Eco-Friendly Beauty Solutions

Like makeup and passionate about the environment? Check out these eco-friendly beauty solutions, sure to keep you — and the planet! — looking good:

Use Organic Makeup
Numerous companies manufacture products made from plant oils, minerals, and various extracts. These products are not only environmentally-friendly, they're also healthier for your skin. You'll be helping your skin and planet at the same time.

Go Cruelty Free
Cosmetics companies will often test their products on animals. Alternative testing methods are available, however. Look for a Leaping Bunny Logo on the packaging, and you'll know it's cruelty free.

Recycle
Take part in a makeup recycling program. More and more stores and recycling centers are accepting makeup containers for recycling. Also, stores like MAC and Origins have programs to turn in containers, some of which can get you more makeup!

Conserve Water
Invest in a low-flow shower head and limit your shower time. You'll be saving lots of water! Turning off the water for activities like shaving and brushing teeth can also go a long way in helping the environment.

Avoid Disposables
Not only does a reusable razor help reduce landfill waste, it will be cheaper for you in the long run. Also, you'll be doing a lot of good by cutting out disposable sponges and Q-tips when applying makeup. Use brushes or your fingers whenever possible.

 

Cold Weather Blowouts

This is the time of year when we wind down from the holidays and start into the long haul of deep winter. A simple, low stress party can be just the thing to get us through the cold slog to spring. These party themes should inspire you to spend some time celebrating with friends and family.

1. Turn up the heat in your house, pick up some tropical and beach-themed decorations, and have a winter beach party. Serve tropical drinks and use a stovetop grill pan to make hamburgers and hot dogs or grilled fish for tacos.
2. Have a hot drink party – make several flavors of hot cocoa, mulled wine and cider, and hot teas. Accompany the drinks with all the fixings – flavored syrups, marshmallows, whipped cream, and sprinkles. Keep the theme going with sweet and savory fondues.
3. Celebrate February holidays and events – host a Super Bowl party with a football theme, have a sweetheart party for Valentine’s Day, or hold a movie-themed bash for Oscar night. You could even have a patriotic party for President’s Day.
4. Of course you can always have a plain old winter themed party. Decorate the house with snowflakes and white twinkle lights, and set out a hearty feast on a snow-white tablecloth. Encourage guests to bring a winter item, anything from a hat and scarf set to a winter mix CD, to swap!

Winter Decorating Tips

As the weather gets colder, here are some tips to make your home as cozy as possible:

Light Candles
Nothing says winter like the warm glow of a candle flame. Why not dim your overhead lighting and light some candles around the house? Candles with seasonal scents like evergreen and gingerbread will doubly enhance the wintery charm.

Garnish The Staircase or Balcony
If you have a staircase or balcony, consider wrapping the railings with with lights, garlands, or bows.

Opt for a Seasonal Centerpiece
Create or purchase a centerpiece with seasonal flair. If you'd like to make your own, try using poinsettias, small wreaths, gourds, birch bark, rose hips, cranberries, pinecones, candles, or evergreen sprigs.

Warm up with blankets and throw rugs
Since your family will be spending more time inside as the temperatures drop, make your home’s couches and chairs as comfy as possibly by draping them with snuggly throws and extra blankets in vibrant colors. What better way to curl up with a book on a winter night?

Happy Friday!

We hope everyone enjoys their weekend and stays warm!

Friends Only: How To Protect Yourself On Facebook

The world of digital socialization is a new and confusing one, and if you’re not careful you can find yourself disclosing things you never meant to. In this article, we’ll share some of the most useful tips for maintaining your privacy and security on Facebook.

First, and most importantly, be aware of your privacy settings. Over the last year, Facebook has rolled out a number of updates that negatively impacted the privacy of millions of users. Make a point to log into Facebook at least once a month for the sole purpose of reviewing those settings. If you’re at all uncomfortable with sharing information with people you don’t know, make sure your settings are at the highest level of security.

Secondly, be aware of what you post. A good general rule is if you wouldn’t say it in real life, don’t say it on Facebook. There is no expectation of complete privacy on the site.

One of the ways many people compromise their Facebook accounts is by clicking on links to malware. If an outside page asks you to connect to your Facebook account and the domain is not one you visit regularly and trust, make sure to click “No.” These pages use your Facebook account to spam your friends and post links on their pages without your permission, a sure way to get defriended fast.

New York at the Holidays

There’s nothing quite like New York City at the holidays – festive crowds, sparkling lights, and countless attractions that perfectly capture the season's spirit. Here are some must-visit New York sites for the holiday season:

Rockefeller Center
No holiday adventure in New York would be complete without a visit to this iconic location. Every year, thousands of people flock to see the dazzling Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Make sure you also check out the famous Rockefeller ice skating rink, where you can watch skaters in action or strap on a pair of skates and join the fun.

Holiday Windows
At Christmastime, New York’s most famous department stores unveil brilliantly artistic and elaborate holiday window displays. Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdales, and Barneys are just a few of the stores that attract awed window-gazing crowds every season.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular
If you want the ultimate New York City holiday experience, make sure to book tickets for the classic Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. The show features song and dance numbers that will truly dazzle you, as well as stunning sets and costumes. The iconic Rockettes steal the show, of course!

Holiday Train Show
Every year, the New York Botanical Garden hosts a holiday exhibit featuring model trains and replicas of New York City landmarks, popular with people of all ages. The exhibit is housed in Garden’s Conservatory, a lovely indoor space, so it’s an ideal holiday outing in any kind of weather.

New York City Pops
If you love holiday music, you won’t find a better concert that the annual New York City Pops holiday celebration at Carnegie Hall. This year the featured singers are John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey, described by the New York Times as a “musical match made in heaven.”

Raise Your Voice: Becoming A Good Public Speaker

Making a speech is one of the most stressful things most people can imagine. Being the center of attention is nerve-wracking by itself, but having to remember a speech can make it even more difficult. If you find yourself in the position of having to speak to crowds but worry that your skills aren’t up to snuff, here are some helpful tips to aid you in improving your elocution.

-          Practice. Some people think that rehearsing material beforehand will make their speech stiff. Nothing could be further from the truth. A couple passes through your speech will help make it more familiar and reduce the stress of misspeaking.

-          Prepare. Make sure to arrive at the venue you will be speaking at early and take a look around. Check the microphone, if you are using one, and the view from the audience. Talk to audience members as they arrive, if you can. This will help you view them as people and connect better with the audience.

-          Address the room. Before you start your speech, make a quick statement to address the room. This will give you a moment to calm your thoughts and transition into your speech.

-          Don’t apologize. If you do make a mistake during your presentation, just move past it. It’s likely that the majority of the audience didn’t notice it anyway. Moving forward helps you focus on the positive.

-          Be appreciated. If you’ve been asked to speak publicly, it means that your audience is interested in what you have to say. You wouldn’t have been given the opportunity otherwise. With that in mind, go forward with confidence.

Play On: Five European Board Games

Even in this increasingly digital world we live in, more and more people are finding time to get together with friends over board games. We love the classics, but a new wave of games coming from Europe has also captured our attention. Here are five amazing strategic games that are easy to learn but incredibly addictive:

-          Settlers of Catan. One of the most popular European board games, this game of trade strategy takes place on a board that is created anew every time, giving each player different access to resources. It’s cerebral but still fast-moving, and games are exciting all the way to the end.

-          Carcassonne. This German board game is a great introduction to strategic gaming, as sessions usually take less than an hour. This game of conquest and defense is incredibly simple to pick up and play but has a remarkable amount of strategic depth.

-          Power Grid. A fascinating game of economic power, Power Grid puts each player in control of a utility company looking to supply electricity to an ever-growing network of customers. It features a great sense of risk as players try to grow their networks without collapsing under their own weight.

-          Agricola. This game casts each player as a humble subsistence farmer trying to grow their agricultural outpost as well as they can with limited resources. Sound boring? It’s surprisingly fun!

-          Puerto Rico. Another interesting historical game, this title casts each player as a colonial governor on the island of Puerto Rico looking to win fame and wealth in the export business. It’s exciting and fast-paced, with lots of twists of fortune.

Farm Fresh: Understanding CSAs

The trend towards locally produced food means nothing but good things for the American diet – the less distance a product has to travel, the more it retains its nutrients and flavor. Many shoppers now purchase a good portion of their produce at the farmers' market. But if you want the convenience of having the harvest shipped to your door at a very attractive cost, it might be time to look into joining a CSA.

CSA, short for “Community Supported Agriculture,” is a popular way of supporting local farmers while getting a deal on your groceries. The basic premise is simple: you, the consumer, pay an up-front fee to the farmer at the start of a season. In return, you receive a delivery of fresh fruit and vegetables every week for the season. Most CSAs offer both summer and fall seasons.

The advantages to enrolling in a CSA are many, for farmers and eaters alike. The prices are very reasonable, and the convenience of having the food delivered can really save you time. For the farmer, having the money up front allows them to invest in infrastructure and equipment that helps them grow, as well as making for easier bookkeeping.

The one disadvantage is that you don’t get to select what vegetables you receive every week, but for adventurous chefs this can be a welcome challenge.

Autumn Events in New York City!

If you’re looking for some unique events to take in this fall, you’ll find them in the Big Apple. With street festivals, comic conventions, and more, the city that never sleeps is your ticket to fun. Here’s a look at some highlights:

New York Comic Con – New York’s biggest comic event returns to the Javits Center October 13th through 16th. Special guests include Mark Hamill, Kevin Smith, and Jason Mewes revisiting the roles of Jay and Silent Bob during a special live podcast, John Landis, Rose McGowan, and more. The event will also be in conjunction with the New York Anime Festival.

CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival – From October 18th through 22nd, the world's most important platform for the discovery of new music, CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival, invades New York City with over 1,300 artist performances and dozens of cutting-edge films. CMJ fills more than 80 of the city's greatest venues, nightclubs, and theaters with over 120,000 fans, music industry professionals, college radio tastemakers, bloggers, press, filmmakers, and musicians.

The Chocolate Show – From November 10th through 13th the largest show in the United States completely dedicated to celebrating all things chocolate comes to NYC. Sounds delicious!

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