Did you know that every three minutes a woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer? According to the American Cancer Society, the chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer at some point during her life is about 1 in 8. This is why it is incredibly important for women to do what they can to maintain their breast health.

Here are some simple steps to help support your breast health:

• Conduct self-exams.
• If you’re over 40, it is advisable to get an annual mammogram.
• Eat a healthy diet comprising of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products. Don’t forget to include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts.
• Always remember to exercise. Most adults need at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least five days per week. Examples include walking briskly, mowing the lawn, dancing, swimming for recreation or bicycling. Stretching and weight training can also strengthen your body and improve your fitness level.

Now, here’s an opportunity for you to join the fight against breast cancer. Check out the TAKE A STAND widget below and join the virtual march, by creating a customizable character in honor of someone special. In addition, for each character created, One A Day will make a donation to a breast cancer cause selected by consumers. The organizations that will be included are: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the American Cancer Society and Breast Cancer Network of Strength. OneADay will donate $0.10 per character created and coupon redeemed with a combined maximum donation of $75,000. Why wait? Do your part for a good cause today.

Trends and styles change every season, and if you’re a fashion conscious person, it is not only important that you follow the latest in style but are also in the know regarding the various fashion faux pas and mistakes. A fashion disaster can completely ruin even a seemingly elegant outfit, and in this article we tell you how to steer clear of them.

The most obvious fashion disaster is the appearance of undergarments peeking out from underneath your clothes. While g-strings and panty lines peeking out from above the too-low jeans may seem very stylish on TV, in real life they look messy and coarse. Instead, opt for low-rise underwear or boy-briefs that sit below the waistline of your pants.

Another terrible fashion disaster is the formation of sweat stains. Yellow colored patches under the armholes look absolutely gauche and turn even the cutest outfit into a disaster. Anti-perspiring deodorants are manufactured to prevent the very same from happening but if you suffer from the medical condition which makes you perspire excessively, botox injections can help you deal with the problem in the long run.

Our next tip is to always wear clothes that fit you well instead of wearing clothes in a size you wish you fitted into. Squeezing into a smaller sized garment may feel like an achievement but it is important to understand that it will only make you look bigger. Clothes that are tight will cause your skin to roll up in unattractive folds and will make you look fat. It is important to wear comfortably fitting clothes even if they are of a larger size.

Reusable bags have helped people eliminate thousands of plastic and paper shopping bags choking our planet. Without a doubt, they are a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to paper and plastic bags - if you can remember to take them with you to the store. Many times, the store-branded, 99-cent bags are either left at home or are too small to hold everything. If you’re planning to do your part to save the environment, here are some sites you can check out for reusable bags:

1. www.joeytotes.com -  Joey Totes were designed to make it simple for people to get in the reusable bag habit.  Each bag stows into a tiny storage pouch that is sewn directly into each Joey Tote, so it’s impossible to misplace. Better still, each pouch can also store at least one other tote (two for the “Big Joey”), so all of the bags are conveniently kept in one place that’s still small enough to easily fit into a purse or coat pocket.

Great for use at the mall, the beach or even the gym, Joey Totes are made from rip-stop nylon, hold up to 40 pounds each and are machine washable.

2. www.reusablebags.com -Envirosax are for the environmentally-conscious consumer who wants a practical, stylish option to plastic and paper bags. Made of durable, waterproof, lightweight polyester, built for toughness and extra strength.

Design features include double-fabric handle for comfort, reinforced seams for added strength, and long handles for carrying over the shoulder. Each Envirosax Graphic Series bag rolls up into a tiny, compact package so it’s easy to always have one with you – small enough to stow into a glove compartment or a handbag. To use, unsnap its closure tab and unroll. The bag expands to hold the equivalent of two grocery plastic bags.

3. www.simplygreensolutions.com – Foldable Curve Bag is one of the most stylish reusable promotional bags in their collection. With its curved shape and unique fold-up feature, its easy storage without sacrificing style. Perfect if you’re looking for a unique bag for your organization or as a giveaway. Perfect for promotional and retail stores. Comes in non woven polypropylene only.

Congratulations to this very deserving reader:

 Kirsten P

for winning the Perfect Reflection giveaway

Please email me your shipping address by using the Contact Form here. If the prize remains unclaimed by 10th July 2009, we will be doing another random draw.

Thank you to everyone who participated.

Paris Hilton was recently spotted outside of Newark Airport wearing Niki Biki’s Seamless Denim Leggings in Blue.

Knit from nylon, cotton and spandex, the super comfy and stretchy faux denim leggings are sure to be a popular wardrobe staple this fall and winter.

Niki Biki Seamless Denim Legging in Blue, Black and Charcoal are available at Repeat Posessions for $33. Now, that’s something all of us can afford!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

Endless hot summer days inevitably bring about the battle to protect our skin. As we unpack our favorite beach blankets and swim suits, we also pull out bulky hats and goopy sun blocks in an attempt to ward off the damaging rays of the sun.

As we know, prolonged exposure to the sun- UVA and UVB rays, pollution, and even wind can damage and age our skin.  According to a study published in the scientific journal Biogerontology, “environmental factors have been shown to cause major changes in both the structure and biophysical properties of the skin.”  Over exposure to the sun actually changes the DNA of the skin, free radicals are produced feeding off of naturally occurring antioxidants found within the body.  Antioxidants can work to ward off free-radical damage and can slow or even prevent oxidative damage (the aging process) to the body.

AminoGenesis Skin Care is leading the way by developing the first amino acid-based skincare line. Combining plant derived amino acids with anti-oxidants, AminoGenesis has created Perfect Reflection, an all natural anti-aging serum. By utilizing:

• Vitamin A – Improves skin elasticity, texture, firmness and smoothness
• Vitamin C – Protects collagen from oxidation, reduces dark spots, helps the skin remain soft and supple
• Vitamin D – Helps improve skin feel and texture and is an important factor in epidermal cell turnover
• CoQ10- This element is the spark that helps cells create energy and helps preserve vitamin E

Perfect Reflection has been proven to repair sun damage, relieve dryness, decrease the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and improves skin elasticity, texture, firmness, and smoothness. This silky smooth water-based formula penetrates the skin rapidly delivering moisture and skin-rejuvenating nutrients for the most beautiful, youthful and healthy skin possible! Price: $69

TO ENTER AND WIN A BOTTLE OF PERFECT REFLECTION:

• One mandatory entry – Leave a comment letting me know why you want to win this product
• Two additional entries – Tweet this giveaway (please leave your Twitter id)
• Five additional entries – Blog about this contest and link back to this post OR add me to your blogroll
• Giveaway is open to US shipping addresses only and closes on 1st July 2009.
• A winner will be picked using Random.org. Remember to subscribe so that you will be updated with the contest result.

Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful phases of a woman’s life, heralding the onset of motherhood and the chance to fulfil her maternal ambitions. Nonetheless, the physical changes associated with pregnancy are a source of not just discomfort for many, but the perception is that pregnancy is a time of life wherein the woman temporarily loses her physical beauty. Harmful as this notion is to a woman’s self-esteem, not many realise that pregnancy can equally well mark a time wherein the woman gains that special glow associated with the fact of giving birth to a new life, and can look as good, or even better, than when she is not pregnant. All that this process entails is a few easy steps which can alleviate any form of insecurity within the pregnant woman, and make her look as well as feel like the beautiful being that she is.

Some of the steps that can be adopted while one is pregnant include:

• Wear clothes designed especially for pregnant women: Pregnant women ought to flatter the changing contours of their body and wearing clothes which which are too tight,or which are too big – the perennial two mistakes of pregnant women, ought to be avoided. There are clothes especially designed for a woman carrying a child, and comfortable yet fashionable clothes need to be worn. Experimenting with clothes and accessories that one can still use while pregnant can do wonders for the self-esteem of pregnant women.
• Groom yourself: In light of bloating bodies and morning sickness, a lot of pregnant women neglect their personal grooming and thus make themselves even more vulnerable to the fact of looking worse than their usual selves. Getting a new haircut, investing in pedicures, manicures and facials only add to the special feeling of contentment of the pregnant woman.
• Eating right : To help your baby grow and feed your body during pregnancy, ensure that you take the required nutritional food and supplements like folic acid and multi-vitamins prescribed by your doctor. Eating correctly will ensure a steady, healthy weight gain and keep you looking bright and energized.
• Wearing a smile: All outward appearances, however, count for nothing unless the feeling of satisfaction is viewed in the pregnant woman’s smile, radiating happiness and satisfaction with the joy of the expected little one.

Cultivating sculpted abs have always been a major area of concern and focus for die-hard enthusiasts of health and fitness. Acquiring the much coveted possession however, is a task which requires devotion which is much easier said than done. Washboard abs with well defined muscles are not only the owner’s pride but the envy of many a friend or colleague, and acquiring them requires dedication which not only includes a well-balanced diet, but regular sets of exercises executed competently and efficiently. Here are some time-proven tips on the exercises which can ultimately lead you to acquire those killer abs you have always wanted:

• Step one: Proper postures for exercise is an integral part of the ab routine, so start exercising by taking your arms over the head and holding onto a bench. With both legs in the air and with toes pointing upwards, hold this position with your knees slightly bent.
• Sitting with bent knees and holding your arms in front: Lean backwards till you make a forty five degree angle with the floor and straighten your legs, albeit they must be positioned lower to the ground. Now hold this position for half a minute at a time and repeat the exercise.
• Sit with bent knees and flat feet: Place each arm on the opposite shoulder, and lean backwards with your back as straight as possible. Twist from side to side using only your torso i.e. waist above only.
• Lie with bent knees: Make your legs perpendicular to the ground i.e. A 90-degree angle. Put your palms at the base of the head such that the fingers interlace. Now execute twisting motions from your waist, first by bringing your left elbow towards your right knee, and simultaneously extending your right left. All the while, your other elbow should remain flat with the floor.

Repetition of this set of exercises is an essential task, and begin the abs routine by starting at 2-3 sets of 20 crunches, and gradually increasing the tempo to 5-10 sets daily. Do remember, however, that acquiring the much desired abs also exacts a fair amount of attention to dietary details, as muscle work alone cannot lead to the goal. Although an Elle MacPherson like body might seem a distant and slightly difficult task, acquiring abs that support your body well is not exactly an impossible goal, and do check with your doctor before staring on the exercise regimen.

Fresh and innocent, the no-make up look or the natural make up look is the latest craze in make up. This trend is specially suited for the spring and summer season, when make up trends follow fashion trends in emphasizing on a fresh, light look. The effect is natural and yet glamorous. The natural look is also suitable for professional women like teachers, doctors and such who like using make up but are forced to keep it light due to the nature of their work.

Whatever your reason, here are the steps that will help you get that natural look this summer.

• Clean your face well and moisturize it using a light moisturizer. Apply some tinted moisturizer or a fine layer of natural foundation of a shade that is as close to your natural skin shade as possible. Keep it light.
• If you have troubles with dark circles or blemishes use a concealer a shade lighter than your base foundation. Use a minimal amount and lend it in using your fingertips. Apply light translucent powder.
• Blend in a neutral eye shadow over your upper lid and use fingertips for blending in. Blend it in well so that it looks natural and not harsh or demarcated. Follow it up with a powder eye shadow of a shade darker than the cream eye shadow.
• It’s time to apply some cream blush. Choose a light, fresh shade and use your fingertips to blend it in.

Facials are like a treat for your skin. An occasional facial every now and then not only works wonders for the skin, but also relaxes you and calms you down. Taking time out for a facial can be a luxury sometimes, and therefore it is necessary to educate yourself about the different types of facials that you can treat your skin to, and whether they even suit your skin type.

Regular or normal facials

The least expensive of all facials. These are a regular cleansing, steaming and massaging affair. These type of facials are good for those who are not suffering from any particular skin problem, or those who don’t like to experiment much with their skin.

AHA facials

AHA stands for Alpha Hydrolic Acids. AHA facials are good for those with pigmented or wrinkled / wrinkling skin. AHAs are found in fruits and flowers and these facials use products that contain AHAs.

Acne facials

These are designed for people who are either already suffering from acne or those whose skin is susceptible to acne, that is, people with oily or greasy looking skin. Ex foliation followed by deep pore extractions are done as a part of this treatment.

Galvanic facial

This new age facial uses steady galvanic current to improve the penetration of the water soluble products.

Collagen facial

This facial comprises of various steps like ex foliation, warm vapor, deep pore cleansing, lymphatic drainage massages, freeze dry collagen sheet treatment to remove wrinkles, dark circles and the effects of aging on the skin.