicure
This is a fun, easy, and safe way to achieve polished fingernails without paying the higher beauty store prices when going through these ten steps. This is for adults only, or to do with adult supervision for younger girls, always keeping safety in mind, and always putting the products up safely after use. Before beginning, wash your nails thoroughly, even with the polish on your fingernails. Try mostly to get your nails clean underneath your nail cartilage where it is not attached to the skin before beginning. If you notice growths, tiny knobs under there, or any redness or dirt substance that does not come out from under your fingernail bed, stop this process, and go to see a medical doctor.
You will need:
* 1 pack of cotton balls
* 1 fingernail polish remover
* 1 emery board
* 1 nail trimmer
* 1 cuticle remover
* 1 bottle of fingernail polish
* A couple of paper towels
Nail polish removing.
Firstly, take out as many cotton balls as needed one at a time, and safely douse each fingernail with nail polish remover, until your whole fingernail is your natural true color. It is available now at the stores in bottle or sponge form in a bottle. For the sponge type, you have to dip your finger into the container, usually a plastic one, and swish your finger around frequently checking it to make sure your fingernail polish is coming off. For the fingernail polish in the bottle without a sponge embedded in it, you have to carefully tip it about a fourth of the way over using the cotton ball at the top to stop up the top from spilling out all over, and If you need to, you can have some paper towel handy to wipe off any excess fingernail polish remover that spills over as a result. Whichever fingernail polish remover you choose, swab your fingernails one by one until they are your natural color.
If you frequently use fingernail polish, your natural nail can become tinted a little of a yellowing color, not to be confused with bold yellow, and not red or green, or swollen. If your fingernails or fingers start to become red, green, or swollen, seek medical attention immediately. If you are doing ok, and your nails are now their natural color, go to step 2.
Filing your nails with an emery board.
Next, you should have what is called an emery board. An emery board is usually a very inexpensive fingernail board used for filing down rough nail surfaces that is rough on the surface at least on one side. An emery board should not be used to scrape your natural nail surface at all. It will make your smooth fingernails rough.
You can use the emery board quite effectively on the end of your nail, in order to give it a consistent shape and make the tip of your nail smooth, not rough. Emery board comes in all shapes and sizes, and you can even look for one to fit your personality or wardrobe color-wise. As soon as you are done smoothing the tips of your nails in a uniform manner, proceed to the next step 3.
Trimming your fingernails.
A fingernail trimmer is used in your home nail process when you want to reshape or shorten your nails more efficiently than with an emery board. You can make your fingernails shorter using fingernail clippers, which are clippers that are small in size designed to fit your nail shape and be able to cut your fingernail tip surface, without having enough force in them to really do massive cutting damage, but still use safety.
You should trim your nails at least once a month if they are healthy. Never trim unhealthy, discolored or brittle fingernails. Never trim your nails to the quick, which is the place where your fingernail cartilage meets your skin.
Be mindful of safety, even at this stage of the process. If you have hypoglycemia, or any other disease such as Parkinson’s or nerves, do not clip your own fingernails if you might have an issue of safety. Some fingernails are hard, and take some sharper fingernail cutters to cut through them. If this is the case with yours, you may want to consider going to a salon or a simple medical visit and have a professional trim them. However, if not, trim away. This is mostly a basic and fun procedure for most people. Then start with step #4.
Cuticle removing.
Next, you need to use your cuticle remover to remove your cuticle, or actually push it down. Your cuticle is that soft skin that forms at the bottom of your fingernail at the place where your fingernail cartilage and your skin meet. It is just like a foreskin. Its job is to cover the place where your nail cartilage meets your skin, and make a smooth transition for that to happen. As your fingernails grow, your cuticle skin stretches, and this process of removing your cuticle pushes back that excess to promote your nail growth and health.
Again, you would want to check your cuticle area for rashes, redness, swelling, discoloration of any kind, and if any of those issues are present in your cuticle, seek the advice of a medical professional before pushing it back.
If you find that it looks pretty much like your fingernail and finger color, but with a different smoother and softer texture, go ahead and push the cuticle back with the cuticle remover, which is a little stick like device with a softer but firm tip made especially for the cuticle. It is not a cutting type tool. It looks a little shorter than a chopstick, but has a necessary soft tipped end to make sure that your cuticle does not get damaged.
Push back your cuticles one at a time using the cuticle removing tool. These are available from nearly any beauty supply store, or store that carries fingernail accessories of any kind. These are also relatively inexpensive.
It is important to note that if at any time in your process for any reason, if your nails start to bleed mildly or a lot, stop this procedure at once. This is not likely to happen in a normal fingernail manicure, but it may be a nice way of warning you of a problem with your own nails that you may need to get medical attention for.
Pick a color.
Now you are ready to pick out a nail polish color from your own home nail polish collection. Pick out a color that matches your skin coloring, outfit styles that you wear, or shade of lipstick. If you polish your nails frequently, make sure that you give them one or two days to air out and breathe naturally to promote healthy nails in between polishes.
Application of finger nail polish color.
Each bottle of nail polish comes with it's own applicator inside the bottle, attached to the handle of the fingernail polish bottle. Just unscrew the fingernail polish bottle, and scrape off the excess fingernail polish on the fingernail polish brush applicator on the side of the bottle itself. You can use a paper towel for this process, but you may end up with paper towel residue mixed into your color, so I would not recommend it. Also, you need to make sure that you have a steady hand for this in order to get your finger nail polish on your fingernail area only, not on your skin. Skin always needs to breathe, and cannot with polish on it.
When you are ready, take the applicator holding non-dripping color to your nails, brushing from the base of your fingernails upward towards the top tip of your nail. Make sure you coat your whole nail evenly. Starting at the base of the nail and applying polish in an upward motion helps you evenly coat your nail.
Correcting polish mistakes.
If you make a mistake, take a paper towel and douse it with nail polish remover as you did with the cotton ball in step one, and try to get the excess polish off your skin using the flat edge of the paper towel. Then, if you need to re-coat that fingernail, go ahead. If not, great. Just move on to the next fingernail until you are done.
Second coats of nail polish.
Wait at least ten minutes before applying a second coat. You should not paint over your nails another time unless your nail polish is dry the first time. Without air, or low to medium speed fans blowing on them, it will take about five minutes for your fingernails to dry. Using high-speed fans near your wet nail polish can move your fingernail polish around your fingernail and mess its even coat up.
Quick drying nails.
You can buy the quick drying kind of nail polish at the stores, or a quick drying sealer that is clear over the color of your nail polish to quicken drying if you are in a hurry. As a reminder, do not attempt to polish your fingernails in an area that does not have proper ventilation. And do not polish your nails around the face of infants.
Save and print this article to have your own home fingernail painting party repeatedly.
This is a fun and easy way to polish your own nails at home without paying the higher priced salon prices. Save this article, and print it out for your own fingernail painting party. Use this time as a de-stressing technique for you while beautifying your fingernails, or use this time as a special and fun group nail polishing time, inviting your closest family and friends to have a home nail polish party with you.
This is a fun, easy, and safe way to achieve polished fingernails without paying the higher beauty store prices when going through these ten steps. This is for adults only, or to do with adult supervision for younger girls, always keeping safety in mind, and always putting the products up safely after use. Before beginning, wash your nails thoroughly, even with the polish on your fingernails. Try mostly to get your nails clean underneath your nail cartilage where it is not attached to the skin before beginning. If you notice growths, tiny knobs under there, or any redness or dirt substance that does not come out from under your fingernail bed, stop this process, and go to see a medical doctor.
You will need:
* 1 pack of cotton balls
* 1 fingernail polish remover
* 1 emery board
* 1 nail trimmer
* 1 cuticle remover
* 1 bottle of fingernail polish
* A couple of paper towels
Nail polish removing.
Firstly, take out as many cotton balls as needed one at a time, and safely douse each fingernail with nail polish remover, until your whole fingernail is your natural true color. It is available now at the stores in bottle or sponge form in a bottle. For the sponge type, you have to dip your finger into the container, usually a plastic one, and swish your finger around frequently checking it to make sure your fingernail polish is coming off. For the fingernail polish in the bottle without a sponge embedded in it, you have to carefully tip it about a fourth of the way over using the cotton ball at the top to stop up the top from spilling out all over, and If you need to, you can have some paper towel handy to wipe off any excess fingernail polish remover that spills over as a result. Whichever fingernail polish remover you choose, swab your fingernails one by one until they are your natural color.
If you frequently use fingernail polish, your natural nail can become tinted a little of a yellowing color, not to be confused with bold yellow, and not red or green, or swollen. If your fingernails or fingers start to become red, green, or swollen, seek medical attention immediately. If you are doing ok, and your nails are now their natural color, go to step 2.
Filing your nails with an emery board.
Next, you should have what is called an emery board. An emery board is usually a very inexpensive fingernail board used for filing down rough nail surfaces that is rough on the surface at least on one side. An emery board should not be used to scrape your natural nail surface at all. It will make your smooth fingernails rough.
You can use the emery board quite effectively on the end of your nail, in order to give it a consistent shape and make the tip of your nail smooth, not rough. Emery board comes in all shapes and sizes, and you can even look for one to fit your personality or wardrobe color-wise. As soon as you are done smoothing the tips of your nails in a uniform manner, proceed to the next step 3.
Trimming your fingernails.
A fingernail trimmer is used in your home nail process when you want to reshape or shorten your nails more efficiently than with an emery board. You can make your fingernails shorter using fingernail clippers, which are clippers that are small in size designed to fit your nail shape and be able to cut your fingernail tip surface, without having enough force in them to really do massive cutting damage, but still use safety.
You should trim your nails at least once a month if they are healthy. Never trim unhealthy, discolored or brittle fingernails. Never trim your nails to the quick, which is the place where your fingernail cartilage meets your skin.
Be mindful of safety, even at this stage of the process. If you have hypoglycemia, or any other disease such as Parkinson’s or nerves, do not clip your own fingernails if you might have an issue of safety. Some fingernails are hard, and take some sharper fingernail cutters to cut through them. If this is the case with yours, you may want to consider going to a salon or a simple medical visit and have a professional trim them. However, if not, trim away. This is mostly a basic and fun procedure for most people. Then start with step #4.
Cuticle removing.
Next, you need to use your cuticle remover to remove your cuticle, or actually push it down. Your cuticle is that soft skin that forms at the bottom of your fingernail at the place where your fingernail cartilage and your skin meet. It is just like a foreskin. Its job is to cover the place where your nail cartilage meets your skin, and make a smooth transition for that to happen. As your fingernails grow, your cuticle skin stretches, and this process of removing your cuticle pushes back that excess to promote your nail growth and health.
Again, you would want to check your cuticle area for rashes, redness, swelling, discoloration of any kind, and if any of those issues are present in your cuticle, seek the advice of a medical professional before pushing it back.
If you find that it looks pretty much like your fingernail and finger color, but with a different smoother and softer texture, go ahead and push the cuticle back with the cuticle remover, which is a little stick like device with a softer but firm tip made especially for the cuticle. It is not a cutting type tool. It looks a little shorter than a chopstick, but has a necessary soft tipped end to make sure that your cuticle does not get damaged.
Push back your cuticles one at a time using the cuticle removing tool. These are available from nearly any beauty supply store, or store that carries fingernail accessories of any kind. These are also relatively inexpensive.
It is important to note that if at any time in your process for any reason, if your nails start to bleed mildly or a lot, stop this procedure at once. This is not likely to happen in a normal fingernail manicure, but it may be a nice way of warning you of a problem with your own nails that you may need to get medical attention for.
Pick a color.
Now you are ready to pick out a nail polish color from your own home nail polish collection. Pick out a color that matches your skin coloring, outfit styles that you wear, or shade of lipstick. If you polish your nails frequently, make sure that you give them one or two days to air out and breathe naturally to promote healthy nails in between polishes.
Application of finger nail polish color.
Each bottle of nail polish comes with it's own applicator inside the bottle, attached to the handle of the fingernail polish bottle. Just unscrew the fingernail polish bottle, and scrape off the excess fingernail polish on the fingernail polish brush applicator on the side of the bottle itself. You can use a paper towel for this process, but you may end up with paper towel residue mixed into your color, so I would not recommend it. Also, you need to make sure that you have a steady hand for this in order to get your finger nail polish on your fingernail area only, not on your skin. Skin always needs to breathe, and cannot with polish on it.
When you are ready, take the applicator holding non-dripping color to your nails, brushing from the base of your fingernails upward towards the top tip of your nail. Make sure you coat your whole nail evenly. Starting at the base of the nail and applying polish in an upward motion helps you evenly coat your nail.
Correcting polish mistakes.
If you make a mistake, take a paper towel and douse it with nail polish remover as you did with the cotton ball in step one, and try to get the excess polish off your skin using the flat edge of the paper towel. Then, if you need to re-coat that fingernail, go ahead. If not, great. Just move on to the next fingernail until you are done.
Second coats of nail polish.
Wait at least ten minutes before applying a second coat. You should not paint over your nails another time unless your nail polish is dry the first time. Without air, or low to medium speed fans blowing on them, it will take about five minutes for your fingernails to dry. Using high-speed fans near your wet nail polish can move your fingernail polish around your fingernail and mess its even coat up.
Quick drying nails.
You can buy the quick drying kind of nail polish at the stores, or a quick drying sealer that is clear over the color of your nail polish to quicken drying if you are in a hurry. As a reminder, do not attempt to polish your fingernails in an area that does not have proper ventilation. And do not polish your nails around the face of infants.
Save and print this article to have your own home fingernail painting party repeatedly.
This is a fun and easy way to polish your own nails at home without paying the higher priced salon prices. Save this article, and print it out for your own fingernail painting party. Use this time as a de-stressing technique for you while beautifying your fingernails, or use this time as a special and fun group nail polishing time, inviting your closest family and friends to have a home nail polish party with you.
Avedon Fashion Photograph Exhibit at the DIA
This was a wonderful show. Had a lovely afternoon enjoying the photos and marveling how all things - particularly "Fashion" just seem to revisit us. Looking at some of these photos from the 50's was just like seeing fashion today. I had to do a couple double takes. The hair, the make-up, the clothing... retro/goth/punk... then and now. Amazing work... and the Mexican Town dinner afterward was pretty darn good too.
Exhibition
Avedon Fashion Photographs 1944-2000
October 18, 2009 - January 17, 2010
This exhibition is a comprehensive study of Richard Avedon's (1923-2004) fashion photographs that includes a selection of over 200 images representing his stylistic evolution over a period of 50 years. Both iconic and lesser-known photographic prints, as well as never-before-seen material including contact sheets, magazine layouts, personal ephemera and archival material are included. All photographs are from the Avedon estate, and many are vintage prints.
Avedon began his career at the end of World War II in New York City. Influenced by photo reportage and the innovative eye of Harper's Bazaar art director Alexy Brodovitch, Avedon revolutionized editorial fashion work for magazines in the post-World War II era. At the young age of 23, his work was fresh and created to rejuvenate the Paris fashion market after the war.
As his career developed in the 1950s and 1960s, Avedon captured the independent lifestyle and spirit of the times in women's clothing of the period. In addition to his fashion work with celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor and Barbara Streisand, Avedon was one of the first high-profile photographers to work with African American and multi-racial models including Detroit-native Donyale Luna and the Eurasian model China Machado.
Avedon continued to dominate the photography world until his death in 2004. Works from the 1990s include his collaborations with famous models on the fashion scene including Kate Moss and Stephanie Seymour.
Posted for my personal reference only.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Top 5 Bad Habits to Break
Everyone, and I mean everyone, has a bad habit (or three), and even if you’re not the resolution type, making one change this year can do wonders for your health, looks and self-esteem. Here are five common not-so-great habits, and how to break ’em for good.
1.) Bad habit: Nail Biting (I need to take better care of my nails - but I am not a nail biter)
Stop now: Biting your nails makes for ugly hands and over time can interfere with normal nail growth, damage the outer layer of your teeth, and cause nail deformities such as split nails. Harmful bacteria such as staphylococcus also live underneath nails—and you don't want to chew on that.
Break it: Go for a professional manicure once every 2 or 3 weeks, suggests Angelica Kaner, PhD, a clinical professor at Yale University Medical School, because when your nails look pretty, you'll be less likely to snack on them. At the very least, keep your nails trimmed short—you'll have less nail to bite, and that harmful bacteria has less space to grow. Nail biting is also a nervous habit that is often an expression of some deeper anxiety. "Ask yourself why you're feeling anxious," Kaner says. You can also try substituting a new, healthy behavior—instead of biting your nails, rub in a cuticle cream or oil.
2.) Bad habit: Forgetting to Floss (I am not doing this like I should and need to do this on a regular daily basis)Flossing helps prevent gum disease and keeps your teeth and gums looking good, but it may also stave off non-mouth-related diseases: A 2005 study in the journal Circulation showed that older adults with higher levels of four gum disease-causing bacteria in their mouths also tend to have thicker carotid arteries, which raise the risk of stroke and heart attack. That's scary business, because 90% of dentists say that most patients don't floss regularly.
Break it: Buy a floss-holding device, such as the Flossmate Floss Holder to make the process easier and faster. In an Indiana University study, 50% of previous nonflossers were doing so regularly 6 months after introducing floss to their routine; 85% of the new flossers used a holding device—only 15% preferred doing without the aid. Then incorporate flossing into your morning routine before or after brushing.
3) Bad habit: Late Night Fridge Raiding (Not at night - but I do nibble)
Eating late at night in itself isn't bad for you, but chances are you're eating cold pizza instead of apple slices. Adding those extra calories does the late-night damage, according to a 2005 Oregon Health & Science University study. Snacking late at night can also exacerbate symptoms for those prone to heartburn, as lying down after eating makes it easier for stomach acid to flow into the esophagus.
Break it Boredom, not hunger, is of the root cause of late-night eating, says Pamela Peeke, MD, author of Fit to Live. Once the craving hits, focus on an activity that engages you until it's time to go to sleep, such as e-mail, a crossword puzzle, or meditation. It's also common for people to chow down while watching TV. In fact, a study from the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago found that people who were allowed to eat as many potato chips as they wanted ate 44% more chips while watching Letterman than while not watching TV. Keep your hands busy while you watch by folding laundry, using your BlackBerry, or knitting—that way you won't be tempted to break out the Ruffles.
4) Bad habit: Smoking (Thank God I never smoked)
We don't need to remind you of all the health risks associated with smoking (heart attack, lung cancer, emphysema, and cancer of the mouth, throat, stomach, bladder, kidney, and cervix), but here's one you might not have considered: money. Lots of it. The cost of one pack plus taxes averages $4.49, so if you smoke a pack a day, you're turning a whopping $1,639 a year into nothing but smoke, ashes, and nice black spots on your formerly pretty pink lungs.
Break it: Ask your doctor about drugs that can help kick-start your quitting process and help you combat cravings and withdrawal. For instance, Zyban, an antidepressant, helps reduce psychological withdrawal symptoms such as frustration, restlessness, anxiety, and irritability. Chantix blocks the effects of nicotine on your brain, which helps reduce cravings. According to a study, 44% of smokers were able to quit after 12 weeks using Chantix, and another study showed that Zyban was nearly twice as effective as a nicotine patch in helping smokers quit.
5) Bad habit: Sun Worshipping (Don't do this anymore - but used to)
Blame it on Coco Chanel—before she returned golden brown from a Mediterranean vacation in the 1920s, pale skin was in. But until the Morticia Addams look comes back in style, stick to self-tanning lotion: The sun's UV rays damage your skin's DNA, increasing your risk of skin cancer (not to mention sunspots, sagging skin, and wrinkles). In fact, as much as 90% of wrinkles, brown spots, and sagging are caused by sun damage, according to the American Skin Association.
Break it: Wear sunscreen daily on the parts of your body that are exposed to the sun, even during winter. The skin cancer foundation recommends applying 1 ounce of SPF 15 sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside on a typical day, and then reapply every 2 hours. If you're spending the day outdoors, wear a wide-brimmed hat and cover exposed skin with clothing, preferably with built-in sunscreen.
This article reposted for my personal reference.
Gift Cards - Using Wisely
Expecting a stash of gift cards for the holidays? Better use them wisely.
That's become a little easier, because many retailers have eliminated expiration dates and fees that sap the cards' value over time.
The changes come well ahead of proposed rules from the Federal Reserve that wouldn't allow gift cards to expire for five years, among other changes.
Even so, about $5 billion, or about 6 percent, of what Americans spend on gift cards this year won't be used, including what's lost to fees, according to TowerGroup. That's down from a high of 10 percent in 2007, said Brian Riley, research director at the financial-services consulting firm.
It's easy to waste those nifty pieces of plastic. You might forget about them by sticking them in a sock drawer, or you might not spend the full amount. But in this tough economy, every penny counts.
"You should treat it like cash and have it be a contribution to something you really need or want," said Laura Gurski, partner in the retail practice of consultant A.T. Kearney.
Here's how experts advise wringing out the full value of cards you receive:
1. KEEP IT SAFE. Expert say that as soon as you get a gift card, put it in a safe place. That means stashing it in an envelope reserved just for gift cards. Some say to just put them in your wallet along with the credit cards.
"Don't leave them sitting on a desk," said Dudley Blossom, chairman of the marketing department at LIM College, a fashion college in Manhattan.
2. MAXIMIZE THE VALUE. Buy discounted merchandise when redeeming a gift card. Shoppers wanting to take advantage of post-Christmas discounts should do so between Saturday and Jan. 2.
That's because stores won't be swimming in holiday leftovers through February, because they came into the holidays with lean inventories.
"You'll find the peak" of inventory right after Christmas, Riley said.
You also should look for any special discounts from retailers like J.C. Penney specifically for gift-card users.
3. USE IT ALL UP. Riley says it's better to spend beyond the value of the gift card because that will ensure that you used all of it.
Many shoppers don't redeem gift cards to their full value — but $3 on a gift card is $3 that's not coming out of your own pocket.
4.STRATEGIZE: USE ON NECESSITIES. Want to buy that winter coat but couldn't afford it? Use the gift card toward the big purchase.
Gift cards may be free money, but experts say you shouldn't just buy anything, particularly in the difficult economy.
"You have to plan what you want to use it for," Blossom said.
Gurski said customers getting an all-purpose card such as an American Express gift card should use it on necessities such as groceries.
5. EXCHANGE WITH FRIENDS. Don't like that particular store? Then get together with friends and swap cards.
You can even do it online. CardHub.com, a leading credit card comparison Web site, just launched a gift card application for Facebook.
Its main feature is the Gift Card Wish List, which let users pick favorite stores so friends know what gift cards they'd like.
But it also has a gift card exchange, which lets friends post cards they want to buy or sell at a discount.
6. SELL OR SWAP CARDS WITH STRANGERS. Card-bearing customers can turn to sites like Plasticjungle.com or Swapagift.com to exchange gift cards or even donate them to charity.
But there is a price. At Plasticjungle.com, customers can sell the card for cash and get up to 90 percent of the balance. (There's a minimum gift card value of $25). Customers can no longer list their cards on the site for direct swapping and must sell them directly to the company.
7. REGIFTING. If you receive a card as a gift before the holidays, regifting is always an option.
You can also use the card to buy a holiday present for someone on your list.
This article has been reposted for personal reference.
That's become a little easier, because many retailers have eliminated expiration dates and fees that sap the cards' value over time.
The changes come well ahead of proposed rules from the Federal Reserve that wouldn't allow gift cards to expire for five years, among other changes.
Even so, about $5 billion, or about 6 percent, of what Americans spend on gift cards this year won't be used, including what's lost to fees, according to TowerGroup. That's down from a high of 10 percent in 2007, said Brian Riley, research director at the financial-services consulting firm.
It's easy to waste those nifty pieces of plastic. You might forget about them by sticking them in a sock drawer, or you might not spend the full amount. But in this tough economy, every penny counts.
"You should treat it like cash and have it be a contribution to something you really need or want," said Laura Gurski, partner in the retail practice of consultant A.T. Kearney.
Here's how experts advise wringing out the full value of cards you receive:
1. KEEP IT SAFE. Expert say that as soon as you get a gift card, put it in a safe place. That means stashing it in an envelope reserved just for gift cards. Some say to just put them in your wallet along with the credit cards.
"Don't leave them sitting on a desk," said Dudley Blossom, chairman of the marketing department at LIM College, a fashion college in Manhattan.
2. MAXIMIZE THE VALUE. Buy discounted merchandise when redeeming a gift card. Shoppers wanting to take advantage of post-Christmas discounts should do so between Saturday and Jan. 2.
That's because stores won't be swimming in holiday leftovers through February, because they came into the holidays with lean inventories.
"You'll find the peak" of inventory right after Christmas, Riley said.
You also should look for any special discounts from retailers like J.C. Penney specifically for gift-card users.
3. USE IT ALL UP. Riley says it's better to spend beyond the value of the gift card because that will ensure that you used all of it.
Many shoppers don't redeem gift cards to their full value — but $3 on a gift card is $3 that's not coming out of your own pocket.
4.STRATEGIZE: USE ON NECESSITIES. Want to buy that winter coat but couldn't afford it? Use the gift card toward the big purchase.
Gift cards may be free money, but experts say you shouldn't just buy anything, particularly in the difficult economy.
"You have to plan what you want to use it for," Blossom said.
Gurski said customers getting an all-purpose card such as an American Express gift card should use it on necessities such as groceries.
5. EXCHANGE WITH FRIENDS. Don't like that particular store? Then get together with friends and swap cards.
You can even do it online. CardHub.com, a leading credit card comparison Web site, just launched a gift card application for Facebook.
Its main feature is the Gift Card Wish List, which let users pick favorite stores so friends know what gift cards they'd like.
But it also has a gift card exchange, which lets friends post cards they want to buy or sell at a discount.
6. SELL OR SWAP CARDS WITH STRANGERS. Card-bearing customers can turn to sites like Plasticjungle.com or Swapagift.com to exchange gift cards or even donate them to charity.
But there is a price. At Plasticjungle.com, customers can sell the card for cash and get up to 90 percent of the balance. (There's a minimum gift card value of $25). Customers can no longer list their cards on the site for direct swapping and must sell them directly to the company.
7. REGIFTING. If you receive a card as a gift before the holidays, regifting is always an option.
You can also use the card to buy a holiday present for someone on your list.
This article has been reposted for personal reference.
New Years Resolutions - Goal Setting
There is a right way and a wrong way to make a New Year's resolution. Here are a few expert tips to see that your resolution actually makes a difference:
1. Create a Plan
Setting a goal without formulating a plan is merely wishful thinking. In order for your resolution to have resolve, (as the word "resolution" implies), it must translate into clear steps that can be put into action. A good plan will tell you A) What to do next and B) What are all of the steps required to complete the goal.
2. Create Your Plan IMMEDIATELY
If you're like most people, then you'll have a limited window of opportunity during the first few days of January to harness your motivation. After that, most people forget their resolutions completely.
It is imperative that you begin creating your plan immediately.
3. Write Down Your Resolution and Plan
myGoals.com exists to help you formulate a plan, which we then help you stick to. But even if you don't use myGoals.com, commit your resolution and plan to writing someplace, such as a notebook or journal.
4. Think "Year Round," Not Just New Year's
Nothing big gets accomplished in one day. Resolutions are set in one day, but accomplished with a hundred tiny steps that happen throughout the year. New Year's resolutions should be nothing more than a starting point. You must develop a ritual or habit for revisiting your plan. myGoals.com helps you stick to your plan by providing email reminders that arrive when it's time to work on a given task.
And finally...
5. Remain Flexible
Expect that your plan can and will change. Life has a funny way of throwing unexpected things at us, and flexibility is required to complete anything but the simplest goal. Sometimes the goal itself will even change. Most of all, recognize partial successes at every step along the way. Just as a resolution isn't accomplished the day it's stated, neither is it accomplished the day you reach your goal. Rather, it's accomplished in many small increments along the way. Acknowledge these incremental successes as they come.
This article was reposted here for my own personal reference.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
