Think of makeup like fresh fruit. If you don’t consume it within a certain amount of time it will go bad. Unlike that crispy new apple, it may not be as readily apparent that your makeup has turned. Applying old makeup and skin care products to your face can actually be doing more harm than good. Bacteria can get into even the most expensive brand name products and irritate your skin.

Mascara is a prime example. Old mascara is a prime target for bacteria and can lead to eye infections. So throw out those old clumpy tubes. I don’t care if you have a date. Which is worse for your guy to see - macara-less lashes or the inside of an emergency room?

Here are some rules of thumb when it comes to your makeup’s expiration:

1) Unopened cosmetics and skin care products have the longest shelf life. Keep all cosmetics in a cool dry environment. Hint, your bathroom is probably not the best place to store your cosmetics.

2) If your makeup looks like it is separating ( i.e. if it looks like there is liquid sitting on top of a thicker substance) then it is more than time to toss it. Don’t try shaking it to try to reblend it, unless the product specifically says that this is normal.

3) Don’t put the makeup directly on your hands, straight from the bottle. Use a cotton swab or double folded tissue paper.  Your fingers have germs and natural oils that can easily get into your products with repeated use.

4) Keep jar sealed tightly. Yes, I know that you are in a hurry to get out the door but this only takes an extra second or two.

5) Replace mascara at least every three months and really make sure that it is sealed tightly between uses.

These are just a few tips on how to keep your makeup fresh so that you can continue to have wonderful glowing skin and less skin reactions. These tips are even more important if you have any type of problem with acne. Don’t let your makeup be one more battle between you and your quest for clear, beautiful skin.

Hi all

We talk about skin care a lot on this site and most things I truly believe you can take care of with maintenance. Use a high SPF moisturizer every day, drink plenty of water, excercize and 90% of your natural beauty can be maintained. There are a few things though that gravity outweighs preventative anti-aging measures. For those of you who believe in skin care and plastic surgery there is a new site that has a ton of articles on the different techniques that are out there today to help you look young and youthful. Cosmetic Skin Surgery is a great site for expert information and advice on Plastic Surgery, Cosmetic techniques and Plastic Surgery Costs.

It has articles updated daily plus information on some great books to read before considering surgery. Check it out for yourself:  http://www.cosmeticskinsurgery.info

Hi all

More and more, in the news, I have seen reports of incidences of heart disease going undetected in women. This is a very personal subject for me because my grandmother, who lived with us until I was eighteen years old, died of heart disease. Not one doctor detected that she had it and yet when she passed away over 50% of her heart had been affected. I received the call that she was in the hospital and before I could even buy a plane ticket she was gone.

One of the reasons that heart disease goes undetected is because the amount of blockage seems to be less  than in men, so many doctors don’t do enough follow up. Women also tend to let things go. We are so busy taking care of our family and careers that we forget to double check and make sure that we are ok.
Here are a few things that you can do to improve your heart health and make sure that you get adequate health care:

1) Eat foods high in omega 3 like sushi and sashimi.

2) Eat foods that contain onions. Yes I know it isn’t great for your breath but they are thought to be very good for your heart. So have your meal and then some mint tea afterwards. ( The mint will settle your stomach and freshen your breath).

Here is a list of 25 heart healthy foods: http://www.webmd.com/solutions/healthy-heart-guide/top-foods

3) If you feel any tightness or odd sensations in your chest, tell your doctor immediately. Insist on getting an EKG and a stress test from a qualified cardiologist. Your doctor may just think it is heartburn and maybe he or she is right but why take chances. The earlier this is diagnosed the better.

4) If your doctor is not the type to listen to your concerns find a new doctor. This is your health and your money is paying for insurance so you deserve the best health care available.

Every one of you who read my blog is important to me. Do yourself and your family a favor by taking care of your health.

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

Hi all

I found yet another site to cash in on some major coupons for your favorite brands like thisProFlowers gift code discount coupon. The site is called:http://www.1-coupons.com and it has a huge selection of top brands to choose from.

Here is a brief sampling of what they have to offer:

Save 25% on Inspiron  Computers plus get free standard shipping 

$500 off of a  Pavilian Computer

Save $75 or more on your next vacation

Enjoy these savings and more. I love saving money on things that I need anyway, don’t you? I wish I had had these computer coupons when my last computer crashed a few months ago. It would have saved me a bundle. And I will definitely be checking back for even more vacation discounts and coupons. Paying full price for luxury vacations is so unnecessary. Every four and five star hotel that I have stayed at over the last few years has been found online at a discount. Paying retail anymore, especially in this economy, is just silly.

Thank goodness for sites like this that help us save and still enjoy all the pleasure of life.

Happy Shopping and Happy Saving!

Sincerely

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

Hi all

Not too long ago I was contacted by one of my credit card companies claiming that there was irregular activity of my card. Someone had gotten a hold of the number and had gone to town. Fortunately they called me fairly early on and stopped it before too much damage was done. I wish I could say that this was the first and last time that it happened. Running a business on the internet seems to put me at higher risk. It can be a bit scary.

Most websites are secure. Look at the bottom of the site and on the shopping cart to ensure that it is a secure site before purchasing. Also make sure that your credit and debit cards have protection against identity theft.

Another pre-cautionary measure that you can take is to join lifelock.This is a service that focuses exclusively on protecting your identity. They charge only $10 a month to keep your identity safe and carry $1,000,000 insurance policies just in case, hire lawyers on your behalf and do what it takes to recover your good name as long as you are still a member. They even make sure that your name is taken off of those pre-approved credit card approval lists. Yes, they help you lighten your junk mail load!

You all know I like to keep it light on this site but this is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. If it could happen to me, it could happen to you. Be safe and take precautions.

Sincerely,

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

Hi all

I know that we can sometimes be hyperaware of our bodies and breasts can be a big part of our self -image. I can sit here telling you all day that size doesn’t matter and that you need to be happy with what you have. This is something that I actually believe. Happiness comes with loving yourself as you are.

Some of you will choose to believe the fashion magazines instead. To save you money, time and surgery here is one suggestion that I have actually used to achieve firm breasts and have actually seen an increase in breast size - wild yam cream. I use it to keep them firm and see the bigger size as an added benefit.

You can buy it in just about any natural market like Chamberlains or Whole Foods. This is a safe alternative to surgery. The only downside, that I know of,  is that if you stop using it your breast size does go back to normal. You should also test a bit out on your skin to make sure that you don’t have an allergy to it before you use it long term.

Also if you are looking for natural alternatives to breast surgery you should read this ebook - Flat to Fab by Lucille Sorella, Breast Enlargement Expert.

She is a personal friend of mine and I have seen her help hundreds of women achieve bigger breasts with or without surgery. I also know that she has personally used these techniques with awesome results.

Anyway, if you are looking to get bigger breasts naturally try wild yam cream and read Lucille’s book.

Sincerely,

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

Hi all

On your big day you want to look your best. That is why there is such a huge market for bridal makeup. Beauty experts know that you are searching high and low for your perfect look. There are a ton of beauty reviews slanted towards brides, and many magazines totally dedicated to brides.

A wedding is a huge deal. You want every detail perfect, including your bridal makeup. The good news is that you have a lot of information out there to help you.

Most of the information you will find is going to gear you towards a specific look. So the first thing you need to do is figure out what look you want. Consider everything about your bridal makeup and decide what features you want to play up. Think about incorporating a new look or a technique that you want to give a try. Take your time so you end up happy with your choice.

Now that you have decided on your look you can move on to choosing makeup. Depending on your look you will choose makeup that is going to be the right shades and types. For example, if you are going for rosy cheeks then go with something like Tarte Cheek Stain Blushing Bride. It is a bold look that has staying power. That is something else to think about – long lasting bridal makeup. You don’t want it to end up disappearing in the middle of the wedding.

One last tip – no matter what look you are going for, nothing caps it off like white teeth. Try GoSMILE B1 Tooth Whitener 20 Ampoules. You will get a brilliant smile that matches your radiant glow.

You are the highlight of your wedding. All eyes will be on you so you have to look your best. Choosing the right bridal makeup is a great way to feel more confident and assured that your big day is going to be fabulous.

Congratulations!

Sincerely,

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

P.S. Unsure of how exactly to go about planning your wedding? Check out this wedding planning guide 

Hi all

I have been in a seminar for the last several weekends that has really revived my belief in romance. While taking Daniel Olson’s NLP Practitioner training I have had the chance to meet some amazing women that are actually walking the talk of good relationships.

One woman, from France, has a view of relationships that one only seems to see in the movies. She and her husband recently renewed their vows and her face still lights up after nine years of being together. She absolutely believes in love at first site and the power of “what is meant to be.” Another woman in the group considers her husband as her best friend and is able to maintain their relationship while working together - an amazing feat.

Some might say, “there must be something in the air.” For example, the husband of one of our neighbors just planted a rose garden in his wife’s honor for their anniversary. Others might think that these women just got lucky.

I believe that something more is going on here. Men and women are becoming more savvy where relationships are concerned. We are learning that if you want romantic love then you have to work at it.

Although all the women that attended Dan’s seminar were there to get their NLP certification, when asked what we wanted to get out of the course, we all stated personal goals. We then used NLP techniques to achieve them. The main theme seemed to be to find balance between our careers, our relationships and our need to still feel like confident, desirable women.

As a dating columnist and author, I am always looking for new techniques to share with you and to learn for myself. Several of the techniques we learned this weekend focused on letting go of the guilt associated with doing things for ourselves so that we could have the positive energy to devote to our relationships. It was amazing how every woman in the room seemed to have the exact same issues. We all want to have our careers and our own interests while still keeping the romance and devotion alive in our relationships. Once you let go of the guilt, it is amazing how much time becomes available for both.

Balance seems to occur when we allow ourselves to feel loving, not just to others but to ourselves. It is incredible how some of the NLP techniques taught in this course helped dissolve the confusion. They also seemed to open up a whole new level of communication for these women in their relationships. Within the first day we were all reporting the ability to read the body language of our significant others on a whole new level.

If you are looking for new ways to relate to others, view yourself and achieve balance then I highly recommend Dan’s course. It isn’t touted as a “relationship course” but the techniques that you will learn can be applied to every area of your life.

Let me know when you take the course. I would love to post your feedback.

Sincerely,

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

Hi all

Part of running a successful business is staying in touch with your clients and colleagues. A great way to do this is by remembering their birthdays and sending them Birthday Cards. It adds a personal touch. One company that can print and personalize your corporate birthday cards is cardsdirect.com. They have a very nice selection and having them handle the printing and even offer free shipping and up to 40% off on many of their business birthday cards.

Personalizing your business is an excellent way to stay a step ahead of your competition. It is the little touches that your clients will remember. I know many of you are into sending ecards but when it comes to client relations there is nothing like getting a card physically by mail. Plus for some clients, yours may be the only card that they receive. Who would you rather do business with one of a million corporations or a company that takes the time to wish you well on your special day? Your clients are no different than you are. Go that extra mile and they will appreciate it.

Sincerely,

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