May 11, 2016

Who Said you can’t deal Mom the Perfect Deck of Cards for Mother’s Day?

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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.

 

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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.

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May 11, 2016

Rhythm And Blues Glam With Shae Williams

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Rhythm and blues (R&B) singing sensation Shae Williams has gone through a lot in her life, both personally and professionally, however, through it all she has stayed looking fabulous as ever. As an artist, Shae has captivated audiences not only with her sound, but her incredible sense of fashion.

The relationship between fashion and music of any kind is one of abundant and mutual creativity. Reciprocal influences have resulted in some of the most dynamic apparel visualizations ever created in popular culture. Some exist as memorable creations for the stage and music video, while others become long-lasting fashion trends, which settle in the culture to become noteworthy, referential, and lasting. Sometimes what a music artist wears, more than how they sound, will forever help them to make their mark in the industry.

We caught up with the stunning Shae for a quick Q&A to find out more about the fashion trends in her genre, how fashion influences her, and how she gets ready for big concert gigs…

How would you describe your own personal style?

My personal style is relaxed with a chic twist. Rocking ‘boyfriend jeans’ and a pair of sexy pumps is an everyday go-to look for me.

What fashion trends as a singer/performer do you currently see happening in the R&B world?

There are so many out there. However fabric chokers, fringe and off the shoulder tops are all HOT right now.

Why do you believe fashion and music go hand-in-hand?

Fashion and music go hand-in-hand because as an artist your style represents who you are and so does your music.

What is your process in picking out the proper clothes for a concert, red carpet, music video, etc.?

Lord have mercy on my stylist and designer! It’s definitely a process. I love to have a strong royal glamorous look! Lately my designer “J Palmer”, who is a great friend of mine, has been designing a lot of my pieces. There are nights when we are up creating looks and many of those nights I’m falling asleep on his floor. I don’t like having things you can find locally or even abroad. We spend a lot of time together and he knows me like a book! I love when it’s time for a show or video shoot! Everything stops. I’ll have a vision and J Palmer delivers! When it’s time for a red carpet, if he doesn’t design the dress we will order from a boutique. There are times when my closet is the boutique! I have so much I could probably open up one.

What are you currently working on project wise?

I’m working on my new album that’ll be released this Fall and a single that’s coming real soon.

What is your definition of “Glam”?

“Glam” sums it all up in one word!! I love being glamorous!! My definition of glam depends on the day… just being who you are. Some days may be a red carpet day and I have a full beat on my face and a full gown on and other days may be laid back and casual with little to no makeup but still fly. Glam is what makes you feel beautiful.

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May 11, 2016

Out of Africa Unscented Lip Balm featured in Closer Weekly Magazine

Out of Africa Lip Balm was featured in a “Keys to Age In Reverse” article about beauty products and the beautiful Julia Roberts in Closer Weekly magazine. On stands now. May 16 issue.

Closer magazine

Closer magazine

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May 10, 2016

How To Ensure The Success of Your On-line Learning Center

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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.

 

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May 6, 2016

Bye bye vacation tootsie dehydration!

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I recently got back from vacation and had a function to attend. My feet were a mess from walking the beach and I just didn’t have the time to make it to the salon. I decided to pick up Earth Therapeutics Precisso pedicure file and Earth Therapeutics foot balm.  I wasn’t sure what to expect since I’ve never had any luck with at home pedicures.  However, this one is worth writing about!! The first thing I noticed was the handle had a great grip and it was designed In a way that when I was done scrubbing my feet I wasn’t left with and aching wrist! It has three different removable surfaces mini for on the go, coarse, and fine. It was amazing to see it just smoothing away my hard dry patches. I followed up by applying Earth Therapeutics Triple Butter foot balm, it had a light fragrance of an herbal mixture it included three hydrating blends of natural plant butters which were a mixture of cocoa, mango, and Shea butter. I honestly don’t know what made it so soothing to my tootsies   When it was applied my feet were instantaneously soft! It was incredible how my feet looked refreshed it also has tea tree oil, alpha hydroxi acid and aloe which I could feel deeply penetrating Into my skin. To top it off It’s organic! My tootsies looked like I had just pulled them out of the foot spa at the salon.  All I was left with was smooth feet! Bye bye vacation tootsie dehydration!

You will find this amazing pedicure file, foot balm and other fabulous skincare products at Earth therapeutics

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May 6, 2016

February’s It’s a Glam Thing Beauty Box winner is…..

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Congratulations Ruy M. of Wasilla, AK,  you are the winner of our FebruaryBeauty Box. Expect your Beauty Box soon and enjoy your beauty products from the following merchants:

Pura d’or Enriching Shampoo

Out of Africa Shea Body Oil

Loreal Golden Serum Treatment & Cell Renewal Day Cream

Apothederm Acne Clarifying Treatment & Moisturizing Cleanser

somersets Shave Oil

Gerard Cosmetics Lighted Lip Gloss

BoPo Peel off Nail Polish

PURA D’OR Enriching Shampoo

UNITE Defrizz

Maybelline Push Up Drama Mascara

KISS Salon Secrets

 

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May 4, 2016

Essenza Blends Artisan Hand Soaps make great gifts for any occasion

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I thoroughly enjoy Essenza Luxury Hand SoapsMy family got a little spoiled this past winter because I had a different handsoap in each of our bathrooms. We all enjoyed the luxurious hand soap along with the fragrances each one carried. Scents like Autumn LeavesPumpkin Chai Latte and French Lavender filled the bathroom with their delicate scent each time we washed our hands. I was excited to see Essenza’s new line for the 2016 Spring and Summer, Essenza Blends Artisan Hand Soap. I’ve already ordered my Essenza Blends hand soaps and I am making a basket filled with them for my Mom this Mother’s Day.

Essenza Blends Artisan Hand Soap come in bright 16oz. plastic colorful bottles, and Essenza Blends are great for adding a touch of color to your home or office home as well as keeping your hands soft and smelling fresh. The colors and patterns are fun and stylish and you will definitely be able to find a color to fit your bathroom or kitchen.

A brief description of each scent is below:

  • Bamboo & Aloe combines top notes of Amazon rain, fresh aloe and White Pear with middle notes of Bamboo, Guava, White Orchid and bottom notes of Coconut Milk and Musk.
  • Mandarin & Coconut Water contains fruity overtones like sweet mandarin orange and sun-ripened mango mix along with tropical notes of coconut water, Hawaiian hibiscus and jasmine on a warm musky background.
  • Sea Salt & Mineral blend exudes calming freshness by combining salty, ozonic and aquatic notes with a soft fruity accord while the scent of tropical flowers and coconut water mingle on a creamy base of vanilla orchid, sandalwood and musk.
  • Lavender & Honey blends the scent of freshly picked lavender with sheer citrus and floral notes to create a fragrance that is bright, warm and sweet with subtle hints of honey and soft musk.

Essenza Blends Artisan Hand Soap are now available for purchase Amazon.com and Drugstore.com and are reasonably priced at only $4.99 and will make great gifts for any occasion.

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May 4, 2016

May Beauty’s Best – PrivateRX Cooling Pads and Soothing Serum

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PrivateRX Cooling Pads

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PrivateRX Soothing Serum

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May 4, 2016

Make Mother’s Day special with a gift from Wendy Mignot Fine Pearls and Leather Jewelry

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Looking for a new piece of jewelry that feels beachy chic yet sophisticated and elevated enough to gift Moms and fill summer editorials?  Introducing Wendy Mignot, Fine Pearls + Leather Jewelry ®.

Designer Wendy Mignot tools Tahitian, South Sea, and freshwater cultured pearls, with exotic gemstones, sea glass, shells and treasured shipwreck coins in jewelry collections offering styles both casual chic for a day at the beach, and elegant edge to flaunt for cocktails and more. Not your mother’s traditonal strands of pearls each signature design is hand-crafted and strung on soft, hand-rolled leather and tied with precision and care. 

While Wendy Mignot has garnered inspiration for her namesake designs sailing exotic coastal locales in St. Barts, Central America, Panama, and the Caribbean, both she and her husband Jean-Noel now design closer to shore and her flagship store, La Vie Est Belle, located in Seaside, Florida.

Wendy’s collections of necklaces, bracelets and earrings are entirely handcrafted in the USA and available at La Vie Est Belle, fine jewelry, and specialty stores worldwide, as well as @http://www.wendymignot.com

For Mother’s Day gift guides please note there is a special site wide 10% discount on orders! 

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May 3, 2016

Katy Perry’s eye-catching “modern day beehive” reached new heights at the Met Gala last evening

Katy Perry’s eye-catching hair turned heads and reached new heights at the Met Gala last evening. Ms. Perry’s hair was styled exclusively with Oscar Blandi Hair Care products by Chris Appleton, who is calling the look a “modern day beehive.”

Below is the breakdown straight from Chris:

The beehive is an iconic hairdo that we modernized and turned up a few notches to keep with the Manus x Machina theme. A romantic hairstyle wouldn’t work. The beehive needed to look sharp and futuristic. I wanted her hair to look strong and striking yet still simple. Katy’s dress is incredible, and we wanted the hair to compliment and tie in with the overall look without competing with it.”

Katy Perry at the Met Gala with a "Modern Day Beehive " using Oscar Blandi Hair Care Products Hair Style created by: Chris Appleton

Katy Perry at the Met Gala with a “Modern Day Beehive “ using Oscar Blandi Hair Care Products
Hair Style created by:
Chris Appleton  

 

HERE’S THE LOOK BREAKDOWN:

1.  On damp hair apply Oscar Blandi Hair Lift Mousse throughout and spray Oscar Blandi Jasmine Protein Mist from mid-shaft through the ends and comb through the hair.

2.  Blow dry hair upside down, so the hair dries in the correct direction and gets rid of any bumps or lumps. Spray your brush with Oscar Blandi Lacca Medium Hold Hair Spray for hold and shine and brush into a high ponytail. Secure with elastic.

3.   Split hair into two sections pinning the top aside for later. Tease the bottom section for volume sprinkling in Oscar Blandi Dry Teasing Dust as you go. I used a foam donut around the base of the pony pulling through the teased section to create more volume and help with the structure of the look.

4.   Now for the top section, work a small amount of Oscar Blandi Sculpting Pomade through the hair to get that glossy, high shine finish. That pomade is key in molding such a structured look. Add more Lacca Hairspray and blast on a lower setting with the blow dryer to set and seal in the hold and shine.

5.   Take that polished, glossy top section and begin to wrap around the teased hair and donut in a clockwise direction. Pin into place.

6.   I shortened her faux bangs to have a really sharp, edgy, blunt, editorial feel. They almost look tucked under the bouffant since the beehive is so high. I set the whole look with a ton of Lacca Hairspray, which gives off a lot of light reflecting shine.

THANKS, TO : Ulta.com for the Oscar Blandi products

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:

• Oscar Blandi Products: @OscarBlandiHairCare

•Hair Stylist,  for Katy Perry’s “modern day beehive” – Chris Appleton:   @ChrisAppleton1

 

OSCAR BLANDI HAIR CARE PRODUCTS

OSCAR BLANDI HAIR CARE PRODUCTS

 

( Quoted and Paraphrased information in this article was obtained from a provided PR fact sheet.)

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