Learn about how to lose weight and save the planet at the same time!!

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What a dream come true! I just recently (as in this morning) finished New Moon. OMG it’s f-ing unbeleiveable! I got into the Twilight craze a little late I admit but I’m here now! It’s so f-ing teeny-bopper of me I can’t stand it but it’s so great I can’t not be obsessed!

So moments after I put the book down on the subway I read on Beauty Blogging Junkie that Twilight makeup is available for presale online at TwilightBeauty.com

I can’t wait to start the next book as soon as I finish my book about how the cosmetics industry is poisoning us all. I do one enjoyment book followed by an educational one.

If I didn’t get my point across, read New Moon. It’s seriously awesome. Such a compelling love story. And who thought a 28 year old lawyer could be into vampires and werewolves, but alas, here we are…

Dan Brown’s much-anticipated novel was revealed today on the Today Show and Brown’s third novel featuring protagonist Robert Landon, is set in Washington, D.C. It comes out September 13! Can’t wait!!!!

Have we mentioned how obsessed we are with Rachel Ray? We just love her! One of the perks of our job is monitoring children’s advertising, which leaves us with a DVR and TV in our office. Being the Smartypanties that we are, we decided to start DVR-ing Rachel Ray and watching her as we eat lunch. We’ve seriously started to learn to actually cook! It’s fantastic.

I digress. There was this dude on her show, David Zinczenko, Editor of Men’s Health magazine who just came out with a new book called Eat This Not That: Supermarket Survival Guide. The book helps you navigate the supermarket and teaches you tricks and pitfalls of the food manufacturers.  For instance, did you know that Fat Free usually just means added sugar and salt. I mean, to quote RR, if you eat 1200 calories of Fat Free, you’re still going to be the size of a house! Touche RR, Touche.

He discussed some good tricks on the show we thought we’d share:

Be on the lookout for high fructose corn syrup–it’s in everything. It’s just like sugar. It’s a little creep that may be causing you to gain weight.

Ignore buzzwords on packaging like “All Natural,” “Fat Free” and their cousins. It’s a nutritional fakeout. Just go straight to the nutrition label. Basically like if you’re purchasing a loaf of bread–it should have 6-7 ingredients. Not 50! You should also aim for 3 grams of fiber per every 100 calories.

I’m definitely going to check out this book. Let us know if you already have in the comments!

PS-WE Heart you Rachel Ray! Have an EVOO filled holiday!

Hi my little Smartypanties! So I told you I read this book called Anti-Cancer. It was glorious. Written by a doctor who got cancer and changed his life and eating habits. I learned so many great things that I cannot believe aren’t common knowledge. Lucky for you I’m such a dedicated blogger and want my girls to be healthy. I also want to recommend that you read this book. It seriously was life changing.

For those of you who know me, you know I’m not the biggest reader. I just haven’t had the patience. Immature? Yes. Absolutely. I’m sorry, law school drained me of any urge to pleasure read for a bit. But I’m back now. (I know you probs don’t care). What law school did do though is instill me with a suspicious sense of skepticism for questioning everything like the devil’s advocate. So when I’m saying I believe something, you better believe I did my research. (Plus my doctor recommended it and I think she’s the smartest woman ever). But as always, I’m no professional in the health field so take what I have to say with a grain of salt, I’m just relaying info that I think is important. I’ve read many articles in addition to this book that believe that diet really does make a difference in your health. Thinking there is something you can do to help yourself gives me a more positive outlook on life and preventing cancer and I hope it will help you too. So here are some of the things I learned that I think all my girls should know:

Americans stuff themselves full of refined sugar, which spikes insulin levels, which basically is a breeding ground for cancer. This means sugary sweets but also white flour.  To get healthy eat fruit instead of cookies and refined sugars and opt for multi-grain and pumpernickel breads instead of white.

Green tea is the best thing you can suck down. Learn to love it. But do yourself a favor and add a little citrus juice to help absorption. Wherever it is consumed there is a lower cancer rate. Have 2-3 cups a day to detox. (Keep in mind it’s not a miracle drug-drinking it won’t rid your body of the bottle of vodka you downed the night before. This is just helpful.)

Tumeric is a wonderful spice for reducing cancer risks (not supplements though). It’s powers are doubled when it’s cooked with black pepper- it’s absorbed better to your body.

Pesticides really are terrible for you. Opt for organic whenever you can. However, if you’re strapped for cash and don’t want to spend your whole paycheck at Whole Foods (like me) the positive effects of the non-organic produce still outweigh the negative effects of the pesticides.

Do what your body was designed for-Physical activity! Regulation and defense mechanisms against diseases like cancer are stimulated by exercise. If you don’t exercise much right now don’t start too big or you’ll likely get sore and quit. Start off with easy activities-walk more, take the stairs, unload the car and then work up to harder activities like aerobics and running.

Avoid candy between meals because there is nothing to block the sugar rise and when sugar levels spike it’s bad. Cancer cells feed on sugar. (Think about that the next time you reach for a cupcake)

Think cavegirl! Try to be as natural as you can-workout, eat fruits and veggies and things with as few preservatives and additives as you can. When’s the last time you saw a fat cavegirl?

Click the book at the top to visit Amazon. It’s only $16.35!

So, last week I had the pleasure to meet celeb makeup artist, Sam Fine. He’s worked with clientele like Vanessa Williams, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Patti LaBelle and the famous (ahem, self-important) Ms. Tyra Banks! Did I mention he’s sweet as pie? I just wanted to hug him, oh wait, I did. Aside from the celebs he also wrote a book called Fine Beauty.

He’s got an instructional DVD coming out in May and I wasn’t going to tell y’all about it till then but I just have to share what I learned! I watched the video and you know how much I love you guys but I totally started watching and taking notes for myself too! It was such a series of A-Ha moments where I was like, ohhhh that’s how they get that look. Plus, a DVD is so much better than a book because you got to watch a pro in his element. Not to mention–it makes you realize how much makeup these gorgeous celebs have on and that you too could look perfect with a talented artist like Sam on your side. The transformations are nothing short of amazing. I love a good makeover, always my fave part of the movies that have that!

Anyway, he shows real women in the DVD, not models so you really see what magic makeup can work! Here are just a few of the glorious tips I learned!

Use a short haired brush to avoid fallout on the face from eyeshadow
Use Long Hair brushes to blend
When purchasing face makeup test it where you’re going to use it, not the side of your face
Use bronzer instead of blush and apply to the outside perimeter
When penciling in eyebrows, use short strokes to appear more realistic
Don’t drag your sponge when applying foundation, lightly stipple and use fingers to blot
Use orange/coral blushes for a soft but noticeable blush

But the most important basic of beauty is to love yourself! As always, tear! haha

The DVD will be available in late May. I’ll shoot you guys a reminder once it’s out. It’ll be available on SamFine.com and Amazon.com

Why does that title just work so well for so many posts? Anyway, this book just recently launched and we thought some of our girls may be interested in it. The authors used to have a matchmaking service which developed into a full-fledged relationship coaching operation. The book offers detailed explanations of reasons your man hasn’t proposed yet along with actionable steps a woman can take to get her guy over whatever pre-proposal hump or humps he’s struggling with. Each chapter gives women guidance on what they should or shouldn’t be doing to get their guy past his hang-ups and onto their honey moon.

We’re not sure how we feel about this book and we haven’t read it. We’re big believers in just living and seeing where things go. If it’s meant to be it’ll happen when the time is right. (How many of you want to kick box me through cyberspace?) But we also have the most incredible BF ever and most guys aren’t as amazing as he is so we understand the need for girls to check this book out…

Decide for yourselves and let us know!