Jumping Rope A Super Fat Burner For Diet Plan

Maybe you jumped rope as a child. Our mother loved double dutch. And yes, we have fond memories of double dutch jump roping in the playground.

Jumping rope isn't just for kids. It's actually an excellent cardio movement for adults, for 3 reasons:

1. A super fat burner
2. Firms your legs nicely
3. An overall body exercise

We also love jumping rope because it's not that hard to do. You don't need much equipment. You can also do the exercise privately. Or you can jump rope with the family. Everyone can have fun and participate. You can jump rope indoors and outdoors.

Sure. You can spend lots of money for a fancy jump rope. Some have beautiful colors. Others have small weights in the handles. A few are Olympic style. And some moms use their daughters' simple jumping ropes. A rope doesn't have to break your budget.

According to the stats, "jumping rope at a moderate speed (between 70-85 turns a minute) for 15 minutes, burns almost 200 calories. That is about the same amount as running a 10-minute mile."

No. You will probably not be able to jump rope for a 15-minute period, at the beginning. Trust us, we could barely do a minute of straight jumping, before almost collapsing when we first started. But the more you jump rope, the easier it gets, and the quicker you will improve. And the exercise is great for your heart and lungs, the entire body.

Here are 4 important tips we found from Keith Byard in an old magazine. Keith taught 'sport-roping' at his gym in New York City:

1. Use proper form. In other words, jump low---just high enough to clear the rope--and move your wrists, not your arms or shoulders, as you jump. (Not as easy as it sounds)

2. Interval jump. Alternate 50 jumps with a 30-second rest period. Build up to 10 jump-rest intervals. (Yikes. You might want to try a few less as a beginner)

3. Side jacks. By changing jumps, you target different muscle groups. Assume a jumping jack position. Jump with your feet together, and then with them shoulder-length apart, as if you were indeed, doing a jumping jack. (Great for outer thighs.)

4. Crisscross. Jump and land with your feet apart. Then jump again, bringing your legs together and crisscrossing your ankles. Repeat the jump sequence by alternating your feet.

Whew. Out of breath yet? You don't have to jump like boxer Mike Tyson used to. Any little amount of jump roping is excellent for your health. As we said, it is a super fat burner for your diet plan. And you will get better as your jumping routine continues.

Are You A Winter, Summer, Spring, Or Autumn When It Comes To Makeup?

Have you ever heard someone tell you, "You're definitely a winter." Or, "That makeup shade is good for autumns."

That is a beauty science, if you will, called seasonal color analysis. It was a very popular makeup theory that was developed in the early 1980's. That's where hair color, skin tone, and eye color all play a big role in determining what colors go perfectly for you.

As archaic as seasonal color analysis might appear to many these days, we believe the color profiles for each and every woman, do hold merit. And at this moment, there are still many seasonal color analysts out there who can help you find the best colors for you. There are also several how-to books on the subject. The book we are looking at today, is by Carol Thompson. "Secrets to a Beautiful You."

If you think about it, don't certain shades look better on you? For instance, maybe you like how you appear better in white, rather than a creamy, yellow ivory? Or maybe fuchsia lipstick looks almost garish on you. Or pastels just 'don't do' anything for you, and so on.

According to the color experts, we are all born with either a yellow undertone (warm) or a blue undertone (cool).

And the color wheel is divided into the 4 seasons:

Either you are a spring - winter - summer - autumn

Here, Carol Thompson explains the 4 palettes:

The SPRING palette consists of clear, warm colors all with yellow undertones.
The palette includes: Neutrals: ivory, light to medium beiges, light to medium browns, warm gray and navy
Violet, periwinkle, true blue, aqua and turquoise
Apricot,peach, salmon, corals warm pink, clear bright red, light orange and orange-red
Pastel to bright yellow green, golden yellow and clear gold

The Winter palette contains the following colors:
Neutrals: White, light grays to charcoal gray, black, taupe, navy
True blue, royal blue, turquoise, royal purple
True green, emerald green, pine green
Hot pink, magenta, fuchsia, burgundy, blue-red & true-red
Icy green, icy yellow, icy aqua, icy violet, icy pink, icy blue
Jewelry: Silver

The Summer palette contains the following colors:
Neutrals: soft white, rose-beiges, rose-browns, blue-gray, navy
Powder blue from light to medium, periwinkle, aqua, blue-greens from light to deep
Blue pinks from light to medium, watermelon red, blue-red, burgundy
Lavender, raspberry, soft fuchsia, plum and lemon yellow
Jewelry: silver

The Autumn Palette contains the following colors;
Neutrals: Off whites, warm beiges from light to dark, warm browns from light to dark, camel, gold
Mustard, pumpkin, terra cotta, rust, peach & Salmon
Orange, orange-red, tomato red
Lime green, yellow-green, moss green, grayed green, olive green, jade green, forest green
Turquoise, teal blue, dark periwinkle blue
Jewelry: Gold

Chocolate Beauty Products Too Good To Eat

Yummy. Just the aroma, alone, of a fine piece of chocolate is so attractive to the senses.

Chocolate is so sinfully delicious. But did you know it also has strong anti-oxidant properties, and can actually be good for you, including your face and body?!

There are real beauty treatments that include chocolate---either in scent, cocoa powder, or cocoa butter, etc. Chocolate beauty products make elegant Christmas gifts, and the best part, each one is calorie-free!!

We have found 3 chocolate beauty products we would like to share with you:

First we have Fresh Orange Chocolate Petite Soap ($12, 5 oz. box). Just the scent alone, is enough to want you begging for more. Smells like an orange chocolate truffle. This soap is actually a nice lathering cleanser. Rich in shea butter and vegetable glycerin. Find it at http://www.fresh.com/.


And for your face, you must try Lush Cupcake Fresh Face Mask (under $10 at a Macy's counter near you). How about this one---a delightful minty chocolate face mask. This will brighten up and soften winter-dry skin. Formulated with wonderful and creamy cocoa butter and peppermint and spearmint oils. It even looks like a cupcake. A nice, refreshing consistency. Must be kept in the fridge--really fresh ingredients. Good for sensitive skin. Too bad we can't eat it.

And lastly, Garden Botanika ChocoLatte Body Souffle (now on sale $6.00, 4.4 fl. oz.- http://www.gardenbotanika.com/.) What a decadent way to go----one of the nicest chocolate aromas in a jar. Simply nourishing for your entire body. Takes away the winter-whipped dry skin. In a light and fluffy base--really does the job, with cocoa extract and arabica coffee bean extract.

3 More Super Holiday Gift Ideas Each Under $35

Let's go shopping!!!

20 more days 'til Christmas. And only 17 until the start of Hanukkah. And if you got a late start this season to begin all your holiday shopping, don't despair---we've got a few ideas up our sleeve.

We know....many of you are on a budget. Seriously. But we do share this in common---we all want to buy our favorite people some really unique and lovely presents.

We took a look at Nordstrom's, the fine department store. And we came up with 3 super holiday gift ideas. And all 3 are under $35 each.


For the sweet gal in your life, why not pick up the Philosophy Gingerbread House Set ($30, 4 oz. each). How cute is this? Philosophy packed this adorable, little gingerbread house with 4 of their high-foaming bath products---shampoo, bubble baths, and shower gel. And take a beautiful sniff of these scents---cinnamon hot dots, sweet creamy frosting, spicy gumdrop, and gingerbread, of course!

Next we have a gorgeous way to hold back someone's long and luxurious hair. This is a stunning piece---the France Luxe Cut-out Jaw Clip ($34). Tortoise shell tone with rectangular cut-outs. About 2 1/4" wide. And made of strong resin. We like this clip because it can handle thick tresses and makes a pretty hair statement.


And lastly, for the woman expecting in your life, why not treat her to a wonderfully nourishing belly cream. It's called---Honeydew Skin Care Maternity 'Bun in the Oven' Super Rich Belly Butter ($32, 4 oz.) This stuff is amazing and protects against stretch marks. Made with 4 nourishing butters in a balm scented with citrus oils. A truly moisturizing and soothing experience.

For more information, visit: http://www.nordstrom.com/.

Conair Has Beauty Tips For Your Best Garments

We stumbled across the Conair website recently, and were amazed at the 'tips & techniques' the giant company has assembled for its readers. Not the beauty tips for face, hair, or body, because Conair has those, too. This time, we turned an eye toward fabrics. What you wear on your body, be it silk, wool, cotton, and so on.

Conair doesn't just make lots of hair dryers. They also market irons, fabric steamers, and many more useful things.

We were trying to find out how to care for a black cashmere sweater that was gifted to us last year. Conair had the answer and so many more ways to keep your best garments looking beautiful.

So here are some really unique tips & techniques by the Conair Company on how to keep your fine washables looking like you just bought them:

1. Did you know your shampoo and conditioner could multitask? Use them dissolved in lukewarm water to wash your cashmere sweaters. (Note: Tried it. This does work! Cashmere is goat hair.)

2. Remove oil-soluble grease and grass marks, and spots and stains from fabric with a cloth moistened with eucalyptus oil. It's a natural wonder!

3. To eliminate static, just crumple up a sheet of aluminum foil and throw it in the dryer! Save money on dryer sheets and be kind to the earth as well!

4. Make your own laundry detergent by mixing 1 cup Ivory soap, 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax. Use only 1 tablespoon for light loads or 2 tablespoons for heavy loads.

5. To store woolen items, make a cedar sachet by cutting a foot off of a pair of pantyhose and filling it with cedar chips. Toss it into an airtight plastic container with your woolen items!

6. Sensitive skin? Substitute a half-cup of baking powder for laundry detergent or bleach. Clothes come out cleaner and the baking powder neutralizes harsh chemicals that may irritate delicate skin.

7. Never place an iron directly on delicate fabrics like silk or chiffon – protect them with a t-shirt or towel. Or play it even safer, and use a Conair® fabric steamer!

8. When using your iron, always use tap or bottled water. Distilled water can strip away the silicone coating inside the water chamber.

9. Remove grass stains from washable fabric by sponging with water, then with rubbing alcohol. Let dry, then sponge with cool water and work liquid detergent into the stain. Rinse with water and let dry. (Do not use alcohol on silk or wool.)

10. Clothes last longer if you occasionally skip a trip to the dry cleaners and refresh them with a garment steamer!

For more super beauty tips & technqiues, visit: http://www.conair.com/.

Cargo Makes Beautiful Eyes With Goof-Proof Palette

Remember 'paint by number?' Stop laughing. Well, the clever makeup folks at Cargo, have come up with a truly genius way to make you a couple of gorgeous eyes guaranteed!!!

It is almost like 'paint by number.' Just a bit easier. All you are dealing with are 4 pretty eye shadows in one small kit.

It's called Cargo Essential Palette ($32 at Sephora.com). It features 4 graduated neutral shades designed to give your eyes instant definition. The palette pictured above, is Warm/ Neutral. Cargo also offers the palette in Cool/Neutral and Dark/Neutral.

Yeah. The kit is almost goof-proof. If you love sexy, defined eyes, then you should try this Cargo Essential Palette without fear.

The eye shadow palette spells it out for us, duh!! In other words, follow the directions embossed on each pan of colored, velvety powder. Grab a shadow brush, even a Q-tip, and 'paint on.' And blend. Then add your own mascara. The 4-way shadows give the eye a soft, professional look with depth and beauty. A perfectly sculpted eye!

Browbone
Lid
Crease
Outer corner

Women seem to love this color-co-ordinated eye shadow kit. Just read some of the makeup reviews at www.sephora.com.

The only error we could find in the Cargo Essential Palette is its missing eyeshadow brush or applicator. It would be nice to find a little brush in the kit, to help you 'paint on' your 4 shadows. Otherwise, BYOB...or bring your own brushes, ha ha. Like we said above, a simple Q-tip can do the job, when you can't find anything else around.

Zero Calorie Sweetener Stevia To Get FDA Okay

Stevia.

We hadn't heard of it until this morning. The news programs were chatting about this unique, zero-calorie sweetener made from an herb. It's said to be all natural. And the FDA, or food and drug administration, is ready, maybe even today, to give the green light to stevia's approval.

Maybe many of you have already been enjoying stevia as your sugar substitute for years. It has been available in our country, but always wore the label of 'not FDA-approved.'

Why the concern about stevia?

Like its fake sugar friends.....saccharin, aspartame, and others, bad press has dogged these sweeteners because of lab studies done on rats which concluded these zero calorie foods are cancer-causing agents.

However, these studies indicate that consumers are safe with 'fake sugars,' because normal consumption would never exceed the huge amounts needed to possibly cause cancer to develop in humans.

Stevia has been safely eaten in Japan, China, and South America for years. Australia just gave the zero-calorie sweetener the thumbs up recently.

Stevia is actually a shrub plant from the chrysanthemum endemic family. It grows quite nicely in regions where tobacco thrives. Stevia is an herbal extract from the shrub, the way we understand it.

We have never tasted stevia that we know of. We used to be a TAB fanatic. But that was until 1984, when the makers started mixing a little aspartame in with the saccharin. The flavor was forever ruined for us.

Meantime, Coke-a-Cola and PepsiCo are anxiously hoping for the big FDA okay, so they won't have to pull out new light drinks if the ruling disapproves stevia.

Bottoms up, everyone!!!