Sherri Otcenasek

The colder weather of winter is here and the change in seasons affects our skin in many ways. After months in the sun and heat, many of us are experiencing dehydration and dryness from all the outdoor activities as well as the dryness of winter heating.

To help revive your skin and get ready for winter, consider a deep exfoliating facial. After exfoliation, the skin is able to accept nutrients that will help balance summer damage. Vitamin C is a great healing and brightening ingredient, ideal for nourishing over-exposed summer skin.

With the colder temperatures and dry heat, our skin has a hard time adjusting. Some may feel dry in the morning and oily by noon or have more breakouts. All are signs of “confused” skin. When the skin becomes dehydrated, the oil glands start to over-compensate which leads to many skin challenges.

Many people find that they need different skincare products depending on the time of year. The moisturizer that got you through summer may not be enough in the winter. A hydrating toner is a great way to supply the skin with more moisture. Masks and spot treatments can also address the need for extra care.

Have you heard about the Ultimate Facial?  This is a $150 service that is currently offered at a spa in California (using Arbonne products)…and I’m offering it to my clients and friends.

Arbonne is all about keeping your skin healthy and vibrant without using chemicals and animal by-products.   I promise you will love the way your face feels after the Ultimate Facial.  Invite a few of your friends over and offer them the luxury of an “Ultimate Facial”.  Your skin will thank you…and your friends will, too!

If you book and hold a workshop with three friends on one of the dates listed, I’ll give you a $25 Gift Certificate; plus you can earn free products, too!

Currently I have the following dates available:

Tuesday, Jan. 24^th
Wednesday, Jan. 25^th
Tuesday Jan. 31^st
Wednesday, Feb. 1^st

Thursday Feb. 9^th

You deserve it…your skin requires it!

Sherri-O

“Life is a great obstacle course, with bends and turns, wins and losses.  When you get to the high jump, always remember to throw your heart over the bar…the rest will follow.” ~Michele Leonard

The holidays are a crazy busy time. Between the baking and cooking, the holiday parties, the pageants, the traveling, the decorating, and the corresponding, you have to somehow find and wrap a heartfelt gift for your kids, spouse, parents, relatives and friends.

Even if you have made a commitment to spend less on gifts this year, you still want to give something meaningful. The worst part is, you want to enjoy the holidays, but you worry that it’s going to whiz by while you were feeling frazzled and desperate.

If this describes you, here are a few tips to help you take some of the stress out of your holiday shopping so you can once again enjoy this magical time of year.

1. Start early. Like now. When you shop for your holiday gifts early, you have more time to look at the options, plus the stores will have a larger selection of those hot toys. You’ll also be spreading out the expense over a longer period of time. And you’re likely to save some money because you’ll have time to check out the deals, both online and off – and to wait for a coupon code, if necessary. If you are shipping any of your presents, you’ll be able to relax if the buying is already finished by Thanksgiving time. Then, when everyone is frantically rushing to the mall and throwing elbows for the last cashmere sweater, you can sit back, sip a hot peppermint mocha and watch “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

2. Do whatever you need to do to make your shopping trips more fun. Take along a good friend or two, and you might have so much fun you’ll want to make a ritual of going holiday shopping together every year. To really cut the stress, take a day off in the middle of the week together and hit your favorite shopping centers then, where you won’t have to compete with so many crowds (especially if you skipped Tip 1, and it’s December already.)

3. Keep a list, throughout the year, of gift ideas for your friends and family. Jot down cute little things you see that relate to their interests. It’s so much easier if you don’t have to start from scratch in the mall, while you stare at the stack of George Foreman grills and waffle makers.

4. Change your scenery. If big malls bum you out with their over-emphasis on the commercialization of Christmas, plan a weekend getaway to a small town, where they celebrate the holidays in old-fashioned style. Is there a small village or ski town in your area where they have carolers strolling the street in the evenings? Where they light the outdoor trees and where they always wrap the gifts for you, while you chat leisurely with the shop owners? Find such a place and you’ll be whistling carols yourself as you weave your way in and out of boutiques, sipping cider or hot cocoa. Being part of an old-fashioned Christmas can really help you get in the holiday spirit. You might have so much fun that you’ll make it an annual tradition.

5. Think unique – not big ticket. Instead of trying to bowl someone over with the enormity of your gift, find something that is unique and just right for them. It is often these small and thoughtful gifts that are the most memorable. Of course, you’ll need to start early to have any chance of finding this just-right gift, but gift-giving will be so much more enjoyable when you make a game of finding just the right item for each recipient, rather than just another thing to cross off your crowded to-do list.

6. Shop online. The internet has an array of interesting gift stores and catalogs that feature items you’d be hard-pressed to find in stores. Arbonne has a wide selection of gifts which are perfect for that special someone.  Call or email me to take advantage of “Black Friday with Arbonne”.  When you order $125 retail, you get $125 in FREE products (shipping and tax on total retail value).  This offer is valid through November 28^th, 2011.  We have gifts for everyone and you, too…now is a good time to stock up on all your favorites!!!

Gluten is a protein composite found in foods processed from wheat and related grain species. Gluten intolerance is the inability to break down gluten. If a person who is sensitive to gluten digests it, the lining of their small intestine becomes inflamed and damaged. People with celiac disease must follow a gluten-free diet. The skin disorder, dermatitis herpetiformis, is also linked to gluten allergies and causes bumps, blisters and itchy rashes. Following a gluten-free diet means eliminating food, such as bread and pasta. Gluten can also show up in foods like salad dressing, beer, licorice and cold cuts. Other products that can contain gluten include over-the counter or prescription medications, vitamins, chap sticks, lipstick and lip balm.

Many athletes claim their gluten-free diet gives them an energy boost. Athletes like the New Orleans Saints quarterback, Drew Brees, and a world’s top-ranked tennis player, Novak Djokovic, both follow a gluten-free diet because of their sensitivity to gluten projects. The Garmin-Transitions pro cycling team follows a gluten-free diet to help them boost their energy levels. Many people report upset stomachs, headaches and depression after ingesting the protein. U.S. Olympian, Yoder Begley, carries a reference book of restaurants that offer gluten-free menus when she travels. She eats carb-rich foods, such as sweet potatoes, rice pasta and bananas, that are not filled with fat and sugar. The U.S. Olympian uses these types of carbohydrates to turn glucose into fuel for energy and exercise.

Arbonne offers a “Simply Fit in 30 Days” program. By eliminating 5 of the most common food sensitivities: gluten, dairy, sugar, alcohol and caffeine our clients feel better, have more energy and lose weight. Our program replaces two meals with our delicious gluten and dairy free protein shakes and an easy, simple plan to follow. We offer monthly workshops in Viera, too. If you would like to try the products or find out more about our program, please call me. Even if you’re not gluten intolerant, you will love the taste of our protein shakes…and the way you feel after drinking them.