Monday, October 27, 2008

Maybe Monday...

Maybe today you should:

♥ Tell a friend a joke & laugh together!

♥ Sign up and meet people on Twitter. Become addicted with me.

♥ Have tea instead of coffee.

♥ Offer to help someone in your office or household with something small.

♥ Call up an old friend to see how they are doing.

♥ Look at fish-eye pictures of dogs. So cute.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Interview: Makeup Artist, Kristine Bruno




I had the pleasure of interviewing Kristine Bruno, a makeup artist, and I was able to ask her some questions regarding makeup & the application of it. I learned so many things myself!




1. How did you get involved with makeup? For as long as I can remember, I have always loved makeup! I remember when I was a little girl my parents had a friend whose wife wore makeup and everytime I saw her, she would put lipstick on me and I thought it was the best thing! Drinking and eating while I had my lipstick on was such an ordeal because I was so afraid of it coming off! I wanted it to stay on forever! After high school, I went to Cosmetology school and got my license and have been doing it professionally ever since!

2. What is your favorite thing about makeup? That it has the ability to totally transform the way someone looks! Its completely fascinating to me!

3. Do you do your own makeup everyday? How long does it take for you to do? I do not do my makeup everyday. I do it if I am going out, or working, but if I'm just running up to the grocery store or being lazy, I don't do it. When I do get all dolled up it takes me anywhere from 1-2 hours to do my makeup, depending on the look I'm doing.

4. What is the best colors to use if you are going to get your picture taken? I would say to make sure you are wearing the right color foundation and do NOT wear a foundation with a high SPF. Flash photography makes SPF reflect the light, making your face color look washed out. Also, photography in general washes you out, so it is important to wear a little more makeup than you would normally if you were going out. In the mirror it may look like too much, but when you get your pictures back you will be happy you did!

5. Do you use a certain kind of makeup with your applications? If so, what are your favorite brands? My favorite brand is MAC! I love their eyeshadows. They come in so many different colors and are highly pigmented. There are also a few things by other brands I love. One of my favorite non MAC products is Touche Eclat by YSL. It's great for darkness under your eyes! My favorite faux lashes are Ardell which you can find in just about any drug store.

6. Do you have any makeup tricks that you could give to my readers? Make sure you always use an eyeshadow base to make your shadow last longer and not crease! I like to use a light colored cream shadow so the powder shadow I am using grabs to the cream and stays put! You don't need a lot, apply enough to lightly cover your eyelid and up to your brow. Also, I like to do eye makeup before foundation because eyeshadow usually falls onto your cheeks and under your eyes and can be hard to remove, especially if your using dark colors. One more really important tip is to make sure your makeup is blended! For blending eyeshadow I like to use a blending brush and make light circular motions starting at my outer eye and keeping that same motion into my crease and back to the outer part of my eye. Repeat that a few times! And when you are applying a darker crease color, always start at the outer part of your eye, where you want it darkest and blend inward.

7. What is the number one thing you hear from girls getting their makeup done? (i.e: do they want something different? want to cover up their blemishes, etc) The number one thing is probably that they don't want to look too overdone and they want the makeup to look more natural.

8. Where can we locate you? How much is a makeup application? I am located in St. Petersburg, Florida, but do all on-location makeup and do travel. My prices range depending on what type of service you are looking for. I have prices listed for everything on my website so be sure to check it out if you are interested in booking with me!


Be sure to visit Kristine's website at: Fabulous Faces

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The Ultimate Goal: Balance



Balancing one's life completely is harder than getting rid of cellulite. With many people today juggling career(s), school, family-life, loved ones, and attempting to maintain a steady diet/exercise plan... we all want the answer to being able to align everything perfectly.

However - we will NEVER get it perfectly right. Such is life. It changes day to day, children get sick, our diet goes out the window, or you get into an arguement with your significant other. It's not easy, but it's manageable.

♥ It is crucial that you remain optimistic. Happy thoughts in... happy thoughts out. Surround yourself with positive people like Tia or Ariel

♥ Invest in a nice day planner that you are able to tote around. Organization is key. Organize household tasks efficiently. Doing one or two loads of laundry every day, rather than saving it all for your day off, and running errands in batches are good places to begin. A weekly family calendar of important dates and a daily list of to-dos will help you avoid deadline panic.

♥ Prioritize. Track everything you do for one week. Include work-related and non-work-related activities. Decide what's necessary and what satisfies you the most. Cut or delegate activities you don't enjoy and don't have time for.

♥ Understand that you cannot do it all. You can't. You are HUMAN. Unfortunately, there are only 24 hours in a day and you need to get some Zzz's in. Therefore, don't feel horrible if you can't be team MOM, PTA president AND have time for extra volunteering this week. It's OK!

♥ Reward yourself at times. Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening to music. Unwind after a hectic workday by reading, practicing yoga, or taking a bath or shower.

♥ Have a Support System. Give yourself the gift of a trusted friend or co-worker to talk with during times of stress or hardship. Ensure you have trusted friends and relatives who can assist you when you need to work overtime or travel for your job.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Come Out & Play



Cooler weather is upon us - and it's time to come out and play.

♥ Get up early and unwind outside with a cup of coffee, your newspaper, etc!

♥ Go to the Pumpkin Patch!

♥ Drive with the windows down (let your A/C relax)

♥ Plan a picnic in the park with someone you adore - perfect chance to cuddle up close!

♥ Wear something that is loose & flowy so that when you walk outside, you'll look like you're gliding.

♥ Fly a kite!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Butt How? - The Basics



Smile! & Let your butt 'smile' too. Granted, yes, for the most part bikini season is gone for a few months, but what better time to get your derriere in shape? And in addition to that, there are lots of holidays coming up where you may just want to look good in a tanga or undies for the boyfriend or husband.

Let's get started:

♥ The Glutes (The facts)
The gluteus maximus or the glutes increase your speed and power for any number of athletic pursuits: To max out your performance, you need to develop them. They are probably the strongest muscle in our bodies. The gluteal group is composed of three separate muscles: the gluteus minimus, medius and maximus. The first two are smaller, deep-seated muscles that allow for the inward rotation of the femur (the bone between the pelvis and knee) and the outward movement of the legs away from your body— both get a lot of work when you walk or run. Overlying these smaller muscles is the gluteus maximus, which allows your leg to extend behind you and permits outward rotation of the femur. It’s also the primary gluteal muscle employed in cycling, jumping rope, squatting, climbing stairs and running.

♥ Squats
Squats are an excellent way to work out a number of different muscles. It is a lower body exercise used in strength training. The exercise's main emphasis is on the quadriceps and the glutes, but it also involves the hamstrings, the calves, and the lower back.



Note: You can do this exercise with or without added weight.

♥ Lunges
Lunges came out on top in targeting the gluteus medius and, to a lesser extent, the gluteus maximus and the hamstrings. There are so many versions of lunges, you're certain to find one you can tolerate, if not fall in love with.

[Walking lunges]


(Beginning with one foot, simply stride forward (walk) as far as you comfortably can while keeping the dumbbells hanging down at your sides. It is very important that when you plant your striding foot that your knee stays perpendicular to the floor and does not extend past that point.)

[Reverse lunges]


(Really reach back with this stride to get a good stretch. Bring that leg back to the start position and repeat the same movement with your opposite leg. Be sure to keep your back firmly upright and straight throughout this exercise.)

Note: These reverse lunges really grab a hold of your glutes and with proper form you will definitely feel these exercises. After a few weeks, add weights to your sets.

♥ Step Ups
These are one of those exercises that seem like a good idea, but you're never exactly sure if you're doing anything. However, I assure you that step ups really do work the glutes and the hamstrings. The trick is to make sure you're stepping up onto a platform that's high enough to really activate those muscle fibers, one that's about 15 inches high. Holding dumbbells can add some nice intensity to the movement as well. Find a bench, or chair - and really focus on squeezing your glutes.



♥ Other Helpful Tools
*Walking

*Running

*Cycling

*Jump roping

♥ Putting It All Together
I could just list out a bunch of exercises to do; however I think it's important to have some sort of direction for you. Here's a sample plan that you can begin to use - and hopefully you will notice some excellent results:

* Do 3 sets of 12 squats - focus on slow movement, add weight if needed. If you have the use of a stability ball - place it against the wall and utilize that.

* Do 2 sets of walking lunges. Lunge forward about 10 times. REALLY focus on your form- make sure your back is straight up, don't lean into it. Add weight if needed.

* Do 3 sets of 12 reverse lunges. Slow and steady is KEY - again focus on the form, because you want to really utilize the glutes here.

* Step Up onto a surface 12 times, break for 30 seconds, and then do another set.

Get in these exercises twice per week along with a nice walk, run, cycle, or jump roping session & you will begin to see some real results. As a beginner, don't use weight and focus on form first. As you get better at it, then increase the weight and/or repetitions.




Any questions: email me at rebekah.reidy@gmail.com
Thank you to Shapefit.com for use of the images.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Weekend Slacker



So you busted your butt all week long - ate right, got in a few workouts, increased your water intake and now your thrilled its the weekend because now you can:



♥ Go out and drink
♥ Splurge at the sports bar = fried food FTW!
♥ Lay around all weekend
♥ Party, party, party

Yikes. There's something about weekends that sends caution--and calories--to the wind. Even if your workweek is all about smart snacks and sensible dinners, for many of us, all bets are off come 5 PM Friday. Researchers found that participants on strict diet and exercise programs tend to lose weight more slowly than expected because they eat more on weekends than during the week.

If you’re going to splurge on the weekends, make sure you increase your activity. Remember, it’s calories in, calories out. Take advantage of your weekend time off and go outside for a walk.

Also, take steps to balance and moderate your weekend splurges by having a game plan before you dine out. For instance, when you know you’re going to have a Martini before dinner, you can plan to skip the appetizer or the dessert.

Some extra tips:

♥ Some decompressing is essential, but planting yourself on the couch for hours can lead to trouble. A long stretch of inactivity can inspire compulsive nibbling, especially if boredom is one of your overeating triggers. Also, don't forget to work downtime into your week so you don't feel as exhausted come the weekend.

♥ With fewer responsibilities and no early morning wake-up calls, even weekday teetotalers don't think twice about a cocktail before dinner--and then another while they eat. The problem: "Alcohol breaks down inhibitions, so it's harder to make healthy food choices when you do sit down," says Gary Foster, PhD, director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University. Choose high-quality drinks you'll want to savor, such as vintage wine or single malt scotch, over high-cal fruity concoctions, and sub in one or two club sodas with lime.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Get Physical




♥ Get up early and go for a walk - take the dog, they need some exercise too.

♥ Before you go to bed, get in a nice stretch. Hold each position for 2-3 minutes.

♥ Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

♥ Park far from the store. Save your car from dents and get in some steps.

♥ While you are watching your nightly show, do crunches, push-ups, or lift dumbbells during the commericals.


It's time to get physical. Get rid of the excuses - we've already heard them all. Don't do it for the boy next door or to get into a 'size 2', but rather, focus on your mind and health. Be healthy for you and I guarantee, everything else will fall into place. Learn to enjoy being active. Find something you love. Don't like running? Don't run. Bike instead. It's time to put your health first because frankly, it's been put on the back burner for far too long.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Stress: 101



Let's face it. Times are tough & so is life, on occasion. Unfortunately though, we have grown to accepting that 90% of our time is spent STRESSING over situations.


Since stress is such a huge part of ALL of our lives, I decided to put together some information each week dealing with how you can begin to take this stress OUT of your life, slowly but surely. My hopes are that I will touch some aspect of stress that is related to your life and you will be able to use the information to begin being happy again.

Stress 101: Stress Diet?

♥ Many women want to do it all, but when there aren't enough hours in the day, we end up running on empty — literally. According to a recent article in the Daily Mail, a new type of eating disorder, "stressorexia," may be emerging amongst modern women.

"Stressorexia is not a scientific diagnosis that a doctor would make but anecdotally its symptoms are very prevalent among women." (Dr. Adrian Lord)

The more women juggle, the more anxious and stressed out they become. Some say stressorexia starts with a missed lunch and spirals out of control from there, resulting in massive weight loss. When people are too preoccupied to eat, it makes perfect sense.

I'm the kind of person who never skips a meal — I become shaky and irritable — but I know many people who oftentimes look down at their watch and say, "oops, I forgot to eat lunch!" So, even if you're having a stressful day at work or at home with the kids, do you ever fall victim to the "stress diet"?