Apple Cider Vinegar - LOSE WEIGHT AND BELLY FAT!

Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, $2.90

Could the magic potion to looking skinny and beautiful be a spoonful of apple cider vinegar? I've been a fan of this natural remedy for some time and want to share the secret and the science behind why it works to help lose weight, belly fat, clear up skin and help your hair grow!

WEIGHT LOSS

Recently a study showed that by consuming just 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (ACV) every day vs a placebo, resulted in the shedding of more body and belly fat. This makes sense because pectin which is found in apples makes you feel fuller and more satisfied. The pectin in apple cider vinegar is greater than if you ate a ton of raw apples and can help suppress your appetite. Consuming ACV before meals ensures that you will have more acid in your stomach, and if you make sure to eat high protein meals it makes it more likely that you will produce growth hormone that stimulate your metabolism while you sleep. I don't know about you but I'd rather sleep than hit the gym any day!

SHED BELLY FAT

ACV can also reduce the time that fat will stay in the digestive tract,so that less fat can be absorbed to your belly! Plus ACV improves your body's utilization of iron which also helps increase weight loss by kickstarting your body to burn the food you eat as fuel.

FATIGUE FIGHTER - LEG CRAMP BUSTER

ACV has long been used to help alleviate leg cramps at night too and it can help you fight exhaustion. These effects happen when lactic acid builds up in the body and the potassium and enzymes found in ACV can help reduce these.

HOW TO USE IT

If you want to incorporate ACV to help with weight loss daily the recommendation is 2 teaspoons in 8 oz of water 3 times a day taken before your meals.

MAKE IT TASTE BETTER

The deal breaker for most people who are initially motivated to get on board the ACV train is of course the taste.  The taste is strong which is why it is used in ketchup and salad dressings. By stimulating your taste buds, you can then appreciate the complex flavors in all your other foods you eat so you won't fall as easily into the trap of adding more salt and fat in your diet to enhance your food. We all know that salt will make your belly bloat and fat tempts you to eat more fatty foods.

To make it taste better add Stevia, raw honey or agave to give a little sweetness. And then chase it with some apple juice.

These are the results from ingesting ACV but this powerful elixir also helps get your beauty on too when used topically:

HAIR RINSE DETOXIFIER

When used as a hair rinse it will rid your hair of the gunk and build up left behind from all the styling products and conditioners we use. Simply dilute 1/2 cup of ACV into 3-4 cups of water and pour it over your head after shampooing. It will leave your hair soft and shiny and can promote hair growth by promoting a clearer scalp which is why some people use it as a cure for dandruff.

ACNE REMOVER

For the skin, ACV's benefits are endless. First it can be used topically on a cotton ball as an effective anti-acne remedy killing bacteria and can help restore the skins natural pH levels. Depending on your skin's sensitivity level it might be a good idea to dilute the ACV with water first before applying.

LIGHTEN AGE SPOTS - BRIGHTEN YOUR SKIN

The sulfur found in ACV can fight aging, especially age spots if you use leave it on at night before you go to sleep. This is where you'll want to use it straight on, if your skin can tolerate it, and wait until morning to wash it off. After washing your face in the morning, use the ACV as your toner, diluted with water, on a cotton ball. This will help brighten your skin.

FRESH BREATH - WHITER TEETH

Swish and gargle ACV in your mouth and not only will it kill bacteria that cause halitosis but it will help remove stains and whiten your teeth.

Oscar red carpet fashion 2014 - Fashion Police Style

Big thank you to the Morning Blend on abc affiliate KGUN9 for asking me to talk about red carpet fashion from the Oscars 2014! 

Some highlights from this year's hits and misses on Academy Awards night.

And the Oscar ... is all about the dress!

Tonight the first question on everyone's lips will be ... "Who are you wearing?"

Love this photo list and can't wait to see who wins this year! 

OSCAR DRESSES:

via Media Rundigital

Men: Powerless to Resist You

Want to be more irresistible for that special guy in your life? Today for Valentine's Day keep a few things in mind:

• Men are simple. So keep your beauty simple. Don't wear your fake eyelashes or he'll wonder what else about you is "fake". Wear a pink nude colored lipstick, if you go for the bold red he'll see it as a signal to stay away since it will end up all over his own face if he goes in to kiss you. Give your hair the "undone" look, messy - like you've just gotten out of bed.

• Men are visual. Just a hint of silk, bare arms, shorter skirt will do the trick.

• Men are competitive. Don't gush - make him win you over.

• Less talk - more flirting. Playful. It doesn't take much - the mere mention or suggestion will send his imagination into high gear. Arch your back. Brush your leg against him ... the Tease. Is. Powerful.

• Sexting. If you have never sex't before it's really quite simple. Talk about what you want to do, what you're going to do and how you're going to do it.

• Be confident. Everyone is attracted to confidence - it's sensual ... especially when he believes this confidence will transfer to the bedroom.

XOXO Happy Valentine's Day!

Beauty Product Cocktails - What to mix, what to use first and how to layer.

As a beauty blogger my bathroom counter at times can overwhelm me ... between the samples that companies send to try out and my own dermatologist recommended products I wonder if I am actually doing more harm than good to my skin. It turns out that might be true. Let's just say that the answer to the questions of what to use, how to combine, and what cancels each other out doesn't have to be as  complicated as my bathroom counter appears to be.

Here are a few simple principles that I live by:

• More is not always better or faster or smart. Make sure you are only using products as directed and always test a new product out on a small area of your skin that won't be a dramatic problem should you experience irritation, peeling or inflammation. 

• If you are using products with active ingredients, save one for the morning and one for the night.

• Don't overlook your lips, neck, chest and hands in your skin care routine. 

Layering products on your skin like with everything in life, requires a few rules so that you avoid side effects or worse yet, a chemical reaction on your face! Here's a simple plan.

1. Prescription Products. Any prescription medications should be applied first to make sure that their active ingredients penetrate the skin directly.

• Retinols/Retinoids : These Vitamin A derivatives have been clinically proven to reduce fine lines and wrinkles -  the holy grail of wrinkle reducers so to speak. However they can be irritating, especially drying and potentially made worse if combined with other products.

• Retinols should not be used with Benzoyl Peroxide, another potentially drying product. Retinols should also not be used with Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) / glycolic acids as they can make the retinoids inactive.Best practice: If you use a Retinoid, do so only at night since they also can make the skin sensitive to the sun, and save the other products for the morning.

• Topical Vitamin C, another great anti-aging ingredient will become less effective when layered with Copper peptides. Copper peptides are a popular ingredient in many serums and moisturizers so it's important to read labels.

2. Serums and liquids. These are the products that usually contain vitamins and antioxidants to help repair damage to the skin from the sun and environment and should be layered next. The exceptions here are serums that contain silicone or dimethicone. Silicone helps lock moisture in your skin, but it also acts as a barrier blocking anything above it from getting to your skin. Silicone serums should be applied last, the face primers fall into this category.

3. Eye Cream, then Face Cream. Lightest to heaviest. Especially important to use after application of Retin A products.

We spend alot of time and money on these products, so always read the labels, don't OD on any one type of product. Your skin is the largest organ of your body - treat it well!