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Category: General

Why Eyebrow Waxing is the Best Technique for Defined Brows

Eyebrows are a vital part of your face but can be challenging. Unlike tweezing, waxing gives a more predictable result and helps the hairs grow back thinner over time. The first step is to prepare your skin. Exfoliate a few days before your appointment to remove dead skin cells and prep the brow area for waxing.

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It’s Painless

Eyebrow waxing does hurt a little, but it’s far better than tweezing. It’s a quick hair-removal method that produces fabulous results and leaves you feeling like you belong on a magazine cover. Unlike plucking, which removes hair one at a time, eyebrow waxing takes several strands of hair in a single swipe. This makes it an efficient technique; the results last longer than tweezing or shaving. A professional technician should perform this procedure, and it’s also essential to communicate clearly with your eyebrow technician about the look you want. This is especially true for new clients since eyebrow growth differs between people. Additionally, the skin surrounding your brows is exceptionally delicate, and it’s essential to protect it after a waxing session by avoiding sun exposure and using sunscreen with a high SPF. You should also avoid over-exfoliating the area and wearing tight clothes that can rub against it, as this can irritate you.

It’s Quick

Unlike tweezing, which involves plucking hairs one by one, waxing removes a large swath of unwanted hair all at once. This saves time and is far less tedious. When waxing the brows, the esthetician should use small amounts of resin to avoid drips and maintain control over the area being worked on. Keeping the resin at a comfortable temperature (around 43 degrees) prevents discomfort and ensures that it adheres to hair effectively. Once the warm wax is applied, a cloth strip is placed firmly over it and pulled quickly against the direction of hair growth. It’s important not to pull the strip too quickly, or it may cause skin irritation. A well-trained esthetician can adequately remove the strip without damaging the skin underneath. In addition to its effectiveness, eyebrow waxing is much quicker than tweezing or threading. The result is long-lasting results that take the hassle out of maintaining on-point brows. The clean, defined look of properly shaped brows takes years off the face and gives the eye area an open, fresh appearance.

It’s Safe

Unlike shaving, waxing removes hair from the root, so it takes longer to grow back, giving you a long-lasting result. It also helps to keep brows looking neat and groomed. However, if you are concerned about getting ingrown hairs, you can opt for threading, as this technique pulls each hair from the roots and doesn’t disturb the skin as much as waxing does. Regardless of what method you choose to use, be sure that your eyebrows are at the right length before you go for a waxing appointment. If your brows are too short, the wax won’t grab onto the hair and will end up pulling at the skin instead. In addition, it’s a good idea to avoid astringent and exfoliating products on the area before your appointment, as they can make your skin sensitive, which may impact how you react to the waxing process. Lastly, don’t take a hot shower after the appointment, which could cause skin irritation.

It’s Effective

The first step is a consultation with your expert to discuss the shape you want. For instance, if your face is round, they may recommend an angular shape to elongate it. Before the waxing begins, they will remove any makeup, oils, or other products on your eyebrows. Then, they will apply warm wax on the areas of unwanted hair. A cloth strip will then be pressed onto the wax and quickly pulled off against the direction of hair growth. This is much faster and more efficient than plucking, which removes each hair one at a time. Waxing lasts longer than shaving, as hair is removed from the root, not the skin’s surface. Doing regularly can result in slower and finer hair regrowth over time. This can help your brows look full and defined for longer.

How Poor Nutrition Affects Your Overall Health

The lifestyle choices you make today can determine the quality of your health and overall well-being, including what you eat and drink. Although 46% of US adults have a poor-quality diet, not everyone consciously makes poor nutritional choices. There are moments when the hustle and bustle of modern life significantly impacts your diet, resulting in meal choices that affect your body. You may not see the consequences now, but it’s best to know the effect poor nutrition has on your health beforehand, including those below. 

  1. Impaired physical performance and energy levels

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Food provides fuel for the body, but you must also be mindful of the nutritional quality of your meals. That is what provides long-lasting physical performance for a few hours until your next meal. Quality food contains all the major and micronutrients to combat fatigue, weakness, and a general sense of lethargy. On the other hand, poor nutrition causes a decline in physical performance and energy levels because your body is deprived of essential enzymes to meet its physical demands. You can binge on a diet high in processed foods, and you will be full. However, you will be hungry again in no time because that meal lacked what has come to be known as dense nutrition. In other words, junk foods provide temporal fuel, which is highly aided by added sugar. It is very similar to a sugar rush that fills you with sudden energy but leads to a crash, leaving the same energy levels in shambles. When this happens over time, you will be exposing your body to a lifetime of impaired physical performance and energy levels.

  1. Accelerated aging and cellular damage

Did you know that poor nutrition can quicken the aging process? It starts gradually at the cellular level until it starts to show earlier than usual. That is also when your vulnerability to chronic diseases sharply increases. The question, however, is, what is in less-nutritious foods that cause this chain reaction? The first answer is the lack of antioxidants in these meal choices. Antioxidants neutralize harmful free radicals, which are the major causes of cellular damage and oxidative stress. The second answer is the excessive sugar in non-nutritious foods. Sugar is a key driver of aging and bodily inflammation. Their excessive consumption has been linked to many chronic health conditions like diabetes. Avoid cellular damage and accelerated aging by incorporating antioxidant-rich foods into your diet. It’s worth noting that certain hormonal conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome make some women susceptible to poor insulin regulation. That predisposes them to Type 2 diabetes, which also accelerates cellular damage and rapid aging. In such cases, it would be best to consider taking hormone balance supplements to control that.

  1. Compromised bone health and density

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Aside from the impact on the cellular level, your body’s physical structure also takes a hit due to poor nutrition. The bones need calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium to perform optimally, but poor nutrition stifles that. Doing this over time can lead to conditions like osteoporosis, increased risk of fractures, and compromised bone health. It doesn’t help that modern lifestyles favor highly processed foods over nutrient-rich options. Fortunately, you can make a difference in your life by choosing better. Contact a nutritionist to help you make informed food choices that promote bone health and limit your risk of osteomalacia and osteoporosis. The future of your bone health will depend on the healthy choices you make today.

The Bittersweet Symphony: My Abode’s Love Affair with Pests

Our homes are the main arena where we play out our lives. From celebrations with families to watching tear-jerking movies not caring how our make-up is running. But it’s not always a smooth performance with uninvited extras (read: pests) waltz in trying to take over the stage. And out of this blooms a love-hate relationship worthy of becoming the next trending Shakespeare drama.

Photo by Prabir Kashyap on Unsplash

Act I: Blissful Ignorance

It all starts with an innocent meet-cute scene like those in romantic comedies. A lonely ant running across the kitchen counter or that spider minding its own business on the wall. So insignificant that we coexist blissfully ignorant of the other’s presence, and the harmony keeps going in our home. But little do we know that it has become the next hot real estate prospect for these insect invaders.

Act II: The Invasion

The next act in our home drama is where the plot thickens and the once harmonious atmosphere turns into a suspenseful thriller. No more a friendly visit from these critters, now it turned into an all-out invasion as the ant army descended in rows upon our kitchen, mosquitoes kept us awake at night with their noises and biting, and the living room corners were draped with cobwebs! These uninvited extras are gunning for our lead roles in our homes. 

Act III: The Battle of Wits

But we worked hard to become the protagonists and build our home, so we dug deep for the courage (yes, even those with phobias) to fight back. Gone is the comedy and thriller, now it’s an action-packed war drama! Bug sprays, moth balls, ultrasonic devices for rodent control, and fly swatters become our weapons of choice. We deploy strategies to take down these invaders by clever pest control strategies designed for them – laying out bait for ants and using those nifty ultrasonic devices. No mercy while we repel rodents and swatting flies – but don’t call out victory just yet. You might think the battle is won, but the war is still continuing. 

Act IV: Operation Pest Control 

With the struggle between sides, you might feel at your wit’s end. Now is the time to call in the specialist for a cover mission. Aptive pest control services are experts in handling these “wannabe” extras. With powerful weapons for insect destruction at their disposal, they not only eliminate them but take out the source (read: nests), bringing back harmony in your home.  

The Grand Finale: A Love-Hate Relationship

As the curtain closes on our drama, the feeling of victory might not last long. Pests are a common occurrence in our daily lives, which brings shrieks, tears, and colorful language into our play. While their presence do give us the hibbie jibbies or an annoyed feeling, they do keep us alert and make life excitingly unpredictable. But on the flip side, no one likes to have their privacy invaded – even if it’s a lonely moth. Or inconvenient our lives if the ants descend on the cake that you saved for a midnight snack. Or scared to next Tuesday due to the spider that’s hanging from the ceiling. 

The Holiday Dressing Feather Edition

Holiday dressing takes a glamorous turn when feathers make their grand entrance. There is something enchanting about the way feathers add a touch of whimsy and luxury to festive attire. Whether adorning a dress, a pair of heels, or even a statement accessory, feathers effortlessly elevate the holiday spirit. The light, airy texture creates a sense of playfulness, reminiscent of snowflakes dancing in the winter breeze. Embracing feathers in your holiday ensemble is like donning a festive plumage, making you stand out in the crowd and adding a dash of elegance to the season’s celebrations. So, why not let your style take flight and embrace the feathered allure this holiday season? Here are some of my favorite feather dressing choices. Click the descriptions below from left to right to order or for more information.

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I love the look of these feather boots. How cute with leather pants and dark jeans.

This dress is not only cute for holiday events and New Year but also for sunny trips away this winter.

I bought these gorgeous feather slingbacks. They give a lot of bang for not a lot of $$$

Love the look of the blue feathers on this.

Another fabulous top to wear with leather pants or dressy black pants. It will also be great with white jeans come warmer temperatures.

I bought this sweater but was on the fence. When it came it was a real show-stopper and looks great with just about anything.

For those of you who prefer an off-the-shoulder look, how great is this blouse?

Here is the longer version of the previous pink dress. It’s hard to decide which to choose.

And lastly probably one of my favorite looks. I would pair this with the feather slingbacks!

Visit Holiday Lane At American Christmas

⭐ Share the joy of the festive season at Holiday Lane at American Christmas in Mount Vernon, New York. This immersive indoor walkthrough experience with over 100,000 lights, 100 animatronics, nine uniquely themed areas, and so much more, is perfect for families and friends of all ages!

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Tickets for Holiday Lane at American Christmas: An Enchanting Journey in New York
🎫 Standard Admission – includes entry to the experience + both retail floors of Christmas In America

  • Adult (12+)
  • Child (2–12)
  • Group (6+ people) 

🎫  Visit with Santa –  On special days, the admission price includes a visit with Santa – perfect for those holiday photos.

  • Wednesdays 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. and Fridays 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
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Highlights
🎅 Enjoy an enchanting walkthrough of magic, lights and festive vibes at American Christmas
🦌 Deliver your handwritten note to Santa and meet friendly reindeer in Stable Express
✨ Make a special wish in the magical area and visit Santa’s Workshop
🍭 Experience the enchantment of sugar plum fairies and gingerbread delights in a sugary dreamscape
🧝 Peek into the bustling world of Santa’s trusty helpers in Elves’ Quarters as they prepare for the big night
❄️ Explore the icy beauty of the Arctic with shimmering lights and frozen wonders

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General Info
📅 Dates and times: select your date & time directly in the ticket selector
⏳ Duration: approximately 30 – 45 minutes
📍 Location: Christmas in America – 30 Warren Place, Mount Vernon, NY 10550
👤 Age requirement: all ages are welcome! Children under 2 years of age enter free of charge. All children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent
♿ Accessibility: the venue is wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator with access to all three floors: Holiday Lane at American Christmas, and the first and second floors of Christmas In America. Strollers, however, will not be allowed in the attraction

Please consult the FAQs of this experience here

Description
Prepare to be transported to a world of wonder and holiday enchantment as Holiday Lane at American Christmas opens its gates to visitors! This immersive indoor walk-through experience is set to become the ultimate destination for families, friends, and holiday enthusiasts. With over 100,000 dazzling lights, and more than 100 captivating animatronics and figurines in nine uniquely themed areas, it promises to be an unforgettable holiday extravaganza. So don’t miss out and get your tickets for Holiday Lane at American Christmas in New York today!


100% of net ticket sales will be donated to local nonprofits. Last year, American Christmas donated over $81,000. “Christmas is a magical time, and we’re excited to offer an unforgettable experience while supporting our community,” – Dan Casterella, CEO, American Christmas.

Any questions?

Get in touch here

Getting there

American Christmas

30 Warren Place Suite # 1, Mount Vernon, 10550

Thanksgiving Outfit Ideas

As the crisp autumn air settles in, Thanksgiving brings with it a symphony of colors reminiscent of precious jewels. Picture a gathering adorned in dressing that mirrors the rich tones of emerald greens, deep purples, and luscious ruby reds. The atmosphere is a tapestry of warmth and elegance, with guests wrapped in cozy sweater dresses that seamlessly blend comfort and style. Velvets add a touch of opulence, enhancing the festive ambiance as friends and family come together to celebrate gratitude. Thanksgiving, a feast for the senses, where the delectable flavors of the season are matched only by the exquisite palette of jewel-toned fashion. Click on the descriptions below from left to right for more information or to purchase an item.

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These gemstone heart earrings are perfection.

I love the color of this blouse. Would look great with leather pants or dark denim,

These pants remind me of the much more expensive Etro pants for this season.

Love a striped sweater. The turtleneck is a nice look.

This sweater dress can be worn dressed up or down and you really cannot beat the price!!

This blouse in ivory is lovely. The sleeves are so pretty!!

Such a great fall color and I love the velvet texture!

I saw this dress in person at Anthropologie and the color is really spectacular.

I love this blue floral blouse!

This blouse is right up my alley….I am planning on wearing mine with leather pants to a film screening in Bedford in December!

Another pretty dress with a fun mod look. And I again love the velvet accents.

Lastly, I am very into fair isle sweaters…I love them with leather pants, jeans, and long skirts.