Yoga

Yoga is such a good easy way to align your body and clear your mind. First start with meditation, just simply sit cross legged and focus on your breathing. Take four seconds to inhale and four seconds to exhale. Try to clear your mind of everything, only think about your breathing. Do this for 5 minutes. The key to yoga is to really focus on your breathing. Here are some positions that help with certain emotions and to feel better during the day. Start out with what is comfortable for you, work up to the full flexibility of these poses.

Anxiety: try staying in each pose for 5 deep inhales and exhales.








Depression/Low mood




Insomnia

Relaxation

Dress your body type right

There are many different body types, and too many people don't dress to their figure because they don't know how. But I have some tips that can make your figure look great and make you feel confident.

• Busty figure; you are busty but have a small waist.
• These are the most flattering tops for your figure; fitted v-neck or scoop neck but not too tight, tops that nip or taper your waist slightly, fitted sweaters but again not too tight, halter tops, and for coats try to get princess cut, or classic trench.
• Try to avoid ruffles and embroidery around the bust because it draws more attention to that area!
• The bottom half; a-line or pencil skirts, boot cut jeans and jeans that sit lower on the waist, a little bit of flare is also good but not too much.

• Full and curvy; tops that are open at the decollete area, dressy and belted blouses that accentuate the waist, single-breasted jackets and belted trenches are the best for outerwear.
•  Slightly tapered pencil skirts that end at the knee, and pencil skirts give that 50's bombshell feel. Pants with no pockets are the most flattering.
• Pair a belt with your dress, or choose a wrap dress they draw attention to the waist. Try to choose heavier fabrics verses thin, flimsy fabric.
• Stay away from skirts that gather at the waist, and big patterned prints.

Pear shape; scoop neck or boat necks, button-up blouses, and detailed tops because they balance the pear shaped figure. Don't wear shirts that hit right at the waist. For bottoms; knee length a-line skirts with flared hems, low-rise and boot cut pants. No cuffed or gathered pants, and be careful with skinny jeans. For dresses, an empire waist with a-line skirt or knee length. Do not wear full or clingy dresses.
. Tall and thin; halters or cap sleeves, blouses with ribbing or shirring, jackets with a nipped waist or ruffled blouse accentuate a desired waist, princess cut and double breasted jackets work best. Pleated, flared hems, poof and pegged skirts are flattering. Skinny jeans are made for you! Bias cut dresses, and dresses with a lot of detail above or around the waist add femininity. Stay away from v-necks, baggy pants, and tight knit dresses.

Petite; blouses that go just past the waist, v-neck and scoop neck, fitted blazers, double breasted and princess cut jackets. Skirts with hemlines just about the knee, a-line skirts, low-rise boot cut pants. For dresses, v-neck lines, empire waists, sheaths, and details on the bust line. Avoid over sized shirts and loud prints, long skirts, wide pants, and long and blousy dresses

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New Year's Wardrobe Resolutions

It is time to start your resolutions for 2012. How about make one of them have to do with your wardrobe. Here is one idea; clean out your closet! Go through every item of clothing in your closet, if you haven't worn something in 6 months and it's that piece of clothing that you put on many times in the morning but always end up hanging back up then throw it out. Your never going to wear it! I am the biggest culprit of doing this. Those items just take up room in your closet, donate the stuff your throwing out or try to sell it again to a consignment store. Also a way to save money, don't just buy an item because it is on sale. All of us buy things just because their on sale, and it's usually not our color or it doesn't fit our body. This is an attainable goal, try it!

Post Holiday

We all know that it is kind of inevitable to gain a couple of pounds around the holidays. But it is also not too hard to take it back off! Detoxes and cleanses don't ever sound very easy to do, but you don't have to do the EXTREME ones. There are many simple ones to do and some of them are only two days. The simplest and cheapest one is just cutting out sugar and grains for a week. The key is drinking a lot of liquid and eating fruits and many many vegetables. Try to drink four 16 ounce water bottles, and two cups of tea a day. Also when you drink a lot of liquid it curves your hunger. A very good tea is "get lost, brand The Republic of Tea" from World Market. It has banaba leaf, cinnamon, and carob which provides craving control. You can also make it fun by making a dinner date for the end of your cleanse and a reward. After the detox is done you feel so rejuvenated and it's needed after the holidays!

The best soup!

I have to share the recipe of the best soup! It is my favorite and my family's favorite as well. It's called Wisconsin Cauliflower soup, don't let the cauliflower part be deceiving you can't really taste it. Here is the recipe, make it and give me feedback. I can promise you will enjoy it!

2 tbsp. butter
1 med. onion, chopped
1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. milk
1 1/2 c. water
1 can chicken broth (13-14 ounces)
1 head cauliflower, cut
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1 c. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 c. colby jack cheese, shredded

In a large saucepan melt butter, add the onion and cook 10 min. Whisk in flour and salt, then gradually stir in milk, chicken broth, and water. Add cauliflower, bring to boil. Reduce heat, simmer 15 min. Blend cauliflower mixture on low till smooth texture. Return mixture to saucepan, boil then stir in mustard and cheese. Serve while hot!

P.S. It's also really good as leftovers for the rest of the week!

Simple Christmas

It is so close to Christmas and I know there are some of us out there that still aren't finished with our Christmas shopping and maybe don't have the time. Why not do something simple? Family loves when you make them something for Christmas, I have a couple simple ideas for Christmas gifts to make.

Mason snow globes:
Get some mason jars, Christmas trinkets, sparkles or mini snowflakes, and e-6000 glue.
Glue mini Christmas trees to the lid of the mason jar, let the glue dry, put the water and sparkles/snowflakes in the jar, screw the lid on and flip it upside down.
It is such a fun simple idea.

Making ornaments isn't very hard! You can go to Michaels and get plastic or glass ornaments that you can  paint on and add fun craft stickers to them, they turn out cute.

One  more idea is to bake some fudge and peppermint bark. There are some great recipes for Betty Crocker. Baking is fun and friends will enjoy it! Have fun!

Spring 2012

The Spring 2012 runway shoes were great. I'm really impressed with some of the designers lines. Badgley Mischka is one of my favorites and has a phenomenal line. Pastels are still in this spring and there is a lot in Badley Mischka's line. It also ranges with all different colors and metallic. I cannot express my appreciation for Burberry Spring 2012, it is phenomenal. There is so much range between patterns, textures, and colors, and their all distributed so well. Chanel never fails. This line has such elegance and beauty. There is also a little funk if some of the items but they do it well. Go to this link, every designer's line is avaible to view http://www.elle.com/Runway/Ready-to-Wear/Spring-2012-RTW

Spring brings on the color. It's time for the lighter use of color in your wardrobe. The big in right now is pastels with white, it portrays such delicacy and gives off such a glow. Ann Taylor and J Crew have some really pretty light hues in right now, and if you don't know what to put the items with they always have a stylist in the store!