Health Effects of Carbonated Soft Drinks

Soda is the most frequently consumed soft drink in the Unite States, with its availability exceeding that of milk, according to the North Carolina School Nutrition Action Committee. Consumption of this carbonated soft drink has gone up an astounding 500 percent in the last half-century, in part thanks to larger container sizes of soda. A standard size in the 1950s was 6.5 ounces compared to today's 12-oz. cans and 20-oz. bottles. Though they are tasty, carbonated beverages can have undesirable health effects. 

Fracture Risk 

Carbonated soft drinks are associated with increased risk for fractures, according to research by Robert P. Heaney and Karen Rafferty published in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Overall, this is most likely because people choose soda instead of milk or other beverages that contain calcium, the study authors conclude. However, they also note that caffeinated soda leads to increased calciuria, or calcium excretion in the urine. Caffeine intake is associated with slight reductions in bone mineral in elderly folks, according to a study by C. Cooper in the "Journal of Bone and Mineral Research." An analysis by Lenny R. Vartanian et al. published in the "American Journal of Public Health" reports that reducing soft drink intake by one 16-oz. glass daily is associated with an increase of 4 oz. in daily milk consumption. 

Obesity and Diabetes Risk 

Drinking too much soda raises your risk for obesity, and frequency of being overweight goes up by 60 percent with each sugar-sweetened soda consumed daily, according to a study by D.S. Ludwig et al. published in the journal "Lancet." Diabetes risk is increased as well. A 2004 study published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" found that women who consumed one or more soft drink serving daily, which is less than the U.S. national average, had twice the risk of developing diabetes as women who drink less than one serving per month, according to lead study author Matthias B. Schulze. The study followed a group of women for eight years. "This result alone warrants serious concern about soft drink intake, particularly in light of the unprecedented rise in type 2 diabetes among children," Vartanian wrote. 

Cavity Risk 

Carbonated soft drinks can harm your teeth, according to a study in the journal "Nutrition" by C.M. McKay and Lois Will. The phosphoric acid in that's found in cola drinks might be partly responsible. However, a study by Katherine L. Tucker et al. in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" notes that total phosphorus intake is not significantly higher in people who drink cola daily than those who eschew cola, though the calcium-to-phosphorus ratios are lower in cola drinkers. A study by R.F. Majewski published in "Pediatric Dentistry" found that rapid progression of cavities is associated with caffeinated sodas. These sodas also tend to have a high amount of sugar, and the caffeine-sugar combination is likely to blame for increased chance of cavities, Majewski concludes. There does not appear to be an association between cavities and diet soft drinks, notes Vartanian. 

Bold Nail Design Pictures

Nail designs don't have to be complicated or intricate to be stunning. 

Simple stripes in two or three shades offer a contemporary look.

An added bonus is that this is one design that is fairly easy to achieve at home; 

a steady head and nail art pens are all you need.
Fantastic Fruit
Fun fruit slices are cute, playful, and original. The bright colors and fruity design are especially appropriate for wearing in spring or summer. 

Glitter and small crystal details add an extra pretty touch to this nail design.

Pretty Plaid Inspiration

A pretty design inspired by plaid adorns these nails. 

When considering a multi-colored design like this, keep your outfit simple 

to allow your nails to shine.
Inspired by Nature

The beauty of nature offers plenty of inspiration for beautiful and unique 

nail designs. This look showcases gorgeous greenery. A clear base really 

allows the design to pop and intricate details to show.

Simple Stripes
Nail designs don't have to be complicated or intricate to be stunning. 

Simple stripes in two or three shades offer a contemporary look. 

An added bonus is that this is one design that is fairly easy to achieve at home; 

a steady head and nail art pens are all you need.

Multi-Colored Impressionism
Multiple colors and soft edges contrast beautifully with the fresh 

black background of this dreamy, impressionistic, water-color-inspired design. 

If you're attempting a look like this at home, use a light hand to prevent polish from overloading the nail.

Sharp Contrast
Another unique nail idea is to use contrasting elements in your nail design. 

The bright red tips in this design, for example, contrast sharply with the delicate 

flowers and glittering crystal emebellishments. The result? A look that is at once 

powerful and feminine.



Like a mini canvas, your nails allow you to really express yourself, and nail art design ideas are truly limitless. Simple looks like stripes are perfect for everyday, while more complex designs are prime 

10 Fast Beauty Tricks

1. Quick Cleanse! 
No time to cleanse? Try keeping makeup-wipes in your purse and using those instead!
2. De-poof Your ‘Do!
Get rid of that frizz! Wet your hands with water and a drop of hand lotion, then gently pull your hair back into a French twist. Wait 10 minutes; take your locks down. BADABING! No more crazy flyaways!
3. Degrease Your Dome!
If scalp grease (or product build-up) have left your hair looking like a dirty mop, sprinkle translucent powder or dry shampoo over your roots, then brush through.
4. Fake a Healthy, Flawless Glow!
Hold up! Concealer is only half the battle. To really perfect your complexion (regardless of skin tone), try wearing lipstick in a warm pink. It distracts people’s eyes from imperfections and spots.
5. Get Gorgeous Nails — FAST!60-second strategy: Remove all polish, clean under your nails (with lemon juice, if you have it) and massage the thickest lotion you can find (lip balm will suffice in a pinch) into your cuticles.
6. Give your face a wake-up call!
Look more luminous and awake by applying white eye shadow to four key points: the inner corners of the eyes, the brow bones, the temples and above the peaks of your upper lip. Light skin tones look best with a white shadow that has cool blue undertones; darker complexions need a complementary golden or off-white version.
 7. Get tan and toned
Get gold by mixing liquid bronzer with a firming body cream, then massage it into your arms. It’ll temporarily tighten your skin and give it a sexy glow.
8. Give that hair flair!
A glittery accessory adds instant glamour to any hairstyle. Forgot to bring one? Use the brooch from your sweater!
9. Still look tired?
Sleepy eyes need at least one coat of mascara to give them definition. Step One separates and defines lashes, while Step Two coats lashes and boosts volume.
10. Add a touch of glam!
When all else fails, sparkly earrings add interest and brighten up any look!

A mansion for your best friend

How To Wear Gold Jewelry

Ever wonder about the fashion rules for wearing gold jewelry? Follow these five tips to make sure you always look your best.
Let Each Piece Shine
You've probably heard that old adage about taking off one of your accessories before you leave the house. Keeping your look uncluttered is very important for gold jewelry too. If you're wearing several pieces at once, none of them will be able to stand out.
To pare down your look, choose two or three pieces you really love and remove everything else. If you're wearing more than one piece of jewelry, you may also want to avoid patterned tops or scarves. These items provide a busy background and take the focus off of your gold jewelry.
Try New Colors of Gold
When most people think about gold jewelry, the first thing that comes to mind is yellow gold. However, craftsmen have been creating other colors of gold for centuries. You'll find new and vintage gold jewelry in white gold, rose gold, and even green gold. Some styles, like Black Hills gold jewelry, mix several shades of gold within a single piece.
Choosing a different color of gold is a great way to keep your look from being too predictable. Rose gold is a popular choice because it has the warmth of yellow gold but provides a unique style statement. You can find rose gold and other unusual shades of gold jewelry in vintage shops and at contemporary jewelry stores. 

Make a Statement
One way to make an impact with your gold jewelry is to choose a statement piece. Bold, chunky rings are one of the most popular statement jewelry options, since they are easy to wear with just about any outfit. Vintage rings and brooches also make great statement jewelry.
To wear a gold statement piece to its best advantage, make it the focus of your look. If you're wearing an elaborate layered gold necklace, for instance, pair it with a basic turtleneck. Alternatively, wear a stack of gold bangle bracelets with a simple strapless cocktail gown. That way, all eyes will be on your special items.
Mix Those Metals
Grandma might disagree, but these days, mixing metals isn't a fashion faux pas. It's a fashion statement. Gone are the days of wearing all-gold jewelry. You can shake things up by pairing your gold pieces with sterling silver and platinum.
It's a good idea to use caution when creating this look, though. If you're wearing more than one color of metal, keep the style cohesive. For instance, you could wear a sterling silver modern art pendant with contemporary gold ring. Or pair vintage pieces of the same era to give your look a put-together but eclectic feel.
Wear What You Love
The most important guideline when it comes to any kind of jewelry is to wear what you love. Fashion trends come and go, and gold jewelry is sometimes at the top of the list of hot accessories for a given year. However, whether it's popular or not, gold never really goes out of style. If you love gold, embrace it.
Although gold is a classic, styles do change over the years. If you're worried that your favorite hoop earrings or tennis bracelet is starting to look dated, try updating it with other pieces in your jewelry collection that have a more modern feel. You can often make a vintage piece look more contemporary, and none of your favorites will languish in the bottom of your jewelry box.
Experiment with Your Look
In addition to the above tips, don't forget to experiment with different looks to see what you like. Make note of your favorite jewelry combinations so you can wear them again. No matter how you decide to wear gold jewelry, you'll love the soft, warm glow of this precious metal.

Coffee Linked to Reduced Risk of Certain Breast and Prostate Cancers

Two separate medical studies have emerged that credit the biological effects of coffee as playing a role in lowering the risk of a certain aggressive type of breast cancer, as well as fatal prostate cancer.

The Karolinksa Institutet study in Stockholm found that amongst nearly 6,000 women–2,818 patients with breast cancer and 3,111 participants who did not have breast cancer–who drank five cups of coffee a day had a 20% decrease in overall breast cancer risk. When studying a very aggressive type of breast cancer called estrogen-receptive negative cancer, this amount of coffee showed to aid in a 57% reduction of risk in women ages 50 to 74. It is important to note that such a significant decrease in risk had a lot to do with the age of the women who were studied.
The prostate cancer study conducted by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute involved the participation of 48,000 men, making it the largest study of its kind. The study showed that men who drank over six cups of coffee or more per day lowered a man’s risk of fatal prostate cancer by up to 60%.
The many different biological effects of coffee is said to be the reason why it is reducing the risk for these types of cancers. Coffee is a source of antioxidants and it also has positive effects on glucose metabolism and insulin levels and it is believed that insulin plays a role in the progression of prostate cancer, as stated by Kathryn Wilson, a research fellow in epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health.
This seems to be a bigger triumph for men who are at risk of developing prostate cancer, but the study of coffee has a long way to go before researchers will give up on it. Previously, coffee has been said to lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and liver cancer as well.
Researchers are not instructing people to start incorporating large amounts of coffee into their daily diets, but it is safe to say that if you are already a coffee-lover, you may be helping keep yourself free of certain cancers and disease.

Divide And Conquer

They're an innovative and unusual concept of organic-shaped polycarbonate tiles that link to each other to form a superb decorative partition. These dividers offer a kaleidoscope of possibilities and allow you to design panels according to your cravings and needs. You can choose from a variety of shapes and colors to create a division of any size. They're a very original and adaptable solution to separate spaces in your home without blocking the view. If you're drooling over these and think you have the perfect place for them.
Phenomenal panels by German company Koziol

Ten Qualities that Most Men Look For Women

Every man is different and wants different things in his woman. Moreover, what he wants depends on whether he is looking for a girlfriend, a wife or someone to go out with on a Saturday night. With that in mind, here are the top 10 qualities that most men usually look out for. It’s in no particular order, as it differs from person to person.

1. Confident

Men like their women to be confident, someone who enters a room walking tall and makes eye contact is found to be attractive. Women who are confident about their looks and abilities are easier to be around, than those who need constant affirmation. It’s nice to have your girl lean on you for support with her insecurities once in a while, but someone who needs constant support can be a little annoying.

2. Good Sense of Humor

No one wants to be with someone who has a dull personality and is always serious. Guys want a girl who can laugh at their jokes, herself at times say something funny and enjoy herself. They don’t want someone who is always negative about everything and finds it difficult to enjoy herself. Girls with a cheery disposition and positive outlook are attractive to men.

3. Well-groomed

Well, there’s no denying that appearance is important, it is what initially attracts a guy to a girl. Guys like girls who are feminine, this may have to do with the fact that it makes them feel more masculine. Most guys also like girls with nice hair, it’s less about appearance and more about being well-groomed. No one would like a girl who does not maintain personal hygiene. In addition, a healthy girl with a fit body is more attractive to guys.

4. Independent

Independence is an attractive trait to most men, they like women who have their own life. While, it can be nice to receive attention from a girl, someone who’s life revolves around her guy will be way too clingy. Guys need attention and care but at the same time they need their space. They are more likely to date a girl who has her own set of friends and hangs out with them. But, at the same time, men like being providers and need a woman to be dependant on them to an extent, to remind them that they are needed.

5. Understanding

Guys want an understanding girl, someone who isn’t constantly cribbing. She should accept her guy the way he is and be willing to make minor adjustments. Moreover, while opposites may attract, men want women to respect his beliefs and preferably share his likes and dislikes. A girl who nags a guy beyond reason is a huge turn-off. Guys look for a woman who can support and appreciate them.

6. Honest and Loyal

Of course men want a woman who does not lie and will be loyal to him. He needs to have the assurance that she will not be flirting with his friend, the minute he leaves the room. So, the obvious traits they look for in women are faithfulness and reliability. They want someone who will stand by their side no matter what. Looking at the number of breakups and divorces due to infidelity, it’s no surprise that this quality is highly looked for in girls.

7. Mature and Well-Spoken

Baby talk may be cute once in a while, but mostly men like women who are mature and talk sense. She should be able to have a normal conversation that does not involve clothes and makeup. She should be interesting and not too loud. Also girls who abuse too much maybe a turn off, especially if the guy himself refrains from profanity.

8. Easy Going

Guys look for girls who are easy going, an uptight person is not really liked by men. ‘The girl next door’ is most preferred when they intend to have a serious relationship. A girl they can take home to meet their family and a girl they can have a good time with. Men look for women who can let go, someone who isn’t afraid of messing up her makeup, who is laid back and easy to please.

9. Caring

Men most definitely like women who care for them and make little efforts to show them their concern. Small gestures like cooking for him, ironing a shirt, asking him if he’s had lunch or a quick kiss when he’s feeling low are highly appreciated. Men feel nice when they know their girl is paying attention to them, noticing small things and taking care of his needs. But, at the same time they like getting their space, so women should refrain from overdoing it.

10. Supportive

Men look for supportive women, particularly when they are interested in a long-term relationship. For a guy in his 20s, who is still struggling with his career, the support of his girl is very important. He wants someone who will listen to him, without making fun of him or putting him down. Someone who will give him objective advice and make him look good in front of others.

Make Eyes Appear Larger !

• Curl Your Lashes- One of the easiest secrets to utilizing eye makeup routine to correctly make your eyes look larger is to curl your eyelashes. It’s important you curl your lashes BEFORE you apply the mascara! If you forget to do it before applying your dark mascara, be sure to wait until the mascara has dried completely and then go ahead and curl them. If you find throughout the day your lashes aren’t as curled as they were in the morning when you first applied your makeup, you can always re-curl them later in the day since your mascara will be very dry by then.
• Apply Mascara on Your Bottom Lashes- Many women think they don’t need mascara on their bottom eye lashes. However, most makeup experts believe adding mascara to the lower lashes can help to enlarge their appearance. The trick is to know how much to use on those bottom lashes! Start by applying the mascara to the top lashes. Then, with whatever is left on your brush (without redipping it into the mascara formula), apply it to the lower lashes. Hold your brush vertically and sweep it back and forth over the lower lashes to get the right look.
• False Lashes for Evening- If you want to go for a dramatic dark night time effect, you may want to try your hand at false lashes. Most celebrities do use false lashes for big events. If you know how to do the lash application properly, they can be beautiful and natural. Many larger department stores can help you learn how to apply lashes at one of their cosmetics and beauty products counters but they are also available at drugstores. Be sure to practice before your big event. You can also remember to use scissors to trim them (before applying them) if they are too long.
• Use White Eye Liner in the Right Places- Another technique to use involves the creamy white eye liner pencil. This can help you get a doe-eyed style that will brighten and widen your eye appearance. To get this look, simply line the lower inside of your lids with the creamy white eye pencil. Make sure to use a soft pencil to lessen the irritaion on your lid. You can find great liners from Sephora, Loreal or Estee Lauder. To further brighten your eye area, use this soft color also on the inside corner of both the upper and lower lids.
• Apply Highlight Eye Shadow- If you don’t like the idea of the white shade of liner, you can also use a platinum highlighter to open up the eye area. Simply apply your shadow as usual and then use the highlighter on small dots along your browbone just below your eyebrow. Blend it in with the shadow in that area, apply it to the inner corners of the eyes and enjoy your new look.
• Keep Eye Brows Plucked & Well Shaped – For larger appearing eyes, you must also pay attention to your brows. Be sure you manicure them well. It’s a great idea to visit a professional to get your brows waxed, tweezed or threaded. A pro can help you shape them properly. In between pro visits you can maintain them by tweezing. If you have a slight arch to your brows, you will find your eyes look larger.

How to Apply Lipstick

Most of us are naturals on how to apply lipsticks. Or are we? Here are some things to apply lipsticks to perfection:

Focus on one feature and promote it- If eyes are your best feature then do them up with a minimal nude lip. If you love your smile then apply a red that you feel comfortable wearing and make your lashes stand out. The worst thing you can do is highlight all your features as people won’t know what to concentrate on and you will look well overdone.

Exfoliate dry chapped skin by rubbing your lips gently with a gentle face scrub or a soft baby tooth brush. Apply some lip balm on your dry lips to moisturize them a little.

Apply rest of your makeup before putting on lipstick and lip liner.

Apply a lip liner along the edges of your lips. Do not use a liner which is darker in shade than your lipstick or gloss. Start at the center of the upper lip and work towards the corners of your mouth. To “plump” you lips, apply liner a little outside your natural lip line. Dab some gloss in the middle of your bottom lip. To apply liner smoothly rest your elbow on a firm surface.

Choose lipstick colors that match the natural shade of your lips. Matte lipsticks complement a workday makeup, while satin and gloss finishes are useful for evening looks. Apply matte lipsticks to make your lips look smaller. Orange or brown shades tend to make teeth appear yellow. If you have yellow teeth use lipstick with a bluish undertone. Women with fair complexion should apply pink shades. Apply light shades on a broad mouth. If your lower lip protrudes out, apply dark shade lipstick in the middle of the lips and draw light outline.

Take some lipstick onto a brush and fill the outline of the lips. Open your mouth to colour the corners of your lips.

Blot excess lipstick with a tissue paper. But if you want the shimmer on your lips, do not blot after the final application. Take your index finger and pop it into your mouth, rolling your lips around it. Then pull it out taking the excess lipstick on it. This will prevent the lipstick from staining your teeth.

How to make your lipstick last- Start with the base of concealer all over the lip, just a small amount. Line and fill in the lip with your lip liner and then powder. Use your lipstick and this should last for at least four hours. For extra long wear powder the lipstick and reapply. For extra glossy shine, apply frosted highlighter or gloss on the centre bottom lips. Lip liner can not only help you get clean edges of the overall effect of lipstick but keeps the product from bleeding and wearing off.

If you are going to sip from a glass lick your lips a little before taking a sip.

How to DIY Lip Balm

Lips are embodiment of women’s sexuality and radiance. Natural lip care gives our lips beautiful shape, youth, volume and fills them with sensuality. Delicate and sensual, bright and fabulously smooth lips should be the merit of every woman who takes care of herself. But lip skin is very thin and demanding, therefore it requires special care and usual beauty aids wouldn’t be enough to get brilliant results. Thus I’d like to suggest you a wonderful recipe of a lip balm that is very easy to DIY.

To DIY beeswax-based lip balm one will need:
• Half a teaspoon of beeswax
• Half a teaspoon of cacao butter
• Two teaspoon of oil (almond or grapeseed oil, for instance)
• Food flavors
• A lipstick container

Melt all the necessary ingredients using hot-water bath, after add a pinch of coloring agent and aromatizer. If the lip balm turns out to be too soft or vice versa you just can decrease or increase the amount of oils. Pour out the derived mixture in the lipstick container and your own lip balm is ready to use!
This beeswax-based lip balm will make your lips succulent, soft and beautiful, besides it is very easy to DIY.

Chinese Beauty Secrets for Gorgeous Look

Chinese beauties are famous for their forever-young porcelain skin, luxurious hair and slim figures. Keep reading to learn how Chinese women manage to keep their gorgeous looks using simple beauty secrets which are actually available for each and every one.

Porcelain Skin
Perfect porcelain skin that is considered to be a norm for every Chinese beauty and an object of envy for Western women can actually be achieved as easy as 1,2,3… It is magical pearl powder which is made of blended oyster shells helps Chinese women create even and smooth skin tone. The secret beauty weapon of Chinese women is made of blended oyster shells which make skin look radiant and smooth. Besides, the magical powder contains minerals and amino acids which not only create even complexion but can help with wrinkles and acne. Alongside with the pearl powder, Chinese women like using highlighter to complement their facial features. Try adding a bit of highlighter to your foundation – it makes a great difference to your face!

Luxurious Hair
Go natural, if you’d like to get healthy and luxurious hair. Chinese women are known to use camellia nut oil to make hair grow faster. They rub it into scalp to promote hair growth. Besides, they are known to use hair rinses necessarily containing rosemary or green tea to help hair getting rid of toxins and provide their locks with proteins.

Perfect Makeup
Perfect eyeliner paired with dramatic lash extensions is the key component of the Chinese makeup. Make sure your line is clear, besides, it should be thinner in the inner corner of your eyes and get thicker towards the outer one. As for the lash extensions, they are really huge there. You can go for the fake eyelashes as well as opt for the lash extension procedure at the nearest salon.

Slim Figure
Slim figures of the Chinese women is not the merit of a strict diet plan. The secret of their slenderness lies in TEA! Chinese women have been drinking tea for centuries not only because of its taste. Green and white tea contains lots of useful antioxidants known for anti-aging and weight-loss properties.

How to grow hair long

Long hair is often something girls dream about. To grow long hair is not difficult actually if you take care of it and follow simple rules of keeping them healthy. These rules are what we are going to talk about in this post.

Rule #1. Forget about hats. Of course I don’t mean you shouldn’t wear a hat at all. You should, especially when it is too cold or too hot. When it’s freezing outside wear a light woolen or knitted hat, it is perfect for your hair and still keeps you warm.

Unless the weather is extreme you don’t need to wear a hat. Generally speaking, hats, caps and other headwear can lead to you getting less hair on the head. To help your hair grow faster you need to provide more fresh air for your head skin to breathe and have a good heat exchange.

Rule #2. Condition your head to the cold. And again I have no intention to say you should go bareheaded when it’s too cold. If you feel your head gets cold – don a hat. But on coming home do a massage of head skin. It will make blood vessels expand and is also useful for hair growing.

Rule #3. Allow morning sun rays to pamper your hair for some time. But be careful not to overheat it. As soon as you feel too hot, don a hat.

Rule #4. Go bareheaded when it’s raining and foggy. And be careful one more time! If you live in a megalopolis with lots of factories and plants this rule is for you to miss as you can do more harm than good for your hair. But if the area is clean warm rain and fog can make your hair silky and healthy.
Rule #5. Be careful when choosing a hat. The right hat can’t be too tight as it might squeeze the blood vessels blocking the blood circulation in the head skin.
Rule #6. Stay away from wigs and chignons for they can pressurize the skin and the head blocking the airing and heat emission. They can be compared to very thick and tight hats. Too frequent hat wearing leads to insufficient airing and overheating of the head, which in turn causes intensification of perspiration and sebum workout. Thus, try to avoid wearing wigs every day and longer than 3-6 hours.
After you take the wig off comb the hair thoroughly and leave it loose to ease the access of air to the head skin.
Rule #7. Go through permanent waving, dyeing and bleaching as rarely as possible. They are harmful for the hair. Besides, when styling the hair try to avoid too tight ponytails, locks, etc. Loose hair is the best if you want to grow long healthy hair.

5 Ways to Wear White Jeans

5 different ways to wear white jeans (all different styles!):
1) Monochromatic… Summer Whites

2) Red, White and Blue

There’s nothing as easy and as stylish as wearing summer whites from head to toe.

3) Casually Chic…

4) Trendy-as-can-be!…

5) Tangerine…

Celebs with Dip-Dyed Dogs

Is this a new celeb trend for summer? Emma Watson, Amber Heard and JWWow  are just a few of the  celebs who are dip-dying doogie hair all the colors of the rainbow!

Did model turned actress Amber Heard kick off this trend? She was the first one spotted with a tie-dyed Yorkie. Poor little Pistol.

We know Emma’s a leader, not a follower…yet she couldn’t resist making her dog pink! At least her scarf kinda sorta matches the dog.

New mom, Alessandra Ambrosio had her dog Ruffles pink and purple!

Not content to have one dip-dyed dog, Celebrity Apprentice Aubrey O’Day has two: One pink and one blue!

Poor poochie! Color her dog embarrassed!

Here's Snooki (pregnant in heels) and her pal JWoww terrorizing the streets of Jersey City with their lavender and pink dogs.

Wherever there’s a trend, there’s Courtney Stodden trying to cash in on it. I don’t know what’s worse—the fact that the dog has pink hair, or the that the poor thing is mostly bald.

Top 10 diet mistakes that prevent women from losing weight

Don't Make Diet Mistakes 

Do you feel like you are in an endless struggle to drop your dress size or squeeze into that sexy date night dress? Are you perplexed that your consistent diet and exercise efforts have yielded less than optimal results? You may think you are doing all the right things but it's possible that the diet and fitness protocol you are following is actually preventing you from reaching your goal weight and getting the body you want. Read on for the 10 most common diet mistakes that prevent women from losing weight.

1. Dieting Without Resistance Training

What is the most common way women approach weight loss? Crash dieting. If crash diets worked, all women would be healthy and fit.

There are two huge problems with crash dieting. One, a lot of the weight lost is muscle tissue. That means that even if you weigh less and fit into smaller sizes of clothing, you are still flabby. 

The second problem is even worse. Dieting slows down your metabolism. The longer you diet and the less you eat, the slower your metabolism. Muscle is your body's metabolism - when you lose it, you reduce your metabolic capacity. 

When you eventually get off the diet - and you will get off - you are bound to gain all the weight back in the form of fat. Worse, you will likely end up gaining more weight than you lost. 

2. Focusing On The Scale

What do you see in the mirror and what does the world see at the beach? Do they see the way your body looks or the number that shows up on the scale? Most women focus on the number on the scale even though it isn't always representative of the way they really look. 

If you exercise properly, you will build muscle and lose fat at the same time. If you lose five pounds of fat and build five pounds of muscle, the scale won't move, but you will look much better in the mirror and your clothes will fit much better because muscle is more dense and takes up less room than fat. The truth is, how you look and feel has little to do with how much you actually weigh. 

3. Focusing On Cardio

When you do decide to do some form of exercise, is it invariably some form of cardio? Well, guess what? Cardio is the least important form of exercise for getting a sexy shapely body. 

The key to getting and keeping a great body is to increase your metabolism. In other words, you need to focus on activities that not only burn calories during the workout, but also cause you to burn calories for hours and days after your workout. Doing metabolic resistance training and interval training are more effective than cardio-only exercise in boosting your metabolic rate. 

4. Skipping Breakfast

You've heard it before. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But did anyone ever tell you why? 

When you wake up in the morning, you have been fasting for eight or so hours. Your body is starving for nutrients. When you don't give it any, it starts breaking down muscle for energy. This is bad because your muscle is your metabolism. So you are literally destroying your body's ability to burn calories. 

Studies have also shown that if you eat a balanced healthy breakfast, you are much less likely to overeat later in the day. And when you start your day with a healthy meal, you are more likely to make good nutrition choices from that point forward. 

5. Relying on Pills

Diet pills are another common approach that women take to lose weight. There are many different categories of diet pills, but few to none of them actually work (read The Skinny on weight loss supplements). The only time you see women who have gotten in great shape thanks to a diet pill is on the advertisement for the diet pill. A natural, common sense approach is the most effective, safest, and longest-lasting strategy to losing weight. 

6. Eating Too Little

Eating three square meals is just the bare minimum for a healthy and fit body. You should be eating three meals and at least two healthy snacks each day. 

Most women eat too little. They skip or skimp on breakfast and then often do the same with lunch. This leaves you running on fumes all day. By the time dinner comes around, you are ravenous and likely to overeat. 

You end up having your heaviest meal at the end of the day when there is little opportunity to burn off the calories. This is the perfect recipe for gaining fat. 

7. Eating Out Too Much

If your busy schedule or desire for convenience has you eating out most of the time, you have little to no control over the foods you eat. And simply put, you have little to no control over what you look like and how you feel. 

If you want to look and feel your best, you need to start cooking. This doesn't mean you spend hours cooking gourmet meals - it meals finding a delicious variety of recipes that you can put together in cinch. And before you eat out, learn about the common pitfalls of restaurant dining and how to avoid them.

8. Emotional Eating

Food can evoke both good and bad emotions and it is also a go-to when women feel anxious, depressed, angry, sad, or even elated. Women experience a variety of psychological attachments to different foods. 

Sweets are often in this category. If you are like most women, all forms of sweets serve as comfort food. If you turn to food when you are stressed, you are letting your emotions control what your eat and how much you eat. 

If you are going to get the body you deserve, you need to find a way to break this emotional attachment to food. 

9. Lack of Consistency

Do you remember what happened last January? Wasn't this the year you were going to lose weight and get that sexy body? 

Chances are, you were good for a short while. But then you started skipping workouts or breakfast, and by February, your New Year's resolutions were just a distant memory. Maybe you'll try again, but the same thing is likely to happen. 

By now, you have learned that without consistency there will be no results. This means making resolutions and sticking to them. 

10. Not Enough Sleep

Lack of sleep is an often overlooked factor. If you are doing everything right, but still can't lose the fat, take a look at your sleeping patterns. 

Are you getting to bed at a reasonable hour? Do you sleep at least eight hours a night? Stress in and of itself compounded by too few hours of shut-eye result in an elevation of the stress hormone cortisol (check out Is stress making your belly fat?). Chronically high levels of cortisol can make losing fat very difficult and can even cause you to gain fat. 

If you are dieting and exercising and still not seeing the body you want, make sure you aren't making one or more of these 10 common dieting mistakes. Commit to correcting one a week and you will get that sexy shape you deserve in no time. 

How to Make Your Own Protein Powder

Most body builders use protein powder supplements because they require extra protein to build and repair muscles. Some powders can be made at home with no special equipment; others do require equipment that can be an investment. If you cannot mix your own powder at home to meet your needs there are some companies that will make special orders for you. 

Why Make Your Own Protein Powder? 

Getting a good protein powder can become expensive so you might consider making your own to either save money or to get that special blend you are looking for to meet your specific needs. Some body builders want a special combination of proteins, vitamins and minerals that they cannot get off the shelf at the health store. If you know what you need you can usually buy the ingredients needed either from the health store or on the internet to mix the perfect protein powder to meet all of your needs. 

How to Make Your Own Protein Powder at Home 

To make your own protein powder you need determine which proteins or other supplements you require to meet your specific needs. You can go to your health food store and usually purchase these proteins to use in your mixture. If you are unsure of what proteins you want, talk to a nutritionist, trainer or your doctor to get recommendations. You should speak to your doctor before beginning a supplemental nutrition program, too much protein can be harmful and getting recommendations assures you that you are not overdoing your protein intake. 

An easy recipe that can be mixed at home includes the use of egg white powder (1 scoop) as a base and the addition of 5 grams each of L-Glutamine and creatine monohydrate. These ingredients can be mixed together and stored as a powder. To make the drink you can add water, ice, artificial sweetener and fruits for flavor and blend it well in a blender. 

How to Make Your Own Protein Powder with Special Order 

Special ordering will probably cost you more money than buying a protein powder off the shelf. If you are not able to get the combination of proteins and vitamins, minerals and flavors you need it may be the right choice for you. Many companies now offer the ability for you to choose all the ingredients, proteins, vitamins, mineral and flavors and they will process it for you.

What Green Tea Can Offer You

You have probably heard of the benefits of green tea associated with weight loss. It just so happens that you can receive way more positive benefits to your health when consuming green tea! If you happen to want to lose weight then green tea is ideal, but let’s observe everything else it has to offer.
Antibacterial
Believe it or not, green tea can help in the prevention of tooth decay. This is because it contains antibacterial agents which can destroy plaque. We all know that plaque is the underlining cause of various dental issues. Not many people realize that green tea helps your teeth and prevents rotting. Although you won’t be able to avoid the dentist completely, it can still help!
The same antibacterial agents can also help in the prevention of food poisoning. When you get food poisoning, it is from the build-up of bacteria which is very harmful. With consuming green tea however, that same bacteria will not be able to multiple, which causes the issue.
Calming Benefits
There is something about green tea that calms you down. Perhaps more so when it is hot. Regardless of the temperature, it is a stress reducer. It can relieve you from stressors that can further cause disease. If you are in pain, it can also calm that down as well! It does so by reducing inflammation with things such as arthritis. Specifically, the swelling in your joints can be reduced when consuming green tea.

Overall Health Benefits
Although some may argue this point, green tea contains antioxidants which help to fight against various things. It can supposedly go as far as helping in the fight against specific cancers in the body. It can help reduce the risk of someone getting cancer because of its ability to neutralize the negative effects that cells can have.
People who seek to control their high levels of cholesterol also turn to the consumption of green teas. It can help to balance there cholesterol levels, assist in the reduction of clots, and so on. It is no mystery that with high levels of cholesterol come higher risks for strokes and cardiovascular problems. With green tea, the dangers are reduced and life threatening illnesses are less likely to occur.
How Much Green Tea Should You Consume?
Now that you are fully aware that with green tea comes more than just weight loss, the next obvious question is how much should you be drinking in order to see these benefits? In answering that question, consider that there are no side effects when drinking green tea. The only issue that may arise is consuming too much green tea than what the experts recommend. This recommendation is at least three cups of green tea per day. On that same note, drinking over six cups per day can cause heart palpitations. This is when the heart beats irregularly. It occurs because you have consumed too much caffeine from the green tea.
What Type of Green Tea is Best to Consume?
When it comes to shopping for green tea you will want to purchase the kind that is most beneficial to your health. There are more bad teas than there are good ones. You will not want to be sold short. With research it was found that the more catechins found in your cup of green tea, the more health benefits you will experience. This means the more, the merrier! Many teas only have about half of what they could have if they were all natural. Here are some things to consider when purchasing the ideal green tea.
Canned or Bottled Green Tea 

Although they can be misleading, you will want to stay away from the products that offer green tea in a bottle or can. This is because they typically add a lot of sugar which means more caloric intake. The numbers of catechins are minimal within these products, and they typically include artificial flavoring. This means colors, preservatives, and more have been added, making these products anything but all natural.
Instant Mixes
You can find instant mixes that simply instruct you to add water and mix. Again, these products do not have the high amounts of catechins which is what you want. They also come in various flavors, but again, just as the cans and bottles they are not all natural which is what works best.

Tea Bags & Loose Teas
These options are getting closer to the all natural green tea. While tea bags taste delicious and are better versus your powered teas, canned teas, or bottles teas, they aren’t green tea at its purest form. The best way to drink tea is by drinking loose tea. The less handled, the purer it is, the better it is for your health.
Instead of drinking coffee that has many negative health benefits, replace your morning cup-of-Joe with green tea. If you are ready to take this challenge, we would love for you to share your experiences. Give green tea a few weeks and let us know if you have lost weight, if you have a reduction of stress, and so on.

Pull Out Shelves, Effective Storage Space for Kitchen

“Pull out shelves give you much space to keep and arrange your kitchen efficiently” It is possible to help the valuation on your home especially kitchen space by installing the pull out shelves to the current cabinets. It is not easy to arrange kitchen cabinets and pantry for many individuals because these cabinets are difficult to arrange. These pull out shelves can readily install within your home or kitchen space without having done any modifications. On account of lots of benefits of pull out shelves, all of these happen to be regarded for about several years earlier. Pull out pantry shelves easily fit and compensate for the present cabinet. These kinds of pull out shelves give you much space to keep and arrange your kitchen efficiently. 

There are lots of labels of pull out shelves, like roll out shelves, slide out shelves, pantry shelves, kitchen cabinets etc. Except many of these titles the key function of these shelves is always to provide accessibility externally of the cabinets. These pantry shelves are covered if the cabinet door is closed and so are designed to be fitted within the cabinet. You get the actual of storage without having done any additional cost of changing the cabinet frame, installing drawer fronts or even taking off the current door. The kitchen with pull out shelves allures home buyers and raises the sale valuation on your current home
Therefore you receive the worthiness and comfort in a single arrangement by using pull out pantry shelves installment. When you’re looking for pull out shelves, you should think of certain things, the extra weight capacity of the slide along with the design of the shelves. Pull out shelves are designed in numerous dimensions and designs. You should learn such shelves which are useful for simple loading and unloading. Several pull out shelves gives you whole usage of almost any heavy loads. You will find slide out shelves being an excellent cost-effective option that can slightly fit in accordance with your needs and can easily keep and arrange a number of pieces of your own home. There are lots of options for different types of pull out shelves.
Identify the dimensions you will need and also the weight capacity needed to safely and securely keeping the things you intend to store. By putting in slides, several companies reduce production expenses which aren’t rated for application. There are 2 varieties of drawer slides ratings; an example may be dynamic and also other is static. Static will be the inside weight capability of storage and dynamic is definitely the pull out weight ability of your storage. Therefore it is advised one to understand two slides rating when investing in pull out shelves for the reason that weight ability won’t range from the weight in the slide out shelves themselves.
Setting up pull out shelves isn’t tied to areas of your present shelve. Several base kitchen cabinets have roll out shelves which are the bottom cabinets along with the center shelf the most popular option. However you can certainly place 4 to 5 shelves on bottom cabinets according to your storage space requirement. If you want to alter the storage placement the pilasters allow the shelves to get moved. You can deal with various pull out shelves with pilasters as vertical storage or some other path depending on your requirement.