Slap Your Game Face On

Walking around cleaning and sanitizing everything around me didn't help. Taking preventative medicines, zinc vitamins, B12, and drinking my weight in water still didn't help. Secluding Jeremy to the couch still didn't help. I somehow managed to get sick. It's not the end of the world, but when you have limited sick days, and it's not even February yet. Sometimes, you just have to muscle through. If Jennifer Lawrence can look fabulous on the red carpet while having pneumonia,you can look great too! Or at least...not like an extra from Walking Dead.

Who would've guessed she was sick? Ahhh the power of makeup! 

We all get those horrible, inevitable sunken in raccoon eyes when we're sick. The first thing to do to remedy this is to use a cucumber brightening, de-puffing gel to soothe those sockets. It feels, and works,even better if you stick the tube in the fridge for a couple of minutes before using it on your face. Once the puffiness is gone,use a creamy under eye concealer to hide any bags or discoloration. I bet you're looking better already!

I know it's tempting to just throw your hair into a messy ponytail when you're not feeling 100%,but try a high bun instead! People who know me know I love to rock a bun, but there's reasons behind it! They make you look instantly polished,chic, and it attracts the eye upward away from your face. Great hair can be a great distraction when you're feeling ill.

Don't. Forget. Blush!! This is so critical because adding color to your face will make you look alive and dewy, whereas you could otherwise come off looking like a vampire. A sick vampire. 

Lastly,take a note from Jennifer Lawrence and rock a bold lip! It is fresh,vibrant,and all of those adjectives you don't actually feel like. This will also help distract from any sniffling, sneezing, or amount of cough drops consumed during your morning meeting. 

Unfortunately we can't all take sick days every wretched flu season.We can,however,make ourselves look like we feel fantastic just just a couple simple makeup tricks.Fake it till you make  it,gorgeous!

Friendship Breakups

There is a running joke in my family that has been around nearly as long as I have. My dad has one friend. Sure he has co-workers, acquaintances  and husbands of my mom's friends...but he only has one ride or die friend.This would often give me a big laugh growing up, saying we could have cheap birthday parties for him because we only had to send out one invitation! But maybe my dad was onto something. (I don't like to admit when he's right, it would give him an abnormally large head). 

We have all had that friend. The one we promised to be "BFFL". The one that got us through all our best and worst dates, haircuts, and fashion choices. The one who was more than a friend...she was a sister. As hard as it is,at what point is it time to cut the cord on some of these friendships?

Every friendship has its ups and downs,just like any other type of relationship. As I get older I realize the importance of the quality of my friends, not the quantity. I don't need 50 people gathered around for my birthday every year, just those who love and cherish our friendship as much as I do. It may sound harsh, and a bit like a reality show competition, but sometimes its best if we let some friendships live on in our memory. 

5 Signs It's Time to Dump Your Friend

1.) You only hear from her when she needs something.

2.) If she's not happy for you and your accomplishments.

3.) She's a Debbie Downer....all the time.

4.) You make all the effort to stay in touch.

5.) Your friend talks behind your back. 

Most times during a breakup it's your friends who bring you booze and ice cream, trying to get you out of your funk. But who do you turn to if the breakup you're going through is with a friend? It may be very difficult, but sometime we grow up and out of some friendships.When they begin to be more toxic than good,it's time to let go.No one should be allowed to bring you down or hold you back, especially a friend. Maybe I'll let dad be right on this one! 

LiveWrong

I had one. I'm sure you have had one,millions did and still do. It's a representation of hope, hard work,and perseverance. It is a symbol of the American dream, and for me,a hometown hero. And it was all a lie.

Am I surprised that Lance Armstrong actually used performance enhancing drugs? No, not really. But did I, like many others, want desperately for his story to be true? Of course. This is not another story of an athlete cheating to get,and stay, at the top.This was a story of a man conquering the steepest of mountains, both literally and metaphorically to come out a winner.All those years he doped, we were duped. I'll admit I rallied behind him, believed him, mainly because I wanted to believe his story. 

The public isn't who should get an honest apology from Lance, though. Those ex-teammates of his, and their families have been the most negatively impacted by his cycle of lies, (pun intended). The bullying of these people, the surprise good guys in this story,is the saddest part.Those who spoke out against him had their worlds turned into a modern day David and Goliath.

Maybe there is a light at the end of this tunnel, though. Maybe the American dream isn't necessarily achieved through winning and being the best, but maybe it's standing up for what is right and true.I'd rather be a decent person over winning any day of the week.So let the Lance Armstrongs of the world ride off into the sunset, because the real American heroes are those who stand up for what's right,and good will always prevail over evil. So let those who stand up for the truth be those you think of next time you look down at your Livestrong bracelet.

Romantically Lazy

Women have the stereotype of being high maintenance and not being easy to please. While there are always exceptions to the rule, most of us require nothing more than a little nurturing and tlc. I don't need Chanel or Burberry for every special occasion. All we really want is flowers, maybe even a nice card. But it seems like getting this is next to impossible nowadays....are men becoming romantically challenged? And is it our fault because we allow it? Yes. And yes. I feel silly if I create an argument over a forgotten anniversary....because does that make me seem shallow? Hell no! There are more important aspects to a relationship, yes, but those little bits of romance are what threads together a successful relationship. If the key to a long lasting love is falling in love with each other over and over again, those little romantic sentiments can never fade away. A card, some simple flowers, even an unexpected massage every once in a while will keep your woman falling head over heels for you over and over again. Become romantically lazy, though, and you may pay the price. It's a lot harder to make up for something after the fact is done, and we all know the saying "happy wife, happy life" is very much true!