Beauty

Choosing the Perfect Pedicure

2010-10-19T13:02:00.002+07:00

You can find many reasons that might make you decide it's time to get a pedicure. Vancouver spas make it a priority to give you access to the treatments you need to feel and look your best. There are many pedicures that can help you relax while keeping your feet healthy and looking great. With various colors and moisturizing treatments, the right salon will have your tired feet rejuvenated and ready for a new day in no time.

If you want to get a basic maintenance treatment, you might opt for a basic pedicure. Vancouver nail technicians will buff your feet with a pumice stone and trim your nails. The technician should also administer a brief foot massage and moisturize your feet before applying your choice of nail color. The basic treatment is great for regular maintenance, which should be done monthly for best results.

You might want to take things up a notch and get a bit of a fancier pedicure. Vancouver specialty salons should offer a spa pedicure, which increases the pampering part of the treatment. It should include a bubbly soak for your feet and a foot and calf massage as well. You'll also be pampered with oils and lotions to enhance the moisturizing portion of the treatment. Once you've finished this type of treatment, you will most certainly be relaxed and ready for a new day.

Taking care of your feet with regular pedicures in an important part not only of the appearance of your feet, but also the health of your feet. By improving circulation, the massage portion of the treatment is beneficial to your health and can help to prevent many circulatory issues. Many women consider pedicures a part of their regular routine, and they are an inexpensive way to give yourself a monthly treat.

SweetNailSalon.com features manicures in Vancouver as well as pedicures in Vancouver. If you're looking for a trendy new place to pamper yourself, visit SweetNailSalon.com.

Best Styles for Wedding Manicures

2010-10-19T13:00:00.001+07:00

If you're planning your wedding day, there are many things to prepare. From the all-important wedding dress to the style options for the big day, you'll have a lot of decisions to make. Looking your best for any bride certainly includes choosing the right option from the many different styles of manicures. Vancouver salons that specialize in nail design can give you many options, from the traditional to the contemporary to help you look your best, from head to toe.

Not only is the style important, but brides also get many other benefits from manicures. Vancouver nail technicians can help you relax as the day approaches and make you glad you took the time to think if this important detail. As the wedding day approaches, things will be more hectic than ever, so it's a good idea to take the time to take care of yourself a little extra.

The most traditional and popular of all wedding options are French manicures. Vancouver salons will be able to give you the best French manicure so your hands and nails will look simply perfect for the big event. With so many photos being taken, you'll want your hands to be perfect for a close-up of the ring. If you want to go for something a bit more contemporary, there are many other fun options that can be perfect for your wedding day.

More contemporary options for wedding manicures might involve nail art to give your nails an extra special look for the big day. You might opt for wedding designs or even jewels to give your nails a special look. Whatever you decide, you will be a beautiful bride on your wedding day, and you'll enjoy it all the more if you took the time to take care of these important details.

The Mirror of Beauty

2010-10-17T12:45:00.001+07:00

The probe of human mind has marked every inch of success but the art of drawing parallels for what beauty is, has remained a great mystery. For some philosophers, beauty is the degree of attraction and admiration, provoked in an observer. But it is argued that the same beauty does not affect everyone the same way. It varies dramatically. A few think thanks have defined it as a degree of perfection, but perfection in one field may not be of any interest to an observer. So beauty is very difficult to explain fully, but it may be said that it is a game of comparison. Suppose there is only one woman in the world, now question is whether she is beautiful or not. The answer unambiguously is that you can't say anything because you don't have another woman to compare with.

But sailing beyond the ocean of imagination, one realizes that there is a factor that determines the degree of beauty, i.e. a personal dictionary, which translates the mortals and assigns degree of beauty. The holy words of human history will peep out from the gale of truth and will strongly proclaim that Juliet was a goddess for a Romeo a god for her and rest, the particles of dust. Heer for ranjha was enough, and he for her, to lead whole their life together with few straws of love. But remember, if all the lovers of the world of the world are invited to a party to ask who amongst all is the most beautiful, they certainly shall stamp the claim of beauty on the hearts and souls of their own beloved which indeed is not their narrow-mindedness but a natural fact that 'beauty lies in the eyes of beholder'.

One day a great historian whispered in my ears a story...
'once upon a time there was king so fond of beauty that he called his most loyal and faithful negro slave and ordered him to go from east to west and from north to south and fetch him such a paragon of beauty that neither moon would have risen with such splendors nor the oysters of ocean would have given birth to such magnificent pearls; neither ladies of paradise would have looked so charming not the preachers of beauty would have been able to give such bewitching example, neither any artist would have created such mind blowing portrait nor a poet from the depth of his imagination would have been able to compose such riveting verse; neither any dove would have its pinion soar such marvelously not the Aphrodite would have marked such excellence. And if I say for her that she is the most beautiful spirit God ever created, then the claimants of beauty should have said:' we are like lumps of coal in a mine and she a diamond among us.' So, go my man whose head crown of my faith rests, on whose shoulders stars of firm belief shine and on whose chest medals of sure obedience are stamped. Go and present me the beauty that should be praised and witnessed by the twinkling stars.'

The negro servant bowed down and went away calmly to the peaks from where the sun pierced its shining fingers into the dark curtains of night, from where Shakespeare and Shelley enjoyed drinks of inspiration, from where the portrait of Mona Liza was found and from where moon extracts its gleaming light; and thus he went through plains to mountains, through valleys to deserts, through unfathomable cares to celestial cities and through each and every inch of this world where life seemed breathing.

After indefatigable efforts, he went to the king, presented him what seemed the goddess of beauty to him, his Negro daughter. At this, the king asked,
'did you not find any soul more beautiful than this?'

He kept silent for a while, then raised his head and said:
'Your Excellency, my blood shall be showered in your feet if I speak but the truth. You asked me to bring Aphrodite but I brought my Negro daughter; the reason was my loyalty. Your Excellency, for you her black complexion may seem coal in the dark but for me it is as beautiful as back rose or a diamond. To you her dry hair may look like that of a witch of some old myth dancing in woods but for me her hair is no less than the curtains of paradise. To you her wrinkled hands may seem as a deserted sight of this land but to me they seem as gods, to cope up the world's fate in it has sketched these lines on it. To you her eyes may seem as those of angels when embodying eyes have mistaken but to me success. To you her wide nose may seem as dark, unfathomable caves of stone ages but to me it is no less than Noah's Ark. Therefore, Your Excellency, my obedience and loyalty to you compelled me to bring my daughter to you.'

Then the historian smiled and said, 'Yes! Beauty lies in the eyes of beholder.'

In quest of defining and explaining the beauty, two schools of thought have emerged so far. One proclaims importance of inner beauty and the other preaches the pleasure presented by worldly beauties. But in fact all beautiful things are not necessarily good, charming and attractive but all good and true things are always beautiful. Therefore, it is well said by Keats:

Beauty is truth, truth beauty,
That's all ye know on earth
And all ye need to know.'

The school of thought preaching inner beauty bore these words on the preface of its textbook:

'History is evident that the world has given birth to many worldly beauties which only could help to quench the thirst of people and awake beast in them. Many beauties passed by without any notice but the beauty of soul and conscience has claimed triumph over hearts of millions and marked its eternal existence. The people blessed with purity of soul, truthfulness of their conscience, goodness of their deeds and firmness of their faith have succeeded to scratch their name on the forehead of this earth and lead their nation to the peals of glory. And thus they are still breathing in the hearts of many mortals. Nobody asks whether Aristotle was handsome or not, whether Alexander was strong tall in stature or not and whether Anarkali when buried alive inside the walls posed like a queen or not. People do not ask such questions, but everybody does ask that how they climbed to success inch by inch. The open secret of their success, in fact, is their character, behavior, determination, zeal and enthusiasm which contributed towards their success and inner beauty.'

On the contrary, the school of thought preaching worldly beauty is thanking his God in these words:

'Thanks my God, for you have blessed us such beauties, whose single glance shuns off our day-long tiredness, whose heart may prove as a place of eternal peace to our souls, whose sight reminds us of your Excellence. Thanks my God, you have bestowed upon us such beauty, the wish to achieve, which proves a source of fuel for our body, mind and soul. This beauty has decorated this terrifying and worthless world; and it cheers us up when we are cooped in the cells of gloom, worries and misfortunes. Oh God! Really the beauty that you have blessed us with is a source of living in this frightful world.'

In fact, since the creation of this universe, beauty has been neglected and stigmas of frailty have been marked on its forehead. Beauty seems to be an emblem of nothing but thirst rubbing machine. Those who dwell in this world have been really mistaken in understanding the true beauty. When the beauty reigns its lost crown these mortals will see with their eyes open and sense smelling the truth that worldly beauty was just a mirage. Praise be to the Lord, who gifted us these praiseworthy inner beauties which indeed enabled mankind to kindle flames of love even in the dark. And, therefore, we must stop lauding the beauty only. We should also extol its creator, the Almighty GOD.

NAVEED AHMED CHANDIO, A person with bundles of knots to untie. The thinking fuel for him has been love, beauty and the inner rebelion. Most of the times, he would prefere to let the things be interwoven for the beauty of life remains in having some reason to fulfil. He is a fairly good student of Nature and feels proud of it. The unthoughtfulness, cruelity, trachery and hatred are few things that he never liked or perhaps he never got aware of. Naveed chandio lives in karachi, Pakistan.

Embodying Beauty

2010-10-17T12:41:00.001+07:00

How is it we've come to believe that there are some people
who are beautiful and others who are not? Does it really
make any sense that measuring tapes, bathroom scales,
clothing sizes, and calorie-counts hold the power to
determine whether or not we're worthy of love? What drives
us to spend countless hours and dollars to recolor, reshape
and resize our bodies, over and over again? Why has the
beauty of who we are become so difficult to see?

The mother earth has something to say about
beauty that's free of judgment and unburdened by fears.
Bears don't worry about the shape of their bodies.
Dragonflies aren't distressed by the size of their wings. Oak
trees don't attempt to look more like the pines. Vultures
aren't hiding behind pretenses, pretending to do something
other than what it is that they do. The mother earth reveals
beauty that's filled with integrity, that honors the rich diversity
in the web of life.

Beauty sings out from the sunsets and echoes in
the wind and rains down from the moon and dances in the
sea and whispers on wings and howls with coyotes and
weaves webs with the spiders and lingers in the scent of
the sage. Beauty calls out from the mountains and rumbles
with thunder and sits quietly with the lizards and soars with
the hawks and radiates from the rocks and buzzes with the
bees and glistens in the shimmering dawn.

Beauty comes alive in the free, unencumbered
expression of being just who you are. In the mother earth's
beauty, there are no winners and losers, no blue ribbons or
first-runner-ups. There are no better thans or less thans.
No too much of this and not enough of that. Beauty is
simply the honoring of what is, a celebration of life in all it's
magnificent, mysterious, remarkable forms.

Mother Earth's exuberant expression is a
compelling invitation to open up to our own natural beauty.
Beauty is found in the feeling of who we are, in the essence
of our uniqueness. It's not all tangled up in comparisons
and competition. There are no molds to squeeze into.
There's no suffering and sacrifice. Beauty just isn't that
complicated.

Beauty simply is. Beauty is energy, an expressive
vibration, a sensual awareness that resonates with the
essence of life.

Remember the last time you experienced Mother
Earth's beauty? Maybe seeing the full moon. Smelling
spring rains. Tasting wild berries. Breathing fresh air.
Hearing the tree frogs call in the night.

Remember how you felt?

How full of beauty you felt?

How beauty-full you felt?

Remember. How beautiful. You felt.

Beauty resonates within us and ripples out into the
world when we honor other beings for being just who they
are. Beauty radiates from within when we simply are who
we are, emanating clear self-awareness and unconditional
regard. No judgments. No hiding. No looking out-there for
some official stamp of approval. Just resonating beauty.
No if-onlys or yes-buts involved.

So next time we're about to step on the scale or
look in the mirror to figure out how much beauty we've got,
we can remember to redirect our attention to how we're
feeling inside. We can bring back our knowing of beauty,
remembering how beautiful we felt, that abundant,
expansive feeling of the heart that resonates with the
essence of life. Filling ourselves up with the feeling of
beauty, we are beautiful, instantly. It's a matter of choice, of
where we're putting our attention, of what we're allowing
ourselves to feel. Beauty thrives in acceptance and
unhindered self-expression. Beauty comes alive when we
simply honor who we are - all of who we are, exactly as we
are - in the here and now.

JoAnne Dodgson is a healer, teacher and author (Gifts of the Grandmother and Walking the Spiral Path) whose work is centered in the ancient tradition Ka Ta See, "living in balance from the heart." She has been involved in counseling, holistic healing, teaching and community outreach for over twenty years. She has a doctorate in counseling psychology and has been on the faculty in holistic health, women's studies and psychology programs.

Beauty Tip - Home-Made Lemon Skin Care

2010-10-16T13:26:00.001+07:00

Packed with sunshine lemons are bursting with health benefits. Just the thought of them makes your mouth water and their refreshing fragrance lifts your spirits. Everyone knows the benefits vitamin C rich lemons have on the body but few know their cosmetic properties. For centuries women have used lemons to cleanse, tone and condition their skin. As a natural antioxidant they combat the signs of aging by helping to stimulate collagen production. The cosmetics industry uses lemons to produce a range of skin care preparations, but they are expensive. You can make lemon rich cosmetics at home cheaply and easily using items from your kitchen store cupboard. Here's how.

Cleansing should always be the start of your skin care regime. To make a facial scrub mix together equal parts of lemon juice, oatmeal and honey. Add water until it becomes a runny paste. Store this gentle cleanser in the fridge and used every day to clean and condition your skin. To use take a small amount in the palm of your hand and moisten with a little warm water. Rub your hands together until evenly distributed, scrub your hands gently over your face paying attention to the creases at the sides of your nose and mouth or any oily patches. When finished use the excess to scrub the backs of your hand, then rinse your face and hands with plenty of warm water. Pat dry with a soft towel. This cleanser is cheap enough to use as a body scrub before a bath or shower.

Use lemon juice to tone the skin after cleansing. Try this recipe. Take two tablespoons of lemon juice, one tablespoon of vodka, one tablespoon of witch hazel and two tablespoons of water. Pour into a bottle and shake well, store in the fridge and use as needed. Apply to skin with a cotton wool pad and leave for three to five minutes. Rinse the face with warm water and pat dry with a towel. Do not use on damaged skin as it will sting.

After cleansing and toning use moisturizer. Make a simple and inexpensive moisturizer by blending together equal amounts of honey, lemon juice and oil. Sweet almond oil is a nice luxury but you don't need to use it olive oil is fine. Put into a bottle and shake until all ingredients have blended together. Dab on face and neck with cotton ball, use the tips of your finger to massage into skin in small upwards circular movements. Rinse with warm water and pat dry with soft towel.

Condition your skin with a weekly mask treatment. Squeeze a lemon into a cup of warm milk and stand till curdled. Put two tablespoons of oatmeal and a tablespoon of oil into a bowl and add the curdled milk, stir well. The mixture must runny enough to spread on the skin but not too runny that it slides off. Smear on your face, neck, hands, legs and feet and leave for half an hour. Rub excess off with clean towel and shower or bathe in usual way. This mask will improve pimples and the overall condition of your skin. Use this preparation to soften the skin on cracked heels and aid healing.

Home made skin care products are not just inexpensive alternatives to off the shelf cosmetics. You are in control of the ingredients. You know where you bought them and how old they are. You can choose to use organic, eco-friendly or fair traded products and you can even make sure they were not produced by child labour.

Age Spot Removal Techniques And Facts

2010-10-16T13:21:00.002+07:00

Age spots are dark browns spots that appear on your face and they look terrible. Usually when you are old you get them and many people want to focus on Age Spot Removal. I hear that a product of Obagi called the Blue Peel Cleanser works. It is very popular. Usually you see a lot of age spots on older women's faces however, I am a young woman and I had one area of hyperpigmentation. It really helped break apart those proteins plus I use the Obagi System and my skin looks great.

When I go into doctor offices I see the booklet of Obagi and their products and I think to myself I already use them and they are cheaper than what this place is selling them for. The sun causes hyperpigmentation of your skin and so I try to wear sunscreen to protect my face so that I don't get wrinkles or hyperpigmentation. My mom uses the Obagi Nu-Derm System and she is 65 and looks great. My aunt always comments on her skin. My aunt uses the products but they are very expensive in her state. I know she likes the skin care products and her daughter does too. I like the fact that I am trying to prevent wrinkles and remove freckles but when I look in the mirror I see more and more wrinkles. I have to try to do anything to prevent them now.

I spoke with a woman on the phone about how she says she is now 50 and her skin looks great because when she was in her 20′s she used anti aging products and Retin A. She mentioned her grandma looked great and that maybe it is her genes but she was boasting about her skin and the comments she gets on her skin. I am fair skinned and I get age spots as well even at my age. I want a cream that really helps the wrinkles around my eye area. I see that area as wrinkling the most so I try to prevent the wrinkles. It seems everyone gets age spots and everyone wants them to be removed. I hear everything from the cause of hyperpigmentation from hormones all the way to sun exposure. I have this 100 SPF Sunscreen that has a tint to protect your face. I used to go out without any sunscreen when I was younger and that was not a good idea. My fiance wants to look young and asks me to make him look young with skin care creams and remove his age spots. His face has some wrinkles and I let him use some of my Obagi Elastiderm Night Cream.

Plastic Surgey: The New Beauty Norm?

2010-10-13T20:29:00.001+07:00

This is a good topic to discuss especially now since the popularity of all the make-over shows. I have always been curious as to why people, mostly women, have this idea that they are expected to look a certain way in order to "fit in" with society.

We all would like to believe that quaint saying, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", but how true and meaningful is that phrase when the beholder has been brainwashed, so to speak, into subscribing to the belief that beauty is the artificial look we see on glamour mags, in TV commercials, and even in some children's books? For some time now, that image has consisted mainly of white women and the "white standard of beauty".

I decided to take this question of plastic surgery and the search for beauty and see how it can affect some women in the African-American community. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, African-Americans make up only 6% of plastic surgery patients. Why is this? Do African-American women have a more positive self/body image or is it that many cannot afford it? And for the 6% who do have surgery, to which standard of beauty were they trying to aspire?

I chose to start my search for the white standard of beauty in 1960. I chose that year because at the time, a TV show was airing that sought to teach moral and societal lessons through fantastical tales.
Two episodes of this show were very telling and prophetic, and they both dealt with how society viewed beauty and the expectations placed on women to be "beautiful".
That show was, The Twilight Zone.

Beauty in 1960...
Rod Serling offered us a tale of beauties and beasts in episode #42 entitled: Eye of the Beholder.
Here's a brief synopsis of the show I found at The Twilight Zone Guide:
Janet Tyler anxiously awaits the outcome of her latest surgery. Janet, who's abnormal face has made her an outcast, has had her eleventh hospital visit - the maximum allowed by the State. If it didn't succeed, she will be sent to live in a village where others of her kind are segregated. As her bandages are removed, she is revealed to be very beautiful. The doctor draws back in horror. As the lights come on we see the others, their faces are misshapen and deformed. As Janet runs from her room crying, she runs into another of her kind, a handsome man named Walter Smith. He is in charge of an outcast village, and he assures her that she will eventually feel she belongs. He tells her to remember the old saying: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
Although the show was filmed in black and white, we can clearly see that Ms. Tyler is Caucasian. The doctors appear to have darker skin, nevertheless, the idea here was that the viewers empathized with Ms. Tyler because she was the classic blonde, slender beauty commonly seen in 1960's fashion magazines.
As the show closes, the narrator speaks:
"Now the questions that come to mind. Where is this place and when is it, what kind of world where ugliness is the norm and beauty the deviation from that norm? The answer is, it doesn't make any difference. Because the old saying happens to be true. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, in this year or a hundred years hence, on this planet or wherever there is human life, perhaps out among the stars. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Lesson to be learned...in the Twilight Zone."

1964: The Standard Continues
Episode #137, in Season Five, is called, "Number Twelve Looks Just Like You", and was adapted by a short story called "The Beautiful People". In this episode, we meet Marilyn, a young woman who is about to go through a rite of passage in her community. This rite is called "The Transformation" and it requires citizens to choose among several models of bodies into which they will be transformed. The message here is that this society only sees one standard of beauty and that one will not be happy unless they look and act just like everyone else. Opening Narration:
"Given the chance, what young girl wouldn't happily exchange a plain face for a lovely one? What girl could refuse the opportunity to be beautiful? For want of a better estimate, let's call it the year 2000. At any rate, imagine a time in the future when science has developed a means of giving everyone the face and body he dreams of. It may not happen tomorrow--but it happens now, in the Twilight Zone."

Once again, the beautiful people are all white and we don't see any women or men of color. What was this episode trying to tell black women about beauty? The closing narration:
Portrait of a young lady in love--with herself. Improbable? Perhaps. But in an age of plastic surgery, body building, and an infinity of cosmetics, let us hesitate to say impossible. These and other strange blessings may be waiting in the future--which after all, is the Twilight Zone."

Beauty 40 Years Later

Some aspects of beauty standards have changed, but not much. We do see more black models and beautiful black women, but when you look at the majority of the more famous ones, (Tyra, Halle, Janet, Vanessa Williams, Beyonce, a few of whom have had plastic surgery, on their noses and other body parts), you can see straight away that they have many Caucasian attributes: small, pinched noses, lighter complexion, lighter eyes, straight, lightly colored hair. It is rare that you will see a model with very dark skin, a tight afro, wide, round, larger nose, and full, large lips. Flip through any issue of Vogue or Glamour and look for that image I just described. Then look for the first image I described.

So, are black women trying to aspire to the white standard of beauty when they seek plastic surgery?

According to Cynthia Winston, assistant professor of psychology at Howard University in Washington, D.C., We really don't know much about how blacks are influenced. Most of the research focuses on perceptions related to skin color. Foe most African-Americans, perception can be shaped by their environment. For example, an African-American woman growing up in an all-white neighborhood in Nebraska may be more likely than an African-American woman raised in inner-city Detroit to compare herself with white images of beauty.

(Source: African-American Women & Plastic Surgery: Self-Improvement or Self-Hatred? By Angela D. Johnson, Sept. 2, 2003)

Now What?

I suppose, it all comes down to how one feels inside about themselves. But there is this viscous cycle of doubt that women constantly face so it's often hard to reconcile your inner voices with the outside images thrown at you everyday. Many women buy into the trends and fashions that dictate beauty. TV shows and print ads abound with images of sexy women. Fitness clubs persuade women to join not so they will lower their risk of heart disease, but so they will aspire to be beautiful on the outside. No one tries to sell things that will help them on the inside.

In the end, you can look at all of this and say that there will always be standards of beauty and those who aspire to live up those standards, and those wanting to make a profit off those standards (cosmetic companies, ad agencies, modeling agencies, fashion designers, plastic surgeons, psychotherapists). The media portrays what people want to see and apparently, it's sex and "beauty".

Ms. Martin currently resides in sunny Southern California with her son. When she's not writing, she works part-time as a preschool teacher where she hopes to help all children develop positive self and body images.

The Mystique of Beauty - The Intuitive Capability of Man to Know Truth and Good

2010-10-13T20:10:00.001+07:00

Beauty is one of the most difficult term to define yet one of the easiest terms to understand. We all know what is beautiful and what is not. It does not take a second for a person to say if a girl, a child, a man , a place, a song or a poem is beautiful or not. Yet we hardly know why it is beautiful. All we know is that we like beautiful things and feel good when we see or hear something beautiful.

Random House dictionary, defines "beauty" as a characteristic present in a person, place, object or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure, meaning or satisfaction to the mind or to the eyes, arising from sensory manifestations such as a shape, color, personality, sound, design or rhythm.

Yet no one knows, what are these characteristics that make a thing beautiful? Since beauty is based on the perception of the person, it is often said that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Beauty is also considered to be only skin deep which means that beauty is superficial and it lacks any substance.

The opposite of beauty is ugly i.e. what gives us a bad feeling. When we see an ugly thing, we just don't like it and want to close our sensual perception and mind from that thing. Everyone wants to see beauty and become beautiful and dread to become ugly. While we see a beautiful thing or meet a beautiful person, we just want to keep on looking. Einstein used the concept of beauty to explain the Theory of Relativity i.e. how time can expand or contract

"You spend 30 minutes with a beautiful girl, it seems like a moment. You spend a moment sitting on a hot stove, it seems like 30 minutes".

Beauty is so important to human beings that they can do anything to look beautiful or achieve beautiful things in life. The pursuit of human life seems to become beautiful or acquire beautiful things in life. Beauty has such a powerful attraction that it bewilders all logic and rationality of the person and sometime the attraction become fatal. Why is beauty such a powerful force?

Beauty means Truth and Good

In the ancient philosophies, the material body is believed to be the material reflection of the soul, the spark of the universal soul or God. Hence, if the person is good, it is because the person has a beautiful soul. It is because of the beauty of the soul that people do good actions in this world. People find their parents and friends beautiful, because they are good to them. We can hardly find any beauty in our enemies as they are not good to us. When a friend turns enemy, the same person cease to be beautiful.

In Indian philosophy God is said to have three manifestations in this world i.e. Truth, Good and Beautiful (Satyam, Shivam and Sundaram). Hence when we find something beautiful, it is only because it has the truth and goodness in it.

Scientists discover secrets (truths) of nature, because they find universe beautiful (Difficult to imagine?). Einstein said "I have deep faith that the principle of the universe will be beautiful and simple."

Jules Henri Poincare, a famous French mathematician and scientist said

"The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful. If nature were not beautiful, it would not be worth knowing, and if nature were not worth knowing, life would not be worth living."

The discovery of truth is, therefore, to with the beauty it holds. For a scientist, the universe is not a dead object but he sees beautiful pattern and aesthetics in the nature, which helps him find the secrets of nature. While most of the people find the world as an ugly place due to its imperfectness like inequality, injustice, disorder, a poet sees the same world as beautiful and creates poetry. A poet can only make beautiful poetry, if he finds beauty in nature and human beings. A logical person or a critique of the world can never find these truth of the world as he can never see beauty in this world.

The Evidence of Beauty

Since beauty needs no logic, people often accuse beauty of being superficial. The rational people or scientists accept no facts to be true unless proven objectively by experiments and investigations. They often blame the perceptions of beauty as biased and prejudiced which has developed in the people in the process of evolution.

We all know that a human body looks beautiful, if it is within a particular range of body weight depending upon the height of the person. We don't find the body beautiful, if it is either too thin or too fat. Yet we can't say why only a particular weight should make the body beautiful? However, the scientists have discovered that what we perceive as beautiful is actually the best body weight for health and longevity. A study conducted by more than a million participants by the US Cancer Prevention [1] concluded that

.. optimum body mass indexes to be between 23.5 and 24.9 for men and 22.0 and 23.4 for women. As body mass index increased, risk of death increased. Men and women, with body mass indexes of 40.0 or higher, increased the risk of death by 250% and 200% respectively. In contrast, underweight men and women, with body mass indexes of 18.5 or lower, increased the risk by 26% and 36% respectively.

Thus, the perception of beauty is not superficial as it is supported by robust scientific research. If, we can imagine how we, can perceive beauty of the body, we can easily notice that our perception of beauty perhaps vary in the same proportion as the effect of body weight on health as if our mind already knows what is good for the body even without going through the long process of research.

Once a scientist described to Einstein, how long years of experimentation and research lead to the discovery of the scientific theory. The wife of Einstein promptly remarked that her husband (Einstein) would have developed the same theory on a piece of paper. Einstein never conducted any experiments, but developed the soundest of the scientific theories from the imagination of his mind as man himself a replica of the universe.

We all have the inherent capability to distinguish the good from the evil and the truth from the untruth by our ability to see beauty. When we eat an apple, we don't have to send it to laboratory to know if it is rotten or fresh. We can simply by looking at it can know that it is fresh. A beautiful apple is also a good apple for health.

What is Good?

The first thing to understand is what is good? We can define goodness from the perspective of self and the world. One can be good to the world, if his actions are for the good of the world. Similarly, one can also be good if his actions are good for him. An ugly man, therefore, must be one who is not only bad for the world but also bad for himself.

However, we can argue, why one would like to do anything that is harmful to self. Yet there is no dearth of such actions. For example, if one eats too much and become obese, it is surely not good for his own health. Similarly smoking, additions etc are also not good for one's own self. All selfish actions are initially good for the person but gradually become bad for him, if these actions are not good for the society. The challenge thus lies in finding a way that is not only good for self but also good for the society. All successful persons and businessman finds a way to find their good in the goods of others. For example, Bill Gates is the richest person in the world, not by doing any harm to the society but by bringing tremendous benefit to the society. As a consequence, he also became a rich man.

However, when a person focuses only on selfish benefit without any concern for the world, he creates an imbalance in the world that makes the person bad. This leads to the path of untruth and evil. Such a person gradually becomes unattractive and ugly as the evil starts getting reflected on his body and the face.

What is good also depends on the person and the situations. A sunny day many look beautiful in the cold winters and cold countries but extremely unattractive for the people of the tropical and warm countries. The woman may look extremely beautiful to a lover but only ordinary to other men and women. Hills may be beautiful for the people living in the plain or in hotter places but may look unattractive to the native who may find the modern world of malls and urban life more attractive. A western music may be attractive to some but repulsive to others.

Thus our perception to beauty has also a purpose. The attraction depends not only the object of beauty but also our mental makeup. We find beauty in things that complements ourselves. It force of attraction due to beauty can be compared with the force of attraction of the electric changes. The opposite attracts and once they meet they neutralize each other. So often we are attracted towards something which we lack. Often, we are not even aware what is missing unless we find something attractive. The beauty is thus a guide to achieve the missing something in us so that we can have more fulfilling and contented life.

Yoga: The Secret of Beauty

The secret of the natural beauty lies in the mantra truth, good and beauty (Satyam, Shivam and Sundaram). To look beautiful outside, one has to be good inside. The good feeling can come only by being good and truthful. If one becomes bad for others, he has to pay the price with his beauty.

Yoga, one of the ancient methods for good heath, means union. It defies all scientific theories as people use yoga to reduce weight and become healthy not by burning calories in gym or by medication but simply by effortless postures of the body designed many thousands of years ago that requires discipline of the body and mind. Yoga means union i.e. the union of body and mind with the soul on personal level and the union of individual soul to the universal soul or the soul of the world on he other level. Yoga, is used all over the world, to make oneself beautiful as it beings the goodness and truth in the person. However, once the person become beautiful, he automatically gets he proper body weight and also fitness and good health.

The Challenges of being Beautiful

Some people are born beautiful but other acquires beauty by conscious effort. Often the most become people become unattractive due to their lifestyle and evil actions. Who would find beauty in a obese man or woman or in a criminal. However, often very ordinary looking person become very attractive because of their achievements. It is particularly true about man who seems to become more attractive with their achievements and good deeds.

As believed in the Indian philosophies, beauty is the manifestation of God in this world. Hence, if a person start doing evil acts, he start drifting from God to Devil. Soon the person would start looking ugly too. His face and body would transform in a way that he would lose all beauty. He would lose health and fitness. He would fall sick frequently. He would become overweight or underweight so as to lose his vitality and health. His face would become cruel or pale devoid of serenity and beauty.

It is not a mere coincidence that no dictator or evil person has ever been beautiful. Conversely, a beautiful person can not be cruel or evil. One proof of this statement is that women, who epitomize beauty, can hardly kill innocent people or commit murder. Woman represents beauty hence they also mean what is good for the society. They risk their own life to create a new life.

We also find that all children are beautiful. It is not a mere a coincidence that all children are also good. They love every creation of the world including innate objects like dolls, toys and animals. Most of the cartoon films and the children's film show kindness to animals. Yet as a man grows, he losses his beauty, if he starts losing goodness.

Secret of Beauty

Beauty is one of the biggest desire of human beings hence a great biggest business opportunity for the businessmen. The cosmetic industry is a multi-billion dollar business today all over the world. Yet can any cosmetics make you beautiful. The beauty due to cosmetics is truly superficial and often causes long term harm to the person. The true secret of beauty lies in discovering truth and goodness in the world and within oneself. Once a person has acquired inner beauty, his body and face start emitting the beauty of the soul to the world. One must also use his or her perception of beauty as a guide to achieve a more fulfilling life in this world. Beauty is, therefore, the most beautiful thing in the world as it comes to every person naturally without any training or study, yet it represents the truth and goodness of this world.

References:

[1] Body Weight and Mortality: What is the optimum weight for a longer life? URL; jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/hliving/BMIwords.html

Mr. Awdhesh K Singh is a government of India officer. He is an Engineer by education and philosopher by passion.

He has published several papers in International Journals and Conferences on the subject of E-governance and the application of Artificial Intelligence tools like Fuzzy Logic (FL) and Expert Systems (ES) for E-governance. He also has keen interest in the study and application of Indian Philosophies for solving the real-life problems of the modern world.

Truth, Beauty, Goodness

2010-10-12T13:05:00.001+07:00

Can one know what true beauty and goodness are? Is there an objectivity to these attributes, or are they merely what one perceives them to be? Let us focus on what God has created women to be and what society tells them to be. Does the truth lie in women being successful career women to the exclusion of their own feminine nature; in being dependent on the admiration of others for their self-worth; or in their being mere physical objects of pleasure? Or are they called to find the truth of their dignity in the model of Mary, Virgin Mother of God, who reflects and participates in the Divine Truth, Beauty, and Goodness of which all creation is called to reflect and share in?

The question of truth, beauty, and goodness is one that has intrigued men for centuries. The pagan philosophers seek to identify that which is True, Good, and Beautiful. For the Christian, however, there can be no other answer than that which affirms that the Triune God is the True, the Beautiful, and the Good. By His very essence God is all three. Everything else is so only by participation. We can know this because God has chosen to reveal Himself to us. The Catechism of the Catholic Church #2500 tells us that "even before revealing Himself to man in words of truth, God reveals Himself to (man) through the universal language of creation." All creation reflects its Creator; therefore, we can see something of Beauty itself in creation. Truth, beauty, and goodness, which are called "the transcendentals," cannot be separated from one another because they are a unity as the Trinity is One. Truth is beautiful in itself. And goodness describes all that God has made. "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good" (Gen.1:31).

Man is the summit of the Creator's work, as Scripture expresses by clearly distinguishing the creation of man from that of other creatures. "God created man in His own image..." (Gen. 1:27). Thus, man was not only created good and beautiful, but he was also established in friendship with his Creator and in harmony with himself and with the creation around him, in a state that would be surpassed only by the glory of the new creation in Christ. The inner harmony of the first man, the harmony between the first man and woman (Adam and Eve), and the harmony between the first couple and all creation, is called "original justice." This entire harmony of original justice was lost by the sin of our first parents. Created in a state of holiness, man was destined to be fully "divinized" by God in glory. But he preferred himself to God and disobeyed God's command.

Thus, Adam and Eve immediately lost the grace of original holiness, and the harmony in which they had lived was destroyed. They were separated from Beauty Itself. God, however did not abandon mankind, all of whom share in the sin of Adam, since "by one man's disobedience all were made sinners" (Rom. 5:12). In the fullness of time God sent His Son to restore that which had been lost. The Son, who is "beautiful above the sons of men," came to restore us to beauty.

Thus, we turn now to beauty. Von Balthasar once remarked that when one is seeking to draw others to God, he should begin with beauty because beauty attracts. Beauty will then lead to truth and goodness. Hence, if one is going to begin with beauty then one must know what beauty is. I will make a distinction between two types of beauty, although only one of them is beauty in the truest sense of the definition. There is "seductive" beauty, which is often reflected in our current culture. This would entail whatever allures us to our self-destruction (morally or spiritually). It takes us away from what we were created for, union with Beauty Himself. This type of beauty I will return to, but first I want to establish a definition and proper understanding of what "true" beauty is. This is first and foremost whatever attracts us to our true fulfillment and happiness. In his book The Beauty of Holiness and the Holiness of Beauty, John Saward, drawing on the work of St.Thomas Aquinas, defines beauty as: "the gleaming of the substantial or actual form that is found in the proportioned parts of a material things." In other words, while one can find beauty in the outward appearance, one must go deeper to the nature or the essence of the thing.

"Thus, in a material substance (such as man) there is beauty when the essence of a thing shines clearly through its outward appearance." The beauty of one's soul can be said to shine through a person's countenance. For this to occur, three things are necessary -wholeness (integrity), due proportion (harmony), and radiance (clarity). It is important to note that understood in this definition is the fact that beauty is a reality in itself, it is not something that we produce by looking at a work of art or some other thing that attracts us. Rather, beauty radiates out of what we see. It radiates out because it is participating in Beauty itself. In regards to Jesus, "Christian Tradition - from Augustine and Hilary to Peter Lombard, Albert, Thomas, and Bonaventure - holds that beauty can be appropriated in a special way to the Second Person..."

St. Thomas says that all three marks of beauty are found in Jesus. Radiance is found in Him because He is the Word of the Father, and the Word eternally uttered by the Father completely and perfectly expresses Him. He is the brightness of the Father's mind. Due proportion is found in the Son of God because He is the perfect image of the Father. As the perfect image, He is divine beauty. Jesus has wholeness because He has in Himself the whole nature of the Father. In begetting the Son, the Father communicates the whole of His divine essence. Thus, we have a Divine Person, God the Son, who without ceasing to be true God, has been made true man for us in the Virgin's womb. When one sees the Virgin and the Child, one sees a witness to the Trinity. Pope John Paul II explains that this picture of Mother and Child "constitutes a silent but firm statement of Mary's virginal motherhood, and for that very reason, of the Son's divinity."

It is as such a witness to the Trinity that allows Mary a special place in relationship to the True, the Good, and the Beautiful. The Blessed Virgin, said the fifteenth century poet John Lydgate, is the "Fairest Mother that ever was alive." Many poets and artists have sought to express their praise and admiration for Her who is so closely united to Divinity. When Dante reaches Paradise, he finds the beauty of the Son of God most perfectly mirrored in Mary, of whom He was born. Thus, we will see how Mary is to be for all, but especially women, a model of true beauty, and thus, goodness and truth, as she reflects a sharing in the life of the Trinity. "All the beauty for soul and body that the Son of God brought into the world, all the loveliness He wanted to lavish on mankind, is summed up in, and mediated by the person of His ever virgin Mother, 'a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars' (Rev. 12:1). If there is beauty, it is here."

To understand Mary's beauty, one must know of the gifts bestowed on her, and her response to these gifts, which put her in intimate contact with Beauty, Itself. Scripture, God's revealed Word, tells us that "an angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph...and the virgin's name was Mary. And he (the angel) came to her and said, 'Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you! ... Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call Him Jesus. He will be great and called the Son of the Most High...And Mary said, ' How can this be since I have no husband?' And the angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.' ...And Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.'" (Lk. 1:26-38).

To become the mother of the Savior, Mary was given the gifts necessary and befitting such a role. Mary was greeted as "full of grace," as if that were her real name. A name expresses a person's identity. "Full of grace" is Mary's essence, her identity, and the meaning of her life. Mary is full of grace because the Lord is with her. The grace with which she is filled is the presence of Him who is the source of all grace, and she is given over to Him who has come to dwell in her and whom she is about to give to the world. She is by a singular grace free from any stain of sin by reason of the merits of her Son. She possesses the harmony that Adam lost. Thus, she has the first two qualities of beauty: due proportion (harmony) and integrity (wholeness) because by the merits of her Son and the fullness of grace which she has been given, her nature is complete - unwounded and unstained by sin.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church proclaims that "Mary, the all-holy ever-virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the Spirit in the fullness of time...In her, the 'wonders of God' that the Spirit was to fulfill in Christ and in the Church began to be manifested." Through Mary, the Holy Spirit begins to bring men, "the objects of God's merciful love, into communion with Christ."

Grace has been described as "God's better beauty, the splendor of the soul." And Mary, who is full of grace, radiates that splendor, that spiritual beauty. Grace (sanctifying grace) gives us a share in the Divine Life; it conforms our souls into the likeness of Christ. Mary in her abundance of grace is a reflected beauty of her Son. She possesses the "radiance" which is the third of the qualities of beauty. The great St. Bernard of Clairvaux declares that "contemplating the countenance of the Mother is the best way of preparing to see the glorious face of the Son." Saward endorses this idea by pointing to the fact that Our Lord is conceived by the Holy Spirit without seed, thus there is only one human person whom He resembles in His humanity, and that is His Virgin Mother.

How does Mary's beauty enable women of today to be an image of true beauty, and hence of truth and goodness also? Mary, the Theotokos - the Mother of God, the Mother of Infinite Beauty, who is herself beautiful, will guide women to that which is true and good. She shows the falsehood of "seductive beauty," which we have noted above as being whatever allures us to our self-destruction (morally or spiritually), by holding up her own "true" beauty in contrast. Before showing the essence of Mary's beauty, which meets St. Thomas' requirements for beauty: wholeness, due proportion, and radiance, we will look at society's claim of womanly beauty. Women today are told by society that what is good and beautiful is that which is glamorous and seductive. Beauty is separated from God, Who is disregarded and Whose goodness is exchanged for a "base mind and improper conduct" (Rom. 1:28), leading to both spiritual and often physical dissolution. The "truth" that they are taught is one which "considers the human being (and hence, the woman) not as a person but as a thing, as an object of trade, at the service of selfish interest and mere pleasure... this falsehood produces such bitter fruits as contempt for men and for women, slavery, oppression of the weak, pornography, prostitution..."

Thus, beauty is often seen as a mere physical quality. It lacks "due proportion" because only one aspect of the whole person is considered. Society emphasizes the physical to the exclusion of the spiritual. Flowing from this same type of mentality, we see that women are honored more for their work outside the home than for their work within the family. What is "seen" as attractive is a woman who is able to achieve the "good" of a successful career, which promises happiness and "equality with men." In order to achieve this, women often times either renounce their femininity or become a mere imitation of the male role. They are in a sense trading in the quality of "integrity," which is necessary for true beauty, for society's limited claim of the beautiful. This "seductive beauty" which promises so much "good" gives rise to a hedonism that distorts and falsifies human sexuality and the true dignity of the human person. This leads not only to a lack of respect for what womanhood is to be, since the truth about their personal dignity as one who was created and redeemed by God is unknown, but it also hinders women from achieving the "fullness of grace" for which they were created. It leads to women's spiritual destruction because they are not living a life of grace. They are not living for God.

Mary, who lived a grace-filled life, is, however, the model of redeemed woman. God Himself "manifests the dignity of women in the highest form possible by assuming human flesh from the Virgin Mary, whom the Church honors as the Mother of God." The highest elevation of the human nature took place in the masculine gender, when Jesus, the Son of God, became man and male. The highest elevation of the human person took place in the feminine gender, in the Virgin Mary. Her divine maternity gives her an exalted dignity. She is "blessed among women." Therefore, all womanhood shares in her blessing and is made radiant by her. "When the Virgin Mary is humbly honored for the sake of her Son, women will be honored...for she has revealed the true beauty of womanhood."

Looking at what we have already said about Mary, we know "full of grace" reveals her essence, her identity. It is also the key to her reflection of the True, the Good, and the Beautiful. It is the key to women discovering the truth of their own dignity, and hence, obtaining the divine life that is offered to them through a life of grace. This is a life that will bestow on them true goodness and beauty, which is a participation in the beauty of the Creator.

Because Mary is "full of grace," she possesses the wholeness that was lost by Adam. Because of grace, she is "radiant as the sun," showing in her very being the clarity of a life united with God. Such a union shines forth in a person's actions; actions which are a reflection of God's goodness. "The practice of goodness is accompanied by spontaneous spiritual joy and moral beauty" (CCC 2500). These actions, called virtues, "are acquired by education, by deliberate acts and by a perseverance ever-renewed in repeated efforts are purified and elevated by divine grace" (CCC1810). Grace affects every dimension of a person's life. It is a gift of God that leads us closer to God. The closer we are to God, the more we reflect Him who is Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.

Mary is held up for us as the model of the life of virtue. She is a guide in living a life of faithfulness to grace. Due to space limitation, I will only briefly look at three of the virtues that Mary possesses and calls us to imitate. They are faith, obedience, and charity. The Church hails Mary as an "excellent exemplar in faith and charity" (Lumen Gentium 53). We see her faith when she entrusts herself freely to God at the Annunciation, believing and trusting the angel's message to her that the son to be born to her would be the Son of the Most High, certain that "with God nothing is impossible" (Lk. 1:30). Her journey of faith continues in her responses to that which occurs in her life of union with Jesus. She flees to Egypt when Joseph is directed to go there (Mt. 2:13-15); she returns in the same manner (Mt. 2:19-23); and she faithfully perseveres in her union with her Son unto the cross (cf. LG#58, Jn.19:25-27), all the while believing and trusting in the wisdom of God's divine plan. She believed that her Son, though crucified and buried, would rise from the dead. She waited in prayer (Acts 1:14). We, too, are called to be women of faith, believing what God has revealed concerning His plan for us and our salvation.

Flowing from Mary's deep faith, she shows her loving obedience. Hers was not a servile obedience. Rather it was an obedience that flowed from humility. She knew the wisdom and greatness of God and therefore, sought to live in conformity with it. Being obedient to God meant responding in trust to His all-wise plan. Again, at the Annunciation, she replies in obedience to the angel, "Let it be done to me as you say" (Lk. 1:36). She obediently follows the directions that the angel gives to Joseph, trusting in God. Mary remained obedient to her role as mother even to the cross, where she obediently offers the full assent of her intellect and will to Him whose ways are inscrutable. As we seek to imitate Mary's obedience, we will find that it frees us from the slavery of sin. Obedience makes us beautiful because it opens us up to God's grace, to His life and love within us.

Mary's faith and obedience allows her great charity to shine through. Mary, the Mother of Fairest Love, possesses a self-humbling love, innocent of all narcissism. "It is for Christ and to the glory of the Father, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, that our Lady is 'all fair.'" She devotes herself "totally as a handmaid of the Lord to the person and work of her Son... she does this freely" (LG # 56). This acceptance of her role as "Mother of the Son of God (is) guided by spousal love, the love which totally consecrates a human being to God. By virtue of this love, Mary wished to always be and in all things given to God." This love that remains faithful to her Son throughout His life, even to His cruel death on Calvary, extends itself to the brethren of her Son, those souls still journeying on earth (cf. LG #62-63). There is nothing more beautiful than charity, which we are all called to practice, and which inspires and animates all the other virtues (cf. CCC 1827). Charity, the form of all virtues "binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Col. 3:14), one of the aspects of beauty.

These virtues and the life of grace are possible for all women, who seek to know the truth and avail themselves of the grace that comes from the merits of Jesus Christ, who came to restore mankind to the beauty of adopted children and "partakers in the divine nature" (1 Pt. 1:3). St. Francis de Sales notes that because of grace we are so like Christ that we resemble God perfectly, because in His becoming man, Jesus has taken our likeness and given us His. Thus, we must do what we can to preserve this beauty and divine resemblance that He has restored to us.

Mary helps women to do this. Her beauty attracts, and because it attracts she leads us to Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn.14:6). Mary is loved and honored because she reflects the truth, beauty, and goodness of her Son by her actions, by her life of virtue. Her role is to lead others to Him and to the truth he teaches and is. This is seen by looking once again at how creation reflects the beauty of God. All that God creates is good; it is beautiful. Jesus, who is the fullness of revelation, has raised creation to an even higher dignity by restoring all things "according to the plan God was pleased to restore in Christ. A plan to be carried out in Christ, in the fullness of time, to bring all things into one in Him, in the heavens and on earth" (Eph. 1:9-10). Thus, harmony is restored, all is made whole, and His glory is made known. Because the "Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father" (Jn. 1:14)

Man was created in the image and likeness of God; Jesus renewed humanity in His immortal image. He restored us to the likeness of God. Mary reflects the beauty of her Son in her very essence. Mary is the one who will, in cooperation with her Divine Son, help women to discover the truth of their feminine nature, to reflect the beauty of a child of God, and by God's grace to live that goodness that comes from God alone. Women, to attain this ideal, must turn to Mary as a model, who has been chosen by God from all eternity to be the Mother of His Son, and to be a guide for us on our journey to the True, the Good, and the Beautiful, our true fulfillment and happiness. Women should entrust themselves to Mary's guidance because she already is that which they are called to be: full of grace. As the Church prays in the Divine Liturgy: Lord, as we honor the glorious memory of the Virgin Mary, we ask that by the help of Her prayers, we too may come to share the fullness of Your grace," so that by that grace we too may reflect that which is True, Beautiful, and Good.

Margie Crooks is the Director of Parish Ministries for the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana. She is also the Director of Religious Education for St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Fishers, Indiana. Margie earned her Master's Degree in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, where she graduated with honors. Margie is also a Licensed Health Facility Administrator and has worked for 17 years in the health care field.

The Personal Power of Beauty

2010-10-12T13:00:00.002+07:00

Beauty is Infinite, Beauty is Health, Beauty is Truth, Beauty is Power

What is the Personal Power of Beauty?

Beauty is the power of radiance, and your personal beauty has the power to illuminate your world to a more radiant and bountiful experience. There is abundance, joy, passion, sensuality and pleasure to be had in your beautiful life, and working with your personal power of beauty is a strategy for claiming even more. Your personal power of beauty is a treasure to behold, a way to be bold and a powerful journey for you to unfold. Beneath the surface of your skin is the story of your beauty, and this is the story that is meant to be told.

The personal power of beauty is a magical tool that enhances all aspects of your existence to a more majestic and magnificent experience. Beauty is the source of your personal magic; it is the essence of who you are, it connects you to others and to the plenty of this planet.

What is beauty? Where does it come from? Who has it?
When you think of beauty is it something you know you have within you? Or does beauty seem like something elusive and outside of you?

All people are beautiful, and it is our essential nature to radiate this beautiful truth.

The Beauty is on the Inside

Years ago, I saw an ad that I loved for Burt's Bee's products. The photo was of a group of Harley-type bikers, you know, heavy set men, grimacing, hairy and looking kind of scary. The caption on the ad said "The Beauty is on the Inside". It couldn't be clearer, beneath the packaging is where you will find true Beauty, it's on the Inside. This ad cracked me up, just thinking about it still makes me smile; the message was so clear, powerful and beautifully stated. Beauty comes from within, it emanates through the skin and vibrates around us.

Each of us has our own personal beauty, it is the unique essence of who we are, like our signature or thumb print, it is exclusively our own. Our personal beauty or inner beauty stems from the heart, our center of love. Our center of love is the vital force of our spirit, and the vital force of our spirits spring from the source of all life: Whether it be God, Goddess, Great Spirit, Energy, Vibration, the Creator, Nature, the Divine or the Force it is all the same source. Whatever you believe to be the divine spark of life within you; whatever you equate to the magic of your existence; however you understand life with its complexities and perfections and which ever way you account for the air that is your breath and the fire of your spirit all stems from the source of life, and the beauty within you is a part of the package. Our beauty is a divine light that sparks through each cell of our being. You truly can never be anything but beautiful, for you are life and life itself is beauty.

When you understand the source of beauty within you, you then have access to its potential for your greater abundance, power and ability to manifest change. The power of your beauty is already embedded in your essence, ready to glow. However, it is harnessed through your beliefs about yourself and the actions you take in the name of truth, beauty and love. You are born with the tools to become a channel for this very compelling and influential vibration. You are the vehicle for this sacred source to shimmer and shine.

Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty. That is all ye know on Earth, and all ye need to know." -John Keats.
We live in a world where our concepts of beauty are decided by the collective consciousness, the standards of our society. Many of us, especially women, are victims of what is known as the 'beauty myth'. A world where fashion rules, perfect body types are most desired and our ways of looking and being are all meant to sell or consume products: beauty products, fragrances, diet pills, hair color, fashion magazines, douches etc. But that is not what true beauty is made of. The truth is we are already whole and complete beings, we are all perfect because we are each perfectly ourselves. What is true is that beauty is everywhere and within everything. For everything on earth and in the universe is of the divine source. Unfortunately, many of us were not taught to honor our own beauty in this way. We were warned against being too conceited or told we were not beautiful enough and sadly so many beautiful people have never had their own precious nature reflected back to them. We hide our beauty in the shadows, even the super models complain about places within themselves that they find hideous. In subtle and not so subtle ways we have been disempowered and misdirected by the media to seeing ourselves as less than the ideal of beauty. Every commercial on television is an assault, telling us what we need to do to be better, happier and more beautiful. This is the beauty myth and it can destroy our sense of self-esteem and even destroy the joy in our lives, it already has for so many people.

As adults, we need to re-teach ourselves where true beauty comes from. We need to re-connect to the radiant source of life within us and teach this to our children. True beauty comes from the heart and soul and spirit of who you truly are, it is your divine right to resonate with self-love and allow your beauty to take the stage. Your authenticity is buzzing with beauty. Life is love, love is truth and truth is beauty. All of life is sacred and all of life is beautiful. Beauty and truth are hand in hand, one does not exist without the other.

Elizabeth Stahl B.A., N.H.C., is the creator and facilitator of "My Goddess Party", Star of Aphrodite Mentoring and Life Coaching, Girls of Power and The Girls and Goddesses Parties - for girls ages 10 and up.

Elizabeth has 16 years of experience in the Natural Health Field specializing in Women's Health and Wellness. She combines her practice as a Natural Health Consultant (NHC), with her Life Coaching practice, Goddess Parties and Sacred Women's Circles. Elizabeth infuses Girls and Women with the essence of their divine feminine spirit and encourages their growth towards the women they want to be.

10 Foods and Supplements to Avoid

2010-09-19T05:06:00.005+07:00

The negative impact or the report of zero results of many foods and supplements has been reported throughout the years. Sometimes the list changes because someone has come up with a new gimmick or a new product that cures everything. My top 10 blacklisted foods and supplements changes depending upon the research that is most recent.

1. Processed meat is the first. Every report I have read says that we need to eliminate or at the very least reduce the amount of processed meats we eat such as cold cuts. One study found that patients who ate the most processed meats were at a much greater risk of recurrence for benign colorectal tumors. An older study and still regarded highly says that people who ate the most processed meat were 50 percent more likely to develop lower colon cancer. The other problem is processed meat is high in salt content and that is not good for blood pressure.

2. Fried fish is the second food to avoid. Granted, fish is good for you but do not fry it for fish sticks, fish sandwiches and fish and chips. A study of ultrasound images of 5,000 older adults found that those who ate fried fish showed greater evidence of arteriosclerosis and other heart problems.

3. Avoid trans fats. You can hardly turn on the TV or read an online health blurb without someone telling you to give up trans fat. An increase of just 2 percent.In caloric intake of trans fat was associated with a 23 percent higher risk of coronary heart disease. On a per-calorie basis, trans fat increased the risk of heart disease more than any other micronutrient.

4. Skip the power bars. Unless you are an athlete running marathons, most power bars and so called energy bars are glorified candy bars. They are packed with calories that you do not need.

5. As long as I am on the topic, then also skip the energy drinks. There is nothing nutritious about them. They are loaded with caffeine and extra sugar. Unless you are participating in some athletic activity that lasts longer than 2 hours, plain, ordinary water is your best source of hydration.

6 .Do not purchase 714X. You have probably seen the commercials for this product on TV. It is supposed to be a cancer treatment. Also called trimethylbicyclonitramineoheptane chloride, the inventor claims it cures multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia and other diseases. The American Cancer Society, our official research centers, or any other research facility have not found any evidence to substantiate those claims.

7. Policosanol does not work. This supplement is used to treat cholesterol. It is derived from sugar cane and is found in popular multivitamins but it not effective in lowering your LDL or the bad cholesterol.

8. Herbal weightloss products can be harmful. These products are seldom scientifically tested to prove they are safe or that they work. Ephedra, for example, is now banned from the market. Just because a product says it is ephedra free does not mean the product is danger free.

9. Saw palmetto extract does little to help an enlarged prostate. Men take saw palmetto as a treatment for enlarged prostate or a common condition known as prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). A relatively new federally funded clinical trial found no difference in benefits between saw palmetto extract and a placebo.

10. Glucosamine and chondroitin promise more than they give. Unless you are in severe pain from arthritis keep your money. In a random, double blind study, the supplements were found to be no more effective than a placebo against arthritis pain. Only a small subgroup, maybe the 20 percent with the worst pain, saw any meaningful benefit.

5 Simple and Effective Exercises to Lose Weight

2010-09-19T05:06:00.004+07:00

in addition to following a good diet, proper exercise is a very important thing for anyone wanting to lose weight. In this article you're going to read about 5 effective, but simple exercises to lose weight.

There are all kinds of ways to do it, considering all the various machines and routines, but we're going to zero in on exercises that fall into the two main types of exercises- aerobic and anaerobic (strength training).

The primary role of aerobic exercise is to help your body burn fat calories during the exercise routine. Meanwhile, strength training's contribution to weight loss is to burn a number of calories while you rest, which is known as increasing the speed of your resting metabolic rate (RMR).

Interestingly, the more muscular your body is, the more your RMR actually increases (i.e., burns more calories) because it takes more energy maintaining muscles than it does to maintain fat. So, with that in mind, here are 5 aerobic and strength training exercises that can easily be done almost anywhere, and done with consistency, will certainly assist you in losing weig

Do each of these 5 exercises in sets, 2 to 3 sets, 10-20 of each per set. However, if you're just starting a training program, consider beginning with fewer sets and fewer reps per set, and also possibly just 2-3 days/week, except the walking.

- Squats. These will build your leg and buttock muscles, which are the largest muscles in the human body. Each day, or at least every other day, stand in front of mirror if possible, place your feet at shoulder/s width and squat down and up.

Add 2 lb as you begin to build strength. or 5 lb. dumbbells to your routine, holding them in your hands and your work out. Be sure to loosen up a little first, and stop immediately if you feel any pain in your knees.

- Pushups. Doing push ups are a form of strength training because you are supporting nearly 70% of your body weight. These will increase your RMR and strengthen your arms.

- Jumping Jacks. Perhaps you haven't done any of these since elementary gym class, but this is an excellent aerobic exercise that affects the entire body. These can be noisy, so be considerate of neighbors if you live in any room above the first floor.

- High Stepping. This is a great way to not only burn calories, but to also give your heart a good workout. If you have stairs at your place of residence, use them. You can also use stackable step mats (stack from 12 to 15 inches high <38cm>), or a step stool with a wide, solid base.

This is also a good exercise for shaping your rear-end and legs. Don't overdo it at first. If you can only do one set of each of these four exercises initially, that's fine.

- Fast Walking. Once you've finished with the first 4 sets of exercises, finish with fast walking, which is better than regular walking in that it burns fat even quicker (a great aerobic exercise).

After first stretching and loosening up, build to a fast speed and try to maintain it for some time. Once you get tired, rotate between a few minutes of fast and then slower walking. 30-60 minutes is ideal once you build to that ability.

Utilizing just these five effective and simple exercises to lose weight, you are combining exercises that build muscle (strength training) and burn fat (aerobic exercises). They may seem a bit old school, but they really work!

5 Healthy Ways to Prevent and Heal Stretch Marks

2010-09-16T14:25:00.003+07:00

Stretch marks are a common dermatological problem in both sexes of all ages. Stretch Mark scars are formed when our skin needs to be stretched quickly. A sudden weight gain, pregnancy, puberty, height gaining, and sudden weight loss may cause cases like that. The inner layer of the skin tears as the normal production of the major protein that makes up the connective tissue in our skin, collagen, is disrupted. Trying to heal the wounds, the skin is increasing the amount of collagen in the overstretched tissue, resulting in those familiar pinkish lines.

If you are in one of these situations, watch out, you don’t want to see these lines on your skin later. Stretch Mark Treatments are often ineffective and in some cases very expensive. It is better prevent than to treat, so here are some prevention tips for you.

· Follow a balanced diet. Keep your weight gain within the recommended range, as sudden weight gain or weight loss is the most common cause of stretch marks as well as other health problems. If you have weight problems or sudden weight changes consult your doctor or dietician.

· Drink plenty of water. Hydration is important for your overall health and it is critical to healthy skin. Skin needs water for elasticity. Dehydration makes skin looking dry, lined and feeling delicate, being vulnerable enough for stretch marks and scars.

· Vitamins are a certain way to ensure proper nutritional status and shiny strong skin in and out. All vitamins are essential for healthy skin but you can make sure that you take enough of the skin beneficial vitamins; Vitamin A is critical for normal life cycle of skin cells, vitamin C, iron and copper which are important for the synthesis of collagen, folate is important for rapidly dividing skin cells, Vitamins B1 and B2 are critical for energy production in the cells and vitamin B12 is essential for a variety of synthetic processes in the cells.

· You can also use a body brush to massage the areas where you have or want to prevent stretch marks from appearing, such us the thighs, buttocks, breasts and arms. This massage will increase circulation to the area, adding points to your efforts.

· Moisturize your skin externally. You can apply several moisturizing creams and oils. Daily massage the area with a substance of your choice. Olive oil, vaseline, vitamin E cream, different types of butter such us cocoa butter, coconut butter and shea butter will do fine. There are also special creams marketed especially for stretch mark prevention, formulas that are designed to help enhance collagen production and support the dermis. These moisturizers will help keep your skin supple and elastic plus serve as nutrition for your skin.

Finally, keep in mind that the appearance of stretch marks is not entirely in your hands. Heredity and skin complexion is also important. Stretch marks are the result of a healthy body trying to heal itself.

So, if despite your efforts you continue to see stretch marks on your skin, do not despair. You are a healthy individual and your marks tell a story. There are always new treatments waiting for you to try, and cosmetic science is always progressing rapidly in this direction.

3 Healthy Snacks Children Should Eat

2010-09-16T14:14:00.003+07:00

All of us are interested in making sure that our children are as healthy as possible. One of the main ways that we do this is to watch their diet and since we are primarily responsible for the foods that they eat, incorporating some healthy snacks for children into their diet can go a long way in helping them to be healthy and active individuals. As a matter of fact, there are some healthy snacks children love to eat and you might be surprised what exactly how easy it is to incorporate them into their diet.

The first of the healthy snacks children love to eat are fruits. Fruit is naturally high in sugar, but it is not high in the type of sugar that is necessarily bad for them. Some children will like certain types of fruits over another, but it is important for you to include a variety of different fruits in their diet in order for them to be well-rounded. Perhaps you could have an experimentation day, in which they get to choose a different type of fruit to try. Make it interesting for them by cutting it into unique shapes, using cookie cutters if available. Along with that, make sure that you lean more toward the low end of the glycemic index as these are healthy snacks children should be eating and they will keep the sugar levels down naturally.

Whole grains are also something that children should be eating regularly but very few of them get the proper types of grains into their diet. These can be such things as whole wheat English muffins, crackers and even popcorn. Just make sure that whole grain or whole wheat is the first thing that is listed in the nutritional statistics. This will help you to make sure that what you are giving your children is actually a healthy snack and not something that has been refined to the point where it is detrimental to their health.

Nuts and legumes are also one of the healthy eating snacks that children should be eating regularly. More than likely, your child is going to have some type of nut that they enjoy eating but make sure that you are experimenting in this area as well. Perhaps you could incorporate it into trail mix, making it more of an interesting snack. Legumes may be a little bit more difficult, as some children tend to be picky eaters. When prepared properly, however, this becomes an extremely healthy snack for children that they will enjoy eating. The Internet is full of recipes that will help you in this regard.

One tip that I can give you, however, and that is to limit the amount of calories that your children are drinking. If you are feeding your children healthy snacks that they enjoy, avoid ruining it by giving them high sugary drinks or fruit juices. Although it is important for them to get the nutrients that are in these types of juices sometimes, it is better that they eat them, as drinking calories often adds to weight gain.

The Effects of Caffeine on Your Body

2010-09-16T14:04:00.003+07:00

You're here because you want to learn about the effects of caffeine, right? I'm sure you already have a hunch that caffeine is not all that good for you, so it would be really great to know how caffeine affects the body... how does it work and why is it a bad thing? Well, let's get right to the point then:

Caffeine is, along with nicotine and alcohol, one of the most widely used mood-affecting drugs in the world. It produces a response similar to the stress response in our bodies, but affects each person differently. For instance, it may cause some people to stay awake, but help induce sleep in others...very strange, I know!

Caffeine is very addictive! It is a central nervous system stimulant which temporarily keeps us more awake and alert. It acts as a diuretic which means that it draws water from the body, so you may feel the need to go to the loo more often.

A regular caffeine drinker's body adapts to having caffeine all the time. It has to produce more adenosine, which is a brain chemical which stops the release of our natural stimulants, dopamine and adrenalin. What happens then is that when we don't get our caffeine fix, we feel anxious, tired and unable to cope. This starts a vicious cycle which can have some serious health effects. It is interesting to know that as little as 100mg of caffeine a day - which is about 1 cup of coffee - is enough to cause withdrawal symptoms when we stop drinking caffeine.

Some of the more common caffeine side effects are:

* increased heart rate
* feeling of being jittery and nervous
* headache
* difficulty sleeping
* increased blood pressure
* difficulty concentrating
* more frequent urination

The Effects of Caffeine on Children

Caffeine has the same side effects on children as it does on adults, only they are smaller and lighter than adults, so caffeine will have a more intense affect on them. In other words, drinking only a small amount of a caffeinated drink will have much more of an effect than it will on an adult.

Children around the world love cola drinks, but often we don't realise that they are quite high in caffeine - which is hidden in quite a number of popular dinks today.

It is highly advisable for children to avoid such drinks as studies have shown that it causes them to be more restless and hyperactive - so much so that the hyperactivity level is enough to meet the criteria for attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD). Another study showed that children deprived of their daily intake had trouble thinking clearly, were lethargic and tended to get angry more often.

Can Caffeine Have Positive Effects?

There is research out there that suggests that coffee may have some positive health effects, saying that caffeine may protect us against:

* Parkinson's disease - in men only. The studies in woman have been inconclusive
* Type 2 diabetes
* Liver cancer
* Liver cirrhosis
* Heart disease

This may be good news if you love drinking coffee, but the research is not at the stage where you could say that you should drink coffee to increase your health. Personally, I think that it is not advisable to drink more than 2 cups of coffee a day, although no more than 1 cup of coffee, 2 cups of black tea or 3 cups of green tea is ideal. Drinking any more than that starts to put strain on your liver.

Many people, in an effort to improve health, cut out coffee even though they really enjoy it, but studies suggest that focussing on good nutrition, exercise and not smoking are far more beneficial for improving overall health and well-being.So it seems that for most people, besides pregnant woman and people who have trouble controlling their blood sugar or blood pressure, coffee isn't such a bad beverage choice for adults after all... but moderation is the absolute key.

Malise

2010-08-17T00:23:00.000+07:00

pink

white

grey

black

material : thick lycra

free size : uk 4-10

length : 88 cm

RM 58

Introducing Lauren Hutton's Sunset Face Disc Color Collection

2010-08-17T00:03:00.000+07:00

Lauren's best invention just got better! Inspired by an exquisite sunset, Lauren's First Face Disc Color Collection combines all her “Can’t Do Without” Concealers and Contouring Shadows with rich hues of Lip Eye and Cheek colors. Lauren has blended the reds, pinks, lavenders and purples of sunset and teaches you how to apply them to get a fabulous natural look with color. It's everything you need to look more radiant and beautiful. Valued at $130, you can buy the Lauren's First Face Disc Color Collection for $49 and receive Free Shipping!

Different makeup made for 35+ skin. Lauren’s Face Disc is everything you need for your face in one sleek compact. Lauren made it for people who don't want to look like they're wearing makeup and waste a lot of time in front of a mirror, but do want to look their best!

Each product is color-coded to identify each product and matches Lauren’s Brush Sets (Sold Separately). Lauren’s color-coded system allows you to be able to identify each product easily, know when to use it, and what makeup brush to use with it and it takes only 6 minutes to apply!

Learn the easy "Rainbow Application System" in fifteen minutes by reading the illustrated fold out brochure. Lauren shares some of the great makeup tips that she’d learned throughout the years. Remember that makeup is only half the battle, the right brushes and application is critical to success.

You will receive the following:

o Sunset Face Disc
o Aqua Elements Breathable Loose Powder Foundation
o Mascara
o Lip Liner
o Cosmetic Bag

The Hundred in the Hands

2010-08-16T23:01:00.000+07:00

The Hundred In The Hands - THITH 'Sleep Walkers' FlyTV In The Courtyard

The Hundred In The Hands - THITH 'Tom Tom' FlyTV In The Courtyard

Eleanore from The Hundread in the Hands.

REVIEW: Clarisonic Cleansing Systems

2010-08-16T17:33:00.000+07:00

It's been a long time in the coming; yes, I know. Thanks to b-glowing.com, old skincare diva here herself finally got hold of a Clarisonic Cleansing System. b-glowing.com ran a contest not too long ago and I was the lucky and very appreciative winner! Yay ... good things do happen for those who wait - ok, well sometimes they do. LOL

Anyway, the point here is to share with you my experience with this award winning system. And as you might expect, I'm blown away by the results the Clarisonic produces for my skin. Having already put the cart before the horse, though, allow me to share with you just how the Clarisonic accomplishes the results it does.

Clarisonic developed the sonic technology proven to gently yet effectively loosen dirt and oil to clear pores. The Sonic Skin Cleansing System uses a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to clean, soften and smooth skin. In just 60 seconds a day, the micro-massage action cleans more than twice as effectively as manual cleansing. This is why spas, dermatologists and celebrities rely on this technology for ageless skin! Local dermatologists here in my area have taken to the radio in interviews raving about why this is a must-have item in a skincare regimen. They use the Clarisonic in their treatment preparations with their clients in their offices and, even more telling, they use it on themselves as well!

The Benefits

Removes 6x more makeup than manual cleansing (clinical trials performed)
Leaves skin feeling and looking smoother
Cleanses so well that products absorb better
Gentle enough for twice daily use
Helps reduce oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes
Helps reduce the appearance of visible pores

Visit sites via the internet and you'll find 5 star reviews pretty much across the board for the system. It's just that good. I admit I expected this system to perform miracles for my skin with all the hype out there. I was afraid I might be disappointed; that I probably had unattainable expectations.

I have the Clarisonic Classic in Pink and it performed well past my expectations. So many things to say about it. The ease of use is phenomenal. Simply apply a little of your favorite non-abrasive cleanser (I'm using Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel and Philosophy Purity mainly) onto your face, press the power button on the Clarisonic brush, then let the system work its magic. You swirl the brush around your skin in circular motions. The brush signals you with a little beeping sound to alert you to move to different areas of your face - one side of face, other side of face, forehead, chin and neck ... it's truly idiot-proof.

Rinse your face with cool water and you'll be amazed at how fresh and clean your skin feels. I am. I've had the system for a couple of months now and I cannot get over how improved the texture of my skin is, how smooth it is, my pores are smaller, the lines on my forehead are less pronounced and my skin just has a healthier appearance, a glow really. I'm completely loving this system. I can't imagine being without it now. It's amazing how clean the skin feels after using it. The sonic action gently clarifies and revitalizes the skin without the harsh chemicals or abrasion found in some microdermabrasion treatments. The exfoliation and cleansing factors alone make this a must-have item. The long-term results received outweigh the cost investment many times over.

What's better my treatment serums and other products absorb much better now. They don't sit on top my skin, they penetrate for more effective results there as well. It's wonderful!

More information for you

B-glowing has a vast assortment of Clarisonic Systems to choose from. They come in many colors, configurations and price ranges. They also carry the Clarisonic cleansers, body products and replacement heads. With their famous scarlet goodie bags filled with samples and trials of products and fantastic personalized customer service, this is a shopping experience one will savor for a long time. Visit b-glowing for more information and to purchase your Clarisonic system today.

JETSETTER: Paradise in The Fiji Islands

2010-08-16T06:50:00.000+07:00

Set along dramatic volcanic beaches, the luxe but authentic Namale Resort is on the island of Savusavu, Fiji’s best-kept secret. From your traditional thatch-roofed villa you’ll have direct beach access to the lapping waves of the Koro Sea. This package includes round-trip airfare from L.A., meals and beverages, along with island activities such as a daily tank dive. Spend your days snorkeling the reef or picnicking on a private beach at this brilliant South Pacific escape.

What's Great

Travelscene makes the long-haul logistics a cinch, with round-trip airfare from LAX to Nadi (Fiji’s capital) and a domestic flight to Savusavu included in the package.
Rate includes seven nights accommodations and all meals and beverages, including beer, wine, liquor and champagne.
One tank dive per person, per day, is included.
Fiji has one of the highest return tourist rates — its people are just that nice.
The resort’s decadent spa (Fiji’s best) hangs over the cliffs.
Borrow the resort’s walkie-talkies so you can be dropped off somewhere remote (a private beach or waterfall, perhaps) and radio back when you’re ready for pickup.

What to Know

This trip is for seven nights at the resort; the two additional nights include travel time.
Savusavu is a volcanic island where rugged black sand beaches are the norm.
Fiji is 20 hours ahead of Los Angeles, so you lose a day in transit.
If you’re traveling from the east coast, it’s a long journey. Consider spending a night in LA to break it up.
Flights to Fiji are with Air Pacific, and no refunds or date changes are allowed.
The domestic flight from Nadi to Savusavu is about an hour long.
Tips are not included in package price. Tipping in Fiji is not customary.

Why Go

All-Inclusive ~ Tropical ~ Romantic Travel

JETSETTER REVIEW:
by Terry Ward

If you think all tropical vacations are created equal, you’ve never been to Fiji.

This remote South Pacific country, served by nonstop flights from Los Angeles, is home to some of the world’s friendliest people. You'll feel the warmth upon arriving at Namale Resort, where the staff and villagers greet you with a traditional welcome song. Despite the fact that nearly everything is included in this package, there’s nothing contrived or stereotypically all-inclusive about this experience.

Namale Resort is on the island of Vanua Levu (Fiji’s second-largest) in the country’s rugged north. This volcanic setting is a place where tourism clings passionately to authenticity. During your stay you’ll receive a daily activity list, detailing excursions around the island that might include a visit to a pearl farm or the chance to drink kava (the national beverage) with a village chief. Don’t be surprised if locals invite you to experience a local market with them, or try to bring you along to a Sunday church service.

Each bure has Koro Sea views — and outdoor space to enjoy them — but maintains total privacy.Your home for the week is an “garden tropical bure,” a traditional thatch-roofed villa modeled on Fijian chiefly dwellings. The villas retain an authentic feel but maximize comfort with spacious showers, spa baths for two and private decks surrounded by the jungle.

The bures are built overlooking a beach that stretches for several miles along the Koro Sea, with volcanic outcroppings punctuating the landscape and a backdrop of swaying coconut palms. After all, the property is an erstwhile copra plantation. At high tide, plumes of water erupt from Namale’s famous blowhole, right in front of the resort.

The premise here is that you can be as active or inactive as you wish. A Technicolor underwater world gives snorkelers a sensory-overload swim just a few steps off the beach. And hiking through the resort’s 525 tropical acres, set on a private peninsula rich with bird life and lush vegetation, is an experience in itself. But you can also opt to relax poolside or indulge in a spa treatment overlooking the dramatic cliffs in the wellness area, which has been named Fiji’s best spa.

The resort’s adults-only policy enhances the romance factor. At Namale, you’re far from your everyday, but most all, you’re greatly distanced from the ordinary.

Trips start in September and are available from $675 (single) - $920 (double) a night including round trip airfare, 7-night 8-day stay.

Click HERE for more information on this and other fantastic travel opportunities!

(Registration is free)

source: Jetsetter

Haine Brigade

2010-08-16T05:38:00.000+07:00

Alexa from 1980's French Punk band Haine Brigade
not really videos but rather slideshows still least gives you idea what they sounded like

Leather Beauty Poll 188-Julia

2010-08-16T02:08:00.000+07:00

New Poll to start the week ...

Leather Beauty Poll 188-Anastasia

2010-08-16T02:02:00.000+07:00

Leather Beauty Poll 188-Monika

2010-08-16T01:59:00.000+07:00

Leather Beauty Poll 188-Whitney

2010-08-16T01:54:00.000+07:00

Leather Beauty Poll 188-Cicia and Cyollia

2010-08-16T01:49:00.000+07:00

Leather Beauty Poll 188-Sonia

2010-08-16T01:42:00.000+07:00

Saffie

2010-08-16T00:18:00.000+07:00

black

pink

purple

material : cotton + lycra

size : S ~ uk 4-8
M ~ uk 8- 10/12

length : 88 cm

RM 59

Nella

2010-08-16T00:14:00.000+07:00

pink

aqua

black

material : lycra

free size : uk 4-10/12

length : 82 cm

RM 58

Elora

2010-08-16T00:12:00.000+07:00

material : lycra

free size : uk 6-10/12

length : 70 cm (from bust)

RM 58

Adonia

2010-08-16T00:07:00.000+07:00

fire red

yellow

pinkish

material : lycra

free size : uk 4-10/12

length : 78 cm (from bust)

RM 58

* inclusive of necklace *

Rhona

2010-08-16T00:03:00.000+07:00

black

white

material : cotton + lycra

free size : uk 6-10/ 12

length : 80 cm

RM 55

Denise Skirt

2010-08-15T23:55:00.000+07:00

black

grey

fuchsia

blue

material : cotton + lycra

free size : uk 6-10

length : 46 cm

RM 49

Kylie

2010-08-15T23:52:00.000+07:00

aqua

pink

material : cotton lycra

free size : uk 6-12

length : 72 cm (from bust)

RM 55

Shiffy

2010-08-15T23:48:00.000+07:00

faded denim

blue denim

material : cotton

free size : uk 6-10

length : 70 cm

RM 58

Tammy

2010-08-15T23:45:00.000+07:00

material : cotton

free size : uk 6-10

length : 88 cm

RM 58

Leather Mandy Post 1

2010-08-15T23:28:00.000+07:00

I've featured Mandy a few times here but never a regular post , thought I'd rectify that today .. .check out Mandys site at http://www.leathermandy.com/
Looks like I can upload pics again .. fingers crossed wasn't working for a short while.

Short Intervention

2010-08-15T21:55:00.000+07:00

May have to wait 24 hours to post any more pics as google storage has run out so I've signed up for some more but I'll have to wait (they say within 24 hours but it might be sooner ..lets hope so)

Spirit Beauty Lounge 2-Day SALE 20% Off

2010-08-15T08:39:00.000+07:00

Beauty is as beauty does!

My love for Spirity Beauty Lounge runs deep and with good reason. This little gem of a boutique is dedicated to bringing the best in high quality, eco-friendly products are extensively researched before they offer them to us. All of their organic and sustainable products come from companies who have clearly defined humane, ethical, and environmental policies ensuring the care of our planet and its inhabitants. I like knowing I'm shopping from a company that cares that much about what they put their name behind.

As Spirit mentions in her recent note to her clients, "We know you've got long wishlists," so she's making it doubly nice for folks to shop her boutique and save a little cash to boot. xo

Puchase $50 or more and enter code: SUS20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase sitewide. Nice!

Brands like Ila, Priti Nails, Vapour Organic, Intelligent Nutrients, RMS Beauty, Organic Apoteke (one of my personal favorites!), Patyka, Revolution Organics, Alex & Ani, Jurlique, Kahina Giving, Lulu Organics and many more!

Access Spirit Beauty Lounge online today!

OSEA Organic Undaria Body Polish Giveaway

2010-08-15T08:06:00.000+07:00

So, can't keep all the spa goodness to myself! OSEA has generously offered to lavish one For the Love of Beauty reader with a jar of their nutrient rich, seaweed based Organic Undaria Body Polish. Oh my gosh, I can't tell you how happy I already am for the winner. This is a true treat, ladies and gents!

Here's how you enter:

Visit OSEA Malibu website and come back to comment in the contest form below sharing what OSEA product most intrigues you or what part of their site you liked best. oseamalibu.com

Extra Entries Available: (Please be sure to leave one comment in the contest form provided below for EACH of these you complete to garner your extra entries.)

1 Entry: Follow @OSEAmalibu on Twitter (include your twitter name in the comment below) twitter.com/oseamalibu

1 Entry: Follow For the Love of Beauty @ftlob on Twitter (include your twitter name in the comment below) twitter.com/ftlob

1 Entry: RT the giveaway notice shown below on Twitter and earn an additional entry in the giveaway

I just entered to win OSEA's Organic Undaria Body Polish from @ftlob and @oseamalibu http://ht.ly/2pHSV Please RT!

5 Entries: Post about this giveaway on your own Facebook Wall and earn an additional 5 entries.

10 Entries: Post a little shout out about this giveaway on your own beauty, fashion or social blog, link back to this posting (you can COPY shortened link if you'd like: http://ht.ly/2pHSV) and earn an additional 10 entries in the giveaway. Your blog post can be as brief as 1-3 sentences with an image or a full posting if you'd like. (include your blog address in comment below)

NOTE: You must leave 1 comment per entry. Extra entries will only be able to be counted if you leave a comment for each one. xo

This contest is open to US residents only. One winner will be chosen at random to win this prize. Some restrictions may apply. Contest ends Sun., 8/22/10 at 11:55 pm (CT)

For more information about OSEA Organic Undaria Body Polish and other spa treatments from the brand, please view my post below or visit OSEA Malibu.

Leather Beauty Poll 187-The Winner

2010-08-15T07:08:00.000+07:00

Camille.. was close though , new poll soon. Thanks for voting

Leather Beauty Poll 187

Maya	9 (31%)
Oriane	9 (31%)
Camille	10 (34%)
Jasmina	5 (17%)
Jen and Nana	5 (17%)
Anna	6 (20%)

Votes so far: 29

Poll closed

Leather Beauty Poll 187-In Second Place-

2010-08-15T06:49:00.000+07:00

Oriane

Leather Beauty Poll 187-In Second Place

2010-08-15T06:25:00.000+07:00

Maya

Leather Beauty Poll 187-In Third Place

2010-08-15T06:03:00.000+07:00

Anna

Leather Beauty Poll 187-In Fourth Place

2010-08-15T05:43:00.000+07:00

Jasmina

Leather Beauty Poll 187-In Fifth Place

2010-08-15T05:34:00.000+07:00

Jen and Nana

Kap Bambino

2010-08-15T04:00:00.000+07:00

Going to feature alot of French Modeles this week for this weeks polls so may as well feature French musicians too starting with ElectroClash duo Kap Bambino
Kap Bambino @ BeCool, Barcelona from Maria Elisa Gomez on Vimeo.

Kap Bambino : "Les gens en ont marre des trucs superficiels"
Uploaded by IASTAR. - See the latest featured music videos.

Veloce

2010-08-14T13:14:00.000+07:00

navy blue

black

material : lace + lycra elasthane

free size : uk 4 - 10

length : 80 cm

RM 58

black - sold out

REVIEW: OSEA Organic Undaria Body Polish ~ A Spa Experience at Home

2010-08-14T07:13:00.000+07:00

This nutrient rich, natural and certified organic ingredient laden body scrub is akin to bringing a luxurious spa treatment right into the comfort of your own bathroom. I've quickly fallen in love with OSEA Organic Body Polish as it treats skin from a number of different angles giving it a deserved label as a true multi-tasker. Let's explore.

KEY INGREDIENT: Certified organic undaria (wakame)

This edible seaweed from the pure waters of Patagonia, is rich in sodium, iron, potassium, calcium and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12. Undaria prevents the breakdown of hyaluronic acid in the body, which we have all come to learn is necessary in keeping skin smooth and firm. Without hyaluronic acid, elastin and collagen lose their 'glue' and skin sags and wrinkles.

The body polish contains natural exfoliants that feel gentle on the skin while delivering a stimulating scrub action. This is not a harsh, gritty, irritating scrub. It uses small pumice grains to help remove dead cells along with a bio-scrub blend of acai and guarana. Guarana (caffeine) helps tone skin and has astringent properties, as well as assists in reducing cellulite. Acai delivers a powerful synergy of anti-aging properties to skin, and hemp and passion fruit seed oils feed the skin Omega 3-6-9 essential fatty acids.

This was new to me, but I've learned that topical absorption of essential fatty acids (EFA's) has been shown in studies to be comparable to taking internal supplements, positively affecting the texture, suppleness and moisture content of skin. In other words, taking your vitamins from the outside in.

The intoxicating scent of this luxurious seaweed based body polish transports you to a place seemingly altogether divine. Organic melissa, lemon grass and Bulgarian lavender blend in an aroma that is truly transformative. Other ingredients that aid in making this treatment completely irresistible include honeysuckle, organic babassu and rice bran oils. The blend of these ingredients with the seaweed, pumice, acai, guarana, and essentail oils create a mixture that takes on a visual appearance and texture of almost a muddy-paste, and is very soothing to skin. It doesn't dry on skin like a mud-based treatment does. I am amazed at not only how productive yet gentle the exfoliation of Undaria Skin Polish is, but how hydrating the product is to skin simultaneously. It provides a mantle of moisture once the polish is rinsed from skin with water, leaving skin smooth and soft to the touch.

What are the combined effects of this at-home spa treatment?

Purifies pores

Gently exfoliates

Improves skin's texture and suppleness

Provide hydration/moisture to skin

Gives skin a radiant glow

Feeds skin essential fatty acids of Omega 3-6-9

Provides antiaging benefits to skin

Treats the body, mind and soul with soothing aromatherapy

It really does seem to transform one's bath or shower into a luxurious spa experience. OSEA Organic Undaria Body Polish is perfect for getting your skin summer ready, but also aids skin long into the fall and winter months when drying, scaling and flaking can become issues. I am completely in love with this product and can recommend it to you highly with no reservations.

New to OSEA? Here's more:

OSEA Malibu is an industry innovator in natural derived, marine-based skincare. Their intent is to provide products founded on purity, quality and effectiveness. Their unique blend of sea nutrients and essentail oils (sourced from all over the world) provides active, effective formulas for wellbeing. OSEA believes in employing the power of the sea and its plant life to condition and balance skin for a lifetime of results than can be seen. Over the past few years, I've watched as their product lines have grown to include cleansers, masks, skin essentials, treatment products, moisturizers, lotions, eye and lip products, and bath, body & massage products.

A staple in their line of offerings is the OSEA Sea Minerals Facial Mist. I was a bit upset when I first tried Sea Minerals as it sprays a light green mist on skin. I thought, "Huh, a company priding themselves on using natural ingredients from the sea and nature and they color their signature mist an artificial green?" Joke's on me! As it turns out, Sea Minerals owes its light green color to algae extracts and natural chlorophyll. Whew! With this knowledge, I've a newfound respect for this product.

Sea Minerals is "swimming in nutrients directly from the ocean" as OSEA folks will happily tell you. It delivers healing ingredients and antioxidants directly to skin. It promotes the skin's natural ability to absorb moisture and oxygenate. The mist provides a therapeutic mineral treatment to skin; hydrating, healing and restoring balance to sun-exposed skin. It's cool and soothing on application, and helps reduce skin redness and tightness.

Both Organic Undaria Body Polish ($60, 12 oz jar) and Sea Minerals ($30, 4 oz mist bottle) are available directly from OSEA Malibu and at select spas worldwide.

G I V E A W A Y A L E R T:
Hold onto your hats, my angels, as your opportunity to win a jar of OSEA's luxuriously fantastic Organic Undaria Body Polish is coming to For the Love of Beauty later tonight! xo

Leather Beauty Poll 187-Maya

2010-08-14T05:30:00.000+07:00

There should be some great images on this blog tomorrow but which of these seven models would you like to see more of on Saturday? ..24 hours to vote you can vote for more than one girl too...if only democracy actually worked that way

Leather Beauty Poll 187- Oriane

2010-08-14T05:25:00.000+07:00

Leather Beauty Poll 187-Camille

2010-08-14T04:00:00.000+07:00

Leather Beauty PolLL 187-Jasmina

2010-08-14T03:58:00.000+07:00

Leather Beauty Poll 187-Jen and Nana

2010-08-14T03:57:00.000+07:00

Leather Beauty Poll 187- Anna

2010-08-14T03:53:00.000+07:00

Ms Natsuki

2010-08-13T21:52:00.000+07:00

Model from http://www.dominatricis.com/ copyright for images on this post das Buro Himmel

Free KQC Travel Iron, KQC Shine Spray and Free Shipping with $100+ at Flat Iron Experts

2010-08-13T17:32:00.000+07:00

Free KQC Travel Iron, KQC Shine Spray (a $50 value) and Free Shipping with $100+ at Flat Iron Experts Exp. 8/14/10

Click here for the latest coupons and deals for Flat Iron Experts.

You Can Get Way More Than Just "Straight" with Sedu and Tommy Buckett

2010-08-13T17:22:00.000+07:00

Working with top celebs as Ashley Olsen, Sienna Miller and Rachel McAdams, Tommy is known for his trendsetting and edgy styles. He has been named by T: The New York Times Style Magazine for providing the "Best Curly Cut," featured in "The Best of New York" in New York Magazine, and named by Allure as the "New Up-and-Comer."

The former protégé of Oscar Bond and Sally Hershberger, Tommy developed a creative eye and mastered his technical skill. His fashion-forward styles have landed his work on the New York Fashion Week runways for shows including Alexander Wang and Rodarte.

As an innovator in the industry, Tommy Buckett was signed in 2010 to serve as the Sedu Elite Styling Consultant — Educating on unique styling techniques, collaborating with our engineers to advise on product innovation, and designing inspiring, cutting-edge styles that can be created with Sedu styling tools. All Sedu products are available for retail at Folica.

How-To Styling Tips from Sedu: Edgy Straight

How-To Styling Tips from Sedu: Classic Curls

Leather Beauty Poll 186-The Winner

2010-08-13T05:48:00.000+07:00

Anna..thank you for voting , the next 24 hour poll should be either Friday or Saturday look out for it .. here's the final results

Leather Beauty Poll 186

Rita	4 (13%)
Kathrin	4 (13%)
Irina	6 (20%)
Sarah and Tamira	4 (13%)
Inma	10 (34%)
Anna	17 (58%)

Votes so far: 29

Poll closed

Leather Beauty Poll 186-In Second Place

2010-08-13T05:22:00.000+07:00

Inma.. sorry wish there was more ..maybe a few more will turn up sometime

Leather Beauty Poll 186-In Third Place

2010-08-13T04:57:00.000+07:00

Irina

Leather Beauty Poll 186-In Fourth Place

2010-08-13T04:46:00.000+07:00

Rita,

Kathrin, and ...

Sarah and Tamira

Eco-Conscious Rainforest Hair Care at The Body Shop

2010-08-13T02:22:00.000+07:00

$5 off any purchase with coupon code: SCHOLAR Exp. 8/29/10

Rainforest Shine Shampoo $3.50 - $14

Ceramic Styling Hairbrush $12

Rainforest Moisture Shampoo $3.50 - $14

Mini Hairbrush $5

Rainforest Radiance Detangling Spray $14

Rainforest Moisture Hair Butter $8 - $14

Rainforest Balance Conditioner $3.50 - $14

Bamboo Pin Hairbrush $10

Rainforest Radiance Conditioner $3.50 - $14

Paddle Hairbrush $12

Click here for the latest coupons and deals for The Body Shop.

Free Shipping on Magic Ink at Benefit Cosmetics

2010-08-13T02:05:00.000+07:00

Free US Standard Shipping with Order of Magic Ink with coupon code: MAGICINK Exp. 8/16/10

Click here for the latest coupons and deals for Benefit Cosmetics.

Free I Heart Perfume Japanese Plum Solid Perfume with $50+ at b-glowing

2010-08-13T01:24:00.000+07:00

Free I Heart Perfume Japanese Plum Solid Perfume (a $14 value) with $50+ at b-glowing with coupon code: IHEART Exp. 8/20/10

A sweet fruit with a hint of berry. Top notes of raspberry, strawberry, lemon, grapes and grapefruit. Heart notes of a fruity floral bouquet of pomegranate, heliotrope, cassis, rose apple blossoms and gardenia. Base notes of musk and cedar.

Each solid perfume is packaged individually in signature spirited prints designed to capture your fancy. Blended into soft wax base, the fragrances are hand poured into pots the perfect size for tucking into a purse or makeup bag!

Click here for the latest coupons and deals for b-glowing.

Trophy Skin Review

2010-08-13T00:19:00.000+07:00

Trophy Skin was formed by a group of professionals from the medical aesthetics industry. Their founders owned one of the nation’s leading medical spa clinics, and have performed thousands of laser and light based skin rejuvenation treatments.

They observed first-hand the power of Blue Light Therapy for acne sufferers, and set out to develop a device that would harness that technology in an effective, affordable home-based device. The BlueMD is the first release in a line of cutting edge new medical aesthetic devices for home use from Trophy Skin. By using their years of knowledge and experience in the use of clinical lasers for acne and skin rejuvenation treatment, they have been able to develop a highly safe, compact, and easy to use device that really works.

Blue Light Therapy has been used since the 1970s to kill p.acnes bacterium, which is the most common source of acne. This bacteria is unable to survive for more than a few minutes when exposed to the correct wavelengths of light (405nm - 420nm). Regular use of Blue Light Therapy also dramatically reduces the amount of oil and sebum production on your skin while shriveling up pimples, pustules and cysts.

Blue Light Therapy is an expensive procedure that is typically used by dermatologists and medical spas. They usually charge anywhere between $1,000 to $3,000. While this promises and delivers outstanding results, the acne is known to come back within weeks if not in a matter of days. Most of us can not see ourselves shelling out thousands of dollars for another round when in reality you're just spending money in vain. This is where Trophy Skin ($199 and Free Shipping) comes in, because it is a device that you can use at home at the fracture of the price! If you're not satisfied with their product, you can return it within 30 days be eligible for their full, “no questions asked” refund policy.

I started noticing slight results after 2 weeks even though it takes 4 weeks to notice outstanding results. I have been using it for over a month now and I haven't experienced any breakouts for awhile. The light is harsh, but this product comes with a pair of goggles similar to the ones that you would use for a tanning bed. It is recommended to use the Trophy Skin for 20 minutes and three times a week if you have moderate acne. I don't recommend using it when you have many irons in the fire since it does call for a moment of relaxation. You can set a timer and use the 20 minutes to take a short nap, listen to music or meditate when you're not so busy. It is definitely a great way to take a breather while working on to achieve a beautiful complexion.

The Deets

The BlueMD bulb, when used in a normal fashion, will last on average 3 years. Replacement bulbs can be purchased through our website for $39, including shipping. Only bulbs that are manufactured and sold by Trophy Skin are to be used with the BlueMD to ensure the safety and effectiveness of your treatments.

They stand behind the quality of each BlueMD device they sell with a 1 Year Warranty, covering all manufacturer's defects in the device and the bulb. They will replace or repair any defective product, just contact them via email for a fast response.

When using the BlueMD, place the head of the device 6 inches from the skin for optimal results. The bulb gets hot during treatment, so care should be taken when moving around or turning off the device. It will take several minutes to cool once the treatment has finished.

Blue Light Therapy is a safe, non-invasive treatment that works by killing acne causing bacteria, which is the source of acne for almost 90% of acne sufferers. The main difference is that Blue Light Acne Therapy works only on the acne itself, and generally does not cause skin irritation like harsh creams and gels that are full of chemicals. In addition, Blue Light Therapy does not suppress the immune system or cause damage like using antibiotics over a long period of time.

The product in this review was provided to the reviewer for keeps and the purpose of writing a review. This in no way effects the quality of the review provided. No monetary exchange occurred in exchange for the writing of the review. The views expressed in this review are strictly that of the reviewer. All reviews provided here are the work of the reviewer and remain completely unbiased.

Leather Beauty Poll 186-Rita

2010-08-12T04:11:00.000+07:00

New Poll Results this time on Thursday..

Leather Beuty Poll 186-Kathrin

2010-08-12T04:05:00.000+07:00

Leather Beauty Poll -186-Irina

2010-08-12T04:03:00.000+07:00

Leather Beauty Post 186-Sarah and Tamira

2010-08-12T04:01:00.000+07:00

Leather Beauty Poll 186-Inma

2010-08-12T04:00:00.000+07:00

Leather Beauty poll 186-Anna

2010-08-12T03:58:00.000+07:00

Supermodel Poll 19- The Winner

2010-08-11T22:46:00.000+07:00

Anna de Rijk

Thanks for voting new Supermodel Poll soon..heres the results

Supermodel Poll 19

Anastasia Krivosheeva	17 (38%)
Toni Garrn	13 (29%)
Anna de Rijk	24 (54%)
Samantha Gradoville	8 (18%)

Votes so far: 44

Poll closed

Supermodel Poll 19- In Second Place

2010-08-11T22:16:00.000+07:00

Anastasia Krivosheeva

Supermodel Poll 19-In Third Place

2010-08-11T21:57:00.000+07:00

Toni Garrn

Supermodel Poll 19- In Fourth Place

2010-08-11T21:48:00.000+07:00

Samantha Gradoville

Hermes Shoot

2010-08-11T06:16:00.000+07:00

Reminds me of Watchmen thanks to Scilla from http://www.hortus-necis.com/
for bringing this shoot and collection to my attention

Leather Beauty Poll 185-The Winner

2010-08-10T21:15:00.000+07:00

Unknown or possibly Eleonora, not sure if she also models the outfits as well that she designs , I get a feeling she does ,anyway here's her two websites for much more http://www.eleonora-style.ru/ and http://www.eleonoraamosova.com/

Leather Beauty Poll 185-

Valeriya	1 (4%)
Angelika	9 (36%)
Belle	7 (28%)
Annal	6 (24%)
Unknown	15 (60%)
Eva	7 (28%)

Votes so far: 25

Poll closed

Leather Beauty Poll 185-In Second Place

2010-08-10T20:33:00.000+07:00

Angelica

Leather Beauty Poll 185-In Third Place

2010-08-10T20:24:00.000+07:00

Belle and...

Eva

Leather Beauty Poll 185-In Fourth Place

2010-08-10T19:47:00.000+07:00

Annal

Leather Beauty Poll 185-In Fifth Place

2010-08-10T19:39:00.000+07:00

Valeriya

The Gorgeous Aroma of Luum Gift Candles

2010-08-10T17:34:00.000+07:00

While eyeing all the gorgeous gifts, stationary and home decor in a local favorite here, Ana Bree's in Mandeville, I caught whiff of something altogether divine passing a display table with elgantly designed candles inside handsome brown boxes tied neatly with a chocolate brown ribbon. Well, you know what happened. I had to stop!

I picked up each and every Luum candle on the table with not a single one causing me to withdraw my nose in distaste. Every single candle on the table diffused a beautiful scent in just the right amount of fragrance so as not to be overpowering, while still assuring confidence the candle's scent would last after many lightings.

I'm not able to find too much about these candles online, and it's a shame as I believe the makers truly have something quite special here. What I was able to determine is the candles come from et al designs. I see they are available at Barnes & Noble (odd, right? this is a candle). I suppose that's good for Ana Bree's shop, as short of ordering from B&N (and many scents are sold out), one must travel to the gorgeously outfitted store to sample the scents and pick one for a special treat.

Luum Gift Candles are inspired by the fragrances of legendary gardens. The beautiful, richly scented candle is sure to bring the charm of exotic climes to your home. They are housed in a substantial frosted-glass holder, and as mentioned above, the candle comes in a handsome box with a fold-down front, beautifully illustrated print paper wrapping the inside of the box, and ribbon tied making it perfect for gift giving.

Ingredients: palm wax, vegetable wax, paraffin wax, and microwax, 100% cotton wick
Candle dimensions: 3" high X 3.5" diameter
For safety, keep wick trimmed to 1/4"; avoid placing candle in drafts
Imported

The scents I discovered at Ana Bree's are Angel Trumpet (my favorite of all for sure), Lemon Grass (my second favorite and close to the top), Lavender, Frangipani, Jasmine, and there was one other with a blend of amber but the name escapes me at the moment. They retail for approximately $40 each. Ana Bree's Home Decor and Gifts is located in Mandeville, LA at 1200 West Causeway Approach, (985) 624-3323.

Search out these candles and please let me know please if you come across them anywhere else. xo

Free $100 Gift with a $115+ Fragrance or Beauty Purchase at Nordstrom

2010-08-10T07:54:00.000+07:00

Get 12 travel-size beauty favorites in a chic snake-print cosmetics bag with your $115 beauty or fragrance purchase — a $100 value. This offer is good enough until August 16th, 2010. Gift includes:

• philosophy 'miracle worker' miraculous anti-aging moisturizer (0.4 oz.)
• Clarins Beauty Flash Balm (0.53 oz.)
• Laura Mercier mini Lip Colour (0.04 oz.)
• Bare Escentuals® RareMinerals™ Blemish Therapy (0.01 oz.)
• Anastasia Lash Lifting Mascara in Black (0.1 oz.)
• AHAVA Mineral Body Lotion (1.3 oz.)
• Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel (0.3 oz.)
• Smashbox 'Photo Finish' Foundation Primer SPF 15 (0.25 oz.)
• DDF Advanced Firming Cream (0.5 oz.)
• Donna Karan 'Cashmere Mist - Liquid Nude' Eau de Parfum (0.05 oz. vial)
• Lolita Lempicka 'Eau du Désir' Eau de Toilette (0.03 oz. vial)
• Nudité Intense 'Pure Essence' Parfum Oil (0.03 oz. vial)

Free Compact Digital Camera and Free Shipping with $50 mark Order

2010-08-10T02:32:00.000+07:00

Free Compact Digital Camera and Free Shipping with $50 mark Order with coupon code: MARKCAM Exp. 8/11/10

mark Fresh Approach Hydrating Body Cleanser $10

mark Relief Effort Total Comfort Body Crème $14

mark Do the Right Thing Smoothing Body Lotion SPF 15 $12

mark The Big Fix 15-in-1 Benefits Balm $10

mark Save The Day Anti-Acne Concealer Stick $8

Click here for the latest coupons and deals for mark.

Melinda

2010-08-09T22:37:00.000+07:00

Finally bought a copy of this game , so far I'm not so good at it seeing as I'm more of a fan of shooters and beat them up type of games as opposed to stealth orientated ones I'm not very light footed .. but I'll give it a go(The Morphine mode is most bizarre wishful thinking on the game designers part lol)Here's the actress and model that provided the voice to Violette Summers character Melinda Cohen she also appears at conventions and the like to promote the game.
Here's my other Velvet Assassin posts http://leatherbeauty.blogspot.com/2009/07/velvet-assassin.html
http://leatherbeauty.blogspot.com/2009/08/velvet-assassin-movie-poll.html
Seeing as Melinda bought character to life that polls pointless

Svana

2010-08-09T21:27:00.000+07:00

grey

black

purple

white

material : lycra

free size : uk 4 - 8

length : 78 cm

RM 58

Leather Beauty Poll 185-Valeriya

2010-08-09T19:39:00.000+07:00

Sorry about the wait couldn't find the sixth set of pictures , but it's sorted now

Paul & Joe Beaute Now at B-Glowing!

2010-08-09T17:28:00.000+07:00

The lusted after line of fun, sophisticated products with inspired designs that range from cleverly modern to vintage chic is now available on b-glowing.com!

My readers already know my love for b-glowing, but here's more reason to enjoy them with the introduction of PAUL & JOE Beaute. B-glowing is an online beauty destination that has grown out of a life-long passion for beauty products.They feature only distinctive independent and forward-thinking beauty brands from across the world. Founder Lisa James is known for her discriminating buying taste and her ability to bring progressive and underground beauty brands to her customers. Lisa is credited with taking many of her brands from under the radar to beauty top picks. I might point out she was one of the very first to pick up, what has become a cult favorite, PurpleLab with its launch of Huge Lips Skinny Hips when Karen Robinovitz first introduced her brand of beauty (um, which is quickly growing into an empire of uniquely created beauty products everyone - read: high end brands - seem to be imitating!).

lippies: Paul & Joe Autumn 2010 collection; eye shadows: L-R Butter & Sugar 91, Vintage 94 and Sakura 09

PAUL & JOE’s gorgeous makeup collections promise a translucent finish and give complexions a beautiful glow. With everything needed for your eyes, lips and face in subtle colors to match any skin tone that last for hours, PAUL & JOE’s uniquely formulated products are just as creative and unique on the outside as they are beautiful on the inside. A large collection of PAUL & JOE’s packaging is inspired by what’s on the runway, for a stylish look that brings out the beauty in every girl.

"It's about having fun. I don't ask for advice, I just have things I love."
Sophie Albou, Founder PAUL & JOE

Who is the PAUL & JOE Woman? Women who are totally self aware and fueled by an inner confidence. Women who are brimming with so much determination to enjoy life that they may seem a little hedonistic. She is savvy, stylish, and not afraid to address her needs and desires. Women who have these qualities, and at the same time project charm, passion and compassion. Does that sound like you? I'd like to think it sounds like me, on a very good day! lol

PAUL & JOE Beaute really is a line you'll want to acquaint yourselves with. Just the sheer fun and high quality of the products make them a sought after brand of beauty. Check out more about them at b-glowing.com now.

Allure's Annual August Giveaways! A Beauty Addict's Dream Come True

2010-08-09T09:39:00.000+07:00

Allure has done it once again. One might do well to meander on over to Allure.com for a treasure trove of goodies all up for grabs in their annual August giveaway event!

Each year seems to get better and better, and there are no holes barred yet again, my angels. Among those brands we find sprinkled in the lot: Guerlain, Armani, Lancome, Smashbox, Redken, Kenneth Cole, L'Oreal, Essie, Chanel, Frederic Fekkai, Sebastian, Bobbi Brown, NVPerricone, Olay, NARS and soooooo many more. There are over 32,000 products and fashions in this monthly giveaway, so please don't delay in getting your entry in!

Click HERE to enter the Allure August Giveaways now!

Leather Beauty Poll 185-Angelika

2010-08-09T07:44:00.000+07:00

Leather Beauty Poll 185-Belle

2010-08-09T07:41:00.000+07:00

Leather Beauty Poll 185-Annal

2010-08-09T07:39:00.000+07:00

Leather Beauty Poll 185-Unknown

2010-08-09T07:37:00.000+07:00