LOS ANGELES – May 16, 2016 – Ariana Grande was photographed wearing Henri Bendel at Wango Tango this weekend in LA! The songstress dazzled during her performance wearing the Luxe Asscher Statement Necklace ($238; www.henribendel.com).
May 16, 2016
Best Bang-spiration for Every Face Shape!
Thinking about changing up your hairstyle with some fun new bangs? This is an easy way to spice up your look without going through a chemical process or having a major cut. Even if your signature style is a ponytail or a messy bun, bangs transform a casual look into a chic, modern and totally put-together one.
Bangs are flattering for any age and hair texture, but having fab fringe means finding the right style for your face shape, and for your lifestyle! Kattia Solano of Butterfly Studio Salon, gives tips on finding the most flattering bang for you.
Oval: This shape is perfect for basically any bang. Select a bang that compliments your current cut to frame your face perfectly.
Round: Rounder shapes are pretty symmetrical. Choppy, asymmetrical bangs or long, face-framing bangs with a center part will help to elongate the face, drawing the eye upwards and giving your face more vertical space.
SQUARE: Square shapes have a narrow forehead and jawline. Thick and tapered bangs that are whispy will add more visual width to your forehead which will soften your features and make your eyes pop.
HEART: Heart Shapes have a wider forehead in comparison to their chin. For this shape, long and tapered bangs with center part or side swept will bring balance.
May 16, 2016
How Can Dog Daycares Look After your Pets and How to Choose the Right Daycare?
You are about to go on a trip and worried about your pet dog. You are confused whether to leave it with a neighbor or keep it in your home. You can alleviate your anxiety by keeping your pet under the vigilance of experts in a dog daycare. In this article, we are going to take a look at how a dog daycare can benefit you.
Advantages of a Dog Daycare
# Social contact
A dog daycare offers your pet the ability to interact with other canines. Like all animals dogs too want to be in proximity to their own species. Spending time with other dogs can stimulate communication and social interaction. Like humans, they too can decide whom to communicate with and how to interact.
# Careful supervision
Daycares employ well-trained canine experts who take proper care of dogs. Each and every expert is aware of the habits and needs of canines and can cater to their problems with confidence and dexterity. You can be rest assured that your dog will stay unleashed, yet secure under the supervision of dedicated caregivers. Most daycares are subjected to constant evaluation, so that your dog can spend time in a safe and fun-filled atmosphere.
# Regular exercise
If you are wondering who would take your dog for walks, you can stop worrying. The experts at the daycare will make sure that your pet has daily exercises and goes out for walks.
# Flexible timing
Dog daycares offer half-day and full day services. You can keep your dogs as long as you want depending on your work schedule.
Now, that you have decided to keep your dog in a daycare, you must choose one in your locality that has the following attributes.
# Number of staffs
A daycare should maintain a proportional ratio of staff to dogs. If left unattended for a minute, dogs might break into a fight. Standard dog care rules say that at least two trained personnel should be present in a daycare. More the number of caregivers, the better it is to handle the canines. A place with more than 15 dogs should have at least 2 experts within 10 steps from where the animals are playing.
# Trained personnel
A good dog daycare has trained workers who can understand the body language of canines and assess whether they are facing any problem or not. You should verify if the team has complete knowledge of the dogs’ body language. They should be able to safely interrupt fights without causing any harm to themselves. In case of an emergency, the veterinary doctors associated with the daycare promptly look into the issue and treat the canines. Trained daycare members will look into each and every action of the dogs. If you ever hear a caregiver say that the canines can sort out their problems on their own and will not fight amongst themselves, you should immediately opt for a different daycare where the workers take their responsibilities seriously.
# Availability of outdoor facilities
Make sure that the daycare has the provisions to offer fresh atmosphere to the dogs. Like human beings dogs also need to breathe in fresh air. An open space can allow them to play and gambol around.
# Structure
Before you take your dog to a daycare, inspect its set-up. Dogs need to sleep and take rest. The daycare should have small rooms or cages for the dogs to rest. Also, it should comprise of separate resting areas for small and large dogs.
With the availability of daycares, you do not have to worry about your dogs when you are away from home. The next time you leave home for an urgent trip, you can keep your pet with trained dog care experts and stay in peace.
Author Bio – Elizabeth Norton is a canine specialist with www.primpplay.com Her experience of over 10 years has made her a renowned name in the niche of dog care.
May 16, 2016
Philosophy Oxenegating Eye Gel Really lives up to its name
I’ve been endlessly searching for the perfect eye cream especially now that I’m in my late 30s. Let me tell you that Philosophy really does live up to its “Take A Deep Breath” Oxygenating eye gel cream. The gel had a cooling effect, and it went on light and smooth. After the first application I saw instant results. It left my eyes looking well rested, refreshed and it even had a smoothing effect on the wrinkles that drive me crazy! My under eye dark circles were also immediately lighter and smoother. The bonus is that it even protects against environmental aggressors while the formula left my skin feeling refreshed and looking well-rested. This eye cream may be small but it sure proves that good things come in small packages!
View the collection at Philosophy here
Take a Deep Breath Movement with a co-branded inspiration digital video featuring U.S. soccer gold medalist Kelley O’Hara and YouTube star Nikki Phillippi
Vanessa & Natalia Altongy
May 16, 2016
Expert Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe This Summer
Summer is almost here and before you know it, your kids will be running around having fun outdoors with their friends. And as any parent knows, when kids are having fun running wild and playing the day away, or caught up in the excitement of sports and social activities, they don’t necessarily pay attention to their surroundings and can easily get hurt or find themselves in unsafe situations.
The safety experts at background checking service BeenVerified want to help parents keep their kids safe this summer and enjoying it to their little hearts’ desire.
Justin Lavelle is the Communications Director at BeenVerified where he often writes about family safety. BeenVerified helps people discover, understand and use public data in their everyday lives. It is a great tool to keep your kids and family safe, by giving you access to information about neighborhoods and people interacting with your child. BeenVerified is a leading source of online background checks and contact information. It allows individuals to find more information about people, phone numbers, email addresses, property records and criminal records in a way that’s fast, easy and affordable.
Helpful Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe this Summer
Parents and kids rejoice as Summer Break is just weeks away. No more lunches to pack, no more homework hustle at night, and less rushed mornings getting kids out of bed racing to beat the school bell. We can all breathe a united sigh of relief. With all the wonderful things summer offers, there’s also several things that parents need to be cautious of when it comes to their kids’ safety during the warm weather months. Whether your children attend a summer program, daycare, have a nanny, stay home alone during the day, or stay home with a parent, we’ve got a few tips to help keep your kids happy, healthy, and safe during this time of year and beyond:
- Really Know Your Neighborhood — You may already be firmly planted in a wonderful, caring neighborhood where you know all your neighbors or maybe you’re newer to an area and are still getting to know your neighbors. Like Mr. Rogers said, “Who are the people in your neighborhood?” They may be more than the people you meet each day. Take a closer look at the neighbors surrounding your area by doing a little Google research and performing a background check to confirm there are no sex offenders or other violators to be concerned about. It will provide you with a huge piece of mind. Take it a step further and organize a neighborhood watch group. Work together as a team to help jointly keep your kids safe. Also make a point of not allowing your kids to answer the door when you’re not home unless they’re older teens and limit it to only people they know well. During the summer months there’s a record number of door-to-door salesman pushing everything from lawn care services to cleaning products. Ask them to never tell a stranger they’re home alone without parents or allow them into the house for any reason.
- Parental Controls on the Internet — Parental controls are a very important step for parents to keep their kids safe while online. Even if you’re home with your kids and in another room, one simple video on YouTube can pop up and expose your kids to something way beyond on their years. One minute they’re watching Minecraft videos and the next video that pops up is adult content. Apps allow you to not only block inappropriate content, it lets you choose the rating such as G, PG, etc. You can also block certain sites and set timers so you don’t come home to find your kids have been on their iPads for 8 hours straight. Consider changing the password each day so you’re in control of what happens if your guidelines aren’t followed for electronics use. It’s also important to have serious, heart-to-heart talks with your kids about the importance of sharing their information online. Be explicit and let them know the dangers of strangers trying to find out their info and trying to entice them to meet under a fake persona. Make sure they know the real life dangers out there and that you’re not trying to control their personal.
- A Different Kind of Stranger Danger — Kids today have been brought up with the term “stranger danger,” but to most kids it might just mean someone they don’t know knocking on your door or someone at the grocery store they shouldn’t speak to. Unfortunately in today’s society, it’s important to really talk to your kids about the dangers of strangers and those that are not strangers but are a danger. The challenge is speaking to them about these realities without scaring them or making them fearful of all people. Obviously you should speak to them about strangers hanging around playgrounds, public pools, and soccer/baseball fields. People that look suspicious and have no real reason to be at this spot. Tell them exactly what to do in this case such as telling their coach or other adult they trust. They should also know what to do in the event someone they do know or have met before acts in a behavior that doesn’t feel right. Be upfront and tell them to trust their instincts if an adult asks inappropriate questions or does something that makes them feel uncomfortable (touching, talking about sex, etc.)—even if they know this person or “should” trust them. Explain this could be a coach, volunteer, or even a parent driving them to practices. There’s a fine line between sharing too little and too much information, but it’s crucial they know how to handle these situations if they arise. Make them feel comfortable telling another adult or to call or tell you immediately. As a parent, it’s a good idea to check out the people your child will be in contact with beforehand by doing a simple background check (using a service such as BeenVerified.com). It’s a good idea to check out coaches, car pool parents, and neighbors or community members who may interact with your kids.
- Set-up Guidelines for Sports & Activities — Make a point of arriving and picking up on time. Never drop off your kids too early or late without an adult present. Require your kids to remain at the field, school, event, or in a designated area with an adult until you arrive for pickup. If you’re not sure an adult will be present, contact another parent attending and ask for their help. Always try to have a back-up person appointed in the event you’re stuck in traffic, caught in a meeting, or just running late. You can forge this agreement with a fellow parent you trust. You can be the “go to” person for their child and them for yours. Provide your child with their phone number as well. Request your kids never “start off” for home on their own. If your child isn’t going to attend, let the appropriate people know.
- Rules & Parent Check-Ins — Make a simple rule with your caregivers (if possible) or kids to have daily check-ins at specific times so you know your kids are safe and you can be at work without constant worry. Be clear about your household rules and rules outside the home and what the consequences are for not following the rules. It might make sense to buy a basic, non-smart phone or reloadable cellphone for your tweens and teens for the summer if they’ll be busy and away from you during the day. This makes check-ins easy and you’re able to reach your kids when you need to or if there’s an emergency and they need you. Having expectations for your kids during the day can be a positive thing as well, like having a set of daily chores that are expected of them (such as feeding pets, making bed and picking up room, reading for 30 minutes, etc.).
May 12, 2016
5 Tips for A Safe Spa Experience
Who doesn’t want to have a relaxing and refreshing spa visit now and again to recharge your battery and feel pampered? While it’s important that we indulge in these luxurious treatments, we must proceed with caution.
I recently was in a large shopping mall, and was quickly approached by a kiosk worker who started to buff my fingernail before I could say yes or no to his administration. After I walked away, I was preoccupied with the thought that the very same nail file had been used on countless other people, and I could potentially develop a wart on that finger now!
Sometimes the more you know, the worse off you are. However, this is just an example of how you can pick up a skin virus or infection without even knowing, and may not present itself for weeks. A similar incident occurred during a massage when the masseuse began to use a cactus bristle brush against my skin as part of her routine. The entire time I was concerned about the reuse of the tool, and was too polite to request that she not use it.
I may be overthinking things, but this only comes to my attention because of what I see regularly in my practice of dermatology. I have many patients that have acquired warts from nail salons, the gym, and even from facials or waxing. Young women who come see me to treat tiny warts disseminated over the face or body commonly have a history of frequenting a spa or salons. When you are using instruments on patients and not properly sterilizing them, it can lead to the transmission of diseases. While these skin conditions aren’t life threatening in the cases I have presented, they are often difficult to treat and unpleasant.
Here are 5 Tips for A Safe Spa Experience
1. Seek out a salon or spa that uses a heat autoclave to sterilize their instruments.
You can ask directly if the instruments are autoclaved and they should be able to answer this question. Establishments that use autoclaves will often have their instruments in sealed bags. Other spas or salons will use an alcohol-based solution to clean their instruments, this can be helpful, but is inferior to heat autoclaving. Autoclaving entails placing instruments inside a machine utilizing intense pressure and high heat to destroy all organisms on tools. It is the gold standard for sterilizing even medical and surgical instruments.
2. Don’t soak your feet in the foot-bath in the nail salon. Unless a disposable liner is being used for each customer, I cannot think of a dirtier place to soak your feet. As appealing as a nice warm soak might sound, I have seen some terrible infections that were picked up at nail salons. One such customer had suffered an amputation of one of her toes due to a salon-acquired infection. The issue is that you never know who is going to pick up an infection. The vast majority of people who have these services have no such serious complication, but very commonly will develop a wart or athletes foot.
3. Bring your own nail filers/emery boards, and/or other nail tools if you desire.
When in doubt, you cannot go wrong by being prepared and bringing in your own supplies. You may get a few looks by other customers, and cause the employees to talk a little, but is it worth it to have fewer worries about your health? Absolutely! It is not uncommon for many salon goers these days to come prepared with their own equipment.
4. Do not permit the use of any reusable instruments that are not sterilized.
For example: getting a massage and being scrubbed with a brush that is used on other customers. Do not be shy, and don’t let anyone use something that has not been properly sterilized. A nice way of avoiding this awkward moment is to actually be up front and direct with your question before having a service.
5. Seek care quickly! If you do pick up what appears to be a wart, nail fungus, or another skin infection, do not delay seeking dermatological care. The earlier you start treatment, the easier it is to fully resolve. There are many treatment options available and your dermatologist can advise which one will work best. In addition, holding off treatment can result in the development of more warts and spreading warts or fungus to your loved ones at home.
About Dr. Kally Papantoniou:
Dr. Kally Papantoniou is a Cosmetic Dermatologist, Board Certified by the American Board of Dermatology. She specializes in Injectables, Lasers, Body Contouring, Surgical and Medical Dermatology. Dr. Papantoniou is also clinical instructor at Mount Sinai Health Center in New York City with locations on Long Island and Queens. She applies expert techniques and the newest technologies to treat her patients. Dr. Papantoniou focuses on providing her patients with the highest level of care, with special interests in natural and healthy alternatives to treatments and disease prevention. Connect with Dr. Kally Papantoniou via http://www.drpapantoniou.com and via Twitter @drpderm
May 12, 2016
Spruce & Bond Brow Specialist, Matt Shakik shares tips on creating the perfect brow
Summer is right around the corner, which means weekend getaways, sun-soaked pool parties, and of course, constant selfies. Make sure your brows are camera-ready with these expert tips from Spruce & Bond Brow Specialist, Matt Shakik!
TIP 1) Create the shape that’s right for you!
You want to accentuate the features of your face when you shape your brows. There is no same stencil for everyone when shaping your brows, since every face is different and asymmetrical. Use your natural arches to define your unique eye shape to give them a lift.
TIP 2) Use the correct tools!
Using a powder or pencil helps you to create the fullness your brows lack due to little hair growth. You can create what would normally be brow hairs if they grew in that area. Never use a magnifying mirror, as it causes you to only see one brow at a time and not both together which creates a better match.
TIP 3) Avoid Over-Plucking and Waxing!
Do not jeopardize the structure or thickness by removing hairs that might in time give you a fuller and more complete brow. Don’t take out hairs on one side to match it up to the other if it means making the brow thinner. When it comes to an end goal with your brows give them time and let them go, it might be torture but it will be well worth the wait. Tweezing is always the best option as it allows you to remove individual hairs to achieve the best shape.
TIP 4) Choose a Color that Looks Natural!
You want the color to match well enough to look natural, yet you want it to be distinct enough to contrast a little. People normally try to match their hair color, but our brows naturally look darker because they’re surrounded by paler skin.
May 11, 2016
Skyy Hadley gives you step-by-step tips to create the perfect nail-art manicure using Lauren B. Beauty polishes
As U Wish Salon Owner Skyy Hadley’s Perfect Nail-Art Manicure:
1. Remove your polish and let your nails breathe for a good few days. If nails look discolored, squeeze some lemon into your lotion or rub lemon wedge directly onto nail to brighten nails.
2. Apply a shea butter lotion or non-greasy cream to lock in moisture
3. Apply a cuticle oil to the base of your nails (or even when they are already polished), focusing around the cuticle area to hydrate and bring moisture into the skin.
4. Begin painting. Start with once coat of a base coat, next at least 2 coats of the color of your choice.
5. Next you can do your nail art. I like a simple flower design. I used a small pointed brush to create the flower dots.
6. Let dry for 1-2 minutes and then finish with one coat of top coat.
Lauren B. Beauty polishes in Palm Springs Getaway, Ocean Ave, and Santa Barbara Surf are the perfect pastels to let your nail-art shine. $18 each
May 11, 2016
Who Said you can’t deal Mom the Perfect Deck of Cards for Mother’s Day?
Mother’s Day is always a fun day for me. When my children asking me to give them ideas, I stress to them “keep it simple”. They always come up with thoughtful gifts that put a smile on my face. My kids know what I like and they act on it. A bouquet of flowers, orchids, a gift certificate to my favorite salon and a deck of cards. Yes, I said a deck of cards. They know I like skincare and do-it-yourself projects so Deckopedia’s new The Natural Beauty Skincare Deck was the perfect gift for me.
I was immediately fascinated with this deck of cards. The Natural Beauty Skincare Deck is quite unique and each of the 50 cards in the deck contains a remedy/recipe for many skincare issues we deal with on a daily basis. The deck is divided into eight sections: Dark Spots & Pigments, Baby Skincare, Oily & Acne Prone, Dry Skin, Combination Skin, Mature skin, Sensitive & Irritated skin and All Skin Types. Simply choose the card that best suits your skincare need and whip up a skincare formula that is easy to make and fun to use. Some of the cards utilize ingredients that you will find in your kitchen. Others require some essential oils and ingredients that can be easily found in your local market, health food store or online. The ingredients for the recipes found in The Natural Beauty Skincare Deck are very affordable. The best part is that the recipes are homemade and you know exactly what you are putting on your skin.
As I scanned through the cards, I easily found 3 recipes I wanted to try using ingredients I already had. The Salty Lemon Treatment, used to treat Dark Spots and Pigments, Card No. 41, was easily made with the juice of a lemon and a pinch of salt. They could not have made that recipe any easier.
Looking to make a natural and healthy exfoliator? Try Card No. 5, Oats Exfoliator suitable for all skin types. All you need is a few tablespoons of ground oats and a tablespoon of milk. That’s it, easy as pie.
If you use toners, try making one yourself with Card No. 4, Cucumber Toner. You only need a diced cucumber and water for this soothing facial toner. You will find many recipes easy to make like the ones I just described.
Each recipe cards give you complete instructions for each recipe/remedy as well as preparation time, application how-to, frequency of use and shelf life. There is nothing to figure out, just follow the instructions on the card for absolute amazing natural home-made skincare.
As stated by , “Katrina Schenfield, botanical skincare specialist worked with the Deckopedia staff and created skin regimens to help people of all ages discover the true beauty of their skin. The Natural Beauty SkincareDeck identifies issues by skin type and tackles them head-on with all-natural product recipes and lifestyle tips. The homegrown recipes use fresh ingredients and essential oils to breathe life back into tired, damaged skin”.
The Natural Beauty Skincare Deck is a great gift for any occasion and retails for $19.95 and is available at www.deckopedia.com.
May 10, 2016
How To Ensure The Success of Your On-line Learning Center
Education is the source of knowledge necessary for empowering the masses. Many people misuse the chance they have to spread knowledge. In as much as there are many schools one can attend, you will always find restrictions in terms of family, costs or education and the cost of travelling to a different country. E-learning makes this learning possible at lower rates and in the comfort of your home.
For this to happen, the learning center must put in place measures to ensure that students enroll to their courses and get the knowledge they need. For an e-learning center to be successful, the following is required:
Setting of SMART objectives
All the departments involved should set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Reasonable and Timely objectives. For a good return on investment, clear objectives should be spelt out on how the center can save on the training programs on their plate. They should also implement policies requiring hiring of accredited and specialized tutors as well as use of the best technological equipment to spread knowledge widely and with ease.
Setting up of a functional learning management system
Just like database management systems, the e-learning centers should also have learning management centers, LMS, to facilitate the implementation of the learning platform plan. It should have installed applications to facilitate learning, server resource monitoring, safety and backup systems, server and database maintenance system plan, system support, disaster recovery, software and an infrastructure scaling system or plan.
Establishment of high-quality service standards
The quality of education material in the curriculum and the coursework should be high. Also, the learning material and online tutors should be the best for maximum benefits to the existing and potential students. Quality and standards of education should never be compromised for continued success. This also means that accountability and transparency should be demanded from all the departments.
Setting up clear guidelines on Risk management
Many risks arise from using the internet and it should be expected. The success of an e-learning center depends on their preparedness and their risk management strategies. Therefore, there should be use of reliable tools to monitor, control and help manage risks. This will help in deciding on the workable ideas to work with and the ones that can be abandoned.
Committed team leaders
Since you will be running an online school, your success will be determined by the people chosen to lead the different departments. Have a qualified and experienced project manager to ensure implementation of all plans according to plan. The technical team should also be the best. They should use state-of-the-art software and hardware equipment to ensure that the systems run effectively. The LMS is much dependent on the technical team.
Marketing strategy
Having the right channels to reach your target audience is necessary. Having tutors and coursework set out without a means to reach potential audiences would be pointless. By having an outstanding brand image created through great digital and social media marketing, you will be assured of success because once people learn of your center, they will sign up. Therefore, create awareness by employing the bets marketers.
In conclusion, the success of an e-learning center depends on how well these strategies are laid out and implemented. Training timetables should have a natural feel and prepared with international conditions and time constraints in mind. With a competent technical team, your online learning center will succeed.
Author Bio
Janelle Studdard is an LMS manager with decades’ experience in e-learning. She advises on the importance of development of LMS systems that are easy to manage. On her blog, you can also learn about online tutors and the essentials for successful e-learning centers.