My contribution to Jodiojo – the topics of beauty and style – is obviously very subjective. I totally get that. But with regard to the getting dressed how-to posts of the past several weeks, and prompted by the comment copied below, I wanted to say a few things.

First, all the advice and tips are based on the concept of creating, enhancing and bringing balance and symmetry to the body with clothing. In fact, it’s also what we strive to do for you through your training. A symmetrical, proportionate figure isn’t just my idea of beautiful, it’s actually yours too. “Humans have universal standards of beauty. It’s called the divine proportion or the golden ratio, which is based on pi (1.618), and it is found throughout nature, for instance leaves, seed arrangements and conch shells, as well as most of man’s greatest accomplishments, like the Pyramids, the Parthenon, the David, and the Mona Lisa. The omnipresence of the golden ration throughout the world creates a sense of balance, harmony and beauty in the designs we see every day. Pi is also the driving force in human attraction. Everyone prefers people whose face and body is symmetrical and follows this ratio.” We were all put together with a sense of beauty that’s based on symmetry, balance and proportion.

Second, I made the assumption that our readers already know my voice and that I am a do-it-your-way kind of person. For me, no matter what, what feels good on you is what is right for you. Period. I always strive to use language that is loving and gentle and give facts to support any advice. For example, for the topic of getting dressed – dark colors minimize, light colors enlarge, and so, if you have a very large chest AND WANT TO BRING BALANCE TO YOUR OVERALL LOOK, consider wearing dark solid colors (rather than bright prints) up top to draw the eye away from this area. However, for all I know, you may want to play up a large chest regardless of balance and symmetry, and in that case, do the opposite of what I said. I am utterly fine with that, and in fact, would not have it any other way.

I say all of this because someone commented on the post “Dressing Wide Hips and Thighs.” I’ve cut/pasted it below. Needless to say, he didn’t agree with my point of view. Read on.

I think women are being given wrong information by other women. if you want to look your best you must show of your best assets. And a womans hips are their most stunning assets for men. Do not hide your hips for crying out loud – “SHOW them”, flaunt them . Do not another hollywood product. Women are built designed to have large hips and that is exactly what attracts men to women. Its not large breats, its not your personality, its not your intelligence, its not your butt, it is how hide your hips are. Everything else are just pluses. Take a look at these beautiful women with wide hips
http://akorra.com/2010/10/01/amazing-women-with-wide-hips/

I love the part about how it’s not your breasts, butt, personality and especially not intelligence that attracts men to you. Well, duh. That’s a joke of course, but really, I’m all for a different opinion and actually appreciate the insight into men. (wink.)

Let me wrap this up.

Just to be clear, I would NEVER suggest that anyone, especially our readers, hide anything about their bodies or themselves. We are all worth so much more than what we look like. I personally have spent years working to get that notion through my thick skull. But it is fun to feel good about your appearance. So, please, always, always, do what feels right for you. Be you, love you, and rock your very best self all the time. It’s what I try to do and when it comes together just right, big hair and glitter nail polish, it’s awesome!

Sources:
You Being Beautiful by Michael F Roizen, MD and Mehmet C Oz, MD

The next few posts will be short and sweet as the series on getting dressed and looking great wraps up. Today let’s talk about thick calves and ankles.

The idea with large calves and ankles is to elongate. Attempt this by keeping the lower legs open as possible by wearing skirts (and pants too) that stop above the calf. Hems that stop right at the knee are flattering on everyone. Pants such as capri and cropped styles that stop mid-calf aren’t the best choice. Wide leg and flare pants, boot cut and trouser-style jeans, and long flowy skirts (if you’re tall enough to not get swallowed up in a long skirt) are much better.

In a skirt, keep the lower leg a monotone color to keep things nice and long. For instance, black tights and shoes with a black skirt, bare legs with a shoe that matches your skin tone.

Like with wide hips or a big bum, draw the eye up and away with a beautiful top, pretty jewelry, scarves, glasses, healthy shiny hair, and your gorgeous face.

Simple shoe styles will be most flattering. Consider wearing a heel when you are dressing up or what you’re doing allows it. Try D’Orsay, sling backs (make sure the strap will stay on the back of your heel though-I’ve yet to find a pair that will), a slim wedge, peep-toe, and stacked heels are terrific for heavy calves and ankles. Avoid ankle straps on shoes as they visually cut the leg off, don’t elongate and make the ankle look heavy. Look for shoes that aren’t too dainty or with too skinny of a heel, but at the same time be careful with a heel that is too chunky or heavy. Shoe boots can and will cut the leg off much like an ankle strap. Also be aware that very pointy toes and very square toes both shorten and broaden your foot, so a moderate toe shape is best.

And I have to add; a pedicure will make your feet more beautiful, no matter what shoe you put them in.

Got any tips to add? Share in the comments below!

Todays post in the little series on how to dress your body its best deals with back fat and muffin tops. Neither of these terms needs further definition, but I will say that muffin top is a relatively new phrase. I remember when there wasn’t any such thing as a muffin top because pants and jeans came up to your real waistline and covered this part of a body up. Granted, the very high rise wasn’t the best look but at least it didn’t create a new issue. Geez.

Ok, below are a few strategies for dressing muffins:

Shape wear:
Indispensable for smoothing out any little bulges. Always choose high waisted garments that provide coverage from the bra band down.

Jeans:
Choose a comfortable fitting medium rise (9” or so). I like a medium rise because they are available all over the place now in lots of styles (skinny, boot cut, straight, trouser, etc.), are easy because shirts will stay tucked in, and as a grown up, they are more appropriate as opposed to something super low.

Tops:
Long tops in A-shape and empire waists are flattering on muffin tops. Look for pieces that drape and/or ruche too. Basically, tops need to be long enough to cover the body. Consider layering any iffy-length shirts over a matching tank top. This is a favorite trick of mine and has saved me from pitching many short-ish cardigans and shirts as well as shirts whose neckline plunges just a little too low.

Back bulges:

You know, this is a weird phenomenon. I mean, what’s the deal? I see bulges and lines around bra on even the slimmest backs?

Bra:
No matter what, we all need a bra that fits. “Most of a bras support comes from the band being snug around the body and level side to side.” If a bra is too large, the band will ride up in back and the straps will need to be tightened way up to get hoist in front, which also causes the band to ride up in back. But, for me anyway, a bra that fits according to this criteria and sits properly low around the back, digs into the flesh on my rib cage, which isn’t nice and smooth from the rear view. I guess it’s not as bad as panty lines, but still. I don’t have a good answer to this.

Shape wear:
A camisole with a bra is awesome for providing a nice smooth silhouette front and back. I love mine, especially under a white t-shirt or sweater. Smaller sizes can get by with the built in shelf style bras while larger busts can wear the styles with a more real bra or just layer a bra-less tank or cami over your regular bra. These pieces are snug so they gently compress and smooth out bulges making them much less noticeable, plus they’re slippery so nothing clings.

Tops:
The main thing about selecting a top is that it isn’t too tight. It shouldn’t be too baggy either-there’s no need to hide your shape, ever. Look for tops that skim rather than cling. Draping, pleats, and tiers are great design details that camouflage back fat. It’s also easy to layer a vest, cardigan or jacket over a t-shirt or blouse and avoid the issue all together.

I know we all work too hard to have any of the body challenges we’ve talked about over the last few weeks, but maybe you know someone who does? Ha! Please share any of your own tricks in the comments.

Moving on from booties, this week it’s all about bellies.  Below is everything I learned about dressing and looking awesome even if one does have a bit more tummy than maybe she’d choose.

Tip #1:

Don’t wear belly-baring clothing, like low-rise jeans and short tops.   Always put a long tank top under tops the length is iffy or won’t stay tucked in.

This one is for everyone, belly or not.  You’d thing that would be a given, but crop tops are back and low rise jeans are still around, and seeing ensembles like this on the pages of high end catalogues as well as the sidewalks around town, I just want to throw out there that some parts of even a perfect body should not be displayed, ever, except when in a bikini. An exposed midriff isn’t appropriate on anyone of any age. Just saying.

Ok, enough soapbox!  Here’s the latest and greatest of dressing that cute little belly:

First, they all said it – embrace shape wear:  bike shorts, one-piece body shapers, footless hose and opaque stockings.  I guess like a dynamite bra that makes the girls look bigger, smaller, fuller, cleavage, whatever – shape wear can change your shape instantly, smoothing away a pooch or muffin and giving you support – you’ll love the way you look so much you’ll never go back to your stretched out old bra and panties again.  Plus, there are a lot of good brands making supportive under garments.  Think about it, give it a try and let us know what you think.

From there, (with or without shape wear)

Go for dresses with a higher waistline, like an empire, that is slightly fuller on top and nice and slim on bottom.

Wrap dresses are great because you can tie the tie around the slimmest part of your waist.

Dresses that have structure like a-lines and straight shifts provide a nice shape, as opposed to something flimsy and floaty which offer no support.

Color blocked dresses that are dark below the boobs and down the front slim the middle.

Relaxed fit t-shirts and blouses in soft fabrics will drape smoothly.  Avoid anything that clings.

Make sure that tops hang over the tummy rather than go underneath it.

Tops with draping, crossover details, ruching, wrap, tiers or shirring are terrific details that camouflage tummies.  Empire line tops and scoop and v-necks are great too.

Loosely belt a long thin sweater with a slim belt, or belt a top or dress under an open cardigan for subtle waist definition.

A single-breasted coat or jacket, or one with princess seaming or a peplum style will create or highlight your nipped in waist.

Leave a dark jacket open over a light colored top to create a slimming vertical line down your center.

Say no to bathrobe style coats, jackets and sweaters as well as short Bolero or other above the waist styles.

Choose straight leg style pants and jeans instead of leggings, skinny and tapered jeans, or drawstring pants.

Wear pants and jeans that will lie flat across your tummy, which will appear more polished and just better (and be more comfortable) than something that digs in.  Who cares about the size?  Wear what looks best.

Next week we’ll deal with dressing a big bust.  See ya!

You know how NHL goalies are always kind of in a crouch, waiting to block a shot or whatever?  There is a goal camera mounted a mere 10 inches behind him that inevitably broadcasts his bent over rear end larger than life onto the big screen in the family room, and yes, those pants do make his butt look big!  (haha!)

I’m starting out with how to dress an ample behind, because, well, I have one.  My husband, with a big smile, said recently, “Your butt, it’s higher and smaller these days, like it was when you were competing.”  I think there’s a compliment in there somewhere.

In a world where it seems that all clothing is made for Gisele when she was 15, it’s been my experience that clothing your bootie (or what ever other body part you wrestle with) and the whole package looking right is not easy.  My butt isn’t perfect, but the husband was right – it is high(er) and round (thanks Jodi for setting my glutes on fire every time I enter the gym) and I am not interested in hiding it, but rather dressing it so I look my best.  Anyone but me?  Feel free to embrace or reject any of the following thoughts and advice:

Pants:

*            Straight cut or wide leg trousers are flattering because they fall straight down from your hips.

*            Pants with narrow bottoms, like capris, tapered styles and harem pants accentuate the bum.

*            Flat front styles minimize; pleats and side pockets add bulk (I sew side pockets shut-better to loose the convenience of a pocket to get rid of the flaring out that side pockets always do anyway)

*            Prints and light colors will draw attention and visually add size.  Dark solids minimize.

*            Wear pants in fabrics that have some weight; nothing flimsy or clingy.  Try cotton, denim, lycra blends (like good workout/yoga pants), and wool.  Look for fabrics with a little stretch for comfort and shape.

Jeans:

*            Plain back pockets will not draw attention to your bum.  Contrast stitching, big buttons, buckles, gathers, pleats, rhinestones, big logos, bleaching, etc. will.

*            Patch pockets add bulk; slit pockets, like on a khaki, do not.

*            To make the rear end look smaller, choose jeans with patch pockets that are large, placed high on the butt and spaced close together.

*            The higher the waist, the more attention is drawn to the butt.  Unless you are long and slender-waisted too, choose a mid or low rise style.

*            High waisted jeans can also flatten out your butt.  Proceed with caution.

*            Try the jeans that are specifically made for curvy girls.  These have a lower rise in the front and a higher rise in back that eliminate gaping at the waistband in the back.

*            Dark colored boot-cut styles are great on bootie girls.

*            A v-shaped yoke (the fabric that runs between the waistband and pockets) is more flattering to a large bum than a straight across yoke.

*            Choose a denim with stretch to avoid sagging at the butt and knees.

*            Finishes, washes and distressing (rips, abrasions, whiskering, etc.) while cool (I love that stuff) are distracting and break up the line of the leg, making them appear shorter.  Wear a heel with these styles.

*            Boyfriend jeans are weirdly shaped; the crotch hangs low in the front making legs look shorter, they’re rolled up making legs look shorter, the waist is too big for a belt to lie flat and un-bunchy, and they’re so roomy that your lower body all but disappears.  Hmmm.

Skirts and Dresses:

*            A-lines can be flattering but make sure the flare is not too wide and keep the hem right at the knee to avoid frumpy.

*            Try straight and pencil styles.  Ensure that they aren’t too tight in the bum and don’t pull across your hips in front.  These can be amazingly sexy on a curvy figure!

*            Beware skirt styles that add bulk:  long maxis, full, pleated, drop waist, peasant/dirndl, and pouffy tutu.

*            Beware styles that are tiny:  mini skirts of all varieties.

*            Wrap dresses accentate a fuller figure in a very good way.

*            Try a dress in soft matte jersey, which will skim curves just right.

*            Slinky, swishy fabrics cut on the bias move a lot, drawing the eye directly to whatever is underneath.

Tops:

*            Choose tops that accentuate the positive going on above the waist – shoulders, great rack, slim belly or waspy waist.

*            Jackets, sweaters, coats, etc. that flow over or stop right below your butt are great over your bootie.  Don’t hide your waist in the process; choose pieces with a tailored or nipped in waist to show off your hourglass bod.

*            Waist and hip length jackets draw attention to and will show off your rear end.

Undies:

*            NO PANTY LINES!  Eliminate these by wearing a thong (I swear by Commando and Hanky Panky) or cheeky styles which are cut higher in the back and front than boy shorts or tap pants.  Always go seamless.

*            Shapewear – I died when I read this advice:  Like a bra, make sure the garment keeps your cheeks separated.  How great is that?  Love it!

Etc.:

*            Belt sweaters or long shapeless tops with a slender belt at the waist.  Pass on wide hip belts.

*            Wear a heel with a little bit of weight with skirts, nothing flimsy so that you teeter around but not too hefty and clunky.

*            Have pants and jeans that are too long hemmed; avoid cuffing them as they add weight to the bottom of your leg not in a good way

Hope some of these work for you.

Sources:

What Not to Wear by Trinny Woodall & Susannah Constantine

What Not to Wear For Every Occasion by Trinny Woodall & Susannah Constantine

How to Never Look Fat Again by Charla Krupp

The Science of Sexy by Bradley Bayou

I sort of know how to dress my figure but am clueless about bodies that are very different than mine.  In fact I have two grown daughters whose physique are practically opposite mine and I’ve never been any help to them when it came to questions about clothes.  This has been on my mind because younger sister submitted older sister to the tv show What Not to Wear.  I had to talk to the casting person about her, her style, her clothing choices through the years, taste and body issues, etc.  It was hugely uncomfortable and I probably got her removed from the running because I couldn’t say anything negative about her.  As if I’m going to trash talk my daughter.  Get out of here!

If she makes it on the show they will set her up with a new wardrobe and all the specifics about how to dress her body.  She won’t need me to help her get dressed.  But I’m on a mission to be able to (if someone actually wanted my help).  Man there is a lot to know, but in general, here’s what I’ve learned:

The basic idea is to visually create symmetry.  When I first started working with Jodi I was positive I had a big butt.  Angel that she is convinced me that in fact, I had small shoulders.  I needed a little width up top to balance the width below.  This can be corrected in the gym (it was-thx girl!) but is also an easy fix with the right clothing.

And sometimes you want to visually create space.  So if you have a short neck, you want to elongate it visually with necklines, jewelry and hairstyle.  There are tops and necklaces that will make the neck shorter and tops and necklaces (and even earrings!) that will make it look longer.  Ditto for short waists, short legs, short all over, etc.

There are ways to dress body parts that we wish were smaller than they are, like boobs, butt, thighs, ankles, arms, etc.  Simple things like a solid color over a print, fabric type and cut, hem length, the width of a belt or the size of your handbag (!) can accentuate your shape for the better or draw the eye right where you don’t want it.

I figure a few ideas on how to dress what we’ve got as beautifully as possible, while we’re working towards looking great naked, would be kind of cool.  There is a massive amount of info out there that I’ll pull together by specifics and present it in the coming weeks.  But in the meantime, here are some ideas to get you thinking:

• Wear clothing that fits.  You will either highlight chubby areas with clothes that are too small (stuffed sausage) or visually add bulk and size in clothing that is too large (and look frumpy and big).

• If you’re short, outfits in one color scheme elongate your body.  Contrasting top and bottoms visually chop the body in half, making it look shorter.

• Bootcut and straight leg jeans work on wide hips because they visually create equal proportions between the hips and ankles.

• Belted dresses, tops and jackets are not the best choice of top on bellies.

• Heels that are close to the color of your skin (or tights) make the leg look longer.

• Please don’t wear leggings as pants.  It makes people uncomfortable.

See ya soon.

Seanna is wrapping up her R & R this week so I thought re-posting her thoughts on balance from MP4 might be especially relevant this week.  Enjoy!–Jodi

I know someone who has struggled his whole life with psoriasis. This someone went to the dermatologist (again) for help treating a mean outbreak of the itchy, red spots. I was sharing with Jodi and she mentioned that this person is more than likely, due to the inflammatory nature of psoriasis and his typical, albeit fancy, western diet, chronically heavy in omega 6 and deficient in omega 3, ie. his omega 3-6 ratio is way out of balance, and that daily doses of omega-3 will in time help keep the psoriasis under control. (I’m giving my dog omega-3 every other day for a similar reason.)

This got me thinking about equilibrium in all areas of life. When things are out of whack, man do we know it. I’m convinced that our minds and bodies want to exist in a peaceful stability. For me, the keys to staying in balance are enough physical activity, clean eating, lots of sleep and a peaceful day-to-day outlook.

Physical

Take training for example. The MP4 call last week was about recovery. Heather does this and Amy likes that, and then there’s me. I was the “control” group because I always feel pretty good. Recovery for me isn’t so much of a thought out thing, but obviously I do recover because for the most part I always feel pretty great. I feel like this is due to me not pushing myself as hard as they do in the training ring because I know myself. I exert myself as much as I need to for my purposes (health and physique maintenance), and that’s all. Mostly because I don’t want to do more, I don’t need to do more, but also, who has time? In other words, I know my personal limits and myself. I’m meeting my needs and so feel good physically most of the time. When I up the ante and take on more (for a specific purpose and stated time frame), I feel it, and so have to plan around this so that the rest of my life isn’t sacrificed to the increased physical demands from a new goal.

Nutrition

A very big piece to being able to stay well, recovered, and in balance is a great diet. We’ve all talked about this to death but it bears repeating, you won’t feel or look your best, let alone be able to really get it done for your sport if you eat like crap, not enough, too much, etc. You’ve also got to know what you need. What sits well in your tummy, what doesn’t? What weighs you down or makes you feel alive? Knowing yourself and what you thrive on is important with eating too. I’ve walked this clean eating walk for a long time (at MP4 we all have) and could probably plan meals in my sleep. I know what I need and what I can get away with adding in or leaving out. But clean eating, with a few treats sprinkled in as life offers, is key to my steady state of being recovered and feeling great.

This is a classic!

Sleep

Oh man, I love to sleep! I love when I can go to bed early, like by an hour, even if I’m not tired, because I’ll fall right to sleep. Can I just add that after sleeping a solid 9 hrs or so, your skin glows and your eyes sparkle. Well, mine do, but then I thrive on lots of sleep. You may not need as much and glow and sparkle with 7 hrs. Like eating, sleep is one of the areas that I’ll have to plan to tweak due to increased activity demands. I can’t increase my activity output and not also compensate with a bit more sleep. When that’s impossible, the sleep I do get must be quality. I’m not a frequent nap taker, but occasionally my body will force one out of me. That’s my rather obvious clue that I’m getting out of balance.

If you’re like me you may have thought she was blowing her nose in her hand, but she’s not.  She’s crying.  Hope that helps you out in your travels today.

Emotional

I won’t get into this too much, except to say that emotional balance is precious to me. All of us that have lived through a season of emotional upheaval know what I’m talking about. I’m convinced that emotional and physical health go hand in hand, one greatly enhancing the other. For me and mine, a peaceful existence is a priority.

So the take home message from today’s post is this … stay in balance – know yourself and give your body and mind what it needs – activity, nourishment, rest, peace.

What are some of the ways you keep your life in balance? What activities specifically address this for you? Thanks ya’ll. Have a great day!

I have so many thoughts that go through my head as I age. The first thought is: ‘Holy crap, I still have thoughts going through my head as I age!’ Haha! I am truly grateful for that. If you have ever had a conversation with me you appreciate that statement. At times, talking to me is like brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand: doable but awkward and certainly not elegant.

My second thought is my innermost foreboding which is aging ungracefully. I see it everywhere I go nowadays. A woman bent over while walking to the store; an old man who shuffles rapidly instead of walking with a real stride. Occasionally I meet a woman who I thinks looks “good” (meaning skin quality) til I find out she’s 10 years younger than I thought (thank goodness I didn’t guess her age) and that’s not cool. I am not noticing her to judge her; I am noticing her to convict me.

I am aging…daily. And every day that I live I feel the toll of the environment. The sun, the pollutants, the stress, my poor choices in food, the days I skip working out and so on are beginning to shape the second half of my life and I am realizing I have control as to how this is going to down. Since you are reading this from us it is obvious that you eat clean in some way shape or form and probably have a sort of self righteous way of looking at this like, “That’s why I eat right and go to the gym.” Yes, it is. But it doesn’t stop there, I wish it did. There are so many other things that keep your butt lifted, your face from sagging, the crows feet off of your eyes and your body cancer free. No, we don’t want you to be paranoid and psycho about how you live so instead we got together as a unit, formed Jodiojo & Co and took on the task of talking to you about everything that you need in your arsenal to live the clean life beautifully.

Let’s talk about what’s wrong with this picture.  Besides the skin?  The frosty shadow and lipstick on someone that age.  It ages you even more.  Thanks, Magda, for volunteering to show us what not to do.

“I Don’t Get It”
If you haven’t figured us out, yet, you will soon enough. As all of the sites come together and we begin to reveal what we have up our sleeve, ‘who’ we are will become very clear to you. We are a group of women dedicated to living the clean life with a heavy slant on beauty. Why? Because every single one of us not only want to finish the race, but finish the race well. I cannot imagine one of our current clients saying to me, “I don’t care what I look like, I just want to lose 5 pounds.” No, it’s more like, “How do I tighten this? And why does this pucker like this? And I have spots showing up now, where is that from?” And so on. Yes, we sound vain and shallow, but we’re not . That’s the other side of us that you have seen crop up: your principles. In our email series, we have tapped into the voice that drives you with messages like ‘why are you doing this?’. ‘What’s in your heart that you cannot keep this going? What does that say about you?’ No, we’re not psychologists and do not pretend to be so, but we are survivors of living this clean life for the wrong reasons first and now the right reasons second. You must know because if you do not, this culture can take you down a dark road of deprivation and endless cardio that you will find very hard to recover from.

“Who Are You?”
Heather—the doctor of the house—will be here to look at you inside and out. From your bones to your muscles to your hormones, she’s in your business. Sure you look good now, but you have 10 packet/day Equal-Splenda habit that’s about to catch up to you. She’ll let you know what that is doing to you long term and how to fix it. Not by guessing, but by real lab work with real follow up. Keep your eyes peeled for this.

Amy—the guinea pig—lives out all of our madness. She’s taken on more of our projects than any good natured person should. She’s been in building seasons, power seasons, timed sets seasons…oy! Man, we have yanked her chain. She’s helped us work out the kinks in all of our programming—bless her heart. And on top of all that, she’s an accomplished heavy duty lawyer and yogi. She’s here to tell you what it really looks like in your week when you actually have to put this in motion.

Seanna—the perfect blend of brains and beauty—is here to show you how to present your gorgeous self to the world properly. Your makeup, skin care, food choices and more are critical to this process. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen a great body on a woman who has a drawn, gaunt face, dark circles under her eyes, too much make up on to hide the damaging effects of dieting and so on. Learn from the expert how to keep this from happening because this is what it is all about.

Nicole—the counselor—is here to keep you balanced. Stressing over the five pounds you have gained? Look good but miserable? Missing the big picture in life? What good is the body if it is attached to a nervous wreck? But haven’t we all been there at least once? For heaven’s sake, some of us have been there so long we think it’s normal. What would you do without a goal to stress over? Listen to this woman, she has the life down pat. Not because she’s a know it all, but because she’s hashed it out herself and grown into a very wise woman. We have lunch together and bang out our future endeavors and I end up having to pay her for a great therapy session at the end. Definitely worth the time.

Me—Jodi—the warning—is here to tell you what NOT to do. I am the expert in what doesn’t work. So when I have a conversation on the phone with you and you tell me that you want to do “such and such”, I can say, “Umm…I’ve done that. And it didn’t end well, let me tell you.” I am the voice of “Christmas Please Don’t.” If it is at all possible, I have done it: aspartame whore, cardio psycho, too-low-cal-for-too-long, overtraining, overuse and so on. I use the experience of my youthful dieting days mixed with my gift of tremendous volume (I have dieted more women in my career than you have probably had workout sessions in your life) to help you along in your endeavors. I have not seen it all but I am pretty close and you, as unique as you are, are not the only one who is doing whatever you are currently doing. So I speak to you, your habits, your thoughts, your fears and your desires to keep you from doing the jack-assery that I did when I had those habits, thoughts, fears and desires.

My last thought is that it is all about the love. If you get nothing else here, you will certainly get love. No flashy stuff. No big names. No fanfare. Just love. And lots of it. We are some bleeding hearts over on this end of the computer. Kas, too, she just does it in her matter of fact lawyery way. But it’s definitely there because it needs to be if you are going to live this life. Stress ages you, girl! No stress! So we have provided this safe haven for you to come and be loved into the beautiful woman we know that you are…

Seanna is taking a little time for some R & R so I hijacked her day. I will be here tomorrow, too, although I may not have anything to talk about. Hahaha! Just kidding. Let us know what matters to you beauty-wise below. We want to know.

If you followed the blog when it was over at MP4, you saw the Team’s favorite fitness and health related top tips and things one week in April.  If not, check it out here–> Things we love!

I felt it was time to update mine with a few additions.  I mean, really, the #1 way I find out about the best-things-ever are from chats with similarly-minded folks.

1.      

Herbal Magic natural deodorant.

Last year I did a glowing review of a natural deodorant I’d been introduced to.  I won’t bore you with the details, but you can check that out here if you’re like me and very carefully consider what you put on your body.  BUT, be sure to read the comments section of this post—in particular my updates.  In my final update, I decided that, for now, Herbal magic is my new brand.  Quite simply, it works very well.  As well as any toxin-filled product of its kind.  For me, at least.  And I’m sorta stinky.  Under $5 at Vitacost.

2.      

Indigo Natural Soap.  I’m not a bar soap user.  Or I wasn’t.  But a woman at work gave me 2 bars of this stuff—a body bar and a facial bar—as a gift, knowing I liked my stuff natural.  I have to say, I’m in love.  LOVE, I say!  She gave me the Sunrise facial bar (a little drying for my 40+ skin, but great when I’m sweaty-oily-grimy, and always wonderful when followed immediately with a nice moisturizer), and the and the Indigo body bar.  I can’t wait to try some more, such as Eucalyptamint, the Scrubble Bubble exfoliating bar, the Dead Sea Salt Bar, and the Green Goddess Facial bar.  Just to name a few…

3.       

Five Fingers Shoes. I did a post about barefoot training.  These shoes make it much easier to achieve, and as of this writing my husband Reid and I each own 3 pairs.  And I already have my eye on my next pair as I’ve worn a hole in my first pair.  It’s a toss up between replacing that pair with another identical pair of the Sprint model or the Classics (hmm… strap again, or no-strap this time…?), or checking the new “general fitness training” models, the Jaya and Jaya LR.  Decisions, decisions…  For those who need more tread for trail hiking and running, Reid and I both highly recommend the Trek Sport.  Be sure to check out the toe socks wherever you can find Five Fingers shoes, made by Smartwool or Injinji.  Where we live, it makes us able to use our Five Fingers comfortably, indoors or out.  If nothing else, just running errands and lifting weights in these is unparalleled.  Be sure they are right for your feet, however.  For example, too much plyo work in these is not the best for my feet sometimes, so on those days I’ll wear my Nike Free XTs.

4.    

Sun Warrior Protein Powder.  This item is what got this post going today.  My husband and I semi-panicked when we realized that we are down to our last scoop of the vanilla—our most-used flavor!  I quickly ordered some (alas, it’s not readily available in some areas) and got down to business with this updated list.  What is it?  A protein powder made from raw fermented brown rice.  Hardly sounds appetizing, but what’s great about this is its hypo-allergenicity, it’s appropriateness for all from raw foodist to vegan to omnivore, and its digestibility (that’s where the fermenting comes in).  I find it less gritty than most rice based protein powders.  It’s soy free, which can be hard to find in the non-whey category.  And it’s stevia sweetened.

5.      

Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree Soap.  Know where I use this stuff?  The laundry!  You can actually clean anything with it.  I love the Eucalyptus for house cleaning.  But I use the Tea Tree as a laundry booster and soak for my stinky workout clothes due to the anti-bacterial properties of tea tree in particular.  I like to use natural detergents, but even though they can get the dirt out, standing up to my exercise attire is a whole other story.  I know there are detergents out now specifically for this purpose.  But they are expensive and I’m not sure I trust their ingredients.  My happy experiment with Dr. B’s Tea Tree works time and time again—even in cold water washes.  I just add a little bit in with the regular detergent, most of the time letting the close soak a while before rinsing, and—voila!—no trace of my last sweatfest.  In fact, I get a bonus hint of fresh scent.  I buy it by the gallon at Vitacost.  They have it in all scents and sizes and they have some of the lowest prices I’ve seen.

That’s all I’ll add for now.  Some well-rounded fave items list add-ons covering gear, personal care, and nutrition for the natural fit girl (or guy!).  Tell us some of your must-haves for a healthy natural life.

Seeing as Jodi picked the pics for this blog and added the captions, I had no idea she would use me for the lead photo.  Trust me…I’ll get her back somehow. hehe

Being the aesthetics chick here at MP4, I have thoroughly enjoyed myself during the make up mini series.  What a kick it has been rambling about make up!  Seriously, you’d think I was talking about my children!  I truly hope you’ve learned something that proves helpful.  Thanks for the push, Jodi!

So, I was thinking about the next post in the series, and I do believe that it’s finished.  I’ve done the big brain dump.  You now know all I know of make up, all that I’ve used, have an opinion of, a recommendation or at the least, something to say.

Today’s post will be a wrap up for anyone who hasn’t read all the others.  And if you haven’t, really, I don’t blame you.  I know I went on and on.  Seriously, I look back and could swear the posts are regenerating.  Plus a wrap up is a way to drive home my very best advice.

And you truly want advice from me, I’m gorgeous.  Ok, I wrote that (Jodi) but don’t tell Seanna.  Shhhh.  She’s stunning, lives the clean life and loves like a pooh bear!

First!  Love is what makes you beautiful.  Love boldly with a wide open heart, be at peace, and you will always be your most attractive, with or without make up.

Second, any rules or guidelines are all subject to YOUR approval.  Reject anything you don’t love or doesn’t work on you.  Period.  You must FEEL beautiful too.

This is the obligatory “beautiful” pic I am adding in to make up for the fact I (Jodi) had two of Seanna in here and she’s going to kill me.;)  Indulge me, please:  Ooooo, ahhhh, it’s gorgeous.

Ok, it’s time for the nitty gritty of getting ready to “face” (haha, get it!?) the world.  Below are my top ten dos and don’ts of make up:

• Do your eyebrows!  Whatever you need, do it.  Have them shaped and maintain em.  Use powder or pencil make up to darken your brows or fill in any thin spots.  Please don’t over tweeze.
• Curl you lashes and wear mascara.
• Use concealer under and around the eye area to brighten up your pretty face.  Gently pat a touch of concealer a tad lighter than your facial skin only where you need it to cover darkness.
• For the very best application, use a make up brush, preferably the proper brush for the job.
• If you use foundation, make sure it is a perfect match for your skin color and is the right formulation for your skin type.  Once it’s applied, blend, blend, and blend again.  Hard lines and streaks are not beautiful.
• Don’t rely on foundation as the exclusive source of your facial sunscreen.
• Apply blush in a flattering, natural color on the apples of your cheeks and cheekbones.  Save the crazy brights for dramatic nighttime looks.
• Use bronzer lightly on your cheeks, temples, chin, bridge of nose, and forehead (where your would tan from the sun) to warm up your facial skin and bring a “tan” to a summer time make up look.
• Eyeliner is your friend, whether it’s a pencil, gel, liquid or powder.  Line at least your top lash line to make your eyes pop.
• Colored eyeliner is an easy way to add subtle color.  Use a powder shadow and liner brush to line the eye (all the way around, upper only, lower only, part of lower and upper, whatever works for your eyes).  Apply dark mascara and voila, gorgeous!
• Beware shimmer and frosty eye shadow.  Sadly, it makes mature eyes look more wrinkled.
• Use a shadow primer for eye make up that will love you long time.  It’s especially good for oily lids.
• Neutral, natural lips with a touch of color and shine is always classic and pretty.

That was more than ten, I know.  Sorry ladies.

And that’s all!  Yay!