But today I cam across a great video from a make-up artist, Kandee Johnson, on how to get rid of under-eye circles with makeup, and it only took her 6 minutes to do the whole video, so once you get good, it should take you even less!

Check it out, and check out some of her other videos too. I love her casual, friendly style, and she gives you great makeup info at the same time!

It is amazing that diet can play such an important part in not only your physical health but also in how you look. If you have a tendency to eat the typical Standard American Diet (SAD) full of processed foods, too many sweets and too many fats, it will show up in the way your complexion looks. Changing your diet to include fresh and raw foods with specific vitamins and minerals can greatly improve the condition of your skin.

These nutrient-dense foods are perfect if you want to improve your complexion:

* Red and purple fruits and vegetables contain anthocyanins which are important antioxidants. They are found in fruits such as cherries, blueberries and blood oranges. You can also find them in red cabbage. Anthocyanins are necessary to maintain healthy blood flow to the skin and protect it against ultraviolet (UV) damage.

* Whole grain foods help balance insulin and blood sugar. These foods include whole wheat and brown rice and are important because clinical studies have indicated too much sugar in your system can increase acne. Having excess sugar in your system can also cause collagen not to form properly. Why is collagen important? It works along with keratin to increase the skin’s strength, flexibility and resilience which means it keeps your skin youthful and healthy.

* Tomatoes are another food you’ll want to add to your diet. Eating them fresh is best because there are more nutrients, but you can get some benefit eating them cooked. The nutrient that’s important in tomatoes is lycopene. This is another antioxidant and having enough of this in your system will help reduce the hormones which lead to acne. They have also been found to lead to smoother skin in some studies.

* Green tea has many healthful benefits. One of them is that it can lower the production of the hormone DHT which causes acne.

* Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish is believed to reduce the chemicals which produce sebum or oily skin.

* Vitamin C-rich fruits such as lemon and kiwi – both higher in vitamin C than oranges – are believed to help reduce wrinkles. These fruits also help detoxify the system which can lead to a clearer complexion.

* Water may not seem like it’s important to healthy skin but it is. In fact, if you’re not staying hydrated your skin can look dull and listless.

If you’re hoping to improve your skin, try eating your way to a better complexion. A high-fiber diet is important for adults with acne. You’ll also want to include lean meat, whole grains, seafood and fish. All of these can help improve acne. You may also notice an improvement in your complexion if you avoid high-sugar foods and beverages.

I know that after my first child, I was desperate to lose the weight, and recently laid off. So I actually did have the time, and did hour long workouts on the bike while Connor napped. I quickly found out, however, that while I did lose quite a bit of the weight, my butt became kind of…non-existent. Needless to say, my hubby wasn’t very happy about that! Neither was I, to be honest. But I didn’t really know what else to do.

But luckily, the internet is a wonderful place, and there’s TONS of info out there! So I wanted to share a 10 minute butt firming workout that I’ve been using lately. And I must say, it really only takes ten minutes, and you really do feel it. And my butt is looking pretty good, too And the best part is, I think that even the busiest mom could find ten minutes a couple times a week to do it.

Unfortunately, breakfast is often times a victim of the morning time crunch. Even though you may be tempted to skip breakfast (or let your kids do so), here are few tips to help simplify your morning routine a bit and give yourself time for breakfast:

1. Have kids finish homework and pack school bags at night.
2. Decide on what your children will wear to school before you go to bed and locate lost shoes for the following day.
3. Think about giving up morning television.
4. Obviously, have healthy foods on hand!
5. Set the cereal out the night before. For younger children, fill a zippered plastic bag with her portion, then add the milk in the morning.
6. Encourage independence in breakfast making – allow your (older) children to use the microwave, as many breakfast foods can be prepared in under 5 minutes.
7. If you aren’t used to eating breakfast, consider adding protein first. Either through an easy-to-grab shake like Slimfast (or my new favorite, Bolthouse Farms!) or one made at home with protein powder, or through something quick and easy like yogurt or cottage cheese. Protein first-thing in the morning has been shown to increase your metabolism as well.

By saving yourself some time (or even just some stress), you’ll find the rest of the day often goes much more smoothly. This makes for happy mommy! And a happy mommy is a gorgeous mommy!

As nice as it is to hear that text messaging can help to improve your communication or your sex life, you may be looking for more information. First, you may be wondering if it is really possible to do. Can a simple text message ignite passion in your relationship? Yes, it can. In fact, you may be surprised just how much passion can be ignited. Read on with your hot self to learn more!

For starters, do you have any sexual fantasies or desires that you would like to see transformed into reality? Are you bored with your current level of intimacy and would like to make changes? If so, you need to speak with your partner. Unfortunately, this is often a lot easier said than done for some men and women. You should have no problem talking to your partner about intimacy, but the subject may be one that makes you feel uncomfortable. If that is the case, text messaging may be an easy approach to take. The ability to mask yourself behind a cell phone may provide you with a certain level of comfort and peace of mind.

In addition to using text messages as a way to improve your communication and your sex life, you can and should use it as a form of foreplay. Unfortunately, many individuals make the mistake of assuming that foreplay can only happen in the bedroom, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Is your partner on their way home from work? Are you in the mood for intimacy? If you are, send them a few sexy, seductive, and suggestive text messages. In a few creative words, let them know that you are at home waiting for them and ready for an adventure.

As romantic and as adventurous as using a cell phone to add new life to your intimacy can be, it is also important to proceed with caution. There are a few important dos and don’t that you first need to know. Do not send sexy or seductive text messages to a family cell phone. A family cell phone can be defined as one that all members of the family uses, like one that your son or daughter may borrow. These types of text messages are and should be private. Also, avoid sending text messages to work issued cell phones. Often times, text messages are not allow, but they may also be viewed by others.

Text messaging is a unique, fun, and creative way to improve your sex life. If you and your partner own cell phones, try using them today. You may be more than pleased with the results.  And the glow you’ll be walking around with won’t hurt either!

Yoga is a great part of any wellness routine, as it has the ability to both reduce stress and exercise the body. If you are trying to use yoga to target your midsection, well, that can be done. There are a number of yoga positions (called asanas) which exercise the stomach muscles. Bear in mind that some of these are more advanced than other. Assess your own skill and comfort level before trying certain asanas. If you are not sure you are able to do one asana, start with one that seems easier and work your way up once you have belt some strength and flexibility. As with any workout routine, be sure to consult a professional before beginning and always warm up properly to avoid injury.

Pavan-Muktasan
To perform this stomach-exercising asana, first lie flat on your back. Use a yoga mat of towel to cushion the spine. Bend both knees up to your chest so that your thigh touches the stomach. Hug your knees in place and lock your fingers. Now lift your head up so your nose meets your knees. Take a deep breath and hold it for thirty seconds before releasing and slowly lowering back to start. This exercise can also be done one leg at a time.

Bhujangasan
For this stomach exercise, remain on the floor, but roll over on to your stomach. Position your hand under your shoulders. Now, using your back muscles, raise your upper torso off the ground to that your head is upright. Be careful not to push with your hands. You want the muscles in your back to be doing the work. Hold this posture for thirty seconds, then lower yourself back to start. Even though you are using your back muscles to lift your upper body, performing the asana will assist in reducing belly fat and flattening your tummy.

The Bow
This stomach exercise is pretty similar to the previous asana, but more involved. It starts from the same position lying on your stomach, but in this exercise you curl your legs upward in addition to lifting your upper torso. Bend your knees so that the soles of your feet come up toward your head. Grab your ankles and pull with your hands and push with your legs until only your stomach is on the floor. Your body should feel sort of like it is making a circle. Your knees should remain together throughout the exercise. Hold this position for thirty seconds before releasing and returning to starting position.

Paad-Pashchimottanasan
Now that you have read the name of this asana, try not to be intimidated– it is less complicated in practice than in pronunciation. It does, however, require a fair amount of flexibility, so you may want to start with something easier and build up to this one. Start by lying on your back with your legs straight and arms overhead. Your body should be straight from head to toe with all limbs extended. Point your palms up to the ceiling and put your hands together. Contract your stomach muscles to sit up, keeping your back straight and hands overhead. Bend forward and grab your toes with your hands, putting your head between your arms so it touches your knees. Hold the position for two minutes before releasing.

Check out this cute shrug sweater from Kohls (only $18 in the juniors department). Looks cute and if you throw it over a long sleeve tee, I’ll bet it’s nice and warm too. Over the long sleeve tee it’s great for weekends, and you could even wear it over a button down shirt at work to warm up and add some color.

So stock your wardrobe with a few little shrugs or fitted sweaters like this, and it will be easy to feel gorgeous even when it’s freezing out!

As you’ve probably noticed, your beauty routine is faster and easier when your skin is clear. And we all know that we’re supposed to remove our makeup at night. But if you’re anything like me, washing your face is the last thing you feel like doing when you’re ready to fall into bed.

So try this trick – since there’s a good possibility that you already have baby wipes around the house anyway, grab one and remove makeup with that! I always buy the sensitive wipes, and they do a fantastic job of cleaning my face. They even take off mascara!

So here are 10 ways you can burn 100 calories, fast! Work in a couple of these activities each day (which take 15 minutes or less) and you might find that you’ve lost a few pounds by Christmas. And that will definitely help Mom feel more beautiful. Merry Christmas to you 

10 ways to burn 100 calories, fast!

• Jump rope for 10 minutes
• Run around the block once (talk about multi-tasking – you could do this with your kids to burn some of their energy at the same time, or use it to get some quiet time to yourself right after the hubby comes home)
• Give your kid a piggy-back ride for ten minutes (if they’re over 22 pounds, if not, go for 15 minutes!)
• Drink 8 glasses of ice-cold water (over the course of the day, naturally) and it raises your metabolism by about 100 calories
• Shovel snow for about 15 minutes (I use this one all the time during our winter-wonderland Michigan winters. My hubby loves it, and I get quiet time AND a workout!)
• Wrestle with your kids on the floor for about 15 minutes
• Get some last-minute Christmas shopping done by powerwalking through the mall for 19 minutes
• Wrap 21 gifts when you get home
• Run up and down stairs for 11 minutes (hey, you’re probably doing this anyway, right?)
• Do Pilates or Yoga for 20 minutes

Minute 1: Hold a hot washcloth over your face and breathe deep to wake up your senses, your tired eyes and your sleepy skin.

Minutes 2 – 3: Apply tinted moisturizer to your entire face including your eyes. Now you’ve got moisture and instant color. Use concealer where you need it and don’t be shy. Your base is more important than ever when you’re getting ready quickly. Dust your T-zone, including your eyes, and the center of your neck and chest with bronzing powder.

Minute 4: Line your top eyelids with liner and add mascara to your lashes.

Minute 5: Go bold with your lip color. Line lips and fill-in with liner. Blend lipstick and apply gloss to the center of your top and bottom lips. Dust your face with loose powder to set your makeup.

Minutes 6 – 10: If your hair is tamable with just a brush, you’re on your way. If not, remember to plug-in hot rollers at minute 1 and now quickly put them in place. Curls make hair styling faster. So does teasing, so go for it! Pull curled, teased or straightened hair into a pony and spray the back to add volume, or knot the back and tuck in loose ends with bobby pins. Another quick trick is to tie a scarf or large headband in the front to hide unmanageable bangs.

You’re out the door in 10 minutes or less and looking like you spent all morning getting ready. Now, if you could only get the kids to cooperate!