Sun Salutations.

I can remember as a kid being fascinated by Yoga. My mom used to have a big book with different poses, all demonstrated by a lady in a VERY 70's leotard. As I got older, I followed the family tradition and became really interested in this peaceful practice. I can remember practicing it as young as maybe 8 or 9 years old. I didn't have a clue what I was doing, however, until I took a class at Long Beach State. My Yoga Instructor there taught me how to breathe correctly, a practice called Pranayama. Breathing is the most important part of Yoga. You can learn to breathe correctly by simply opening your mouth and making the sound: Haaaa. Now continue to breathe out the sound "haa," but close your mouth so that you are now exhaling through your nose. Doing this on your inward breath is much more difficult to teach via blog, but try it anyways. Just keep breathing through the back of your throat as you did with the closed-mouthed "haa," but inhale instead. Another key part of Yoga is to be sure to take up as much space as possible on each move. Really expand yourself here. You want to stretch your arms until you feel they are actually growing longer, especially when you do moves that involve rotating your arms in a circle or that simply include movement pointing outside your core. I don't consider myself anything close to a Yogi, but I enjoy this exercise and encourage everyone to try it. Here I have included a video of a beginners move called Sun Salutations. Good luck, and Namaste.



Love,

Lula Mae

You, and that's all.

I know we've been discussing a lot of the beauty aspect of this blog lately, and I would like to go over some more health ideals, but today it's one last hurrah of beauty. My apologies!!
There is a particular celebrity out there who, I feel, gets far too much attention. I think that Miss Jolie (that's Angelina, of course) is praised as the "most beautiful woman alive," or whatever people think of her that week. I have to admit, she does strike me as stunning, but my personal tastes disallow me to believe she is any kind of "most beautiful." However, I read an article this morning that really struck me. Angelina did an interview with the UK Daily Mail in 2008, and was quoted as saying:

"Something else comes out of you when you become a parent and, as you get older, you start to see more character in your face. Now, when I look at myself, I just see somebody at peace, and I see a mom, and I see my own relatives in my face -- and that’s a kind of beauty that exists for everybody and doesn't disappear."

While I don't normally like to praise people for discussing their cosmetic attributes so highly, I must say I am very impressed by this quote. Here is a woman who is seen as so intensely beautiful, and she isn't sitting there saying how she has full lips or considers herself soooo sexy. She is saying how beautiful her heritage is, how beautiful being a parent makes her feel. Each thing she has pointed out here is something that every woman can experience... not just physicalities of a famed and fortunate celebrity. I admire the ability to see past the glitz and glamour and see just a woman. A woman whose arms can hold her child. A woman who has her mothers eyes. A woman who is at peace with who she has become.

It's sad how often people are terrified of aging... and it's so refreshing when we can accept that age with open arms and a smile. Becoming the woman you mold yourself to be is a beautiful thing. We may discuss how to accentuate that beauty in this blog, but no amount of make-up, hairspray, or stilettos are going to make up for it if you don't believe in who you've become as a woman. Self-love and confidence create the perfect canvass, for you to paint yourself as you please. Make it extravagant or simple, you are your own masterpiece.

Rather than some picture of a celebrity or make-up to insert here like I normally would; I want you to get out a mirror. Look there and love what you see, flaws and all. Because if I could put a mirror in this blogspot I would... YOU are the picture I want to put here to illustrate my point. Because YOU are beautiful, no matter what.

Much Love,

Lula Mae

Sneaky make-up.

So I'd love to sit here and say that I NEVER wear make-up and I naturally look awesome. But I'm not a liar. I will admit I still put on a bit of make-up even just to run to the grocery store. Some people can get away with not doing this. I, however, cannot. I always have that fear of running into my, like, high school crush and having him think, "Wow. She's sure gone downhill!"

No joke I was working at my office in Anaheim and this really pretty, sweet, popular girl from high school came into my building (mind you my high school is about 30 minutes from my work). I just so happened to have zero makeup on that day and was basically wearing sweats. She had wandered into the wrong building for some class she was taking but it took her a second to even recognise me! I, of course, remembered her right away because she looked just as great as she did in high school. We said our hellos and goodbyes and after she left I looked in the mirror and was just devastated. HOW embarrassing. Is this a big deal? No. Is the feeling of getting caught looking like crap still pretty terrible? Yes. Needless to say, since then I have always at least attempted to look presentable just in case.

The problem becomes that not everyone wants to Kim Kardashian and put on a full face of war paint to go to the gas station. This is where today's tips come in: Un Make-up Make-up.

1. For starters, you get ONE option here. Either have your hair done or your face done. You don't get to go out with wet hair and zero makeup lest you look like a homeless person. Hats are a great helper in this scenario because they not only cover your undone hair, but they shade your eyes and give them the appearance of depth that eyeshadow usually does. If you HAVE wet hair and are in a hurry, some well-placed hair clips and a bun will do. Pigtail braids are unacceptable- you look twelve with no make up on as it is; however braids do keep your bangs out of your face are totally in right now so braid it up as long as it's against your scalp. If you want to go out with half-assed hair, put some effort into your make-up. If you don't want to wear make-up, at least do something with your 'do.

2. Your best, best, best friend in a no make-up make-up situation is concealer. Swipe it under your eyes and then use it to cover any blemishes you might have. If you have acne, this may take some more effort by way of thicker concealer and a bit of powder to set it. I also recommend you put some sort of clear pimple medication under your cover-up, because the whole point of no make-up is to let your skin breathe and if those zits aren't going to breathe they can at least get zapped. Make sure your concealer matches your skin, and you usually want to use a yellow-toned one under the eyes if you want to get nuts and use more than one type in one sitting.

3. I have oily skin. Therefore I HAVE to use some sort of powder. I like to use a brush rather than a sponge because it puts down a lighter layer. If you don't have any shine, stick to a bronzer or even just a dab of blush on the cheeks. One of those multi-use sticks are awesome so you can just dab blush, eyeshadow, and lipstick on in one swoop. Nars has a great one called "The Multiple."

4. I am an eye make-up junkie. So usually if I am going someplace with no eyeliner or shadow, I at least use mascara. Bonus if you can get it close enough to the lashline to have it look like you're using eyeliner. A little taupe or cream eyeshadow never hurt anyone either, but if you use concealer on your eyes to hide any veins or discoloration you should be good.

5. Chapstick. Not because it's necessary, only because I'm addicted to it. I dig Burt's Bees and upon looking through my purse you can usually find 2-3 tubes of it. But sometimes it is nice to get one with a tint to it so you look more pulled together... lipgloss is nice too.

A few more:

Self tanner: Because it just makes you look more even toned and healthier.

Visine: Because it makes your eyes clearer and brighter!

Vitamins: Because healthy skin is your best bet for not having to wear any face make-up at all!

Exercise: To sweat out all those toxins that clog your pores in the first place!

...and another couple of "No make-up make-up" tips I've learned but don't necessarily need to use based on personal preference or need:

Petroleum Jelly: This is the mother of useful products. Tames unruly eyebrows, makes a great lip gloss, and I've even heard of people using it on eyelids for extra sheen.

Eyebrow pencil: For those of you blondies out there.

Love,

Lula Mae