Chia Pet:New Health Food For Your Heart In 2009?!

Ch-ch-ch-Chia!!!

You know that catchy tune. The one that pops up on telelvision ads right before Christmas.

We know that many of you have given and received Chia pets as joke gifts, but you might want to re-think what's really in a Chia pet.

Chia seeds are the latest health fad going. The seeds are good for your heart and pack in more Omega 3's than flaxseed.
Whatever you do, don't eat your Chia pet. We'd prefer that you head to your local health food store and pick up a bag of Chia seeds. The seeds are sprouting across store shelves, as folks try and get on healthy diets in the new year.

Even Dr. Andrew Weil enjoys munching on the nutty-flavored chia seeds. And Dr. Weil is quite the nutrition guru. We found this great nugget of research at greengrownproducts.com:

Dr. Weil on Chia Seed:
"Unlike flaxseed, chia seeds can be stored for long periods without becoming rancid and don't require grinding (whole flaxseed is tough to digest). Chia provides fiber (about 2 tablespoons--25 g--give you 7 g of fiber) as well as other important nutrients, including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, niacin, and zinc.

Very few formal studies have looked at chia's benefits, although I expect that more will soon. In a preliminary study from the University of Toronto, researchers fed 21 diabetics either a supplement made from chia or grains with similar fiber content. After 3 months, blood pressure in patients taking chia dropped (10 points diastolic, 5 points systolic) while the grain group's BP remained steady.

I enjoy the seeds' nutlike flavor and consider them to be a healthful and interesting addition to my diet. You can sprinkle ground or whole chia seeds on cereal, yogurt, or salads; eat a handful of whole seeds as a snack; or grind them up and mix with flour when making muffins or other baked goods.Or make your own "chia fresca," a drink popular in Mexico and Central America: Stir 2 teaspoons of the seeds into 8 to 10 ounces of water (you'll end up with a slightly gelatinous liquid). Add lime or lemon juice and sugar to taste, and enjoy.My prediction? You will begin to see chia being added to more and more commercial products, such as prepared baby foods, nutrition bars, and baked goods."
- Andrew Weil, M.D.3 Reasons to Eat Chia

First Lady Makeup Tips And Kinder Gentler Eyebrows

Yesterday, Inauguration day, was a glorious day indeed!

And although all hopeful eyes were upon our new President Barack Obama, the fashion and makeup eyes were definitely and carefully examining our new First Lady Michelle Obama.

So how did she score?

We like to think back to our beloved Diana, the Princess of Wales. At the beginning, she had some fashion faux pas, with some less than attractive hats, and not-so-hot ball gowns. But once, the people's princess slowly adapted to her huge role and responsibilities, Diana became a fashion icon. And we like to think, that the same degree of Vogue appeal could bestow our First Lady Michelle in the months and years ahead. .

What Diana and Michelle share in common, are long legs and great height. They are both able to carry off many silhouettes and with great style.

We were not gaga over Michelle Obama's Inauguration dress/coat ensemble nor her Jason Wu chiffon one shoulder gown. We think she should stick to iconic designers like Ralph Lauren and Oscar de la Renta, when it comes to momentous occasions.

Meantime, we like Michelle Obama's hair and makeup. Subtle and simply elegant. We learned recently, that there had been a big-to-do about the First Lady's eyebrows. We had no idea, her high arches were causing unease among the masses. (Top photo- before)(Bottom photo- after).

We think the First Lady has pretty eyes and a great high brow bone. But her Chicago-based makeup artist Ingrid Grimes-Myles recently and reluctantly softened Mrs. Obama's eyebrows, so she didn't appear so angry or intense. Hmmm, we had never noticed anything bad about her eyebrows.

This is what Ingrid Grimes-Myles told the Chicagotribune.com:

"In the very beginning when I was training Michelle's brows, I trained them to grow in an angular way," said Grimes-Myles. "My personal aesthetic is that I like a high arch."

Then in late summer, criticism about the cast of Obama's brows reached critical mass.

"When she started getting that feedback—I have a rule: When three or more people give you feedback, that means hundreds are talking about it—then what I began to do is bring them down and train them down," Grimes-Myles said.

She emphasizes there was no all-out panic.

"As an artist I was surprised. ... And then I took my ego out of it and decided, oh, OK, to most people that would seem a little high. And Michelle ... likes herself. She is a very secure woman. It wasn't like, 'Oh, my God, people are saying my eyebrows are too sharp and too high!' It was something that we moved through very calmly."

And here are a couple of beauty and skin care secrets of our new First Lady:

This favorite said-to-be First Ladydaily beauty treatment from DeCleor (Paris) is already sold out!!

Decleor Excellence de L'Age Eye and Lip Regenerating Cream ($74, skinstore.com).

Benefits:
Helps reduce puffiness, dark circles and smooth fragile contours
Reduces the appearance of fines lines and wrinkles
A light but intensely nourishing daily treatment
Results in a luminous smile and redefined eye and lip contours

Michelle Obama is also a MAC gal, according to the Chicagotribune.com article. Her lips are nicely made up with MAC lip pencils---one darker, one light. Plus lipstick and gloss, which Ingrid Grimes-Myles custom-mixes.

We don't have the exact lip shades at the moment, because her makeup artist is not giving up all her secrets for that presidential smile.

Beautiful Bath Essentials For Perfect Pampering

Okay, we will admit---this cute cupcake looks sinfully delicious to eat. But before you try, it's actually been made with love and all those nourishing treats for your skin. Ladies, this one is for the bath. And it's the bomb, so to speak.

A bath bomb. Actually called--Fizzy Baker Raspberry Cupcake Bath Bomb ($5.50, amazon.com).

And it's simple to use. Please don't eat it. The best news---it's calorie-free. All you do is drop it into your warm bath. It melts, softens, and scents the bathwater, while the pretty soap frosting floats free for you to use as a wonderful scrubbing cleanser.

Made with conditioning coconut oils, the Fizzy Baker Raspberry Cupcake Bath Bomb is a delight in the tub for all ages. The appealing scent of raspberries lingers on your skin far after the bath. And this adorable bathing cupcake is the same size as a cupcake you'd buy in a bakery.



Our second beautiful bath essential for perfect pampering includes this juicy aroma of grapefruit-guava. Mmmm-good. Fruits & Passion Fruity Foaming Bath ($13, fruits-passion.com).

This is another lovely way in 2009 to enjoy a long, creamy bathing experience with an exotic blend of grapefruit-guava. Foaming Bath is formulated with vegetable oil and glycerin. You get a foaming mass of bubbles with a fragrance that stays with you for hours, with super emollient properties that moisturize your every pore.

Drawing a bath these days, can be much more than a regular bar of soap or body wash. The two bath essentials we have highlighted today really target the areas where your body needs some TLC. We all deserve some pretty pick-me-ups in the tub, and these two bathing items deliver.

Christie Brinkley's Got Milk In New 2009 Ad

At 54, America's favorite model, Christie Brinkley, is still wowing everyone with her healthy good looks. Christie Brinkley has never been stick thin. She has been 'healthy skinny,' and curvy like fellow model, Cindy Crawford, and a few others.

And now, a new Got Milk ad for the blonde beauty in 2009. Christie is sporting a moustache, well, a milk moustache. She debuted her new ad at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah over the weekend.

This is Christie's third Got Milk ad. She's always been a nutrition hawk, and believes in the wholesome value of milk. The ad campaign is succesful at raising awareness and reintroducing Americans to milk as nature's wellness drink.

At 13, Christie Brinkley says she became a vegetarian, and then turned her whole family on to the lifestyle. The mom of three, also stays active with sports and working out on her Total Gym equipment.




“This is a great way to ensure that if … you are cutting back and you are not able to buy an expensive piece of fish or something else, milk actually, per glass, is a very affordable way to get your nutrients. Everybody is always rushing around. Everybody’s got so much to do and you can’t always put together that perfect balance of nutrients on a plate, but when you add milk to the meal, it really does complete it!” Christie told reporters.

Christie Brinkley is excited about the new year. And why not? She's getting over that much-talked about, messy split from ex-husband Peter Cook. And she's got lots of projects lined up, including an affordable jewelry line. Take a look at those earrings in the photo above. Gorgeous. She really has fine taste in jewelry, namely bracelets and chandelier earrings. And she's often photographed wearing Native American jewelry.

Two Amazing Shampoos With Different Purposes To Make You Beautiful

We've got 2 amazing beauty tips today to share with you.

One shampoo is from the famous brand of Johnson & Johnson. The other popular shampoo is imported from Germany by Schwarzkopf.

Both beauty hair products are reasonably priced. But both have very different advantages.

Let's take a look, ladies:

Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo (no more tears), about $5 at Wal-mart. If it's gentle enough for your baby, well, it's gentle enough for you. But this time, we don't want you to shampoo it in. No. We want you to take off your makeup with it.

Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo is a wonderful makeup remover. Especially for those beautifully created cat eyes with mascara and eyeliner. Remove those stubborn cosmetics right off your face, without stinging, burning, or irritation.

And yes, even opthamologists recommend baby shampoo as a makeup remover. It is gentle enough to be used around your eyes.

We are excited to try that one!!!

Meantime, gorgeous and glam model Heidi Klum, born in Germany, trusts a german import for her healthy, flowing mane. Women are always asking the Project Runway host what products she uses to keep such a shiny head of hair.

Our supermodel has spoken. She adores Schwarzkopf Gliss Kur Shampoo + Conditioner for blonde hair. We found it online for $10.99 at germandeli.com. (photo also provided by germandeli.com)

What's in it? If you color your hair, it's an excellent shampoo. Gliss Kur shampoo and conditioner for blonde hair:

The new Gliss cure Shining blond shampoo fulfills the special needs of blond hair. It lends daily suppleness to your blond hair as well as healthy-looking and fascinating shine. The innovative formula with Scan Repair complex gives your hair everything that it needs for a fastidious nature-blond, colored or highlighted hair: care and repair of the hair structure and improved moisture content; Protection of the hair structure from external influences. The new formula with UV filter and vitamin E. for perfectly maintained blond hair.

Just one little footnote here: the shampoo is currently unavailable. Sold out for now. Gee, word travels fast, Heidi Klum.

But you can also try sephora.com and amazon.com, as they carry the Schwarzkopf hair line.

We trust Heidi Klum's beauty judgment. If she's shampooing and conditioning with these two beauty products, then they must be top-notch.

Can Honest-Tea Quench Obama's Thirst

We are not choosing sides. We are merely making an observation. And since inauguration day is fast approaching next Tuesday, January 20th, we thought it would be fun, to dig a little deeper into lifestyle habits.

Our new President-elect, Barack Obama, is allegedly still hooked on cigarettes, and something else that is actually good and nutritious:

Bottled Organic Tea. Namely, Honest Tea. And luckily, the popular, bottled organic tea company is based in nearby Bethesda, Maryland.

The organic tea, in his favorite blend, called Black Forest Berry, hasn't always been the easiest flavor to hunt down for the about-to-be-sworn-in-President of the United States.

According to an item in the Washinton Post, once Obama had hit the campaign trail full time, "getting Honest Tea into his hands became more difficult." The matter really escalated, when after the South Carolina primary, an Obama aide, had just driven two hours to procure the goods for her boss. And she phoned the CEO of Honest Tea to try and find an easier way to get their hands on Black Forect Berry for Barack Obama.

Oh, my, Mr. President-elect!!

So, what's really in a bottle of organic Honest Tea?! And is this is a beauty tip?

Yes. Tea is truly wonderful for your skin and health. Fans of the beverage, like actress Sharon Stone, drink it all the time. Ms. Stone, by the way, prefers her own brand:

"I am a tea fanatic. I like Sunrider Calli tea, an herbal cleansing tea."

Getting back to the President-to-be, here's the low-down on Black Forest Berry.

An Herbal Fruit Infusion.
A fruit infusion made with organic cane sugar, organic hibiscus, organic blackberry leaves, organic berry flavor, organic blueberries, and organic raspberries.
Certified organic by the USDA.

There are 60 Calories in a bottle of Black Forest Berry (2 servings per bottle). That's pretty low in Calories.

According to their website--www.honesttea.com, there are health benefits:

"The curative properties of brewed tea have been known for thousands of years. Because Honest Tea is brewed from genuine tea leaves it imparts many health benefits not found in other bottled teas.

Tea serves as a digestive aid and has powerful antioxidants. The antioxidants in green tea are believed to be at least 100 times more effective than Vitamin C and twenty-five times better than Vitamin E at protecting cells and DNA from damage believed to be linked to cancer, heart disease and other potentially life-threatening illnesses.

Brewed tea is also believed to fight off dental plaque, inactivate the influenza virus, reduce blood glucose levels, lower cholesterol, and act as an antibacterial agent."

So there you have it. Honest-ty. Something we all strive for, especially in our commander-in-chief.

L'Oreal Bare Naturale Lip Conditioner For Nude Mouth

Miss the nude lip and almost nude lip colors?

For a while now, lipsticks and glosses have featured color, pizazz, and punch!! But many of you really prefer a softer, gentler lip color. You know, a low maintenance nude mouth. Penelope Cruz, one of L'Oreal's glamorous cover girls, often wears a nude or sheer lip with a strong, smokey eye, and she does it so beautifully.

Nudes are back in a big way for 2009, and yes, so are bold red lips to the extreme. Take your choice, ladies. Plenty of pretty lip shades to choose from.

Today, we are looking at L'Oreal's $9 Bare Naturale Gentle Lip Conditioner.

It's formulated with 96% natural-origin ingredients. Full of soothing stuff like Vitamin E and sweet almond oil. Gives off soft, luminous shine with sheer color. Really keeps your pucker soft.

It comes in 10 sheer shades. Penelope likes to wear Soft Petal (105).

It's the makeup giant's most 'natural lipcare and mineral color in one.'

Winter is a brutal season for many of us. Our lips really pay the price in the wind, snow, sleet, ice, and dry air. Lips don't have much defense against the elements. We have to step up and nourish them kindly.

It was 13 below zero for us early this morning. Our lips could seriously use some TLC. How about yours?