Thursday, April 4, 2013

7 Tips on How to Get Ready for That Special Prom Night




Plan it as early as possible - or you may not be able to do what you want. Plan the color you will wear and the accessories and makeup to go with it (a matching purse, shoes, etc.). Most girls will want to get their hair done for prom. Get your hair done by a specialist, a friend, or a family member if you can. Some girls are great with their own hair too. Just make sure you are happy with it. Many girls like to get their makeup done at a local department store or salon. If you have the time and money, definitely do this because it is worth it. Smile and remember you're gorgeous.





For the dress: Find what body shape you have. If you have a larger hip area and a small bust, go for a low "V" neck top and a loose bottom area so you look thinner. If you have larger breasts, go for a semi-high "U" neck so people can see your breasts. Go for a tight fit around the waist if you have an hourglass figure, find a long tight dress which shows off your figure.





If you have shoes you want to wear, bring them with you when you try on dresses.





Remember to "break in" new heels if you want to wear them for prom. If you don't, you might be in pain during your special night.





Wear a button-down top for your hair and makeup preparations. You won't be able to take it off over your head without smudging your (possibly very expensive) makeup or possibly ruining your hairdo.


7 Hairstyles for the New Year TMs Eve Party




The New Year is right around the corner and there is a mad rush to get everything right. The perfect dress, perfect accessories and the perfect looks. The right hairstyle will complete the charm. So what is it going to be this New Year Eve?





1. Diva Pull up





The perfect look for a heart shaped face and shoulder length hair. Sweep the hair and pull into a careless knot to get this casual and yet charming look. The few wisps of hair left to frame the face complement the heart shape. This carefully careless looks adds a lot to the mystery around you.





Accessorize with chandelier earrings or even hoops to complete the diva look.





2. Vintage and Accessorized





The vintage look never goes out of fashion trends. It adds elegance and mystery to the complete look. Try these vintage hairstyles to create an aura around you. These vintage hairstyles look their best when accessorized with a diamond string or a fancy hair slide. Well suited to style long hairs, the pulled back chignon gives a very classic look.





You can opt for the severe completely pulled back look or for the softer look with locks falling on one side. Combine them with the right kind of dress to make an elegant entry.





3. Sensual and Wavy





Whether short or long, hair looks just great when set in slight waves to frame the face. The soft waves falling along the face or around the face look very sensual and have a come hither look.





The hairstyle looks great on almost everyone and can be an option irrespective of the hair length. It goes well with most outfits so one doesn't really have to think before deciding on it. Be the temptress tonight with one of thee sensual hairstyles.





4. Punk





Out with the boring and much done hairstyles. How about something really different which will make others sit up and look at you? Try these punk hairstyles to have every single head turn towards you as you enter. Irrespective of whether you have short hair or long, you can style them in punk to get that unique look.





Be careful to choose this hairstyle. They will go well with modern looking dresses rather than with formal gowns or sober looking ones. But then if you are weighing these options, it has to be because your free spirit has already chosen a dress that will look perfect with these hairstyles.





5. Retro





The seventies are back and how. These look perfect with short hair. Hair that is just about touching the shoulder or even if it is inches above it. The first one in particular with thick waves set on one side and softer ones on the other has a very appealing look. The way the hair seems to want to cover the face makes one look tempting.





The right make up will complete this retro look. Go for the oh-so-fair look with thin eyebrows and lips painted red. Take care to choose them with a dress which has the same retro feeling about it [Dressing tips]. It need not be your mom's though! A few bling accessories and you are ready for the party tonight.





6. Rock'n'roll





These are a studied way to look very casual. Again these modern hairstyles will suit shorter hair, shoulder length or even if they are kissing the nape. Shorter the better these rock and roll hairstyles are completely different in their looks.





Where as the first picture has the actress in a scrunched up hair-do falling in irregular waves to her shoulder, the second has her really short hair swept to one side of the head and falling on to her face. If paired with the right outfits, these hairstyles can perk up your looks considerably. Little or no accessories would be the right choice for the evening bash.





7. Romantic





Well if you are the die hard romantic and are planning an elegant evening out with your partner, then try these ever green romantic hairstyles. Again the two hairstyles are completely different from each other. They suit long hair better as most romantic settings will make you think of princesses with long hair.





The first hair style has a very royal and elegant look. A braid made across the hair line is pinned back and the rest of the hair is swept up into an elegant bun a little low on the nape, perfect for the formal party. The second hairstyle is a little more casual and can be worn in both formal and informal settings.


Wednesday, April 3, 2013

5 surprising ways to drop a dress size




A Baylor University study found that women on a short-term high protein diet lost 1.3 kg more body fat than those on a more conventional carbohydrate plan. Protein preserves muscle mass, which elevates metabolism and helps burn fat faster.





Women who ate identical lunches for 4 weeks consumed 11% more on the days that they watched TV at the same time, according to French researchers. Focusing on food prevents overeating.





When overweight people added savoury flavour sprinkles to their food, they lost an average of 17kg over 6 months. "Stronger food aromas fool your brain into thinking you're full," explains study leader Alan Hirsch, MD, Director of the Chicago Smell and Taste Research Foundation.





Noise raises levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which stimulates production of the fat-storing hormone insulin. It also causes you to overeat, especially when you're trying to concentrate, say Pennsylvania State University researchers. They found people working in a noisy room ate twice as much junk food as those doing the same tasks in silence.





San Diego researchers studied 100 overweight men and women who ate a grapefruit (or drank 1 cup of juice) three times daily. Within 12 weeks, they had lost an average of 2kg. Researchers don't understand why, but speculate that compounds in grapefruit may somehow block fat storage.


5 Ways to stay connected to someone suffering from mental illness




Health Articles | March 18, 2007





Dealing with mental illness in the family can put a strain on family relationships. Here are five ways to stay connected to someone with mental illness.





My big brother, Tom, has challenges beyond my understanding. He struggles with schizoaffective disorder. Although I've never looked up his "diagnosis" in the official record of mental illnesses, the DSM, I know he has problems. I know this by his fixations on seemingly benign things that happened 20 years ago. Or the threats he might make from time to time to family members who love him.





Tom goes through cycles, ups and downs, which is typical for people suffering some types of mental dis-ease like schizoaffective or bi polar disorder. Despite his struggles, my parents have always required Tom to work and forge ahead as best he can. I lost track of the jobs he's had, mainly because there have been so many! Over the years my siblings and I have taken on various roles in his life. Most of us have simply drifted away from him ignoring his desire to spend time with each of us. My hunch is that many "affected others" ignore and stay away because they don't understand the illness or they feel compelled to "do" something to make "it" better. It can be very challenging and frustrating for the caregiver/ or affected other to interact with the person without feeling overwhelmed.





There are ways to stay connected to or participate in the life of someone struggling with mental dis-ease. My top 5 list includes:





1. Make a list of things you can offer the person. Maybe you enjoy the movies and will commit to taking him/her every 2 months or so. My commitment to Tom is to have him come stay with me for 4 days every 2 months. The important thing here is consistency and follow through. Try not to take on more than you can reasonably do. Remember, for someone who might have a small social circle, this date with you can be critically important to the person.





2. Try to let go of all wishes and desires for certain behaviors for the person. Simply meet them where they are and "be" with them instead of "doing" anything that you feel might "help" them or "heal" them. Now there are exceptions to this. One might be if you are trying to encourage better dress habits. Tom, for example hates wearing socks and underwear. If he is coming somewhere with me I make it a requriement that he at least put socks on!





3. Always check with the person before giving them something that you think they might want. I have found that many times we "think" the person would like something when in fact they don't. Don't be offended or try to encourage it, simply let it go and honor the answer you are given.





4. Have a solid set of boundaries for dealing with the person. If you are not able to give something, tell them. Don't treat them differently from how you might treat someone else. It takes too much energy and, quite frankly, it's unnecessary. Treating all people with respect and honesty is generally a good policy.





5. Send the person a card or make a quick phone call just to say "HI, I was thinking about you.". Nothing more, nothing less. Just a small but significant thing.





In the end, all relationships with people struggling with mental dis-ease can be a challenge. But caring for yourself and taking appropriate steps to protect your life will, in the end, help you to keep on giving.


Tuesday, April 2, 2013

5 Tips Of How To Take Care Of Your Wedding Dresses




The wedding dresses are one of the most important purchases that a bride can make, and are often one of the major expenses of a wedding. Once it has been purchased,you must take special care for the wedding dress. While it is most important to keep the wedding dress in flawless condition before the wedding, most brides would agree that they want to make sure that their wedding dress stays in the best shape possible for years to come. Instead,you should use small loops of fabric sewn into the interior of the dress to hang the gown safely. These hanging loops are put in place by the dressmaker on the strongest seams in the gown, ensuring that they will be able to support the weight of the full gown without causing any damage.





It seems obvious that wedding dresses should be dry cleaned, but please take care when choosing a dry cleaner, since some dry cleaning services ship their clothes to another facility and your dress can become damaged by rough handling and the stress of transit.





Before picking a dry cleaner, make sure that they process all of their clothes on site and that they do their work by hand instead of using an automated system. If possible, try to find a dry cleaner that has specific experience in wedding dresses and be sure they are familiar with how delicate the material can be; this is especially important if your wedding dress has beadwork or other intricate decorations. Being picky about your dry cleaner will ensure that your gown isn't damaged.





Just as you should be picky about the cleaner that you take your wedding dress to, any repairs that need to be done should be from a seamstress who is familiar with the delicate construction of wedding dresses. Some bridal salons will offer repair services for the wedding dresses. But if not, be sure to shop around to find a seamstress or sewing shop that has significant experience in repairing wedding dresses. Check the dress for any small holes or tears, and make sure that it's free of stains or discoloration. Take the time to inspect the seams and any beadwork or decorations that are on the gown, as these are the most likely locations for unraveling and holes to appear. Take the dress in for cleaning or repairs if necessary, and allow it to hang for at least one to two days after a cleaning before placing it into storage. That way, you can ensure that there are no residual chemicals in the dress material.





Never store a wedding dress in a plastic container or covered with a plastic bag. Over time, plastic can release chemicals that will cause a white wedding dress to become yellow, and may cause more delicate embellishments to become brittle. Carefully fold the wedding dress and place it into a museum-quality, acid-free storage box; these are sold specifically as wedding dress or wedding dress storage chests. The gown should be wrapped in fabric or acid





-free tissue to protect it from the rough cardboard or paperboard of the storage container. That is why, it method is highly appreciated among the people across the globe. Quality group takes any company to the next level and a Promo agency completely is aware of the fast-changing needs of a company.


Monday, April 1, 2013

6 Ways to Keep Your Customers Happy




Are you surprised by that or did you just shake your head and say, "I totally agree"?





I have had the pleasure of capturing lots of examples of great customer service to absolutely pitiful service during my recent moving experience. Everything from setting up phone service and finding a new bank to finding a good dog groomer and hair stylist for me and every possible service in between has shown me that referral business is powerful!





I find the older I get the less patience I have. I don't have time to do "research" to find out the best businesses to use. I do the next best thing; I ask people who I trust who they would recommend. I also find that I don't ask more than one person! Everyone's reputation is on the line! And it is really interesting how easily people share their resources and seem proud to do so.





A recent move taught me a big lesson. The one company that was the worst example of service and business skills happen to be the one business that I chose because it was the only one available and it was the cheapest. To say they made me "cranky" is an understatement. Worst of all it was the mover I used and I am still finding broken things as I unpack. Do you think their name will pass through my lips when someone says, "Anne, I need a mover, who did you use?" Not in this lifetime would I recommend them.





So what things did they do or didn't do that made me a cranky customer? They are probably the same things that make you and your customers grimace. Let me say, that with just a little attention to the details in a business, you can turn that cranky customer into your number one cheerleader!





C- Communication Pitfalls: Hearing and listening are two different things. I believe most businesses make customers cranky by not "listening" to what they want. Here is an example. I found a new hairstylist and told her, "I like my hair styled with some soft curls, definitely not straight. When she finished doing my hair it was poker straight and she said, "Is that good enough to get you out the door"? Out the door?? Did she hear what I said? Her lack of paying attention will cause me to try another hairstylist the next time! Customers get cranky when you don't pay attention and do your best at satisfying their request.





R= Responsibility Sharing: Take responsibility for getting the job done right. Most of us are tired of businesses make excuses. "My computer is down; That's not my department; I just started here; I don't know how to do that" are all "lines" that we hear employees say that make us cranky. It is the responsibility of every company to hire and train and equip employees with the tools and answers they need to satisfy their customers. If your employees ever used one of those previous lines on a customer then I will bet your customer felt cranky. Customers get cranky when you waste their time and don't have the answers they need!





A= Aware of Employee Performance: Do you know how your employees represent your company? I think about big companies and I think about the thousands of employees they have and how each one of them represent that big company everyday. I may never meet the president of a big company but I meet their "representative" everyday I do business with them. I form an opinion about a big corporation based on the work performance of one of their hourly employees.





When I moved a few weeks ago I hired a national company to complete the move. It took them two days to load the truck with literally a lifetime of belongings to be squeezed on a tractor trailer.





The team that loaded the first day was dressed in matching polo shirts and was extremely organized and polite. The next day was the exact opposite. The team that worked the first day was sent to work elsewhere and I had two guys that arrived four hours late. They were in old ripped tee shirts and I really had no idea if they worked for the moving company or not. They literally threw things into the back of the truck because they said they were "running late" and need to finish packing the truck so they could go home!





As they were leaning on the back doors of the truck trying to push the doors closed so they could lock it, I wondered, "Does this company know what kind of people that are representing them?" Customers get cranky when employees do not work as though they respect the company they work for.





N = Noodle- Did you use it? When was the last time you heard someone say, "Use your noodle"? I admit, it is an old clich but it makes perfect sense in business. Using your "noodle" means to use your brain and think for yourself. Customers just want an easy answer to their problems and they need you to provide that answer as quickly as possible.





It is even better if you can use your "noodle" and save the customer some money! Most employees have gone through a training program and learned the basics but when it comes to applying them to real life situations, they get stumped.





I was buying a set of chair cushions the other day and I was trying to make up my mind between tufted and an untufted style. The salesman very calmly said, "You won't sink down so far in the "untufted style". Not rocket science, just a plain and simple comment that made me think, "He was using his noodle!" Customers get cranky when employees aren't problem solvers.





K= Kind: A simple four letter word that keeps customers coming back. If I had a choice of what one word I would want to describe my employees, I think I would want it to be "kind". A kind employee doesn't pre-judge or humiliate customers. They satisfy the customer and never in an egotistical way. They never raise their voice, they are understanding, they smile and they know how to develop a relationship by being kind. Which one of your employees would you describe as being "kind"? Customers get cranky when employees are less than "kind."





Y= Young - Are you up-to-date in how you run your business? Many assumptions a customer makes about a business have to do with first impressions. Those first impressions can be based on advertising, a physical building, a website, a company's inventory, and even the look and dress of the employees. Right or wrong people make assumptions. If businesses aren't current on their website, why would I think they are current on how they run the business or the newest products that they could be carrying?





Newer, better, and faster are all part of your customer's vocabulary. Customers get cranky when they find out there was a newer version of something and you don't have it!





It's easy to say, "Stop being so cranky", but the truth is, we usually have a valid reason for that furrowed brow we wear. The faster our pace of life gets the less patience we have with people in general. What did you do today in your business to make a customer "cranky"? You see, we will never conduct business 100% perfectly everyday in every way. If you're lucky, your cranky customers will vocally tell you what you need to do to improve. It's cheaper than Botox!


5 Techniques To Your Terrific Scooby Doo Theme Event




Are your kids Scooby Doo fans? Will they like a Scooby Doo themed celebration? Children's masquerade events can be a awesome chance to make an impact to make outstanding reminiscences.





Scooby Doo is really a perennially fashionable character, and developing a special Scooby Doo influenced celebration for your boy or girl is a lot easier than it appears. It doesn't really need to cost tons, and it'll create a number of tremendous pix for the scrapbook. Jinkies!





Scooby Doo Halloween costumes! Encourage the kids to dress up as a preferred character! Scooby, the gang from the Mystery Machine, or maybe the many ghosts, demons, and creatures the gang is often uncovering. There are various methods to get creative using outfits already in your cloth wardrobe, and there are hundreds other official designer Scooby Doo Costumes available from shops and the World wide web.





Movie event! Have a Televison up playing episodes of Scooby Doo. And you could play Scooby Doo The Motion picture one, two or tree. That's really easy to do, and demands just equipment that a number of households own. Grab a a handful of DVDs from the neighborhood movie company, or jump them upward in the Netflix line, and you are great to go.





Think accessories. Serviettes, paper bowls, disposable glasses, ornaments, and party favors will probably be available with a Scooby Doo focus. It truly is this level of attention to detail that will actually make your occasion a wonderful one within the thoughts of all the youngsters that showed up. They will talk about it for months to their buddies and folks. Other parents will believe that you're so innovative coming up with this type of clever family of innovations, approaches, and celebration goodies.





Have Scooby Doo come. In many places, experienced artists can be found with a wide variety of outfits, inclusive of well known personalities such as Scooby Doo. Genuinely having the character come would excite the little ones!





Put up a picture wall. Let the young ones take several of the images themselves, in the event that you happen to be feeling truly courageous. Disposable cameras can be fantastic party favors! However for instant enjoyment, take photos and print them, and let the little ones put them on the photography wall to get on the spot memories. You and the youngster will giggle regarding it for weeks following the get together.





Ever since the 70\'s, Scooby Doo Costumes happen to have been evergreen masquerade, theme celebration, and Halloween choices. Young ones, ladies and men - maybe the pup will usually get in on the act. Scooby Doo Costumes don\'t seem cumbersome or tight. They are laidback and make allowance for easy nibbling, drinking, and chatting mainly because they hardly ever have masks. hair pieces, clothing, and specs might be everything you need to be a convincing component of the Scooby Gang. Additionally, try not to neglect to grab your Scooby Doo Party Supplies.