Supernatural Botanicals

The consensus on the newest trend, the maxi dress is…..He says, “no way!”   She says, “I love it!”  That seems to be the latest consensus from an unofficial poll I’ve been taking about the latest trend in women’s fashion, the long maxi dress.  From Rodeo Drive to your street, the maxi dress is making a fashion statement.  The question is, what is the statement?  Women seem to think the overall statement is cute and comfortable.  Men seem to think the overall statement is frumpy and unflattering.

A wildly popular trend now, the maxi dress is being worn by women who want to be cute and comfortable at the same time.  However, the negative input by the men may have you changing your mind….along with your dress.

Every male I had asked about this new trend gave a luke-warm response with, “it’s okay, but not form-fitting enough.”  Some even responded with “dresses like this need to be burned.”  Ironically, I couldn’t find one male response that said, “gorgeous, sexy, I love it.”

Women, on the other hand, simply loved the maxi dress.  Women find this dress to easily transition from casual to dressy.  The biggest response I received from women was “it looks so comfortable.”

What do you think about the maxi dress?  Love it or lose it?

   Studies have shown that people who eat diets rich in Omega-3 (found in salmon and nuts) tested high for mental sharpness.  It’s certainly possible to consume Omega-3s in supplements, but taking in vitamins via real, whole foods is far more satisfying than a supplement. 

Working out does more for you than boost your sex appeal.  According to a recent study by the University of Bristol in England, there are serious perks to exercising before or during your workday.  They found that 72% of people improved their time management, 74% managed their workload better, and 79% were sharper and more focused.   Switch your workouts to early morning or midday to gain the added benefits above.

Color
Color sends a strong nonverbal message and is the first thing a person sees. Think about what you want to communicate and then choose colors that support that impression.

Navy: Honesty, integrity
Black: Sophistication, authority
White: Freshness, reliability
Tan: Elegance, approachability
Brown: Stability, security
Gray: Strength of character, refinement
Burgundy/Maroon: Classic, elegance
Plum: Regal, diplomatic
Teal: Inventive, soothing
Red: Passion, tenacity

San Francisco, long known for it’s eco-consciousness, passed a mandatory composting law this week that is believed to be the strictest ordinance in the nation.   Residents will be required to have three color coded trash bins, including one for recycling, one for trash, and one for compost (table scraps, banana peels, coffee grounds, etc.)

Why all the fuss?  Because food scraps sent to landfills decompose fast and turn into methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas.  Under San Fran’s new law, collected scraps will be turned into compost that helps farms and vineyards flourish.  The city hopes to eliminate waste at landfills by 2020.

San Francisco, a proven leader in eco-issues, is also working on other green initiatives such as banning plastic bags at supermarkets.

The city says they aren’t looking to punish violators harshly, but they do want to eliminate food scraps in their garbage.  Imposing their mandatory composting law is a tool to bring cognizance to our fragile eco-system.

Kudos to San Francisco for being front-runners in the Green movement!

For a quick dessert, dip (rinsed and patted dry) strawberries into melted white chocolate.  I made this dessert tonight, start to finish, in five minutes.  The white stars are simply white chocolate molded in silicone star molds.  This will be perfect for my 4th of July picnic block party (the white chocolate stars colored blue), for a patriotic-looking display.  A Silpat is an extremely useful  tool for this project. 

Aromatherapy Facts:

Grapefruit Essential Oil:  Aids in relief of nervous energy, depression, headache, performance stress, jet lag, and PMS.

Therapeutic Effect:  Uplifted, Euphoric, Feeling of Wellness, Natural Stress Reliever.

   One of the best things about summer is having the opportunity to bring the outdoors in.  Old fashioned garden roses are easy to grow, and look amazing in vases all over your home.  Romantic, beautiful, and girly, garden roses can kick up your summer decor in seconds.  

To maintain the look:   Try to choose buds that have not completely bloomed out. This is especially true for roses and other flower blossoms with many layers of petals.  If arranged properly, a flower will continue to bloom a bit after you put it in the vase.  Choose roses that have just started to open, and you will be able to watch them unfold for up to two weeks, instead of just a couple of days.

For more interior design ideas, visit my friend Julia at Hooked on Houses.

Sex-Kitten-ism:   According to Wikipedia, Sex-kitten is a term that typically refers to a woman who goes around with a sexually provocative approach.  It also refers to women with abundant sexual aggression. The term originated circa 1958, and was used to describe French starlet Brigitte Bardot, though a term similar has been used as early as in ancient Egypt when people would refer to their partners as kittens.

What is it that makes one a sex-kitten?  Is it a look?  An attitude?  Provocation?  Long hair?  ….long hair? Yes, long hair.  If you are wondering if it makes a difference, let’s do a clinical observation with our resident sex-kitten Kim Kardashian.

This is Kim K. with short hair and long hair.  Which do you like?  Do you think she makes a different “first appearance” with short hair versus long?  Did it completely zap her of all her sex-kitten-ism….or spark it up?

What do you think?

Elliptical machines are the treadmills of the new millennium.  The elliptical machine is essentially a treadmill meets stair stepper.  Smooth fluid motions protects your joints, while getting full cardio benefits.  This is an excellent piece of equipment for any home gym…and, you can win it!   Click here to win this Smooth Fitness Elliptical Trainer.

You may also like this related blog post on home gyms…check out mine: