Chick Lit Plus by Samantha March

Chick Lit Plus

Celebrity gossip, articles on fashion, health, fitness, and beauty.

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Elizabeth Taylor Dies at 79
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Elizabeth Taylor Dies at 79

After battling health problems for many years, Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor has died. She was 79. Taylor’s publicist, Sally Morrison, said in a statement, “She was surrounded by her children – Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton.” The Oscar winning is also survived by ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
During the week of February 11th, Taylor was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where it has been reported that she stayed there until her passing. She had been suffering symptoms of congestive heart failure.
Elizabeth Taylor was known for many things: her violet eyes, her work as an actress, her charitable donations, and her love life. Taylor found stardom at the age of 12, after appearing in the 1944 movie National Velvet. After playing Cleopatra in 1963’s Cleopatra she became the first Hollywood star to earn $1 million. She was also an advocate for AIDS, and received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1993 by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for her charity work. Taylor was married eight times to seven different husbands, including twice to Richard Burton, and also hotel heir Conrad “Nicky” Hilton and U.S. Senator John Warner.

March 23, 2011
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How to Prevent This Eye Infection
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How to Prevent This Eye Infection

Acanthamoeba infection. Doesn’t sound fun at all, does it? For contact lens wearers, this should be something you need to get familiar with. Acanthamoeba infection most commonly occurs in people who wear contact lenses, especially those who shower or enter swimming pools or hot tubs wearing contacts. The chance for infection can be increased if you practice poor hygiene when it comes to caring for your contacts- such as not cleaning or disinfecting them properly. This particular infection caught my eye while I was reading Shape Magazine, so I decided to do some more research on it- because I frequently wear my contacts while I shower. Who wants the hassle of removing the contacts, then inserting them again once out of the shower? Seemed like a waste of time. But it is an important step that I should be taking.
According to CDC.gov, Acanthamoeba is a microscopic, single-celled living organism found in the environment. It can cause severe, but often rare illnesses. Infections involving the eyes are called Acanthamoeba keratitis. It is most often linked to contact lenses wearers, but there is also a slim chance that non-wearers can contact the infection as well. Acanthamoeba can be found worldwide, and a few places that it can be found include swimming pools, hot tubs, and drinking water systems.
How can you prevent getting infected? As always, it is important to see an eye doctor on a regular basis. For most people, that is once a year. The doctor will check your eye health, and be able to warn you of any problems. If you do wear contacts, be sure to handle them properly, including disinfecting them and changing them according to schedule. For example, I open a new pair of lenses every two weeks. And be sure to remove lenses before any activity that involves water.
If you think you may have been infected, it is important to be seen by an eye doctor immediately. Eye infections caused by Acanthamoeba are usually treatable. Some of the symptoms include:
• Eye pain
• Eye redness
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensation of something in the eye
• Excessive tearing

My point in writing this article isn’t to terrify people and have you ripping out your lenses if you get a drop of water in your eye. But I was never aware of the added risks contact lenses bring to my health. There are a few eye doctors who say that it is okay to wear contacts while showering, as long as you take care of your lenses properly and try to avoid water in the eyes. Not all water systems are contaminated, but it is simply the awareness we should have. I know that taking a few extra minutes to remove my contacts before I shower is worth preventing an infection. Has anyone experienced an eye infection before brought on by contaminated water? Do you remove your contacts before showering or entering a pool? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Research obtained from CDC.gov
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/acanthamoeba/gen_info/acanthamoeba.html

March 22, 2011
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Debut Authors & Novels- March/April
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Debut Authors & Novels- March/April

Debut Authors & Novels- March/April 2011

Title: RSVP
Author: Helen Warner
Available: March 2011
Synopsis: Four women, one wedding and a day to remember – or rather forget . . .
Anna’s world is rocked when she receives an invitation to her ex Toby’s nuptials – Toby was The One, The Love of Her Life, The One That Got Away. Will attending his Big Day finally give her the sense of closure she so desperately craves? Or will it only re-open old wounds?

Clare is Anna’s best friend, the person who was there for her when she and Toby split all those years ago. But little does Clare know that Toby’s wedding day will also change her own life for ever.

Ella is a classic femme fatale. She loves men and leaves them without a backward glance. But the one person who’s never fallen for her charms is Toby. As he prepares to get hitched, is it too late for a last-ditch attempt to win his heart?

Finally, Rachel is the blushing bride-to-be. This should be the happiest day of her life. So how come she feels nothing but a terrible sense of foreboding?

Title: Attachments
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Available: April 2011
Synopsis: It’s 1999 and for the staff of one newspaper office, the internet is still a novelty. By day, two young women, Beth and Jennifer, spend their hours emailing each other, discussing in hilarious detail every aspect of their lives, from love troubles to family dramas. And by night, Lincoln, a shy, lonely IT guy spends his hours reading every exchange. At first their emails offer a welcome diversion, but as Lincoln unwittingly becomes drawn into their lives, the more he reads, the more he finds himself falling for one of them. By the time Lincoln realizes just how head-over-heels he really is, it’s way too late to introduce himself. What would he say to her? ‘Hi, I’m the guy who reads your e-mail – and also, I think I love you’. After a series of close encounters, Lincoln decides it’s time to muster the courage to follow his heart . . . and find out whether there really is such a thing as love before first-sight. Heartwarming, witty and unforgettable, ATTACHMENTS is an irresistible romantic comedy that has it all.

Title: Hollywood Sinners
Author: Victoria Fox
Available: April 2011
Synopsis: POWER Marriage to Hollywood heartthrob Cole Steel secured Lana Falcon a glittering place on the red carpet. But running from a wicked past she has trapped herself in a gilded cage the price of freedom…her soul? REVENGE Kate diLaurentis s career is fading as quickly as her looks… What could be worse than discovering her husband s latest mistress is Hollywood s hottest starlet? Her only option the most shocking revenge. LUST Chloe French s innocent beauty has captured a million hearts, but no one’s warned her of the dangerous, dark temptation of rock star Nate – will lust destroy her? GREED Las Vegas King, Robert St Louis s fairytale wedding to Sin City’s richest heiress is tabloid gold… But scandal circles like a vulture – dirty secrets are about to be exposed! BETRAYAL From the deepest desires come the deadliest deeds…and these four couples are about to pay for their sins…

March 17, 2011
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Dangers of a Brazilian Blowout
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Dangers of a Brazilian Blowout

Ladies, do you want your hair to finally be smooth, straight, sleek, and most importantly- not frizzy? Let me think about that for a nano-second. Um, yes! We used to turn to our simple products, then the flat iron, then the professional blowouts at the salon. But lately, the trend has been the Brazilian Blowout. Celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon have used this treatment, which consists of creating a protective layer around the hair to eliminate frizz and keep your mane smooth. It seems to be a simple enough process: a shampoo session with a specially formulated shampoo to prep your hair, towel-drying, then your stylist combing the Brazilian Blowout Professional Treatment through your hair. A blow dry followed by flat ironing the hair, then rinsing (not shampooing) and applying the Brazilian Blowout Masque. Once that is finished, the stylist will once again rinse, towel dry, then apply the Brazilian Blowout Smoothing Serum then blow dry one more time. Ninety minutes later, you are better looking than ever!
But there has to be a catch. After salon workers in Oregon started complaining of eye irritation, nose bleeds and difficulty breathing after using Brazilian Blowout products, state officials stepped in. What was found is a high level of formaldehyde. Chemists at the Oregon Occupation Heath and Safety Administration and the Oregon Health and Science University’s Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology tested a sample from salons in the area, and determined the product contained 4.85 percent to 10.6 percent formaldehyde, even though the Brazilian Blowout products are labeled “formaldehyde free.” Manufactures are required to alert stylists if a product has over 0.1 percent of this chemical. The Oregon Health and Science University released this public health alert on September 30th, 2010 about the disturbing findings.
Why should we be concerned? ABCNews.com said that formaldehyde can be found in food and other products, being exposed to us every day. While low exposure can cause the eye irritation and other similar effects, high exposure can lead to some cancers, according to The US Centers for Disease Control. But what is formaldehyde? Cancer.gov lists this as a “colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical that is used in building materials and to produce many household products.” It goes on further to say that formaldehyde has been classified as a “human carcinogen.” Is that word familiar? It is often used when talking about cigarettes. Yes- it is a cancer causing substance. Innocent stylists and salon-goers are being exposed to high levels of this carcinogen when using the Brazilian Blowout products.
The makers of Brazilian Blowout products are defending themselves against the claims. ABCNews.com reports that they are arguing the high amount of formaldehyde, because the OSHA did not get samples directly from them, instead they used the samples from the salon. Brazilian Blowout is currently doing their own investigation. If you can afford to get this treatment, which can set you back up to $500, it is suggested you hold off until all investigations are complete. If you insist on getting the Brazilian Blowout, make sure the salon is equipped with masks or goggles that will protect you from breathing in the formaldehyde.
My personal advice? Stay away! Until you know for sure what you are exposing yourself to, I don’t think any beauty treatment is worth the risks. I recently posted on Herbal Essences shampoo- that helped cut down the frizz in my hair without the risk or the high price! Has anyone tried this type of hair straightening before? Would you? I would love to hear your thoughts!
Research obtained from:
ABCNews.com
CBS.state.org
Cancer.gov

March 15, 2011
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Loreal Go 360 Facial Cleanser Review
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Loreal Go 360 Facial Cleanser Review

I have been pretty faithful the past few months to the Biore Skincare line, but I wanted to try something new. You know me- beauty junkie, always wanting to try everything. So I grabbed a bottle of L’Oreal’s new Go 360 Clean Deep Facial Cleanser (the green bottle). Why did I choose this product? Because I was intrigued by the “scrublet” that came attached to the front of the bottle. You get your face wet, pour a little of the cleanser on to the scrublet, and run over your face. Wait a few seconds and rinse. The deep facial cleanser promises to shrink pores by getting down and dirty with the pores on your face, removing makeup, oil, and dirt to keep acne away.
I will be honest here- the first time I used this product, I was horrified. Just moments after rinsing off the cleanser, my face was raw red and starting to flake. I put on a pound of moisturizer so I could go out in public, but still felt like my face was was peeling away. I threw the cleanser deep into a corner of my bathroom drawer and vowed never to use it again. A few weeks later, I was doing some research on the cleanser to write a scathing review for it, when I noticed a lot of people used words such as “gentle” “fresh” and “non-drying” when talking about the deep facial cleanser. That couldn’t be right! This evil gel made my face dry and flaky for days after one use! How could people really use this on a daily basis?
I decided to give L’Oreal one more try. Honesty again here- I think I got a little carried away the first time I used it. I blame the scrublet! I had so much fun running that little brush over my face, I couldn’t stop. The second time I tried the product, I didn’t use as much pressure, and didn’t take ten minutes to apply the gel. I lightly ran the scrublet over my face twice (taking under a minute) then promptly rinsed. Verdict- everything was fine! My face felt clean, not dry and tight, and I had no flakes. I used it again the next day, just to see if I could use this on a daily basis and again- no dryness! I have been using the scrublet almost every night now for the past week and have had no issues with dry patches. I am so glad I gave this product another try, because I now really enjoy it and would definitely recommend. Just don’t go overboard with the srcublet like I did! L’Oreal has four different kinds of this new cleanser, and they have a great tool on their website that will help you find which is best for your skin type.
[Rating: 4]

March 10, 2011
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Special K Cereal Bars
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Special K Cereal Bars

I love to sleep, so getting up early in the morning to get ready for work is my enemy. After I moved this past summer, my commute to work went from 5 minutes to 25 minutes. What did that mean for me? Less sleep! I fixed this solution by skipping breakfast at home. I would usually give myself enough time for some toast and fruit or even a bowl of cereal while I fixed my hair. After the move, I started bringing breakfast to work with me, grabbing a banana or pop-tart and eating it while driving or once I started working. While I would occasionally grab fruit, sugary pop-tarts or caffeine loaded coffee drinks started to become the norm for me. Sometimes, I would even just skip breakfast all together- one of the biggest no-no’s out there. I knew I needed to rely on something small and fast that could easily be grabbed from home or stored in my desk at work.
Then one day about a month ago I was in the gift shop at my work (a hospital) when I saw a cute little pink package. The pink immediately caught my eye, along with the bold headline ONLY 90 CALORIES!! I thought, 90 calories- too good to be true! It was a Special K Strawberry Cereal Bar, and my hand wavered as I went to snatch one up. Special K? I tried the cereal once, and I thought it was flavorless and dry. But my break was almost over, I needed something for breakfast, and one bar cost fifty-five cents. I took a leap a faith.
And I am not sorry I did. I loved it! The strawberries were sweet, the drizzled icing a treat, and the rice and whole grain flakes were filling. Even for .81 ounce of food, I was happily satisfied throughout the morning. And did I mention there are only 90 calories in one bar? If you were like me and hesitant to try these cereal bars, give them a shot! They are perfect for a light breakfast, low on calories, but can be enjoyed if you have a sweet tooth like me. They also come in a variety of flavors, including blueberry, chocolate drizzle, honey nut, and raspberry cheesecake. Yum!

March 8, 2011
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Workout Wish List: Bosu Ball
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Workout Wish List: Bosu Ball

I am one who enjoys a good workout, and I primarily like completing my workouts at home. While I need to go to the gym to use treadmills and ellipticals, I have quite an array of workout DVD’s and small equipment in my house. I have dumbbells, a kettleball, resistance bands, my pink yoga mat, but now I have a new want to add to my wish list: a BOSU Ball. I noticed this workout friend when Kelly Osbourne was spotlighted in Shape Magazine. The BOSU ball helps balance, while strengthening the core muscles around your abdominal and back. Kelly’s workout had her doing planks and pushups on the ball, as well as standing (balancing) while doing bicep curls and other moves with weights. The BOSU ball boasts that not only does it help trim and tone your body, but improves balance and coordination.
I found on Amazon the BOSU Ball Trainer Home Version- which includes the ball, pump, exercise manual, and a workout DVD. I think the BOSU ball would be a perfect addition to my at-home fitness room. It won’t take up a lot of space, and I can get a great workout while doing moves I normally would complete with the added challenge of balance. Does anyone own or have used the BOSU ball? Is this something you would recommend?

March 5, 2011
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Christina Aguilera Arrested
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Christina Aguilera Arrested

There have many people to go on the record and say that Christina Aguilera is the next celebrity to go off her rocker. While many are watching the Charlie Sheen fiasco implode, Christina has been slightly off-kilter as of lately. She divorced husband Jordan Bratman amidst infidelity rumors, started dating Matthew Rutler shortly after the divorce was finalized, seeming to confirm those rumors, fumbled during The National Anthem at the Superbowl, and nearly took a tumble at the Grammy’s.
Today, People.com reported that the singer was arrested early Tuesday morning for public intoxication. Aguilera, 30, was with boyfriend Rutler, who was reportedly arrested for driving under the influence. According to a report on TMZ, Aguilera was booked on a misdemeanor charge, was “extremely intoxicated” and “unable to take care of herself.” Uh-oh.

March 1, 2011
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Mascara Junkie: More Reviews
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Mascara Junkie: More Reviews

As we all know, I am a mascara junkie. I have now come to buying multiple mascaras at a time, even when I still have five perfectly respectable wands in my makeup bag. As was the case a few weeks ago, when I bought Maybelline Big Lash and Maybelline Falsies. I bought the Falsies based off a raving recommendation, and decided to try the Big Lash not only because it was on sale, but because the pink and green Maybelline mascara had been a fave of mine when I first started wearing makeup. I was hoping this revamped version would be even better.
The Big Lash was a disappointment to me. I bought the blackest black shade, and while they do indeed make my eyelashes midnight black, it doesn’t do anything for length or volume. My lashes just look like really black stumps. It seems to wear off fairly easily too throughout the day. By the time bedtime comes and I am preparing to remove my makeup, I barely have to swipe at my eyelashes to remove the mascara. I would pass on this one. I give it 2 stars.
But the good news- I really enjoyed the Falsies! This mascara comes with a “spoon brush” which is a really flexible wand that I think works great on getting all my lashes and giving them a great curve. I thought it gave good length, not as much volume, but it is able to create a fairly decent dramatic look. It doesn’t stack up to some of my favorite mascaras, but I still enjoy using it. I saw some other reviews complaining about flaking and clumping, but I haven’t had any of those problems. And it stays on throughout the day and night, so I don’t have to worry about reapplying like I do with the Big Lash mascara. The Falsies get 3.5 stars.

March 1, 2011
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