Good morning dear reader:

It is sooooooo early, but I just could not sleep. I think falling asleep last evening in yoga class while doing that relaxation pose (my best position) might have disturbed my sleep pattern. So, here I was pouring over a stack of magazines and I pick up the October MORE, which I know is for “older” women, but WOW, I have found something interesting, funny and informative on pretty much every page. I am going to tease you with some samples, but I strongly encourage you to get your own copy. You will thank me.

A British company called Eat Yourself Beautiful is selling Collagen Marshmallows in Europe. Each package contains 3,000 milligrams of collagen peptides they claim will help you get a “wrinkle-free look”. “Also known as the Stay Puft look”. I’ll be watching for those and the chocolate mousse throat firmer.

Urban Decay is marketing a new Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss that tilts to dress and undress the hunky model in the little capsule on the end. Talk about putting a smile on your face!

I love Tim Gunn. Besides mentoring all the talented designers on Project Runway, he is the creative director for Liz Claiborne. He is featured in an excellent article on dressing age-appropriate. This does not mean that when you hit 40 you must purchase orthopedic shoes and support hose. It is more about not coming across as trying to imitate the funky teen next door or the one upstairs. It is about looking really good and stylish, incorporating what is trendy and what flatters your own body (page48).

In this article he helps a woman who works in a youth-oriented environment go from funky to elegant and sophisticated with a youthful edge. Here are some of his tips:

1. If your skirt is busy, you need a simple top.

2. If you have volume on top, you need sleek on bottom.

3. Limit your prints and look for fitted tops and jackets that are stylish and not stuffy.

4. Invest in core items–a good jacket, day dress, classic shirt and fill in with less expensive accent pieces.

5. Skirts should hit somewhere between the lowest point of your knees and no more than 2 inches above that point.

6. “Wear the right size. Too big and you lose all shape, too small and you look vulgar.”

This excellent article is followed by one on brightening your teeth which has some great suggestions and new product recommendations. Among them are products such as Rembrandt Plus Peroxide Whitening Mouthwash, Phillips Sonicare Toothbrush, and Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal for even better adhesion. ( page 56)

Have a beautiful day and put a smile on someone’s face,
Diane

Good evening dear reader:

Tonight, I discovered how very shallow true love can be. I had planned an exciting dinner of chicken salad using last night’s leftover roasted chicken. (I wish I could say I roasted it, but I did reheat it.) When I sprung this exciting meal plan on my husband, he informed me that I could have the chicken salad because he had brought home the other half of his barbecue stuffed potato from lunch and he was going to finish it. Well, I took one look at that enormous, juicy potato, bursting with hickory-smoked barbecue shredded beef, topped with picante sauce and I realized immediately that it was really big enough to share. When I gave him my new meal plan, he decided it wasn’t big enough to share, thank you. I then launched into lecture #1754, “You know that is really not good for you”. To which he replied, “I’m taking this bullet for you”. I am going to remember that when I beat him to the last of the Blue Bell ice cream.

The new Oprah Magazine, October, is just jam packed with great articles and helpful information. Dr. Oz has a new column with medical advice. Oprah has made him a star just like Dr. Phil. Don’t you wish Oprah would discover you or me? Whatever that woman touches turns to gold. There is a feature on Ken Burns’The National Parks: America’s Best Idea running now on your PBS channel. He has a wonderful story about John Muir who founded the Sierra Club. In Washington State, he scaled Mt. Rainier and wrote to his wife, “Did not mean to climb it, but got excited and was soon on top”. Isn’t that how it is when we are engaged in our passion? If you haven’t found yours, don’t give up. It is out there.

I noticed several outfits in Oprah fashion spreads have the models wearing big flowers or pins adorned with feathers. If you price them in the stores, it is likely that your eyes will roll back in your head because many cost more than the jacket you want to pin them on. Get thee to Michael’s and select a couple of beautiful silk flowers which in colors to complement your wardrobe. Hop over to the jewelry department and buy a package of pin backs (cheapa, cheapa) and get out your trusty glue gun. Using heavy scissors or pliers, snip off the back of the stem close to the flower without cutting into the flower. Attach to the pin with the glue, allow to dry and bring on the compliments. More tomorrow…

Have a wonderful evening,
Diane

1. Dark chocolate is the ultimate superfood (I have known that for years!). Eat one ounce daily with 77% cocoa content.

2. Trade in your plastic water bottle for a reuseable aluminum one. Nothing to recycle.

3. Skip those paint fumes by using zero-VOC paint. Benjamin Moore’s Natura line comes in 3,000 hues. (Talk about too many choices–I dare you to find the perfect taupe.)

4. When buying produce, think organic to avoid pesticide residue. Otherwise scrub them well using a natural cleanser like Veggie Wash.

Hint of the day: When you think you have squeezed the last of a product out of a tube, cut off the end with scissors for a few days more supply.

There is a special section on the salons around the country with the best beauty services including hair, facials, nails,makeup and body. Most major cities have been covered and the article begins on page 229. In Houston, Ceron Salon in Uptown Park gets the nod. In Dallas, Frederic Fekkai Salon in Highland Park, Denver, Click Salon on Milwaukee St., Atlanta, Van Michael Salon, and in Houston, Mississippi, I am pretty sure it’s Pam’s.

I hope you are having a lovely evening!

Diane

Good afternoon dear reader:

I’m a girl who knows a bargain when she sees one and I know you like to save money as much as I do! If you have not tried the delicious new varieties of Starkist Tuna Creations, here’s a perfect opportunity. Target (which we all love) has marked all of their Starkist varieties down to $1.49 for the foil ready-to-eat packs. I bought sweet and spicy, herb and garlic and hickory smoked. These are wonderful in sandwiches, wraps and straight out of the package. They are rich in Omega-3 and one serving is only about 100 calories. Bumble Bee varieties that come in little tin cans with a peel off lid are delicious as well. My favorite is the tomato-basil which served over lettuce or spinach with some chopped tomato and avocado really doesn’t need any dressing. I might add a little feta cheese next time. Yummy and healthy!

Self Magazine (September) is filled with good ideas for health, beauty and fashion. Instead of eating that strawberry, Self recommends them as an excellent alternative to a professional facial. Simply slice off the top of the berry and rub it on a clean face. Wait 10 minute and rinse. It seems that they are full of antioxidants such as vitamin C plus the tiny seeds act as an exfoliant. They also recommend using oranges and lemons for a fruity facial because they wipe away even more dull skin cells. And heaven knows we never want to be dull.

According to Self, if you overdo the self-tanner, don’t panic. Wipe off that zebra stripe with nail polish remover and start over.

Self also recommends using a boar bristle brush to stave off staticky hair causes by dryness, particularly in the winter. My personal solution is to take a fabric softener dryer sheet and rub it across my hair brush or comb. No more flyaway hair. Rough scaly winter skin? You don’t need those expensive exfoliants, use plain old sugar. It is a natural humectant. Follow with a moisturizer.

Good news for dieters (and aren’t we all?). Eating 3 ounces of almonds each day reduced dieter’s weight and body-mass index by 18 % compared with 11% in the no-nut group. Personally, I have always preferred to be in the nut group because frankly, we are just more fun and now it appears we are healthier as well.

I love mustard and have now discovered the really coarse-grained types which are great for using as a dip for carrots and other veggies, if you like the mustard flavor. Now a study shows that the turmeric in it may slow the growth of fat tissues. I wonder if it can be applied directly to the hips?

Self has so many more good health and beauty tips–check them out yourself. A new subscription is only $12 for 12 issues!

Until tomorrow, have a spectacular day!!!
Diane

Good evening dear reader:

I know the suspense has been killing you. Fashion Week has come and gone and you are waiting with baited breath to find out what you will be wearing this season. Or, I could put it another way by telling you what new styles you probably won’t be wearing this season. Yes, we have survived grunge, bell bottoms (twice), mini-skirts (twice), pedal pushers/crop pants, football player shoulder pads, big bows, wide lapels, box pleats, accordion pleats, headbands (twice), and patterned hose. The new issue (Oct.) of Lucky, the magazine about fashion and style has a great preview. I am just going to tease you with the some of the hottest looks. For the complete story, you have to run get the magazine!

First the good news– there is a new look that diminishes the size of your hips. The bad news is that it is shoulder pads (again?). Fortunately, they are more subtle than the ones we once wore the size of throw pillows. I am here to tell you that you cannot possibly wear too many necklaces. The layered look is so hot! If you can achieve something similar to the look of wearing tire chains around your neck–you will be so in. Leopard and animal prints are still in so no need to toss those you have. Boots are everywhere, especially the high-heeled, scrunched top look. Combine those with a cute, sassy mini-skirt, paisley patterned leggings, and a leather bomber jacket with a faux fur collar and a purse the size of a boxcar and you could have your own reality show.

Go immediately to your closet and take a pair of sharp scissors and remove one sleeve and part of the shoulder from at least half your blouses and dresses. Everything, and I do mean everything is one-shouldered. Okay, even if it is not 20 degrees where you are, you will want to have a lot of over-sized scarves because they are being worn with everything! The good news is that they can double as a blanket.

I realized that I was a woman ahead of my time when I noted that a jewelry company is now marketing mismatched earrings. Heaven knows how many times I have gone to work wearing one silver hoop and one gold hoop.

I noticed there is a movie trailer for a new show, Couples Retreat with Vince Vaughn, which although I have not seen any reviews, doesn’t look really stellar, although I will keep an open mind. I do love one of his first movies a romance/drama, A Cool, Dry Season, sweet.

I hope you are enjoying my blog as much as I am enjoying writing it!!!

Have a spectacular evening,
Diane