Making Decisions That Matter
There’s a popular phrase in music that says - proper preparation prevents poor performance. Just remember, there’s always the element of the unexpected and when it happens you’ve got to stay composed and not fall apart. It’s never too late to take control of your life. Not to suggest that you ever lost control, but more so bring attention to the obvious detail that sometimes life seems to have a rhythm and a pace of it’s own often making us feel like spectators instead of participants. If you can’t relate to that theory, give it time. The goal is to be present in the moment of unforeseen circumstances so that you can successfully navigate any mental and emotional responses to find the lesson.
There’s not much you can do when all the things you can’t control start happening. There are times in life when one can’t hide behind academic credentials and self-help books. Seasons will appear that require sound decision making through trial and error. The moment will present itself when you’ll be faced with a choice to react projecting a fight or flight response. Don’t panic, just ground yourself in the present. Keep your core values in mind when assessing disappointments so the solutions you create will produce the stability you need. Weigh all your options thoughtfully and with care. Some situations may require prudence, so adopt a posture of maturity before making any moves that you may regret.
Above all don’t be afraid to make decisions. Allowing yourself to experience life is the greatest adventure. Be present in every moment, even if you can’t control the outcome, learn from the journey and above all just keep going.
Beauty Products & Expiration Dates: What’s in your Makeup Bag?
How you treat your skin matters, as well as the products you use. You may not need to visit a dermatologist to figure it out. If you prefer natural products, over the counter products, or prescribed agendas it makes no difference. There are a lot of makeup products available in stores and online. It’s no secret, a lot of beauty trends are worth trying. Taking on a new look or mastering a sleek technique never gets old. So, it’s easy to get sucked in to every new trending beauty hack that’s viral these days. Whatever your preference, there are plenty of options. It’s okay to try new things, however, every real beauty knows the best beauty routines recommend doing what works best to meet the needs of your natural beautiful skin.
To often many of us (including myself) has been busy and absent minded about something so simple such as product expiration dates. While it may not be at the top of your list of things to do today, when you get a moment take time to familiarize yourself with what’s going on in your makeup bag. It may be time to do a little housekeeping. This is a basic overview of a few common reminders that can often be forgotten or overlooked when it comes to the shelf life of your favorite go to skin care products.
Depending on the type of product and how it's stored, the shelf life of makeup varies quite a bit. Here's a quick breakdown of average expiration timelines once opened:
Mascara & liquid eyeliner: 3–6 months
Foundation & concealer: 12–18 months
Lipstick & lip gloss: 12–24 months
Powder products (blush, bronzer, eyeshadow): 18–24 months
Cream products (blush, highlighter): 12–18 months
Pencil liners (lip or eye): up to 2 years if sharpened regularly
Makeup sponges: 1–3 months, depending on use and cleaning habits
Take your time and don’t get frustrated if some of the product labels are not straight forward to decode and understand. A little research goes a long way. Here’s a hint: search product name + product expiration date. People will tell you beauty is more than skin deep. But it does start with the skin. First impressions are important so although looks aren’t everything, we can’t ignore that how we treat our skin matters. Work on maintaining your skins health and elasticity. Cleansing your skin daily, sometimes isnt enough. Hydration is a great tool and can be achieved in multiple ways. Eating healthy can also work to help you detox your skin. Here’s a great tip to remember, unopened makeup can last up to 2–3 years if stored in a cool, dry place, but natural or preservative-free products may expire sooner. A good rule of thumb: if it smells off, changes texture, or separates, it’s time to let it go.
California’s Michelin Guide: A Journey Through Starred Excellence
The Michelin Guide has grown into the standard of high expectations when it comes to culinary craftsmanship and creativity. The legend began in 1889, in a place called Clermont-Ferrand located in Central France, when the automobile industry was starting to gain popularity. Two brothers founded the Michelin Tire company and created an amazing guide encouraging drivers to explore local landmarks and businesses (like restaurants, hotels, and shops). It also included need to know survival tips to help travelers get around the city landscape and blend in with the locals (before there was google). To date, more than 30 million MICHELIN guides have been sold around the world.
There have been so many cooking shows over the years that celebrate the Michelin rating and its definitive contribution to the fine dining community of food connoisseurs (and those of us who can appreciate a little fun and adventure packed with flavor, persona and exquisite ambiance). But you don’t have to watch the food network to experience this type of artistry. There are currently around 80 restaurants in California that were awarded Michelin stars. In addition, an estimated 600 California eateries have received a Michelin acknowledgment in the form of a Bib Gourmand or Michelin Green star for their culinary work. From LA to the Bay, these restaurants are everywhere and extremely popular.
If you’re socially aware and prefer eating establishments that are eco-friendly, the Michelin Green Star focuses on acknowledging dining halls demonstrating the highest levels of ethical and sustainable practices with amazing recipes. Keep in mind, the Michelin standard isn’t all about expensive fine dining. Although some can be costly, others may vary. There’s a special list for best value three course meal venues that have been given the Bib Gourmand. If you’re thinking of eating at a Michelin star restaurant: 1 STAR means “high quality cooking worth a stop”, 2 STAR means “excellent cooking worth a detour”, and 3 STAR means “exceptional cuisine worth a special journey.” Reservations are recommended and you may want to do your research when it comes to tasting recommendations.
Tips for Conquering Clutter
Anyone renting or owning a home has been faced with the ongoing struggle of organizing their living quarters and closet spaces. It’s a never-ending cycle as we evolve throughout the seasons of life. We add more to our intimate spaces and during that process often debate among ourselves which items need to be removed, struggling with donating or getting rid of items that should no longer be used. After pondering my own internal struggles with organizing spaces in the home, I ran across an amazing article that totally renewed my perspective on a topic I thought needed no explanation.
Deborah Cabral, founder of The Declutter Coach, suggests organizers fall into 4 personality types: tidy, social, multitasking, or visual. According to Deborah, “No one type is messier than another; they’re just different”. After reading the article, I started to ask myself questions about how I viewed my own clutter. Is my clutter situational? Is my clutter a reflection of my booked and busy schedule? I was determined to explore and share such concepts, especially if it could lead to a, less is more mentality. Maintaining a clutter-free home starts with the individual(s) within the space. This clutter-free home guide is really simple to building new skills to keep spaces tidy on a regular basis. Below you can discover if the personality theory is as helpful as I found it to be. Depending on what’s happening in your life you may find useful tips that can be applied all year around using all 4 clutter cleaning profiles.
7 Habits to Keep Your Home Tidy All Year Round (realsimple.com)
De-clutter Your Home Office
Work organization strategies are personalized to help us function in our optimal strengths. Without question, there are ways to improve existing systems that we incorporate into our daily conversations of ‘how to do’ processes. However, keep the systems that work and focus on ways to better streamline tasks by removing the access items.
Workspace clutter is distracting. It may look different depending on the person, but no matter how it accumulates in our spaces we have to actively monitor the items we collect, display, and neglect in our production areas. As the year is winding down and we prepare for the holidays, we should take a few minutes daily to reevaluate our active working spaces. So, before you start feeling overwhelmed, too busy to make immediate action, or unwilling to prioritize your work clusters breathe deeply and release the pressure of perfection. After all, project planning may not be apart of your job title but when it comes to managing your work tasks you are the best one for the job.
Work organization strategies are personalized to help us function in our optimal strengths. Without question, there are ways to improve existing systems that we incorporate into our daily conversations of ‘how to do’ processes. However, keep the systems that work and focus on ways to better streamline tasks by removing the access items. Look around your space and (without negative critique) make a list of all the things out of use and no longer needed actively occupying essential space. Determine what the essential items are for completing necessary tasks within your workspace. Remove items that are not actively in use. If needed, consider reaching out to your leadership team to optimize your work ergonomic space to ensure that you’re balanced in your work focus. Be open to discussing decluttering strategies with peers as well and you may discover allies for managing large scale projects or detailed tasks.