ARIES

 

Remember how during last month, certain seemingly random events occured.  Focus on how those events can make your career this month, Aries.  No need to worry about your emotional needs this month.  You can safely let your emotions go on autopilot, even though Mars may want you to create some relationship drama during the first part of the month.  Feel free to notice your emotions if and when they fluctuate but “how you feel” is not going to be that important right now, despite your ego’s desire to focus on such.  This month is a CAREER month.  Anything you do this month will either benefit you immediately or be a noticeable stepping stone for you.  Even your social life will provide some career insights for you!  When the holidays come around you might end up rediscovering some insight on something you haven’t thought about for a long time.

 

TAURUS

 

The planets are still trying to excite your sex life, an energy that started last month and now may get quite intense! If you’re doing OK relationship-wise, watch out for your temper or impulsiveness. Retrograde Mercury is always a time when one usually has to back off on signing contracts etc. – you definitely need to pay attention to the details this month, but you also may have career opportunities manifest out of nowhere.  Don’t get scared if something like a tax audit or some bad financial news hits you, or if some stress at work hits you.  Just power through and keep an eye out for opportunities.  You might be one of the few who may be able to Capitalize on retrograde Mercury.  While this is all going on though, take care of your health and overall well being.  Don’t skimp on the dieting and meditation!

 

GEMINI

 

Mercury is going to have an extra-intense effect on you, Gemini.  Especially when it comes to communication and decision making.  Not just professional communication either, conversations and thoughts with and about family, friends, and lovers will really need to be analyzed to make sure your mind is not playing tricks on you.  Try not to make any rash decisions, but absolutely take note about what you’re thinking.  You may even want to break up with a loved one, or jump into a relationship with someone, or take a love or work relationship to the next level without thinking things through.  When it comes to work Mars and Jupiter won’t be helpful in toning down your desire to leap before analyzing.  As long as you’re cautious, and careful – like a lion stalking its prey – you’ll be just fine by the time January rolls around.

 

CANCER

 

Sexual Harassment is the talk of the town still, and Cancers will need to watch out this month.  Especially those in power.  If your mind is telling you you’re the victim of inappropriate behavior at work, document everything and look at it carefully before filing any charges.  It is possible the situation was not what you thought it was.  If you are in Power, be wary – even something you think is innocent may be used against you eventually.  Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Mercury are all working together to give you the possibility of a lot of romantic fun,  but with high risks. Luckily for you this might be an intense month when it comes to work.  If you can focus on work and save the romance for either a spouse or “alone time,”  you might be able to succeed with this energy.  Think about your health as well.  If you focus all this energy into working out, don’t overdo it.  At the same time, do not use fear as an excuse not to push yourself to improve physically and mentally.   

 

LEO

 

You are going to love the first half of this month, Leo.  So much so, you might get overconfident in your abilities by the time the Holidays come around.  So try not to bite off more than you can chew.  Other than that, enjoy yourself! The Sun lights up your feelings.  For some of you, that could mean an awesome love life and a satisfying professional life. For a few of you, you’ll still have fun, but you’ll be in a bit of a manic.  That means agression, impatience, and confusion.  Especially during Mercury retrograde.  No need to fear though, All Leos have the freedom to enjoy the moment and go with the flow this month should they choose.

 

VIRGO

 

Mercury and Venus will finally let you relax a bit this month, Virgo.  Are you in a relationship? Maybe do a one-on-one vacation. You might benefit Greatly from this. Even if you fight, it will somehow strengthen your relationship.  Single? Get to Tinder-swiping. Have fun. Who you meet may actually surprise you!  Couples will benefit more this month, however.  Single-folk can let themselves have a lot of fun as will benefit from introspective alone time in between encounters. Monastics/celibates will get fantastic insights this month while channeling their erotic energy in meditation.   Mercury retrograde will actually benefit your career and finances this month! Usually I recommend that people refrain from doing new business during Mercury retrograde BUT you are free to take some risks this month, Virgo.  Not saying you’re guaranteed to succeed in such endeavours, but you do stand a pretty excellent chance  – especially considering that others across a negotiation table will be more “mercury confused” than you will be.

 

LIBRA

 

Mercury!!! Mercury is going to try to leave you rather confused, and dare I say STUPID, this month. So, makre sure you read everything twice.  If someone says something to you, chances are pretty high you will misunderstand them.  Even if you think you know exactly what’s going on, you probably don’t. There is some benefit to this, you can take this as an opportunity to SLOW DOWN.  Spend as much time alone as possible to think about things (without taking Any of your thoughts or conclusions seriously). This may take a toll on your health. Have you neglected yourself lately? You may have to pay the piper for that neglect this month. You can avoid this by being honest with yourself and getting your act together! You can do it! But again, go introver this month whenever and wherever possible. On the positive side, you do have the ability to succeed at work and career a little this month.  Feel free to apply yourself without burning yourself out. Pay attention to your love life, something is afoot.

 

SCORPIO

 

Wow Scorpio! You are a sexual deity this month!! No need to be conservative this month, show off your skills! You’ll show someone(s) a thing or two and learn a few new tricks yourself.  Try not to do it with someone you work with though.  You’re awesome this month. Let the world know it! Mercury, Mars and Jupiter will be doing some interesting things for you. You will need to be cautious about details, but once you’ve analyzed variables you can trust your decisions. Money, Career, Health – all benefit from your prowess.  You might need to hit the gym more often or do intense yoga in order for all this excitement to not turn into anxiety.  There are a few (very few) scorpios, however, that might feel tired or depressed – but that has nothing to do with what is actually going on around you despite what your mind is telling you. Ride it out, don’t believe your Mercury confused thoughts. Trust me, your will actually be rocking almost every situation this month.

 

SAGITTARIUS

 

Sags! Don’t overdo it this month. Make sure you set aside time for relaxation and introspection. Practice maintaining focus as well. Your comfort zone is going to be challenged, but that is a good thing. Think of it as a growing pain if you don’t like it. That comfort zone is expanding.  If you have to make a decision this month, do your best to put it off until January. No matter how much you analyze, you’re not getting all the information.  Your view is limitedf and it is important to consistently remind yourself that what you think you’re experiencing is not what is actually going on. It’s all an illusion created by you. Random romantic interests will make you think, try to see a pattern.  The conclusion you come to probably won’t be correct, but it is good practice for when you reflect on everything next year.  Both Venus and Mercury LOVE you right now. Get used to the attention.

 

CAPRICORN

 

Read up on introversion, Capricorn.  If you Are an introvert, give in to that lifestyle.  If you are not an introvert, emulate one.  For the first half of the month you may get easily frustrated, especially when it comes to romance. It is better to go within instead of trying to arrange the world “outside” of you.  No matter how hard you try, you can’t wrest satisfaction from the world through action. Not for very long anyway.  If you can finally realize this truth during December, you will emerge like a butterfly cocoon.  If you don’t, you could end up like the silkworm whose coccoon becomes the only world it knows and decides to die trapped instead of emerging to the freedom just outside.  The thought that you have the ability to DO STUFF and MAKE STUFF HAPPEN and that STUFF will better your life is Your Cocoon.  Your actions won’t stop however, you’ll have a busy month – but ask yourself, WHO is busy? WHAT can be considered the results of all this activity? Is all this worth it?  You may not like the answer (initially), but I assure you if the truth is something you can accept you will be on your way to a freedom you didn’t know was possible.

 

AQUARIUS

 

You’re in pretty great shape the first part of December, Aquarius.  And that is despite it being the holiday season! Beware of this awesomeness though. Do not rest on your laurels, you are at risk of overconfidence. The second half of the month could fall apart, especially in the physical and mental health arenas, if you don’t reel it in a little.  Also, during this overconfident phase, don’t force your opinions on others. Your overconfidence may come across as offensive or worse, tyrannical. You’re going to do pretty well this month, though – which is the reason not to let things go to your head. Another downside of feeling confident is believing you can get what you want if you just do what it takes.  That’s not as true as your mind is telling you, the planets are using this trick to try to put you into a state of frustration.  Don’t fall for it, if you feel frustrated about Anything – laugh it off, it’s a trick for your ego and in part caused by your ego in response to it. It’s a game, no need to take any feelings of frustration seriously even though you’re going to be hyper prone to it this month.

 

PISCES

 

You’ll be in the public eye this December, Pisces. Or at the very least I should say, you have less privacy than you think.  Watch out for the sexual harassment bandwagon or worse, the “false victim/liar accusation” bandwagon. Behave yourself.  Even though your at risk of being a transgressor, you are at equal risk of having an affair with someone who could be a transgressor.  Don’t understimate your lack of privacy. You do not live in underground nor in a vacuum.  If things do get complicated with your sex life, Mercury and Venus might actually swoop in to save the day.  The good news of all this lack of privacy is your positive actions might get noticed too, especially professionally.  You may even come into some more money! If you’ve been lethargic lately, rest assured an energy boost is on its way.  If you’ve been already energetic, get your calming techniques ready, you might get manic or aggressive. Either way, remeber to slow down and think before you leap!

 

 

 

The international leader in cosmetics “Sephora” could soon find pretty strong competition in another up and coming leader in beauty Ulta

For decades shoppers have flocked to Sephora in search of cosmetics which simply can’t be found anywhere else. However, the only drawbacks which inevitably result from these excursions into beauty wonderland are that there is the strong possibility that a bag or two may end up costing a small fortune.

As a result, the chances of most locations developing regular customers are slim to none. Though, it would be unfair to say that Sephora is not without their deals.  Nevertheless, coming across those require strategic planning and tend to change as different promos get circulated.

Everyone loves a one-stop shop

It’s no secret that the root of Sephora’s slump in sales is due to the present state of the economy. The biggest challenge during these times when stretching a dollar is that certain items which used to be the norm would now be considered a luxury. All of a sudden, drugstore products don’t seem at all that bad.

Suddenly, certain cosmetics which would normally blend into the background take on the appearance of what could best be described as an “ugly duckling analogue.” Nevertheless, one can’t help but wish these drugstore products were sold in the same place as Sephora’s high-end products.

This need for a one-stop shop is hardly unique to cosmetics. On the contrary, our fast-paced lifestyles have driven the need to get everything in one place. That’s where the treasure trove which is Ulta comes in.

It’s style more of us can afford

To most people who chose to invest in the latest cosmetics and toiletries a day devoted to shopping isn’t just about picking up much-needed products and leaving. These shopping trips are usually composed of much more than just that, aka rest, relaxation, and enjoying the day with an ounce of style.

Affordable side by side with style what more could anyone ask for?

That question pretty much sums up the appeal of Ulta to those shoppers who are searching for a way to live in style on a budget. After all these hard times are much easier to take when one high-end product can still be purchased after saving a lot of money on products which tend to take a more economical viewpoint.

Sad to say the experience could best be described as disappointing

After hearing so many great things about Ulta and viewing their promos and ads. It was impossible to deny that they do in fact that they carry a lot of the products which Sephora is famous for. Which is probably why I had such great hopes as I prepared to take a look around in one of their actual stores.

Being a regular Sephora customer, I was on the hunt for speciality products such as HUM nutritional supplements. Keeping an open mind and trying not to approach the situation too critically, I was half expecting a wide selection of HUM products to be available at Ulta as well, or at the very a couple of their more popular products.  

Nevertheless, after searching up and down Ulta’s shelves the sense of defeat started to sink heavily into my stomach. It was quite obvious that HUM was nowhere in sight. My suspicions were further confirmed after inquiring with one of the sales representatives who were not that easy to come by.

If sub-par is good enough then I suppose Ulta may be alright

Aside from carrying high quality hard to find products one of the main things that set Sephora apart is their personalized customer service. This is another area of expertise Ulta needs some serious work on. After hearing about all the hype surrounding Ulta I was under the impression that I would be greeted right away and offered assistance. Whether I needed it or not it’s the thought that counts.

However, they wouldn’t be the case since it took 20min to actually speak to an associate. Even then the quality of service seemed to closely resemble what one would expect to receive from Walmart or Target. In short, it was nothing to rave about.

Times are changing perhaps Sephora will too

After weighing all the factors perhaps coming to the conclusion that Ulta would leave Sephora in its dust may be a bit overreaching. Since it’s no secret that as times change finances tend to shrink as well. Perhaps as customer bases tend to shift, we could indeed see an increase in Sephora’s sales and promotions.

I can only hope that this need to stay afloat when so many businesses are forced to go under will not cause Sephora to sacrifice quality in order to save money. Since that dedication to selling hard to find high-quality products is what has continued to set them apart from the rest.

 

Mary Thompson

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The Carlos Santana Tony Bennett Method to Stay Relevant and a Touching New Amy Winehouse Story

 

 

By Mary Thompson –

Clearly, they’ve got to be doing something right.

Before the days of fad diets and internet sensations filled with an endless array of videos, Facebook posts, Tweets and Pins on the latest organic all natural sensation. A British retailer The Body Shop had
already fully embraced the organic healthy living way of life.
Decades after they pioneered the sale of chemical free cosmetics the all-natural retailer is still going strong. Their success has continued to surge forward despite the stiff competition from other retailers
who have decided to cash in on the all-natural living bandwagon.

What’s The Body Shop’s ability to stay afloat in even the most difficult economic times when so many other retailers have surrendered to the ever-expanding .com marketplace?

The reasons behind their success are pretty simple the big wig in The Body Shops corporate offices are not dumb enough to kill the golden goose. Which also translates into not getting rid of classic items loyal
customers have come to rely on.

Shouldn’t consumer demand outweigh what’s cool and hip?
Much like the rapidly changing great products seem to be taken off the shelves when marketing professionals have somehow determined that they’ve gone out of style. Sadly, what “beauty professionals” count as to what “cool” may differ from items which keep customers coming back for
more.

Great skin care for an amazing price
One of the most difficult gifts to buy is skincare products. After all, there’s always the risk of causing the receiver to break out in allergic reactions due to harsh chemicals.

The best thing about purchasing moisturizers, cleansers, balms and toners from The Body Shop is that gentle all natural ingredients is more than just a cliché. In short, you simply can’t go wrong.

The following products are just a taste of what The Body Shop has to offer.

VITAMIN E MOISTURE CREAM http://amzn.to/2zjLMQX : At first glance, this product may not appear to be
economically priced. However, given the fact that one container will last well over a couple of months it
works out to be a pretty good deal. I absolutely adore this product especially during these cold winter
months when frosty winds can turn skin from silky smooth into something that closely resembles highly
durable sandpaper.
The thick creamy texture shouldn’t come across as off-putting. Just a dab delivers a surge of moisture
that absorbs quickly without a heavy greasy feeling. Not to mention the awesome ingredients such as
vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and wheat germ will no doubt leave skin soft and supple all day long.

You can count on this product to keep the dry itchy skin of winter at bay.
An essential beauty tip that most people tend to forget is that great skincare includes scalp care too.

GINGER SCALP CARE SHAMPOO http://amzn.to/2zkS8Q4 : Just because it’s snowing outside doesn’t mean a blizzard
should be brewing on your shoulders too. The main ingredients of ginger, honey, birch bark and white
willow will gently remove flakes while leaving behind an ounce of moisture to prevent them from
coming back.

One thing that sets this product apart from other anti-dandruff shampoos is that it’ll get the job done
without leaving hair brittle and dry. Instead, your locks will be soft, highly moisturized with tons of body.

So, kiss those flakey shoulders goodbye because relief is in sight.
Finally last but not least nature’s wonder fruit the coconut! The beauty and health benefits of this
super fruit are endless!

COCONUT BEAUTY BAG http://amzn.to/2BjChTe : This little bundle of goodness is undoubtedly on the top of
anyone’s stocking stuffer list and is sure to put all travel size kits to shame.
What could be better than a massive dose of moisture from all natural organic coconut oil?
What comes in this giftset?
• Body Butter Coconut
• Hand Cream Coconut
• Shower Gel Coconut

Long gone are the days of settling for mediocre travel size kits which most people purchase mainly out of necessity. Now feeling good is possible while in the air or on the road too.

Remember that when in doubt all natural is best. Hopefully, these bits and pieces help make choosing the best all-natural products for yourself and
someone special easier than ever.

By Mary Thompson –

Apparently, some hair accessories weren’t meant to stay in the past

Those hair ties made of fabric made from any design or colour of the rainbow used to be what anyone who was anyone in the late 80’s up to the 90’s would be sure to be sporting for everyone to see. Opinions on this iconic fashion accessory typically are a mix of love and nostalgia. For a while, it came as a relief to some that these bits of coloured were finally off the shelves.  

Nevertheless, as it is with most fashion accessories, the next big thing is hardly going to be as predictable as it may seem. On the contrary it’s always the craze you least expect that ends up taking the world by storm.

Behind door number one 80’s and 90’s hair accessories! The scrunchie I bet no one so that coming!

No this isn’t a spinoff of a hit comedy from the past. To continue to deny that these hair ties made of fabric aren’t going to return with a vengeance is a denial of the inevitable.

After all since Hollywood’s doing the marketing well let’s just say it’s about time we all race down to the accessory aisle and pick some up for ourselves.

If the A-listers are doing it, then it’s got to be cool

One of the things that have moved fashion through the decades despite trends is the need to accessorise. Perhaps it’s cause of our fast-paced, hectic lifestyles or the need to get things done quickly because of preconceived notion of self-gratification whether this expectation of not wanting to wait or need to complete any outfit with cute, fun accessories these scrunchies have made a fantastic comeback.

You don’t have to be in Hollywood to indulge in this fashion must have that seems to be taking Tinsel Town by storm.

Celebrities from Selena Gomez, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jennifer Lopez just to name a few have proven that scrunchies of just the right colour can complete any outfit. Not to mention, unlike tight hair ties they can pull back hairstyles while not denting those curls that took hours to create.

There is a color for every occasion

The great thing about scrunches is because they’re so economically priced having one to suit any time is entirely possible no matter what your budget.

From 2-5 dollars each, the temptation not to go a little crazy and to pick out a bunch when trying to choose the perfect one is a possible trap anyone can fall through. Not to mention they aren’t exactly hard to find given the fact that popular drug stores such as Target, Walmart and CVS are a scrunchie lover’s haven.

When pieces found at those shops, just don’t satisfy your scrunchie desires retailers devoted to the latest trends in fashion such as Claire’s may be your go-to source for the perfect tie.

 

Not all scrunchies are created equal

In the world of hair ties as it is with clothing, black or any dark colour in general equals elegance. Selena Gomez has proven that black scrunchies and public appearances go hand in hand. Her love for the cloth covered band was evident when she sported a long braided updo with a black scrunchie to top it off at the back in 2013. If it goes with Coach, it’s got to be chic? Right?  

Catherine Zeta-Jones in 2013 made so many fashionistas realise that nothing completes a posh but casual outfit of a fur coat and dark sunglasses better than a maroon scrunchie. After can’t a girl look great but be comfortable at the same time?

Award-winning actress and singer Jennifer Lopez proved that scrunchies and sophistication are a match made in heaven. This was evident after she paired a black one to go with her leopard-patterned outfit and Jimmy Choos on an episode of American Idol back in 2015.

Could 80’s and 90’s fashion turn into the hot new trends of today?

If scrunchies have anything to do with it, then it is absolutely possible. What’s next neon coloured outfits and mood rings? Perhaps rollerblades could once again reach new heights in their popularity?

Only time will tell after all these iconic bits and pieces had to be great for a reason.