10 Ways to Live a More Charmed Life

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines charm as “a trait that fascinates, allures, or delights” or “a physical grace or attraction.”  It is typically a set of characteristics that we use to draw others into our personal space, yet few people know how to charm themselves.  To live a charmed life is to live a personally fulfilling life.  A life where all of the senses are stimulated and appreciation flows freely to and from you.
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This is key:  appreciating all serendipities. There is a time for champagne, and a time for carrot juice.  There are times for weddings and births and big trips, for new jobs and promotions and dream homes.  And there are are times for putting on sunblock and walking the dogs.  When you can see all such events as serendipitpus proof that you are cherished beyond comprehension, you’ll live a charmed life.  And know it.  And own it. — Victoria Moran

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1.  Wear a signature scent or perfume…  Smell is one of the most powerful senses.  It has the ability to recall memories that have otherwise been forgotten or to create strong bonds and emotions.  Wearing a signature scent is a way to leave your footprints in the sand of time.  I always tend to gravitate to fragrances with hints of lavender, vanilla, patchouli, and lilac.  These are scents that agree most with my body chemistry and that others tend to notice when I’m around.

2.  Learn a different language… Learning to communicate in a different language can be quite fulfilling and can bring on a great sense of accomplishment.

3.   Be well groomed… I am a firm believer in the famous mantra, “When you look good you feel good.”  When my outside appearance matches how I already view myself, I find myself whistling all day.  I love keeping my skin clean and clear, hair neatly styled, my nails manicured and pedicured, my legs silky smooth, and my eyebrows perfectly sculpted.

4.  Love like there is no tomorrow… Our next day or even our next breath is not guaranteed.  Spend your time hear on earth finding pleasure in the big and small things.  Show those you love how much you care often and when you can, slow down and smell the roses.

5.  Invest in pretty, feminine tea cups and saucers… One of my favorite indulgences and activities is sipping on a warm of herbal tea while reading a book, writing in my journal or chatting with a good friend. To me, tea has the ability to sooth the mind and relax away a long day.  Tea drinking on its own is very therapeutic and I love to drink it from dainty cups to make the experience more enjoyable.

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6.  Simplify your life… Simplifying your life is the best way to maintain your elegance and charm.  Stay organized by keeping your schedule and reminders in a leather bound calendar.   Maintain a tidy living space by cleaning a little every day as opposed to one large cleaning per week or month.  Keep your everyday hair and makeup routine simple, and let go of people who do not enrich your life.

7.  Master a recipe and make it your signature… It brings me great joy when I cook a dish for friends or family that they absolutely love.  I am not a master chef, but I have taken the time to identify my weaknesses in the kitchen and focus on my strengths.

8.  Be genuinely warm to others… I have found that when I have a bad attitude, people appear stand-offish towards me, yet when I let my happiness physically manifest itself through kind smiles, warm hugs, and genuine compliments, I attract more positivity.

9.  Create your definition of chic… Develop your own personal style that will be remembered by others.  Do not fall victim to each and every fashion trend, but Invest in quality clothing that will stand the test of time.

10.  Let him treat you like a lady… Chivalry is not dead!  I promise that it is far from it.  Many men still find enjoyment in opening doors, puling out chairs, and showering us with flowers.  It is equally as gratifying when we let gentlemen be gentlemen and graciously accept these small but important gifts.

I will like to know what things you do to infuse more charm into your life.  Leave a comment and lets discuss.

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How to Care for Your Underwear…When a Washing Machine is a Must

Most of us pay a pretty penny for our undergarments so I’m sure you can sense my frustration when I found yet another bra torn to shreds by my washing machine.  Typically bras and underwear are made from very delicate material like jersey cotton, lace, satin or silk.  These materials are not made to withstand even the most gentle wash cycle and therefore need special care.

Hands down, the best way to care for your under garments is to  hand-wash them. However, most of us are women on the go and have little time to give such detailed care to each and every piece of lingerie in our collection. I’ve outlined  a few steps that you can take to assure that my pretty little things stay in tip-top shape in little to no time.

1.  Wash your undergarments in a load seperate from your other clothes. Just like you separate you color clothes from your whites, separate your bras and panties into their own dedicated load.  This keeps them from getting tangled with the rest of your clothing which can cause streatching and tearing.

2. Choose the gentle cycle on your washing machine. In the perfect world, all IT Girls would have unlimited time to care for our undergarments according to manufacturer recommendations.  Since hand-washing undies is not a timely routine for many women, the next best option is use the gentle cycle on your washing machine.

3.  Use gentle laundry detergent or hand soap. Many regular washing detergents are way too harsh for the delicate fabrics used to make under garments.  Use your favorite luxurious hand soap or Woolite to prevent them from being damaged or prematurely worn.

4.  Invest in a small mesh laundry bag to house your underwear during the washing cycle. This will help prevent your undergarments from tearing. Make sure all of your bras are clasp close to prevent the hooks from getting snagged on the mesh.

Did you find this helpful?  Keep the conversation going by leaving a comment below.

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That IT Girl’s Guide: How to Create Perfectly Sculpted Eyebrows

It is a well known fact that perfectly sculpted eyebrows frame the face, give you a more polished look, and are the starting point to any and every makeup look.  Sculpting your eyebrows is not only easy, but it takes little to no time to achieve.  If you want to know what it takes to achieve a very natural, arched eyebrow then your search has ended. .  Read on…

Tools Used:

  • Eyebrow brush or Spoolie
  • Slanted tweezers
  • Eyebrow scissors (optional)
  • Eyebrow pencil or powder
  • Concealer
  • Small concealer brush


Before…


    1.  Brush Eyebrows into Desired Shape.

Use an eyebrow brush or spoolie (pictured above) to brush your browns into desired shape.  I usually use upward strokes to make the hair more uniform.  After brushing, you may use eyebrow scissors to trim any stray hairs.  This is completely optional.


2.  Pluck Stray Hair

Find a quality pair of slanted tweezers to pluck stray hair.  I personally love Tweezerman because they maintain their sharpness despite continued use.  To prevent over-plucking, or if you are a beginner, you may use an eyebrow pencil to outline your desired shape.


3.  Fill in Sparse Areas

Use your favorite eyebrow pencil or powder to fill in sparse areas.  If you are using a pencil, it is essential to use short light strokes to maintain a natural “hair-like” appearance.  Make sure your brow pencil or powder resembles your natural hair color.  Very few people can pull of a REALISTIC black brow.


4.  Define Eyebrow

Using a small concealer brush, brush a concealer that is 1 shade lighter then your skin tone to the underside of your brow (brow bone).  Make sure you blend well.  You can brush concealer above your brow to create an even more defined look, however this is optional.


…After

Viola’!


Final Look…

Face:

  • Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer-#18-Applied to any dark marks or skin imperfections
  • MAC Studio Fix-NW43-Lightly brushed over entire face
  • MAC Select Cover-Up-NW 40-Used to highlight the under eye area, and brow bone
  • MAC Eyebrow Pencil-Stud-Used to fill in eyebrows

Cheek:

  • Nars Blush-Taj Mahal-Brushed lightly on cheeks

Lips:

  • MAC Lip Pencil-Vino
  • MAC Amplified Lipstick-Up The Amp
  • Victoria’s Secret Very Sexy Lip Gloss-Passion


Watch This Tutorial in Action…



Was this tutorial helpful?  Please leave a comment below and let me know what steps you take to create the perfect eyebrow.

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