Chick Lit Plus by Samantha March

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Beauty Favorite: Almay Makeup Products
Chick Lit Plus

Beauty Favorite: Almay Makeup Products

I recently stumbled upon Almay makeup products, and they easily won me over. For those of you who have never heard of Almay, they bring a unique concept and great products to their consumers. Almay was started in 1931, when Fanny May Woititz grew tired of thick cosmetics infused with powerful and strong pigments and chemicals. Her husband, a professional chemist, began experimenting with her makeup ingredients. Between Alfred Woititz and dermatologist Dr. Marion Sulzberger, they developed a makeup that was lightweight and gentle enough for Fanny May to wear on a daily basis.

Since being established in 1931, Almay has been the first hypoallergenic cosmetics brand, the first brand to make 100% fragrance-free products and to disclose all ingredients used, the first brand to perform safety testing for allergy and irritation, the first brand to formulate for contact lens wearers and, you guessed it, the first brand to create cosmetic regimens for specific skin types (http://www.almay.com/pg/whyalmay/history.aspx?catid=100004&catnm=WhyAlmay&subid=2&subnm=History&nav=about-almay). Wondering how Almay got its name? by combing the names of the two founder- Fanny May and Alfred!

I started wearing Almay foundation about six months ago, after stumbling upon it at my local Walgreens. I was drawn to it because of the Smart Shade/Smart Balance Foundation. It said that the foundation came out white, but once you started to rub it on your skin, the sensing microbeads would instantly adjust and match to your tone. It also came with a free Smart Shade Blush, so I thought I’d give it a try. Now, I won’t wear any other foundation. I never have to worry about lines or my foundation not matching the color of my face, because it blends in perfectly. If you have oily skin, the smart balance works just as well, keeping oily areas shine-free throughout the day.

Almay has plenty of great products for your face, eyes, lips, and even face and eye makeup removers. I think the prices are great, and there always seems to be specials or the ability to get coupons online. Just yesterday I bought the foundation for $13.99 and got a free concealer- saving me almost $9! Keep Almay in mind if you are looking for a new makeup line to go with, and be sure to check out some of my favorite products below!

http://www.almay.com/pg/help/storelocator.aspx?catid=100008&catnm=Stores&subid=0&subnm=Lips&nav=buy-now

December 29, 2009
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Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep
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Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep can seem just impossible sometimes. I know there are numerous nights that I have laid awake, wondering why in the world I cannot find sleep. Usually, the answers can be quite obvious. Shape.com listed four ways to ensure you sleep better at night; try to practice these each night for longer beauty sleep!
1. Time Your Meals. You should try to eat your last meal about 2 hours before hitting the sack. Chemicals in certain foods can keep you awake and active for hours, but if you are craving something closer to your bedtime, try a snack whole grain or light sugar.
2. Develop a Routine. Trying to maintain a sleep schedule is one of the best ways to routinely fall asleep and wake up when you want. Try to stick to the schedule on weekends or other days where you might not have to get up for work, it will help you in the long run.
3. Cherish Your Bed. Your bed should be for sleeping only, try to refrain from doing work while sitting in bed.
4. Skip Naps. If you do need to take an afternoon nap, keep it under 30 minutes. Anything longer can seriously throw off your sleeping patterns and keep you awake at night.

December 28, 2009
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Chick Lit Author: Christina Skye
Chick Lit Authors

Chick Lit Author: Christina Skye

Christina Skye has published over 20 novels and appeared on both the USA Today and New York Times best-seller lists. She has written both contemporary women’s fiction and historicals, all featuring her signature strong, stubborn females and tough male characters. Her contemporary novels often feature romantic, suspenseful plots with military or police themes. Her CODE NAME: series all feature strong women paired up with a Navy SEAL, filled with suspense, humor, and passion.
Skye has also received her doctorate in classical Chinese literature, and has written five
internationally acclaimed art and cultural guides to China while also working
as a consultant to the National Geographic Society and the American Museum
of Natural History. She enjoys off-roading with her motorcycle, shooting firearms, and hiking mountains.
Christina Skye’s chick lit titles are: My Spy, Hot Pursuit, Going Overboard, 2000 Kisses, CODE NAME: Nanny, CODE NAME: Princess, CODE NAME: Baby, and CODE NAME: Blondie.

December 27, 2009
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Germs: Friend or Foe?
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Germs: Friend or Foe?

I recently read an article in SHAPE magazine about Kate Rope, a self-proclaimed ‘germophobe.’ She is a pro at using her knuckles at the ATM machine, flushing the toilet with her feet, using paper towels to touch every surface, but the news she discovered from her doctor was surprising- to her, to me, and I’m sure many other readers.
She took her concerns to Philip Tierno, Ph.D., director of clinical microbiology and immunology at the NTU Langone Medical Center. He confirmed to Rope that germs are everywhere- “but only 1 to 2 percent of the 60,000 known microbes can do us harm.” Rope and Tierno decided to do a project- she was given two dozen giant cotton swabs that she would rub on the items she touched on a daily basis. Tierno would then analyze the swabs to see the “microscopic invaders” that lived at her home and gym, among other places.
The most disturbing news that came back from those labs results- more than half of the specimens had traces of fecal contamination. Common items such as a shopping cart, buttons on the ATM machine, and a playground jungle gym came back contaminated. Tierno says, “This is proof that most people don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom.” The number one lesson to take away from that: wash your hands, and wash them often! Tierno suggests washing before and after eating and after using the bathroom. It will help wash off any contamination, and frequent hand washing has also been known to reduce the chances of catching colds and other illnesses throughout the year. Rope says that if you can’t always wash your hands, the next best line of defense is alcohol-based sanitizers.
She put the strategies to test. One day, she didn’t wash her hands or use sanitizer, and walked around New York City touching railings, toilets, sinks, and swabbing her hands. The next day, she repeated the process, but cleaned up after touching items. The test results: “At the end of the dirty day, I had E. coli on my hands; on the clean day, the only organisms in the Petri dish are the harmless bacteria that naturally grow on the skin.”
The kitchen can be one of the most dangerous places for contamination. Rope, who considered herself a clean freak, found that her kitchen was full of contamination and bacteria. One of the worst items: the sponge. A tip from Tierno: microwave your sponge in a bowl of water on high for at least two minutes each time you use it to clean up after a meal. This can help rid the germs that frequent sponges (including salmonella) and keep your kitchen cleaner. How often do you clean your kitchen? Probably not enough. You should wipe down counters before and after prepping meals, and it is best to use one shot glass of bleach to a quart of water (or an antibacterial wipe such as Clorox) to keep from contaminating food or other kitchen items.
But what happens if we are too concerned with cleanliness and keeping germs away from our bodies. According to experts, that can actually do more harm than good. Confused? I was too. Mary Ruebush, Ph.D., an immunologist and the author of Why Dirt Is Good, has this to say, “From birth to adolescence, the immune system is a work in progress. If it isn’t challenged, it won’t develop into a successful germ-fighting force, or worse, it will get into trouble by attacking your own body- so you’re at a greater risk for developing allergies.” So being exposed to germs can help teach the body to fight, helping you in the long run to ward off diseases and common illnesses.
So what can we take away from this news? To sanitize or not to sanitize? Wash your hands regularly, especially after going to the bathroom and before and after meals. And use hand sanitizer if you have touched an item that could be especially dirty- such as handrails or a common grocery cart. But there isn’t a need to be a real ‘germophobe.’ If you miss one hand washing, don’t panic. You will be helping you immune system do the work it was made to do.

KATE ROPE is a freelance writer in Brooklyn, New York. Thank you to her and her research for the help in writing this article.

December 25, 2009
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Interview with Carole Matthews
Chick Lit Authors

Interview with Carole Matthews

Q: I read that you never had the thought to be a writer. What changed your mind?
I fell into it completely by accident. Years ago I worked for a television programme presenting a feature on aromatherapy and started to write my own scripts. Then I progressed to articles about aromatherapy for whatever magazine would take it. I also happened to be getting a magazine called Writers’ News which had both market leads for freelancers and also short story competitions. I entered their annual love story competition and, to my amazement, won. Instead of blowing the money on shoes and handbags, I spent it on a writing course. As the course approached, I thought I’d better write something to take with me and started my first novel. The course tutor read it and loved it. She recommended an agent and he took me on straight away. He sold the book a week later. That book became my first published novel – Let’s Meet on Platform 8.
Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
I enjoy all of it – research, planning, creating the characters. There’s no better way to spend a working day.
Q: Do you have a favorite book or author?
The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I love this book and wish I’d written it. I still can’t bring myself to see the film in case I’m disappointed.
Q: Where do your ideas for your story lines or characters come from?
Generally, from life, magazines, newspapers, stories that people tell you. There are stories all around just waiting to be told. I’m a great collector of anecdotes.
Q: Are any of your characters based on perhaps you or people you know?
Not really. You need to know your characters far more than you would a person, but you can sometimes pinch quirks or features from real people. Having said that, I’m way too much like my own heroines!
Q: I just finished reading With or Without You and I loved it! Did you do research in the Himalayas to write this novel?
This is one of my own personal favourites too. Yes, we did go to the Himalayas. The idea for this book started when I first met my partner, Lovely Kev who makes Indiana Jones look like a sloth. For our second holiday together he booked a three-week camping trek in the Himalayas. I am a five-star hotel kind of woman. All my friends were panicking about how I was going to manage and I was training by jogging on a treadmill in my garage with a backpack full of tinned soup. That gave me the idea for the story.
Q: Can you pick one of your novels that you can say would be your favorite? Or the one that you had the most fun writing or researching?
Continuing the trekking theme, part of my latest book – It’s Now or Never – features my heroine setting out on the Inca Trail in Peru. The book I’m currently writing is set partly in the Maasai Mara in Kenya on a game safari. It’s nice to be able to feature a few exotic locations in the books.
Q: What do you love the most about being a writer? Any fabulous perks you can tell us about?
Strangely, for a profession that consists mainly of me sitting in a room on my own, I like meeting my readers most of all. That’s probably why I spend huge amounts of time on Facebook too! It’s not just a marvelous work avoidance technique!
One fabulous perk is – again – down to my readers. After writing The Chocolate Lovers’ Club and The Chocolate Lovers’ Diet my readers like to send me gifts of chocolate. Receiving chocolate in the post on a regular basis is a good thing.
Q: How long does it usually take you to complete writing a book, from start to finish?
I’m contracted to do two books a year, so I need to squeeze one into six months.
Q: What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Enjoy your writing. Too many people that I meet on workshops seem to struggle and wrestle and fight with their writing. Relax and let it flow. If you can’t think of anything to write about, then do some crazy things to get your creative juices flowing .
Q: What is or would be your favorite place to travel?
You know, I’ve been lucky to go to so many different countries that it would be hard to pick a favourite. Somewhere very special was the Galapagos Islands – followed closely by Nepal, China and the Maasai Mara takes some beating. Being just a few feet away from a wild male lion is something that I won’t forget in a hurry.

December 25, 2009
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Jessica Simpson Designing Line of Swimsuits
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Jessica Simpson Designing Line of Swimsuits

Jessica Simpson can add yet another collection to her designer resume- swimsuits. The 29 year old star already has designed her own line of shoes, outerwear, handbags, and luggage lines, and is now collaborating with Red Carter and her own mother Tina Simpson on her swimsuit collection. People.com reveals Simpson’s inspiration for her designs, “My spring collection was inspired by my favorite vacations and the jet-setting getaways I dream about,” and describes the look as “fun and flirty, but still so classic.” The singer has been widely criticized in the past about her weight, but she believes women need to find their inner beauty. “You have to be comfortable in your own skin because when you feel good about yourself, you are going to look great no matter what you’re wearing.” The Jessica Simpson for Red Carter collection retails between $40-100 and will be available for purchase at select Macy’s and at jessicasimpsoncollection.com starting December 30.

December 25, 2009
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Lisa Loeb Designing Eyewear
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Lisa Loeb Designing Eyewear

You may know Lisa Loeb for her singing and songwriting, but the recently married celebrity is now adding designer to her resume. Loeb, who consistently wore fashionable eye glasses, is designing her own line of glasses, partnering with Classique Eyewear. Her line of frames will be titled “The LL Collection.” People.com reports that the frames will feature streamlined pieces in black and tortoiseshell, as well as embellished options punctuated with rhinestones and etchings. Loeb says, “I worked with Classique Eyewear to design a line that represents the look I love: one that can be worn from day into night, that’s classic but stylish, that frames the face and lifts the eyes, but doesn’t speak before you have a chance to. My eyewear generally has a cat-eyed look. Think sexy librarian, not retro grandma.” The glasses are designed mostly for women, but can be unisex as well. Each frame will be named after one of her songs, and will be available to purchase in the spring of 2010.

December 24, 2009
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Eva Longoria Parker to Launch Signature Scent
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Eva Longoria Parker to Launch Signature Scent

The next celebrity creating their own signature scent…Eva Longoria Parker! The Desperate Housewives actress has just announced her trademark scent, to be titled Eva by Eva Longoria. People.com reports her saying, “I have always been somewhat allergic to all perfumes and really wanted to create something that every woman could wear. So I decided to create my own fragrance that is light, fresh and unique. I think the scent of a woman is extremely sexy and this scent will prove that.” Her scent, which Parker was heavily involved in creating, incorporates citrus, violet, freesia and sandalwood notes.
The perfume is set to be in a curvy type bottle, to represent a women’s body, and will debut in April, costing between $45-58.

December 23, 2009
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Motivations to Hit the Gym!
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Motivations to Hit the Gym!

I was browsing on the Women’s Health Magazine online when I saw an article with the title ‘8 Motivating Reasons to Hit the Gym.’ Readers had written in on why they keep active, and WH picked out the top 8. It was interesting to see what inspired others to keep up with their workouts, and I noticed that many of their reasons were some of the top reasons why I keep myself motivated. Keep reading to see the top 8!

1. To Battle Depression. Working out has been seen as a great way to overcome depressions, because of the endorphins the body releases during exercise. When I am having a particularly rough day, turning to the gym or hitting my yoga mat can often distress me and help me think clearer.
2. To Feel Sexy. One Women’s Health reader wrote in and said she began taking pole dancing lessons. Not only was she learning sexy moves and gaining confidence, her body began to firm up and she dropped a couple jean sizes. I’ve never taken pole dancing lessons myself, but have done Carmen Electra’s Striptease DVD’s, so I can understand about learning sexy moves while getting a great workout.
3. To Stay Healthy. I began a steady workout routine a few years back when I learned I had high cholesterol (hereditary in my family). Each time I work up a sweat from a great routine I feel like I am continually improving my heart health, one of the best motivators.
4. For the Kids. I don’t have children myself, but I can certainty understand why this is a top motivator. Keeping yourself healthy is not only great for you, but can also influence your children to workout and stay active
5. To Achieve New Goals. It is always nice to set goals for yourself; then you reach them you feel a heightened sense of accomplishment. Keeping a goal is a great motivator to keep pushing even when you don’t feel up to it, especially if you give yourself an incentive, such as a new outfit or trip to the spa.
6. To Feel Happier. Working out can give similar benefits when battling depressions, because of the endorphins being released.
7. To Build Stamina. Maintaining a good workout routine will help build and a keep a strong stamina. Whether you need it for your work, taking care of kids, or to do activities you love, working out can help provide the energy and strength to do that.
8. To Have Your Cake (And Eat it Too!) This is one of my big reasons to continually work out. I’m not the best eater (I say that very loosely!) and often fill up on fast foods or chips. Working out not only relieves some part of my mind about possibly keeping those extra pounds off, but after I complete a good workout, I find that I don’t want to eat junk. Usually the best meals I eat come from after a workout, where I am feeling good about myself and would rather not ruin the great job I just did.

December 21, 2009
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