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Beauty Review: L’Oreal Double Extend Lash Boosting Serum

I think I have moaned and complained more than enough times on this blog that I have less than stellar eyelashes. I thought about going the Latisse route, but I heard too many horror stories about the side effects from using that product. Then I saw that L’Oreal came out with a similar concept, the Double Extend Lash Boosting Serum. It promised results in four weeks, and those results were longer lashes, more lashes, and less damage to lashes. Since I want all of that, and L’Oreal is a trusted company of mine, I decided to fork over the $12 and give it a shot. My tube is just about empty now, and probably 3 ½ weeks have past since I began use. And my results- well they aren’t great and they aren’t terrible. I have noticed that I lose less lashes when I take off my eye makeup at night. I used to rip out about four lashes on average a night, and now I lose either one or none at all. But I haven’t noticed a real change in their appearance. The directions state to put on the serum in the morning and at night, making sure you have clean dry eyes. There is a bristle-less wand that you swipe on the upper lashes and again on the lash line, like you were putting on eyeliner. When I put it on, I think I see my lashes grow just a tad, but a few hours later, I can’t tell a difference. I was hoping for a more long-term effect, not just a few minutes of longer lashes, but I am grateful that I’m losing less eyelashes. I guess that has to count for something. I haven’t decided yet if I will buy another tube, maybe my lashes are so hopeless they need double the strength to get them to grow!

Double Check The Labels!

As I was reading the April edition of Fitness Magazine, I came across an article simply titled ‘Wrong Number.’ The article talked about how research has found that a product’s calorie count could be ‘up to 8% higher’ than the number stated on the label. What does that mean for the health conscious label checkers? Unfortunately, looks like the answer is more work. Fitness reports that with the sheer volume of products hitting the shelves, it just is not possible for the FDA to regulate each and every item, making it harder to know what is the real deal. They have listed the top three ways to avoid common mistakes.
The carbs should be ‘equal or greater than the combined total grams of sugar and fiber.’ The example Fitness gave was that if a cookie has three grams of fiber and eight grams of sugar but the label reads just eight grams of carbs, that is an error.
If you see a cooked food or pasteurized juice that says it has 100% of the vitamin, that could be wrong. Heat reduces vitamin C, so those foods are highly unlikely to contain high amounts. Double check the label, and if the ingredients include ascorbic acid it is ok- this means the vitamin was added after the processing.
The amount of sodium needs to be listed. If salt is included in the ingredients, sodium needs to be printed on the nutrition facts. If sodium is missing but salt is listed, the amount of calories is likely to be incorrect.

Chick Lit Author Maria Murnane

Before Maria Murnane started writing, she worked in sports PR for a few years before quitting her career and moving to Argentina for a year. During that time, she played semi-pro soccer and starting working on her manuscript, which then turned into her debut novel, Perfect on Paper.
Murnane studied at UC Berkeley, where she graduated with high honors in English and Spanish. She also received a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications from Northwestern University. Murnane currently lives in New York and also works as independent business writer.

Enter the Emily Giffin Contest

ne of my favorite authors, Emily Giffin, is running a FABULOUS contest through SheKnows.com. She is giving away a few of her favorite things- including a Blackberry and a pair of designer shoes! Check out the contest and enter here!

Fabulous Kettlebell Workout

Awhile back, I wrote about how I had purchased one of the newest fitness craze accessories- a kettlebell. After I bought one, I was kind of at a loss of what to do next. It wasn’t regular weights, so I wasn’t sure if the basic moves I use with my dumbbells was going to cut it. I got a friendly email this morning from Fitness magazine that featured a kettlebell workout – perfect! It shows effective moves you can do with one kettlebell, and even has a video you can watch of the exercises. If you have a kettlebell or plan on purchasing one, I would definitely recommend checking the full article out.

In My Mailbox: Week of May 9th

In My Mailbox: Week of May 9th

With the busy Mothers Day Weekend, I didn’t have much time to scope out books, but only receiving one this week didn’t bother me at all because it is the latest from my favorite author!

Title: Heart of the Matter
Author: Emily Giffin
Received: From SheKnows book club for review
Synopsis: Tessa Russo is the mother of two young children and the wife of a renowned pediatric surgeon. Despite her own mother’s warnings, Tessa has recently given up her career to focus on her family and the pursuit of domestic happiness. From the outside, she seems destined to live a charmed life.
Valerie Anderson is an attorney and single mother to six-year-old Charlie–a boy who has never known his father. After too many disappointments, she has given up on romance–and even to some degree, friendships–believing that it is always safer not to expect too much.
Although both women live in the same Boston suburb, the two have relatively little in common aside from a fierce love for their children. But one night, a tragic accident causes their lives to converge in ways no one could have imagined.
In alternating, pitch-perfect points of view, Emily Giffin creates a moving, luminous story of good people caught in untenable circumstances. Each being tested in ways they never thought possible. Each questioning everything they once believed. And each ultimately discovering what truly matters most.

Diet Tips for Runners

I have read many tips on what to eat and drink before and after an aerobic workout, and now Fitness.com has provided a plan for runners. If your run will take you less than an hour, there is no need for a snack before you slip those shoes on, but if you plan on pounding pavement for a longer period of time, eat a combo of protein and carbs about an hour before you go (Fitness suggest toast with peanut butter and a banana). While running, you should drink 6-8 ounces for every 15 minutes to stay hydrated. And after you have finished, you will want to eat within 30 minutes after stopping. Fitness suggest mostly carbs for your after workout snack, but also mix in some proteins.
To see the full article from Fitness magazine and to get more healthy tips, click here.

Chick Lit Author Carol Snow

Carol Snow wasn’t so sure she could cut it as a novelist. Though she knew she wanted to write fiction, she received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brown University and a master’s in teaching from Boston College. After deciding to take a leap, she first wrote nonfiction articles and essays before finishing a novel, securing an agent, and landing a publishing contract. She now has 4 books for adults published: Been There, Done That, Getting Warmer, Here Today, Gone to Maui, and Just Like Me, Only Better.
While Carol Snow grew up in Madison, New Jersey and has lived in a variety of other states (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Utah, and Arizona are just some) she now resides in Southern California with her husband and two children.

How to Ease your Allergies – Without Medicine

Seasonal allergies are something I have suffered from throughout my childhood and into my adult life. Each year I am hoping that went spring rolls around the sneezing will have stopped, but no such luck yet. While taking over the counter medicines and even getting a shot can help calm my allergies, Fitness magazine added a few more tips to help get people get through the allergy season. Those ideas include:
Eating Spicy Foods. The spices can increase blood flow, which will help bring oxygen to the nasal passages, causing the mucus to thin and be eliminated.
Drink Water. Drinking plenty of H20 will help clear the airways by hydrating mucous membranes, also helping to thin and drain mucus.
Eating Foods with Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Foods such as fish, almonds and flax seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation and ease respiratory symptoms.
To read the full article, including body and mind tips, head over to Fitness.com .