6:30am  Wake-up call
6:45am  2nd Wake-up call
7:00am  Kick them out of bed
7:15am  Out of the shower
7:30am  Rush out the door
7:35am  Watch the school bus drive off with your kids safely on board
7:40am  Sit on the porch, coffee in hand, snuggled up in your favorite
                chair taking in the crisp fall air

“SIGH.”

With summer coming to an end and the kids going back to school, it’s time for all the mommies out there to take a deep breath and let out that long awaited sigh of relief, because we all know when it’s back to school time, it’s back to “me” time.

Between, sleepover’s and baseball games, summer is jam packed fun with the family, forming memorable moments that last a life time. Yet, when all your time is spent keeping an endless inventory of excitement for the family, you sometimes find yourself last on the list. Fast forward to the first day of school and I’ve put together a list of ideas for your – first day of vacation:

1. Go pretend shopping for some exotic diamond jewelry
2. Visit the Beauty salon and check out some new hair products or consider a celebrity hairstyle
3. Experiment with makeup – Try fake eyelashes and/or fake nails
4. Invite some mom’s in the neighborhood over for a wine tasting
5. Setup up a lunch date with your girlfriends
6. Check out the local gym and let some steam out (in the Jacuzzi that is)
7. Schedule an appointment for a photofacial or micro with your friends
8. Catch a “chick flick” at your local movie theatre
9. Jump in on a Yoga class at the studio you’ve been dying to join
10. Buy a new pair of shoes for the fall season

It might be a short list, but hopefully it will spark a ton of other ideas that will jump start your vacation plans. If you can think of anymore, please feel to share them here for the rest of us to enjoy!

I’m nearing the end of an era, of a time where pink martinis and 2am dance parties encompassed a carefree weekend of fun and frolic. A time where I could wake up three hours after going to bed from an all nighter and pop up for work at 5am still looking refreshed, feeling like Susan Summers after a ThighMaster workout – with tight buns and “abs of steel.” You know the era I’m talking about, the era of our roaring twenties. When everyday is like a new adventure, only to be embraced with confidence and the knowledge that not one piece of skin is sagging, nor is one laugh line showing.

It was only this morning that the sudden realization of my aging hit me, like the pungent odor from my revitalizing clay masque. When did I start needing a revitalizing masque to make me look refreshed? It’s not like I was out late last night with one too many cocktails – I went to bed at 10:00pm, after my detox tea! Don’t get me wrong, I knew this day would come. As a teenager my mom, through her anti-aging moisturizer and lip balm, would pass on her words of wisdom, constantly reminding me to take care of my body as I wouldn’t be young forever. But, who knew it would creep up so quickly, catching me off guard and surprising me with horror like my ex with “Ms. Tiffany” at Aunt Hazels 90th birthday… yet, I digress.

The thought of growing older never really bothered me. I always figured that with age comes wisdom, which I could really use a good scoop of. But, what everybody forgot to mention, was with wisdom comes wrinkles and for some, saggy skin! The truth is, it’s a realization that we all have to come to terms with, however, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a handful of options.

Now that there is an overwhelming need to find a routine to maintain an ounce of what’s left of my youth (ok I’m being a bit overdramatic), I’ve found solace in a little clear bottle of hope for me – simply put – moisturizer. I know for some this is a “duh” moment, but honestly for a long time I didn’t believe that I needed to moisturize. Truthfully, it was a battle with adolescent acne that had me convinced moisturizer was the reason for clogged pours and skipping out on date nights! Yet, the key is realizing that as we age, our skin changes and so do your battles.

So here I am, starring my thirties straight in the eye, knowing the inevitable will happen. However, though the battle of aging will forge on, I’m ok with the ending of an era, because in my arsenal of defense, I have my little clear bottle – of moisturizer.

Image: jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I was over at my girlfriend’s house the other day having lunch with her and her lovely two year old daughter, Daisy. Always one for health and nutrition, we were having tomatoes and cottage cheese after a long dip in the pool. Feeling pretty good in my newly purchased bathing suit, I leaned over to grab a misplaced towel on the floor and without skipping a beat Daisy, darling two year old never-tell-a-lie Daisy, grabbed my thighs yelling “CHEESY.”

Not that I am the epitome of athletic perfection, but I have been pretty active in sports my whole life and I never thought in a million years I would be struggling with cellulite. But there we were, in my best friends kitchen, with a 3 foot beautiful blue-eyed beauty, who literally just brought my whole world tumbling down. At “twenty something,” the last thing I want to hear is someone pointing out my cottage cheese rear end. So through this tragic experience comes this article, “The Cellulite Chronicles.”

Getting down to the nitty-gritty: What is Cellulite?

According to the free online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, cellulite is:

“A topographic skin change that is claimed to occur in most post-pubertal females.”

So what is that supposed to mean exactly? Basically, cellulite is considered to be those little bumps or dimples around your bottom and thigh areas that seem like they are impossible to get rid of. There is some controversy to what actually causes it, with doctors theories ranging from hormones to lifestyle choices, however, the one thing that everyone can agree on is we want it gone!

So how can we fight back against this dairy epidemic?

A lot of research shows that combining exercise with a low fat diet can help tone up your problem areas, and though it might not get rid of it completely, cellulite will be less noticeable as you become more toned and slim. Yet, for those of us that have tried it all, from the treadmill to the roll-on creams, there is still another option.

Recently revealed to yours truly, VelaShape™ is a new procedure offered by American Laser Centers for cellulite reduction and contouring. You can read up on the procedure here, but in a nutshell, it might be my answer to getting rid of the unwanted dairy farm that’s put up shop on my body.

The Cellulite Chronicles will be a personal diary of my one woman journey to ridding the world (ok just my bum) of cellulite. Stay tuned and follow me to see if I’ll ever be able to face my three foot “nemesis” in a bathing suit again!

It’s the happiest day of your life, looking into the eyes of your brand new bundle of joy and feeling the overpowering sense of undying love. It’s amazing. Then a quick look in the mirror reveals a stranger, someone you haven’t met before, and frankly wouldn’t care to see again.

Having a baby is wonderful, but the toll it can take on your body can leave you feeling helpless and overwhelmed. When all you see on your body is a new highway development with roads made of stretch marks and cellulite, no rest stop in sight, it’s time to find some help.

This year, the hottest body shaping treatment for post-baby bodies is a new non-invasive procedure called Velashape™. This amazing treatment improves the appearance of cellulite and slims thicker areas of the body without incisions and with no downtime.

There’s no painful liposuction or plastic surgery, no sticky creams — just a powerful combination of light, energy and specially designed rollers that smooth out the skins surface. This treatment works to significantly reduce the appearance of cellulite, contour your curves and reshape your body’s problem areas. For those who qualify for the treatment, typically *six quick visits are all you need to fit into your favorite skinny jeans all over again.

As a mother, you sacrifice everything for the one’s you love, but sometimes that unselfishness finds you last on the list. It’s ok to think about yourself once in-a-while and do something that will make you feel like yourself again. If you’re suffering from a post-baby traffic jam, check out Velashape™ and see how you can look and feel like you did before baby.

*Remember results can vary for everyone

American Laser Centers offers industry-leading aesthetic technology for Skin Care & Tightening, Laser Hair Removal, Wrinkle Reduction, Botox and Dermal Fillers, Cellulite Reduction and Body Shaping.

“We are extremely proud to have reached the 5.8 million treatment milestone,” said Steve Straus, American Laser Centers CEO. “In addition to being the most experienced provider of laser cosmetic services, our commitment to providing the best customer service, our investment in the newest technologies and our constant evaluation of new procedures has allowed us to provide our customers with the highest level of treatment and services available in the industry.”

American Laser Centers began as a single clinic in Novi, Michigan in 2002 and quickly grew to 30 clinics by the end of 2003. Now with over 170 locations nationwide, American Laser Centers is providing over 160,000 treatments per month to thousands of satisfied clients across the country from Mesa, AZ to Philadelphia, PA.

For more information visit www.americanlaser.com.

American Laser Centers provides Beauty through Technology with the latest trends in skin care solutions including Laser Hair Removal, Skin Care & Tightening, Wrinkle Reduction, Body Shaping, Cellulite Reduction, Botox and Dermal Fillers. Since the company’s establishment in 2002, over 5.8 million treatments have been performed using state-of-the-art-technology.

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American Laser Centers performs 5.8 million laser cosmetic treatments

Laser Hair Removal by American Laser Centers

American Laser Centers surveyed 540 ladies around the country to find out about their preferred hair removal approach, attitudes toward it, time invested in it and the cost to perform it. Please read below to find out the results!

Survey respondents reported they will spend more than 58.4 days removing hair from their bodies during their lifetime.  The survey also revealed that women remove unwanted body hair for an average period of 53.6 years using methods including shaving, waxing and depilatory creams.

While women report a small monthly spend on shaving, $15.87 per month, the lifetime investment for females who shave adds up to $10,207.

Delapidory cream- or lotion-users are paying slightly more than those who shave for their hair removal, $10,555 through their lifetime, yet they only remove hair one to two times per month.

Waxing is by far the most expensive form of hair removal.  While respondents reported waxing only one to two times per month, women who wax will spend an average of $23,000 on hair removal in a lifetime.

American Laser Centers conducted the hair removal study to determine the cost savings benefit of laser hair removal verses a lifetime of shaving or waxing.  On average, women can save $7,000 by receiving laser hair removal on the areas of the body they typically shave.  When compared to a lifetime of waxing, women can save $20,000 by receiving laser hair removal on the areas of the body they usually wax.

“As people are more time crunched than ever, laser hair removal has evolved into a lifestyle decision for our clients,” said American Laser Centers Clinical Training Director, Ana Varela, A.R.N.P., M.S.N. “Like Lasik surgery for contact and glasses wearers, laser hair removal is a decision to free yourself from one of the most mundane processes in your life – hair removal.  When performed by American Laser Centers trained professionals, laser hair removal is safe, effective and painless.”

In addition, laser hair removal is a procedure that will help conserve water.  Fifty-two percent of women surveyed reported shaving with the water running the entire time.  Women surveyed reported an average shaving time of 10.9 minutes and an average of shaving 12 times per month.  With the average shower using five gallons of water per minute, this means the average woman will use 7,848 gallons each year and a total of 420,652 gallons of water shaving throughout their lifetime, nearly enough water to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool.  Only 2 percent of women shavers do not use water when shaving.

American Laser Centers offers laser hair removal services in most major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco. For more information about laser hair removal and to find an American Laser Centers clinic near you, visit www.americanlaser.com.

Survey Methodology

The American Laser Centers hair removal survey was performed using Zoomerang to recruit a random sample of respondents for an online survey, 540 females between the ages of 18-65 were asked approximately 30 questions about their preferred hair removal approach, attitudes toward it, time invested in it and the cost to perform it.

Do you remember being reminded to “put on your sunscreen” growing up? How many of you listened?

A survey by The Skin Cancer Foundation found that 45% of responders do not wear sunscreen. Not only does sunscreen prevent sun burns which may prevent skin cancer but it also prevents photodamaged skin which causes brown spots and wrinkles. It isn’t too late to make sunscreen a part of your daily beauty regimen. The easiest step is to buy a moisturizer with sunscreen already included.

For those of you already experiencing the effects of your bathing beauty days there is hope! Non-invasive laser treatments such as Matrix RF use Sublative Rejuvenation to improve skin’s texture (pores, acne scarring, fine lines and wrinkles) and skin pigmentation. This clinically proven treatment diminishes the effects of sun damaged skin on the face, neck and décolleté by stimulating cell and collagen growth.

Want to learn more? Click here.

That unwanted hair! You don’t want to be constantly shaving, waxing and tweezing, do you? Well, maybe it’s time that you considered laser hair removal treatment. Why? Laser hair removal treatment offers long-term hair removal solutions, so you can say goodbye to the conventional way of removing unwanted hair.

However, keep in mind that there is more to just randomly picking the laser hair removal clinic that you like. You do not want to entrust your delicate needs to those with little experience. You want nothing but the best laser hair removal treatment from only the experts that offer high quality hair removal. Remember, just like in any other medical treatments, choosing the best clinic for your hair removal needs is a delicate decision, so you have to choose carefully and wisely.

Use the Internet

Perhaps the easiest and most convenient way of choosing the right laser hair removal clinic is by searching online. ‘Googling’ your way around will offer you tons of information about the various clinics that offer the treatment that you need. You can narrow down your search by location, in order to locate the clinics offering laser hair removal treatments around the area or areas nearest you. As you go along your search, you can obtain important information such as the contact persons for the clinics, clinic hours, phone numbers, email addresses and most importantly, customer feedback.

To get the best chance of learning if the clinics listed online are reputable, Google some more. Check for certifications and government approvals to see if their treatments are FDA-approved. Also check for pricing and compare prices between several clinics.

Asking around

There are other ways with which you can wisely choose the right clinic for your hair removal needs. One great way is to ask around. And who better to ask from than your friends? Some of your friends (or people they may know) may have already gone through laser hair removal treatments. They may offer insights on whether to choose the clinic where they had their treatments or to choose other clinics. They may be able to relate to you their experiences, their successes with the treatments, the kind or customer service that their clinic offered, etc. As their experience may have taught them several things, they may even know of a few ideas on how to save costs on laser hair removal treatments.

Getting in touch with real-life patients

Go to laser hair removal clinics and see if you could obtain a list of patients. If you are successful enough in obtaining information about their former patients, you can get in touch with these patients and do some information gathering. Don’t interview just one patient. Interview more than you need until you are satisfied, as not all patients gain the same results out of laser hair removal treatments.
Actually go to the clinic of your choice

Once you have chosen the clinic where you want to have your treatment, do a spot check. You don’t want to just go there and get the treatment and regret later on. Check to see if a qualified doctor supervises the treatment. This cannot be emphasized enough, as it is required that a qualified doctor should be present in each laser hair removal clinic. Check to see as well if the clinic employs registered nurses and licensed anaesthesiologists.

It is also very important to see if the laser operators received ample trainings and are very qualified in doing laser hair removal treatments. You may also want to see if the clinic uses the latest technology or has updated equipment.

Ask the clinic if they offer free consultations. Most reputable laser hair removal clinics offer free consultations as added value to their clients and prospective patients, so as to evaluate your needs before you actually receive your first treatment.

Other things that you may want to check regarding the clinic of your choice is the cleanliness, the professionalism that their staff offers and the various packages that they have in store to meet your needs.

In our quest to create ways that can instantly make us look fabulous and stunningly sexy, the medical field has produced breakthrough means of almost instantly making excess fat in our body melt away. Many of the modern and innovative techniques to make us more aesthetically pleasing has been brought about by what the society has mandated as the ideal for ’sexiness.’ In short, a slim body is always sexier and fat is always undesirable.

Of course, exercise still has its place today in helping us lose unwanted poundage. However, we seem to have gravitated to everything that is ‘instant.’ That is why modern science has come up with lipoplasty, or what is commonly known as liposuction.

The lure of liposuction and its side effects

Liposuction is considered by many today as the ultimate shortcut to looking slim and sexy. Hundreds of thousands of people, including celebrities and even athletes, have been lured to its instant benefits, letting them see their fat go away quite literally.

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery procedure that contours the body by surgically removing unwanted fat from certain areas of the body as specified by patients. Parts of the body where unwanted fat can be removed may include the buttocks, thighs, abdomen and even the neck.
Many patients have successfully reaped the rewards of liposuction. However, like some surgical procedures, there are risks and minor side complications associated with liposuction. That is why plastic surgeons always let the patients become aware of the side effects that liposuction may cause.

The side effects and complications associated with liposuction

Many doctors and patrons guarantee liposuction’s safety. However, the procedure is still extremely invasive. As such, the risks involved are real. Liposuction uses a cannula, or a hollow tube inserted through the skin where the unwanted fat lays. Through the cannula, the fat is sucked out of the body. It should be noted that while the cannula is sealed in sterilized packaging, once the procedure is underway, there is still the danger of infection.

The possible dangers and side effects of liposuction include:

• Pulmonary emboli, where fat accidentally travels to the lungs during the procedure
• Swelling of the affected area
• Extended healing time
• Bruising
• Skin irregularities
• Allergic reaction to medication
• Excessive fluid loss
• Damage to skin or other vital organs
• Discoloration or sagging of skin
• Numbness

In extreme cases, deaths linked to liposuction have been documented. However, these cases are rare, and almost always linked to small, underground facilities.

A great alternative to liposuction

There are certain alternatives to liposuction that are worth looking at. These options are non-invasive, thus taking away the danger of infection and other adverse effects that are associated with invasive procedures such as liposuction. One very effective procedure that takes away excess fat that is gaining popularity in the States is VelaShape.
VelaShape reduces the cellulite in as few as just four sessions. VelaShape is a non-invasive fat reduction and body contouring procedure that is FDA-approved. This procedure is not painful and does not involve sticky creams and other uncomfortable methods.

VelaShape owes its powerful effect to a combination of light, energy and specially designed rollers that smooth out the skin surface, reducing the appearance of fat significantly. VelaShape uses a four-pronged approach to fat, using mainly infrared light, radio-frequency (RF) energy, vacuum-pulsed negative pressure and advanced rollers that smooth out various areas of the skin during the treatment. It effectively and quickly melts away fat.

To learn more about VelaShape, visit the American Laser Centers website at AmericanLaser.com.

Winter time is at hand. For many people, the winter season causes some serious skin problems. The cold air can cause the skin to dry leaving it flaking, cracking, and inflamed. There are many skin care products that offer some outrageous promises of miraculously curing dry skin, but some fall short of their claims despite their exorbitant cost.

This is not to state that all skin care products offer false claims. Sure, there are some products out in the market that make wonders to your skin. However, it is best to go the practical way when dealing with dry skin problems.

Below are some of the practical means that will help you with your skin problems.

The wonders of using a good moisturizer

Our body is composed mostly of water. As such, our skin needs to be regularly nourished with moisture. However, experts agree that you shouldn’t use just any moisturizers found in commercials. Those moisturizers usually contain mineral oils and other petroleum-based products.

For dry skin, it is best to use hypoallergenic skin care products. Applying a good amount of cocoa butter, virgin coconut oil or Shea butter all over your body right after taking a bath locks in your skin’s moisture, leaving it feeling supple all day long. These natural moisturizers contain very nourishing ingredients such as essential oils and vitamins that are essential to the skin such as Vitamins A, C, D and E. Because these natural creams do not contain harmful chemicals, they effectively protect your skin from aging by deeply moisturizing the skin.

On bathing and showering

It is also best to avoid taking showers or baths with tap water. Tap water contains chlorine and other harmful elements that could harm your skin. It is also important to take note that if your skin dries easily, it is best to reduce the amount of time you spend in the bathroom.

Use mild soap, and avoid soaps with heavy perfume and other strong ingredients. Better yet, use liquid soap, as soap bars are known to contain hardening ingredients that are highly corrosive. Can you imagine taking a bath using chemicals intended for industrial use?

To scrape off dead skills and to naturally exfoliate your skin, it is highly recommended to scrub your skin with oatmeal soap. Naturally exfoliating with oatmeal soap can effectively avoid skin irritation.

After bathing, instead of rubbing your skin with towel, pat your self dry gently. And to lock in the moisture on the surface of your skin, immediately apply moisturizer recommended above.

Dealing with skin itchiness

When your skin is dry, it’s usually irritated and itchy. To avoid further irritating the skin, do not scratch it. Instead, apply a sufficient amount of virgin coconut oil a few times a day. It would also be best to include essential oils in your diet. Essential oils can be found in raw organic butter, eggs, coconut oil, cod liver oil and certain types of fish.

Dealing with the cold winter months

To avoid the harsh effects of the winter season on your skin, get a good humidifier to be used in your bedroom to provide moisture in the air during the cold season. This can help protect your skin from dryness.

On using organic skin care products

Using only organic skin care products cannot be overemphasized. Organic products are made from virgin sources, meaning they do not contain harmful chemicals. Ask skin care experts on the best natural skin care products that are right for your dry skin problems.

Looking for ways to rejuvenate your skin? Visit AmericanLaser.com to find out how you can take back those years and regain a youthful glowing skin.