Some Suggested Resolutions From Believe

Every year at the time, we are bombarded with talk of New Year's Resolutions. People fervently vow to lose 30 pounds or run 10 miles daily or a host of other things overwhelmingly abandoned, studies show, by February 15^th.

So instead of setting unrealistic physical goals, we at Believe are trying to work on our spiritual sides and make resolutions we really can work on daily throughout the year—no matter if we're facing down another piece of pizza or if a blizzard gets in the way of our jogging. These resolutions can help remake us from the only place that truly matters---from the inside out. Perhaps you'd care to join us in giving a few of these resolutions a go?

1. Stop That Voice In Your Head: The one that tells you that you can't...Can't lose the weight, get the job, find the lover, face the fear. Even if you have to say “No!” or “Stop!” out loud when the negative thoughts come back. (This makes you look less like a crazy person now that Bluetooth phones make talking to yourself respectable.) Then fill in that verbal space you've just created with a positive mental voice saying “”Go for it”, “One step at a time” or “Give it a shot.”
2. Realize You Can Do Anything For A Short Time: If you feel overwhelmed by the resolution to quit smoking or whatever you are finding difficult, use my mother's expression: “You can do anything for 24 hours. Hell, you could even be in prison for that long.” Break time into more manageable sections. Put off having that cigarette or eating that piece of pie for the next two hours, and then two more...It's like stringing pearls on a necklace.
3. Respond Don't React: Resolve this year that you will stop for at least a beat (preferably a day) and consider what you should do or say when faced with an alarming situation. Take a breath. Take another. Tell people you want some time to think things over. If it's an argument you are dying to have with someone, write down what you want to say, put the letter in a drawer for 72 hours and then take it out to see if you still want to say those things—or say them in that way. Remember, you never have to take back words unsaid.
4. Quit Worrying So Much: Worry never does anything except sap your energy, make you irritable and affect your sleep patterns. Every time a worry floats into your mind, stop it in its tracks and ask yourself if there is anything you can do about it now. If not, take a page from Scarlett O'Hara and resolve to think about it tomorrow. Legitimate planning for the future is okay (but no cheating on yourself. You know the difference between planning and worry.)
5. Don't “Should” On Yourself: There really is nothing you can do about spilt milk. Spending time saying to yourself, “I should have...” about any past event is a waste of time. Just put a bookmark on the behavior and don't do it that way next time.
6. Practice Kindness: Treat everybody you encounter with consideration—not just people your friends and family. Ask co-workers how you can help them. Offer your arm to help push a wheelchair or hold a door open for someone elderly you encounter at the mall. Go meet the mail delivery person so he or she doesn't have to take the walk to your front door to deliver that package. Let someone in front of you in rush hour traffic. Stop interrupting everyone's sentences.
7. Learn To Receive Graciously: From a compliment on your blouse to an offer to help you finish addressing those envelopes for your synagogue, don't backtalk (“Oh this old thing? It's a rag” or “Nah, I'll do it myself”). Thank the person offering you the compliment and take the assistance. It makes people happy to help you. Let them.
8. Resolve To Be Happy: At least for a part of every day in 2012, be happy. Step outside to smell the air. Go watch the Halloween parade, even if you don't have kids. Have lunch at the botanical garden. Volunteer to read at the local nursing home. Stretch your spirit in some way. Weed people, places and things that bring you down out of your life this year. Fill your life with uplifting things. Make sure you are one of those uplifting things for other people.
9. Be Good To Yourself: Take some time to meditate on the things in your life for which you are thankful (a Zum soy candle is the perfect accompaniment to this quality time with yourself). Treat yourself to a scalp massage and conditioning treatment after the hectic holidays. Take turns giving your partner a weekly massage (Zum Body Butters are fabulous for this.) Reinvent yourself this year: Let's try a new cut or color or both or add an extension or feather for fun (you can never have too much of that). Fill your shelves with wonderful products for your hair and skin to make 2012 a comfortable year for your outsides, too. (Come into Believe and let us make some suggestions.)

We, at Believe, hope you have a new year filled with health, prosperity, joy and many blessings. Thank you for letting us share your 2012 with you!

Let Believe Keep The Holiday Insanity At Bay

If you've braved the mall (or even driven by it) you know ---things are crazy out there!

According to the National Retail Federation, fewer shoppers have completed their holiday buying compared to this time last year.

According to NRF's 2011 Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by Big Research, the average person had completed 46.5% of her shopping now- less than the 49.5% in the same period a year ago. Nearly 37 million people (16.5%) had not even started their shopping as of late last week, the survey says, while only 7.6% said they have completely finished shopping already.

If you are one of the procrastinators, take heart. We, at Believe, can solve your shopping dilemma and it only will take one stop—and a restful one at that. We'll give you a hot cup of herb tea and, while you sip, Santa's elves (cleverly disguised as the Believe staff) will check off the perfect gift for everyone on your list.

We even have some sales (so you won't miss the department store experience), Buy a White Tea Restorative Shampoo and Conditioner and you get a White Tea Daily Conditioner free (slip it in your own stocking!) or make everybody left on your list happy and get them a Zum Body Basket, now 20% off, with Zum Bath Salts, Zum Body Lotion and two Zum soaps in your choice of scents. (If the recipient is not yet a fan of Zum, they will be after this gift. Zum is addicting.)

Get the men in your life a fabulous after-shave, Tend Skin, guaranteed to baby his skin through the harsh winter you know is right around the corner. Add to your best friend's jewelry collection with a unique piece from the Japanese artist Kazuko and butter up all the babies in your life with Wee Baby products (the lavender scent helps the little ones sleep—and may even inspire visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads! Fido and fluffy are part of the family,too, and Y.U.M Wash Doggie Soap and Y.U.M mist will keep your home filled with holiday scents (instead of kennel smells.) Speaking of scent, be sure to stock up on Zum soy candles in wonderful scents like Myrrh (the Wise Man were on to something there.) Or cover all your bases by having the staff at Believe whip up a custom gift basket or come by and see the ones we already have waiting for you. If all else fails, Believe offers Gift Cards so your friends and loved ones can choose their own gift after the holiday.

While you are here, treat yourself...Get a festive red hair extension for $10 and we'll donate the money to charity (also to help those less fortunate, bring in any hair product you aren't using anymore –even half empty—and we will give you 20% off a product we recommend to substitute for it. We'll donate the used one to the Women's Shelter). Don't forget to make a appointment for a Conditioning Treatment and Blowdry (for $50) or a $25 Blowdry that will have you looking your best for that holiday party or church service. We've still got a couple of openings left.

When it comes to gifts, Believe's got you covered but hurry in. Our holiday hours are 10 am-7 pm Tuesday, December 20th through Friday, the 23rd. We are closed Christmas Eve for festivities for our own relatives and friends, but we'd love to see you—our other family—to wish you Happy Holidays.

 

Say Goodbye to Summer Hair & Skin

Whoosh! Hear that sound? That is summer flying by (does it get shorter every year or just seem that way?) The start of classes is right around the corner, parents are rushing everywhere to get their kids off to school (or—gasp--college) and the lazy days of beach-going and sun-tanning are soon to be behind us...But, even in the midst of this seasonal insanity, you can start getting your hair and skin ready for autumn.

Here's a few hints and tips to try until you can get in to see us at Believe for a good cut, a deep conditioning treatment, some new (not bleached out) color and some fabulous products to hydrate your skin:

Remove the buildup: Between sweat, salt and all the conditioning creams gels, pastes and waxes you've been using to keep your hair from turning into summer straw, your hair cuticle is filled to the brim with products—making it less receptive to even welcome additions. Use this quick at-home recipe to clear out the buildup and get your hair ready for some much-needed moisture: Mix ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar with a quart of distilled water and one tablespoon of nettles or comfrey root (grab it from your garden or a health food store.) Boil the herbs and water together and let them steep for 20 minutes. Cool, strain out the herbs, and mix in the vinegar. Pour it through your hair, let it work for a couple of minutes and then rinse it out. (By the way, if you use this same infusion—in larger quantities—in your bath, you can take the sting out of late-season sunburn and make it turn brown by the next day.)  Then schedule a deep conditioning treatment with us and get our recommendations of what to use to start replacing some of your hair's vital moisture with products like  AESTELANCE PROTEIN & MUD OR AGADIR MOISTURE MASK (smells delicious) and SHINE TREATMENT VIALS that we carry at Believe.

Exfoliate summer scales: Your skin has its own summer version of scaly skin (tanning and peeling create a million little flakes you can't see, but certainly feel in the form of constantly itchy skin.) Use a natural loofah to scrub your skin down every shower and when you have a moment to yourself, put a handful of leftover nuts or seeds (pumpkin or sunflower) along with fresh herbs (like lavender or rosemary) into a clean coffee grinder. Grind till they are a coarse meal. Pour ¼ cup of the meal into a bowl, mix with enough yogurt to make a paste, and rub all over your body. Dry skin left from the summer sun will scrub right off. Once you are smooth as silk, keep it that way with GOAT'S MILK AND ESSENTIAL OILS ZUM BODY LOTION, a fabulous product we have here at Believe. 

(Btw, Goat's milk is very similar to our own skin's PH, so it works awesomely with our bodies.)

Emergency hair conditioner: If you cram in that last-minute day at the beach and your hair tells the tale, use this emergency conditioner until you can get in to see us at Believe for that deep conditioning treatment your hair really needs: Pour a shot of vodka and a few drops of any essential oil, a half of a ripe avocado and some mayonnaise into a blender. Mix it together, slather on your hair, wait 20 minutes and rinse. Voila! Shiny, healthier hair (but this is only a stop-gap measure. Your scalp and hair cuticle need a serious assessment and long-lasting products. We've got both at Believe.)

Way too soon the cool winds of autumn will come along, ready to play havoc with your hair and skin (followed closely by that time when we cover all exposed part with mufflers and scarves and hide our much-abused hair under scratchy hats, compounding the damage.) Call us for an appointment at Believe, now! Make the time to give your hair and skin the deep conditioning, moisturizing, cut and color you need to face the changing seasons looking and feeling your best. 

Enjoy the last days of summer and we hope to see you soon at Believe.