“Think before you speak. Read before you think.” –Fran Lebowitz

There’s no question that reading enriches our lives. It is the optimal source for information. Living very busy lives filled with work, family, travel, etc. can make it difficult to unwind with a good book or almost impossible to become immersed in an escapist novel. There is so much information everywhere so, whether you prefer to get your news from the television, smartphone, podcasts, and/or audiobooks, there’s something to be said for an old-fashioned book (no E-reader) with dog-eared pages and notes in the margins. 

Tips for Reading More 

“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” –Cicero

• Set aside a half hour a day to start.
• Have a stack of books to read on your bedside table. Make a list of books, authors, and topics of interest.
• Read before bed. This will help you to doze off; a book is so much better than a screen.
• Don’t be so hard on yourself; you don’t have to have read all the classics.
• Encourage reading in your home. Set aside time for your spouse and children to gather in the den for some quiet relaxation and reflection. Put down your phones, turn off the television, fill the coffee table with books and see what happens.
• Skip around. Skip entire chapters if you’re losing interest. You’re not going to be tested on the material!
• Read several books at once. This way, you’re more likely to find something you really enjoy.

• A comfy reading nook requires good light and a big, overstuffed chair with a throw blanket, an ottoman, and don’t forget your favorite snack. This is a great incentive to read more!
• Carry a small paperback in your handbag, tote, or backpack. While you’re on public transportation, waiting in the queue, or simply waiting, refrain from answering those texts and emails and read. 
• Don’t make outlandish goals. Maybe don’t start with “War and Peace.” 
• Any reading is good reading! Don’t let people tell you that one book is more worthy than another or that “guilty pleasure” reading is silly. That’s ridiculous! 
• Magazines and tabloids count!
• Try a new genre. 
• The more you read, the more you want to read. It’s like exercising a muscle. It becomes habitual.
• Go to the library. 
• Visit rare and used bookstores. There’s nothing more charming than old books, and it’s so important to support small business.

Benefits of Being a Book Worm

“Reading brings us unknown friends.” –Honoré de Balzac

We live in a technology-fueled world, so the analog era is sometimes thought upon with nostalgia and longing. I’m not saying we should go back to using quill pens with a pot of ink but writing longhand, sending letters and postcards instead of texts and emails, and reading a book or magazine is so enjoyable and therapeutic. It’s calming and meditative to slow down, take a breath, and put down those screens. 

• You’ll sleep better if you engage in less screen time before bed. Put your phone or tablet away (and turn off the television) at the very least thirty minutes before bed. You may even have better dreams (depending on what you’re reading). No news right before bedtime, either!
• Of course, your concentration will improve. You’ll feel more relaxed and you’ll absorb all sorts of new, wonderful information. 
• Think of starting a book club and, when you finish with a book, give it to a friend to lighten your load. There’s no greater gift than a good book, and this will help to cut down on clutter (even though shelves spilling over with books is a wonderful, cozy sight). Sharing ideas and stories is probably the highlight of a friendship so find a book you love and give the gift of literature. 

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The Best Thanksgiving Looks for this Fall Season 

There are many occasions when you may want to look your best. Thanksgiving is one of them. When you and your loved ones are seated around the Thanksgiving dinner table, many eyes may be on you. It can be hard to settle on the perfect Thanksgiving look. After all, there are a lot of possible choices. Here are some tips and possible looks to pick.

Apply Some Foundation to Enhance Any Look

Foundation is the strong base on which any cosmetically enhanced look is built. If you do not use it, your whole makeup plan can fall apart. You can use foundation to even out your own skin tone by covering flaws. Another option is to use a foundation color that is different from your natural skin tone. Doing so lets you establish a lighter or darker base for your Thanksgiving look. Foundation comes in several forms, including:

• Powder
• Stick
• Cream
• Liquid

Many types of foundation are purely cosmetics. However, some also have properties that are good for your skin health. For example, water-based foundation helps to hydrate your skin. That hydration prevents it from peeling or cracking. It also helps your skin cells to maintain general health. Hydrated skin is better able to maintain elasticity and stay looking its best. 

Maintaining skin hydration can be hard around Thanksgiving due to changes in weather patterns in certain areas. It can also be difficult because you have a busy schedule when getting ready for holiday gatherings. You can easily forget to drink enough water or maintain your skincare routine. Applying a hydrating foundation can help you make up for those issues.

Add Some Concealer to Keep Your Skin Looking Flawless

The next step in the process of achieving the perfect Thanksgiving look is putting on some concealer. Concealer is essential because it does the job of covering up any flaws in your complexion. Those can include 

blemishes and acne scars. You may also want to cover up dark circles under your eyes, especially if you have been too busy with Thanksgiving preparations to sleep properly.

Picking the perfect concealer for Thanksgiving means understanding a few things about your skin and your other makeup. Keep a couple of different concealer tones handy because sun exposure can change your skin tone from day to day. When you are getting ready for Thanksgiving, consider your current skin tone. Then apply foundation and concealer tones that work well with it.

3. Avoid Wasting Too Much Time on Your Lips 

An average person eats about 3,000 calories worth of food on Thanksgiving. It is nearly impossible to keep your lips looking their best while you are eating. Drawing attention to yourself while you are eating is also not ideal. Lipstick is still important at Thanksgiving, but it is better used as a side dish. It can act as an accent for the rest of your Thanksgiving look. You may even opt for a light lipstick shade to make it less noticeable when it needs reapplication.

Let Your Eye Shadow do the Talking 

One of the most important parts of your Thanksgiving look is the eye shadow you pick. You will probably be talking with a lot of friends and family members during the holiday, and they are sure to make eye contact with you. Make a lasting impression with your eye makeup.

The look you choose for your eyes at Thanksgiving is up to you. Use your own personal preferences and the nature of the holiday to help you pick. For example, if you are invited to a formal Thanksgiving event, you may want to make a splash with some sparkly, glamorous eye shadow. A laid-back visit with your family may call for a more subdued look. You can also use the color palette of Thanksgiving itself for eye shadow inspiration. Some top options include various shades of:

• Orange
• Green
• Yellow
• Gold
• Purple

Browns are also great eye shadow colors for Thanksgiving. In fact, applying brown eye shadow can give your eyes a smokey, sexy look. If you want to flirt your way through Thanksgiving dinner with your date, it is a perfect choice. Select three slightly different shades of brown for your crease, highlight, and lid colors to get the best results.

Add Some Eyeliner for Effect

Using eyeliner to create the classic “cat eye” look is always in style. However, the new trend of a softer “kitten eye” is taking the makeup world by storm in recent years. It requires a little less work, and it is also a little less bold. Yet, it can really bring out your eyes when your loved ones are staring across the Thanksgiving table at you as you each tell stories about how your years have gone.

Brush on the Blush

Blush is a great addition to any Thanksgiving look. Choose a traditional rosy cheek color or go bold with an orange tone in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday. If neither of those work for you, try an option somewhere in the middle. Just do not avoid blush entirely or you will be missing out on an opportunity. Not only does it help highlight the eye makeup you choose, but nobody will know when you are blushing over embarrassing family stories.

Another great thing about blush is its versatility. The most common place to use it is on your cheeks but think outside the box. You can use a little on areas like your forehead or your nose, too. Subtle application in those areas can give your look a little something extra.

Make the Makeup Statement You Want to Make

Think of your makeup as an extension of your skin. Your skin is the part of yourself most on display to the rest of the world. Keep that in mind as you select your Thanksgiving makeup. Use it to make the statement you want to make about yourself. Perhaps you feel more subdued this Thanksgiving and want to apply neutral tones. On the other hand, you might prefer to make a bold color statement. There is no wrong answer. All you have to do is experiment with a few Thanksgivings looks until you find the one you love.

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Thanksgiving Can Affect Your Skin: Here’s How to Keep Your Glow… 

According to an old saying, you are what you eat. That is why you might be concerned about Thanksgiving affecting your skin health. Your concern is certainly justified. Indulging in overeating on holidays does have an adverse effect on the skin. However, not all Thanksgiving foods are bad for you. Some can actually contribute in a positive way to your skin health. Here is what you need to know about protecting your skin while enjoying your favorite Thanksgiving foods. 

Set Yourself Up for Skincare Success

The best way to keep your skin healthy over Thanksgiving is to set yourself up for skincare success before you start eating anything at all. That means creating a good daily skincare routine and sticking to it, despite the hustle and bustle of the holidays. A good cleanser is the foundation of any skincare routine. The cleaner your skin is, the more likely it is to stay in good health.

A second major component in any successful skincare routine is using at least one type of moisturizer. Hydrated skin is healthier skin. Hydrating your skin around Thanksgiving is particularly important if you live in an area with cool, dry November weather. Moisturizer can help you prevent or reverse some of the damage incurred by exposure to that weather. Once you have laid the foundation for skin health with a good daily skincare routine, you can start to examine the pros and cons of the foods you are going to eat at Thanksgiving.

Protein-Packed Thanksgiving Food Options

One of the best things you can do for your skin is eat foods that are high in protein. In fact, a protein called collagen is a major component of skin cells. When you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner and eat foods that are high in protein, you help replenish collagen supplies. Some of those foods include: 

• Turkey
• Eggs
• Roast Beef
• Ham

Vitamin-Rich Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Many vitamins are excellent for skin health. Two of the best are vitamin A and vitamin C. Both are found in sweet potatoes, which is a side dish that is on the rise as a Thanksgiving favorite in the United States. The other staple of almost any Thanksgiving gathering that is rich in vitamin A is pie. Specifically, squash and pumpkin pies contain high amounts of it and other helpful vitamins and minerals. Here are some more Thanksgiving foods packed with skin-strengthening vitamins:

• Fruit Salad
• Brussels Sprouts
• Apples
• Collard Greens
• Cranberry Sauce
• Green or Leafy Vegetables (Cabbage, Green Beans Etc.)

Antioxidants Found in the Spices of a Thanksgiving Feast

Thanksgiving meal menus vary in homes, but there is one thing most homes have in common. Their Thanksgiving feasts usually contain foods full of spices. Many spices contain antioxidants. There are compounds known as free radicals that can destroy your skin cells. Antioxidants fight those free radicals off, much like soldiers defending a castle. They are special healthy molecules your skin needs to stay strong. 

Some antioxidants are found in foods already mentioned above, like pumpkins. Many are also found in the common spices used during a Thanksgiving feast. For example, the cinnamon you might add to an apple pie recipe is high in antioxidants. The same is true of the garlic or rosemary you might infuse into your Turkey. Many of those spices also have secondary health benefits besides the positive impact they can have on your skin. One is garlic, which is good for heart health. 

A Thanksgiving Superfood

Foods that have many healthy qualities are often called superfoods. Cranberries are among those. They are rich in antioxidants and contain high amounts of multiple vitamins. Those vitamins include vitamin C and vitamin E. Cranberries are skin-strengthening superfoods because they are excellent at moisturizing and tightening the skin. Studies have also indicated that consuming cranberries or using products that contain them can help to limit acne outbreaks and other unhealthy skin conditions. 

Cranberries are also known as general superfoods because they provide more than just skin benefits. When you enjoy cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving, you might be helping to protect your heart and reduce your cancer risks. Cranberries are also known for reducing urinary tract infection risks and lowering the risks of developing cavities. However, they start to lose some of their superfood nature when unhealthy sugars are added to them. Be aware of that when you choose what type of cranberries to eat on Thanksgiving. 

Put Down the Mashed Potatoes

If you want to maintain healthy skin during Thanksgiving, avoid mashed potatoes. They are far too high in skin-damaging carbohydrates. Instead, reach for some sweet potatoes. They are much better for your skin. Just avoid heaping them high with brown sugar for marshmallows. 

Say “Bye” to Pecan Pie

Maintaining skin health over Thanksgiving does require a little bit of willpower. Many foods that are part of an average Thanksgiving feast are safe to eat, but pecan pie is not one of them. It is so high in sugar that a single slice can provide you with more than half of your daily allotment. That sugar can contribute to acne outbreaks and may lead to the development of premature wrinkles over time. Reach for pumpkin, squash, or apple pie instead.

Swap the Eggnog for Some Apple Cider with Cinnamon

Even though eggs are good for your skin, eggnog is not. It has a high-fat content. The calorie count of eggnog is also quite high. However, one of the biggest problems with eggnog is that it contains a lot of hormones. The introduction of those hormones can lead to oily skin and acne outbreaks. A mug of apple cider is a much healthier choice in general and for your skin, specifically.

Don’t Let Fatty Additions Destroy Your Thanksgiving Skincare Success

If you follow the tips above, you can maintain healthy skin and better general health throughout the holiday season. That is if you avoid one final trap. Do not let fatty additions to your Thanksgiving feast derail your skincare plans. The two biggest culprits are butter and gravy. It may be hard to avoid them entirely but be conscious of how much you consume. By monitoring how much of each you eat, you can avoid going overboard this Thanksgiving. 

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How to Wow for Thanksgiving 

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year. It is a time when families gather to be together. However, it can also be a bit stressful. Preparing for the holiday can take a mental toll. You want to look your best for your family and friends. Achieving a look that wows everyone around you is made that much harder around Thanksgiving by the time of year, at least in certain areas. If you live in a climate where the weather gets cooler and dryer around Thanksgiving, it can damage your skin. Here are some ways to protect your skin this holiday season and really wow for Thanksgiving. 

Keep Your Skin Hydrated and Protected from the Elements

If you want to maintain healthy skin, it is important to keep it hydrated. At Thanksgiving, that can be challenging because you may have a busy schedule of preparing for the holiday. You also must deal with changes in weather if you live in a colder area. You can keep your entire body better hydrated by drinking plenty of water, but there are also specific things you can do to help your skin stay hydrated. Here are some top options, according to the world-Renowned Mayo Clinic: 

• Wear Gloves to Protect Your Hands Outside
• Hook Up a Humidifier in Your Home
• Do Not Expose Your Skin to Hot Water
• Use Moisturizer, and Avoid Alcohol-Based Skincare Products

Replace Unhealthy Habits with Healthy Ones

One of the best ways to keep your skin looking its best this Thanksgiving is to avoid unhealthy habits. Your skin condition is sure to improve when you cut back on habits like cigarette smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating fatty foods. Instead, fill your time with healthier habits. Take up a sport or find a fun new hobby. 

Exercise is the Best Habit for Skin Health

The weather may cool down around Thanksgiving but take the opportunity to heat up your exercise routine. Thanksgiving is one of the times of year when exercising more is always better. That way, you can prepare ahead for the delicious spread you are about to enjoy with loved ones. When you have an established exercise regimen, you can burn off the calories from your Thanksgiving feast easier and faster than someone leading a sedentary lifestyle can. At the same time, exercising is fantastic for your skin. It provides the healthy glow you need to pull ofF your ideal Thanksgiving look.

Know What to Eat

Thanksgiving can be a time of overindulgence, especially when it comes to eating. Even in the weeks leading up to the holiday, you may have parties to go to where delicious foods are all around you. It is important for your skin health to keep careful tabs on the foods you eat. However, you can still indulge in a lot of Thanksgiving food favorites. Here are some Thanksgiving foods that can be good for your skin: 

• Brussels sprouts are packed with skin-strengthening vitamins.
• The protein in turkey can help your skin cells regenerate faster.
• Antioxidant-rich pumpkin can protect your skin from free radicals. 
• Cranberries are known for reducing inflammation. 
• Many nuts, including walnuts and pecans, can help you reduce the chances of developing wrinkles. 

Get Plenty of Sleep

Your skin never looks its best when you are exhausted. Thanksgiving and the surrounding time can be difficult because you have so much to do, but don’t let a busy schedule keep you from getting some solid sleep. The general recommendation is to get eight hours of sleep a night, but even if you can consistently squeeze in six, your skin will be healthier. You will also find that your concentration levels and energy levels are higher. Then you can get through Thanksgiving and the whole holiday season with more alertness and enthusiasm.

Let Go of Stress

One of the biggest enemies your skin has is stress. Stress is like an invader that attacks it from several different fronts. A major problem is stress hormones are released, which can lead to acne and other skin problems developing. Stress can also cause your immune system to go out of whack. That can lead to the development of hives or rashes. 

Another side effect of stress is it changes your behavior in ways that can damage your skin. For example, if you are too stressed out preparing for Thanksgiving, you might forget to do parts of your daily skincare routine. Make sure you make that routine a priority as Thanksgiving approaches. Also, find ways to reduce your stress levels. You might need to ask loved ones to help you prepare for the holidays to take some stress off your shoulders. It could also help to find time to indulge in your favorite hobbies in between your holiday preparations.

Tailor Your Makeup to Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time for gatherings. You may be hosting one or invited to one or more Thanksgiving celebrations. In either case, you want to make an impression that wows everyone. That is why selecting a great Thanksgiving look might feel like the most stressful part of the holiday for you. 

A great way to wow friends and family is to choose makeup that highlights your natural beauty. You can begin with your brows. Nabila K Brow Wow can help. If you have a medium or dark complexion, it is an excellent eyebrow palette to choose. Nabila K also offers several eyebrow pencils, including this one. When trying to find a Thanksgiving look you love, you can even get inspiration from the tones of the season. Burgundy, orange, and other leafy fall colors can help you get in the Thanksgiving spirit. 

Consider Your Personality, Too

If you want to know how to wow everyone else with your Thanksgiving look, start by wowing yourself. The best way to do that is to consider your personality when choosing your Thanksgiving makeup. Most classic Thanksgiving makeup tutorials will tell you to go for warm tones, but cool tones can make a splash around the Thanksgiving dinner table, too. You might also want a more glamorous Thanksgiving glow. Once you decide on the look you are trying to achieve, finding the right makeup to do the job becomes much easier. 

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I read a staggering statistic this week. 20% of the children (ages 2-19) in the United States are clinically obese. That’s over 14 million children and teens! As I dug deeper to discover what was causing this alarming trend (one also experienced in other countries), I saw a common thread: insufficient exercise and poor diet choices. The solution seems so obvious; eat better, move more. This article focuses on fun ways to engage the whole family in physically activity.

Vacations Make Great Starting Points

Many families are hitting the roads and the airways to go on vacation. If yours is one of them, take the opportunity to encourage physical activities enshrouded in fun: For example, participate in a family bike ride, a manageable hike disguised as a scavenger hunt, or a lively game of beach volleyball. Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. Choose to explore new locations on foot rather than by car; who knows what exciting discoveries you might stumble upon?

Family Sports Weekends

While not a regular occurrence, it can be fun to plan and then host a family sports weekend. Enjoy a family game of kickball, football, dodgeball, or other sport your family enjoys. If a bowling alley is nearby, why not have a family bowling team?

Dance in the Kitchen

Workout with Your Family

If your children regularly see you exercising, they are more likely to consider it part of a daily routine…just like combing your hair or brushing your teeth. You must model the behavior for it to take effect. This “practice what you preach” model is the key to everything. Invite your children, either all together, or one on one, to accompany you on your walk or jog. Ask them to Zumba with you (they’ll LOVE it!). Better still, have your kids show you how to become involved in Just Dance on their PlayStation or Xbox 360. 

Sweaty Saturdays

Have the family do something active on the weekend, such as participating in a local community clean-up, volunteering for a charity, or even working in the yard (or, better yet, that of a surprised neighbor). Exercising comes in many forms and doesn’t have to mean visits to the gym, only.

Outdoor Clubs

Consider joining organizations or clubs whose focus is an outdoor activity. For example, if you live near a lot of waterways, how fun would it be to go kayaking a few times a month? Or maybe you have an active rock-climbing group, hiking group, horseback riding club, or fencing association (epees, not the barrier you put up between you and the nosy neighbors). 

No Shortage of Options

Opportunities to engage the family in more physically actives are limitless. Maybe you’d all like to learn to dance? The local recreation center might be able to accommodate you. Like to swim? There’s usually a public swimming pool nearby that you can take advantage of. Or snap a leash on the dog and walk to a nearby park. After all, pup is a member of the family and needs exercise too!

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What (or who) are you dressing up as this Halloween? A spooky siren or sexy seductress? Halloween is one excuse we have as adults to put on a costume: for us glamour girls, it’s a night of outrageous beauty. Try Nabila K’s new line of clean, all-natural makeup to transform into Morticia Addams or Elvira, Mistress of the Dark! 

It’s easier than you think to achieve gorgeous gothic glamour this spooky season! If you’re not into costume makeup and dressing up full tilt but still want to celebrate Halloween with a sexy, mysterious beauty look, look no further than Nabila K’s line of organic cosmetics. 

Get Sexy for the Spooky Season

Of course, when we think of Halloween glamour ghouls, our favorites spring to mind, such as…

Morticia Addams (from “The Addams Family”)—complete with a skin-tight slinky black dress, luxurious, long shiny raven hair, red fingernails like talons, pale skin, and blood-red lips. We love that Morticia dances the tango, cuts the heads off long-stemmed roses, and only has eyes for Gomez. Based on the Charles Addams’ cartoon, Morticia has been brought to life by both Carolyn Jones and our favorite, Anjelica Huston. After you’ve got the makeup right, you’ll have to master her infamous wiggle (she takes tiny steps as she can barely walk in her long tight dress). Of course, you’ll need some black stilettos and matching hosiery (preferably with seams). 

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (Cassandra Peterson), is the quirky sexpot, campy horror movie host, and aspiring Vega showgirl all in one. This look has all the Morticia staples but with a bit of a twist (think bigger hair, lots of punk eyeliner, leopard accessories, a push-up bra, and black nails rather than red). She’s the queen of double entendres, so don’t forget your cheeky sense of humor and a can of aerosol hairspray! A well-placed temporary tattoo will take your costume to a whole new level!

Vampira, a sort of spin-off of Morticia Addams, is a vampire with a teeny tiny waist, red talons, and enviably high-arched eyebrows. Known for greeting people with a scream (à la the Bride of Frankenstein), channel your inner Maila Nurmi with a bit of mystery (and you can forego dusting away cobwebs for atmosphere). 

Lily Munster—made infamous on “The Munsters” by legendary beauty Yvonne De Carlo—is one of our favorite TV characters (and was really too hot for Herman). Take a cue from Lily and use lots of eye shadow (sweep up your eyebrows), paint a cat eye, and, if you’re feeling really adventurous, accessorize with a fun Halloween pendant around your neck and draw on a widow’s peak!

These intense sexy looks are achieved with very fair powder, dark, heavily made-up eyes (now is the time to get your false eyelashes ready), bright red lipstick, dramatic eyebrows, blusher for your cheeks, and, of course, a black wig. 

Nabila K Cosmetics You’ll Need to Transform into a Halloween Heartbreaker

Vixen lipstick: Nabila K’s lipsticks are ultra-pigmented, long-lasting, and all of the products are clean and organic! So, go ahead and pile it on! Now is not the time for subtlety. There’s nothing sexier than blood -red lips to truly turn you into a vixen. Va-va voom! If you want to add a bit of blush to your pallor, rub just a bit of lipstick onto your cheeks!

• Lip Pencil in “Brick”: You’ll want your lipstick to last and last (throughout all of Hallow’s Eve), so you’ll need to prime your pout with a good liner. This way, you won’t have to worry about feathering. 
• Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner Pen in Ultra Black: You can literally achieve any look with this eyeliner, be it punky, sexy, or harkening back to classic Cleopatra. All of our inspirational women rely heavily on a good cat eye (Elvira’s being the most outrageous). This eyeliner won’t budge and is perfect for adding the finishing touch: a black beauty mark. 

Silver Linings Eye Shadow palette: this collection of dark shadows is a dream come true for any gothic beauty this Halloween. If you want to emulate Morticia, you’ll need silver eye shadow (don’t be afraid to bring it all the way up, just beneath your eyebrow). Start with silver just above your eye, and then make it smoky in the crease with the charcoal hue. Bring it back a notch with silver to diffuse the effect and finish the look. To achieve fair skin, you’ll need some white powder (it is Halloween, after all) and, for a bit of contouring and highlighter, utilize the well of ivory shadow (on your nose, cheeks, chin, and forehead) to create a pallor worthy of any vampire!

• Brow Fixx in Brunette: Try the darkest shade possible for statement eyebrows!
• Brow Liner Pencil in Brunette: Don’t be shy! Cover your actual eyebrows with powder and draw on a high, dramatic eyebrow or simply color in your own to make them darker and more intense.
• False Eyelashes (Feather and Nefertiti): now is the time to really have fun and play with your appearance! Try makeup products you may not normally use. Go all out with Nabila K’s false lashes and no one will be able to resist your dark, sultry stare.

(Beauty product images featured above include “Vixen” lipstick, “Silver Linings” eye shadow palette, and “Nefertiti” eyelashes.)

To find out more about these products, click the links within the text and listed below. 

Don’t forget to visit Nabila K on the web!

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With fall quickly approaching and the promise of cooler weather, we can all get excited about scarf and chic jacket season. Turning off our phones and screens is essential to enjoying our surroundings, unencumbered by distractions. Instead of scrolling through Instagram and texting, take some time to put away your smartphone and go for a stroll.

• Go for a walk Thoreau style. “The walking of which I speak has nothing in it akin to taking exercise, as it is called, as the sick take medicine at stated hours…but is itself the enterprise and adventure of the day.” –Henry David Thoreau 

Even if you can only get outdoors for a few minutes on your lunch break (although a lot of us are working differently since Covid: for some it’s better and more freeing and, for others, it consists of sitting in front of your laptop all day), go out and get some fresh air. If you’re chained to a desk all day looking at a screen for work, take time out to look in nature and relax your eyes. Enough with squinting! 

Of course, Thoreau’s style of walking (from his aptly titular essay) is a singular activity by a man who lives reclusively in the woods. For Thoreau, nature was his religion, so to speak. Walking was, to him, almost a sacred act of self-discovery and realization.

• Observe nature in all its forms and make notes of the changing seasons. Pick, preserve and press flowers and plants in a notebook or “herbarium.” Fall is the time for magnificent foliage, so become a leaf peeper! There’s nothing more beautiful than watching the leaves turn to incredible hues of gold, crimson, and russet before falling to the ground. Collect your favorite leaves (this is especially enjoyable if you have small children: take your kids for a walk and explain to them about the changing seasons, etc.). 
• Read! Look through your home library or go to your local library and get lost in the stacks. Go to a small rare and used bookstore, and if you’re going to buy something, you’ll feel good knowing you’re shopping small and locally. 
• Keep a notebook handy. Make To-Do lists on actual paper rather than your Notes App (although be warned, paper is lost a lot more easily than your iPhone!). Write little poems or haikus, doodle, sketch, and, if you’re really into making art, get some watercolor paper and paints. 

• Look through old photos. Maybe you (or your mother or grandmother) kept a scrapbook from when you were younger. Look in the back of your closet; you’ll quickly realize that the objects you find probably don’t have a lot of monetary value but are flooded with sentiment and memories. This is also a great excuse for a bit of de-cluttering. Use this unearthing of memories as inspiration to make a new scrapbook or family album!
• Become a thrifter. Not only is it great fun to browse antique and vintage thrift shops, but it’s always a good practice not to succumb to fast fashion. 

• Use a Polaroid. Even though this sort of camera may seem outmoded, there’s a lot to be enjoyed, even if it’s just for novelty’s sake. It’s a different sort of instant gratification; this way, your photos aren’t on the phone but are keepsakes.
• Go for a drive. There’s nothing like an open road and scenic drive to help you relax. In every old movie, there’s a disgruntled boyfriend or husband who has to “take a drive” to think.
• Go to a museum or art opening and make conversation. A lot of people would rather text than actually talk and connect face to face. Let’s get rid of that impulse, go out to a club, mingle, and meet new people. This is especially important for Millennials and Zoomers!

• Exercise!  Whether you’re into cardio at the gym with music blaring through your earbuds or getting quiet at home on your mat, exercise is an integral part of most people’s day. Michelle Obama gets up as early as 4:30 AM to work out because she simply isn’t herself without it, and even the most devoted to the phone put it away and don’t scroll while at the gym.
• If you’re not into a lot of exercise but want to get more active, yoga is about having an experience with your body, is very Zen and also great for aches and pains. It’s about breathing, getting centered, and relaxing. Give it a try for fifteen minutes a day and see what happens.

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