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Posts Tagged ‘Tips’

Stressed by Studying for Exams? Try These Tips!

January 23rd, 2010 hair extensions No comments

Whether you are learning a new language or a subject like geography, these simple tips could save you hours of study time – and result in higher marks.Highlighting Fundamentals

You have probably used highlighters in textbooks and study notes; but are you getting the most out of them?

To learn anything, you must repeat the material. You go over it again – and again – and again. Then when you are confident that you have learned the information, you progress to more studying. However, this repetition process also means that you are wasting time going over facts and information you already know.

Don’t do it!

After you have learned about 80% of the material, use a yellow highlighter to mark everything that has eluded you. Next time through, concentrate on only the yellow areas. Try the memorization process a few more times until you have absorbed about 80% of the yellow text. Then do it again, marking over top of the yellow with a pink highlighter. This produces an orange shade. Spend more time memorizing everything with orange highlights.

This highlighting process produces three sections:

11 Expert Cruising Tips

December 8th, 2009 hair extensions No comments

Cruising is such a great thing to do. Shoot, what’s not to love about it? All that wonderful leisure fun, getting taken care of by all those people, going to cool places. Damn skippy!

One of the things I really like about cruising is telling people neat stuff to make their cruising experience better. Now, I know, it’s pretty hard to improve on something that is so intrinsically great to begin with, but, I do what I can. And, it’s not a bad lifestyle (giggle).

So, here’s another installment of my life’s work – sharing the fun and delight of cruising to the Caribbean. In this instance, I’m sharing a few tips about how to smooth the process of cruising, and get a bit more bang for your buck. Of course, to be perfectly honest (and we all want more of that, right?) I share this information in hopes that you will be curious enough, and entertained enough, to go to my website and buy one of my books about cruising. Gasp! Did I just let the cat out of the bag? Shucks. Ah well, can’t un-ring the bell, can ya’?

Yep, the simple truth is that I write articles, give speeches and do interviews so that people will learn about my life’s work and want more of it. And there is always more of it, I’m happy to say. And the good news for all of you folks reading this article is that a lot of what I create is actually free.

In fact, if you go to our website at www.dothecaribbean.com, you can get a free copy of our latest e-book entitled “The Best Darn Cruising Tips EVER!”. You’ll find 60 of the most useful tips and suggestions anywhere about every aspect of cruising. The e-book is free, but you can order a printed copy also (for $7.95) in case you just want to have everything all bundled together in a nice compact booklet.

In the coming weeks and months, I’ll be completing a few more books, putting the finishing touches on some videos about cruising, and (my real passion of the moment) launching a user-generated website that displays the most sensuous scenes of the Caribbean. Ooooh, now THAT is going to be fun, fun fun. Stay tuned. You’re not gonna want to miss that one.

But, on with the business at hand. Here are some useful and relevant tips and ideas that you can use for your next cruise. In the interest of space and the amount of time you have to read online articles, I’ve only included 11 tips here. But, by all means, go to my site and pick up the other 50+ when you download the aforementioned e-book. The criteria used for which tips to present in this article were 1) how easy the information was to explain in a few short paragraphs; 2) how useful it is to someone who doesn’t know much about the art and science of cruising; and, 3) tips that pay off (you’ll know what I mean after you’ve used these little jewels on board a ship).Tip #1:Take Care Of Your Cabin Steward.

One of your best friends on the cruise will be the person that picks up your dirty clothes, hangs up your wet towels, straightens up you messy vanity and turns down your bed every night – your Cabin Steward He, or she, will do an excellent job of making up your cabin twice a day, and sometimes more often if needed. This is the person who will also handle any special requests you have, like if you need an extra pillow. I make it a point to get to know my steward and on the very first day, make sure I tip him (or her) an extra $20. Yes, I know the daily gratuity that gets added to my account does cover the cabin staff, but, make no mistake. These guys, who do an excellent job anyway, can add a nice extra dimension to your journey. For example, I like to keep my ice buckets full and sometimes I even dedicate my sink or a cooler to holding our beer, which a happy Cabin Steward will keep covered in ice for all day long.

My generosity is always understood and rewarded. I’ve been delighted to find extra towels, robes, chocolate hors d’oeuvres and even a bottle of wine. One other point, my favorite way to communicate with my steward (if I don’t bump into him/her in the hallway) is to place a Post-It note on the mirror over the vanity. It always works. Tip #2: Copies Are A Good Thing

Make copies of all the important travel documents that you take (driver’s license, passport, credit card, etc.) and keep them in a safe place on your person while you are traveling and in your cabin once you get on board. If anything happens, you will have all information you need, and the purser’s office will be better able to help you.

While you’re at it, print out the cruise info you expect to use the most (such as directions, phone numbers, etc), on a colored piece of paper. That way it stands out from the various other pieces of paper you’ll have in your cruise documents.Tip #3: Electricity Is A Really Good Thing.

Each cabin has only one electrical outlet, which is located right next to the desk/vanity.

And it has only two plugs. If you’re like us and you want to use your computer, charge your camera, listen to music and use a hair dryer while someone is taking a shower… well, you get the picture. Bring a power strip or surge protector. You may also find it useful to being an 8-ft extension cord, that way, you have electricity anywhere you want it in the cabin.Tip #4: Prepare Your Stomach.

For about a week before leaving, eat at least one serving of yogurt every day, or take acidophilus supplements. It helps to build up the good bacteria that your digestive track needs to deal with any little bugs or impurities that you pick up. Some of the best food you’ll find will be in small local establishments, or even roadside venues. The chow is really good in these places, and authentically spiced. But, the sanitation requirements in the Caribbean are not the same as in the US. Also, the normal diet for locals is different than what you may be used to. Your stomach may not be used to it all. The yogurt is an easy and effective way to build up your digestive balance and immunity.Tip #5: Freshen Your Luggage

If your travel time to the ship is more than 24 hours, put fabric softener sheets between your garments to keep everything in your suite case smelling fresh. This is particularly nice with garments or accessories that are not regularly laundered, such as sweaters or jackets. You may want to cut one in half and place each half in your shoes. You’ll be even more appreciative on your return home, since your luggage will be packed with soiled clothes, some of which may even be damp.Tip #6: Bring Bungee Cords

Bungee cords are one of the most useful items you can take and for reasons other than you might first think. They are easy to pack, take up virtually no room at all, and can even be useful in keeping your bags lashed together as you maneuver onto the ship.

But here’s the really cool part. One thing you’ll find when you get to your cabin is that there are never enough places to hang things – like a shirt, or hat, or camera case. Most cabins have two or three hooks and that’s about it. While a hook is only big enough to hold one hat or other similar item, it is big enough to hold two or three bungee cords. What’s more, there are lots of places through out the cabin that can accommodate one end of a bungee cord but would never work as a hanging place, such as a lamp or the edge of your mirror. Just hang the bungee cord from any suitable place and – voila! – you have a hook that is sturdy enough to hold anything you’ve got.

They also make a great clothesline. Some bathrooms have a retractable clothes line in the shower, but not all. Your bungee cord can be strung across the opening of your shower, or between a couple of towel bars. Be creative, you’ll find several places that work.

And finally, one of the main irritations of being up on the deck when the ship is underway (as is the case with Sea Days) is the 20 knot winds that you have to deal with. When you get up from your seat to hit the bar or take a break, It’s not unusual at all to see a pool towel or shirt or hat go sailing over the edge of the ship. If you have a bungee cord with you, you can easily strap everything to your chair. Tip #7: Bring Extra Clothes Hangers

There are often not enough clothes hangers in your cabin, and those that are there can be a pain in the butt to use. They’re usually the kind that has a little peg which slips into a metal ring which is permanently attached to the clothes bar in the closet. So be sure to pack enough extras to handle all of your important hang-up clothes, so you have enough and you don’t have to mess around with the ones in the closet.

And speaking of clothes hangers, you can buy INFLATABLE clothes hangers (that’s right, inflatable coat hangers. Who’da thunk it?) from Amazon.com (click the “Apparel” tag” on the website). They take up no space at all, are totally easy to inflate and are sturdy enough to hold shirts and coats. They are also great for eliminating those pesky bulges that you get on the shoulders of your shirts. You might need to get a couple of sets so you can keep one set for traveling and use the other in your home closet. Tip #8: Check With Your Insurance Company (auto and medical)

If something happens and you are required to get any kind of medical treatment while you are cruising, there is a really good chance that you will have to pay for the treatment and get reimbursed later. So, find out before you go if your health insurance will pay for such treatments, and what kind of documentation you’ll need to file a claim with your company. This is one of those times where you may want to inquire into travel insurance, especially if you are traveling with a condition that elevates the risk (such as older travelers, pregnancy, or some other pre-existing condition). Get very clear information from your company about the documentation you need from the ship or port, because once you leave where the treatment is delivered, there is virtually no chance you will ever get medical records sent to you without hiring an attorney. If you have a pre-existing condition, you’ll get better treatment if you provide the medical staff with your medical history.

In the same vein, check your coverage with your auto insurance company. You may find that you don’t need any additional coverage, which can save you a lot if you decide to rent a car or scooter. Keep in mind, however, many rental companies require you to make good on any damages when you return the vehicle, so if you are using your personal insurance you will have to pay for the damages and get reimbursed. That little fact is one of the major incentives the rental companies use to sell you the insurance. Unfortunately, even though they are blood-suckers for trying to manipulate you, it is often less hassle to go ahead and buy the local insurance. But, get a professional opinion from your agent.Tip #9: A Can Of Air Freshener

Especially if you are traveling on one of the older ships, it’s a really good idea to pack a can of your favorite air freshener. I prefer the types that kill odors as opposed to those that just scent the air (i.e., Lysol, because it not only deodorizes the room if needed but also sanitizes surfaces). In the small confines of a standard cabin, any unpleasant odor can be stifling and the room ventilation system can take a while work.Tip #10: Stay Out Of The Steam Baths.

Yes, we know, there isn’t anything quite like the soothing and cleansing feeling of a steam bath to relax you or rid you of the after effects of a late night partying. Even so, we NEVER use public steam baths. This isn’t a knock on any particular cruise line, it’s a knock on public steam baths. A steam room is the absolute perfect environment for all kinds of airborne germs and bacteria – hot, moist, subdued lighting. Oh yeah, perfect for that little cold bug or other mischievous virus that gets sneezed out of people. STAY AWAY FROM STEAM BATHS!Tip # 11: Use Porters When You Leave The Terminal.

There are two really good reasons to use porters.

Beauty Tips for Brides

November 28th, 2009 hair extensions No comments

All eyes are on the bride, so of course you want to look your best! With a few simple tips for getting gorgeous, you can focus on having fun.

Beauty tips for the big day

When a bride walks down the aisle, her entire body is on display. With photo sessions looming, a bride-to-be most often seeks clear, photogenic skin.

When it comes to arranging a pre-wedding beauty plan, “make prioritizing your needs your first step,” says patricia tortolani senior editor for allure magazine. “If you have problematic skin, booking appointments with your dermatologist should be first on your list. If your skin is under control but you are a naturally tense person, your masseuse will be your best friend in the coming months.”

The best wedding dress for your shape

Before you try to radically alter your figure in the name of the trumpet dress, take heart in knowing that gowns come in every shape and style.

Before they try to radically alter their figure in the name of the trumpet dress, they should take heart in knowing that gowns come in every shape and style, and that certain silhouettes can work their magic on that larger bustline or those Rubenesque hips.

New styles bring glamour to the dreaded bridesmaid dress

Keeping it short and sweet – at knee-length and tea-length hems – was the overarching trend for bridesmaid dresses for the past five years, a welcome alternative to the less flattering, bulbous, balloon-sleeved dresses once foisted on these helpless attendants.

The fun and flirty bridesmaid dress is going glamorous with longer styles as the fabled walk down the aisle for even the bridesmaid is getting dressier.

Grooms need grooming, too

Although the bride traditionally goes in for the primping, getting spiffed up can make grooms feel more confident on their wedding day. And you’ll quickly discover there’s nothing like a little TLC from a spa staff to relax you.

Here are the top four grooming treatments experts suggest men receive to become their wedding-day best.

More brides turning to extensions for wedding day hairdos

 

The wedding gown isn’t the only item getting altered when it comes to a bride’s ensemble. Hair options abound and more and more brides are heaping on extensions for longer, fuller manes to crown their milestone moment.

While updos are still a romantic bride’s favorite way to frame her face, the temptation of flowing, shampoo commercial-worthy hair is an option that’s also hard to resist for a hair-challenged bride.

Calling all princesses: The veil is back

Picture-perfects brides, who once dismissed the veil as obtrusive and dated, are now embracing the headpiece in all its glory.

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Keys to maintaining healthy Black Hair

November 19th, 2009 hair extensions No comments

The first attitude is that in classify to have great looking hair on the outside, you need to ensure you take care of your health on the inside. The typical hair and hair follicles of those of African descent are tightly curled, thus producing hair that spirals. Sometimes it seems that maintaining black hair styles is a constant battle against frizz, dryness, and hair tangles. But today’s Black Hairstyles have increased in beautiful design and variety thanks to new formulations in black hair products allowing hair to maintain strength, reduce breakage and maintain moisture. Black hair is very challenging to condition and care for because it is very textured and curly and this happens most of the times with the majority of women. No substance whether or not whether your preferred black hair style is braided, curly, locks, sleek and straight, short and funky or twisted and intricate, there are a few things that you should consider before deciding on what black hair style to choose for your next do.

Black hair style fundamentals Long, short, and wavy hairstyles have pushed their way to “center stage” with increased functionality and beauty. Another characteristic of black hair is that it is uneven in diameter. Neither the fiber diameter nor the cuticle diameter is the same all through its length. Because of this characteristic structure and coiling structure the hair has many fragile points. Natural black hair care involves several things like diet and nutrition, the administration of vitamin supplements, and special combing, washing and drying. Black hair care tips help in preventing some damage to which it is naturally susceptible. Always use a wide-toothed Afro comb. Combing helps spread the natural oil through the hair, making it look shinier and healthier. Try to avoid the use of heat treatments, chemical relaxers or hot hair drying of your hair.

Natural black hair care also requires that you avoid hair extensions relying on glue and heat just as much as you should stay away from products that “freeze” the hair and make it stiff so that it can remain into place. Finally, extra oily substances are not to be used on the scalp if you really take natural black hair care seriously. Whatever is oily and oily will smother the follicles on the scalp and in time this can be responsible for hair loss. The water is good for your hair and locking process, so this is not a problem. Have a skilled professional or a friend re-twists the hair gently, reapplying the twist gel or beeswax that you used previously. Now that you know what types of black hair styles to choose to make you look your best, the only limits are your imagination and your stylist’s creativity.

The Best Hair Styles for This Year

November 17th, 2009 hair extensions No comments

Celebrity’s hair styles and fashion have a huge influence on our culture, they influence what is in and what is out. Hair styles are changing as we speak. Not only is the salon a place where hair styles are created, but it is also where confidence and relationships are built. So lets take a look at the trendy hair styles that are in right now, yes one of the trendiest styles is the short hair styles for 2006 and 2007. Because today’s trendy short hair styles are simply ideal for our twenty-first century, fast-paced lifestyle. Celebrity hair styles are where most women and hairstylists get their ideas from.
Since celebrities are held in very high regards most fans think they are the most beautiful people, there is awe about them, why wouldn’t everyone want to copy celebrity’s hair, clothing and style. There are literally thousands of websites and magazines that feature women’s hair styles and celebrity women’s hair styles. Short hairstyles worn by women are a fairly new style trend when compared with women’s hair styles in general. As more women are in the spotlight, in a career scene and becoming mothers on the go, hair styles trend to get shorter and shorter. However, if you’re like most contemporary women, you’re probably looking to switch out your dew on a regular basis. Any women can instantly change their look, it doesn’t matter what age they are and they can be have the high fashionable hair style inspired by the world’s most recognized celebrity hair styles. Women from all around the world choose hair styles to suit their type of hair.
People look at the latest celebrity hair styles to get ideas for new hair styles. In fact, most fashion trends actually begin after a celebrity has worn them and the same is true when it comes to celebrity hair styles. How do you select a celebrity’s hair style that is suitable for your face and body shape. Of all the hairstyles in the world, celebrity hair styles are always the ones we try to mimic.
Fashion and hair styles go hand in hand; we want to help our salons keep up to date with reports from the clothing and make-up part of the fashion industry. Fashion trends towards a more casual look continued in the 1920’s. Models, trained at the fashion academy run in October, graced the catwalk displaying the latest fashion wear and hair styles. Fashions are worn by the fashion-sensible and the fashion-senseless. When it comes to the current fashion trends, you can’t just observe the apparel and accessories.
Hair extensions can add fullness and length and give you a totally different look.. Good guide to choosing a hair style that also outlines what hair styles are available and their features. Short hair styles are coming back into fashion and many feel that it gives a young sophisticated look. Straight hair styles are the most natural hair styles you can ever have. Fashion and hair styles are other key manifestations of a generation’s identity.

Healthy Hair Care Tips For Today’s Black Woman (Paperback)

November 4th, 2009 hair extensions No comments

Healthy Hair Care Tips For Today's Black Woman

Review

Most hair books on the market today are filled with pictures of celebrities and professional models. Cheryl Talley Moss used her hair clients as models in this book because she wanted to keep this book real. This book teaches you how to select a hairstylist,and answers the most frequently asked question concerning Black hair. Most women walk out of their hair salon looking good and feeling great. But when they get home, they don’t know what to do to maintain their “do.” This book gives you step by step instruction on how to develop your personal home maintanence guide. — From the Publisher

This book is the Black woman’s guide to maintaining healthy hair. You will learn how to completely eliminate bad hair days. This book is your total reference for: Chemical Hair Relaxing, Hair Coloring, Hair Weaves and Extensions, Hair Cutting, Shampooing and Conditioning and much more. You will refer to this book again and again because it is packed with info (more…)

Hair Extensions Thats Some Long Hair

October 17th, 2009 hair extensions No comments

Why does everyone have great long hair? It seems like it grows overnight. The downside of human hair extensions is that are usually much more expensive then the synthetic ones. Human hair extensions tend to be the preferred kind of hair extensions because they look and feel a lot more natural then the synthetic kind. For most people who come to the salons for a hair extension treatment, they usually opt to have the human hair extensions in order to achieve a natural look as compared to the synthetic type of hair extensions that actually has a different texture. Synthetic hair, on the other hand, is colored and styled before application and cannot be changed. These hair extensions can be either synthetic or natural. Synthetic hair costs much less than human hair. Many of today’s methods have been adapted from African-American stylists that weave human or synthetic hair into corn rows for a long, flowing and natural look. First, hair for extensions can be either synthetic or real human hair. The hair that is used can be synthetic or human and varies in price and quality. Hair extensions involve the attachment of human or synthetic hair to your existing hair to create a more full or long look immediately.
Hair extensions are hairpieces that can be attached to your natural hair or scalp; they enhance the thickness of your hair or the length. The natural hair of Caucasians is different from that of Asians or Afro-Americans and you should choose an extension that will match your own hair. This will result in tension and additional stress at the scalp, resulting in scalp soreness and possibly your natural hair falling out. Many of today’s methods are much faster and can cause less damage to the natural hair. Human hair is very heavy and the extra added weight to already damaged hair can cause the natural hair to fall out—even causing permanent hair loss. Clip-in extensions are suitable for people whose natural hair is shoulder length or longer. If you have a short haircut, but are dying for long locks, buy a wig that is similar in color to your natural hair. Hair extensions are actually highly in demand hair treatments at the salons nowadays wherein a lot of their clients all want to have some hair extensions added to their natural mane in order to look sophisticated and even a bit sexy. With fusion hair extensions, the extensions should be indistinguishable from your natural hair. Hair extensions can be added to your own natural hair to add length, volume, and body. The problem here is that most of the attachment methods require coating your natural hair with rather unfriendly chemicals.
With human hair extensions, wearers are not locked into a particular color or style. Such a wide variety of human hair extensions are available that stylists can easily match the color and texture of your own hair with. Hair extensions offer a simple solution to fine hair and can add a little pizzazz to thick, curly or wavy hair in any color or style.