Clinique Pays It Forward With Happy Day, December 11th

/PRNewswire/ -- Happiness is contagious evoking feelings of universal joy. In a tough economic climate, it's even more important to spread happiness and give back in meaningful ways. For the third consecutive year, Clinique is partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, the largest youth mentoring organization in the country, to continue its tradition of engaging in random acts of happiness.

Clinique teamed up with children from Big Brothers Big Sisters to create personalized holiday cards that embody happiness during the season of giving. The children participated in designing holiday cards and were encouraged to express happy holiday moments visually through their artwork. Six designs were chosen for Clinique Happy Holiday Cards, which will be available complimentary at Clinique counters nationwide and at Clinique.com with a $30 purchase. In addition, Clinique has made a cumulative donation of $350,000 to support Big Brothers Big Sisters initiatives.

"For three consecutive years, Clinique has demonstrated its commitment to our children by selecting Big Brothers Big Sisters as the beneficiary of its annual holiday promotion," said Michael A. Corriero, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC. "Clinique's generosity is bringing holiday cheer to countless children."

"At Clinique, we're committed to paying it forward," said Lynne Greene, Global President of Clinique, Origins and Ojon. "We're thrilled to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters once again and bring smiles to the faces of children who need them the most."

The holiday card icons designed by Big Brothers Big Sisters will also appear on Clinique's Happy Day Card Designer, a customizable e-card application, on Facebook http://apps.facebook.com/clinique_happyday/fb/welcome. Each person can select pictures from his or her Facebook albums, choose a pattern, background colour, Big Brothers Big Sisters icon and greeting and create a one-of-a-kind e-card to share with Facebook friends.

Clinique status updates and tweets will also encourage fans and followers to share their happy moments on Facebook and Twitter. Consumers who accumulate five or more Happy Day Card comments on Facebook will receive either Free Standard Shipping or a sample of a Happy Fragrance with their next order from Clinique.com.

And continuing the brand's global holiday tradition, all Clinique executives, dressed in festive orange, will join their dedicated sales teams at retail counters on Happy Day to spread the holiday cheer, worldwide. Along with the Happy Holiday Cards, Happy-To-Go Fragrance Pencils will be given away for free at Clinique counters nationwide and on Clinique.com with a $30 purchase while supplies last. In addition to the U.S. festivities, Happy Day will continue to spread random acts of happiness across the globe in partnership with locally affiliated charities.

CLINIQUE'S TIPS TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON:
1. Smile!
2. Say thank you.
3. Perform an act of happiness.
4. Spread positivity.
5. Pay it forward.

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Three beauty looks to get ready for the holiday party season

(ARA) - With the season of soirees upon us, the ultimate look is needed to stand out among the crowd of little black dresses. With a few simple steps, it’s easy to have the appearance of professionally done makeup without emptying your wallet. Be your own makeup artist by trying these three looks from the pros to accent your best features.

Smokey eyes
International makeup artist, Jemma Kidd recommends a dramatic smoky eye to pump-up the glam.

Step 1 – Sweep a light highlighter shade over the whole lid to the browbone.

Step 2 – Apply a dark and intense shade along the lashline, blending up and smoking outwards to the socket line.

Step 3 – Smudge eyeliner across upper and lower lashline; use black for ultra intensity.

Step 4 – Finish off with dark, black mascara, and for a full on look, go for false eyelashes. For an ultra-modern take, add a touch of glitter to lower lids and lashes.

Tip: To finish off the face, use a nearly-naked base, with barely-there flush on cheeks and a nude color for the lips.

Natural perfection
Petra Strand, makeup artist and creator of Pixi, firmly believes that makeup should make a woman look like herself – only more gorgeous.

Step 1 - Prime the skin with a primer – skin will look youthful, glowing and hydrated.

Step 2 - Switch to a base that is sheer and use a concealer for those areas that need a little extra help. Your complexion will look naturally flawless.

Step 3 - Use a cheek gel instead of regular blush to give an instant "lift" with a transparent touch of color on the apples of the cheeks.

Step 4 - Switch from full coverage lipsticks to a tint of color that has both the moisture and treatment of a balm for a perfect pout.

Tip: The next generation of powders is here with a diffused matte finish that is truly perfect to "set your makeup" so that it goes the distance yet you look "fresh as a daisy."

Sophisticated glamour
For classic holiday glam, celebrity makeup artist Napoleon Perdis recommends being bold and brilliant.

Step 1 – Prime your skin for a flawless canvas for makeup application and follow with your perfect foundation match for full coverage and matte skin.

Step 2 – Make a lip statement. Red lips are the most glamorous trend of the season. Pick your favorite red and make sure to always apply lip liner to prevent bleeding. To give the illusion of fuller lips, dab some gloss only on the center of the pout, over lipstick.

Step 3 – To perfectly complement your bold lips, keep the eyes neutral. Use a neutral and easy palette of taupe eye shadows for a seductive eye.

Tip: Complete the look with black mascara – always remember that three coats is the magic number, and a look is never complete without show-stopping lashes.

Don’t have all that’s needed for the ultimate glam look to show off your best assets? Relax, Target has you covered. Pick up premiere makeup products at budget-friendly prices from Pixi, JK Jemma Kidd and NP Set at Target stores nationwide and at target.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Georgia Southern University Expert Offers Tips on Reducing Holiday Stress

The holidays are supposed to be a joyous time, but many people feel overwhelmed by the extra cooking, shopping, spending and expectations that come with the celebrations.

Dr. Pamela Feldt, Assistant Professor in Georgia Southern University’s Department of Psychology, offers these five tips to keep holiday stress in check.

Keep Expectations Realistic
Become aware of your stress inducing ideas about the holiday season and challenge them. No one’s house, children, gifts or baking is perfect. Yours don’t have to be perfect, either. It’s a better idea to focus on what gives you and your family pleasure, rather than what you think you ought to be doing.

Watch What You Eat
It’s OK to eat some cookies and other sweet treats if you follow two simple rules. First, don’t beat yourself up for doing so. Second, don’t skip real food (like vegetables and protein) in order to cut calories after you’ve eaten sweets. It is entirely possible to sugar-stress your body, which makes it more difficult to cope with other stressors.

Only Drink In Moderation
If you drink, drink no more than two drinks per day. Also, make sure that you give your body time to metabolize the alcohol before you go to bed. If you don’t, you may wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to get back to sleep. Getting enough sleep is an important stress reducer.

Exercise
Make time for some exercise. Even minimal exercise (ten minutes at a time) outside in the sunshine and fresh air helps to reduce stress and improve your mood.

Organize
Make a calendar on which you put everything that needs to be done during the holiday season, including special activities for all family members and routine things that need to be accomplished, such as car maintenance and medical appointments. Once you have all of your appointments down on a calendar, you can see if you are scheduled to be in two places at once and make plans to deal with the schedule conflict. Creating the calendar can be a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy together.

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Savor the Taste of the Holidays

(ARA) - We’ve all seen the statistics revealing that many of us are guilty of overindulging during the holiday season. Stress, frequent holiday parties and the office candy dish are all common culprits that can contribute to adding a few extra pounds by the end of the year.

But with a few simple, convenient and healthy modifications to holiday fare, you can still savor the wonderful flavors of the holidays without missing out on some of your favorite dishes for fear of overindulging. Remember, ‘tis the season to enjoy, not deprive!

A common cooking myth is that using light- or no-salt-added ingredients means losing the rich, comforting flavors often associated with traditional holiday meals. With a few easy tricks to help lower sodium, cut cholesterol and reduce saturated fats in holiday recipes, you and your family can look forward to delicious holiday meals as well as a healthy and happy start to the New Year.

Here are some quick and convenient tips for a more enjoyable and healthier holiday celebration:

It Pays to be Prepared
A simple trip to the grocery store can often turn into a stressful and costly venture. Poor planning and last minute grocery store trips also often result in unhealthy decisions. So avoid those long lines at the supermarket and stock your shelves ahead of time with healthy pantry staples such as canned products, olive oil, low-sodium dried herbs and seasonings and garlic cloves. A perfectly stocked pantry will allow you to have healthy options on-hand even during the chaotic holiday season.

Contrary to popular belief, canned vegetables contain all the nutrients of fresh vegetables when prepared in recipes. For example, Del Monte 50% Less Salt Vegetables contain vitamins and minerals, and 200 milligrams of sodium less per serving than regular canned vegetables. Stocking up on lower sodium varieties is a smart, convenient option for full-flavor cooking while reducing overall sodium intake in dishes -- and your finicky relatives will be none the wiser.

“Modifying ingredient choices in your diet such as swapping healthy fats for unhealthy trans and saturated fats and opting for foods with less salt can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure and ultimately help reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease,” says Keri Glassman, a registered dietician. “It's a small step that goes a long way. Incorporating more vegetables and less salt into your holiday diet can lead to a happier, healthier year ahead for your family.”

Say Bye-Bye to the “Bs” in Holiday Hors d’oeuvres
Avoid bacons, heavy breads and buttery dough ingredients when planning your hors d’oeuvre selections. Yes, this means passing on the traditional bacon-wrapped scallop bites and cocktail wieners blanketed in buttery dough. Instead, focus on healthier, less-filling items such as baked tortilla chips and a fresh homemade salsa. Or, opt for a colorful and festive spread of fruits and vegetables served alongside healthy dips -- such as hummus -- which won’t leave your guests feeling overstuffed and lethargic before the real meal actually begins.

Banish the Butter, Love Your Lemons
Classic cooking calls for basting the turkey or chicken with butter -- an ingredient typically high in cholesterol and saturated fat -- to create that rich golden brown skin color. Avoid the artery clogging ingredient by whisking together a delicious glaze of lemon, olive oil and dried herbs to create a unique, refreshing alternative that keeps turkey just as moist as butter but with a lighter, healthier zest of citrus flavor. Additionally, olive oil naturally contains good dietary fats and can help lower cholesterol.

When the Meat Thermometer Just Won’t Pop
Roasting a turkey often takes a little longer in the oven than anticipated, and guests usually wind up with a little extra time on their hands before sitting at the dinner table. Down-time often leads to extra snacking, and your guests may become full and tired before the main course. Plan to have classic games such as Monopoly, Connect Four, and Scrabble strategically placed in common areas where guests can easily play. This is a wonderful way to pass time and re-connect with family members.

Sweet as Pie
A wonderful holiday meal isn’t a smashing success without something irresistibly sweet to top it off. Instead of the heavy cakes, pastries and sugary pies, opt for light and refreshing palate-cleansing desserts that won’t weigh guests down. Try arranging a beautiful dessert bar with fresh fruit sorbets, light and airy biscotti, plates of fresh berries with creme fraiche and an assortment of hot teas. Not only are fruits packed with vitamins and minerals, but low-sugar desserts tend to be better for digestion and still a sweet end to a delicious meal. (The pie will not be missed.)

By following a few simple rules and modifications this season, your holiday dishes will offer the wonderful comforting tastes of traditional holiday fare with a lighter, healthier touch your guests will surely appreciate. For more helpful ideas and recipes for the holidays, visit www.delmonte.com/solutions.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Beating Holiday Indigestion

GBB Note: Beauty is in the air during the holidays. Be sure to keep your beautiful smile on your face by following some basic holiday tips.

(StatePoint) Everyone wants to be home for the holidays -- but not on account of embarrassing digestive upsets.

Hollywood nutritionist and registered dietitian Ashley Koff offers advice for avoiding digestive pitfalls and helping you overcome these unwanted holiday episodes that can result from stress, overeating and overindulgence.

* Don't Be a Last Minute Shopper -- Nobody wants to be shopping at the last minute, and the same holds true for preventing holiday digestive distress. Begin addressing your digestive woes as early as possible with a clinically-proven probiotic, such as Align, to help establish the right balance of good and bad bacteria. Also, become aware of known gastric irritants and begin to make appropriate replacements.

* Gift-Wrap a Healthy Dish -- Volunteer to bring a tasty, healthy dish that works for your digestive system to a holiday meal and turn worry about a potential embarrassing upset into delicious enjoyment. You'll be less stressed for the get together and your host will undoubtedly appreciate the gift.

* Great Things DO Come in Small Packages -- Allow yourself to enjoy a treat during the holidays, but treat yourself to a taste or bite. The smaller portion will be better for your digestive system and keep you from feeling deprived.

* It's a Holi-DAY Not a Holi-MONTH -- While certain foods can trigger digestive distress when consumed even once, avoid ongoing irritation and the resulting more intense (chronic) distress by limiting your celebration to one day each month.

* Holiday Healers -- Did you know that some well known holiday treats such as peppermint and ginger are natural digestive healers?

* 'Tis the Season -- Because life happens despite the best laid plans. Keep yourself hydrated (i.e., water, coconut water), get a day of liquids to rest the digestive system and avoid known gastric irritants. What's the best way to deal with a bad day? End it ... Go to bed as early as possible.

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Shine This Holiday Season

(NAPSI)-The holidays are around the corner and it can be easy to achieve a holiday-ready look at home. Hollywood's top celebrity stylists explain that shine and shimmer are key trends this season and offer tips to achieve a shine-inspired look.

Celebrity stylist and star of "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style" Gretta Monahan says, "The 'must have' look of the season is all about shine. Increase your shine potential with hair products and accessories that accentuate the natural style and texture of hair."

Celebrity makeup artist Mally Roncal predicts shimmery cheeks and luminous eyes-the perfect complement to chic and shiny hair -will carry over from the fall season for sophisticated holiday style.

Monahan and Roncal lay out some shine-infused looks that are easy enough to try at home and are universal enough for everyone.

Chic Sleek Shine:

To get started, use products that put shine in your hair. Monahan recommends Dove Shine Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner to give dull, lackluster hair shine. They help to protect, repair and align damaged cuticles to restore hair's ability to reflect light.

For straight hair, slick it back in a sleek ponytail, keeping it close to the scalp for an instant clean and sophisticated look. Finish off the look with a jeweled ponytail holder that is modest in size.

For a makeup look to match, keep eyes neutral with a focus on the cheeks. Achieve a sophisticated shimmer with a dewy, fresh face. Apply cream blush to the apples of the cheeks and finish off with a shimmered powder highlighter.

Modern Natural Shine:

For curls and waves, dry your hair halfway on low setting with a blow-dryer, then let your hair take a break from the heat and see the natural body bounce to life. Polish the look and add sheen with a satin bow headband.

Achieve a makeup look to complement this hairstyle with gilded eyes enhanced with rich metallic shadows, especially gold and silver.

To pull this off during the day, apply a metallic shade of gold across the eyelid or just to highlight under the brow bone, tear duct and cheekbones. To make your eyes shine, dab a little extra shadow in the inner corner of your eyes for a completely polished look.

Roncal recommends, "Be sure you are always holiday-party prepared-throw a Q-tips purse pack in your clutch. Q-tips are the ultimate beauty tool, especially for precise makeup application, blending and touch-ups."

Visit dovehair.com for a free sample of Dove Shine Therapy. For more holiday makeup tips, visit www.qtips.com.

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Day-to-night Fashion Solutions for the Holidays

(ARA) – We all know the holiday season is hectic. From finding the perfect gifts for family and friends to preparing that special dish, we run around scrambling to get everything together -- including ourselves -- at the last minute.

Between holiday shopping and credit card debt, traveling to attend large family gatherings and cocktails parties, and balancing work, all the merriment can cause major stress, particularly in women ages 35 to 54. Women in this age group are more likely than men to feel stressed during the holiday season than any other time of year, according to the American Psychological Association.

This year however, there is no need to stress over what to wear to holiday festivities. Rather than showing up to your office holiday party in frumpy, uncomfortable clothes from five years ago, you can take a great-looking outfit from day to night with simple styling solutions to flatter all body types at a fraction of the cost.

“The objective during the holidays is to look sharp and feel comfortable at the same time,” says Meredith Dudley, women’s designer for Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. “Start with a pair of great fitting, dark colored jeans that can be dressed up or down for any occasion and choose colors and patterns to create an overall slimming look.”

As a designer for Signature by Levi Strauss & Co., a jeanswear brand sold in retail stores like Wal-Mart and Kmart, Dudley knows what works for a woman’s body on budget. She offers some styling tips for solving specific problem areas:

* Broad Shoulders: Pair a tailored jacket with boot cut jeans to balance out your figure.
* Short or Wide Neck: Choose tops with an open or V-neckline to lengthen and slim your neck.
* Muscular Arms: Choose tops with a bright pattern to camouflage and distract from your arms.
* Large Calves: Pull on a pair of boots to hide your calves and draw attention to your footwear instead.
* Pear Shaped Figure: Try a 3/4-length jacket to give you a waist and make you appear long and lean.
* Belly Bulge: Choose jeans with stretch in a dark blue or black color for a slimming effect.

In general, Dudley recommends a boot cut leg opening as the most flattering style for all body types. Some of today’s boot cut jeans feature slimming technology, with a built-in front panel to control and flatter a woman’s stomach. Though typically sold for around $100 a pair, new Totally Slimming jeans from Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. retail for under $20 at Wal-Mart and Walmart.com. Available in dark and black rinses, the jeans can work from day to night when paired with a feminine blouse, a light cardigan sweater and accessorized with a pair of comfortable heels and jewelry.

“You don’t have to spend a fortune or deprive yourself of holiday treats to look and feel great this season,” Dudley says. “Forget the fad diets, weight loss pills and exercise gimmicks, looking trim this holiday season is easier than you think.”

Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. also sells jeans for the whole family at discount retailers. For more information on Signature by Levi Strauss & Co., visit http://www.signaturebylevistrauss.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Reduce Holiday Stress In An Hour Or Less

(NAPSI)-The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration. However, with your ever-growing to-do list, from organizing family gatherings to finding the perfect gifts-not to mention grocery shopping, cleaning and decorating-all too often words such as "joy" and "celebration" are replaced with "anxiety" and "stress."

In fact, a recent survey by Lindt, a premium chocolate confectioner, found that two out of three women admit they are stressed during the holidays. While many women spend time perfecting their hostess techniques and buying gifts for loved ones, they often forget to take time out for themselves. The survey also found that in order to relieve stress, the majority of women, if given the chance, choose to go shopping, indulge in premium chocolate or visit their local spa. It's well known that when trying to avoid stress, it's important for women to remember that taking a personal time-out, even for only a moment, can make a big difference.

Whether you have an extra hour before you have to pick up the kids from school or you find yourself with only five minutes of precious "me time," here are five tips from Lindt that will help you forge through the holidays without forgetting about yourself!

1) 60 minutes: Go ahead, pamper yourself by booking a massage or a facial and let a professional soothe away your tension. A classic massage from your local day spa should leave you rejuvenated in under an hour.

2) 45 minutes: Book an appointment to have your hair blown out by a pro. The experience of having your hair styled will leave you feeling and looking like a million dollars at a fraction of the cost.

3) 30 minutes: Feed your brain by reading. Whether it's fact or fiction, read at least a chapter a day. Your mind will wander to a different place and forget about that lengthy to-do list.

4) 15 minutes: Take a cyber-break. Sign online to check out the latest celebrity gossip and news. Catching up on others' busy lives will help you briefly forget the stress of your own.

5) 5 minutes or less: Treat yourself to something indulgent, such as one smooth-melting Lindt Lindor Truffle, to help you momen-tarily escape the strains of everyday life.

For more information, visit www.LindtLindorTruffles.com.

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