Swimsuit Slim Down

6 Reasons to Love Apple Cider Vinegar

1. PROMOTE WEIGHT LOSS: Apple cider vinegar (ACV) may help promote weight loss by stabilizing your blood sugar levels and suppressing your appetite. To reap the weight loss benefits of apple cider vinegar, try taking 1-2 teaspoons in a glass of water before each meal. But do not rely solely on ACV to help you lose weight; it works better when you accompany it with diet and exercise.

2. AID IN DIGESTION: Promoting a healthy digestive system is one of ACV’s most popular claims to fame.  If you suffer from chronic acid reflux, ACD can clear it up if taken regularly before each meal.

3. CLEAR SKIN: Don’t spend money on pricey topical astringents for acne prone skin when you can take ACV every day.  You can also have a detoxifying bath that will draw out toxins, begin cleansing your system, and clear up your skin; add a cup of ACV and a cup of Epsom salts to a hot bath and relax.

4. REMOVE WARTS: Instead of going to the doctors to have a wart removed you can soak a cotton ball with ACV and attach it to the wart and cover it with a bandage.  Leave the bandage on overnight and continue this process until the wart is gone.

5. BOOST IMMUNITY: ACV is a blend of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that help ward off common colds.  ACV also contains antimicrobial and antiseptic properties so take a swig of this natural cold remedy and you will be feeling better in no-time.

6. BEAUTIFUL HAIR: Over time our hair gathers build up from styling products and deep-conditioning treatments.  To remove this build up dilute 1/3 cup of ACV in 4 cups of water and pour over your hair after shampooing.  Leave it in for about 15 seconds before rinsing your hair.  Make sure to rinse your hair with cold water so you seal the hair shaft and create more shine.  Please note that because ACV is acidic you should not use this hair treatment daily.  And don’t worry; your hair won’t smell like vinegar, the smell will go away when your hair dries.

*Make sure you purchase organic and unfiltered apple cider vinegar so you receive all of the vitamins*

Heaven-Sent Cupcakes

We are living in the 21st century, not everyone has time to spend hours slaving away over a 100% homemade cake or batch of cupcakes.  But just because you use a box of cake mix it doesn't have to taste bland either, so follow my tips below for Heaven-Sent Cupcakes that will taste as if you bought them at a fancy bakery!

 

Starbucks Coupons!

Whether you need a little caffeine assistance to get you through your next all-nighter or an afternoon pick-me-up at the office I have Starbucks coupons for you!  And if you haven't checked out the Starbucks store online yet, get there NOW! It is a coffee and tea lovers dream come true! Enjoy!

 

 

Get 4 free boxes of pods with purchase of the Verismo system. (Offer ends 3/4. Valid in US and Canada.)

Save $1 on your favorite Starbucks® whole bean coffees. Online only. Offer ends 2/10/13.

Save $2 on your favorite 24-count Starbucks® K-Cup® Packs. Online only. Offer ends 2/10/13.

Wine Wednesday: 7 Tips for Curing the Wine Flu

Raise your glass to another Wine Wednesday!  Today I am providing you with an aromas chart for wine, awesome wine products of the week, quotes about wine, and 7 tips to cure the wine flu!

 

 

 Wine Products of the Week:

1. These glasses are perfect for those guests that always have one glass too-many because these glasses are SHATTER PROOF but still look classy!  

2. The Woozie will forever be one of my favorite wine accessories.  Check out these awesome prints! Pair a couple Woozies with a bottle of wine and you have the perfect gift for a birthday, wedding, shower, or housewarming party :)


3. I just bought this and I CANNOT wait to get my friends together to play this! This is a great way to save money (instead of buying bottles of wine at restaurants or bars), spend time with friends, and try new wine!!

 



1. WATER: Drink plenty of water the day you drink and the day of your hangover.  The reason you get a hangover is because your body is dehydrated.  So to help lessen the intensity of your hangover stay hydrated before, during, and after.
2. EAT UP: Seriously, eat some food an hour before your first drink.  But a salad alone is not going to do the trick, try to add some bread or pasta in the mix.  Eating before you drink helps absorb the alcohol and when you have some food in your system it will prevent you from drinking too much. And if you get the drunk-munchies after a few glasses of wine, avoid fast-food or greasy food and make yourself a few eggs.  The lycopene in the eggs helps digest the alcohol, which will hopefully lessen your headache the morning after.
3. DRUG-FREE: Be careful when drinking wine (or any alcohol) while taking prescription drugs (or recreational drugs, for that fact) because you will not only damage your liver and kidneys but you may drink more than you anticipated.  Some medications make us thirsty and if we have bottles of delicious wine around us we may have another glass of wine when we really should have had a glass of water to quench our thirst. There are a million other complications that can arise from mixing medications and alcohol, so please be careful.
4. MILK: Before you indulge in a succulent glass of wine drink a glass of milk first.  The milk will help coat your stomach and abosorb some of the wine. If you are lactose intolerant, like me, a glass of soy milk works just as well.
5. ASPIRIN & VITAMINS: Before you head to the wine bar pop a Multi-B Vitamin, it may sound weird but I swear it WORKS.  It works because B vitamins help speed up your metabolism, which helps digest the wine faster.  Wake up the next morning with a throbbing head?  Take another Multi-B Vitamin and an aspirin or two.
6. AVOID SALT: Keep salt at a minimum the night of and the morning after because it will dehydrate you and dehydration leads to a painful morning after.
7. NO MIXING: Yes, some people can have a few glasses of wine and a whiskey on-the-rocks and feel fine the next morning, but that is not the case for the majority of us. If you start drinking wine, stick to it. If you start drinking whiskey, stick to it.

Boring College Class BINGO

I just happened to stumble upon this awesome game, Boring College Class BINGO on College Humor!  This new twist on BINGO is genius.  When sitting in a boring class you are already noticing every possible annoyance, so make a game out of it with a few of your friends.  And get creative when coming up with grand prizes ;)

 

 

Dollar Store Savvy

One of the best ways to save money is shopping at dollar or discount stores.  However, there are some things you should be getting at the dollar store and some things you should never buy at the dollar store.  You can find name-brand products at dollar and discount stores for half of the original price, you just have to shop around a bit.  And make sure you know that just because its at the dollar store it doesn't mean it is bad, sometimes manufacturers make too much of a product and need to distribute it to other stores.  So go out and save some money!

 

 

Homemade Make-Up Brush Cleanser

Cleaning your make-up brushes is VERY important and often neglected.  Dead skin cells and bacteria live in your the bristles of your make-up brushes and if you don't clean them often and thoroughly you are putting your skin and health at risk.  Instead of spending money on high-end cleaners when you can kill bacteria just as effectively with items already at your house.  I suggest that you clean your brushes once a week so your skin will remain healthy and flawless.

 

Pinterest Memes

Ladies, I hope these memes do not describe any of you ;)

 

 

Top 5 Deal-Sites

Growing up I didn't learn how to shop from my mom like other girls, I learned from my dad and his philosophy was simple, "If the shoe fits, buy one in every color, ESPECIALLY if they are on sale!" So I have found some of the most amazing Websites that have name-brands and designer clothes at steep discounts! With these prices you can afford to get more shoes for your money, and what girl has enough shoes?

1. Love TOMS? Me too!! Check out Cheap TOMS and get TOMS shoes 50% off!

2. Need a new pair of Nikes but low on funds?  Check out Tiffany Free Runs and get new Nikes for 50% off!





3. If you haven't checked out Bluefly yet, check it out now!  This site has designer clothes, shoes, and accessories up to 85% off!  Recently, I purchased a $130 top for only $18 (doesn't get better than that)!

4. Another great site to score cute clothes and accessories is Sammy Dress.  At these prices you can afford a few outfits for the price of one outfit anywhere else.

5. You can now afford this season's latest fashions when you shop at Smart Bargains.  Michael Kors, Dolce & Gabbana, Juicy Couture, need I say more?

Happy Shopping!!









25 Weirdest Job Interview Questions of 2012

As if your nerves aren't rattled enough during a job interview, imagine being asked one of these questions!  If you find yourself being asked a weird interview question my advice is to stay calm and say what first comes to your mind (if it isn't already blown away)!  This article is by Suzanne Lucas and can be orignally found at cbs.com.  I would love to hear if any of you have been asked a weird question during a job interview, so post away :)

 

 

 

1. "If you were to get rid of one state in the U.S., which would it be and why?" - Asked at Forrester Research, research associate candidate.

 

2. "How many cows are in Canada?" - Asked at Google, local data quality evaluator candidate.

 

3. "How many quarters would you need to reach the height of the Empire State building?" - Asked at JetBlue, pricing/revenue management analyst candidate.

 

4. "A penguin walks through that door right now wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why is he here?" - Asked at Clark Construction Group, office engineer candidate.

 

5. "What songs best describes your work ethic?" - Asked at Dell, consumer sales candidate.

6. "[Amazon CEO] Jeff Bezos walks into your office and says you can have a million dollars to launch your best entrepreneurial idea. What is it?" - Asked at Amazon, product development candidate.

7. "What do you think about when you are alone in your car?" - Asked at Gallup, associate analyst candidate.

 

8. "How would you rate your memory?" - Asked at Marriott, front desk associate candidate.

9. "Name 3 previous Nobel Prize winners." - Asked at BenefitsCONNECT, office manager candidate.

10. "Can you say: 'Peter Pepper Picked a Pickled Pepper' and cross-sell a washing machine at the same time?" - Asked at MasterCard, call center candidate.

11. "If we came to your house for dinner, what would you prepare for us?" - Asked at Trader Joe's, crew candidate.
12. "How would people communicate in a perfect world?" - Asked at Novell, software engineer candidate.

 

13. "How do you make a tuna sandwich?" - Asked at Astron Consulting, office manager candidate.

 

14. "My wife and I are going on vacation -- where would you recommend?" - Asked at PricewaterhouseCoopers, advisory associate candidate.

 

15. "You are a head chef at a restaurant and your team has been selected to be on [the TV show] 'Iron Chef'. How do you prepare your team for the competition, and how do you leverage the competition for your restaurant?" - Asked at Accenture, business analyst candidate.

 

16. "Estimate how many windows are in New York." - Asked at Bain & Co., associate consultant candidate.

17. "What's your favorite song? Perform it for us now." - Asked at LivingSocial, Adventures City manager candidate.

18. "Calculate the angle of two clock pointers when the time is 11:50." - Asked at Bank of America, software developer candidate.

19. "Have you ever stolen a pen from work?" - Asked at Jiffy Software, software architect candidate.

 

20. "Pick two celebrities to be your parents." - Asked at Urban Outfitters, sales associate candidate.

 

21. "What kitchen utensil would you be?" - Asked at Bandwidth.com, marketer candidate.

 

22. "If you had turned you cell phone to silent and it rang really loudly despite it being on silent, what would you tell me?" - Asked at Kimberly-Clark, biomedical engineer candidate.

 

23. "On a scale from 1 to 10, rate me as an interviewer." - Asked at Kraft Foods, general laborer candidate.

 

24. "If you could be anyone else, who would it be?" - Asked at Salesforce.com, sales representative candidate.

 

25. "How would you direct someone else on how to cook an omelet?" - Asked at PETCO, analyst candidate. 

Women's Office Attire

Looking good is a must, whether you're an intern, part-time, full-time, or just going for an interview! So stay tuned for more posts about women's office attire that won't cost you an arm and a leg!

 

 





FITTED CAREER WOMAN COCKTAIL HIGH WAIST PENCIL SATIN DRESS WITH BELT



























AK Anne Klein Women's Dime Dot Swing Dress

16 Nutrition Fast-Facts

1. Fish boosts your memory.

2. Strawberries help lower high blood pressure.

3. Bananas, peaches, and cantaloupe are rich in potassium which helps maintain a healthy blood pressure.

4. Raisins are rich in iron which helps transport oxygen to tissues and cells throughout the body.

5. Mangoes boost the memory and shield against Alzheimer’s disease.

6. Olive oil protects your heart, promotes weight loss, and smoothes your skin.

7. Garlic kills bacteria.

8. Apricots, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, grapes, and sweet potatoes preserve your eye sight.

9. Lemons help smooth your skin.

10. Honey increases energy, heals wounds, fights allergies, aids in digestion, and guards against ulcers.

11. Cantaloupe lowers your cholesterol.

12. Bananas quiet a cough.

13. Mushrooms nourish the lung, stomach, kidneys, and strengthen the bones as well.

14. Eating sweet potatoes lifts your mood.

15. Water, watermelon, green tea, olive oil, cabbage, carrots, chestnuts, and peanuts help promote weight loss.

16. Yogurt aids in digestion, supports the immune system, and lowers cholesterol.

Becoming a Wine Enthusiast

Trading in your shot glasses for wine glasses can seem overwhelming at first.  I mean there are so many different rules for so many different wines, it can be difficult to keep track of them all.  I am here to help you on this fine Wine Wednesday and give you three major tips to help turn you into a true wine enthusiast!

 

TIP #1: Pairing Red & White Wine

As a general rule-of-thumb you can pair your wine with your food based on color.  If you are drinking red wine then red sauces, red meats, and heavier foods will compliment the wine nicely.  If you are drinking white wine, salads, poultry, and light sauces will pair together.

 

TIP #2: Taste Around

It is important to try different wines at different times.  Grocery stores often host wine sampling events or stores like World Market. I love sampling at World Market because it's free, you can sample up to six different wines, and they actually know what they are talking about. You can also visit local wineries and do a wine-tasting and they are usually pretty inexpensive as well. Make a note though, that just because you hated a wine like pinot noir last weekend it doesn't mean that a different brand will be just as terrible, try it again! 

 

TIP #3: Get Educated

After sampling various wines decide which wine is your favorite and learn as much as you can about it.  This will give you some background information and talking points the next time you are up against a wine connoisseur.  You should also find a region that you favor of others and learn as much as you can about that too.  Say you love Rieslings from Germany, find out fast-facts so you can educate others the next time you pour a glass. 



Top Reads for Sticking to Your New Year's Resolution

How many of you make a New Year's resolution and never really follow through?  Exactly.  So this year give yourself some tools for success.  These books from Amazon are great reads and will help you commit and reach your resolution, finally!  These books are perfect for the girl on-the-go, good luck!!

Resolution: Learning how to cook and prepare homemade and delicious meals.
Solution:
1. The 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life by Timothy Ferriss


2. Skinny Meals in Heals: Prep-Ahead, Figure-Friendly Dishes for the Busy Home Chef by Jennifer Joyce

3. Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future by David Wolfe

 

Resolution: Lose weight and get in better shape and health.

Solution:

1. Hungry for Change: Ditch the Diets, Conquer the Cravings, and Eat Your Way to Lifelong Health by Mark Hyman M.D.

 

2. The Beauty Detox Solution: Eat Your Way to Radiant Skin, Renewed Energy and the Body You've Always Wanted by Kimberly Snyder

3. The Skinny Rules: The 101 Secrets Every Skinny Girl Knows by Molly Morgan


Resolution: Manage debt and get my dream job.
Solution:
1. Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World by Lindsey Pollak

2. Achieving Anything in Just One Year: Be Inspired Daily to Live Your Dreams and Accomplish Your Goals by Jason Harvey

3. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth by T. Harv Eker


Resolution: Get organized and do more DIY projects.
Solution:
1. Organize Now!: A Week-by-Week Guide to Simplify Your Space and Your Life by Jennifer Ford Berry

2. New Dress a Day: The Ultimate DIY Guide to Creating Fashion Dos from Thrift-Store Dont's by Marisa Lynch


Resolution: To appreciate the little things and love life.
Solution:
1. One Thousand Gifts Devotional: Reflections on Finding Everday Graces by Ann Voskamp

20 Reasons to LOVE Being in Your 20s

Being in your 20s can be a difficult age because you are no longer a child and not yet viewed as a “responsible adult."  When you’re in your 20s you are trying to figure out what you love and how you are going to make your dreams become a reality; it can be tough.  But being in your 20s does have its perks and here they are!

1.  Fashion:  When you’re in your 20s you can still shop at low-cost trendy stores like Forever 21 and buy a few splurge items for your wardrobe.  When you’re in your 50s outfits from Forever 21 will NOT look cute anymore and when you’re in your teens you can’t afford higher priced items.

2.  College:  Best four years of your life.  These are the years you really discover who you are, you make (and lose) friends, and party.  Enjoy it while you can.

3.  Mistakes:  You are at the age where you can really understand the repercussions of your actions so when you make a mistake you can learn from it.

4.  Look Great:  You are in your prime!  Your skin is flawless and your body is toned and tight.  Keep up with a healthy lifestyle so you can prolong your hot-bod.

5.  Student Discounts:  Whether you go to the movies, out to eat, or even to the bar you can score a student discount by flashing your student ID.  This is one of the best reasons why you should love being in your 20s.  The next time you will be getting a discount it will be when you’re a senior citizen.

6.  Alcohol:  When you’re in your 20s you are testing your boundaries and pushing your limits.  This is really the only age where it’s ‘okay’ to be seen at happy-hour four times a week.  If you’re 35 and hitting up happy-hour 4 days out of the week you will be classified by others as an alcoholic.  Besides as you get older your hangovers get worse…not cool.

7.  Dessert Please:  Your metabolism is still in high gear, letting you eat almost everything you want without worrying about gaining weight or your cholesterol.   Enjoy eating sweets and chips (in moderation, of course) while you can because when you hit your 40s it will all be going to your thighs.

8.  Hand-Outs:  Because you are transitioning between a child and an adult your parents and close family members are more willing to loan you money or help you out than when you are older.

9.  Friendships:  This is the age that you really make friendships that last a lifetime.  You lose the crappy friends from high-school and gain true friends as you go through college and getting new jobs.

10.  The Little Things:  When you were in high-school you were a stuck-up teenager that probably didn’t appreciate too much.  As you go through your 20s you enjoy hanging out with your parents and family on a Friday night, you love a good cup of coffee, and you adore the shirt your mom picked out for you at the mall.

11.  Opportunities:  The world is literally at your finger tips.  You can literally do anything you want or go anywhere you wish.  You are young enough to have nothing holding you back.  Experience it all and travel and try new things.

12.  High-School is OVER:  Not everyone had a fabulous time in high-school so it’s a good thing they are over for good!  In college there aren’t cliques or the “popular lunch table,” everyone is equal and everyone actually gets along a whole lot better.  If you hated high-school, your 20s will surely be the best years of your life!

13.  Future:  Take the years you have in your 20s and decide what you want out of your future.  Make goals and make a plan on how to achieve them.  You have plenty of time but NOW is the time to at least make an outline of what you want out of life.

14.  Play Time:  You can still LOVE playing board games, video games, or playing on the monkey bars.  As you get older you won’t have as much play time and you will look a little silly swinging from the monkey bars at the playground when you’re in your 40s.  Get out there and have fun!

15.  Jobs:  While in your 20s you can work those super easy and fun part-time jobs like scooping ice cream, driving around the beverage cart at a golf course, or even baby-sitting.

16.  No More Finals:  When you’re in your later years of your 20s you don’t have to pull any more all-nighters studying for finals!  Hooray!!

17.  Tech Savvy:  You know all of the new tech products and how to use them.  Be nice when you’re trying to teach your parents how to text because one day you will be in the same spot they are.

18.  Strong Body:  Your body is young and strong so get out there and jet-ski, go bungee jumping, or rock climbing.  Don’t wait until you have a knee replacement and wish you would have done something daring.

19.  Take a Chance:  Have a great idea?  Then work on making it happen.  Most of the millionaire entrepreneurs out there today all started in their 20s. 

20.  Sleep:  Indulge in a few cat naps here and there.  Once you have a family, naps will be common for the kids but sparse for you.