9 Best Celebrity Perfumes You’ve Got to Try

By Lauren Cochrane 

 

Ever since Elizabeth Taylor created the first celebrity fragrance in 1988, celebrity perfumes have been on the rise, making it hard to sift through them all and find the best celebrity scents. It seems like every time you turn around, a new celebrity is putting out a new fragrance. I mean even reality TV star Snooki has her own scent out now! With all of these different perfumes, how are you supposed to know which are worth your time…and money? So to help you get started finding the right perfume for you, here is a list of some of the best celebrity perfumes out today!

1. Paris Hilton by Paris Hilton

This is my own personal top pick for the best celebrity perfumes you can buy. First off, I don’t like Paris Hilton at all, in fact, I almost didn’t buy this perfume solely because it had her name on it. However, the scent was so addicting that I couldn’t resist. Paris Hilton’s self-named fragrance has notes of apple, peach nectar, freesia, mimosa, jasmine, sandalwood, ylang ylang, and oak moss. These notes make it the perfect fruity and floral combination for the spring and summer seasons!

2. Glam by Kim Kardashian

Another fragrance some of us may be embarrassed to sport is Kim Kardashian’s Glam perfume. However, this perfume has an enticing floral-fruity scent that makes you forget it’s created by a celebrity that actually became famous for no real reason. Kim Kardashian’s Glam has notes of tuberose, jasmine, rose, sandalwood, and iris butter. It’s definitely for those of us who can’t decide between having a fruity or floral scent as it encompasses both. Kim’s fragrance is incredibly girly and flirtatious (I mean just look at its bottle), which makes it the perfect match for us bubbly and playful women.

. Heat by Beyoncé

This perfume is completely designed from Beyoncé Knowles’ favorite things. The name of the fragrance was inspired by Beyoncé’s tour and performances, the gold and red colored bottle was chosen after Beyoncé’s favorite colors, and the scent was modeled after Beyoncé’s favorite fragrance notes of red vanilla orchid and honeysuckle. She claims that the red vanilla orchid has a “sexy” and “spicy” smell and honeysuckle has a “sensual” and “sweet” smell. Combine the two, and you get a perfect feminine and irresistible fragrance! “Heat” is the perfect celebrity fragrance to help you feel sexy all day long.

4. Jennifer Aniston by Jennifer Aniston

In the creation of her debut fragrance, Jennifer Aniston recalled memories of sunny days at the beach and happy summer nights to develop her sensual, floral, and clean smelling perfume. I would definitely recommend this scent to older women and not those of you in your teens or twenties, as it tends to appeal to a more mature audience. Her fragrance includes notes of citrus grove accord, rose water, jasmine, violet, amazon lily, musk, amber, and sandalwood. This scent is the perfect fresh and clean fragrance to wear during the summer months or on days where you need to be reminded of the beach.

5. Fantasy by Britney Spears

“Fantasy” by Britney Spears is about as sweet as perfumes come! Britney’s second perfume in her fragrance line has notes of kiwi, cupcake accord, jasmine petals, white chocolate, and sensual woods. The resulting scent is initially fruity smelling, then very sweet, showing the promised smells of cupcake and white chocolate, with a very light floral smell. It is recommended for romantic wear and is adored by men everywhere. Perfect for any date night!

6. Someday by Justin Bieber

Ok, just bear with me through this one, but Justin Bieber’s fragrance “Someday” is actually pretty good! In fact, it turned out to be the biggest selling celebrity fragrance launch in Macy’s history, beating Rihanna, jennifer lopez and Jessica Simpson! Not to mention you should feel good buying this perfume, as Bieber will be donating its proceeds to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This fragrance is described as playful, fresh, and flirty with notes of mandarin, juicy pear, wild berries, jasmine, creamy florals, vanilla, and soft musks. It smells delicious, making it not just for the tweens of the world!

7. Fame by Lady Gaga

The scent of “Fame” by Lady Gaga can be described as empowering, mysterious, and fabulous. It incorporates notes of incense, apricot, honey drops, and jasmin sambac. Just like Gaga herself, her fragrance is definitely unique and will smell unlike any other perfume you own. I will also reassure you that the reports of Gaga wanting the perfume to smell of blood and semen are not true. The singer stated that while the perfume was based on the molecular structure of the two substances, it would not smell of them. Way to try and scare people into not buying your perfume and depriving us of its amazing smell, Gaga!

8. Glow by Jennifer Lopez

This fragrance may be a little older than some others on this list, but it’s still one of the best in terms of celebrity perfumes. jennifer lopez said the fragrance was created to fit what she would want to wear herself and is a combination of Lopez’s favorite scents. It blends bright citrus fruits with sheer florals and soothing vanilla and musk for a very warm and womanly vibe. J-Lo has gone on to release 15 more fragrances, but this was still her best selling of them all and still my personal favorite.

9. Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker

Obsessed with style and fashion, Sarah Jessica Parker always wanted to create a signature scent that would be very sexy, yet undeniably classy. Thus, she created “Lovely,” which is a soft, powdery, discrete and very intimate fragrance. It smells first of soft citruses and woody notes, with a touch of lavender. Then, the fragrance develops into notes of apple martini, white daffodil, orchid, white amber, cedar, and white musk. To agree with Sarah’s own words, the perfume is appropriate for all generations “from 17 to 107″!

Sometimes people judge perfumes solely from the celebrities that endorse them, but you shouldn’t always think that way. You could end up missing out on your all-time favorite fragrance! So don’t judge a scent before you smell it! What do you think are the best celebrity perfumes out there right now?

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7 Perfect Ways to Look Pretty without Makeup

By Lisa Washington 

Ever want to leave the house sans makeup but are afraid there are no ways to look pretty without makeup? That is so not so! There are lots of ways we can go without any beauty products and still look pretty as a picture. Still don’t believe me? Then let’s explore seven of the many different ways to look pretty without makeup together and you can try it for yourself!

1. Brows

One of the surefire ways to look pretty without makeup is to rock some clean and well-groomed brows. There’s no way you can get away with beat-up looking brows, with or without makeup, so let’s not even attempt to bypass this important step! Make sure your eyebrows are trimmed, plucked and groomed so they properly frame your face.

2. Exfoliate

If you want to look good without makeup, you’ve gotta take good care of your skin! One of the keys to clear, healthy skin starts with exfoliating dead skin cells so you can show off fresh skin. Exfoliating a few times a week will keep skin fresh, smooth and radiant. Exfoliating regularly also helps your skin look better, which is always a plus when you’re going out without makeup!

3. Lashes

Another important aspect of looking good without makeup is to emphasize those lashes! Our lashes are sort of like the curtains to the windows to our soul so you know we’ve got to dress ‘em up! celebrity makeup artist Carmindy suggests adding a thin coat of Vaseline to your lashes to make them look longer, fuller and darker! If you want to take your lash look up a notch, use an eyelash curler to really make them stand out!

4. Lips

We mustn’t neglect our lips when we’re trying to look good without makeup! Our faces aren’t the only place that needs exfoliation; our lips need it, too! Make a quick lip scrub with sugar and olive oil or use a damp cloth to gently scrub your lips. Next, give them a coat of a moisturizing lip balm to give lips a nice sheen and to keep them hydrated.

5. Moisturize

No matter what type of skin you have, keeping your skin moisturized is essential to a smooth and glowing complexion. Moisturizer will help keep your skin hydrated and looking healthy and supple. Skipping moisturizer can cause skin to look dried out and dull, so keep skin soft and naturally luminous with a quality moisturizer with SPF to shield skin from the sun.

6. Eyes

If you’re skipping makeup because you’re too tired or you overslept, redness reducing eye drops will be your best defense against bloodshot or tired-looking eyes. A quick way to refresh your eyes and look good without makeup is to use moisturizing and redness reducing eye drops to really make the whites of your eyes stand out and look more awake!

7. Teeth

Another easy way to look pretty without makeup is to whiten your teeth so your smile is always sparkly and bright! Use whitening strips or a gel pen to whiten and brighten teeth. Then, keep up all your hard work by using a whitening toothpaste and avoiding staining drinks and foods like coffee, wine, berries and beets.

As you can see, there are lots ways to look good without makeup! Wearing makeup is a fun way to accentuate your features and cover up blemishes, but we can certainly give our skin a break sometimes and go without. What are your tips on how to look good without makeup?

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44 Best Places to Meet Eligible Men

By Mercy 

 

Places to Meet Eligible Men become more and more scarce these days. Heck, even eligible men as they are have become a rare species. And what do we single ladies do about this? Well, my guess is it can go 2 ways – either we sit and wait for the good men to sweep us off our feet or we simply take the first step toward our destiny and check out the best places to meet eligible men to see if our future boyfriends or husbands might be there? Well, if you are like me and you are choosing the second option, let’s get ready for some action and take a quick look at this fabulous list of 44 Best Places to Meet Eligible Men!

1. The bar

This may be one of the oldest ways to meet a man, but it still works. Free flowing beer makes it easier to approach your target! However, if ‘commitment’ is on your mind, then look elsewhere!

2. The market

Whether it’s the shopping mall or the supermarket these places are loaded up with good looking folks. Chances are you’ll find someone who lives in your neighbor and likes coffee the way you do. A bookstore is another place to meet someone with similar tastes – at least in literature!

3. Online

This is the latest method of meeting single men. There are several online dating sites where you can check out profiles and photographs. The best one I’ve heard of is PlentyofFish.com, because all the services there are free. But there are others like Match.com, Chemistry.com (Limited time offer – 7 Day Free Trial) or Perfectmatch.com that too seem to be pretty good, although you’ll have to spend some money on membership. Online dating became a relatively safe method as you can get to know your date before you go out with him.

4. Church

Church is a good place to meet men who share the same faith and moral grounding. If you’re a single mom, this may be a good place to find serious men who are looking for a life partner rather than a night out on the town.

5. The water cooler

If you can get past the gossip, the office is a place where romance can be sparked. Being in such close proximity with colleagues can lead to an office romance. Finding someone of the same intellectual level may be easier at the workplace than at the bar!

6. Newspapers

Check out the newspapers for announcements regarding neighborhood picnics, square dances, tours and special events. These are great places to meet new people, especially single men! Go ahead strike up a conversation. You might end up meeting your spouse.

7. College …

If you’re taking some classes at the local college this could be an opportunity to meet eligible men. There are seminars and short courses that you can participate in. Not only can you get an education but you can find that perfect someone perhaps sitting right next to you.

8. Friends

Get your friends to help if you’re serious about finding a man. Attend parties where there is a good mix of singles. Be friendly, outgoing and be seen! You can even throw a party yourself and tell friends to bring their friends along.

9. Gym

While you exercise your muscles you can exercise your heart as well. The gym is a great place to meet single men, specially the hot men! You’ll know in advance that they value their health and you know what to expect when thir expensive suit comes off, so that’s a good starting point!

10. Favorite diner or restaurant

Notice the guy who’s having dinner by himself at the far corner table? Well, what you waiting for? Get a waiter to introduce you or do it yourself. Either way, make a move.

11. Work

Either in your office or in the accounting on the 19th floor there must be that cute, nice, good-looking guy who makes your heart tick. Figure out where exactly he works, what’s his name, if he’s available, and let the flirting beging! Who knows, maybe the guy in the next cubicle is the one you were looking for all this time!

12. Vacation

I know they say that relationships that started on vacation never last, but that was way back in the 20th century! Now that air fares are getting lower and lower and Internet live video chats is the most common thing out there – why not to give a great man you met on a vacation a chance? Who knows, maybe in a couple of months you’ll decide you want to live together?

13. Parks

When I say parks I mean day time, safe places downtown, where people go to get some fresh air during lunch break, after work or on weekends. For your own safety, please don’t stay there after dark. But during the day, you’ll be surprised at how many young good looking men spend an hour or so sitting on a bench reading, working on their laptops or just watching other people. Just sit next to the one you like the most and if he is in the mood for conversation, you’ll know it!

14. Airplane

These days we spend a good couple of hours every month flying here and there. Next time you have a flight, look out for cute guys who might too be flying the same plane. And who knows, maybe your seat will be next to his!

15. House Party

Any party is always a fun way to meet people but with a house party, everything is so much more in your control and it’s comforting to know that common friends are involved. So throw a fun little party, invite all your friends and tell them to invite their friends (preferably single). You never know who you may end up meeting and if nothing, at least they’ll be grateful for the awesome party!

16. Acting workshop

If you’re not shy and love an audience, why not join an acting class. You will meet tons of taleneted, fun, outgoing men and you’ll have a ready excuse to flirt with them. What? You’re only playing your part! Besides, you’ll figure out quite early on who you do and do not share chemistry with and the rest will be history.

17. Art exhibits

They say that without art, the earth is just “eh”. Sorry I read that somewhere today and had to share. Back to the point, art exhibits are one of the best places to meet eligible men. Whether you are an art lover or not, an exhibit will give you an opportunity and an excuse to chat with different men, get to know them, perhaps flirt a little and if the chemistry is just right, maybe you could take the party elsewhere.

18. Book Club

If you love reading, one of the best ways to meet like-minded men is through a book club. Think about it. You read, you share opinions, you find similarities, you hit it off, you fall in love…Okay, I’ll stop.

19. Blood drive

This one is definitely not for the squeamish! If you watch The Office, you’ve probably seen the episode where Michael runs into this pretty woman while donating blood and hits it off instantly. That could be you. Strike up a conversation with someone who’s next to you or if you see a cutie by the snack table, ask him what he recommends for strength building.Who knows, you may end up deciding that dinner is the best option. And even if you don’t end up meeting someone, you’ve at least helped save a life.

20. Rock Climbing Center

If you’re adventurous, a rock climbing center is one of the best places to meet eligible men. According to a study, nearly two-thirds of wall climbers are male so imagine your chances of meeting someone wonderful and exciting. Plus rock climbing is fun with lots of scope for “accidental” touching and flirting and such. Ah I’m just a pervert sometimes.

21. Wine/Scotch Tasting

If a bar is much too loud and chaotic for your liking, how about going to a wine/scotch tasting event? It’s a lot calmer, quieter and not to mention, sober. Whether you actually know your wines or feign innocence, you are bound to meet an eligible bachelor or two. Besides, it gives you plenty of time to “work the room” and figure out your options.

22. Running Club

A friend actually met his current girlfriend through a running club so if you’re into outdoor sports, find a local running club, put on your shoes and get out there! Men in running shorts are so cute and if nothing else, at least you’ll get back in shape.

23. Community Service

Giving back to the community is always a great thing and who knows, your karma might actually earn you an eligible man. There are plenty of places where you can volunteer so take your pick and give away. At the end of the day, you know you’re going to meet someone who cares…

24. Weddings

I know that the common belief is that all single men at weddings just want to get laid but I beg to differ. Some of them are perfectly charming, pre-bride approved gentlemen that are out there looking for eligible women. You just need to give them a chance. Just don’t get too drunk and you’ll see what I mean.

25. Dance class

I know you’re probably wondering why dance classes are on the list of best places to meet eligible men since they usually have more women than men but it’s definitely worth a shot considering you will be forced to physically interact with potential hotties. If you feel the chemistry and if the small talk is intriguing enough, hang back, get to know him better and see where it goes…

26. Laundromats

The only thing that makes the idea of laundry bearable is the possibility of meeting a cute guy and if you run into someone who fits that description, do not hesitate tochat him up. What could it hurt right?

27. Jury Duty

It may sound boring but think about this. Other bored, possibly wonderful eligible men could be out there and they have nothing to do but chat you up. Sound good? So yep, don’t ignore your civic duty the next time you receive a summons in the mail.

28. Ski Resorts

You might probably need to wait till winter for this one, but hey, it’s great to have a B plan if you will be looking for a hot date to take to all the Holiday parties. Knowing how to ski is not necessary, you can try and learn, but if you just go to the resort to relax or have fun with your friends, you’ll be surprised at the dozens of sporty good looking eligible men having a hot drink in the bar after an exhausting day of skiing. And is there a more romantic place to find the man of your dreams than under the stars in the middle of snow covered mountains?

29. Reality Shows

If all else fails and I mean ALL else, reality shows like the Bachelorette seem like a fun way to meet a lot of men who want to make you the center of their attention. I mean, who wouldn’t want that! Oh wait, this is about eligible men… I need to cut down on T.V.

30. In the Navy

One of the best places to meet eligible men is, unquestionably, the Navy. Even if you don’t want to make the commitment of joining the Navy, you can make yourself available during shore leaves and Fleet Weeks. These men are brave, handsome, and generally dying to get away from all those boys!

31. Walking the dog

Most guys love dogs, so when you’re walking your pooch, you’ve got a great opportunity to meet one. Big dogs like Labradors and Retrievers are always a great draw, but if you have a little dog, don’t worry. Many men have a secret love for the little dogs as well. If you’re friendly and make eye contact (and if your dog doesn’t try to mark his territory in an awkward spot), you should be golden!

32. The hardware store

You’ll be surprised at what a great place it is to meet men. First of all, almost all the clients are men and so are the sales assistants. And being a woman, you’ll find it natural to ask for help that cute stranger who will gladly explain you the difference between this and that tool. Who knows, he might ask you out for coffee to continue the conversation…

33. The tech store

Tech stores are men magnets. I do not know a single guy who would pass on the opportunity to come and take a look at some new weird plasma TV or sound system or whatever it is he’s read about on his favorite tech blog. So take it from me, most customers in tech stores are also men, and many of them are very good looking. Now, you’ll surely see a couple of married guys (of course), but you’ll be surprised at the number of single guys browsing these stores. Give this one of the best places to meet eligible men a try and you won’t regret it.

34. Museums

Now, I know this might sound a little cliche, but what’s the best way to meet someone, when you are visiting a new city than going to a local museum. There are hundreds of single men who, just like you, want to check the museums off their lists when they travel to a new city and believe me, they’ll be happy to have a conversation with a cute girl, especially when there are so many conversational pieces around. Museums are also fantastic for meeting artsy guys and foreigners, so if you are feeling adventures, this is the place to meet eligible men.

35. The bowling alley

I know you probably think, how old the guys in the bowling alley would be? 60? 70? But don’t be so quick, I have personally seen a couple of times guys coming in in groups for a little game. And may I say, some of them were very cute.

36. The golf course

Ditto on this one, although golfing can be quite a bit more boring than bowling. The difference is, the course isn’t so loud and crowded either, and you can really get a chance to talk to a guy. If he looks really into the game, let it pass, but if he’s with some friends and they’re chatting together as much as golfing, go for it!

37. Casinos

Although loud, casinos can also be great places to meet eligible men. You don’t want to talk to a guy when he’s right in the middle of a heavy game or anything, but if you’re both playing Blackjack, if you’re sitting at the slots, or one of you is throwing dice, then you can start a conversation. It’ll be casual, but that can lead to other things.

38. Concerts

Concerts are a fantastic place to meet eligible men, especially if it’s your favorite performer. You will instantly have an interest in common and when you are a fan of something it’s so easy to bond with the other person. The connection sparks instantly, so try this place to meet eligible men and see who you meet!

39. At a club

Now, many guys just go to clubs to hook up. A lot of them aren’t necessarily looking for someone to date. However, there are exceptions to every rule, and that is the only reason nightclubs made it onto the list. You have to have an eagle eye, but if you spot this guy, you’ll be glad. He likes to dance and hang out and have a good time, but he isn’t the boy who’s only into ranking up as many one night stands as possible.

40. The beach

The beach is not just a great place to meet eligible men, it’s a fantastic place! See, guys who go to the beach generally fall into three different categories. They go alone, and depending on what you see them doing, that probably means they’re single (so if you can think up an approach, do it!). They go with a group of guy friends, and again, you can typically tell by their behavior if they’re single. Or, they go with their wives or girlfriends. If you see a guy spreading lotion on someone else, just play it safe and scratch him off your list!

41. At a cigar bar

I don’t know many girls who like cigar bars, but I know plenty of guys who do! Sure, you’re going to be entering forbidden territory, but it might well be worth it. These places have tons of eligible guys, and the kicker is, most of them think any girl in a cigar bar is automatically cool!

42. A sushi bar

Surprisingly, more and more men start loving sushi. And nowadays, when you pop into a nice such restaurant you see more men and women. Some of them are having business dinner, others are meeting with a friend, but there are those, sitting at the bar, having dinner after work on their own – and those are you could easily sit next to and perhaps strike a conversation if you feel like it. Or he’ll be the first to talk, guys are usually like that – they catch your eye and they just start talking to you.

43. The bookstore

 
meeting men at a bookstore is just tops, especially if you’re a big reader. You know he shares your interests, you automatically have plenty to talk about, and since most bookstores provide little chairs and comfy couches, you already have a cozy spot to get to know one another. What could be better?

44. A networking event

A networking event can be dull as hell or it can be fun and interesting. To make sure it’s the latter, take a friend of yours from work with you, make sure your hair’s done and you are dressed nicely and you’ll definitely turn a few heads. A lovely place to meet eligible men, if you ask me!

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Week 2: Organic Dating — So Many Ways to Meet Men!

By Jennifer Knightstep

 

After my week of online dating, I thought I was ready for anything. Blind dates? Bring it on! But then I remembered I had to do a week of organic dating, and realized I’m a total chicken. And, since I was unable to line up even a single blind date, I thought I’d do the week of organic dating first. Turns out there are so many ways to meet men!

What is organic dating, you ask? It’s the flip side of the online dating coin: approaching men I see out and about, rather than waiting for THEM to approach ME. That doesn’t sound too difficult, does it? Well, it is. I spent seven days second-guessing my best pick-up lines and wondering how in the world guys do this ALL THE TIME. It’s nerve-wracking, and to be honest, I faced the week with dread. Here’s what happened in my quest to find ways to meet men.

Day One: Happy Halloween!

It’s Halloween, but it’s also Monday, so my plan, as I lay in bed this morning, was to approach someone I saw at school today. Once I got to school, I saw the fatal flaw in my otherwise brilliant plan — there’s only one guy in my Monday class, and while he’s as cute as a button, he’s younger than my daughter. So it’s out of the question to approach him. I popped into the library after class and nearly everyone was about half my age. Approaching a random hottie at school? Not going to happen today.
So now where? My list of errands included a trip to the gas station, the post office, Best Buy and the bank, then trick-or-treating with my youngest later on. Best Buy seems to be my best option, unless I stumble across someone while I’m driving, which is highly unlikely.

As I predicted, the post office was a bust. The only two dudes in there were retirees. The gas station? No-one there either. The bank was also devoid of dateable men. My last stop of the day was Best Buy, and while it was crawling with people, the only guy I saw was a manager, wearing a costume… as a bunch of grapes. Yeah, not going to happen, even if it is Halloween.
Day one of organic dating is a failure. I didn’t approach anyone, mostly because I just plain didn’t see anyone interesting.

Day Two: Kid Control

For Day Two, I left the house early for school so I could sit in the library and study/prowl. And do some homework, but mostly prowl. Sadly, there was no-one there to prowl… well, sort of. There was one guy, but he had a baby in a car seat with him, along with a pre-school aged boy child who seemed to enjoy nothing more than tossing magazines about. He stopped only when I offered him a set of Russia maps and my coloring pencils to make a “pirate map,” which his father greatly appreciated. Daddy wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, and was actually really attractive, but any man who takes his little ones out and doesn’t have the good sense to ply them with distractions obviously isn’t the right guy for me. By the way, surrendering my maps of Russia to the guy’s little boy means I don’t have them to study for my Geography exam, but it was worth it to keep the little boy still for five minutes, trust me.

Next stop, Geography class. Time to replace the maps of Russia and check the room for potential victims… err, I mean, guys to potentially chat up. The ratio of guys to girls works in my favor in this class, and a number of them are uber-cute, but I have a big problem with approaching any of them because there are still so many weeks left in the semester. If they run away, screaming, when I attempt to be flirty, I’ll have to be embarrassed until the middle of December. How do guys do this?
I also stopped by the grocery store and while there was a hottie in the produce section, and he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring either, I lost him near the pomegranates and though I stalked the surrounding area for a good three minutes, I couldn’t find him again.

Darn it! Day two was also an epic fail.

Day Three: Still No Luck

Day three: more school. More library time. Still no luck. Darn it!

Day Four: A Small Break

So, day four. I had school, then an event to cover for the local paper I freelance for. I figured, yes! An event to report and shoot… there are bound to be loads of men there, men I can flirt with and chat up. It didn’t quite turn out that way. I arrived to shoot the event, scoped out a total cutie, and then was hijacked by someone else. Boo! The cutie left, and I left not long after, disappointed. He was my first potential, and my week is almost over.

Day Five: What am I Doing Wrong?

It’s day five, my week is almost over, and I haven’t really flirted with anyone, not to mention chatting anyone up. I’m thinking about the rest of my week — school on Saturday, shopping and lunch with my aunt on Sunday — and I don’t see how it’s possible that I’ll come into contact with anyone I might make a mini-move on. It’s time to redouble my efforts. There are other classes at the college besides mine on Saturday (flirting before and after class?) and there are bound to be waiters and other patrons at the restaurant and other shoppers while I’m out with my aunt. Right? Maybe I’m just being too picky, or not observant enough. Isn’t there anyone to flirt with in metro Detroit?!?

Day Six:

Finally, a fella! I’m at school, and there he is, in the hallway. He’s cute, not too young, and better yet, as I walk by, he smiles at me. Not a creepy leer. A nice smile. I smile back, do an about-face, and follow him (discreetly I hope) into the library (where, incidentally, I had been sulking all week). We sit across from each other at the computers and he catches my eye and smiles again. That, my dear, is all the encouragement I need! I say hi, quietly (this IS a library) and he replies. We chat, quietly, for a few minutes, and as I get up to leave (I’m actually late for class, but who cares?), I ask for his number, which he produces quickly. I do not give him mine, because I have no actual interest in calling him or setting up a date (I am sort of seeing Ice Cream guy from the week of online dating). But hooray! Finally! A guy! A number! It’s not hopeless, and it really wasn’t that difficult, after five entire days of warming up.

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Day Seven:

Today is Sunday, a day I typically spend at home writing, so there’s little chance of me meeting a guy today. I do make a trip to the grocery store for diced tomatoes and notice a different cutie from the one I saw at this same store earlier in the week. I smile. He smiles back. I could get his number, but there’s a pot of soup waiting to simmer at home, which is why I needed these tomatoes to begin with. The cashier is also cute, though a little young, and so is one of the guys in the parking lot, loading two lonely bags of groceries into his car. I smile and say hi as I walk past, and he looks up and says hi back. I feel like I am on today, and it feels good.

This week, I learned two very valuable lessons. The first is that guys have it hard. It’s not easy to flirt with and approach strangers! The second is that there really are guys out there to approach, even if you don’t have an active social life, even if you are a big chicken (like me). I also learned that flirting is fun, and it won’t kill any of us to smile and say hi once in a while. It’s not impossible, if you know a few of the places and ways to meet men…

I also learned that I am DREADING the week of blind dates, since I don’t have a single one lined up, still. Stay tuned!

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8 Ways to Fight Belly Fat in The Home

By Kati Blake 

 

One of the most popular reasons women join gyms and exercise classes at this time of the year is to learn ways to fight belly fat – and when you start counting down to the hotter temperatures and holiday departure dates, it’s not hard to see why. We’ll all be stripping down to bikinis and cute summer dresses soon, so it’s time to lose the winter weight! With the stomach area often being voted the most difficult to change, here’s some helpful ways to fight belly fat without a mammoth training schedule.

1. Good Fat Is Essential…

Started a fat free diet to slim down your stomach? Think again. People who collect fat around their stomach don’t tend to thrive on fat free diets, due to the absence of good fats. The solution? Cut refined carbohydrates such as white rice, and eat foods that contain good fats such as olive oil, sea bass and avocado instead. Cutting bad fats while retaining good ones is one of the ways to fight belly fat that’s frequently used by boot camps! Wholegrain bread with an avocado, lemon and chili flake topping is the ideal flab-fighting snack.

2. Everything in Moderation…

We’ve all heard this one, but studies show that it actually works – just maybe not how you’d expect it too. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a five-week study where the women involved were offered their favorite fast food for five days a week. At the end of the five weeks, the women had started eating less and less of the fast food, and were much less tempted by it. They did get the same happiness after eating it, despite eating less.

The study found the same effect can be replicated over meals eaten several days apart – but if you eat a fast food meal once a week, you will eat more of it. Eating foods you’d normally ban cuts down their appeal, stops binging and prevents cravings, helping you to shift that belly fat faster.

3. Fast Days…

The 5:2 diet has been doing the rounds since Christmas, with some people claiming that it’s an easy and sustainable way to lose weight. An assistant professor in nutrition found that people who eat 25% less calories every other day can lose up to 30lbs in just eight weeks. To get maximum benefits, he recommends eating 1,500 calories one day, and sticking to your normal eating habits the next. Just make sure you don’t sabotage your diet on your off days, and work out regularly to get maximum benefit.

4. Cardio Queen…

Strength training is said to be best when you are trying to burn off tummy fat – but it seems that aerobic exercise will help you see results faster. Aerobic exercise burns 67% more calories and significantly reduces belly fat compared with resistance training, and the participants were only running 12 miles a week. Work up to that by training four or five days a week, and adding in resistance training to define and shape your abdomen.

5. Sleep Just Right…

A study in the Journal of Sleep recently found that there is a direct correlation between the amount of sleep you get and your amount of stomach fat – participants who slept under five hours or over eight hours gained more stomach fat than those who sleep between six and seven hours. The quality of the sleep mattered too – try to get good quality sleep in a dark, quiet room.

6. Fibre Fix…

Soluble fibre is directly linked to abdomen fat too – the more you consume, the less belly fat you are likely to have. Soluble fibre can be found in a variety of food, including vegetables, fruits and beans, so it’s relatively easy to fit into your diet. Aim for at least 10g per day, which is the same at one cup of green peas, two small apples or one cup of pinto beans.

7. Coconut Dreams…

There’s a reason that people who live around coconut trees (and the gorgeous beaches usually found nearby!) have flatter stomachs. Coconut oil is a saturated fat that has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, both of which can boost the thyroid and metabolism. It was even tested on cows in 1900s, in an attempt to fatten them up, but actually made them leaner. Get cooking with coconut oil!

8. Sweet as Sugar…

Okay, so we all know we should be cutting sugar – but do you know which type? Glucose is found in potatoes and rice, and out of every 120 calories of glucose you consume, only 1 will be stored as fat. Man made fructose appears in a variety of sweet treats and snacks, and 40 calories out of 120 will be stored as fat. It’s worthwhile keeping an eye on your sugar consumption!

These ways to fight belly fat have certainly transformed my kitchen – I’m testing out my favorite recipes with healthy ingredients such as coconut oil, and I’ve even started jogging on the spot when I’m cooking. At this rate, I should have a defined waist in no time! Do you have any great ways to fight belly fat in the home? I’d love to hear them!

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