The stores are loaded with lots of fun fresh fragrances!  Scents hinting of green tea, green  apples, light bouquets of blush and rose, as well as jasmine are extremely popular.  I recently sampled a few fragrances and found several that are quite appealing.

Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift is one of the more popular scents for teens and young adults. It is youthful and struck me as having a light, fruity champagne quality.  Once it settles, it maintains a slight musky/sandalwood scent that is rather nice. Wonderstruck’s core ingredients include green tea, apple blossom, raspberry, dewberry, and peach.  In my opinion, the qualities of this scent are somewhat similar to Someday by Justin Bieber and the Britney Spears’ Midnight Fantasy eau de Parfum. When testing all three, I found Wonderstruck to be a bit more sophisticated and appealing than the other two.

Peace, Love and Juicy by Juicy Couture is very light and soft. There are hints of vanilla and fruit. This is an easy scent to wear as it is not too sweet, nor is it overbearing. Alternatively, I also thought it was somewhat unremarkable.

Versace’s Bright Crystal is very pleasing. It has a nice depth to it. Bright Crystal is heavier than some of the other fragrances that I tested, but it’s not overpowering. It’s a more mature scent and reminded me of fresh roses, my favorite milled soaps, and sophisticated outings.

Lancôme just introduced a new fragrance in their Trésor line named Midnight Rose. It is very feminine and includes hints of raspberry, black currant, jasmine, peony, vanilla, cedar, and fresh roses.  It is very distinct. Give this fragrance a chance. The initial time that I sampled Midnight Rose, I was not taken by it. Once it settled, however, I found it to be a scent that I kept coming back to.  It really is addictive, although it may not be for everyone. I see this as more of a fall/winter fragrance rather than a spring/summer.

One of my favorites is Light Blue by Dolce and Gabbana.  It has a light sparkling fruity scent.  Some attributes to this pleasant combination are bamboo, white rose, jasmine, cedar wood, and amber.  This is a scent that I could comfortably wear even on a daily basis as it is not overpowering, but rather very inspiring and irresistible.

Clinique produces the Happy line of fragrances, including Happy and Happy Heart.  I found Happy Heart to be very warm and inviting.  It was rosy and light, with a very youthful/playful side.  The Happy fragrance was exactly as it is titled; it possesses a fresh citrus scent that really does conjure up the sensation of happiness.  Talk about a great pick-me-up on a gloomy day.

I spoke to numerous friends and co-workers about their fragrance preferences. The list of favorite perfumes was wide in range and varied from commonly known fragrances such as Beautiful, by Estee Lauder and Escape from Calvin Klein to fragrances produced by Origins such as Calyx and Ginger Spray, as well as the use of handcrafted essential oils, such as lavender and jasmine.

Almost unanimously we enjoy a soft, light fragrance that makes us feel good. When asked about all-time favorite scents, most people mentioned fragrance that conjured up memories from the past and fondly reminded them of their mothers, grandmothers, friends, or a destination, such as the beach. Mostly we use fragrance for special occasions to make it all that more special. I found it fascinating that there were very few common fragrances listed among the women polled.  It really is true that fragrance is a very personal thing.  It seems that marketing plays a role, but when a woman finds a scent that she loves, she really makes it her own.

Uniquely YOU!
Each of us is beautiful in our own natural way. Whether it is a chin dimple, a radiant smile, a beauty mark, or the way we adorn our eyes and hair to enhance our best features, we all have that little magical something that draws the people we love towards us and makes us sparkle.

EMBRACE your imperfections
Despite these natural gifts, I believe that most of us find fault with our bodies. At times our thoughts are consumed with the false belief that we are too thin or too fat, or that we have sagging midriffs, bottoms, and tops. However, the truth is … we ALL have our flaws. So let’s embrace them. The imperfections that we all possess are part of our make-up and part of our being. Our weakest physical asset might be the one that we play upon as an ice breaker or a point of humor in an otherwise stressful situation. Every once again we should all smile and humorously let our imperfections speak for themselves.

Wear it with CONFIDENCE
The other night my spouse and I went to see a concert. The band was from the eighties, and they rocked! Not only was the music superb, but the band was having fun! The ladies from the eighties were bodacious. They wore feisty dresses and flaunted their stuff. They worked it, and it worked! They charmed us with their positive attitude and high level of confidence. Remember, ten years from now, most of us will look back on pictures of our former selves and realize that we really did look good. Let’s not wait for sometime in the future to recognize how awesome we are NOW.

Touch and BE touched
When my husband and I were dating, he loved to play connect-the-dots with the freckles and moles on my arms and back. Initially I would cringe as he touched each and every dark spot. Yick! I thought he would be repulsed and was perhaps even taunting me. Instead, he found these marks to be endearing and incredibly sexy.

POSITIVE recall
Take a second and consider the positive attributes of a favorite boyfriend. We remember how they evoked our senses with their touch, scent, voice, or the way they made us laugh. Maybe we’ve appreciated their warm heart and gentle spirit that provided solace during a difficult time. Yes, the physical appeal may be part of the initial attraction, but an enduring relationship is based on much more.

WORK IT – LOVE IT
Ask a friend or someone you trust what they believe to be your finest qualities. Then acknowledge your gifts and KNOW that others have always seen you as beautiful and wonderful. Now it is your time to realize that you are awesome. Rejoice in knowing that there will be only one, magnificent you.

Be bold and mighty! Show off your legs in a stylish summer dress. Wear the jewelry that’s been collecting dust in a box, and bring some bling to your fingers and wrists.

Treat yourself to a pedicure and parade a dazzling new shade in cute summer sandals. Go ahead, get dressed up and do something fun. Focus on the positive, and you will feel the rewards—both in how you feel and how others respond to you. Loving your body starts by loving yourself. Each and every one of us is truly amazing. So get out there and sizzle!

Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons user Kate Mereand

As temperatures cool, the leaves turn color, and we start preparing our Thanksgiving feast, we often reflect on all that we are grateful for. It is a long list, but perhaps it can be surmised in the words love, joy, laughter, and health.

Love is a warm chocolate chip cookie, a kiss on the forehead, and a long-lasting hug. Love may be blessed with strong meaningful friendships and relationships. Love isn’t always perfect, but it is accepting, caring, nurturing, and grounded in respect and trust. I am truly grateful for the love of my family and friends.

Joy, to me, is finding beauty in life’s small moments. I enjoy hearing the sound of chirping birds, feeling the sun’s warmth upon my face, and watching my son pretend to skateboard on a hover board (remember Back to the Future). Most recently, I have found joy in simply knowing where I am in life and by embracing the outcome.

I am grateful for the joy of each new day. Laughter, or the ability to laugh at life’s twists and turns, was always difficult for me as a teen and young adult. It is easy to laugh at a comedian or a funny friend, but the ability to roll with setbacks and to find humor and light often times is difficult. It is all too easy to become consumed by situations outside of our control. If we can just turn up the radio, sing our own personal song, and laugh with our friends, then the rest doesn’t seem to matter so much. I am thankful for perspective, belly laughs, tickles, friends, and movies that make me laugh whole-heartedly.

It sounds so cliché, but it is easy to take our health for granted. For most people, their bodies move and function fully without much thought. Recently, I have come to know several people who have suffered as a result of serious automobile accidents, diseases such as Parkinson’s, diabetes, and other ailments. The lives they once claimed have been dramatically altered forever. I am so grateful for my healthy body, for the coordination of my limbs, for lucid thoughts, and the gift of being able to help others work through their physical limitations. Today, take a deep breath and find some time to walk, run, or kick the leaves outside. Let your body know that you are thankful for it.

Laugh a little, love a little, be healthy, and enjoy a beautiful Thanksgiving!

Photo courtesy of Simon Schoeters, www.flickr.com

It’s October! Why not scare up some new ideas for fitness fun?

Are you bored by your current exercise regiment? Are you looking for something new and extraordinary? You are in luck! There are many available options out there just waiting for a try. I’ve highlighted a few options and hope you take some time for yourself to check out a few of these fabulous, fun classes. You’ll be glad you did.

Salsa and latin-inspired dance classes are sizzling hot. You’ll burn off plenty of calories and not even realize that you’re working out. Get sweaty, and enjoy learning new combinations and spicy moves. Zumba® classes are offered nationwide. Check online or with local listings for classes and times.

Belly dance classes are an ideal way to strengthen your core and move your body in new (and often sensual) ways. Speaking of sensual, pole dancing (yes, that’s right), is also in vogue. Classes are generally small in size, private and a lot of fun. You can laugh at yourself or even envision a sexier you.

PIYO is a fluid blend of pilates and yoga. There is plenty of movement and intensity. You will work on stamina, flexibility, and overall strength. If you enjoy dance, this class is an absolute must. PIYO is one of my personal favorites.

Wanting intense muscle workouts and sick of the same tired old machines, try a body pump class. Straight from New Zealand, these workouts build muscle and stamina. Classes are pre-choreographed and the same class is taught for a three month period. You learn a routine and then focus on technique and increasing resistance. The music is invigorating and the instructors are top notch.

Tabata, created by Izumi Tabata, is an intense fat-burning workout based on 2:1 ratio interval training. For instance, after a five minute warm-up, a person would perform a high intensity run for 20 seconds then walk or jog for the next 10 seconds. This run-walk series would be repeated eight consecutive times. This workout is not for the timid.

Finally, there are lots of intramural leagues out there looking for new team members. Try indoor volleyball, soccer, or join a running club. Meeting new friends and expanding your social network is not only good for your emotional side, but may even present career opportunities or other positive benefits.

Take some time this month to break free of your normal routine and shake things up. Most importantly find an activity you enjoy. Studies have shown that people who engage in activities they enjoy are much more likely to stick with those workout routines and find the results that they strive for. Get out there and have fun!

T’was the night before Christmas and what did I see, but the Grinchiest Grinch, high atop the Christmas tree.

Need a bright idea for an ornament?  Give these darling ornaments a whirl; they are simply electric!

Photo credit: Kathryn Smith, crafted by Sandee Cats

Grinch art supplies:

• Standard light bulb or a wooden bulb
• Pencil and tracing paper / thin paper (to trace pattern)
• Premium coat acrylic paints
• You will need the following colors: holiday green, light yellow, true red, burgundy, yellow ochre

To make decorative snow, you’ll need:

• A sponge brush
• #2 and #6 shader brushes
• Permanent marker (fine point)
• Ribbon (to hang)
• Glue gun
• Clear matte spray sealer

Here’s what you do:

• Wash light bulb and allow it to dry.
• Paint light bulb with 2 coats of holiday green. Be sure to let the paint dry between coats. You may want to insert the bulb into a basic socket fixture (ceiling type is preferable) to avoid smears/smudges.
• Paint the bottom metal part of bulb with 2 coats of true red paint (again, let the paint dry between coats).
• Create the Grinch’s face with light yellow paint, then paint over the face using a holiday green (this time, thinned out by 2 parts water/1 part paint).  Let dry completely.
• Next, draw or trace the detailed face pattern with a pencil.
• Paint the nose with holiday green.
• Using a very light amount of paint, shade the eyelids, under the nose, and the mouth area holiday green.  (Use #2 shader dry brush for this detail – load brush and then wipe off on a paper towel until the brush seems dry).
• Paint eyes using light yellow. Paint pupils burgundy and highlight with a small dot of light yellow.  Paint top of eye using yellow ochre.
• Use black permanent pen to outline the face features.
• Hot glue a small loop of ribbon to the very top for hanger.
• Using decorative snow, paint over hot glue at the top and around the bottom of the metal part for hat band.  Let dry completely.
• Spray seal with clear matte spray.

Happy Holidays!