Beauty Today: All Smoke and Mirrors?

Written by Danna Schneider


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Not only are there new breakthroughs inrepparttar world of cosmetic science, But there are constantly new studies and discoveries inrepparttar 130426 field of nutrition, fitness, and wellness. Combine this withrepparttar 130427 new wave of technologically advanced cosmetics, supplements, and treatments, and you've got a recipe for a healthier, longer, more satisfying life for those of us who decide to take advantage ofrepparttar 130428 advanced knowledge of our time.

So, does your desire to be your best and most beautiful self make you shallow, less credible, or somehow jeopardize your feminist agendas? Unless you've somehow compromised your integrity, morals, or core Beliefs alongrepparttar 130429 way,repparttar 130430 answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT! As long as you are not putting yourself at high risk for physical harm, obsessing endlessly, or spending your life savings, investing time and money into your beauty ultimately is an investment in your well being, self esteem, and many times, mental and physical health. Feeling beautiful is part of what makes us women. Come on, it's just plain FUN to experiment with different looks and different products! It feels good to be noticed, and when you feel beautiful, you tend to radiate confidence and power. It is inherent in our nature to want to feel feminine and look and feel our best, and there is nothing wrong with it, as long as it is not all-consuming.

As a self-proclaimed "product junkie", I can attest that many of these newly engineered products really do work, as I have tried nearly all of them inrepparttar 130431 quest to look and feel my best. I can't wait to see what they'll come out with next, as every new product seems to toprepparttar 130432 last. Hey, women have come a long way, and we deserve to feel sexy and Confident - beyond smoke and mirrors!



Danna Schneider is the webmaster and founder of CosmeticsGalore.com. She is a cosmetics and beauty product critic, researcher, and enthusiast. CosmeticsGalore.com offers reviews of the latest in cosmetic technology.


Rituals

Written by Jean Johnson


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Personal rituals, family rituals, public rituals . . . we need them for stability and relatedness. Church is a ritual . . . so is Super Bowl. We like rituals! And it is a place we can be creative. Create what feels good for you and yours. Rituals can change. For years I threw a “Chili Bowl” party on Super Bowl Sunday. I made a ton of chili and had “the gang” over and we watchedrepparttar game. It was fun. But as my friends began having kids and my first marriage ended it wasn’t a ritual I wanted to continue. After I remarried I began a different ritual. My honey and I have super sex - then we watchrepparttar 130424 Super Bowl - justrepparttar 130425 two of us. It works! And its fun too! Rituals will change as people and families change. Easter egg hunts go byrepparttar 130426 way-side as children grow (although my adult daughter still expects a chocolate bunny each year! Rituals!) Most recently we’ve decided to “re-ritual” Christmas. We are a small family: my husband, daughter, bonus son, my mother, and myself. Inrepparttar 130427 past we have had Christmas Eve dinner, sat around and talked, gotten up early on Christmas morning, opened gifts, had breakfast, cooked a turkey, had dinner . . .repparttar 130428 whole day was kind of anti-climatic . . .and long . . . and way too food oriented. This year my daughter suggested we do it differently next year. Have turkey on Christmas Eve, openrepparttar 130429 gifts, sleep laterepparttar 130430 next morning, have breakfast, and then just hang out - go to a movie, rent a movie, visit friends, what ever - NO EXPECTATIONS - so next year we will try something new. How about you . . . what ritual can you re-define, revise, rediscover, or re-create to give meaning and harmony to your day or week? Try it. Ritual. Ritual, however, is notrepparttar 130431 same as RUT! Notice if you are actually performing a ritual (it’s soothing, creative, meaningful) . . . or are you in a rut? (Non-thinking, zoned-out, meaningless.) If it is a rut - DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT! We get in a rut when we always do things inrepparttar 130432 same way. Drive to workrepparttar 130433 same route every day (who cares if it isrepparttar 130434 shortest orrepparttar 130435 fastest?) You always userepparttar 130436 same meatloaf recipe, you make love because it isrepparttar 130437 day you always make love; you do Christmas a certain way because you always have. That is a rut. If it doesn’t cause delight, discovery or desirability - it is a rut - not ritual - CHANGE IT!



Jean Johnson, one time single working mom, is now a full-time coach and writer specializing in women’s issues, especially those involving transitions, spirituality and finding your purpose, passion and pizzazz in life. Jean can be reached at jeanjohnson@cuttothechasecoaching.com, or check out her website at www.cuttothechasecoaching.com.


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