Taking a break now and then

by Tammy on June 10, 2013

We all need a little down time during the course of our busy working lives – even if it’s just for five minutes. The problem is that most of us just don’t do this because we don’t have to at any given time. So what we do is procrastinate continually. One of the most common promises we make to ourselves is the one that we’re going to “learn to relax”. But when is this going to happen exactly; the twelfth of never?

So instead of putting it on the back burner – a great way to make yourself relax is to take five – at regular intervals – five times per day. And unless there’s a really urgent reason not to – you have to promise yourself that you will adhere to the five times five schedule. If you do this, I promise you, you will be more relaxed and re-energised.

1) Take a five minute break to rediscover your childish self. Kids could teach us a lot about the benefits of play. As adults, we often seem to lose the ability to play, but by playing a game that demands all our intention for just a few minutes, to the exclusion of all else, can really give us a mental pick-me-up. It doesn’t have to be a physical thing. We all have the ability to be online all day these days, but it doesn’t all have to be about work. This is where you can take five too, playing a quick game of something like a word puzzle or, better yet, something that doesn’t demand any concentration. You can play free bingo online anytime. There are new bingo sites and existing ones, which continually update their games to keep them interesting. Simply register with an online bingo site for free and you’ll soon see what we mean; it’s an amazing aid to relaxation. Listening to the numbers being called out and watching the software marking off your numbers can be almost hypnotic. Of course, if you’re about to win, it’s not quite as relaxing, but it does get pretty exciting!

2) The tea/coffee break; we all take these though the course of the day, but they’re usually incidental to what we’re doing. In other words – we keep on working. But the tea/coffee break can be a great ‘reminder’ of the need to take five. Simply go somewhere quiet if you can each time you have a drink, close your eyes and think of nothing else but the process of the act of drinking. The tea/coffee break is meditation by any other name – as is the bingo game. But of course, you don’t need either of these things. Instead – simply find somewhere quiet; close your eyes for five minutes and concentrate solely on your breathing. If you’re having a stressful day, this can be a really great way to clear your head and refresh.

3) Go for a walk. Sometimes a change of scene is all you need for a five minute break. Instead of staying at your desk, leave the building and take five minutes to walk. Whether it’s around the block or to a local park and back, a quick breath of fresh air and a bit of exercise will clear the cobwebs and leave you feeling energised.

4) Take five in the car. The next time you’re in a traffic jam and going nowhere fast – instead of getting anxious because you’re running later or whatever – try to use the time for what it really is; a period of enforced do-nothingness. In this way, you can actually enjoy just sitting there, taking in the quiet inside your vehicle while the rest of the world gets stressed. There’s nothing you can do about it anyway – so accept it, and then use it for a little down time.

5) Finally – how about a facial self-massage for five minutes? This can be a wonderful way of calming yourself and zoning out. Concentrate only on the massage technique, somewhere quiet and preferably dark if you can.

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Prom Dresses

by Tammy on May 25, 2013

Prom has become an age-old tradition and probably the most exciting night for high school students (well, unless your football team wins the championship, but that sure didn’t happen at my school). It’s the one night you get to be dolled up and stay out late dancing like there is no tomorrow. And honestly, if I could do it all over again, I would. I absolutely adore the spring when prom dresses start popping up in every storefront and this year certainly didn’t disappoint.

The styles this year are simple. Now I don’t mean plain and boring, but simple in the sense they aren’t those gaudy sequin dresses of my day. I, at least, am happy about that. I mean how awful was it when you got your dress stuck on something and next things you know, a quarter of the sequins are hanging loose? I know somebody out there knows what I mean. There’s nothing like having to worry about that all night.

There are sequins popping up this year, but in less abundance. The 2013 prom dress trends point more towards sequins in a concentrated area—specifically on the bustier and who doesn’t love a dress with a bustier? It allows just enough sparkle on your special night without outshining or blinding your date.

Not in to the bustier? Have no fear there are several other styles that are hot this year.

Necklines

I absolutely adore the lace high necklines that I’ve seen featured everywhere. You really can’t go wrong with this look. If you want to stay on the sophisticated side, I’d suggest looking for a dress that’s all one color. But, and I love this, if you want a little more pop, you must go for a two-tone dress.

Another neckline that is popular this year is the asymmetrical neckline. I personally like to take advantage of any opportunity to not wear a bra so this style would have me sold. It’s not a huge detail, but as I said, the styles this year are more simple. The neckline jazzes up the dress just enough for you to feel a little edgy while still keeping it classy.

Peplum

Need I say more? From the runway to weddings, this style is popping up everywhere. It’s a great classy look that really allows you to feel confident no matter what body type you have. Not only does the extra layer help to slim you down and hide any areas you may be uncomfortable with, but it really works to give you that hourglass shape that girls dream of. As an added bonus, it totally shows off your legs.

Vintage

Okay, so I might have slightly fibbed about sequins not being as widely used this year. The vintage flapper dress that is popping up definitely has sequins, but it puts a whole new spin on the sequins used when I went to prom. The flapper dresses are fun and flirty with their short length and tassels. I just can’t get enough of them.

Mesh Cut Outs

Some girls believe sexy has to mean cleavage, but I’m personally the opposite. I like to allude to a hidden sexiness so the mesh cut outs featured this year are awesome. They allow a peek-a-boo appeal without revealing too much.

Colors

Dresses this year range from neutral hues to a lot of reds and oranges. I think it’s really more about what you feel comfortable in, but I love the ombre look that’s trending. It allows you to have the best of both worlds and it works with most of the styles trending. Another popular look that sort of took me by surprise is the prints and embroidering. Floral? Bring it on. I love it.

Sleeves

Sleeves this year are all over the place. From the one sleeve to the capped sleeve, I’ve seen more sleeves in both wedding fashions and prom fashions. They really are making a comeback.

No matter what style of dress you choose, you really can’t go wrong. It’s your prom. You only get to go once so pick something you feel comfortable in and I’m sure you will rock it.

This post was written for A Mom and Her Blog by Monica Fortini. Monica is the fashion purchaser for CC’s Boutique, the premier Tampa Bridal Shops.

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Unusual Festivals All Over The World

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Finding a New Bank For Your Family

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Thrifty Fashion

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