HOW TO IMPROVE SKIN TONE NATURALLY

A flawless, even skin tone looks good. There are many factors which are responsible for dark skin tone. If you want to achieve a good skin tone without any side effect then try to go for a natural way 

Skin tone is not all about being fair – you can be as white as milk, but if you have dry, dull skin, you will not look particularly good. On the other hand, if your skin is clear and glowing, you will always look beautiful no matter how dark you are. A good way to improve your skin tone is therefore to incorporate several varied measures, including diet, exercise, and some direct skin care remedies. As far as your diet goes, it is pretty simple – make sure that you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. There is no specific food that will improve your skin – Vitamin A, Vitamin B, and Vitamin C are all very important for the skin, and can be obtained only by eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Exercise is equally important to keep your body and skin in good health. You should incorporate at least half an hour of strenuous activity of some sort into your daily schedule. If you are pressed for time or have some other constraints, you can simply walk briskly for half an hour every day.

Sun protection is an important part of keeping your skin healthy and fair. Excessive exposure to sunlight can have dangerous consequences besides of course tanning your skin and thus darkening it. Wearing a sun screen when you go outdoors in daylight is one good way to deal with this problem, but today this is not considered adequate protection. It is better to actually cover yourself by wearing a hat and clothing that physically covers as much skin area as is possible. In addition, it is a good practice to completely avoid going outdoors during peak sunlight hours, in the afternoon.

Prevent redness, brown spots, and hyperpigmentation issues that add unwanted years with these easy, basic guidelines.

1.Be gentle on your skin. 

Avoid harsh scrubs and rigorous towel drying, which can cause irritation that makes skin look older. And anytime you have an ingrown hair, clogged pore, or even a scratch from the cat—don’t touch it. “Many women pick at their skin, not realizing it can cause post-inflammatory pigmentation and scarring,” explains Heidi Waldorf, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

2. Stay away from smoke.

 “Chemicals from cigarettes get into your bloodstream and find their way to your skin, making it sallow and spotty,” explains Alistair Carruthers, MD, a dermatologist in Vancouver. Even if you don’t smoke, sitting in a smoky room or restaurant exposes your skin to the same chemicals that cause discoloration.

3. Say yes to daily SPF.

 You’ve heard it a million times, but have you gotten the message? “My patients say they don’t use sunscreen because they don’t sunbathe, so I show them the freckles and little broken capillaries on their skin. I explain that they can get sun damage from simply walking to the car each day without sunscreen,” says Dr. Carruthers.

TIPS FOR IMPROVING SKIN TONE:

• Make a homemade skin lightener – Mix 1 teaspoon of sandalwood powder + 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder + few drops of rose water. Apply the resultant paste to the affected areas, leave it on for about 20 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water.
• Make a mixture by mixing 1 teaspoon of lemon juice with some yogurt, apply this to the darkened areas, leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing with cool water.
• Take a finely grounded orange peel powder, add 1 teaspoon turmeric powder and a few drops of lemon juice. Apply this mixture on your skin, let stay for around 15 minutes and then rinse off with lukewarm water.
• Use this scrub for dark elbows and knees – Make a scrub by mixing granulated sugar and a few drops of lemon juice. Exfoliate your dark elbows and knees for around 10 minutes and then rinse off.
• Massage your skin with a combination of tomato + lemon juice on a daily basis.
• Make another effective mixture by mixing 1 teaspoon each of tomato juice + lemon juice + sandalwood powder + turmeric. This remedy is also beneficial for skin cleansing and moisturizing.
• Make your skin bleach recipe by mixing 1tablespoon each of tomato juice + milk+ turmeric powder + gram flour. Use this remedy at least 3 times a week.
• Papaya and aloe Vera, both are loaded with natural skin lightening properties. Make a mixture by mixing papaya pulp mixed with some Aloe Vera juice, apply this mixture to the darkened skin area.
• Take some overnight (water) soaked almonds, grind the almonds into a fine paste, add some honey and olive oil, and apply it to darkened skin. This is a natural skin lightener and also prevents skin darkening.
• Avoid sun exposure.
• Make a healthy diet menu by including lot of fruits and vegetables.
• Follow a good and balanced skin care regimen to enjoy a healthy and even skin tone.

Tips to Remove Fine Lines and Wrinkles on Forehead

Fine lines and wrinkles on forehead are evidences of aging skin. The wrinkles and lines show up once they loses moisture and elasticity. It may be due to long exposure in the sun without proper skin care, the natural process of aging, stress or other factors. Fortunately there are things you can do to lighten and possibly remove the wrinkles on forehead and delay them from showing up. 

Get a smooth, wrinkle-free brow with these clever shortcuts from the experts.

1. Layer makeup

A light-reflecting primer such as Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Make-Up Primer ($25; laurageller.com) camouflages fine lines. Follow with sheer liquid foundation. Bonus: Primer keeps makeup from settling into—and emphasizing—furrows.

2. Cut side-swept bangs 

Soft, brow-skimming bangs are the easiest and most stylish veil for wrinkles, says hairstylist Rodney Cutler, owner of Cutler Salons. "Make a low side part right above your pupil," he says. "A center part only draws attention to the forehead by framing it."

3. Use plumping creams 

Moisturizers with peptides or retinol stimulate collagen to plump skin, says David Bank, MD, a derm in Mount Kisco, NY. Use peptide-packed Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect Ultra Lift and Firm Moisture Cream SPF 30 ($68; elizabetharden.com) during the day and Neutrogena Anti-Wrinkle Deep Wrinkle Filler from Ageless Intensives ($19; shop.neutrogena.com) with retinol at night—its narrow tip traces directly over lines. 

4.Wear Frownies to bed 

"If you wake with creases from scrunching your face in your sleep, these patches are helpful," says Los Angeles-based derm Jessica Wu, MD. Frownies Forehead & Between Eyes ($20 for 144; frownies.com)—a cult favorite—are stiff adhesive "bandages" that hold skin in place to prevent furrowing.

5. Invest in the big guns 

Botox and Dysport are the only surefire forehead smoothers, says Dr. Bank. You'll need to get injections every 3 to 6 months to maintain the effects. Cost: about $400. To plump out especially deep lines, fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane (about $700 per syringe; results last up to a year) may be needed.

Home Remedies for Eliminating Forehead Wrinkles

Coconut and Olive Oil: 

These are the healthiest oils rich in essential fatty acids. They help to lighten and eliminate the wrinkles and also serve as moisturizers. For best results, always exfoliate and wash the face before rubbing the oil onto those lines. Be forewarned that if you have sensitive skin, you should not exfoliate the face daily. Once a week is good enough, but you should cleanse the face before massaging your face with the oil. 

Grape seed Oil:

 This is the other beneficial oil not only for fine lines and wrinkles on forehead but those on other part like wrinkles near eyes and around lips as well. In fact, you can think of sunflower seed oil as a multiple purpose oil as it can lighten age spots and dark spots as well. Further more, it can also be used to remove makeup and serves to moisturize the skin just the way like coconut and olive oil. 

Aloe Vera:

 This ugly looking succulent may not look attractive but it's loaded with benefits for fine lines and wrinkles. When uses on the forehead, it hydrates and repairs the skin. 

Ice Cubes: 

Surprisingly, this is one of the most overlooked home remedies for treating fine lines and wrinkles on forehead. By applying it onto the wrinkles, it improves blood circulation to deliver important nutrients and vitamins to the skin. This helps to repair and rejuvenate the skin to return you the lost glow and radiance.

Commercial Remedies for Eliminating Forehead Wrinkles

Moving on, let's look at commercially available remedies for eliminating forehead wrinkles.

In this group, the most affordable remedy has to be anti-wrinkles creams. 

Anti Wrinkles Cream for Deep Wrinkles: 

Once those lines become visible on the forehead, it means that you are working with deep wrinkles. Ordinary anti-wrinkles creams will not be effective for deep wrinkles. You need to do more. Other than using products with ingredients likeCynergy TK and hyaluronic acid, you need to be using only the best night cream to facilitate skin repair while you are sleeping .

Cynergy

 TK is a functional type of keratin. It promotes collagen and elastin production. On the other hand, hyaluronic acid absorbs and retains moisture in the skin. With regularly usage, facial cream with both ingredients will give you the smoother, softer, and younger skin you desire.

Botox Injections:

 By far, the most popular choice for those who want fast and instantaneous result. All it takes is a shot to reduce the fine lines and wrinkles on forehead. It also delays new lines from appearing too. Botox treatment is fast with no down time. If done by experienced and skilful specialist, it is highly effective. On the other hand, a poorly done job can paralyze the face muscles resulted in the "deadpan look". There is another problem with Botox - it is a temporary remedy. Every 3 to 6 months, you need to "renew" your youth with another injection. 

Microdermabrasion: 

Although costly, it is an effective treatment for wrinkles on forehead. Microdermabrasion takes years off you by abrading and exfoliating the dead skin cells. It also softens and flattens the wrinkles at the same time. Microdermabrasion is also effective for removing skin discoloration and age spots at the same time thus improving your overall appearance. However, if cost is a concern, don't forget to check out these affordable wrinkles prevention tips.

While these options can help to remove fine lines and wrinkles on forehead and other part of your face, you can further delay the lines from showing by forming good habits and healthy lifestyle. For examples, drink at least 8 glasses of water daily, put on sun protection cream before stepping out of the house, stop smoking and get 8 hours of sleep daily. By no means is this the comprehensive list but I'm sure you get an idea what other things helps to delay the fine lines and wrinkles on forehead or other part of your face from showing up.

A New Cancer on the Rise:Throat cancers

Throat cancers:

Throat cancer refers to cancerous tumors that develop in your throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx) or tonsils.

Your throat is a muscular tube that begins behind your nose and ends in your neck. Your voice box sits just below your throat and is also susceptible to throat cancer. The voice box is made of cartilage and contains the vocal cords that vibrate to make sound when you talk. Throat cancer can also affect the piece of cartilage (epiglottis) that acts as a lid for your windpipe. Tonsil cancer, another form of throat cancer, affects the tonsils, which are located on the back of the throat

These essential steps help keep you and your family safe.

1. Pay Close Attention to Recurring Symptoms

Doctors don’t routinely screen for throat cancer, so flag any symptoms that last longer than 2 weeks or that clear up but soon return. Your primary care doctor will refer you to an ear, nose, and throat doctor for more thorough testing. “When [HPV-related] cancer is caught early,patients have greater than a 90% survival rate,” says Anna Giuliano, PhD, chair of the department of cancer epidemiology and genetics at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. Most patients are younger and healthier than those with cancers triggered by smoking and drinking. Research shows that HPV-positive cancers also respond better to radiation and chemotherapy.

2. Know Your Risk

A 2007 New England Journal of Medicine study found that people with six or more oral-sex partners in their lifetime were at 3.4 times greater risk of this kind of throat cancer. The HPV virus may remain dormant for years or even decades, so your past partners can affect your current vulnerability even if you’ve long been married. If you’ve had abnormal Pap tests or a history of cervical HPV infections, then you may be at higher risk of oropharynx cancer.But before you start fretting over your sexual history, know that “although the HPV virus is common, throat cancer is still relatively rare,” says Dr. Giuliano.About 4 to 10% of people have

oral HPV infections, but only a tiny fraction of those will be diagnosed with cancer. Your body usually just fights off the virus. Also, keep in mind that smoking is still the predominant cause of oropharynx cancer.

3. Vaccinate Your Children

Currently approved to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts in people ages 9 to 26, the HPV vaccine can likely thwart throat cancer too. One of the strains it protects against (HPV 16) is linked to more tha90% of HPVrelated throat cancers. Experts advise getting your tween, teen, or young adult vaccinated

Tests and diagnosis

In order to diagnose throat cancer, your doctor may recommend:

Using a scope to get a closer look at your throat. Your doctor may use a special lighted scope (endoscope) to get a close look at your throat during a procedure called endoscopy. A tiny camera at the end of the endoscope transmits images to a video screen that your doctor watches for signs of abnormalities in your throat. Another type of scope (laryngoscope) can be inserted in your voice box. It uses a magnifying lens to help your doctor examine your vocal cords. This procedure is called laryngoscopy.

Removing a tissue sample for testing. If abnormalities are found during endoscopy or laryngoscopy, your doctor can pass surgical instruments through the scope to collect a tissue sample (biopsy). The sample is sent to a laboratory for testing.

Imaging tests. Imaging tests, including X-ray, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), may help your doctor determine the extent of your cancer beyond the surface of your throat or voice box.

Staging 

Once throat cancer is diagnosed, the next step is to determine the extent, or stage, of the cancer. Knowing the stage helps determine your treatment options.

The stage of throat cancer is characterized with the Roman numerals I through IV. Each subtype of throat cancer has its own criteria for each stage. In general, stage I throat cancer indicates a smaller tumor confined to one area of the throat. Later stages indicate more advanced cancer, with stage IV being the most advanced.

5 Ways to Plump Your Lips...

What woman doesn't want full lips? Celebrities such as Angelina Jolie have shown off their plump, pouty smiles. Full lips can make your whole look complete. Everyone knows full lips are considered sexy. Most cosmetic enhancement relies upon injections. These fixes are short lived and expensive. Before spending money subjecting yourself to a knife and a needle, think about the following steps to get fuller, plump lips without the injections.

Follow these surgery-free tips to give your mouth sexy fullness and a glossy pout

1 Use a Nightly Lip Rejuvenator

Give your lips a twice-daily dose of peptides and hyaluronic acid—ingredients that improve hydration and elasticity as well as soften lines. Smooth on Dermalogica AGE Smart Renewal Lip Complex

2. Exfoliate with a Washcloth

Before putting on lip color, lightly run a damp washcloth over lips. this increases circulation to boost fullness and provides a smooth canvas for color to adhere to

3 Define Your Lips

here’s a right (and a wrong!) way to apply lipliner. “You want to ‘fence in’ lipstick with a lip pencil,” says Sydney-based make-up artist Vanessa Collins. First, slick on your lipstick as usual; second, define lips with the pencil; and third, use a brush to blend pencil inwards into the lipstick. This creates a barrier on the lips that keeps lippie from bleeding and feathering. 

4 Opt for a Soft Pink Gloss

this universally flattering hue and shiny, moisturizing formula reflect the most light, so lips look bigger. For best results, pick a plumping version, which is made with ingredients derived from menthol that slightly swell lips for a few hours.

5.Give SPF a Kiss

Use a balm with a built-in SPF of at least 30 before putting on gloss or liner and reapply when touching up. UVA rays can degrade collagen, making lips look thinner.

Top foods that typically dismissed by dieters can help you happily slim down.

Bread:

Bread contains carbohydrates, which boost brain chemicals that curb overeating Bread is an excellent source of carbs, which your brain needs to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that promotes feelings of comfort and satisfaction, says Nina T. Frusztajer, MD, a Boston-based physician who specializes in nutrition and is coauthor of The Serotonin Power Diet. “As your body digests carbohydrates, it releases insulin, which helps channel tryptophan—an amino acid—into the brain. Tryptophan then gets converted to serotonin,” she explains.When serotonin levels are optimal, you feel calm and happy and have fewer cravings; when they’re low, you feel depressed and irritable, making you more likely to overeat. Breads containing whole grains are healthiest, and one serving equals one slice of bread, half an English muffin, or a small roll

Pasta:

pasta a high fluid content keeps you satisfied longer Cooked pasta and rice are about 70% water—and eating fluid-rich foods keeps you fuller longer, compared with dry foods, according to research from the British Nutrition Foundation. Like bread, the carbs in pasta boost serotonin to help curb overeating. The proper portion of pasta is 1⁄2 cup cooked, or about the size of an ice-cream scoop. Choose whole grain varieties for filling fiber, and add grilled chicken and lots of veggies to bulk up your dish even more.

Potatoes:

potatoes Form resistant starch, a fiber that burns fat These veggies may be one of our most misunderstood foods. Fried or doused in sour cream, they’re not going to help you lose weight. But when boiled or baked, a potato’s starch absorbs water and swells. Once chilled, portions of the starch crystallize into a form that resists digestion—resistant starch. Unlike other types of fiber, resistant starch gets fermented in the large intestine, creating fatty acids that may block the body’s ability to burn carbohydrates. In their place, you burn fat. A healthy potato serving is about the size of a fist.

Peanut Butter

peanut Butter rich in healthy fats that help banish belly flab Studies show that diets high in monounsaturated

fatty acids (abundant in peanut butter and nuts) prevent accumulation of fat around the midsection,

boost calorie burn, and promote weight loss. In fact, women who eat one serving of nuts or peanut butter 2 or more times a week gain fewer pounds than women who rarely eat them, according to recent research from the Harvard School of Public Health. One reason: A snack that includes peanut butter helps you stay full for up to 2 1⁄2 hours, compared with 30 minutes for a carbonly snack such as a rice cake, finds research from Purdue University. (Carbohydrates satisfy a craving, while nuts keep you feeling full.) Peanut butter and nuts are high in calories, so stick with a 2-tablespoon portion—about the size of a golf ball.

cheese great source of calcium, which burns calories and fat At about 100 calories and 5 g of fat per ounce, cheese usually tops the no-no list, but its calcium improves your ability to burn calories and fat, according

to a recent research review. Not getting enough of this mineral may trigger the release of calcitriol, a hormone that causes the body to store fat. Scientists at the University of Tennessee found that people on a reduced calorie diet who included an extra 300 to 400 mg of calcium a day lost significantly more weight than those who ate the same number of calories but with less calcium. Scientists aren’t exactly sure why,but eating calcium-rich foods is more effective than taking calcium supplements— and cheese has about 200 mg per ounce. Just stick to 2-ounce portions, and choose light varieties to get health benefits for half the calories.

Dark Chocolate:

Dark chocolate satisfies a common craving to prevent bingeing Up to 97% of women experience cravings, and chocolate is the most common and “intensely” craved food, according to a recent study. Having an occasional small serving of a favorite treat is better than depriving yourself, which may lead to a binge, says Greaves. In fact, people who tried to not think about chocolate ate two-thirds more of it than people who were told to talk about it freely, according to British research. Dark varieties are more satisfying than milk chocolate, say scientists at the University of Copenhagen, but measure your portion, and be mindful when you eat. Slowly savoring one or two squares of a high-quality dark chocolate bar will satisfy a craving more than wolfing down M&M’s in front of the TV.

Healthy Tips for Your Healthy Life...

Replace your disposable bags and plastic containers with eco-conscious lunch totes. These reusable resources reduce the risk of potentially harmful chemicals leaching into your food—and help save money and eliminate waste

Instead of VINYL lunch Boxes, Use...Tasty Lunch Tote:

This lightweight neoprene sack is a safe alternative to vinyl, which may contain lead, says the center for environmental health. The bag keeps food hot (or cold) for up to 4 hours.

Instead  of Plastic containers, Use... Lunch Bots Pico:

This rust-resistant container is made of stainless steel that contains no chemicals or toxins, including BPa

Instead of Plastic Bags, Use... Fresh Snack Pack:

Made of ethylene-vinyl acetate, a plastic deemed safe for food storage by the ePa and fDa, this reusable and washable pouch acts like a plastic bag but won’t end up in a landfill, where it could harm soil and water supplies.

4 Surprising Causes of Back Pain

Back pain affects up to85% , but age and overuse aren’t the only culprits: New research reveals that discomfort could stem from one of these stealth causes.

1 You don’t get enough vitamin D.

 “Patients with chronic back pain not due to injury or disease often have inadequate Levels of vitamin D,”says Stewart B. Leavitt PhD, a pain management specialist. The lower back seems particularly vulnerable to poor bone health related to low D levels.Talk with your doctor about taking a bigger dose; with 2,000 IU of D3per day, the pain either disappears or is reduced significantly, Leavitt says

.2 You’re not very“regular.” 

Blockage in the lower intestine can cause pressure in the lower back—and discomfort worsens if the condition persists. Drink more water,eat fiber-rich produce and grains, and exercise to prevent constipation.

3 You’re in a mental funk. 

Mood plays an Important role in how the body perceives pain, soa distressed emotional state can cause your back to hurt. Depression and stress can magnify relatively minor pain.

4 You have undiagnosed scoliosis.

A mild case might have been overlooked, or, as you age, a lack of calcium and weak back muscle scan cause the spine to become misaligned.Diagnosing adults can be tricky because doctor shave to differentiate pain caused by scoliosis from pain caused by disk problems or overuse injuries.Degenerative scoliosis is at least partly preventable if you adopt healthy habits(maintaining a healthy weight, doing exercises to build back strength, and not smoking) early on.

Remedy For Clogged Drains and Useful tips to avoid a blocked kitchen sink

The next time you have a clogged kitchen sink, you don't have to resort to calling a plumber or pouring a bottle of hazardous chemicals down the drain. Using simple kitchen staples or common household objects, you can unclog your kitchen sink on your own without paying a dime. 

To prevent future clogs, avoid putting food waste, solids and kitchen oils down the drain as much as possible. Even when the kitchen sink is not clogged, you can use the baking soda and vinegar method (illustrated below) as regular maintenance to keep your sink drains flowing as smoothly as possible. 

Got your own DIY tips for unclogging the kitchen sink? Share with us in the comments below. 

Homemade Remedy For Clogged Drains

If you have a clogged drain and cannot run out to the store to get a commercial drain product, try this remedy.

1) Remove all water from the sink. You may have to dip it out of the sink with a cup and place it in a bucket.

2) Pour one cup of baking soda down the drain.

3) Follow that with one cup of table salt.

4) Next, pour one half cup of white vinegar down the drain.

5) Allow the drain to set for ten minutes than flush it with two quarts of boiling water.

Useful tips  to avoid a blocked kitchen sink

A main problem home owners experience with their kitchen sinks is the excessive build-up of both food and grease that gather together in the drain line. One should always keep in mind that the drain lines used by a kitchen sink vary significantly in size when compared to other drain lines used in the house. This means that, as opposed to other drainage systems, it is much easier to overload a kitchen drain line than expected.

Below are four useful tips that should be followed to avoid a blocked kitchen sink:

1. Understanding the garbage disposer

The kitchen sink garbage disposer is a wonderful and convenient piece of equipment. However, it must be understood that it has one basic role and that is to grind up the unwanted remains of food into particles that are small enough to easily pass through the drain. Once this occurs, the drainage system functions to carry the food waste further down the drain so that it finds its way into the sewer.

2. Cutting food into small bits

Small bits and pieces of food that make their way down the sink are completely acceptable for a garbage disposer, but a garbage disposer itself should not be mistaken as a trash can. Food waste is likely to fall into the sink when cooking, but it should be sent down in small bunches and not as one large amount. Hot water from the sink should run to help the small pieces pass down the drain easily. 

3. Foods that should avoid the drain

A garbage disposer works great for most food waste, but as is the case with nearly every appliance it does have exceptions. Certain foods nearly always cause problems, including rice, citrus fruits and onions. When preparing food with these ingredients, it is highly recommended for the unwanted pieces to be composted or thrown in the trash can, not washed down the kitchen sink.

4. Proper disposal of grease and oils

Depending on how frequently one uses grease and oil in their cooking, these ingredients will eventually end up in the kitchen sink drainage system. Grease and oil will build up in the pipe system and begin to limit the flow of water and other food waste, eventually causing a blockage. For this reason, grease and oil should be poured in the trash whenever possible to minimize any potential problem.

In summary, by understanding the role of garbage disposers in kitchen sinks and taking care to prevent what commonly leads to pipe blockage, one can easily avoid the inconvenience and expense of needing to call a professional plumber for help.

25Things You Should Do Before You 35

1. Give up a grudge. Letting go of the old frees you up for the new.

2. Decide on a Wednesday which country you’ll be taking a bargain flight to on Friday. Last-minute travel gets harder, not  easier, when the responsibilities pile on.

3. Learn to curse in at least one new language. Because‘shut the eff up’ sounds so much more sophisticated when it’s in French.

4. Start a blog about anything that you love; maybe the only people that read it are your family and friends but you’ll have so much fun doing it.

5. Expand your social circle by asking a friend you admire to fix you up with afriend she admires.

6. “Take enough pictures of yourself so that years down, you can re-live all the crazy moments in one big(non-Facebook) photo album.”

7. Try something out-of-the-box. Take your buddies out for a gay parade and click as many pics as you can.

8. Still single? Sleep with a bad boy. If it’s good, do it a few more times.

9. Take yourself out to dinner.Sit at the bar, bring a book,and just chill without checking your phone every minute.

10. Host your first cocktail party, the kind with LBD sand wine glasses.

11. Agree to a blind date without asking a million questions about the guy.Just go.

12. “It’s time to stop being a shoppinghoarder. Host a clothes swap ora living-room sale and get rid of that junk!”

13. Fight for a cause.Committing to a specific charity (1) makes you more interesting and (2) is more productive.

14. Buy a piece of jewellery that signifies all you’ve achieved so far. It will boost your confidence every time you see it.

15. Clean up your social circle by getting rid of the deadwood.

16. “Take a leaf out of Madonna’s book and sign up for a Pilates class; get to know yourbody better

17. “Say ‘yes’ to adventure sports or go hiking; you’ll never be this fit again!”

18. Make a boyfriend from another country; you might just learn a lot morthan ‘I love you’ in a new language.

19. Ditch the ‘you know’ or whatever little vocal habit you acquired during high school.It’s, like, not doing you any favours.

20. You know your favourite type of wine. Now figure out why it’s your favourite, so you can describe the aroma,body, and acidity you prefer to a sommelier and ask for recommendations.

21. “Plan to catch your faveband on tour because waiting for them to come to your city may happen too late.”

22. Choose a larger-than-life old-school idol—AudreyHepburn—to be a Fun,Fearless model for yours tyle or attitude.

23. Ask for a raise when you’ve earned it. It is nerve racking,heart-pounding, and essential to growing your career.

24. Stop gossiping. We know it’s difficult,but all that negative talk is making you negative. Time to grow up.

25. Stop wearing clothes that aren’t you.Start wearing clothes that are you, but even sexier.