Better Homes and Garden March 2014

Anatomy of a Planter

Use Quality Soil - Loose, peat based potting soil is the standard for containers - it’s light and well aerated, and it drains perfectly. Never use garden soil or old potting soil. Amending garden beds with used potting soil is a great day to get rid of it.

Reduce Weight   -  Use a lightweight filler in the bottom of the large pots to reduce the amount of potting soil you need to buy, and to lower the weight of planted containers. . A layer of landscape fabric  keeps soil separate  from the filler below

Allow Drainage - an outdoor planter must have a drain hole. If not,  create one with an appropriate  drill bit.  If not, create one with an appropriate  drill bit. A filter pad at the bottom of the pot will keep soil from escaping.

Protect the Surface - a saucer will catch drain water where you need surfaces to stay dry.  Pot feet are an alternative that lets you easily  clean under planters.

Eye Creams - ultra-hydrating salves that plump crow’s feet, calm  puffiness, and camouflage undereye circles. If you aim is simply to soften lines, try applying your regular facial treatments to the area; you might find they work just as well.

Masks - treatments that deliver potent ingredients directly to the skin for immediate - albeit temporary - results. Moisturizing creams and sheet masks plump lines in minutes. Acne - prone patients are best served by the oil-absorbing properties of clay or charcoal formulas.

Scrubs -  cleansing gel or creams spiked  with grainy bits to  physically slough away dirt, dead skin  cells, and impurities.

Peels - rinse off acidic  formulas that   scrubs - loosen bonds between  the cells to whisk away dead skin.  Glycolic, alpha hydroxy, citric, and salicylic acids are  all common active ingredients.

Oils - lots of cleansers and serum now come in oil - rather than water base versions.  It’s you have dry skin, you might find that beauty oils makes skin feel softer.

Seventeen March 2014

BackStage Secrets

Pretty Pastels - a wash of soft color is the girly new way to wear a shadow. First prep lids with cream concealer - it will make the color pop more! Then just brush on a sweet shade [think lime or amethyst] all over lids.

Metallic Eyes -  amp up your go to nudes with glitter! A swipe of sparkly cream shadow over a neutral shade instantly updates your lids for a night out. Plus, it seals in color for a look that won’t budge!

Day Glo Lips - the key to fluorescent lips: mix bright lipstick with white primer on the back of your hand before painting it on. You’ll wind up with an opaque, pigmented shade that stands out.

3D Nail Art -  it sounds crazy, but using candle wax as glue makes your nail appliques last twice as long! Scrape off soft wax with a toothpick and dab onto the back of the mini crystals. Press them onto wet nails, and the wax will harden with the polish.

Allure March 2014

Homemade DIY Spa Treatments

Lemon Face Scrub - mix a tablespoon of lemon juice with a tablespoon of sugar. Scrub in circles, then wipe clean with a damp towel.

Honey and yogurt face mask  - mix a half cup of plain yogurt with a quarter cup of honey, smooth it onto your face, and let it sit for ten minutes. Honey is a fabulous antibacterial and probiotics in yogurt calms and brighten skin when it gets blotchy.

Oatmeal bath soak - puree a cup of rolled oats in a blender until the mixture is as fine as sand. Fill your tub with warm water [not hot water because it will dry skin more] and the oats, then soak.

5 Ways to Use Nivea Creme

1. Makeup remover - massaged into skin and rubbed off with a cloth or cotton ball, the cream removes even matte lipstick, and lip stain, as well as waterproof eye shadow and liner.

2. Shoe polish - dab a small amount of cream on an tissue and use it to buff your leather goods. But don’t use it on soft leather, such as kidskin and calfskin, as it could stain.

3. Styling cream - rub a tiny dab between your palms and run it through your hair to tame flyaways.

4. Primer - before applying cream blush, rub a pea size drop of the creme on your cheeks. It will give a more natural finish.

5. Cuticle Cream - the formula contains glycerin and lanolin to moisturize and create a barrier on the skin.

Marie Claire March 2014

Rock Your Career in 3 Steps or Less

1. Ask Yourself: Would I Do This For Free

2. Maximize Your Afters Hours  - find something you are passionate about and it may grow into something more

3. Don’t Quit Your Day Job Just Yet until you are really ready and emotionally ready.

Harper’s Bazaar March 2014

What’s In-

1. Modern Art

2. Painterly Purses

3. Distinctive Ring

4. Statement bags

5. Sculptural heels

6. Brilliant Blings

7. Collage Pumps

8. Bright Bangles

9. Sharp Studs

What’s Out-

1. Canvas totes

2. Chokers

3. Wood rings

4. Peep-toes

5. Round bags

6. Woven bracelets

7. Moccasins

8. Feather earrings

The 10 new pieces for Spring

1. The sculpted crop top

2. The fringe bag

3. The blue button down

4. The mini bag

5. The cropped pant

6. The pleated skirt

7. The statement necklace

8. The mule

9. The cropped jacket

10. The sporty shoe

Cosmopolitan March 2014

[Sorry I lost the screenshot I had of this magazine, I guess I have too much of a backlog! :( ]

Look Amazing on Skype

1. Glow On - webcam pixelation can make skin appear dull and lifeless. Choose a illuminating foundation.

2. Don’t Over Hue-It - some computer screens oversaturate colors meaning anything highly pigmented can have clownlike effects. Choose sheer blushes and lip tints.

3. Go Au Naturel -  artificial overhead lighting casts not so cute overshadow under your eyes. Place your laptop next to a sunny window - natural light is far more flattering.

How to do a Face Massage - apply a thin layer of an oil or cream, then -

1. How to zap jawline tension - bend the pointer and middle fingers of each hand so the bent knuckles makes a V shape.

2. To de-puff eyes or cheek - sit with your elbows on your knees, then firmly press the hell of your hand against the affected area for 10 seconds; repeat three times.

3. To smooth your forehead - spread the tips of all eight fingers [not thumbs]  along the tops of your brows. From there, make slow zigzag motions upward to the hairline; repeat five times [each times starting at the brows so you’re not pulling down skin]

March Empties!

Ah, April! How I wish you came sooner. March surprisingly went pretty fast for me, it could have been that I had 6 big projects at work and completely lost track of time [highly probable]. Well, I hope April brings with it, some much needed warm weather and I wouldn't mind a light shower here and there.

Have a great one!

March Empties-

Smashbox Full Exposure Palette

Sephora Tropical Jasmine Body Scrub

Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear - Purple Potion

Julep Rock Star Hand Creme

TBS Strawberry Soap

Burt’s Bees Honey Lip Balm

St. Ives Oatmeal and Shea Butter Moisturizing Body Wash

Sephora Fragrance Sample

Julep Nail Polish - Aviva

Kleancolor Nail Polish - Gold Caviar

Calvin Klein Euphoria

Crazy Rumor Bee My Honey Lip Balm

Intelligent Beauty Labs Rescue Rapid Repair Hair Mask

REN Hydra Calm Global Protection Day Cream

Lumene Time Freeze Firming Day Cream

Eminence Organic Skin Care Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant

Garnier Skin Renew Daily Moisture Lotion Anti-Sun Damage

Jennifer Aniston Perfume

Maybelline FitMe Foundation Sample

ELF Cucumber Melon Nourishing Body Lotion

Maybelline The Falsies Volumin' Express Mascara

Paula's Choice Resist Ultra Light Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum

Murad Active Radiance Serum

CellCeuticals CellGensis Eye Serum

Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Cleansing Foam

White Rain Ocean Mist Body Wash

Gold Shimmer Powder

Bobbi Brown Lash Glamour Lengthening Mascara - Bark

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Perfume Sample

The Face Shop Cucumber Mask

Aveeno Positively Radiant Targeted Tone Corrector

L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream

Lucky March 2014

Two ways to try the Crop Top Trend

1. Worn just on it’s own - the key to going bare? Limiting your exposure. Show just a few inches of skin by pairing a shorter top with a high-waisted pencil skirt or a longer crop top with a pair of mid-rise jeans. And play with a scale: a boxy top works perfectly with slim trousers; a sleeker cut tempers a voluminous skirt.

2. As a layering piece - give yourself a brand new silhouette by wearing a crop top over a longer shirt.  Make sure the piece you layer it over isn’t bulky - think thin knits and slims button-ups - and the possibilities are pretty much endless.

Looking good in a Selfie-

1. Clear your background - if there’s too much behind you, the picture looks cluttered

2. Lips are important

3. Hold the camera horizontally, and tilt it downward 45 degrees

4. Find your good side - most people look better with their face slightly to the side

5. Position so light shines toward you

6. Hold your arms away from your body - you always want your arms down and away from your body - they’ll look much slimmer

7. Use multiple apps

8. Frizz and flyaways don’t work

9. But the bigger your hair, the better

10. Take more shots than you think you need

Ladies’ Home Journal March 2014

Pretty and Polished

1. Give your skin some glow with CC creams

2, Keep your nails clean and neat

3. Get regular trims

4. Wear black mascara

5. Put on Lipstick

6. Define your brows

7. Whiten your teeth

EveryDay with Rachael Ray March 2014

The world’s oldest person when she died at age 115. Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper of the Netherlands swore she owe her longevity to drinking a glass of orange juice a day! [Her other secret - pickled herring]

Zest is Best - Don’t toss that peel! Did you know that orange rind has four times more fiber per ounce than the fruit? It’s also rich in flavonoids, which fight cancer and diabetes and lower cholesterol.

Make your own cleaner - the oil in orange rind doesn’t just smell great, it contains d-limonene, a natural solvent that can cut through grease. For a zingy cleaning spray, steep the rind of four orange in 1 cup distilled white vinegar for 2 weeks. Strain and dilute with 1 cup water. Put in a spray bottle and use as an all-purpose cleaner.

The Ultimate Scrambled Eggs

1. Crack 8  farm fresh or organic eggs into a medium bowl.

2. Add ½ teaspoon salt

2. Using a fork beat the eggs vigorously until they are smooth and well combined about 30 seconds.

4. Grab a 10 inch nonstick skillet

5. Add the beaten eggs to the skillet before you put it on the heat

6. Add 1 tablespoon finely chopped chilled butter [no heat yet]

7. Over medium heat, stir the eggs with a silicone spatula until the butter melts, about 2 minutes.

8.  Once the butter melts, begin to scrape the cooked eggs toward the center of the pan.

9. After about 1 minute and 30 seconds, when large curds form but a good amount of runny eggs remains, remove the pan from the heat.

10. Add 1 more tablespoon of chopped cold butter. Gently fold the eggs until the butter melts and the eggs are cooked but still shiny and moist, about 5 seconds.

Confectioners’ Sugar Hack

All you need is granulated sugar with a clean coffee grinder. Put a ½ cup sugar in the grinder, let it spin for 30 seconds and you’ve got  fluffy powdered sugar.

Harper's Bazaar March 2013

This is the month for gold embossed bags, shoes, accessories and more! Here are some of

 Bazaar’s top picks -

Photo Credit - Eddie Borgo

 

Photo Credit - Harper's Bazaar, Roger Vivier minaudière

Photo Credit - Harper's Bazaar, Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière

Photo Credit - Harper's Bazaar, Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci

Photo Credit - Harper's Bazaar, Christian Louboutin sandal

Here are what in this month -

“1. Clever minaudieres

2. Clear Clutches

3. Intricate Earrings

4. Fringed Footwear

5 Studded Cuffs

6. Tassel Necklaces

7. Lace-up heels

8. Chic chain straps”

My homework for the month, find the outfit where I  can wear all of the trends in one go and then be able to dress bummy the rest of the month.

How to wear this month’s trend -

“How to wear black pants - tailor up that wardrobe  standby, the black trouser, gets a revamp this season with a slim, soigne silhouette. Instead of with a slouchy top, the style looks newest when paired with a menswear-inspired sleeveless jacket worn over a bra top.”

“How to wear the new tuxedo - black tie; the new Saint Laurent collection made it clear that this is going to be a big year for the tuxedo. The latest take? Pairing yours with a pussy-bow blouse and chic single-sole pumps. For pants, keep them lean and long. Come evening, accessorize with a sleek matching minaudiere.”

“How to wear the blouse - the lastest classic; there are few things more ladylike or timeless than a fresh white blouse paired with a black pencil suit. Whether you’re going with a  button down, draped, or peasant-style, make yours modern by adding a gold choker and ultra feminine pumps. Keep your hemline at or just below, the knee.”

“How to wear sleek snakeskin - style; it’s the year of the snake, and an elegant dress, bag, or shoe is one of the easiest ways to incorporate it into your wardrobe. A plethora of python sheath dresses and clutches is on the market right now waiting to be snapped up. Wearing just one serpentine element makes it more memorable.”

Every Day with Rachael Ray - March 2013

I just started this subscription and I read the whole magazine in one evening and end up staying way past my bedtime.  While I won’t list the recipes that I thought was good but the rather the other cool tips and tricks I picked up while reading.

Here are some emerald hued makeup up to brighten up your St. Paddy’s day and beyond -

Photo Source - Sephora, Yves Saint Laurent La Laque Couture nail polish in Jade Imperial

Photo Source - Sephora, Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in Emerald Green

Photo Source - L'Oreal, L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Nail in New Money

 

Photo Source -  Drugstore.com, Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Kush

Here are some cool tips for onions -

1. “For the crispiest onion ring, use sparkling wine [such as a reasonably priced prosecco] in the batter instead of buttermilk. The bubbly’s effervescence makes the coating light and airy.”

2. “Onions are strongly anti-inflammatory and can reduce the risk of some cancers by more than 40 percents”

3. “If you burn rice, quickly transfer any unblemished grains to a bowl, layer yellow onion skins over the rice and cover with plastic wrap for 10 minutes. This will banish the burnt taste.”

4. “450 is the number of semi-trucks that would hold the amount of onions Americans eat in one day”.