You and Your Closet ~ Are You Friends?

You and Your Closet – Are You Friends?

Is your closet filled with fashion needs or wants?

Do you often decline invitations to events because you feel you don’t have the ‘right’ clothes? You are not alone!

A closet that is well organized (free of clutter) will not hold you back from dressing well and feeling your personal best.

The ‘needs’ are the essentials that will be worn on a regular basis and will outlast the latest fashion trend. Needs fashions should be the best you can afford ~ determined by your clothing budget.

The ‘wants’ are the items you must have, no matter the reason ~ trendy. Trendy fashions should be items you spend less of your hard earned money on.  These are the impulse buys  . . . and most often don’t wear well with anything else in your closet or sit at the back of the closet never to be worn again.

One item we feel is a must for the ladies is dress or two. Dresses are an easy addition to any wardrobe, be it personal or professional. Things to consider are ‘beyond’ the little black dress; to wear or not wear a print – and what works best; accessories; the skill of a seamstress/tailor and can you successfully wear a wrap dress?

What shades of colors are you looking to implement into your spring wardrobe?  Can you wear the ‘color of the year’? When it comes to accessorizing, how much is too much?    Do you have a plan?

Confident Image helps build and expand your wardrobe to give you the optimum joy of dressing with less stress. We work on not allowing body insecurities to get in the way of investing in your wardrobe from season to season.

Our philosophy is to accentuate the positive and camouflage the negative. You’ll look and feel great and when you do, that projects confidence to others.

To schedule a consultation, contact us here.

April Showers and Other Wet Stuff

April Showers and Other Wet Stuff

 Kara Vita’s W is for Water  

Water is the number one ingredient in all of our Kara Vita Products, but it isn’t ordinary tap water that you would find in your kitchen or bathroom. It is purified water from which salts, chlorine, bacteria, and sediments are removed. Purification is an elaborate process.

Step one:  City water is pumped through a water softener to remove calcium and magnesium ions and are replaced with sodium ions.

Step two:  Carbon filtering occurs, which is most effective at removing chlorine, sediment and volatile organic compounds from the water.

Step three: The water continues through reverse osmosis into a storage tank. Reverse osmosis works by applying pressure to a bed of membranes that removes large particles.

Step four: The “dirty” water goes to drain on the pressurized side of the membrane system and only the purified water is allowed to pass into the storage tank.

Step five: The storage tank pump circulates the water through a series of de-ionizers, ultraviolet light, and filters and then back to the tank. The de-ionizers remove mineral ions such as sodium, iron, copper, chloride and bromide. The ultraviolet light destroys bacteria and viruses.

Step six: The microfiltration step uses a series of filters ending with a 0.2 micron filter, which remove any debris that may be present in the water, especially from the ultraviolet light step.                                                                                                                            The result is “purified” water.      

You’ll love the Kara Vita’s Secret Code DNArescue Spray Lotion. A cool, wet, misty hydrating and moisturizing spray that reverses the appearance of aging and sun-damaged skin. Skin looks and feel younger and healthier.

Loaded with a proprietary blend of clinically proven antioxidants to shield and protect indirect damage to the DNA from UVA light.

For all skin type, all ages and sensitive skin.

For more information or to order your bottle,  contact me here

Re:  K.V. Heart to Heart March 2013

Be My Valentine Brownies

Be My Valentine Brownies  

 

 

 

Ingredients                                                                                                                            1 stick butter, melted + additional for greasing pan

All-purpose flour, for dusting pan

1/3 c. + 1/2 c. evaporated milk for caramels

One German chocolate cake mix; appr. 18.5-oz. box

1 c. finely chopped pecans

60 unwrapped caramels

1/2 c. 60% cocoa baking chips

FILLING OPTION                                                                                                                Add 1/2 c. sweetened coconut along with chocolate chips.

TOPPING OPTION                                                                                                              Sift 1/4 c powdered sugar over top of cooled brownies.

Tip: Unwrap the caramels ahead of time and place in double boiler pan. If you’re not going to bake the brownies the same day, cover with plastic wrap until ready to use.

Directions                                                                                                                           Cut the waxed paper 1 to 2” wider than the baking pan and lay out on work surface. Lay the baking pan over parchment paper, make a pencil outline, then cut approximately 1/2-inch smaller than the pan. Lay the parchment paper over the center of the waxed paper. Discard parchment scraps.

Preheat the oven to 350o. Grease and flour the 9 X 9 Pan (you can either use melted butter or shortening – your preference).

Pour 1/3 c. evaporated milk into the mixing bowl. Add the cake mix. Mix on low speed, then medium to blend well. Add the melted 1 stick butter and chopped pecans. Mix the ingredients together – mixture will be thick.

Cut the dough in half down the middle with the spatula. Put on the disposable gloves and evenly press half the brownie mixture into the prepared baking pan. Bake this layer until slightly set 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.

While the brownies are baking, occasionally stir caramels and evaporated milk until melted and mixture is smooth. Wearing the disposable gloves, evenly press the remaining brownie mix onto the cut parchment paper square to size. The under layer of waxed paper will make it easy to rotate the pressing of the brownie mix onto the parchment paper.

When the first brownie layer is set and out of the oven, spread the caramel mixture over the top evenly. Sprinkle the chocolate chips all over the top.

Flip the remaining pressed brownie mixture and center it atop the layer of chocolate chips. Peel away the parchment paper and discard along with the disposable gloves.

Bake :20 – :25 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and cool brownies to room temperature. Once cooled, cover and refrigerate for several hours to allow to set (or overnight).

Cut into small bars with the sharp edge of the scraper/cutter and serve.

Options Note: These browinies are sweet, so I would test the above options per your ‘sweetness tolerance’ 

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Adapted from FoodNetwork Knock-You-Naked-Brownies ~ The Pioneer Woman

Look 5 Pounds Thinner Now With This Non-Gym Workout!

No matter what your fitness level is, one thing to remember is to not over-train. Why?      #1, you’ll burn out and #2 you’ll risk injury.

Train your muscles smarter with versatility. Muscles have memory. Get rid of the boredom and change out your routine. Muscles become damaged during a workout, so be sure to eat a light snack post workout – protein shake, banana with almond butter, etc.

The key to a successful workout is to remain diligent. Many of us declare to do just that beginning each New Year; Which was 32 days ago, how are you coming along with that?

There are days that you cannot get to the gym, right? Of course! Some days, life just gets in the way.

So, here are a few tips to look 5 pounds thinner on a non-gym day. . .

Start By Paying Attention To Your Posture!                                                                         You ask . . . Does that mean I have to practice walking with a book on my head? Give it a try    Slouching not only pulls down everything about your appearance and how you are perceived by others, it also changes how your muscles are activated. Your digestive system will appreciate good posture during standing, walking and sitting too.

When you work on good posture, pull your shoulders back. This brings your head back into proper alignment (For some people, a decrease in headaches), activates your core, which aids in making your stomach appear flatter. Concentrate on keeping your arms at your sides when you walk vs. swinging them forward and back.

To Look Thinner

• Choose to wear medium to dark colors (refer to your Color Palette Swatches).
• Wear clothing with vertical lines and/or designs (refer to your Silhouette Analysis).
• Wear monochromatic color scheme from top to bottom (refer to your Color Palette Swatches).
• Push long sleeves up and hold in place with sleeve guards.
• Add shoulder pads to balance figure and draw attention upwards.
• Don’t wear clothing with a horizontal line at the widest part of your body as it draws attention to that point.

 To Look Taller

• Blend or match shoe, hose and hemline colors.
• Wear nude heels.
• Wear V-necklines to create a vertical line (refer to your Silhouette Analysis Guideline).
• Wear open style jackets and pants (refer to your Silhouette Analysis Guideline).

Accentuate the Positive and Camouflage the Negative                                              For an in depth personalization to slim your silhouette ladies, schedule a Silhouette Analysis appointment today. Consultation available for men.  Contact me here

A is for Apple

                             Apples 

are one of the most cultivated fruits in the world and used in a variety of salads, desserts, meat dishes and more. According to an article from CNN Food Central, there are 7,500 varieties grown worldwide; About 100 varieties are grown in the United States (Apples grow in all 50 states in the United States).

The old saying – An apple a day keeps the doctor away – may just hold true. Research suggests apples may very well reduce the risk of certain cancers, specifically, prostrate, colon and lung varieties. Apples may aid in warding off diseases of the heart, cholesterol control and weight loss. Per the USDA, 1 medium apple provides almost 20% of the daily recommended amount of fiber. It makes sense to add an apple a day to one’s daily intake of fruits.

Apples are rich in AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and make for a terrific ingredient in cosmetic exfoliating products, cuticle removers, bath salts, etc.

Here’s a recipe for Waldorf Salad to serve 2.

Salad Ingredients

Wash apples, celery, grapes and lettuce. Drain and dry with paper toweling if necessary.

1 Gala apple, cored and diced

1 Granny Smith apple, cored and diced

1 celery stalk, (leaves removed) diced

1 cup red seedless grapes, halved (If large, quarter the grapes)

1⁄2 cup toasted, broken walnut pieces

1⁄2 cup pitted dates, diced

4 Butter lettuce leaves

2 – 3 Red Belgium endive leaves

Dressing ingredients:

1⁄2 cup crème fraiche *

1⁄2 cup buttermilk

1⁄2 cup pitted dates

1⁄2 cup salad oil (i.e. canola oil)

1⁄3 cup sherry vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste.

Assembly:

1. Combine all dressing ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend well.

2. In a separate bowl, combine salad apples, celery, grapes, walnuts and dates.

3. Pour dressing over ingredients, and mix until everything is combined.

4. Serve over plated Butter lettuce leaves.

Garnish with endive.

 * If you are not able to find crème fraiche in your local grocery or specialty store,

crème fraiche

1 cup whipping cream

2 T buttermilk

Combine 1 cup whipping cream and 2 tablespoons buttermilk in a glass container. Cover and let stand at room temperature (about 70°F) from 8 to 24 hours, or until very thick. Stir well before covering and refrigerate up to 10 days.

The Color of the Year 2013 is

Welcome into Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2013

Emerald is a vivid tone of green. Light, bright with a hint of a bluish cast, Emerald is derived from the gemstone, emerald.

The birthstone of May is Emerald. Seattle is often referenced the Emerald City. From the Wizard of Oz, comes the Emerald City.

Emerald gives a sense of well-being and promotes balance and harmony. What a great way to begin the new year.

How will you see green in 2013? 

According to Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, ‘the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum. It sparkles and fascinates. Symbolically, it brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world. This powerful and universally appealing tone translates easily into both fashion and home interiors.‘

Green is easy to incorporate into interior décor, fashion and beauty.

Liven your living areas with paint, accent pieces and accessories. According to the Pantone Institutute their bedding, pillows, bath towels and accessories will be available in Emerald  at JC Penney stores and on online beginning February 1, 2013. I can’t think of a more beautiful color to infuse into a room.

Fashion – from the red carpet to casual, you’ll find Emerald in Women’s and Men’s fashions. We’ll have the 2013 Spring Fashion out soon depicting fashion designers collections.

Color Cosmetics – Let’s think about not only interior design and fashion, but also beauty. Yes, beautiful Emerald Green Eyes and Nails. Emerald adds drama to all eye shades and complements shades from pinks, peach, rose and reds.

Confident Image will work with your skin tone to give you just the right shade. Email us here

So, take it all in and consider your

Interior Décor;

Fashion:  Handbags, Jewelry, Scarves, Ties, Pocket Square, Shoes (even shoelaces – what fun!) to Garments;

Eyemakeup and Nails

Emerald Green.

Lively, Radiant & Lush

The Color of the Year for 2013

ARE YOU GOING TO BE A PART OF THE LEAN SCENE FOR 2013?

Are you going to be a part of the lean scene for 2013?

Are you still trying to outrun the old overweight you?

For some, well most of us truly, yes?, it is difficult keeping up to keep the weight off – especially as we, ugh, age. My dear friend, Vicki, and I made a pact that we would fight aging every step of the way (we were brave and optimistic 20 year olds at the time).

Well, as we discovered, we needed to make fundamental changes in our thinking and behavioral habits. What my plan has been (and yes, I have strayed, but immediately work hard to get back on track ) is to set a Fit and Healthy Regimen.

No. 1. Chart the Foods That Go Into the Mouth  {No matter how insignificant you think It is – believe me, It does matter}. If you’d like a copy of my chart, email me here Daily Tracking Food Chart.

Purchase a food nutrient dictionary. Measure everything per serving. Soon, you will be able to ‘eyeball’ what goes on your plate and into your mouth. While dining out, scrutinize the menu and order lean and mean entrees.  Ask your server if high fat or high sodium ingredient can be substituted.

No. 2. Keep it Moving to Stay Firm and Fit.

Take care of your body now so it’ll take care you later. Don’t expect perfectionism right off the bat. Begin slowly.

No. 3. Don’t Give Up

No. 4. Results = Diligence. In other words ‘stick with it’. There is no quick fix. Fad diets usually fail. Figure out why. I believe fewer health problems will arise later in life if one eats a sensible healthy diet. Consult with your doctor if you have any health issues now before engaging is a workout regimen and ‘diet’. Pay attention to medications and interactions with supplements and some foods.

What’s this? You have no time to exercise? There are many ways you can stay in shape utilizing just a few minutes out of every day. Try 10 – 20 reps of lunges, pushups, squats, lightly running in place, curls. You’ll feel great and your attitude will improve.

Beating the Winter Blues….Most of us ‘love sunshine’, so to work through the first few months of the year can be difficult until Spring rolls around. Keep a positive attitude and smile often.

So, after all is said here, have you thought about what your Lean and Mean in 2013 Goals are?

Confident Image offers a Six-Week Challenge. It’s part of the puzzle to ‘pull it all together for a polished, confident you. If you’d like the challenge, email me here (it includes the food tracking chart) Confident Image Six Week Challenge.