The Stinky Truth

I’m back!!! Back to my journey of blogging; sharing my experiences on life, faith and fashion. What a break it has been. Some God-sent angels came to me inquiring or advising me on my blogging adventure. To them, I am grateful. I truly believe we all have a story or a learning experience we can share that could benefit others. As timid as you may be or not well spoken at times, you have a story and someone is dying to hear or read what you have to say and more so, be encouraged by it. If you haven’t already considered starting your own blog, or writing a book or just starting a journal, the benefits far outweigh the limitations you are combating with in your head. Just do it!

So enough about my promotional ad for blogging let’s dive into our subject. So it’s summer and with it comes an unbearable heat and humidity that impacts our bodies in extensive ways. For some of us we perspire uncontrollably in every orifice of our bodies. Whereas, there are healthy benefits in ridding our bodies of its toxins through sweat, however the foul odor that occurs is not pleasurable, and that’s the stinky truth! So how do we control or eliminate the body odor? Before continuing, let me preface by saying that I am by no means a hygienist, doctor, or a student of anatomy or in pursuit of a medical career. What I am is an ardent researcher who believes strongly in adhering to good, useful principles and practices that can improve lives. So the tips I’ll be sharing are those that I’ve tried, or friends or family members have tried and proven them to work.

The first myth that I want to dispel is that sweat smells. Yes, I was shocked to learn this was not true. So what emits that odor? According to an article by Medical News Today, it is the natural bacteria that breaks down the emitted fats and proteins into acids. So our deodorants neutralize the smell by getting rid of our emitted fats and proteins. In so doing the bacteria does not have anything to feed on which ceases its reproduction. Antiperspirant deodorants are noted for having astringents and antimicrobials which kill the bacteria and slow down their reproduction as explained in an article in Kroger My Magazine. Which supports the ad of keeping you from smelling longer.

Personally, I’ve moved away from antiperspirant deodorants and began using natural deodorants such as: Toms, Schmidt’s and now Primal Pit Paste. My tale was one where antiperspirants would work well in eliminating my odor but after a few months of usage it became ineffective in eliminating my odor for the advertised periods of time. It was almost as if my body became immune to the properties of the deodorant and returned to it’s problematic smell. I soon discovered that most of these deodorants contained aluminum which is associated as a cause for certain mental diseases and cancers. It did not make sense to me to continue using something that was temporarily helping in one area but harming me in the next. However, the natural deodorants have not failed me yet. The plant based ingredients such as sunflower seed oil, and aloe are able to effectively combat the bacteria.

However, I recognize that there are other factors that contribute to our foul odor such as: hormone imbalance, diet, negative reactions to deodorants or perfumes, feeling stressed, an illness, etc. If your problem is more severe, or you don’t want to use deodorant, or you are unable to, then consider these natural remedies: –

The Baking Soda Potion
My Mum was the one who introduced this to me in my teens and I’ve stuck with it; especially on days when I predict I’ll excessively sweat. It is the application of lime/lemon and baking soda under the armpits. This paste like mixture kills the bacteria and helps control sweating. I’ll mix the juice of half a lime/lemon with 2 teaspoons of baking soda, make a paste then apply on my armpits and let it sit while bathing then rinse off after 3-5 minutes.

Rubbing Alcohol
Alcohol is known as being an anti-bacterial therefore it kills that said bacteria, and it’s drying capabilities help prevent or minimize sweating. This method has saved me in times when my deodorant was not readily accessible. Often times I’ll wipe my armpits with alcohol swabs to help with the sweating and to make me feel fresher. Speaking about wiping, it is important to note that if you do have your deodorant nearby and you are perspiring and or emitting a foul odor; instead of applying more deodorant first remove or wipe off your first application before applying more deodorant. This build up of deodorant and bacteria just damages your clothing and does not prove to be effective in eliminating odors on a long term basis.

Clothing
I grew up on a tropical island; so I was very familiar with the effects of the heat on the body. My Mum being a seamstress taught me useful tricks to combat these embarrassing situations. One that stuck with me was knowing materials and how they respond to your body, heat and ultimately sweat. For example polyesters and spandex tend to hold body odors. Therefore these aren’t the best materials to wear on a stressful day or during hot weather. Cotton and linen on the other hand, are more breathable materials and odor escape from them quicker. Similarly with tight clothing vs loose fitting clothing; loose clothing allow your body to breathe and don’t hold odors as much.

DIY Deodorant                                                                                                                                       If nothing seems to work for you I would strongly recommend researching and making your own deodorant. A friend of mine tried her own DIY Deodorant and got a little fancy, putting it in a roll on deodorant bottle. She was so proud of her work and the effectiveness of it. I’ve provided a recipe below by Wellness Mama that you can use but like I mentioned you can research a recipe or other remedies that best suits you.

Feel free to share with me any help remedies you’ve used to combat body odor. I am interested in learning and trying new things. Of course, also consider checking out my blog entitled: Before you use that perfume, mist or cologne you would want to read this for more helpful tips related to this topic.

Coconut Oil Deodorant Ingredients
6 T coconut oil
1/4 cup (4 T) baking soda
1/4 cup (4 T) organic cornstarch
essential oils (optional)

Coconut Oil Deodorant Instructions
1.Mix baking soda and arrowroot together in a medium sized bowl.
2.Mash in coconut oil with a fork until well mixed.
3.Add oils if desired.
4.Store in small glass jar or old deodorant container for easy use.

Sources

Gordon, J. (2018, July). Kroger MyMagazine. No Sweat Summer. Retrieved August 10, 2018 from https://mymagazinesharing.socialmedialink.com/home#/

Nordqvist, C. (2017, November 29). Medical News Today. What’s to know about body odor? Retrieved August 10, 2018 from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/173478.php

Wells, K. (2018, June 7). Wellness Mama. How to make natural deodorant? Retrieved August 10, 2018 from https://wellnessmama.com/1523/natural-deodorant/

 

Bless a Business

I heard this concept used by a church to promote an event, whereby the members were encouraged to support a local restaurant by fellowshipping and patronizing the business at a specific date and time. I thought it was a great idea, particularly because of the partnership being formed and the marketing strategy within the concept. However, my mind started wondering as to how this concept can be applied to other scenarios?

One such time in which I applied this concept was at a visit to my local Charming Charlie store. I was looking for gifts for a program I participated in. I spoke to the customer service representative describing what I was looking for and the budget I was working with. My husband and I were so impressed with her service; she truly exceeded our expectations. We thanked her and in turn inquired about her manager. We don’t usually do this but as I said before, we were very impressed. We told the manager how good she was, only for the manager to tell us she is the store manager. The manager was happy we shared our satisfaction and commendation and mentioned, few people do that now a days. So it got me thinking as to how do we recognize businesses or employees when they have done a job well done?

Truth be told most of us don’t have a sense of obligation to commend anyone or a business for good service, because after all that’s their duty. Furthermore, lately customer service has not been what it used to be as representatives have become disinterested in actually serving customers. So when you’ve encountered someone who goes beyond the call of duty, really taking the initiative and exemplifying outstanding service what is or should be your response? I think they should be acknowledged. Not necessarily with a fan fare of balloons and cake but some act of appreciation should be done.

Here are some suggestions, to consider:-

• The first step you can take is saying “Thank you.” Such appreciation, whether verbal or written goes a long way and means a lot to the recipient.
• If you have the time, speak praises on their behalf. Share with your friends, their bosses or co-workers how impressed you were with their performance. Random acts of kindness such as these could really boost someone’s esteem and encourage them to always demonstrate stellar performances.
• Consider writing a positive review online about the store or the service you received. In so doing, you can encourage more business to this store.
• Complete a survey sharing your satisfaction. Some stores even offer rewards and or discounts for sharing your feedback,  namely: JCPenney, Target and Macy’s just to name a few.

So as you shop at your local retail stores, consider taking your patronage further by blessing them in an unique way.

Spring has sprung people! What does this mean for you?

Spring has sprung people! Here comes the cool, gentle breeze, the beautiful sunlight and gorgeous flowers. I like spring not only because of the great weather but because it allows me to experience the “renewal effect.” What does this mean? For me, it starts with my closet. Automatically when spring rolls around I go into spring cleaning mode, putting away all the winter clothes and shoes and organizing my closet. By extension, I start a “detox” program whereby anything I haven’t worn over the last 9 to 12 months I count them as “it’s time to let it go.”  Clothing arrangements that I considered to be incomplete so I did not wear, for instance I needed a matching skirt, pants or an accessory, I review them once more, say my goodbyes, and put them in my “it’s time to let it go” pile.

 

So the second part of my detox is getting rid of my “it’s time to let it go” pile. I make my decision based on whether or not I am seeking quick or slow returns on my stuff. Opportunities such as: selling your clothes online via websites such as: thredUp, groups on Facebook, or selling your clothes at a local store such as: Plato’s Closet or any thrift store, or participating in a garage sale. If you decide to sell to these vendors know their requirements; what sort of clothes or accessories they accept and what amount they are willing to pay. There are also charitable organizations to which you can donate to  such as: Goodwill, the Society of St Vincent de Paul, and so on.

In my opinion, the best opportunity is to give clothing or an accessory to a friend or someone in need. I am often excited to know that this is going to bless someone and the receiver is appreciative. As you give to others, be mindful not to follow up or mention or discuss your donation with others or the person. Let your act of generosity follow the admonishment of the bible, Matthew 6:3 (NIV) says “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”

Now that I have decluttered and gotten rid of some stuff,  it is  time to press the reset button. So in my closet I align and classify my clothes based on the regular events I participate in. I also position them with the hangers away from me towards the wall. As I take an item out to wear, after wearing it I put it on the hanger and back in the closet but  in the opposite direction. This helps me to quickly identify those outfits I use regularly as opposed to those I don’t use at all by looking at the direction of the hanger. By doing this my next renewal process should be easier and quicker with this new set-up.

The  reset  button also allows me to re-evaluate my past shopping decisions. I ask  questions such as:-

• “Did I really get a good deal with this purchase ?”
• “Did I get practical use of this outfit ?”
• “Would I make this purchase again after my experience ?”

 Although I’ve primarily discussed how you could renew your wardrobe, by no  means should you limit the “detox” program to just this. Let spring be for you a renewal of your mind and spirit. If you have fallen off the wagon concerning goals you’ve set for yourself this is a perfect opportunity to start over. Shake off all the negativity that may be clouding your judgment (see Romans 12:2). Make a conscientious effort not to repeat your mistakes by devising plans, creating  vision  boards and valuing your goals. Most importantly, don’t waste anytime with deliberations but follow the mantra of Nike, Just Do It.

Your Emergency Kit

Your Emergency Kit.

Your Emergency Kit

Have you ever had a ‘wardrobe malfunction’ and found yourself scrambling to repair your clothing? I’ve had my fair share, and I’ve learned how to invent new ways of using every-day objects in order to save myself from embarrassment. In an effort to be prepared in case of any incidents I’ve created a list of items, known as “My Emergency Kit.” I believe these could rescue you and restore you to that state of looking, or at least functioning at your best. I’ve created categories so that you would understand that there isn’t just one item to fix one situation. What’s important is to have an item available and to discover the best use of the item/s when an emergency arises.

Things that stick: You may have encountered a time when your hem came out, or your zipper malfunctioned and lost its connection. Or your garment tore, or you may just want to prevent your garment from revealing too much or keep it stuck to your skin. I’ve found tape to be very helpful to remedy these situations. It’s important to find a good adhesive tape, to hold your garment together or keep it attached to your body. Now there are actually different types of fabric tape that are worth consideration due to their specific functions. Exercise care when applying these the tape so that its use is not visible to the public.

 

Things that tie: These items are so useful when a button pop or a shoe sole comes apart from the shoe or a slipper or shoe strap burse. Such items as: a rubber band, dental floss, thread, or hair tie could tie, wrap or keep your garments or shoes together for a significant amount of time. I would add to make sure whatever tool you use, it is is either stretchy or long enough, so it can be useful. Anything less would just be useless load for your handbag.

 

Things that hold/connect: My go to items has always been pins to accomplish this task, particularly safety pins. I’ve found safety pins to be helpful for keeping garments together, for instance if you want to minimize showing your cleavage a safety pin can connect your garments and keep them together. Other scenarios hem or zipper coming out could be rectified with the use of a safety pin/s.

Things that clean: Whether there’s a need to practice good hygiene or to remove a stain on your clothes I’ve found these items to be helpful items: hand sanitizer, wet wipes, a handkerchief or tissue. I’ve listed these items from the most effective to the least. Another helpful tip to note is that some stains could be removed by rubbing the material on to itself. So if you are trying to remove a makeup stain from your sleeve you could rub the unstained part of the sleeve on to the stained part. After a few harsh rubs the stain should disappear or be less visible. Of course this is more true for dark colored garments of heavy materials.

 

These emergency tools I’ve mentioned above are small enough to fit in any size handbag or purse. My hope is that as you get ready to head out you would equip yourself with your own emergency kit so that you would always be in a state of readiness.

My Mantra

I came across this quote by Shanel Cooper-Sykes and felt it spoke volumes to me. I guess with so many influences forcing us to stretch, enhance, add and take away things in regards to our body, it’s easy to become overly obsessed with adorning oneself. But as the author alludes, our spirituality is way more important than our outward adornment. Let’s keep things in perspective and hold ourselves accountable. If we find ourselves spending hours in the beautification process, here are some questions we should ask ourselves:

• “Is this necessary to satisfy my soul, or someone else?”
• “Will I find joy in the final product?”
• “Is it worth it?”

Similarly to spending hours getting our bodies looking acceptable, lets become zealous, spending sufficient time getting our attitudes and our minds right. As we progress through this year let’s educate ourselves so we can manifest good fruits. I am aspiring to be not just aesthetically beautiful but spiritually beautiful. How about you?

Before you use that perfume, mist or cologne you would want to read this…..

I attended a course in my neighborhood that focused on beauty care. Our presenter, Ms. Pearl Steinkuehler (a Mary Kay Consultant) covered varying topics but the one I want to share in this post is entitled ‘Fragrancing.’ Before defining this process let’s start by closely examining our fragrances. You would notice that most mists and colognes are alcohol based, whilst perfumes are oil based. There are exceptions, where perfumes primarily contain alcohol.

Pop Quiz

Between fragrances that are oil or alcohol based, which scents last longer?

The scents from oil based fragrances tend to last longer in comparison to alcohol based fragrances. Oil based fragrances tend to last 6-15 hours whereas alcohol based fragrances last 1-3 hours (Bishop, 2014). Oil based fragrances are usually more expensive than alcohol based fragrances (Ibid). Furthermore, be careful when storing perfumes or colognes. All fragrances lose their scents when stored in direct sunlight.

Pop Quiz, To Do or Not To Do

After spraying your wrist with a fragrance which of the following options listed below should you do?

A. Rub your wrists together to magnify the scent.   B. Put your nose near your wrist to determine if you need additional sprays.

            

C. Leave your wrist alone

The answer is c. leave your wrist alone. Contrary to popular belief, rubbing your wrists does not magnify scents, instead it aids in the evaporation process taking place faster; therefore your aroma would not last as long. It’s better to let fragrances dry and evaporate naturally without any assistance. Always remember you always want to strive to have your fragrance blossom. Fragrancing is the ability to achieve this with your mist, perfume or cologne. One way of making your fragrance blossom is by applying your fragrance to areas of your body where you have a pulse. Your fragrance would bloom with the natural pulsating movements of your body. Your pulses are located: within the arches of your feet, ankles, the back of your knees, your wrists, décolleté, neck, and behind your ears (these are areas where it is safe to apply your fragrance). Fragrances rise so spray your fragrance from the bottom of your body and come up. In that way your scent would last longer.

Another point to note is that you always want to spray your fragrances on your body rather than on your clothes, least your clothes become stained or you cause an irritation due to changing the chemical makeup of your clothes.

The French also use fragrancing but their technique involve using a fragrance in two or more forms to achieve a well-scented body odor. For e.g. if a perfume/cologne has a matching shower gel, lotion, powder, etc. use all or most as directed so your body would be well scented for a longer period of time.

Pop Quiz

How do you detect when you are wearing too much perfume/cologne?

Despite the advantages of fragrancing you don’t want to be that person whose aroma is too harsh or overbearing to those who come into contact with you. Sometimes after using a particular perfume/cologne for too long your nose may become too familiar with that scent and you may not recognize its potency. Similarly to a drug addict you may feel the need to get that first powerful scent as when you first applied your fragrance. Always resist the temptation to overspray yourself with a fragrance.

To detect whether or not you are wearing too much fragrance you could do the following:-

• After applying your perfume/cologne you could also try inhaling the smell of: coffee beans, swatch of wool or an unfragranced forearm, then try to smell your perfume (Vaughn, 2010). These scents should reset your nasal palate and sensitivity so you could truly detect the potency of your fragrance.
• You could also try applying your fragrance then enter an enclosed room such as a bathroom. If when leaving the room you could still smell your fragrance in the room as strong as when you first applied it this is an indication that your perfume/cologne application is too much (Ibid).

Some other obvious indications are: you cannot keep your nose as long as 30 seconds near to the area/s where you applied the fragrance because your nose is burning, or people are coughing or sneezing when they come into contact with you.

Sometimes how much perfume/cologne you apply may not be the problem as much as the fragrance is just very strong and harsh. You may want to consider trying an entirely new fragrance.

Lastly, God deemed us as His fragrant offering, we are a pleasing aroma of Christ (see Ephesians 5:2 and 2 Corinthians 2:15). So let’s fulfill our description literally but practice applying fragrances correctly.

Sources

Bishop, L. (2014). Leilani Bishop. Fragrance Oil vs. Perfume. Retrieved December 10, 2014 from http://leilanibishop.com/pages/fragrance-oil-vs-perfume

Vaughn, S. (2010, March 29). Examiner.com. Fragrance alert, how to tell when you’re wearing too much perfume or cologne. Retrieved from http://www.examiner.com/article/fragrance-alert-how-to-tell-when-you’re-wearing-too-much-perfume-or-cologne

Dress Code, Worship and God, Is there a connection?

Recently I was conversing with a friend and she shared with me a perspective that dealt with dress code, worship and God.  She connected these three aspects with this eye brow raising statement, “God does not care about what you wear when you come to worship Him.” After much discussion, I decided to share my perspective in my blog with the aim of educating myself and others.

 (A picture of the priest’s garments as described in Exodus 28)

Let me start by examining the garments of a worshipper as described in the Bible; let’s look at the priest who served in God’s sanctuary.  I chose this example because God calls us to be a part of His royal priesthood with the hope that we would accept His charge and reflect Him in all ways (see 1 Peter 2:9). Throughout Exodus chapter 28, you would see a description of the garments of the priesthood as instructed by God (as shown above). Verses 42 to 43 of The New King James Version say,

“And you shall make for them linen trousers to cover their nakedness; they shall reach from the waist  to the thighs. They shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they come into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister in the holy place, that they do not incur iniquity and die. It shall be a statute forever to him and his descendants after him.”

We see here that God took the time to describe even the underwear of the priests; the length, the material and its purpose. This provides evidence that He is very interested in what we wear when we come into the sanctuary to worship Him. Furthermore, I grew up with the practice of reserving certain underwear and outfits exclusively to wear at church. I appreciated this practice because it taught me how to respect and express my love to Him in all things. As a result, I always want to give my best to God.

Many use God’s appeal, “To Come as You are” to argue that God is not interested in our attire. Indeed, He makes this appeal, but recognize throughout the Bible, God never leaves individuals the way they came. Miraculously, everyone who encounters God is transformed in some way. For anyone who has experienced this conversion would admit that their outward appearance went through a conversion as well (for e.g. either their dress code or make up or jewelry changed). Could it be that God led them to make these changes?

If you put the Rolls Royce symbol on a Prius car would that make the Prius a Rolls Royce? No it wouldn’t. Similarly, God is more interested in a changed heart, rather than a “dressed up” appearance of our conviction. We need to truly surrender so He could lead in everything we do, including what we wear. Often times we compartmentalize areas of our lives in which we want His leadership, and leave other areas for our governance.  We think He would not be interested in minute details such as fashion etc. while this is far from the truth. God is interested in EVERY detail of our lives and wants to be involved (see Romans 12:1-2). Personally speaking, I’ve made the best dress choices when I consulted God. I’ve even invited Him to my shopping trips and He led me to great deals.

Matthew 6:28-30 of the New King James Version speak volumes in relation to this topic, and it read,

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you?…”

This is the assurance we have, God is interested in us and wants to “clothe” us figuratively and literally. He bids us not to become overly zealous over clothing, least we become the Prius with the Rolls Royce symbol. We have the greatest designer, who created beautiful landscapes with sophistication, unimaginable patterns and colors, available as our personal stylist. Why not trust Him to prepare us both spiritually and physically to enter His courts to worship Him?

 

Illusions

Have you ever tried on a garment in the dressing room of a store and felt happy because it fit perfectly, only to discover when you tried it on at home it didn’t look so great? Or have you ever left home feeling absolutely fabulous about your appearance, but when you arrived at your destination something changed, and you felt less confident about it? You may have wondered, “Is my mind playing tricks on me?” Or “Is my eyesight deteriorating?” Actually none of these may be the case. Sometimes certain features can create illusions that could make you look great or not so great. Just for a brief moment, I’ll like to list some features that I’ve come to realize play an integral part in enhancing or ruining your ultimate look.

Light: We all can appreciate a well lit room; it helps you to function and could even improve your mood. However, the description “a well lit room” does not mean sporadically placing lamps or light bulbs all over the space, or using any type of light/s. Instead, try looking for light sources that “cast a glow that is similar to natural daylight” (Lofgren, 2014, para. 2). For example, incandescent bulbs and LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs function in this capacity (Lofgren, 2014).

Pay attention to the lights in the room or space you use to get dress. The position of the lights are also very important. Have your light in a frontal position, just above eye level so excess shadows of your body aren’t created (Ibid).

Some lights could even make your skin tone look dull and your make-up look discolored (Ibid). Whatever light sources you choose, make sure it allows you to see the authenticity of colors, materials, patterns or designs. If you found yourself squinting or easily distracted with trying to solve obscurities, these are signs that your light source is not the best.

Another instance when good lighting is needed is when you are attempting to color block your attire. This is a risky practice but when done properly you could pull off an amazing appearance. The right light source plays a huge part in color blocking properly.

Light could also penetrate your clothes and reveal more of your body parts than you maybe willing to show. This is true often times when you are standing in the sun. In such a case it would be best to choose a garment made from heavy or combined materials (such as: polyester, tweed, etc.) or has an inner lining or use a half-slip.

Mirror: I’m sure you can agree that looking down at yourself and looking at your reflection in a mirror are two very different views. One difference is that your body parts appear larger when looking down as opposed to viewing your reflection in the mirror.  Therefore it is strongly advisable to use a full figured mirror when viewing yourself. Full figured mirrors are the best because they capture your total appearance with every body parts actual  dimensions.

Always keep this mirror at an angle, in so doing, you would capture more of your body in your reflection. Also ensure to pair your full figured mirror with good lighting (see  above  for  examples of good lighting sources) that’s properly positioned to ensure you get the best reflection of yourself .

Undergarments: Pay attention to the types of undergarments you choose to wear. Investing in underwear that fit well, provide the necessary support and have any other “magical” features. Whatever undergarments you choose, you always want to strive to look as natural as possible.  Let this exercise be your guide; as you look at yourself from head to toe in the mirror, if you find yourself stopping or concentrating at a particular area of your body, it could be because this area maybe drawing too much attention that could potentially ruin your overall look.

Note the word ‘under’ in the word undergarments, which hints that these garments should not be seen or revealed. Typically when looking at your overall appearance you should not be able to tell the presence, the color, or the material of your undergarments. There are exceptions to this rule based on your attire. For instance, if you wear a dress with a plunging neckline you could wear a camisole to avoid your cleavage from being seen, or your blouse may be of a sheer or translucent material so you could wear a vest to prevent your intimates from being seen.

Get a Second Opinion from a Reputable Source: The emphasis here is on “reputable”. If you find yourself wondering about your attire, seek the advice of a trustworthy person. Who is this? Someone whose eyesight is functioning at a working capacity. Someone who is candid, unafraid and capable of expressing their opinion. Someone who has a sense of fashion that is tasteful or even similar to yours. Someone who is truly interested in your well-being particularly when it comes to you looking and feeling your best (see Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

Getting a second opinion does not necessarily mean that you lack confidence in yourself or you are conceited. Instead, it says you are willing to receive advice and you are on a quest of self-improvement (see Proverb 19:20). Remember also, you may not always agree with that person’s view, but you should respect their opinion. In the end, you have the final decision and now you are well informed to do such.

(The above illustration is an example of a source that is not reputable due to his comment)

According to Dictionary.com (2014), in Psychology illusion is defined as “a perception, as of visual stimuli that represents what is perceived in a way different from the way it is in reality”. Hopefully the above tips  could help us with our perceptions and make the required changes that impact our reality positively. In so doing, we would be freed from the deception of illusions.

Sources

Dictionary.com. (2014). Illusion. Retrieved from September 25, 2014 from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/illusion

Lofgren, K. (2014).  Recommendation for Dressing Room Lighting. SFGate Home Guides by Demand Media. Retrieved September 25, 2014 from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/recommendation-dressing-room-lighting-39270.html

What’s Your Summer ?

Summer is here and we are experiencing the beauty, or for some the pains of it. The extreme temperatures and the humidity could make your experience either frustrating or embracing. If you look at summer as an expression, this may make your decision-making process easier. I choose to look at summer as my expression of everything that’s fun, exciting, happy and comfortable. So as I head to church or other events I express my summer through my sense of style.

(The above dress could be found at Forever 21)

For instance, this is my ‘Easy like Sunday Morning’ dress. I loved it because, it’s simple, bright and absolutely stunning. A friend told me seeing me in this dress just makes her happy. Now is the time to incorporate bright, bold colors in your dress code. Try yellows, pinks, oranges, corals, reds etc. Don’t worry about your skin tone; there are no clashes when it comes to these types of colors.

Pay attention to the material of your clothes during the summer. The above dress is made from a chiffon material. Due to the scorching heat of this season I strongly advise using garments that are made from: cotton, linen, chiffon, rayon, or jersey. Materials that are light weight are least likely to make you sweat or hold your perspiration.

Also, the length of the above dress is just right. Although it’s summer and there’s the temptation to let your skin and limbs out, I think one should be careful not to show too much. Some things should be left for the imagination. If you find yourself constantly pulling up or down on a garment then maybe you should not wear it. Remember your summer expression must always be comfortable. While this dress is above the knee and has fringed cap sleeves, it is still loose which makes it not too revealing and most importantly it looks chic and comfortable (see 1 Corinthians 10:31).  Loose clothing allows the air easy contact with your skin to evaporate any moisture/sweat which in turn helps you stay cool. Moreover, not every style may be for your body type, and there’s no need to feel embarrassed about that. Exercise wise judgement as you make your choices (see Proverbs 1:5).

Floral and abstract patterns are ideal for this season. Usually when these patterns are huge and displaced all over an outfit they could create a slimming illusion. These floral or abstract patterns could be in bright or dark colors. They are still a fun expression of your summer.

Furthermore, color choices are important. Usually dark colors such as: red, black, brown tend to absorb heat while light colors such as white tend to reflect heat. However, the opposite is true when certain variables exist, such as: thick garments, humidity and if the wearer is prone to sweat a lot (Inglis-Arkell, 2012).

(The rose, jacket and skirt as seen above could be found at JCPenney)

Lastly, consider using accessories. By adding a rose, a bolero jacket, a scarf or brightly colored shoes you could turn up a plain outfit to a delightful summer expression.

In summary, the keys for expressing your summer are:-

• Exercise freedom with your color choices.
• Pay attention to your materials and the thickness of your garment.
• Resist the temptation of showing too much.
• Strike a unique look.
• Ensure you are always comfortable.

So, I’ve shared my summer expression, with the hope that this empowers you. So, what’s your summer?

Source

Inglis-Arkell, E. (2012, April 23). The Physics that Explain Why You Should Wear Black This Summer.io9 we come from the future. Retrieved from http://io9.com/5903956/the-physics-that-explain-why-you-should-wear-black-this-summer