Hottest Bathing Suit Trends of the Summer

Summer is one of the best times of the year. We can wear shorts everywhere and even splurge on more than one fashionable pair of sandals at a time, guilt free. But the best thing about summer is being able to show off our new bathing suits. Here are some trends for the season:

Color Blocking

We are used to our triangle bikinis, but maybe it's time to invest in something different. Darker bands of color can be very slimming on the waist and hide most of our dreadful areas (muffin top anyone?). Mixing a light color with prints is just as chic.

Vintage Bikinis
Bringing back an older style of high-waisted bikinis, this vintage look is both feminine and slimming. The flattering look is making the rounds and it's here to stay. Although it can be the perfect choice for many body types, avoid a suit that has both a high waist and a high leg cut, which can transport you back to the 80s.

All White
Looking like a goddess has its perks and the right bathing suit can help you to achieve the look. All white bathing suits give out a flirty feel. Pair it with delicate gold accessories and you are ready for some fun in the sun.

Cutouts
If you are torn between a fashionable one piece and a small bikini, just go ahead and settle in the middle. Cut outs are a great mix of sexy and edgy. Try bold colors and you will never regret it.

Crochet 
The sexy, bohemian-chic crochet swimsuit options for summer scream fashion. The texture of a colorful crochet top and bottom will get you noticed right off the bat.

Mismatched Bikinis
This is the best time to mix and match some past season options together. Remember that blue top you bought last year? It will look great with the new white bottom you found on sale this season. Red bottoms and a printed top? This is the best time of the year to use your imagination.

Once Upon A Haircut...

Magazines will tell us what's new and trendy, and it's important to choose a haircut that you will love, but it's also important to consider one factor: the shape of your face.

Squared Away...
If someone says you have a square face, don't take it personally. Celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Emma Stone do too, and they always look fantastic! "A-line bobs are perfect for this shape. It elongates the face, giving a slimming effect. Heavy bangs are hot with this look, as long as you have a decent sized forehead. If not, a simple side swoop will complement the look fantastically," says top stylists, David Hensley, founder of Laid Brand Professional Hair Care.

Styling Tip From the Pros: Use a large round brush, preferably boar bristle, for smoothing, Separate into sections, blow-drying towards the face on both sides. Finish with a light hold pomade, giving the back a tousled look and separating pieces around the face.

The love bug...
Kourtney Kardashian is reality TV's sweetheart and she has a face to match. Did you know a true heart-shaped face has a widow's peak? The cheek area is slightly wider than the hairline, and then drops into a pointed chin. You can rock a pixie short look like Miley Cyrus, or longer tresses with tons of layers like Reese Witherspoon.

Styling Tip From the Pros: For the messy pixie, blow-dry loosely with fingers, separating and piecing out hair around the face and neckline. For the long hair, pump up the volume on the top and make layers messy with your favorite pomade.

Merry go round...
Round face shapes have a long history with fashionable hairstyles, includes the bob. Emma Watson and Cameron Diaz always stay within that trend. Go for hairstyles with less volume to help minimize full cheeks. Try a pinned back half-updo with volume on top and ultra-long, wavy strands.

Styling Tip From the Pros: Blow dry using a round brush or paddle brush. Then use a large curling iron or hot rollers to finish the look, giving it that soft, bouncy feel.

Oh, so good!...
Sofia Vergara, Eva Mendes, and Jessica Simpson were born talented and also with oval features, another gift from the hair gods. "If you are this shape, then the hair styling world is your oyster. Any cut looks great," says David. If you are lucky to be born with those features, use them! If you like short, a slightly angled bob would look great. Going for long? Try long layers. Get rid of your normal side bang and separate down the middle. Keep the layers shorter around the face, starting from the jawline down. But don't overdo it. "Even though oval can pull off so many looks, be sure to keep the fringe around the face layered, or your oval could end up just looking long," says David.

Styling Tip From The Pros: Use a round brush to brush it out or blow dry it with fingers, using a flat iron or curling iron to finish. Top it off with some argon oil to prevent frizz and add shine.

Health Benefits of Massages

When we are stressed, it's not uncommon to hear the words 'I need a massage' come out of our mouths. If we close our eyes, we can almost put ourselves in the moment, and instantly feel more relaxed. That's because it works. Getting a much needed rubdown not only reduces stress, but it can be beneficial in many other ways.

We picked the most common types of therapies so you can decide which one you'd like best.

Swedish Massage Therapy: Massage therapists use long smooth strokes, kneading, and circular movements on superficial layers of muscle using massage lotion or oil. This massage can be relaxing, yet energizing. This is the best option for first timers.

Aromatherapy Massage: Massage therapists will add one or more scented essential oils, derived from plants, to address specific needs. Essential oils are believed to have a powerful effect on mood by stimulating two structures deep in the brain known to store emotions and memory.

Hot Stone Massage: Heated, smooth stones are placed on certain points on the body to warm and loosen tight muscles and balance energy centers int he body.

Deep Tissue Massage: It's designed to relieve painful troubled spots in your body. The massage therapist uses slow, deliberate strokes that focus pressure on layers of muscles, tendons, or other tissues deep under your skin. It works great if you have a muscle injury.

Shiatsu: It uses localized finger pressure in a rhythmic sequence. Each point is held for two to eight seconds to improve the flow of energy and help the body regain balance.

Health Benefits:
There have been many studies done on the benefits of massage therapy.

• A study by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine shows that massage therapy relieves depression and anxiety by affecting the body's biochemistry.
• Just 10 minutes can reduce muscle inflammation.
• Massage affects delta waves, the kind of brain waves connected to deep sleep.
• It can increase a person's disease fighting white blood cells and boost immunity.
• It improves symptoms of PMS like bloating and mood swings.
• It's a beauty must! It increases blood flow, which pumps to slack skin, and encourages lymphatic drainage. It also adds vitality to a dull complexion. 

So if you find yourself feeling a little down, make an appointment today!

The Price of Beauty

Fighting the aging process can sometimes be exhausting and expensive. Did you know women spend eight billion dollars on cosmetics every year? Time is our worst enemy in the war against wrinkles, especially in Florida. Sometimes relying on our beauty regimen is just not enough. There are ways to fight the clock without making a trip to the plastic surgeon and it has a lot to do with your lifestyle.


Toxins are part of our everyday life, but the most damaging to our skin is called BPA, or Bisphenol A. This organic compound exhibits hormone-like properties and is found in plastic bottles and canned foods. It mimics our hormones, especially estrogen, and can cause an imbalance. When we have a hormone imbalance, it can increase a woman's risk of heart disease, and even negatively affect our organs and their bodily function. Our skin, the largest organ in the body, can also be affected by these imbalances. When purchasing anti-aging materials, look for products that say BPA free. Also try taking milk thistle supplements. It helps the liver to cleanse toxins out of the body.

We all have our guilty pleasures and sometimes it involves snacking on sugary sweets. Sugar causes inflammation of the skin. Inflammation leads to cross linking of collagen, that reduces the amount of collagen in your body. Collagen is a protein that naturally occurs in the body, an keeps your skin elastic and healthy. Sugar can also be found in white and brown foods like breads, pastas, and potatoes. Beside to read the food labels carefully, and try to avoid consuming products with excessive amounts of sugar.

Have you noticed a bad night's sleep can wreak havoc on your whole day? It can also do the same to your skin, hence the term 'Beauty Sleep'. Lack of sleep can lower your immune system defenses, inhibiting cell turnover. This causes your skin to look dull and droopy. When we sleep, this is the time cellular repair occurs and growth hormones are stimulated and released. Make sure you are getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night to keep your skin looking gorgeous.

You can also beef up skin elasticity by stimulating the production of Hyaluronic acid. This is a natural substance in your skin that can be increased by eating raw vegetables. The chemical is sensitive to heat and gets destroyed when cooking. Eating raw carrots, kale, and spinach leaves can do wonders to improve your skin.

Lastly, massage your way to a younger self! Massages improve collagen production that tends to break down over time causing your skin to thin. Try massaging the area under your eye busing a pinching and twisting motion, moving from the inner eye, near the nose, toward the outer edge of the eye. This massage movement helps build up and thicken the skin. So next time you want to stop the clock, try these tricks to stop time in its tracks!

Healthy Foods For Building Lean Muscle and Attractive Weight Gain

Lose the fear of carbohydrates, fat, and calories. Natural proteins and safe starches are essential for lean muscle building and attractive weight gain. Healthy athletes eat the right carbs, fats, and proteins to have sustainable energy for their workouts, heal their bodies, make significant gains, and to prevent burnout. You should too! Just keep in mind that disproportionate amounts of carbs and a sedentary lifestyle lead to unhealthy fat gain.

Balance is key. Be creative and combine natural sources of salt, sugar and fat to create tasty, guilt-free snacks. Ones that fuel your body and hep you to develop lean muscles and solid weight gain.


1) Grass-fed beef
2) Grilled or Rotisserie Chicken
3) Salmon
4) Tuna
5) Sardines
6) Liver pate
7) Sweet and White Potatoes
8) Plantains
9) Yams
10) Root vegetables cooked in healthy fats or dipped in pate


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11) Bananas
12) Avocados
13) Bone marrow
14) Coconut milk
15) Raw eggs
16) Ice cream made with coconut milk, vanilla, and eggs
17) Chocolate pudding made with avocado and cocoa powder
18) Plain raw nuts
19) Dried fruits
20) Guava

Declutter Your Room

Living with other people, even if that person is your spouse, can be tricky. You have to accommodate all of their things, and it can sometimes feel like you don't have enough room. Here are ways to create that room, and to create a space designed exactly how you want it.

1) Under the Bed Storage

Creating more room in a small space is always essential. Bed risers are a great way to add more storage room. You can add colorful bins and create a new look, or you can purchase a bed skirt to hide your storage. You can find bed risers at Target, IKEA, and even Walmart for an affordable price. You can even find bed risers with plugs so you can charge your phone and laptop.


2) Bathroom Hacks
When you have to share a room, it sometimes means sharing a bathroom. To avoid overstepping, you can create a magnetic wall for all of your beauty supplies. Magnetic strips are easy to find in any hardware store, and are easily attached with glue to your wall. You can create one for your makeup as well by attaching a little magnetic strip to the back of your makeup cases. It's easy, fun, and creative.

3) Double Your Closet Space

Soda can tabs are great to create extra hanging space. Loop the soda can tab onto the hanger's hook and you will be able to easily attach another hanger from the empty hole of the tab. Use shower curtain rings to hang scarves and put those old shoe boxes to good use by creating draw organizers for your tank tops.


4) Add Multipurpose Furniture

Most bedrooms only allow so much room: you can fit a bed and a desk, but not much else. If you add a floor ottoman, you can create storage and seating for guests without taking up too much space. You can find great options in many department stores that will fit your style.



Now that you have your room organized, it's time to decorate! Check the rules in the places that you live before you put any holes in the walls, or make any drastic changes to the space. Then, create a living area that will make you feel right at home!

Yoga Poses To Do At Your Desk

We all know how hard it can be to sit at your desk for eight straight hours. Your neck starts to hurt, your back aches, and it's horrible for your health. You need to stretch it out, but you also need to stay at your desk. The ultimate dilemma.

Here's the solution: These are several yoga poses that you can do at your desk. They will help to relax you, and work out some of your kinks. It's important to move, at least a little bit, while at your desk. It's horrible, for so many reasons, to not do anything for such a long period of time.

These poses will help you to feel more alert at your desk, and ready to conquer whatever tasks lay ahead of you.

Scale Pose: Sit at the edge of your chair, press your hands down on either side of your hips and raise your legs and butt up off the seat. Engage your deep abdominal muscles and keep the tops of your shoulders down; hold for 3 to 5 breaths. Lower and repeat 2 more times.

High Alter Pose: Inhale and lift your arms; clasp your hands and invert your palms. Lean to your left. Hold for 5 to 8 breaths, then switch sides.

Twist: Turn to your left. Use your left hand on the back of the chair to deepen the twist. Hold for 5 to 8 breaths, then twist to the other side.

Cow Face Arms: Bring your left arm behind your back and right arm behind your head. Clasp fingers if you can. Hold for 5 to 8 breaths; switch sides.

Ankle to Knee: Place your left foot on your right knee, letting left knee drop open. Keep your back straight; lean forward to stretch deeper. After 5 to 8 breaths, switch sides.

These poses will help you to stay limber throughout a grueling day of stagnancy. 
(Information and Pictures from Health.com)

Go to SearchMyCity.com to check out even more health tricks to keep you alert and fit!