Friday, March 29, 2013

Hair Bow

Easter, weddings, and just the perfect hairstyle for Spring!  How lovely is this hair bow?  Stephanie Brinkerhoff of the fab website  HAIR & MAKEUP BY STEPH.COM shows us the step-by-step.  Stephanie works in Utah as a professional wedding hair stylist, makeup artist and beauty blogger.  She travels around the  country to destination weddings and in-salon workshops teaching other stylists about bridal work.  Visit Steph's website to contact her and see all her beautiful work!



Hair Bow


1.  Begin by taking one small section of hair from each side of your head.  The bigger the sections, the bigger the bow.


2.  Tie the two sections together with an elastic to create a half ponytail.  Don't pull the ends through the elastic the last time you wrap it to create a loop like the picture on the right.



3.  Split the loop in half to create two smaller loops and clip one loop aside for later.

4.  Use your fingers to spread out the loop and push it flat against your head into a bow shape.  Insert one bobby pin going from top to bottom and one going from bottom to top.  

5.  Repeat on the opposite side to finish the bow shape.




6.  Pick up the remaining ends of the ponytail and wrap them up and around the elastic to hide it.  Secure it with bobby pins underneath.


Ta-da!

Monday, March 25, 2013

Monday Move


six pack (much more visible on a man than a woman)
photo via skinnybulkup.com

Good morning everyone,

Let's talk about our abs......

Of course it is very important to strengthen all of the muscle groups of your body.  But it is extremely important to have a strong core.  If your core is not strong then your body will have a hard time working properly.  Your core is basically your trunk minus your arms and legs.  One of the most important muscle groups in your core is your abdominal muscles.  These include the rectus abdominus (six pack), transverse abdominis and the internal and external obliques.

I do not believe that you have to lie on the floor to effectively work your abs.  There is a very small range of motion that is necessary to work this group of muscles.  If you ARE doing a floor crunch there is no need to come all the way up off the floor.  You will be losing the contraction that is so necessary for your muscles to grow and tone.

Here is a simple ab exercise.
While standing do a pelvic tilt......bringing your belly button in towards your back. (as you are bringing your belly button in towards your back your pelvis will tilt up)
Hold that for ten seconds........YOU DID A CRUNCH!
Now do reps.....but at the top of each movement (when you are holding and squeezing) think about the muscles that you are working (there is a mind-muscle connection) and give an extra squeeze (recruits more muscle fibers....more effective) Do as many as you can with proper form ( which is extremely important)  Start with 25 if you can.  Rest for 30 seconds in between sets.  Do three sets!

You can do this abdominal exercise anywhere!

(I will post a pic as soon as I can get someone to take one of me doing this)

p.s.  working your abs or any muscle group will make them toned and strong but to see them you have to lose the fat that is hiding them from sight.  That,  of course,  means eating healthy. And we do have to add in some cardio!....But when you have strong and toned muscles your body becomes a more efficient fat-burning machine!!!!!!!

p.s.s.  there are so many different ab exercises.  Please email me with any questions @ eengel088@gmail.com.

p.s.s.s.  always check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Flower pot rain boots

Leave it to my friend, Elayne Sloane, to come up with another use for rain boots!  She is so creative!  What a pretty setting!  



Hanging beds

Would you want to be rocked to sleep?  With a hanging bed you can sway your way into dreamland.  A very tropical feeling as well.  Makes me think of a backyard hammock.  So peaceful.  










photos via dornob.com

Monday, March 18, 2013

Pretty flowers

Last night I went grocery shopping at the local "Stop and Shop."  They had the most beautiful flowers for sale so I had to stop and take a few pics.  





Autumn/Winter chair

Happy Monday everyone!

It is still so cold in New York.  It is hard to believe that Spring is just a few days away!  But I am sooo happy that it is.  It has really been a brutally cold winter.  I wish that I had known about this chair months ago.  What a great gift for yourself or a friend that shivers all winter.
Aga Brzostek, a Polish designer, created the "Autumn/Winter chair."  How amazingly clever.  Brzostek took a foam base and wrapped it with a sweater-like material ( reclaimed wool.)  The chair  has buttons so you can button yourself in to stay extra warm.  There are also pockets that you can use to hold your favorite read.  What a cozy way to spend a cold evening!






Photos via dezeen.com

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Our favorite television show floor plans


When you watch your favorite television show do you wonder what the rooms that are not shown look like?  I always try to imagine what they look like.  Inaki Aliste Lizarraide, a Spanish designer, was thinking the same thing and decided to do something about it!  He created very detailed floor plans of  many of our favorite television shows.  Amazing!  I finally have closure to what these television homes look like! What do you think?  Is this how you imagined the unseen rooms? 

photo via tvequals.com
Two and a Half Men


photo via Gothamist


photo via flowtv.org



Nbc/Getty images




The Golden Girls House via iamnotastalker.com



via silv3rglee.wordpress.com

Monty Brinton/CBS/Getty Images


AP




Gary Null/NBC/Getty Images




New Line Cinema/Everett Collection



via wikicommoms


via apartmenttherapy.com
via redbubble.com


designs by Inaki Aliste Lizarralde via google images










Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Graphic Tees

Do you wear graphic tees?  They seem to be getting more and more popular.  A way to say what is on your mind (for better or for worse.)



Always love The Beatles!












The tees shown above can be found at Target.