How To Relax (and boy, do we need it now!)

This is the week where you get to take a breather from the holiday madness...

Ok, it's really more of a gulp of air in-between shoveling mountains of snow out of your driveway (and the piles of ribbons and wrapping paper from your living room), waving goodbye to your relatives, finally throwing out those over-used leftovers, praying school will start soon, and (if you are like us), finding yourself face down in one of the new books you got as a gift (the pages of which are now slightly drool-stained.)

Take heart, New Year's Eve is almost here (at Believe, we've got a couple of slots open to make you look like a million bucks without costing you a million bucks. Give us a call right now! (914) 747-0778.

This week's blog will be about a topic dear to all of our hearts: Relaxation. We know we don't get enough of it, we know you don't get enough of it, and 2011 is when we should all make a conscious effort to do more of it...but maybe you don't know how?

Here's some tricks of the trade:

Get Some Sleep: Our bodies really do need 6-8 hours so our minds can go a-wandering places we can't go in waking moments. Think of it as rebooting your consciousness. A lot goes on in your brain while you sleep and it's all-important for clear-thinking, good decision making, even temperament, and physical health. If you have trouble sleeping, don't reach for the drugs right away―start with these simple tips and see if they help:

• Avoid alcohol and beverages containing caffeine, cut back on sugar (introducing more cinnamon in your food helps the cravings), and give up nicotine. Drink warm milk before bed.

• Don't watch TV, read thrillers, or fight with your spouse or kids just before bed. Calm your mind. Try some deep breathing and/or meditation. Try this site for some natural sounds to help you unwind www.relaxingnature.com.

• Get a good bed. There is a reason Sleep Number and Tempurpedic beds cost more―they are worth it― especially as you get older. Aches and pains can keep you awake.

• Make sure your room is noiseless, dark, and cool. Turn the alarm clock's face (with it annoying LED

light) away from you.

• Put a laptop in your room and set it to Pandora a free music site, that will play lots of selections of any type of music you pick (by artist, song or genre) and needs you to do nothing except confirm you are still

listening after a while. If you don't respond (because you are in dreamland), it will turn itself off.

• Try a natural sleep aid like melatonin or take a hot bath by candlelight—we stock some lovely fragrant ones. (Aromatherapy oils in the water help even more.)

Accept (that you deserve to relax): Fight back against that little voice in your head saying, “You really should do one more load of laundry before you sit down”. The laundry can wait. You need to rest. Let everyone in your family know you really mean it. Put a time for relaxation for yourself on the family calendar in black ink (no pencil!) and don't cut into that time except for a legitimate emergency. If this means locking the door to your room, go ahead.

Exercise 30 Minutes Every Day: Whether it's a walk round the neighborhood or just time spent on your basement treadmill, put in the time moving your body-- and be sure to stretch often (lowering your shoulders prevents tension buildup.)

Get A Massage: We offer several types right here at Believe and know that undoing the knots in your body helps prevent knots in your mind.

Visualize: Especially when you don't feel calm-- Close your eyes and imagine every detail of your favorite beach or hiking spot. Hear the surf. Smell the trees. Be there―Such a mental vacation can do wonders.

Think Positively: This too shall pass. Everything does. Things will look better tomorrow (or surely the day after.)

Love Thyself: A new hairstyle (or new color) or a makeover (with our custom makeup, blended just for you) can raise your spirits and chase away stress. Make an appointment with us at today.

Cuddle Your Pet: (This is easier if that fur is freshly washed. We have organic pet supplies to make Fluffy smell great.)

Try A New Hobby: Paint or needlepoint or go take photos. No one cares if you are any good. Expanding your mind fills it with things other than stressful thoughts.

Cease All Communication: (Not forever―we aren't saying you should join a nunnery.) Close the cell phone, shut down the email account, turn your face away from Facebook, and watch a movie that will make you laugh out loud. Not only is laughter really medicine, but all those problems will be waiting for you later―when you are not on your last nerve.

Give And Get More Hugs: It's hard to stay sour when hugging someone or, better still, being enfolded in someone's arms. It's said 12 hugs a day is a necessary daily dose for good amounts of endorphins...Three is the bare minimum. Got no one to hug? Stop on by Believe Beauty Lounge. We'll give you a hot cup of tea, share some smiles, and you'll surely get a hug both as you come in and as you go out.

We look forward to spending wonderful times with you in 2011. From all of us at Believe Beauty Lounge—Happy New Year!http://www.believebeautylounge.com

Believe's New Year's Resolutions Suggestions For You

It's that time of year again when we all reflect on the year past and vow to make a few changes to make the new year upcoming better than the last. In that spirit, we at Believe, offer a few resolutions for you to ponder:

Volunteer: Give away your time, your money, your creativity. Go read at a nursing home; work at a soup kitchen; collect your neighbors cast-off clothes and drive them to the drop-off bin; take an elderly neighbor to a doctor's appointment; give some seeds from what you've grown to the community garden (and donate the extra food to a nearby homeless shelter); send money to Covenant House,The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee or the Remote Area Medical to get annual healthcare clinics to rural areas. By giving, you'll have more to give. Or keep your charity within our community. At Believe, we contribute to many local charities and we are better people for it. Check this blog throughout the year for the neighborhood benefits and causes to which we contribute--we'll be happy to pass your donation along.

Sing More: Out loud and not just in the shower. Serenade your baby or grandkid or just sing in your car. Don't know the lyrics? There's an app for that. Download SoundHound (for free)--then just point it at any radio, stereo, or Muzak and it will identify both the song and the lyrics. Dance, too (alone or with your dog). It will lift your spirits.

Get A Flu Shot: Year after year we keeping meaning to get a flu shot, but the season is over by the time we actually get to it. Change this tardy habit in 2011. Check with your doctor if it is safe to get one (most doctors say even pregnant women should) and then go...better still, drive an elderly neighbor or two.

Commit To A Skin Care Routine: Don't just slapon some moisturizer when you think of it, but exfoliate twice a week (three times if you've got oily skin), moisturize faithfully twice a day (all over your body, too) and schedule a facial twice a month. Your skin will thank you.

Age Gracefully, Not Fearfully: This year, try really accepting yourself. Change what you must (you're not still smoking now are you? Lip lines are the best thing you can expect from that!) and love the rest. Well-tended silver hair looks stunning on some women (try our clarifying shampoo to take out yellow tones); Cougars really do look a bit pathetic (you lived your life when you were younger, now live it even better now that your are older), and that little extra padding around your hips might actually help protect you during a fall. We can help you lessen lines and wrinkles, but be proud of every one you have. They are badges of honor for havingreally lived.

Stop Dyeing Your Own Hair: Visit a master colorist (like Believe's owner, Lisa) and get the shade that really suits you best (go lighter as you get older--the shades are less harsh.)

Wear Sunscreen Every Day: Winter and summer. Nothing protects your skin from cancer better and Believe has the best moisturizers (organic goat's milk Zum Lotion), shea butter organic lip protection and makeup, Giella Custom-Blended Mineral Makeup for keeping safe and beautiful.

Clean out your makeup drawer: No more lipsticks over three months old and mascara, eye shadow, and eye liner should be pitched every month--they are breeding grounds for bacteria and change shades on your when they are old. Make an appointment with our artist, Sam, who will custom blend makeup (and whip up the perfect color lipstick) just for you.

Schedule A Skin Cancer Screening: Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer and, according to the American Cancer Society(ACS), it makes up more than half of all diagnosed cases each year. Early detection can save lives, but most of us don't know our risk level, and too few of us have had a head-to-toe skin check check. Visit your dermatologist and book appointments for the next two years to make sure you'll be around for many more new years.

Change Your Hairstyle: Even your head can get bored with the same look day after day. Get your hair cut shorter; try the new asymmetrical cuts; or see how you'd look with a longer do by trying our SoCap 100% human hair extensions (we even do fun colored extensions just for the heck of it.) As the French have taught us, interesting women are always a bit unexpected.

Try A New Exercise Regime: Include Zumba or some dance class (how about pole dancing?) to keep things fresh and interesting. Or join a gym with a pool and learn different swim techniques (and include scuba certification to make that next trip to the Caribbean truly special.)

Vow To Treat Yourself Better: (Ditto for everyone around you, too.) Take a breath and count to 10 before you say anything when you are angry (or, as Thomas Jefferson said, if you are really mad, count to 100). Tell the people you love that you love them (they really aren't mind readers.) Walk a mile in someone else's shoes and be kind (especially to the elderly--you'll be there soon enough.) De-stress with a massage at least once a month (more if you've the time and money.) Smile as often as you can--even to people you don't get along with (they'll either wonder what you've got up your sleeve or smile back, improving the atmosphere for all.)

Be More Positive: Times have been tough the last year for many in our country, but keep your spirits up and try and have faith. Rid your life of negativity--root it out of your language (substitute "I can" for "I can't"), get rid of the negative people around you (gossipy, nasty people may sound interesting, but they really only spread poison), resign from situations that bring you down (that book club you hate, that commitment you made that now feels like a prison, or that job you dread every day.) Make a decision that 2011 will be a much better year and watch--it really will be a better year...one we hope is full of blessings and joy for all of you.

We'll be open Christmas Eve and work as late as possible on New Year's Eve--but call soon for your pre-party appointment. Our open slots are filling fast.) And please make it one of your resolutions to come see us-often-in the New Year.

Here's to many blessings for us all in 2011.