Cold Autumn Air: Good Time To Dip Into The Mud: Do You Fango?

Wild wind and temps dipping down to 20 degrees last night. And boy, did our face and body feel that. There's nothing worse than the unforgiving fall and winter months that spell dry, dull, aging skin.

It's time to dip into the mud, ladies and gentlemen! We're talking about mud masks for the face and body. And that begs the question:

Do you Fango?

Don't worry. Not all of you are familiar with Fango by the well-respected Borghese beauty company. But we're sure you've seen the playful ads that first started appearing over the summer with female and male models wearing nothing but a healthy grin and some Fango.

Borghese has been selling the popular mud masks for 25 years now, and are hoping to introduce the nutrient-rich formula to a new generation.

We have been a mud mask user for a number of years now. We love how masks tighten and cleanse and draw out impurities, leaving beind a glowing, softer, healthier complexion.

The Fango muds by Borghese are special in that their mud is drawn from the nutrient-rich earth of Tuscany. It isn't cheap....Fango plays in that pricey neighborhood by charging $33.50 for a 7-ounce tube of Fango Active Mud for Face and Body and $61 for a 17.6-ounce jar. There is also Fango Active Mud for Hair and Scalp is $37 for a 17.6-ounce jar.)

By the way, Fango muds act differently from the typical facial/body mask you often buy. Borghese masks work very fast and strangely enough----stay wet to the touch…unlike other at-home masks. There is no drying involved…just 5-10 minutes for the full treatment…and then wipe off with a damp washcloth. Say hello to revitalized skin!

There is a Fango mud for everyone. Check out some of the newest Fango muds at Borghese.

Turkey: Not Just For Bodybuilders But For Lean Beautiful Muscles On Everyone

Tired of turkey following the Thanksgiving Day holiday?! Don't be. It's the beauty gift that keeps on giving.

In other words, turkey is a dieter's dream! Bodybuilders have known for years, the benefits of including turkey in their very disciplined way of eating.

Turkey = an excellent source of protein...low in fat.....and builds lean muscle.

And turkey can be prepared a number of delicious ways. You probably have left-overs at the moment. How about a turkey vegetable soup? Yummy. We made soup today.

We did a little research, and found this beauty nugget at livestrong.com :

..."Turkey breast is a portable, no frills way to get large amounts of complete protein without worrying about fat content. A 4-oz. serving of 98 percent lean turkey breast contains more than 20 g of protein, reports PeerTrainer.com.

Besides sandwiches, lean turkey breast goes great on top of pizza, as part of a salad, or even on its own as a high-protein snack. The one downside of turkey breast is that it tends to be very high in salt, which may increase the risk of hypertension in salt-sensitive people. Instead, opt for low-sodium versions of turkey breast."

Let's be honest...the holidays roll around and the food and high calories keep coming our way. If you're trying to stay on the skinny side, then you need to choose wisely, and turkey gives you the green light.

We women, especially, do not get enough protein in our diets. William Evans, director of Nutrition, Metabolism, and Exercise Laboratory at the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging at the University of Arkansas explains why:

"Roughly 25 percent of adults over age 20, and 40 percent of those age 70 and up, fall below it, according to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) statistics, let alone eat enough to protect bones or muscle. And thin women, dieting women and elderly women--who are especially vulnerable to the ravages of bone and muscle loss--are notoriously low on protein. "Losing muscle causes older people to become weak and frail," says Evans...

So, ladies, how much protein is enough??

According to the stats----.25 to .5 g of protein per pound of body weight is adequate for the average woman.

Remember: Turkey is not just for bodybuilders, but for lean beautiful muscles on everyone.

Celebrities Batting Big Sexy False Lashes Trend At Red Carpet Events

Let's face facts: The big, sexy false lashes trend is red-hot on the red carpet these days. Celebrities like Country singing sweetheart Taylor Swift was batting a 'bad-girl' pair at the CMA's last week, along with her bangin' new sleek hairstyle and bangs.

And even Lady Gaga was going 'ga-ga' when she lost hers: The singer recently tweeted, "It is a promising morning when your eyelash falls in your Folgers"?

And let's not get started with all the Kardashian 'kuties' who absolutely don't leave home without their big, sexy false lashes....we're talking about you-- Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, and mama Kris.

It used to be, that a pair of false lashes were only put on for very special, nighttime engagements. But times have changed. Many women love having long, sexy eyelashes, all day long, and wear them to work. Some use strips of faux lashes and others apply a few individual lashes at the outer eye corners.

We would agree that it's best to have a professional makeup artist putting on your thick, long eyelashes, but most of us are not celebrities or models, so---we have to go it alone.

No, we have never worn false lashes, because we have been blessed with long, dark lashes, however, we could use a thicker fringe, and would love to see what a pair would do for us.

Meantime, YouTube has plenty of Kim Kardashian-inspired false lash tutorials, and they are very helpful. Check this one out by sccastaneda.

How To Stay Skinny On Thanksgiving Day And Still Enjoy The Food

Don't worry, you can still stay skinny and still eat well during your Thanksgiving holiday feast.

Okay, so you shouldn't touch the fattening pecan pie. But then again...you could have just a forkful to taste that heavenly sweetness.

So, before the big day, we want to help you decide ahead of time, what you can, 'stick a fork in it,' ha ha.

First of all, there is the turkey, And you know, that's a wise choice for staying slim.

Turkey is actually an excellent dietary choice----good protein with very little fat. And if roasted, low in sodium.

And by the way, turkey contains more protein than the same size serving of chicken or beef. So, you want the breakdown, here we go:

We got this information from dietbites.com:

Roasted Turkey - 6 Ounces Dark + White Meat, Untrimmed 450 Calories.
Roasted Turkey - 3 Ounces White Meat - Trimmed (no skin, no fat). White meat contains a little less calories than dark. Add 30 more calories if you prefer dark meat 130 Calories.

1 Cup of homemade stuffing 400 Calories. 1/2 Cup of boxed stuffing prepared with no calorie refrigerated butter spray 110 Calories. 1 Cup of Giblet Gravy 300 Calories. 1/3 Cup of Giblet Gravy 100 Calories. 1 Cup of Mashed Potatoes 350 Calories. 1/2 Cup of Mashed Potatoes prepared with skimmed milk, no calorie refrigerated butter spray 100 Calories.

Stuffed Celery 1 stick 100 Calories. 1 Stick of stuffed celery prepared with reduced fat cream cheese 40 Calories. 2 Sweet Pickles 10 Calories. 2 Black Olives 2 Green Olives 25 Calories.

1 Cup of Candied Sweet Potatoes 400 Calories.
1/2 Baked Sweet Potato w/ small pat of butter, dash of cinnamon, a couple of packs of no calorie sweetener 100 Calories.
1/2 Cup of Cranberry Sauce 200 Calories.
1/6 Can of Cranberry Sauce - Jelled or Whole Cranberries 100 Calories.

2 Rolls With Butter 300 Calories.
1 Roll With 1/2 Pat of Butter 125 Calories

1 Cup of English Peas with Butter 150 Calories.

2 Glasses Sweetened Tea, Wine, Punch or Cider 300 Calories.
1 Slice of Pumpkin Pie With Topping 450 Calories.
1 Slice of Pecan Pie 650 Calories.
1 Cup of Fruit Salad 100 Calories.
1 Cup of Egg Nog 400 Calories.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Is That Really You Taylor Swift: From Curly To Straight With Bangs

OMG! We had no idea who that gorgeous young woman with the sleek straight hair and bangs were at last night's American Music Awards show!

Is that really country singing star Taylor Swift?!

We honestly did not know who that blonde beauty was, until her name was announced to come up and accept an AMA award. Duh! Maybe we were half-asleep at the time, but really now, Taylor Swift has done a 180 degree turn with one, simple, hairstyle.

Bloggers everywhere are talking about the new, straight hair do. And a lot of fans claim it's a wig, or weave. And others swear it really is Taylor's own hair, merely blow-dried straight. A few also remarked that Taylor looks like a young Nicole Kidman.

Hmm. We, too, do not believe this is Taylor Swift's real hair, in our humble opinion. However, we think she rocks it well. And she delivers a totally different look. We also loved her makeup, including the sexy, doe-eyed false lashes she had on, along with a paler lip. She tossed out her signature red lipstick for a lighter touch.

Speaking of Nicole Kidman, who also has incredible curly locks, she, too, switches to a sleek straight hairstyle upon occasion. And this is how she achieves that look with her own hair:

Bio Ionic Hair Care Products. Kerry Warn, Australia's own celebrity hair stylist (takes care of Nicole Kidman's locks), uses and recommends the Bio Ionic products to his clients."These products use the Trinity FX charge to shatter water molecule clusters by up to 10 times their size and keep them apart, allowing the properties to penetrate deep into the hair shaft." You end up with straight, silky, smooth hair.

Whether it's curly or straight, it's nice when women have a choice.

Kinerase To Launch Cheaper Skin Care Line For Drugstores In Mid-January

Kinerase skin care products have always been a high-end line that your dermatologist provided or you bought at the top-tier spas and beauty boutiques. But starting in mid-January, you will find the Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase anti-age line in drugstores like Walgreens and at Walmart. And you will like the price range----between $10 and $35 each.

We're told it's a 10-piece line, including cleansers, moisturizers and daily treatments. And yes, the products will contain the special patented plant-based kinetin formula found in the original, more expensive Kinerase skin care line adored by many celebrities, including Courteney Cox.

The Kinerase company is based in southern California. Dr. LeWinn, by the way, is an Australian celebrity plastic surgeon.

So, you wonder, is the cheaper Kinerase line of products any good? Can it really stand up to the original?

Jen Smoot, marketing director for Kinerase's parent company, Valeant Pharmaceuticals' U.S. cosmeceutical branch, wants you to consider the new Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase line like this:

"Think of BMW," Smoot says. "They have a 7 Series, 5 Series and 3 Series. The 3 Series still has the prestige and German engineering, but it doesn't have the seat warmers in the back and speaks to a different consumer. We're reaching a new consumer."

We are all for high-end skin care and beauty products that make their way to the mass market retailers at affordable prices. Bring it on, Kinerase!

Rihanna Looks Like 'Only Girl (in the World)' With Raggedy Ann Red Hair Extensions

Okay, we can't stay mum about Rihanna's cherry red, Raggedy Ann hair extensions any longer............We caught her Wednesday morning on GMA, performing live. And although we love Rihanna in longer, straight locks, well......

She is a hot mess, as they say.

You either despise this look, or you embrace it. And because the talented singer is only 22, we are going to give her a pass once again.

Why?? Because she's young. Period. We are taking the advice of a legendary makeup artist, Sandy Linter. We have interviewed Sandy a few times, and this is what she says:

In your 20's: 1. Do experiment with color. "Crazy yellow eyeshadow? You can pull it off!" at this age, Sandy told People mag. "Break all the rules."

And that means, break all the rules for hairstyles and hair colors, too.

If you, too, want to copy Rihanna's cherry red hair, and you aren't going the hair extensions route, just be careful when you color hair red.

Oh, yeah, it ain't easy being red.

This is what celebrity master colorist Kim Vo told us:

"The biggest challenge are reds. The red color molecule is the smallest of all colors. It's like a tropical rainstorm. It's tempest and dramatic at first and then quickly fades.".

If you're going to dramatically color it red, ladies, then best to have the pros do it. The upkeep isn't cheap, either.

We most certainly prefer Rihanna with long, dark brunette locks, but at the moment, she is having fun in her neon cherry red. And with appealing bone structure like hers, we suppose she can keep breaking all the rules.