How to Make the Perfect Summer Banner

We bought quilting squares - 5 for $5.59 (on sale) each square makes 2 double sided triangles for 10 triangles per bundle.

Make a Triangle pattern out of a manilla folder - ours is 8 1/4 inches across and 10.5 inches long from tip to the center of the top.

Trace the pattern using a marker and cut it out using a fabric scissor. We enjoyed using a zig zag scissor. (This works MUCH quicker with the help of an assistant)

The fabric comes a little wrinkled so we starched and ironed the triangles which worked really well.

If you can see, we marked the middle of our Piping cord (which we recommend using) and started in the middle of our cord. In order to not have the fabric pieces shifting on the line, to use fabric glue to glue the piping cord along the crease.

Then glue along the sides of the triangle and fold over the top triangle to the bottom half.

Here is how it turned out for our PJ/Spa Party! Click here to see our entire Spa Party facebook album on my page!

Here is the Finished product for our party! Click here to see the recap of our spa party!

Gotta Love a Spa Night!

 On Friday, Joy and I threw our 1st Spa/PJ Party! It was so much fun to invite some friends over for a teenage style spa night with food, facials, food soaks, and a cocktail (or two). Required: FUN and PJ pants!

 Joy and I made this great summer banner (how to blog coming this week) from Pinterest! We love it and I will keep it up all summer! We had fun foods like high heeled shoe sugar cookies, chocolate fondue, white bean dip, spa water, and a fun cocktail (another thing we found on Pinterest).

 Who doesn't like relaxing their feet in warm water with Epson salt! After the soak we have amazing products to really keep your feet soft.

 Joy and I with facials on! So fun for us to have everyone over! To see more fun photos, check out our Facebook album!

 Jill and Wendy were so silly and fun! Who says adults can't have fun like teenagers? These ladies took our PJ theme to the end, rollers, PJ "outfits", and the occasional split personality ;)

Thank you for those of you that joined us for the party! It was such a fun night to share with these amazing ladies!

To Healthy Portions For Healthy Weight Management

I recently noticed when serving a particularly tasty meal I tend to reach for the larger dinner plates in my cabinet.  When my children were growing up I had to purchase a second set of dishes to accommodate the sometimes large number of people at my dinner table.  This second set are made of a beautiful purple glass so I thought they were perfect.  Because of their beauty I didn’t notice they were smaller than my other set.  Since I have become acutely aware of the relationship of meal portion size and healthy body weight I realized my preference for the larger plates when I prepare a favorite meal. Studies have shown that the size of our plate effects how much we choose to eat.  So, I thought I would share with you three easy steps to downsize the servings, then the plate. Credit on this particular meal comes from Cooking Light Magazine. 

Step 1 –Big Plate, Big Portions

Using a 13-inch charger you can place the following:

9-ounces grilled chicken breast

1 cup brown rice

6 tablespoons mushroom sauce

½ cup mixed greens salad with 1 tablespoon oil and vinegar dressing

¼ cup butter-roasted carrots

Wheat Roll with ½ teaspoon butter

A large 9-ounce cooked chicken breast looks suitable on this large plate, leaving space to double up on starch but you end up with 830 calories.

Step 2 – Big Plate, Healthy Portions

4 ½ -ounces grilled chicken breast

½ cup brown rice

3 tablespoons mushroom sauce

1 ½ cup mixed greens salad 2 tablespoons oil and vinegar dressing

½ cup butter roasted carrots

no roll with butter

The chicken is a more reasonable portion and requires less sauce.  Half the rice and no roll cuts out on unnecessary starch but still getting good fiber and nutrients from the rice.  This leaves more room on the plate to increase the salad and the carrots which increase your antioxidants for good health for a total of 443 calories.  However, right sizing the portions make the plate look a little stingy.

Step 3 – Smaller Plate, Healthy Portions

Using an 8-inch plate shrinks the surface area by 62%, leaving less room for food.  The advantage to the smaller plate is that it guides you to smaller portions – in this case by almost 50% less than the big 13-inch plate, for a total of 443 calories.  The bonus is that even if you go for seconds, they will be smaller.

Now, wasn’t that easy?  I thought it was a brilliant way to trim excess calories out of a meal without sacrificing flavor and satisfaction with a meal. So give it a try. Choose your smaller plates next time you set the table. Let us know if this trick worked for you!

Health Tip:  DIY Tricks To Sag-Proof Your Skin

1.      Slather on SPF 30 everyday

2.      Don’t smoke

3.      Limit alcohol consumption to one or two drinks once or twice a week

4.      Use peptides at night

5.      Exfoliate

Sunscreen is a necessity 365 days a year.  The damaging UV rays are actually stronger in the winter.  Smoking cuts off oxygen to the skin, wrecking collagen and elastin and lowers levels of estrogen, which are essential for keeping skin firm.  Alcohol increases insulin levels, which creates low-grade inflammation and can hasten sagging.  Peptides are proven to boost collagen and accelerate cell renewal.  Exfoliation is critical to remove dead skin cells in order for skin to absorb repair treatments.  Look for mild scrubs with ultra fine beads or use a gentle-yet-thorough electric cleansing brush.

Gift Baskets!

 "Anti-Aging or Turning 50" Basket - For the person in your life who wants to turn back the clock.

 My assistant came up with the great idea to have a Mother's Day basket for my clients. I always love getting a basket full of goodies, who doesn't? Then the ideas just started flowing for all these fun baskets! Here are just a few of the ones we came up with. Check my facebook page for the rest of the fun baskets along with the details of what is included in each basket and their prices.

 "Beach Basket" - Comes with the fun sand bucket! Perfect for a day on the beach.

 "Birthday Basket" - The things you might not treat yourself with.

 "Mother's Day Basket" - Perfect to pamper your Mom this year.

"Sandal Ready!" Basket - Who doesn't want their feet to look sexy smooth in sandals?

Have a price point in mind? We can work with you to create a custom gift basket personalized for your lucky recipient!

Julie’s 10 Favorite Beauty Things –One I share with Oprah’s Favorite Things List

Happy May Day!  I find this day to be one of lightness and joy.  It seems the weather is always perfect on May 1^st, the grass is green, flowers are blooming and the earth is truly awake!  On my favorite day of the year I thought I would share with you my list of beauty product favorites:

•  Clarsonic Sonic Skin Care System – I use this at night to remove all traces of makeup and environmental residue for clean, smooth skin ready to absorb the nutrients found in my skin care products.
•        Liquid Body Lufra – I use this everyday in the shower.  This soapless formula gently eases away dead skin cells and excess oil for soft, polished skin all over your body.
•        Water Pik Professional – I use this at night after brushing and flossing to remove the last particles of food hiding in between my teeth and 99.9% of plaque biofilm for healthy gums.
•     Epoch Baobab Body Butter – (An Oprah favorite!)  I use this after the shower.  Its light , fresh scent in a rich cream makes my skin soft and supple all day without feeling greasy.
•    Galvanic Face Spa – I use this 2 to 3 times per week to hydrate, erase wrinkles, and improve the tone and texture of the skin on my face so I can keep my age a mystery.
•       Pureology Antifade Complex INCHARGE Flexible Styling Spray – Without being heavy or sticky, this spray keeps my hair in place and in shape all day.
•        Future Serum – Received award for “Best Serum 2012” by NewBeauty Magazine. I use this day and night on clean skin before any other products.  This miracle serum stimulates collagen production by 150% for youthful skin structure and youthful glow.
•        Athleta Workout & Casual Wear – I love the design and fabrics used for my workouts whether I am running, climbing, biking, swimming, doing yoga or just hanging out.  These clothes never fade, never lose their shape with washing and drying.  They simplify laundry!
• 
•      Tru Face Essence Ultra – I use one of these little “pearls” morning and night after my future serum to restore facial firmness and skin elasticity with an ingredient shown to increase skin elastin which gives my skin the ability to maintain its youthful structure and firmness.
•      Arabian Rose Fragrance Oil by Kuumba Made – (http://www.kuumbamade.com/store/index.php?p=product&id=18 for photo) Before I go to bed at night I roll this oil on the palms of my hands, rub them together then rub on the sides of my neck and over my pj top for the heavenly, relaxing spicy rose fragrance promotes balance, harmony, and a sense of well-being as I drift off to sleep.
•  

 I would love to know your favorite beauty products, please share here on my blog or on my facebook page. I made this list into a board on my Pinterest page....enjoy! 

Natural Home Tips for Going Greener and Healthier!

I posted this Health Tip in one of our March blogs and I thought “Why not share some more?” 

Health Tip: A Naturally Clean Kitchen Free of Germs, Grime and Toxic Chemicals
For instant glass, counter top and appliance cleaner, fill a spray bottle with ½ water and ½ white vinegar and add a few drops of essential citrus oil. Citrus oils such as lemon, lime and orange are natural degreasers for that great shine and smell in your kitchen.

I had bought Natural Home and Garden magazine and it is full of easy and natural tips for around our homes. Here is a list of a few pieces of advice from the magazine. 

·         Bee Aware: Honey at many grocery stores has undergone a quality-diminishing ultra-filtration process (gross) so be sure to look at your grocery store for local sources of honey. Plus then you are a supporting a local business! 

·         READY-WHEN-YOU-NEED-THEM KITCHEN WIPES: Everyone loves those disinfectant wipes for the “extra clean” feeling for your kitchen. Instead of them, store multiple squares of cotton cloth in a container filled with a mixture of 1 cup water, 1 ounce liquid castile soap, and 6 to 8 drops of your favorite essential oil. The clothes can come from old t-shirts or pjs and can be washed and reused!

·         Don’t give up on Tough Jobs: For very greasy dishes, add ½ cup vinegar or lemon juice to dishwasher. 

·         Healthier Laundry Room:

o   Add Baking soda to detergent to naturally brighten colors and eliminate odors

o   Pre-treat stains with a combination of washing soda, water, and baking soda

o   Rid the washer of bacteria, soap scum, and grease by running a cleaning cycle with white vinegar and hot water

Health Tip:  Fish – Best Choices & Worst Choices

We all know eating fish is good for our heart, brain, and waistline.  What we don’t know is that some fish are actually dangerous to eat because they can contain high levels of mercury.  No matter how small a dose, mercury is poisonous.  Some seafood is better for dieters because of the low amount of fat per serving.  

Here’s the list:

Best

·         Wild Caught Salmon (not farm raised – that has a whole list of dangerous health and environmental risks see here

·         Mussels

·         Wild Sardines

 

Worst

·         Eel

·         Very large fish such as Blue Fin Tuna, Chilean Sea Bass, Orange Roughy, Swordfish; due to the high levels of mercury found in these fish

Good For Dieters

·         Tilapia

·         Crab

·         Mussels

·         Shrimp

Each of these has less than 150 calories in a 6 oz serving and are packed with protein so you will feel fuller longer.

Fight Fat The Right Way & What’s New With The Weight Loss Challengers

The first year I was in college, like so many, I gained the “Freshman 15”.  By my sophomore year I gained another 25 pounds.  Friends and family made comments to encourage me to lose the weight but it was when I couldn’t fit into the largest pair of jeans at a store that I started to do something about it.  When I got married in 1985 I had lost 25 pounds.  It wasn’t until after the birth of my first daughter, Hannah, in 1987 that I finally got down to a healthy weight.  Then in 1999 I was in the hospital on an IV to stop the Multiple Sclerosis episode that was wrecking havoc on my body and I gained 55 pounds as a side effect of the medication in the IV.  Oh, I was right back to feeling totally “fat”.  It took me a few years to regain my healthy body weight.  I’m sure most of us have had a love-hate relationship with fat; whether it is either losing it or wishing it was somewhere else on our body.

 Here are the ways to Lose Fat: The Right Way

·         Curb Sugar Cravings with Natural Sweeteners- Next time a sugar craving calls, reach for XyloSweet or Stevia.  Unlike cane and refined sugar, xylitol is derived from foods like corn, strawberries, and plums.  The sweetener Stevia comes from the leaves of a plant in the sunflower family.  Both have low glycemic indexes so they won’t spike your blood sugar level and prime you for a “crash” later.

       Don’t Lose Too Much Too Soon – Crash dieting leads to loose skin and the possibility of releasing toxins into the body that have been stored in fat cells leading to fatigue and not feeling well.  Think about how long it took to gain the weight and use that timeline in your process to lose the weight.  You will make a long-term change for a living a life at a healthy weight.  Remember:  Slow and steady wins the race!

·         Lose Fat And Fight Flabby Skin – Retain elastic skin by adding strength training into your workout because it creates muscle tone.  Lean muscle helps prevent the skin from getting saggy.

·         What To Eat – Not only will you prevent illness and have a glowing complexion but the fiber found in fruits and vegetables help you feel full without a lot of calories.  Fiber rich and lean protein foods allow you to feel fuller for longer and prevent weight gain without sacrificing energy.

·         Moves To Do – Mix together cardio and strength training moves over the course of an hour like a circuit training routine.  Moving quickly from one move to the next keeps your heart up so you burn calories and fat.  Strength training cranks up your metabolism for a sexy, lean silhouette.

Renee is one of our challengers losing weight at a healthy and right way. 

Meet Our Newest Weight Loss Challenger:  Brendan – Lost 11.2 pounds in 1 month

Brendan, a 6’3”- 28 year old young man, began the Weight Loss Challenge on March 7, 2012.  Brendan as a football player in high school was in good physical shape then.  A couple of years ago he tried a fasting diet and lost 80 pounds but those pounds returned.  With a loss of 11.2 pounds, Brendan has more energy and is able to return to the gym, which will only increase his results.  Brendan has noticed an improvement in his skin since taking all the supplements in the program.  He says “my skin is softer, better and not as greasy.”  We can’t wait for his next results.  Way to go Brendan!!!

Update on Weight Challenger:  Joey

Joey has had to face some challenges with his heavy work schedule, causing extra stress but his weight loss continues.  Joey has lost another 5.8 pounds for a total loss of 18.8 pounds.  Despite the obstacles life has thrown in Joey’s way, he continues to stick to the program. Awesome job, Joey!!!