Your Wardrobe & The Seasons of Color

The Seasons of Color were developed in 1926 by colorist, Johannes Litten, who believed instinctively humans prefer color as it reflected their true inner selves. Decades later, his ideals were introduced into the fashion industry.

The psychological affects of color on humans has been the topic of many conversations and subject of much study for centuries. However, it has only been during the last couple of decades research has been done on the actual physical effect color has on all of us. It has been scientifically proven when color is added to fabric, an additional dimension is created, causing an intensity change in the skin.
Hair color, eye color, skin color and undertone are all genetically controlled. Because each of these specific areas are determined by separate distinct genes, they do not have influence on the others.

Skin has no color when we're first born. It develops gradually through the years as we age and become more exposed to the elements around us. It can change from uneven pigmentation which generally happens during puberty, pregnancy and menopause. Freckles, moles, age spots and broken capillary vessels are changes which can make the skin appear rough and ruddy.

Correct coloring will downplay these flaws and not draw attention to them. Listed below are the colors which will help you determine those that are perfectly right for you.

AUTUMN
Red heads, auburn or brunettes with heavy red highlights and yellow undertone to their skin.

Oyster white, beige, coffee brown, dark chocolate brown, mahogany, camel, gold, yellow gold, mustard, pumpkin, terra cotta, rust, warm peach, periwinkle blue, salmon, orange, warm red, tomato red, olive, khaki green, jade, forest green, teal and also gold jewelry

WINTER
Usually brunettes with clear intensity and blue undertone to their skin.

Pure white, black, taupe, gray, charcoal gray, navy blue, aqua, violet, lemon yellow, turquoise, emerald green, grass green, fuchsia, hot pink, purple, apple red, burgundy and also silver jewelry.


SUMMER
Blonds with blue undertones to their skin.

Soft white, cocoa, black, powder blue, sky blue, gray blue, lilac, aqua, blue/green, lemon yellow, peach, powder pink, deep rose, orchid, mauve, fuchsia, plum and also silver jewelry.


SPRING
Blonds with yellow undertones to their skin.

Ivory, camel, golden tan, navy, gold, daisy yellow, lime green, apricot, salmon, coral, bright red, gray blue, aqua, turquoise, violet and also gold jewelry.

Dating ~ Ain't What It Use To Be

Looking for love in all the wrong places were the words to a catchy tune some years back. Would looking in regards to online dating be considered wrong?

Not nowadays, considering it has become a multi-million dollar industry that even our grandparents are entertaining as a choice of venue. When it originally evolved in the mid-twentieth century, certain stigmas stifled its popularity. But by the 1960's, the concept grew in popularity and has steadily risen as Americans found themselves working longer hours and juggling more responsibilities that cut into their social calendar.

Dating certainly, "ain't what it use to be" and has taken on a whole new meaning thanks to the computer and the worldwide web. One might compare it to shopping for a new car … you get to choose the age, the style, and the color from the privacy of your very own home. It doesn't matter what time, what day, or what you look like when you are surfing the various sites for that one particular mate you hope to connect with. There is a niche to suit every preference whether it is ethnic background, pet lovers, hobby, single parents, uniformed personnel, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, age groups, or physical fitness.

Membership fees fall within the range of affordability, starting as low as $19.95 for one month and many offer free trial periods to entice new subscribers. On line dating is certainly the wave of the future but, those same old standards still apply when it comes to being sensible and safe. Don't give out too much personal information until you're certain they are exactly who they propose to be. Meet in a public place and meet much sooner as opposed to chatting on line for months. Any one can write a good game when they are given the opportunity to do a rewrite and plan out on paper how they want to impress you with words. You can tell more about someone instantly from the way they respond to you, whether or not their eyes wander to the opposite sex in the general vicinity, if the conversation flows easily and the body language is right.

And more than anything ... don't leap into a steady relationship until you know everything there is to know about him/her. Better to be safe than sorry. Make sure they ARE who they profess to be. HOWEVER, it isn't cool to play undercover agent, stalker, private p.i. ... some people really do take it to the extreme.

Otherwise ... get yourself out there! You're not going to find "Mr./Ms. Right" sitting in front of the tube eating bon bons ... get on line, create a profile and go shopping.

"Senior In The House!"

My mom is 4'11" full of vim and vigor. She may shuffle along like a 100 year old locomotive but, believe you me she is sassy and spunky enough to take on a raging bull if it really, really ticks her off!

Ree (as the grand/great grand kids call her) came to live with me four years ago after my father passed away. We had been estranged nearly 30 years because I left home shortly after high school to escape an abusive environment. I just could not stand by watching the way my dad controlled her, and yes, she allowed it. That generation did so and endured the bad no matter how dreadful it became. Despite my many persuasions and attempts to get her to leave, she stayed because she loved him.

When we reconnected, it did not take long to pick up where we had left off. And believe me, it was a challenge having someone else occupying my space ... especially when she resumed the role of my mother like I was still 10 years old. There were days I would turn crimson from embarrassment because she vocalized her opinion loudly when she saw a young lad with his jeans dropping below his butt exposing his underwear or, a sixteen year old with lip and eyebrow piercings.

"That wasn't allowed in my day!" She would bellow at the top of her lungs. "God never intended a woman's face to look like a pin cushion!" She shared with every one whether they agreed or, not. Yep, that's my mom.

After an evening out with friends once, I had tip-toed quietly into the house so as not to wake her. If I did, there was always a thousand questions or, she shared her opinion as to whether she felt I was out to late. Lord forbid, if I came in slightly tipsy! That evening you would have thought I did have a little too much veno when I went sailing across the room because she decided to rearrange my furniture and placed a stool where I never expected to find it in the dark. Yep, that's my mom. Her way was always better. Gotta love her, though ...

I'm sure many of you feel my pain and have similar stories to share. However, one thing is certain ... I would not want to change anything about our arrangement. Just recently, I lost my mother-in-law whose body & mind was debilitated by Alzheimer's. It was a devastating blow to watch this vibrant, gorgeous, precious part of our lives waste away to a fraction of the person who loved us unconditionally and passed away not knowing who we were.

Every day I thank the Lord for giving me the courage to show up at my dad's wake and reconnect with my mom again. I may not have her for long ... but then, she has enough gumption to even outlive me. Every day will be an adventure ... some will make me cringe, some will be peppered with surprises, many will be creating memories of moments shared. One thing is certain ... I will cherish and take each and every one happily as they come along.

Teen Dating Violence

Did you ever think this would be something you would have to worry about? Think twice! This form of violence does not discriminate ... does not matter what side of the track you live on ... affects both boys and girls ... and doesn't occur more in one race over another.

It's running rampant and we need to educate our teens ... and need to do it NOW! Violence in teen dating is higher than you think.  Here are some facts disclosed by a mass of reports conducted nationally on local, state and federal levels:

~ Girls are more likely to yell, threaten to hurt themselves, pinch, slap,
scratch and kick.

~ Boys injure more severely and frequently with some form of sexual coercion
including, unwanted kissing, hugging, genital contact & forced intercourse.

~ Some victims experience the abuse occasionally, while others daily.

~ Approximately 1-5 girls in high school are being physically and/or sexually
abused by a dating partner.

~ 20% - 39% of students know 1 out of 5 students who are victimized, have
personally witnessed the abuse or, heard someone talking about controlling
the person they date.

~ Nearly 80% of students polled admitted they would only confide in a friend
while the remaining 20% admitted it would go unreported totally.

~ Most reported abuse was attributed to provocation by the girl, the victim's
personality type, girls needing affection, strong influence by peers and
problems to communicate.

A teen dating violence initiative is being carried out but, it will only prove successful if it begins in the home. Sit down and talk to your teens today. There are some wonderful resources to help break the ice and others you can turn to if you feel as though they are being victimized. Links have been made available below:

National Center for Victims of Crime

http://www.ncvc.org

Love Is Not Abuse

http://www.loveisnotabuse.com

IF YOU ARE A TEEN & WANT TO READ MORE GO TO:

http://www.thesafespace.org/index.html

IF YOU ARE A TEEN IN CRISIS CALL 911 or The National Teen Dating Abuse Help Line at 1-866-331-9474

Pricing In A Buyer's Market

We all know that market values are dropping throughout the nation. Quite frankly, some are creating an upside-down effect whereby the remaining mortgage proves higher than what it will appraise out for. Yikes! 


Let's face it, everyone has an ego when it comes to their home and it always surfaces when the time comes to pricing out a home. Don't let those visions of grandeur and walking away with a major profit get in the way of practicality. "You're gonna have to leave your ego at the door." 


Successfully selling a home nowadays for a decent profit means you'll have to swallow a little humble pie, be sensible and disciplined. The price is right could not be a truer analogy. A homes market value will be primarily based upon those homes most comparable to yours in square footage, style and age that have sold within the past six months in a 2-5 mile radius of your location. This is what the bank underwriters base their determination on. It's not that you realtor is a moron, it's not that John Doe down the road sold his house for a heck of a lot more a year ago, it's an industry standard that makes absolutely no exceptions. 


Realtors know the industry. Trust their judgment. If you decide to sell it on your own, you have to do your homework and keep a level head. Buyers today are savvy. They're on the web, tuned into the news, reading articles. They want to be seduced and their looking for enticements. If a duplicate house is selling on your road for $200,000, then price yours at $195,000 and throw in a cleaning service to sweeten the deal to prep the house for when the new buyers move in. Many buyers are strapped for cash and offering to pay part, or all of their closing costs will definitely prompt a quicker sale.

Remember, when the Price Is Right, all parties walk away with a smile on their face.

The Healing Power of Lavender

Lavender oil has been popular since ancient times. It was the sacred scent of the Celtic month of the Willow Moon (April 25 to May 13). Picking lavender during the full moon was said to enhance its magical powers.

The Romans burned lavender over hot coals to surround a new mother and child with the scent of compassion. The ancient Greeks dedicated the beautiful flower to Hecate, their goddess of witches, sorcerers and enchantment. Sprigs of lavender were worn by medieval monks to banish evil spirits.

However today, it is revered for having a wide variety of uses, and Nature's Sunshine procures the finest oil of the right species to bring you a host of benefits far more pleasing than inferior substitutes commonly sold today. Not only does it encourage balance for the entire nervous system, it has been used for nerves, migraines, headaches, tension,emotional stress, sore muscles or tense muscles and has the power to penetrate the body quickly. Other uses include benefits for the skin, immune and circulatory systems. French psychiatrists found that lavender-laden air can reduce agitation among certain psychiatric patients.

Lavender can be used as a powerful antiseptic because it contains more than 200 compounds that are active against fungi, viruses and other microbes. Many of the purported medicinal uses for lavender have, upon modern scientific testing, proven to be legitimate. Lavender oil was used extensively on the battlefield during both World Wars when medical supplies became scarce to prevent infection and help reduce pain.

Ease Period Pain

The relaxing, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties of lavender make it ideal for easing both physical and mental menstrual woes.

• to relieve period pain, gently massage the lower back and tummy with diluted lavender oil - this will also balance your spirits
• to avoid the emotional symptoms of PMS, combine 3 drops of lavender, 3 drops of roman chamomile and 30mi carrier oil and dab on your pulse points in the days leading up to your period. The calming, soothing smell of this combination should help to regulate your hormonal system.
• the esters in lavender oil reduce muscle spasm, thereby easing period cramps

Improve Your Skin And Hair

A great natural skin tonic, lavender helps to balance oil production and prevents scarring. You can use it to:

• prevent dandruff, add a few drops to the water of your final hair rinse or, sprinkle some onto your hairbrush
• treat minor cuts, bites, strains and bruises by adding a few drops of oil to a bowl of water, soaking a cloth and pressing it over the affected area
• treat spots and pimples by dabbing them morning & night with oil
• make an after-shampoo rinse for dull & oily hair with a jug of mineral water, a few drops of oil and the juice of a lemon - leave to infuse for 30 minutes before using
• use a soft, warm cloth compress on damaged or broken skin to ease swelling and pain as well as promote skin regrowth

A Natural Relaxant

Lavender is the perfect natural remedy for calming your nerves and easing you into a sound sleep.

• prepare for a night of blissful sleep by adding a few drops of lavender essential oil into a deep, warm bath
• dab pulse points such as your temples and wrists with oil to relieve stress or anxiety
• to relieve headaches, massage a few drops of undiluted lavender essential oil into your temples
• drop lavender oil on your sheets or place a small bag of dried lavender flowers under the pillow to help you drift off to sleep

The Active Ingredients of Lavender

The combination of compounds that make up this flower contribute to its legendary healing powers

Alcohol ~ the oil contains up to 50% of the alcohol linalol which helps to kill bacteria & viruses. It also helps to heal burns, wounds and sores.

Ketones ~ compounds that help relieve pain, build new skin tissue and reduce inflammation. They also have a sleep-inducing effect. Ketones, however, can be toxic, so lavender that contains more than 35% of ketone should be avoided. Diabetics, epileptics and pregnant women should avoid them completely.

Esters ~ compounds that ease swelling and soreness, prevent muscle spasms, fight fungai infections and prevent scarring. They also help to regulate your moods, preventing you from experiencing depression and hysteria.

So, as you can see, lavender can treat troubles of the heart, body and mind.