John Freida, protecting hair one strand at a time

I am a hair serum junkie. I love that it does all the things to my hair that I want without weighing it down or making it stringy. Right now I’m using John Freida Frizz Ease Thermal Protection Serum, and I’m totally digging it. It gives all the shine of a regular hair serum and offers added heat protection, which is something I need. I have to say that so far the heat protection factor is working pretty well. So of course, I felt compelled to sing it’s praises and share it with all of you. I’ll admit, it’s a tiny bottle for the price but you don’t have to use much to get the benefits. I’ve had my bottle for about a month and haven’t even used 1/4 of it. Whether you need to protect your hair from heat, including UV rays, or if you just want a nice shine enhancing finishing products for your tresses, you get the best of both worlds with this particular John Freida product.

Happy styling!

Dress by Warehouse is a plus size woman’s dream

This animal print tulip skirted silk dress by Warehouse is seriously ferosh, and definitely only for fashion daredevils. If you are rocking some “thickness” then this is the perfect dress for you. Available at ASOS.com, it is a “plus size” woman’s dream! The way the dress is cut, you have to be able to fill it out to pull it off.

Now, I am not a woman who is afraid to accentuate my God given assets. He blessed me with a fabulous body, and while I’m not walking around half naked, I’m also not mistaken for being Amish. My point is, if you have hips, breasts, butt, whatever, show it off! Be proud of it. Don’t let anyone try to convince you that you need to hide under a tarp. A dress like this will show off what God gave you and make you look every bit of the classy confident woman you are.

The banded waist nips in just right to give the illusion of a slimmer mid section, and the tulip skirted bottom accentuates your hips in a good way. Even though there is extra fabric, the way it is draped tricks the eye into thinking the hips are slimmer. How? I don’t know, but that’s how tulip skirts work. The fitted wrap like top and cap sleeves just add to giving the wearer a Coke bottle figure. I say snatch this dress up while it’s available and wear it proudly. Because God knew what he was doing when he made each of us, He doesn’t make mistakes. So, take pride in that fact and show off his perfect creation to the world, in this dress!

Gym friendly flip flops

Finally! I was starting to think this day would never come; flip flops that get your gams (a.k.a legs) in shape? Okay, well not flip flops but FitFlop Shoes. These athletic flip flops may very well replace tennis shoes at the gym, which is fine by me. I hate wearing tennis shoes, to the gym or any other place.

Okay, so before I say something that’s going to get me sued let me step back a minute and clarify a few things about the FitFlop. First, FitFlops are not to be substituted for tennis shoes at the gym, no matter how much we would like them to be. The whole idea behind FitFlops is helping women fit leg toning exercise into their everyday routine. When you have 2 kids, a husband, pets, a full time job, church functions, and motherhood to deal with it is very likely that hitting the gym is at the bottom of your to do list, and that’s if it makes it onto the list at all. So, you slide on a pair of FitFlops, run all your errands, and by the time you get home you’ve just given your legs a good workout.

How does this ingenious product work? In a nutshell,

Fitflops feature patent-pending micro-wobbleboard technology so every step your take in your FitFlops helps tone and trim your legs.

Amazing; right? That’s why we love them! The best part is that they come in tons of colors, cuts, and fabrics to go with any outfit. They even have a FitFlop thong sandal doused in glitter! Pick up a pair for gorgeous gams and the easiest workout you’ve never had.

Health quiz: Are you dehydrated?

I spent yesterday morning in the doctors office. Why? Well, I just haven’t been feeling well lately. It wasn’t anything extreme, but I was sluggish and experiencing frequent headaches. Turns out I am suffering from dehydration. Thankfully, it’s not severe but I was advised to stay out of the heat and replenish the liquids in my body by drinking plenty of water. Being in Texas, were every summer day you’re greeted with temperature highs of 100+, it’s hard to avoid the heat. But it got me to wondering how can you tell, short of a doctors visit, if you’re dehydrated? Take the quiz and find out.


What’s Dehydration, how is it caused? How is it prevented and treated?

Beauty tips to help you look younger

We all want to turn back the hands of time and capture our youth in a bottle. If I could I would look the way I did when I was in my early 20s, forever. While that’s not possible, there are a few thing we can do to make onlookers say, “There’s no way she’s (fill in your age here)!” Try these beauty tips to keep you looking younger.

Bronzer
No matter how old, or young, you are every woman needs bronzer. It is the makeup cure all. It gives your skin a beautiful glow, like that of your youth. Mix a bit into your foundation before you apply it for an even all over healthy, dewy look that makes your face come alive.

Lip gloss
I love “juicy” lip colors. Think cherry, fuchsia, watermelon…colors that you associate with childhood. Giving your lips a bit of color in a lip gloss shade will do wonders. First, gloss doesn’t dry your lips out the way lipstick does and you don’t have to worry about feathering. Secondly, you don’t have to worry about lipstick bleeding into wrinkles around your mouth. Plus, something about lip gloss conjures up pictures of our youth. And isn’t that how you’d like to be portrayed, as opposed to “the older lady who always has lipstick on her teeth?”

Hair
There are a few things you want to keep in mind. As you get older your hair should not get darker or harder. That means, stay away from the hairspray, helmet head hairdos, and monotone hair color. Softening your hair will soften your face, so avoid extreme hair looks. Make your hair multidimensional with highlight and low light accents. Regardless of the style, don’t try to keep it in place with gel or hairspray just style it and go. Keeping your hair soft to the touch and flexible will take years off of you.

Skip this trend: 20′s Inspired headbands

Every magazine I look in, every website I go to this hideous “trend” is staring me in the face. When did it become cool to wear 20s Flapper inspired head bands again? Umm news flash, it didn’t! This look is just a big ol’ fashion mess! I admit that there are about a handful of people who can actually pull this look off and not look totally ridiculous but I can say with almost 100% certainty that the vast majority of people reading this article do not fall into that category.And if you think you’re going to “prove me wrong” and do it anyway I can assure you that the only person you’ll be hurting is yourself (and the people looking at you who have to keep a straight face).

Seriously, if you are not from a culture that wears headbands as part of your everyday dress or if you’re not wearing drop waist Flapper garb and dancing the Charleston, then please don’t try to pull this look off. I know you think you look cool but you don’t, and believe me people are laughing at you (or at least I will be).

Eco-friendly fashion: Leanne Marshall’s Bluefly collection

Project Runway season five winner Leanne Marshall has been hard at work with not one but two lines for the masses. In addition to her Fall 2009 collection, Leanna Marshall is bestowing on us an eco-friendly collection that will be exclusively available through Bluefly this Wednesday (July 8th). Yes, as in tomorrow! Her collection consists of nine pieces, three dresses; two tops; a skirt; and a jacket, within a price range of $98 to $990.

I for one can’t wait to see her collection! I mean, did you see what the girl did with leftover pieces from a car? I can just imagine what she’s going to make from totally sustainable fabrics. CLICK HERE to get a sneak peek at her Bluefly line and take a look back on the line that the brilliant Leanne Marshall designed to gain her the coveted title of Project Runway Winner.

Passionately in Love

Good Morning!
You love the Lord today? He sure does love you!

Think about it. God could have been a God with a different character. One who only gave us two chances to disobey, He allowed no backsliding, He had no patience, no kindness, and ruled the world from the heart of a strict judge. He could have been one who made us live day after day in fear – His eye watching our every move. A God with a heart and intent to punish us should we disturb any one of His million laws. A master who found joy in displaying the wrath of His hand. A God who made us, but didn’t necessarily care about us. Our importance to Him?…”None…Just dirt dolls!”

Instead, He turns out to be one who loves us “passionately.” When I’m bad – when I’m good. Whew! (Makes me want to cry). He’s in love with us! Watching us when we sleep, guarding us from enemies we don’t even know exist, making sure our back is covered and our front is shield. Making us laugh with joy, walk in victory, sleep in peace. He whispers secrets to our heart and allow us to be close to Him in worship. He’s absorbed with our well being and making sure every day EVERYTHING is working for our good. Just passionately in love!

There was an old saint named Sis. Rocket back in my old church who used to shout (rejoice as we now call it). And as she rejoiced she used to shout out, “Who wouldn’t serve a God like this?” Oh, how true!

No matter what you and I go through, if we can remember who He is and how He feels in His heart about us and that He’s the BIGGEST and the BADDEST…we’ll relax a bit and just trust the love!

(Read Hosea:  Book of Love, His search for us, His passionate love toward us. The harlot being sought and loved by the Holy One. )

We’ve prayed for you!

Pastor Wilma Walker

10 Exercises to tone your arms

Getting older stops being fun after the age of 21, in my opinion. Though I hear turning 30 is great, but it’s not something I’m looking forward to, however it beats the alternative. That being said, it seems like the minute I turned 20 my body changed again. My metabolism slowed down and I got a little curvier. Don’t get me wrong, I love my curves but I could have done without the slowing down of my metabolism. These days I have to actually put forth effort to stay slim and trim. Besides trying to keep my midsection svelte, I’m on a mission to get my arms nice and toned. If they can hold a candle to First Lady Michelle Obama’s arms, then I’ll be a happy woman. These 10 exercises are sure to do the trick to get my arms, and yours, perfectly toned and ready to bare. These moves are easy to do, and don’t require a gym. All you need is a chair and some free weights. So get to it, already!

1. Double Arm Lift
Stand with your feet hip-width apart and slightly bend your knees. If you don’t have free weights, utilize something around the house like a bag of frozen vegetables, canned food or water bottle as a weight for each hand. Holding the weights in your palms, let your arms drop in front of you and hold your fists about 6 inches away from the tops of your thighs.

Making sure to keep your shoulders down and not scrunched toward your ears, raise your fists to shoulder height, maintaining a straight line throughout your arms. You can do this by imagining there is a board connecting your shoulders to your wrists. Hold this position for 5 seconds, and then lower your fists back to your thighs in one fluid, steady motion.

2. Water Drop
Seated on the edge of a sturdy chair, keep your back in a straight line and constrict your abdominals. Using your water bottle or canned food as weight, lift your arms over your head while holding the weight with both hands. Lower the weight behind your head by bending your elbows until you feel a strong resistance or the weight touches your back. Slowly lift the weight back above your head, keeping your abs tight and your back straight. Repeat.

3. Easy Arm Extensions
Grasp a weight in each hand while keeping your abs tight and your knees slightly bent. With back straight, lower your upper body by hinging your hips forward to about a 45 degree angle from your lower body. Extend your arms back as though you are handing your weights to someone behind you, all without moving your upper arms. Slowly curl your arms back into the starting position and pause before repeating.

4. Easy Curls
Sitting in a chair with a straight back and torso, relax your arms along the side of your body. With your palms facing the ceiling, grip your weights and slowly curl them up and toward your shoulders. Pause for a few seconds before slowly lowering your arms back down again.

5. Twisted Raise
Stand again with your feet hip-width apart, while slightly bending your knees and holding your weights in the palms of each hand. Let your arms hang naturally by your sides with your palms facing the side of your thigh. Keeping your shoulders down, lift your arms straight out from your sides, keeping them in one vertical plane with the rest of your body. Rotate your arms, turning your palms toward the ceiling. Hold for 5 seconds before rolling your palms back toward the floor.

6. Triceps Push-Up
After placing a towel or yoga mat on the floor to prevent slipping, start on your hands and knees. Walk your hands forward and lift your hips toward the ceiling. Extend your spine in a straight line like it is a board connecting your neck to your tailbone. Tuck your elbows back so they stay at your sides and slowly lower your chest toward the floor, keeping your back straight. Keep your body 2 to 4 inches above the floor. Hold this position for 5 seconds, then raise slowly back into the starting position.

7. Triceps Dips
Seated on the edge of a chair, place your hands behind your hips, using your palms to support your body weight. Angle your elbows outward before lowering your hips slowly toward the floor. Keeping your body angled slightly forward, straighten your elbows, but stop the motion before they are completely straightened (do not lock your elbows). Pressing your weight onto your hands, slowly push yourself back up into the starting position.

8. Slow Row
Sitting on your towel or yoga mat with your legs straight, wrap a T-shirt or towel behind the soles of your feet. Grasping one end of the shirt or towel in each of your hands, push your shoulders and elbows back so that your elbows are behind you. This motion should provide enough resistance to give the shirt or towel a firm stretch. Slowly return to your starting position and pause for a few seconds between repetitions.

9. Plank
Lie face down on your towel or mat with your palms shoulder-width apart and your toes digging slightly into the floor. Breathing in deeply, push your entire body (except for your toes) off the floor. Constricting your abs, keep your back straight and balance all of your body weight on your arms and feet. Breathing normally, keep your back horizontal and maintain the position steadily for 20 seconds. Slowly lower your body to the floor and rest before repeating.

10. Sun Lift
Lie on your back. With your arms outstretched to your sides, lie on your towel or mat and grasp your weights with the palms of your hands facing up. Keeping your arms straight, constrict your abs and then lift your arms to meet one another above your chest. Breathe normally and hold this position for 10 seconds. Slowly lower your arms to starting position.

Courtesy of Sarah Toler and LifeScript

A top for every occasion

Ladies, you need this top from Bebe. Or at least, I do. It’s cute, flattering, and can be made to look great for any occasion, big or small. How would I wear this deep V open back top? Well, lots of ways.

For a casual everyday look, I would throw this top on over a black, lightweight, cotton cami with a lace trim detail. I’d put on my skinny jeans, big silver hoops, my large cocktail ring, grab my obscenely large tote bag, and slide on my black ballet flats. To take it up a notch for a fun casual date night, I would trade in my flats for some platform pumps, and toss my tote bag for a large clutch. I could even make this top office savvy by replacing my skinny jeans with a gray pencil skirt and ditching the cocktail ring to keep it conservative. See? One top, countless looks.

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