When Facelifts Work

I hate thinking about facelifts and surgery of any kind but as I have said, a woman needs her plastic surgeon just as much as her dentist. Annual visits and slight nips and tucks is really what it takes, ladies. But aside from all that, you have to let yourself age, don't be fooled that you will suddenly turn back the clock, you won't, but you can improve a bit at any age. Here are some examples [below]. These celebrities never tried to hide the fact they aged, so what, fact of life, yet their faces look normal, meaning, not freakish, not pulled back too tight, no deformed eyes, or cheek implants, nothing extreme, just natural aging and they still look like themselves, and there is nothing wrong with that. Take pride in your appearance at any age, and do subtle nips and tucks if you can afford it, but be careful, doctors go nuts with tight pulled back faces and you spend the rest of your life trying to get back your old face, and it is a nightmare you can't wake up from. Just peruse some of those botched plastic surgery sites on the Internet to give yourself a scare, and be happy with what looks back at you in the mirror every day.

Less Than Zero: Cruciferous Vegetables

I have touched on this before, but here it is in more detail. Avoid cruciferous vegetables, and only use them as a garnish in small doses. 

I say doses because while you are fed a story that these types of vegetables are cancer-fighting, there is no clinical evidence to support those claims. 

For example, broccoli was a failing business about fifty years ago until producers thought up a marketing angle of "cancer fighter". In fact, all these types of vegetables can block calcium absorption and iodine needed for healthy bones and healthy thyroid function. Make sure you are using a pinch of iodized salt in your diet, cutting out that plain table salt, and having almost zero salty snacks. A pretty good website I found is:  http://www.diagnosisdiet.com/is-broccoli-good-for-you/ - but there are many other sources. 

It might be fine when you are young, but steady and continued consumption of these types of vegetables do more harm than good. I know everyone looks to the Asian diet, but most are using these veggies as a garnish, or in small amounts, like soy, do not overdo it. 

Most Asian diets are too high in salt, soy, and cruciferous vegetables. The solution? Balance, and stick to basics, there is nothing wrong with lettuce with veggies, like carrots, celery, a few tomatoes; and fruit is always good for your skin [in moderation; don't brush your teeth within 20 minutes of eating any fruit or you risk losing a bit of tooth enamel]. Even spinach can have too much iron for your system, and be difficult to digest if you eat large amounts at one time. Think about what you eat now and it will not add pounds to your diet by affecting your liver, thyroid, or kidney functions. Read up on the subject, and be careful.

Graduating This Year?

...Well good luck, I know it's a few months off but it made me think about High School again. I love discovering films that I think not many people know about or wouldn't care to watch. On Showtime Family, they played a really good old fashioned movie about remembering your High School days called "The Best of Times". 

It is really great if you have ever experienced the Central Valley of California, it is a special place, sort of frozen in time, and we can all relate to High School, and the big football game, the gorgeous jock, the smart, brainy guy, and the cheerleaders, they are all here in this movie. It is very funny, very sweet, and my favorite part is when the two main characters are having a nice sit-down dinner with their wives and they are dying to watch football on television. Anyway, everyone can relate to this movie, Kurt Russell is easy on the eyes, and believe me Robin Williams decided to "act" in this movie, and not fall back on his goofy over-the-top comedic act, he played a real person and is funny with Kurt Russell. Take a break, check out the movie on cable, or wherever you access some of the old films, it will have you laughing and remembering some of your High School days as your kids graduate and start packing away their own great memories of High School.

..

#goodtimes  #kurtrussell  #robinwilliams

Simple Things To Stop Doing Now

For a quick fix in your diet, especially if you are young, since young people could care less about what they eat or drink, they are too busy living their lives, but really, when you are young is the time to think about eliminating these items from your diet. Stop these now, and you will never regret it:

Soda - it is never good for you. The occasional soda is okay if you are lost in the desert and finally hit on a gas station with a soda machine, go for it. But once back to civilization, there is never a reason to reach for that soda can, I don't care what the labels claim, diet, sugar free, whatever, it is garbage and belongs there. Soda weakens bones, teeth, contains carcinogens, food dyes that impair brain activity, and contains a bunch of toxins, so just avoid them.

Skip the smokes for a few days, trying to decrease the number of cigs you smoke per week until you can eventually stop smoking completely. It will make a difference and teach you to eat right, and not rely on cigarettes to keep your weight down and you will do yourself a favor by hopefully avoiding certain cancers and lung disease.

Advertisers use cool looking models to sell cigarettes and then when you are prematurely old and gray you try and quit, it makes no difference in your looks; the damage is done.

Quit smoking now to save your looks and your health.

Stop drinking grocery store brand instant teas and start drinking herbal teas. The instant tea mixes can be hard on your kidneys and contain flouride, which combined with tap water, and some toothpastes, will make you overdose on the stuff and may cause health problems down the road.

Skip the vitamin water because it is just added fructose, so drink bottled water or filtered tap water with lemon or lime. Drink only real fruit juices because most grocery store brands are too sugary and damage your body.

I admit I am a coffee drinker, so if you can, avoid adding fattening creams and sugars to your coffee; black is best and don't over do it, believe me, I love the stuff but have cut down to a cup mid morning as I am selecting my outfit for a hard day's shopping. Enjoy.

Male Report: Establish Your Style

Time for a refresher for the guys out there, stop mimicking Hollywood and go straight to the runway. You need to decide on a look to fit your profession and your personality. Yes, the clothes make the man and so does the hair. I have worked in the highest office of the state, and believe me, I thought I was at a fashion show in Milan. The guys were amazing; very professional, yet very modern without being pretentious or fake. The older men stuck with tradition, which fit their high positions and their place in life [the grown kids, the steady home life] while the young men stuck with the runway. Their style fit their attitude which was very positive and forward-thinking while looking very sharp.

Now personally, I hate this look and see it too often, it looks like a massive wig and is just plain ugly which proves my point of not duplicating the looks of Hollywood film stars:

If you're having problems with your hair, just cut it. Don't resort to wearing wigs or getting hair plugs. For guys, natural is better, but color never hurts, it shows you care about your total look, it shows you have style:

Take a look at the runway from recent years to get some ideas. 

Don't forget to keep up your style in your off time, you never know who you might meet when you are running around on your own time, relaxing, going to the movies; whatever:

Star Spotlight: Brooke Shields

I love looking at some of the style ideas from celebrities and Brooke Shields is a favorite of mine. Maybe she can serve as an inspiration to change things in your life, simplify and beautify yourself and your surroundings.

I love this casual home office, or even a kitchen/work area with a nice large table for browsing through your favorite books. I also like the fact Brooke did not hang up every picture, but simply arranged them on a shelf, and they can be viewed easily or changed on a whim without having to worry about nails in a wall.

Simple exercise that holds up today. You can use a chair to balance if you need to, but start with light weights, working up to no more than 10 pounds. Hold your arm out straight behind you and slowly bend at the elbow, lifting up and down in a smooth slow motion; no jerking or swinging, you will damage your elbow.