Life Yoga- How To Make the Best of What You've Got

OK, so you are all on board with the healthy, organic food train- your grocery list is made, your recipes are picked out, and then you realize you have a problem: you don't have a store that provides everything that you need (as in a Whole Foods or natural food store). What do you do at this point? This is a question that I get all of the time- especially from my mom who is limited to a few choice stores and is a dedicated gym member and healthy eater! I have been coaching her through this for a few months- so I thought I would share what I have been helping her with. And this may save you a few dollars in the meantime too!

Here are my top 10 tips for making the best of what you have:

1. Buy as many unprocessed foods as you can! Processed foods are more expensive than whole foods and if you stick to the main food categories (fruits, vegetables, dairy, and grains) you will save a lot of money and your grocery list will immediately start to eliminate all of the unhealthy items on its own.

2. Shop seasonally! Fruits and vegetables that are in season will be cheaper, fresher, and also better for your body. Plus if you eat in-season you will always be switching it up and never get stuck in a food rut! Here is a website that will help you with what is in season.http://frugalliving.about.com/od/foodsavings/tp/Cheapest_Produce.htm

3. Pick the most important fruits and vegetables to buy organic! Fruits and vegetables where you eat the skin are the most important thing you can buy organic. So if you have to make the choice choose these.According to The Environmental Working Group, this includes: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, imported grapes, pears, spinach, and potatoes.

4. Shake the hand that feeds you. AKA: Buy from a farmers market! This is not only the cheapest way to buy your groceries, but the most reliable way to know exactly what you are buying and eating. You will be closer to the producer of your food than ever before- which is a wonderful and empowering feeling. Most farmers market's end in the month of September but when they are accessible this is a MUST!

5. Join your local co-op. Many co-op's have programs where you sign up and each week you receive a different box of fruit and vegetables. You will receive what is in season and it will also force you to try different vegetables that you would have never bought before (once again helping you out of your food rut)! Many co-ops also offer locally produced meat! (Which means no hormones or additives AND no mistreatment of animals!)

which brings me to my next point...

6. Buy meat from a local meat market. Now- most people know that I do not eat meat- but I also realize that people do eat meat and there is a relatively humane way to eat meat- and it is from a local farmer. So find your local meat market to buy any of your meat products from now on. And cut out ALL meat from fast food chains. And from anywhere that the meat is provided by a factory farm. Period.

7. Buy frozen fruits and vegetables- not canned! If all of my other rules have failed you and you HAVE to have some blueberries (or whatever you crave) out of season (which is completely fine- I crave avocados and bananas all year round) you must buy frozen! There are so many less preservatives in frozen foods than canned- and a lot of times you can find them for the same price or even cheaper!

8. Tofu! I know that a lot of people are afraid of tofu- but don't be! It is SO delicious and SO good for your health. Tofu has more protein ounce for ounce than beef. I know that they sell tofu in every grocery store- and I have a ton of yummy tofu recipes that I will be posting soon.

9. Find a local farmer to buy eggs from. In every town there are farmers who's families depend on their crops- including their eggs. Support your local economy and find a farmer who is selling eggs from their own chickens. These chickens have been fed grain (not corn), gotten to live outside and take little dirt baths and live the life every chicken would dream of! They will taste fresher and be MUCH better for your health- and they are accessible wherever you are!

10. Grow your own! The best way to find out if something is fresh or in season is to grow it yourself! Starting a garden can be fun, educational, and delicious! This is a great activity for kids, and a way to get the whole family involved in the food that they eat. This way you have all of the vegetables that you want in your own backyard!

Hope these few tips help you to make the most out of every situation so that everyone can access the healthy, delicious foods that we all crave!

For more information about healthy lifestyles please visit our website or blog- OR become a fan on Facebook.

Hillary Wright

Life Yoga

580.304.6241

Fine Art Boudoir Photography - Rendezvous Sessions

At Fine Art Boudoir Photography, our On-Location Rendezvous Sessions are a full pampering experience! Our Rendezvous Sessions are held at a unique array of upscale boutique hotels and offer an unforgettable experience. All sessions include professional makeup services by Wild Magnolia Artistry and a unique gift bag valued at more than $50.

We are currently accepting reservations for our next On-Location Rendezvous, which will take place December 12th. This will be the last session in time for Valentine's Day, so don't delay! We look forward to seeing you there!

Want more information on our sessions? Stop by our website, blog, or Facebook page for lots of great information.

Sarah Adams
Owner - Fine Art Boudoir Photography
sarah@fineartboudoir.com

PenWeddings- Coming to a Theater Near You

One of our favorite things about doing wedding films is when a couple
decides to go beyond the basic day-of coverage. We have a lot of extras
that are so much fun, and today I'm going to focus on the trailer.

Whether in the theater, or on TV, we've all seen our fair share of movie
trailers. If I asked you what you think the goal of a trailer is, I'm
guessing most people would say, "to get me to go see the movie when it
comes out." Well, sort of. Yes, that is the end result that they hope
for. However, the goal of the trailer itself is to evoke an emotional
response, whether it makes you laugh or makes you cry. The same can be
said for wedding trailers. There you are, still riding the emotional high
from your wedding and honeymoon. What better way to top it off than with
a fabulous recap of your wedding day?

At PenWeddings we put hours upon hours upon hours of work into our wedding
films. The couples who comes to us know this, and it's precisely one of
the reasons they hire us. But if you don't want to wait two months to see
the footage from your wedding day, then a trailer is the answer. Produced
within two weeks of your wedding, the trailer is a mini-highlight reel
that we put on our blog for you to view and share with family and friends.

Whether you want something dramatic and cinematic, or fun and upbeat,
we're game!

See more of our work at www.penweddings.com and penweddings.blogspot.com.

PenWeddings

LLC's - What They Are and Why You Need One

A question that I received last week from a fellow businesswoman was “What is an LLC and do I need one?”

The short answer to this question is first, an emphatic “Yes!” The rest is a bit more technical. I will try to explain this as simply as possible (keeping in mind that I am not an attorney!)

Let’s think of it like this, you have been in business for yourself long enough that you know that your business is going to be something that will be around for long term. So now what? There are several steps to the LLC process, which I will discuss in later postings, but for now I will focus on what an LLC is and the benefits of becoming one.

First, LLC’s, or Limited Liability Companies, protect you personally; by having an LLC in place, you will protect your personal assets. How is this? When you form an LLC, all of your business dealings under the LLC are recognized as dealings by the Limited Liability Company, not as you, the individual.

Confused??? Here is an example:

Megan is a photographer and shoots an engagement session for a client. During the session, Megan has her client hang from the side of a building (which I sometimes do in my own photography!) and the client falls and breaks every bone in her body.

Second scenario: Megan shoots a wedding and her memory cards all catastrophically fail and all of the wedding images are lost (God forbid!)

Now let’s look at the consequences of Megan with an LLC and Megan without an LLC:

With an LLC, if Megan is sued by either of these clients, any damages awarded to the clients would come out of the LLC’s profits and holdings rather than Megan’s personal finances. Even better, let’s assume that as an LLC, Megan is a smart girl and has business insurance and the settlement is covered under her insurance policy. This way Megan’s personal finances are completely protected and she won’t have to worry about wiping out her kids’ college funds to pay a settlement!

Without an LLC, the clients would need to sue Megan personally and could potentially wipe out Megan’s life savings and would not only ruin her financially, but could ruin her entire business as well. As an individual you do not have the luxury of having business insurance because you are an individual, not technically a business owner.

There is so much more to this and there are many steps in the process of creating an LLC. In the future, I will blog about how the process works and show you that there really is no need to spend upwards of $600 on an attorney to put together your LLC, when you can easily put together an LLC for $200 or less.

Sarah Adams
Dandelion Network Founder

Christa Tyler- Communication Is Key

-texture - big - point cutting - shag - structured - short - high fashion - blunt - asymmetrical - side swept - graduated - long - wavy - volume - flat iron - curled - layered - straight - bob - choppy - pixie - curly -

Communication is a process of transferring information from one entity to another. Communication processes are sign-mediated interactions between at least two agents which share a repertoire of signs andsemiotic rules. Communication is commonly defined as "the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs". Although there is such a thing as one-way communication, communication can be perceived better as a two-way process in which there is an exchange and progression of thoughts, feelings or ideas (energy) towards a mutually accepted goal or direction (information).

When I worked in Iowa, my boss had a sign on her station that said, "I'm a hair dresser, not a magician." It's very true. I'm also not a mind reader unfortunately, and I don't know anyone who is. I try to make everyone look their very best before leaving the salon, but sometimes what I see and picture is not the same that's in your mind.

I have to admit, though, the people that come in and say "Do what you think looks best" are probably my happiest guests overall. I take into consideration time spent on the hair, hair texture, upkeep, face shape, lifestyle, career, body shape, bone structure, and where the hair is currently at. You should take these things into consideration as well when looking for a new style and/or haircolor. Upkeep and styling time are 2 of the biggest things that people underestimate.

Short hair usually means a visit to the salon every 4-6 weeks. Medium hair is usually 6 weeks. Longer hair is 6-8.

All over color is anywhere from 3-7 weeks depending of growth rate of your hair. Foils are usually 6-8 weeks. And depending on the difference between your natural color and the haircolor chosen, the regrowth may be more/less noticeable.


So...if you want that picture that's in your head...bring along a photo to your next haircut to communicate more efficiently! Or if you'd rather just GO for it, then tell me!

~ Also, I'm doing a contest for this Holiday season. Send me your most memorable Holiday memory before December 5th and I will have a little extra "stocking stuffer" for you!

Send your pictures to: christa.michelle.stylist@gmail.com

Can't wait to see your pictures!

Christa Tyler

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Wild Magnolia Artistry- Spice Up Your Eyeliner

I know for me I seem to constantly go for a black or brown eyeliner as I am sure most women do. However, lately I have been mixing it up and using different colors of eyeshadow as a liner. All you have to do is use a eyeliner brush and get it wet. You can use any eyeshadow color that you want. Sometimes it will take a couple of applications to get the color as dark as you want it.

I personally have tried purple, navy blue, and green. Try to use a more neutral color as your base because too much color can look overdone. The possibilities are endless! This is a really fun way to spice up your makeup without having to do anything too dramatic. Plus it will save you money because you are using eyeshadow that you already have. Try it! I know you will love the results!

For more makeup tips please visit my website or become a fan on Facebook!

Thanks for reading!

Chelsea Price

Wild Magnolia Artistry

Thirty-One: Thermal Totes

Let me introduce you to one of our best selling products this year: Thermal Totes. I personally think they are amazing and use one every day.

Each tote is made with a thermal lining on the inside and wipe-able material on the outside. The thermal lining is great for keeping your drinks or snacks the perfect temperature during this winter weather.

Thermal Totes are available in two sizes. The regular Thermal Tote and a new Lunch Thermal Tote.

And, I have saved the best information for last: Each Thermal Tote is completely customizable! You are free to choose your favorite pattern and personalize each tote to fit your personality. You can also choose to customize one for a friend or even your son or daughter's favorite teacher for a great holiday gift!

For more information about Thermal Totes and other Thirty-One products please visit our website or become a fan on Facebook.

Thanks for reading!

Amanda Vines

Thirty-One Consultant

Tawnini- An Intro

Hi, my name is Tawni Herburger! I own a mobile clothing boutique called "TAWNINI". TAWNINI is a fun and flirty boutique that I have always had a dream to open someday which stems from my "Passion for Fashion"!

After being in the banking industry since I graduated from OSU, I have had a goal to one day be a small business owner and to open a clothing boutique. I started TAWNINI in August of 2008 and started with doing shows and markets in the Tulsa Area. A little over a year later I left Corporate America to tackle my passion head on, full time. My goal is to make women look and feel great in their clothes at a reasonable price!

For more information about Tawnini you can visit our Facebook Fan Page.

Thanks for reading!

Tawni Herburger

918-519-9126

Slumber Parties by Kristi- Pheromones

Most everyone has heard of pheromones but what are they? Are they real? Can you smell them? What do they do?

Pheromones are naturally occurring chemicals that send out signals to the opposite sex or the same sex that dramatically increases both desirability and sexual attractiveness in both men and women. They are odorless, airborne chemical signals that are released by an individual in the environment and are detected through the Vemeronasal Organ, VNO, in the nose. The VNO is a group of cells that are similar in appearance to nerve cells and are responsible for detecting human pheromones. The human pheromones then transmit a message of sexual attraction and appeal to the brain. You can’t smell them. You don’t even know you are receiving them or emitting them. Maybe this is what causes “Love at first sight!”

Pheromones are very powerful. Researchers have found that female ovulation can be regulated through the use of pheromones. Ever wonder why your period regulates itself with other women? It’s your body reacting to the pheromones that are being emitted! Researchers conducted an informal experiment using identical twins. Both twins sat at a bar for an evening, and one of them was sprayed with synthetic pheromones. The twin who got the pheromone boost was approached THREE TIMES more often than the twin who didn’t!

The urge to have sex is a strong natural instinct and pheromones are what drives those sexual instincts. Some experts believe that pheromones drive our social interaction as well. Pheromones help people feel comfortable around you and want to be in your presence. It gives you that warm fuzzy feeling. It’s possible that pheromones are effective in decreasing symptoms of anxiety, premenstrual syndrome in women and prostate enlargement in men.

Slumber Parties by Kristi offers different products that contain synthetic pheromones: Between The Sheets is a spray talc that comes in Spring Rain, my favorite, and Pear Blossom scents. Spray it on your sheets and it will make them feel soft and silky. Might help you get a little romance, might help you sleep better, but it does make your sheets very soft and fresh. Use it on your body as a light powder. Spray it in your shoes to deodorize them. It’s like Sexual Febreeze!

Slumber Bubbles is made with California Champagne and has vitamin E and B as well as pheromones. It is lightly scented and is safe for hot tub and whirlpool tub jets. It is an excellent body wash as well as wonderful for a relaxing bubble bath.

My favorite product for all you diva’s out there is Diva Dust. It is a lickable, mildly scented and flavored powder that glitters and shines! Use a brush to control the amount you put on and it can be very subtle or WOW! Great for drawing attention to your décolleté!

And finally, Basic Instinct. #1 seller containing pheromones. It comes in a small roll on bottle so you can put it in your purse or clutch and take it with you everywhere! Basic Instinct is unique because it reacts with your body chemistry and hormone levels. It will change scent from day to day and hour to hour. Lasts about four hours on the body but it is oh so wonderful! Wear it to get better tips, for a job interview, or even to attract the opposite sex! Men can use it too!

Pheromones are fun to use and wear. Give it a try and maybe you will meet that special someone! For more information about Slumber Parties by Kristi please visit our website or become a fan on Facebook.

Thanks for reading!

-Kristi

Dazzling Divas Boutique- Help Your Kids To Be Tu-Tu Cute This Fall

Dazzling Divas Boutique not only carries a variety of womens fashion jewelry and accessories, we also have unique and trendy handmade children's items. Since it's football season, this month I am featuring our OSU tu-tu's.

These can be worn by babies and young girls at football games, parties or any event. Every little girl loves a tu-tu and loves to dress up. They are also very cute for pictures of your little one! We can make them in any team colors that you like.

For more information visit out website or become a fan on Facebook.

Thanks for reading!

Dazzling Divas Boutique

To Blog or Not to Blog - There is No Question

Someone asked me today about the relevance of having a blog for her business, so I thought this would be the perfect time to take the opportunity to share the importance and benefits of blogging.

For starters, "Why do I need a blog?" The answer to this is multi-level and really doesn't have a short answer, but I will do my best to cut right to the point. A blog is important for many reasons:

Staying Connected and Maintaining a Relationship with Your Clients
Your blog is a way for you to both connect and to stay connected with your target clientele base.
Writing a blog on a regular basis, even if it is only once or twice a week shows your clients that you care enough to keep in touch with them.

By continually blogging about things that your client wants to know about, you are both informing them and giving them a reason to keep coming back. This could seal the deal with potential clients who are not yet sure whether or not they want to use your services or to buy your products.

Contests and Giveaways
Your blog is the perfect forum to stage various contests and giveaways, so take advantage of it! Every woman loves contests and they especially love it if they are getting something for free. From time to time if you host contests, it will drive more and more traffic to your site as people hear about the prizes that were won by their friends.

Educate, Don't "Hard Sell" Your Product/Services
Blogs are so valuable because you alone can educate about your products/services as no one else can. However, don't just use your blog as the opportunity to sell yourself or your products. Consumers don't like pushy saleswomen. They want to learn about products and then to make an educated decision about them. If every time they come to your blog the feel that you are simply advertising a service, they will catch on and move on.

Use your blog as a forum to open your reader's eyes to new products, ideas, and services that they may not otherwise have heard about, not just your own! No matter how great the product is that you are selling, you can only talk about that product for so long before they get bored. By constantly changing up your blog you will give readers a reason to keep coming back and a reason to share your blog with other.

Making the Most of Your Blog
I will use fellow Dandelion Network Mandy of Divine Designs by Mandy since she will have her new website up and running soon (hooray!)

What are some ways that Mandy could have a successful blog?

The easy answer is that Mandy could use her blog as a place to showcase her latest work. But there is simply so much more to it than that! Most of Mandy's readers will more than likely be bridal clientele, so Mandy of course will need to cater to that market.

That leads to the question, "How can Mandy effectively market and not "sell" her products?" How can she do this? By helping the brides along the way with all of their wedding planning! From talking about other great vendors that brides should know about, to dishing on all of the latest and greatest wedding trends, Mandy should seize the opportunity to help brides through the stressful planning of their wedding. By doing this Mandy will build trust with her clients, she will give them a reason to come back on a regular basis, and if her tips are useful, they will tell their friends and family which will only increase her client base.

The second part, is that Mandy could use a blog to her advantage is that she can take these already established relationships with her brides and their families and turn them into long term relationships. She can show samples of how to arrange silk flowers, how to plant a beautiful flower garden, how to arrange bouquets in a vase, and so on. By not just the brides, but also their friends and families, a reason to come back after the wedding, they will be more likely to remain clients for the long haul. Everyone needs flowers at some point, so why shouldn't Mandy show them that they can keep coming back to her long after the wedding is over!

How to Get Your Own Blog Started
Getting started it easy! Simply Google "Free Blogs" and ample choices will appear! Two of my favorites are Word Press and Blogspot. They are both great because they are completely free and no commitment at all. This is great especially for those first starting a business who don't have a lot of expendable income. For Blogspot, all you have to do is set up a Gmail account and start your Blogspot blog!

Wordpress is also free; however, with Wordpress you can eventually turn it into a professional blog with the help of sites such as ProPhoto. ProPhoto templates can turn your free WordPress blog into a professional work of art for less than $200! That is the company that the Dandelion Network will be using by the spring of 2010.

I hope that this gives you all something to think about and that it helps guide you in deciding when or if to take the leap into taking on a blog. Please give me feedback and let me know if you have any questions!

Happy Blogging,
Sarah
Founder - The Dandelion Network

McNeill Manor- Groom's Cakes.....Not Just a Chocolate Cake Anymore

I love being in Oklahoma because Groom's cakes are not only a tradition here....but a must for most wedding receptions. When I was in Arizona....no one had ever heard of a Groom's cake. I couldn't believe it! After relocating to OK, I realized the tradition is still alive and well....and now it's taken on a new and exciting twist. Rarely do you see the traditional chocolate groom's cake any longer. Now....the sky is the limit on design.

When my parents got married 53 years ago, the "legend" of the groom's cake was that the single female guests would take a slice of this cake home and place it under their pillow. Then they would dream of their "future husband." Now the Groom's cake has evolved into a whole different realm. Grooms are now designing their cakes based on their hobbies or interests.

It's fun to see the Grooms getting involved and excited about a cake! I get some very cool requests from my Grooms. It might be a giant cheeseburger one week, and then the next week a sushi platter. There is usually a fun story behind the reason they are choosing a specific design. One Bride I met with surprised her groom with a cake that looked like a Catfish. The reason being is that when he was growing up, his imaginary friend was named....."Catfish." Another groom had me create a dog dish that read "Dogg" on the front. That was his nick name growing up.

One of the most popular requests I get is the cooler cake. The guys really love this. It can have their favorite beverage around the cake, complete with their favorite team logo on the front....or monogram, etc.. The great thing is that the cake can still be any flavor and filling they wish! So guests not only get to see something fun, but it still tastes awesome!

So think outside of the box when choosing your Groom's cake! Each cake I design is priced on the artwork involved, etc. Feel free to contact me for a quote at www.mcneillmanor.com or become a Fan of McNeill Manor to stay up to date on all of my latest creations. Eat Cake!

Thanks for reading!

Donna McNeill

McNeill Manor Cakes

Websites for the Professional Businesswoman

Happy Monday Dandelion blog readers!

One thing that today’s businesswoman has to her advantage, that businesswomen as early as even 5 years ago were seriously lacking, is access to professional websites at affordable costs. In today’s market, the professional businesswoman is not only expected to maintain a professional Internet presence, it is a must for a successful business in today’s society.

One way that you can stand head and shoulders above your competition is to invest in a professional website that is both aesthetically pleasing to the eye and easily navigable for your clients. If you have done any research at all, you will know that there are dozens of companies out there such as Google and Yola that offer free websites. However, these freebie sites are often not user friendly and lack a true professional feel. As I am sure many of you can relate to, I have often gone to websites for vendors and quickly left their site because it was either 1) unprofessional in appearance or 2) difficult to navigate.

So what’s a girl to do? Fear not, there are affordable and professional options out there that will not break the bank when starting your new business or giving a facelift to an existing site; one such option is Blu Domain.

Blu Domain sites are extremely affordable, easy to navigate, and exude a truly professional appearance. Websites start as low as $50 and run up to $400 for their specialty websites.

Here is the scoop on Blu Domain:

Pricing
The website prices do not include hosting costs; these fees are additional and must be paid whether or not you host with Blu Domain.

Hosting
Whatever you do, do not host with Blu. I have hosted with them in the past and experienced a myriad of problems with their hosting. These problems ranged from no e-mail access for weeks at a time and my site randomly experiencing technical problems. I have since switched my hosting to GoDaddy and am very pleased with their hosting services. They are extremely affordable and you can often find coupons online for their services, simply by Googling “GoDaddy Coupons”.

Customer Service
This leads me to Blu’s customer service. When it comes to Blu’s customer service, their clients almost always have a love or hate relationship with them. I have experienced both emotions very strongly when dealing with them! When dealing with Blu, patience is truly key to keeping your cool! Blu does not have any phone support and all support will be done via e-mail. Their correspondence is often sketchy and takes much longer to get anything done than they lead you to believe.

User Friendliness
A bonus is that Blu’s sites are very user friendly for both you and your clients! The learning curve is very minimal and you will very quickly catch on to how to edit and run your website.

Visit BluDomain.com for more information on their websites and services.

All in all, Blu Domain’s site are extremely affordable and a very good value for the money. Just remember, the client’s first impression of your business can be a make or break situation. If they view your website and it is hard to navigate and does not represent your business in a professional light, they will quickly and without a second thought move on from your site to a more professional looking site in a flash.

Join me next Monday for more business tips and ideas or become a Fan of the Dandelion Network on Facebook to stay up to date on all of the latest Dandelion happenings.

Have a great week!

Sarah Adams
Founder – The Dandelion Network

Fine Art Boudoir Photography - Session Tips (Props)

At Fine Art Boudoir Photography we provide a wide variety of tasteful and elegant props for you to choose from for your session. From vintage to modern, we have a unique array of items to choose from that will help set the mood of your session. Depending upon the location we also usually have access to hotel bars, restaurants, terraces, and other unique settings to make the most out of your Fine Art Boudoir Photography Session!

Although we can easily supply you with props and accessories for your session, we do recommend bringing at least a few items of your own to truly personalize your session. Whether it be a favorite novel, your husband's favorite dress shirt, or a photo of your solider who is away serving our country, your personal touch will help to make the session all about you and your love!

We are currently accepting reservations for our next On-Location Rendezvous! Our On-Location Rendezvous sessions are a full pampering experience and are so much fun. Visit our website or blog for more information or join our Fan Page to stay up to date on all of the latest events and specials!

Sarah Adams
Owner - Fine Art Boudoir Photography

Divine Designs by Mandy- Don't Match, Monochromatic Match

Time and time again I hear this question, "I can't find the right color of purple fabric to match the flowers that I want to use in my wedding!" and every time I silently nod my head in empathy for every misguided soul. After over 12 years of working with botanical products and nature's colors, I have created thousands of beautifully coordinated design pieces. Here's the secret...STOP TRYING TO MATCH COLORS! That's right!

What most people do not realize is that there is scientific formula in a little handy tool called, the color wheel. In the color wheel, there are combinations based on the three primary colors red, yellow, and blue. From there we have our secondary colors orange, green, and purple and then our tertiary colors yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green and yellow-green.

We all remember this fancy little diagram from school. Right? Well as most of us remember, there are complementary colors which are the colors opposite from each other on the color wheel. As you can see, each opposing color is appeasing to the eye because they offer balance with contrast in light to dark. For example, who doesn't think that black and white look fabulous together?

Now, for the coordinating issue that I am addressing, lets talk about analogous colors. Those are colors that are side by side in the color wheel. Such as blue, blue-purple, and purple. They belong in a group and what we florists like to refer to them as "monochromatic", are a pleasing, complementary impact of color.

So, when a bride asks me the question regarding a matching fabric to a botanical flower, I simply refer to them the option of monochromatic use of color impact. The reason this analogous harmony reigns, you ask? To successfully showcase your favorite purple tulip in a bridesmaid's bouquet, consider how selecting a lighter shade of purple such as lavender will bring the focus to the carefully selected flower by making it the star of the show and the dress on the maid a flattering backdrop to the overall vision.

For more information call or email me at 918-269-8170 or at flystyledesign@hotmail.com . You may also visit me on Facebook and join my Fan Page "Divine Designs by Mandy".

Thanks for reading!

Mandy Miller

Divine Designs

Life Yoga- Using Your Vote

A few months ago I watched the movie Food, Inc. - which is an absolute MUST see. The movie explores the ins and outs of the food industry- from mass meat production to the overuse of corn in every product in the supermarket. But there was something that I heard in this movie that really stood out to me: "Every time you purchase something, you are voting for that product. You are saying 'I approve of this product and it is worth my money.'" So let me ask you this: what are you voting for?

I recently had a little bit of a revelation (it was more like a breakdown and I thought I was going crazy- but we will call it a revelation.) I went to Walmart with a list of ten things. I went to the first thing on my list- a carton of eggs. When I first got to the egg section I began to look at all of the different brands of eggs and I began to think of all of the kinds that I had bought in the past. But due to a lot of research, I now knew where a lot of those eggs were coming from. They were coming from chickens who had never seen daylight and were crammed 6 or 8 chickens in a coop built for one chicken. And so I looked at the organic and cage free and they just didn't seem good enough. I wanted eggs from a local farmer who I know fed them grain (not corn) and that their living depended on selling these cartons of eggs. So I could not, in my right mind, purchase any other kind of eggs, even if that meant making a separate trip.

So- without eggs in-tow- I moved on to the next item, bread. And after reading the ingredients set it back down and moved on to the next, and the next. And before I knew it- I was leaving Walmart with one item on my list: a box of trash bags that were made of recycled plastic. I thought to myself, "Am I going crazy? I used to buy every single thing I ever needed at Walmart." So I drove to Whole Foods and continued my shopping there- where I found products that I approved of, and I felt were "worth my vote."

I used to think to myself, "oh they don't have the kind of bread (or whatever product) that want, but I will just get this for now and hopefully they will have something different next time." But then I realized, if I am buying the product, they don't know that I was looking for something different- all they know is that their product is selling, so they just continue to produce more of it and not try other products in its place.

One example used in the movie was the use of growth hormones in dairy cows. Enough people refused to buy milk that was from diary cows who had been injected with growth hormones that WalMart eventually took it off the shelf and now only carries non-growth hormone milk. So for those of you that were skeptical- look what our "votes" can do.

So my advice to you is use your vote wisely. Use your voice (your money) by choosing products that are good for animals, good for our bodies, and good for the planet. No one will ever know that you are unhappy with products unless you stop buying them. If enough people stand up for what they believe in anything can happen. So stand up for what is right- what is right for you- the animals- and the planet and use your vote to make this happen!

For more information about healthy eating tips, great new exercise ideas, and yummy recipes please visit my blog, or for more information about Life Yoga please visit my website or become a fan on Facebook.

Happy Voting!

Hillary Wright
Life Yoga, Owner
hillary@lifeyogatulsa.com

PenWeddings ~ Be True To Yourself

Be true to yourself. It's one of the first things we tell our brides. Often times, those who want to keep the coverage on their wedding day more classic and timeless take advantage of enhancements like Love Stories and Trash The Dress videos to express their "wild side."

While doing a wedding show in August, we had the chance to talk with a friend who knew we did wedding videos and was very interested in hiring us, but she just hadn't been able to convince her fiance that it was worth it. He had a preconceived notion-- like so many others-- that wedding videos are very mushy and cookie-cutter. He changed his mind when he saw a Trash The Dress video we had done. He saw how the video was tailored to fit that couple's personality.

This particular couple loves to play softball, and in a brief moment before they disappeared back into the crowd of thousands of busy brides (and yes, some grooms too) they said, "we could do a video where we play softball." That was how it started. One simple comment. Two months later we had a full plot in place, and we shot a fabulous Trash The Dress at an abandoned baseball field. That video is still in the works, and I can't wait to share it. Stay tuned!

For more information about PenWeddings please visit our website, blog or Facebook Fan Page!

Thanks for reading

Sarah Pendergraft

Ihloff Stylist Christa Michelle ~ Being Green is Not Just a Fad

Everyone wants to love their place of employment; we want to be proud of what our company stands for and what we put out in the world. Every time I go to an educational session, I learn something new about what Aveda is doing in the country to help conserve energy or keep jobs where they need to be.

I'm kind of a hippie midtown girl myself; yes, even only having moved here two years ago, I've found my 'spot'. I want to be surrounded with positive people, put healthy organic food into my body - that also includes what goes on my skin, body, and hair too. Aveda makes products that are only derived from natural plants. The company adds no 'fragrance' or 'color' to anything they create and most of the bottles that the product goes into are actually recycled containers! This includes their color too, with the exception of the permanent line, because for me to cover your gray....I need a little 'non-plant' help!

People sometimes mention to me that Aveda is more expensive than other lines, and why should they buy it instead of the gazillion other lines out there? My first response is:

"I've worked with a lot of other product lines, Biolage, Matrix, American Crew, Aquage, Rusk, Kenra and I love Aveda. I can finally create the hair that I see in magazines, in real life."

My next thought on this issue is that the other lines put so many cheap fillers and alcohols and colors in their bottles, how do you really know what you're getting? Most times at the salon, when I take you to shampoo your hair, I'll tell you what I'm using and then ask what you use at home. 9 times out of 10, I can identify if you're not already using an Aveda shampoo and/or conditioner because the hair feels different. It feels drier, has more tangles, or isn't as strong. I know from experience, that the only reason I still have hair left on my head with all the crazy things I do with it, is because of the great products I choose to use.

And...there is more than just hair care! But we'll save that for next time.

FYI: During the winter, hair does tend to be drier and have more static. The Dry Remedy Shampoo & Conditioner are great to help combat that, but only if you don't have fine hair. There is also a Masque that you can use once a week to help increase the moisture in the hair up to 73%; just leave on for about 10 minutes and VOILA!

To learn more hair tips and hair happenings, you can visit my blog or become a fan on Facebook!

Christa Michelle - Designer at Ihloff Salon

(918) 587-2566

Beg, Barter and Steal!

Happy Monday Dandelion Ladies and Fans!

As I made a phone call to a new business contact this morning, I was inspired to write this e-mail. As business owners and business women, we should all be embracing any opportunity that we can to Beg, Barter and Steal. Okay, maybe not the opportunity to steal, but hopefully you will get my point by the end of this post!

In the past couple of years since starting my three businesses, not to mention the state of the economy as a whole, my family has had to do what I like to refer to as “Creative Financing.” Creative Financing has given me the opportunity to work with some amazing vendors and the opportunities to receive their services at either free of charge or at a deeply discounted fee. So of course now you are asking how on earth have I done this?

To start with, whether or not own your own business, if you are in the service industry you may have to chance to offer your own services free of charge or at a deep discount. So where do you begin?

First, assess what your personal needs are? These needs can range from the personal vanity needs/wants, such as “I can’t afford trips to my favorite upscale salon anymore” or “I need a new roof on my house!” So what do you do? I will take an example of something that I did earlier in the year to explain how free and easy it can be to Beg and Barter!

I had just launched my newest business venture, Fine Art Boudoir Photography. This being my “baby” and my favorite type of photography, I really wanted a professional logo that had a strong branding and marketing presence. My first step was to post an ad on Craig’s List. I know that this may seem either 1) too simple, 2) crazy, or 3) intimidating. Trust me, I will address each of these!

What I did first was to post a simple ad on Craig’s List saying that I would like to barter my photography services with a professional logo designer. I stated that the designer must be experienced with a strong professional portfolio that I can view through their professional website.

In being extremely specific in my requests I got several points across: 1) I want them to prove that they are a true professional and not some whacko off of the street. 2) They must be willing to barter services so that I am out no costs. 3) I want to see samples of their work so that I can see if I feel that the barter is worth my while and that they are in fact a true professional.

Also, for safety reasons, once any prospective designers contacted me whose services I felt were a good fit, I then Googled them. If I saw anything negative about their services or them personally, I automatically shot them down. Then, if I found no info whatsoever about them, that was also a red flag. You would be surprised what you can find when you Google someone’s name!

Long story short, I found a great match who amazingly enough has worked in the past with major national brand campaigns and he was willing to barter completely for his services! So for a few hours of my time spent on his projects that he had for me, I received a professional logo that would have cost me between $1,000-2,000!

The sky is the limit on this ladies! Anytime you really have a want, but can’t justify the money, or have a home expense, sit down and think “How can I get this for free or at a discount?” Once you get the hang of bartering down, you would be amazed at how many thousands of dollars you can save by bartering. The key is to be polite, creative, and persistent!

Now get out there and see what you can make happen!

Sarah

Dandelion Network Founder