Hi all

I don’t know about you but I tend to have a thousand thoughts running through my head right before I go to bed. It makes it difficult to fall asleep so I am always on the hunt for a natural sleep aide that will help me get some rest.

One that I stumbled upon that has really helped is the sleepmate White Noise Machine. The sound is so soothing that I drift off in minutes and stay asleep for much longer.

This little sleep aide has worked wonders for my sleep. I fall asleep quickly and easily and when I wake up the next morning I actually feel refreshed. This company really has some wonderful products, like the heated slippers dreamtime foot cozys and their ambient fire dvd.

Between the white noise, my warm feet and the visual of a roaring fire on my tv, I have been sleeping better than I have in years. Click on any of the links above to check them out for yourself.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Every girl dreams of her wedding. The gown. The groom. The dancing. The toasts.

What about your best girlfriends? Your maid of honor and bridesmaids truly add something special to the day. After all, you couldn’t have gotten to this point without them! So make sure that you plan for their role in your big day. By giving a little thought to the makeup, hair and accessories, you’ll eliminate any wedding day drama over bridesmaid hair or some other detail.

Now, I’m not saying that your girlfriends have anything but the best of taste. After all, they chose you for a friend, right? And you chose each woman as a bridesmaid. Hair and makeup ideas can differ greatly however, even among the best of friends. So if you don’t want Karen to show up with frizzy hair, or Anne to go overboard on the blue eye shadow, you’d better have a plan.

A good start for ideas would be beauty reviews. There is a lot of advice and information in beauty reviews to help you find a great hairstyle that works for all your bridesmaids. The key to good bridesmaid hair is simple if you remember 3 key points in your planning:

1. Locate a stylist or settle on a hairstyle well in advance

2. Practice a few times before the big event

3. Know what products and tools you’ll need to have on hand

Despite differences in hair length, an updo is an elegant style for anyone with long enough hair.

A good choice is the classic French braid.

Here’s how to put your hair (or any bridesmaid hair) in a French braid:

1. Start at the top of the forehead with a single strand in the middle and one of equal width on each side. Don’t make the side ones too large since you’ll add as you go.

2. Gradually introduce hair from each side into the braid.

3. Keep pulling hair taut as you go, tuck in any strays.

Finishing off the braid for a smooth look involves choosing a great hair spray. Without hairspray you will find that stray hairs tend to pull out and the look can become messy. A good hairspray to use is Frederic Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray. It will work great for any hair type and help keep hair in place all day long. It’s the little things like this that will make your big day great.

bridesmaid hair hair care how to make a braid styles updos

Learning how to apply makeup in a flattering way can be difficult. One of the best ways to get started with makeup is to use a makeup kit. Beauty reviews rave about the many beauty kits on the market that teach women how exactly to apply make up products. I like them because these kits make applying makeup simple and stress free.

A really great makeup kit for learning all you need to know about applying makeup is the Bare Escentuals Get Started Kit - Fairly Light/Light ($181 Value) . These kits come in many varieties for different skin tones. The kit teaches you how to create the best foundation, which is important in applying makeup correctly. It comes with brushes and all the supplies you need to create a flawless foundation. You get step by step instructions on how to apply the makeup, as well.

There are other types of makeup kits on the market, too. You can buy kits that teach you how to:

•shape your eyebrows
•apply lipstick and
•apply blush and more…

Almost any makeup skill you want to learn has a makeup kit to teach you how. Kits truly make application as easy as 1-2-3!

You simply:

1.Buy the kit you want
2.Familiarize yourself with the tools and then
3.Apply the makeup step by step according to the instructions

It is a simple and easy way to learn or relearn how to apply make up for a professional finished look. These kits are great for everyone, from the beginner to someone who just wants to learn a new application method.

Sincerely,
Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

P.S. FREE sample of Bare Escentuals’ RareMinerals Skin Revival Treatment. Enter code BESAMPLE at checkout. *While supplies last.

Let’s face it. Our schedules are hectic. We juggle our work and our relationships and everything in between. Recently I got the midnight call that my dad was out of his prescription. Luckily we have a 24 hour pharmacy near by. So I headed out, got him his medicine and then stumbled back into bed to wake up at 6 am for an early morning meeting. Not very time efficient.

So I started looking for a way to keep him on track and me off the roads at night. The answer came to me in the form of online pharmacies. Now I was a bit wary. You hear a lot of news saying that you may not know what you are getting, especially if the pharmacy is based off shore. So I started hunting for one that had this criteria:

- All prescriptions must be FDA approved.

- The pharmacists must be licensed in the US ( that way if anything goes wrong they can be held liable.)

- They needed to offer online free consultations.

I finally found a pharmacy that dispenses online prescriptions that met all this criteria - http://www.edrugstore.md

Now here is how I am currently using them to make my life and dad’s easier.

1) I had dad write down all of his prescriptions and when they needed to be refilled.

2) I have my personal assistant go online at the beginning of the month and place the order for all of his refills. You can easily do this yourself, if you do not currently have a personal assistant.

3) I have her schedule an appointment with his doctor when the prescriptions run out to verify if a new prescription needs to be written.

4) I have her add or delete medications from his list for our next online pharmacy order.

Here are some of the perks of placing these orders through edrugstore.md

- After your initial order, you get $20 off all refills

- They guarantee to give you the lowest internet price on all name brand prescriptions.

- Customer service is available 24/7

- There is pharmacist on staff at all times to answer your questions.

Life is hectic enough. It is nice to know that there is a company out there dedicated to making at least a portion of it easier. Check them out for yourself.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Manicures can be a delightful and relaxing experience for most. For me, it was something that I was talked into because no matter where I went I ended up having what I thought was an allergic reaction. The skin above my nails would start to peel. It completely defeated the purpose of having a manicure and making my hands look nice.

Well a few weeks ago I had to go get a manicure again for a family event and I finally found a manicurist that told me what was really going on. It isn’t the chemicals. It is the cuticle removal process. If the technician cuts too deeply into the cuticle it forms a cut that actually keeps going. This causes the skin to peel in strips.

If you have experienced the same phenomenon there is a simple solution. Simply tell the technician that this tends to happen when you get manicures and have her not cut so deeply. Leave more of the cuticle in tact and you can have a great looking manicure without irritating your skin.

I love simple beauty solutions. Don’t you?

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

This week a friend of mine and I were looking at Wedding Invitations online at http://www.1st-class-wedding-invitations.com . The thing I really like about this site is that it has a zoom feature. Instead of just looking at a still image, you can actually zoom in on various sections of the card so that you can really see the attention to detail. They have everything from contemporary to fairy tale styles to cards that look like they were hand made.

Anyway, while we were going through these cards, we started to talk about the funniest weddings that we had ever been too. Her funniest experience was going to an old girlfriend’s wedding and finding out that she had dated the groom. And mine was when my cousin decided to “style my hair better” and ended up using so much hair spray that my hair actually caught on fire. She was so buzzed that I ended up having to put it out myself.

Some more friends dropped by to help pick out invitations and after a bottle of wine or two ended up sharing their wedding bloopers. One gallant groom decided to start out the marriage with a show of chivalry by pulling the chair out for his bride to sit. Well they had decided on a poolside wedding. Needless to say he zigged when she zagged and her initial first official day of being “Mrs. Gallant” ended with a splash. We still aren’t sure how they got her veil out of the filter.

Do you have any funny wedding stories to share? Write them up and send them in. I will post the funniest ones that you come up with.

If you are about to tie the knot yourself check out http://www.1st-class-wedding-invitations.com . They really do have a nice selection and make it easy to find, click and order. I remember helping a friend pick out wedding invitations years ago and having to sift through book after ten ton book. Buying your invitations online will save you time, energy and gas money.

I also urge you to really enjoy the experience. So many brides are in such a frenzy to find the “perfect” card. Break out a bottle of wine, have your girl friends over, and reminisce about other friend’s weddings until you can relax enough to realize that it doesn’t have to be perfect and if some minor glitch occurs you will all be laughing about it years later.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

The right business suit can make or break you in an interview. It can also set the tone for presentations. Finding one that didn’t cost a fortune was my mission this morning.

Now I have a confession to make. I hate shopping. I loathe sifting through racks and trying on clothes. I tend to know what I want and steamroll my way through a store until I can get it and get out. So in most cases I stick to major, well organized department stores.

My sister on the other hand can shop for hours, wading through tons of clothes to find the half dozen that she has to have at a fantastic price. I admire her for this, as I wave from the nearest coffee shop.

Today I had to buy a fabulous business suit and stick to a new budget I set. I am determined to build my portfolio further this year and that means less lattes and more bargain shopping. So I asked the Queen of Savings how she does it. She always seems to have the hottest name brands at amazingly low prices. One of her secrets is Marshalls.

Now as soon as she said the name, a shiver went down my spine. I had once spent five hours with her at one of their mega stores as she fought off greedy clothes pinching fingers and I acted as the final veto on outfit after outfit.

Upon seeing the look of horror on my face, she explained that Marshalls has a rack just for women’s business suits. It is also clearly marked and divided into sizes. Not quite believing her I still trudged down there early in the morning to beat the crowds.

I got there at 9:30 am and there were less than a handful of customers in the store. I found the suits easily by the gigantic hanging sign and was able to pick out three possibilities in less than ten minutes. The suit that I ended up purchasing is from BCBG - originally $170 and I got it for $75 - not bad. And that was for both the jacket and the pants.
I have to say that I was impressed. The suits were all in great condition and brand new and they were all designer brand names.  I saw suits discounted up to 75%! Amazing.

Now, I still don’t think I go shop there for my day to day wear but for women’s business suits I will be back. If you are looking for designer suits at fantastic prices check out Marshalls and prepare to be amazed.

Sincerely,

Caterina - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Top Tips on How to Apply Makeup

If you’re like me, somewhere in preadolescence you probably learned how to apply makeup. What most girls this age don’t learn is how to apply makeup correctly. Applying makeup is an art and it has to be done correctly or you could end up looking like a clown.

Here are some of my favorite tips on how to apply makeup.

• Focus on one feature or go natural on all features. For example, if you want to make your lips stand out then go with a bright lipstick, but keep your eyes and cheeks subtle. Not only does this keep you from looking too made up, but it also helps to really make the highlighted feature pop.
• Start out light. You can darken much easier then you can lighten. You want to always start out with the least amount of makeup and then work up to your finished look.
• One last thing to know when you apply makeup is that it is a layering process. For your skin you should start with moisturizer. You can then add concealer or foundation or both. Then you finish with a powder.
• For your lips you start with a bit of moisturizer to smooth, add some lip liner and then the lipstick or gloss. When you are learning how to apply make up it is always best to buy products that are made for the beginner. You can get brushes or even actually makeup designed to make application easier. Something like Sephora Brand Perfect Ten Brush Set ($150 Value) Perfect Ten Brush Set which gives you all the brushes you will need in one handy case. Good brushes will help you to apply makeup better and more easily.

Just follow the rules and use good products when you are beginning to apply make up so that you can look more like someone from a fashion magazine rather than the circus.

Sincerely,

Caterina - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

I’ve always said that the eyes are one of the greatest features to play up when applying your makeup. Mascara cosmetics are a great way to play up eyes because there is a range of options so that no matter what your eyes may look like, you can make them look great with a little mascara.

Using mascara cosmetics is something that many women shy away from. The idea of trying to delicately paint your eyelashes with the tiny wand is more than gals can handle. It really isn’t that bad, though. Once you learn how to do it you can quickly apply a couple coats every morning with ease.

One of the biggest issues with applying mascara cosmetics is that the mascara gets on the area around your eye and can be difficult to remove. This is caused by not allowing the mascara to dry. It is a rather fast drying product so slowing down a bit when applying will eliminate this common problem.

Here are some of my best tips for choosing a great mascara!

Choose a type: As mentioned, there are a variety of different types of mascara. You will find mascaras that separate and some that plump. You will also find a variety of wand styles. You should read the product description and choose the mascara that will suit your needs and desires.

Get a magic wand: A great product for those of you want volume, length and curl all in one with an easy to use brush is Stila Multi-Effect Mascara Black. This mascara has a curved wand that will help you avoid getting the mascara on your face.

Find a winning formula: Look for a mascara formula that is made to plump and lengthen your eyelashes. It is a great product for beginners or experienced mascara users.

Now that you have chosen your mascara you can begin.

It is best to start with the upper lashes. You want to look down a bit so that your eyelashes are not lying right against your eyelid. Brush them slightly with the wand. Keep looking down for a couple of seconds to allow the makeup to dry. You can then add another layer of mascara if you would like.

To finish you need to do your bottom lashes. You do not want to brush them or you will end up with mascara all over your face. Instead use the end of the wand and run it back and forth across your lower lashes to coat them. Again, make sure you hold your head so that the lashes are not lying against your face.

It is that simple. Now you can really make your eyes stand out with a little mascara. On those days when you are running late try using just mascara and you will be surprised at how great this product can work alone. It is a quick and easy cosmetic product that you will make you wonder how you ever lived without it.

Try it for yourself.

Caterina - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls

Hi all

As many of you know, next weekend is Mother’s Day. I am writing to remind you of this and that you have less than a week to get her mothers day gift. This year is a bit tough for my family. My sister’s three year memorial is on the same day as Mother’s Day and it has been a struggle to figure out what exactly to get my mom.

After querying all of my relatives and friends they all recommend flowers. And they are right. You can’t go wrong with flowers and fortunately with the internet and 1 800 Flowers there is a huge selection to choose from. We will probably go with some kind of sunflower and look for an arrangement with butterflies. Both were a favorite of my sister’s and seeing them always seems to lift mom’s spirits.

I would love to know what type of Flowers that you intend to get your mom. With mother’s day coming up 1-800 flowers is running some really nice specials. They even offer a mother’s day gift guide to help you choose the right arrangement for your mom.

Mother’s day is a celebration of all the love your mom has given you and all the sacrifices she has made. It’s the perfect time to say thank you for everything. Flowers just seem like the perfect gift to me because she gets to enjoy them for a few days after the big event.

Write in with your gift ideas and what you are doing to celebrate you mom.

Sincerely,

Caterina Christakos - founder of stillagirl.com - a positive place for women and girls