Make your workspace your own!

I sit at the same desk, in the same chair, looking at the same stuff 40 hours a week. I think it's important that I like what I'm looking at, what do you think?

My goal with this blog is to encourage you to find a way to turn that drab cubicle into a cute and modern workspace that's totally you, while still being professional :)

Tip #1
Add color!
Bring a lamp in with a unique lamp shade, dry some flowers and display them in a stylish mason jar, and bring in office tools or accessories that are colorful and/or unique! One idea is to go to Ross or Marshall's and get that statement paper weight, the letter filer with floral detail, or the chic blue vase that doesn't seem to work at home. Whatever you decide to do, just go for colors that you like!

 I love the office space below because they chose to brighten it up with some unique floral wallpaper to cover up the ugly brown cork, and it goes great with their orange lampshade -- bringing things together.


Tip #2
Add a personal touch. I love having pictures of my family and my dogs that I can look at any time I want. I have a little section on my corkboard that has pictures of me and my husband and our two dogs. I love looking over and seeing them, and people often comment about how adorable the pictures are. It's a nice and easy way for me to add something a little personal to my workspace without overdoing it.

Below is a pic of the bottom half of my cork board with pics of my husband and my furbabies. It's facing me so it's not like it's on display for everyone. But if people come into my office, they get the privilege of seeing my little family too.

Tip #3
Reflections
For the longest time I would always go to my coworkers office to look into her mirror. I finally realized that I just needed bring in my own mirror! It's nice to be able to check myself out every once in a while, touch up my make-up, notice if there's broccoli in my teeth... you get the idea.  I found a gorgeous mirror at Cost Plus World Market years ago that is oval with a green border. It's just another little pop of color to add to the drab neutral of a cubicle.

I love the mirror below because it's small, but it's got great mosaic detail that makes it interesting.


Tip #4
Make it Functional!
Last but not least, make your work space work for you. Get help to make sure your work space is ergonomic so you are not hurting yourself and are at less risk of problems down the road. Keep the things you use most often near to you, and make sure you get out of your chair whenever possible. It sounds funny, but sitting in front of a computer for 8 hours a day can be really hard on your body. The rigid motion of mousing and typing can be murder on your wrists, shoulders, neck, and back if you're not aware of it. Just make sure to take care of yourself. Below is a link to the United States Department of Labor, which includes information on how to make your workstation ergonomic to limit or eliminate the distress you could be putting on your body.
OSHA Ergonomic Solutions

I hope that these tips will help to expand your idea on what a cubicle or workspace should look like. You are young and chic, your workspace should be too!

Just Say No... to tanning!

We have long heard about the dangers of tanning, the importance of SPF, and out waning ozone layer. Even with all of this information, millions of people are still subjecting their precious epidermis! Women's Health had a great article about this topic in their January/February 2013 issue: You can read the whole article here.

The article states that indoor tanning can increase a persons risk for Melanoma by 75%!!! Jerry Brewer, M.D. says: "Melanoma is a new epidemic in young women,". Anytime something is considered an "epidemic", we should get concerned and take some action. Obama thought so and in 2010 he passed a bill which included a 10% tax on their tanning bill. But, CNN Money reports that the tax increase has not made much difference to the amount of people who are still tanning regularly.

Now I have to admit that as a freewheeling young lady in my early 20's I too went to indoor tanning salons. I cooked my skin with the best of them for that "healthy" looking glow. But now, it is definitely something I would not do because of the clear risk to my health. It doesn't mean that I don't love that tan looking skin I used to get, but I just find other ways to achieve that look.

I live in a beach town where the sun loves to shine down on us. This is great because I love the sun, and getting my daily dose of Vitamin D, but it also means I have to slather on the SPF. During the winter I use a BB cream with SPF 30 because I don't see the sun that much. But in the summer I make sure to put on SPF 50+ every day to avoid the powerful rays and reduce my risk for skin cancer.

Yahoo! Health had an article about this same topic with 8 reasons to say 'lights out' to the tanning salon. Some of the reasons I already talked about, but it's a good list for reference. I have included some of them below,  but you can read the full article here.

1.  According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), tanning beds are in the “group one” classification of carcinogens, along with asbestos, cigarettes and other known killers.
2. Tanning lamps emit concentrated UVA rays, leading to greater wrinkling, sagging, and other signs of premature aging than exposure to the sun.
3. High-pressure “speed tanning” sunlamps emit up to 12 times more UVA rays than the sun.
4. Indoor tanning can be addictive. More than 39 percent of subjects in one study met the diagnostic criteria for addiction due to their use of tanning beds. They also reported increased symptoms of anxiety and substance abuse.

Some of the products I love and use regularly:
Sunscreen:
Rodan + Fields Reverse Sunscreen - this stuff comes with the Rodan + Fields multi-step skincare line REVERSE.  I love it because the SPF is 50+, and it protects against UVA and UVB rays making it a great line of defense against the harmful rays of the sun.

All in one BB Cream + Sunscreen:
Dr. Jart+ BB Cream: This little tube packs a punch! It is a moisturizer, sunscreen, and treatment serum all-in-one. It's also tinted so it makes a good substitute for foundation. Birchbox calls it the Swiss Army Knife of your beauty cabinet!

Sunless Tanning:
Neutrogena Build-a-tan Sunless Tanning Lotion: This is the product I use to get a little bit of that healthy glow I was talking about earlier. It's one of the only products that actually works without making my elbows and knees and feet brown! It's also pretty fast acting, and after a couple of days you will be looking sunkissed without the negative affects of tanning!

These are just a few of the products that I use and recommend. But whatever you decide to use, make sure it has a powerful SPF, and avoid those tanning beds! It's not worth it.

Get one!

Okay, I am so excited to try this new high tech, skin saving product from Dr. Rodan and Dr. Fields of the famous Rodan + Fields! In just 5 minutes a week you can get rid of dead skin cells on your face and give your beautiful skin a chance to show through! Add it to your REDEFINE regimen (formerly called anti-age).

I love the REDEFINE products... LOVE them. I would and do recommend this line to everyone and it's because I'm am avid and enthusiastic user of their products. I've literally tried every line of product they offer at different times and for different reasons.

If you are interested in getting your own piece of this 2 billion dollar industry and putting some of the money on your own pocket, let me know! We'll talk.

rskinner.myrandf.com

Answer some questions on the solution tool site and see what would be best for your skin!
https://rskinner.myrandf.com/Pages/OurProducts/GetAdvice/SolutionsTool

MacroE?!?

Give Rodan + Fields five minutes to trade a week's worth of dull, dead skin cells for smoother, younger-looking, more luminous skin!
And for the next 48 hours, you can save BIG on our biggest product launch yet! But this offer expires February 13, 2013, so read NOW & ACT FAST!


Dr. Katie Rodan & Dr. Kathy Fields have spent two years combining their 40 years of dermatology experience, groundbreaking skincare science & cutting-edge technology to help you reclaim your skin's radiant glow in just five minutes a week with the patent-pending REDEFINE MACRO Exfoliator™.

Used once a week on your face, neck & chest, this hand-held, personal use exfoliation tool sweeps away dead skin cells leaving behind a smoother, healthier-looking & more luminous complexion. The proof is in the filter where you can actually see the dull, dead outermost skin cells & debris that have been covering up your best skin. Talk about instant gratification!

It features patent-pending DOC-SMART™ technology, developed & programmed by the Doctors to put their brains in your hand to vary the degree & duration of macro-exfoliation based on the area you're treating. So effective, the MACRO E is clinically proven to visibly improve skin texture after only one use. And in the 4-week clinical trial, 100% of the participants saw an improvement in their skin's texture & overall appearance. Pores looked smaller, lines were reduced, skin was more even. Who doesn't want that?

All this is available without a prescription or a trip to a doctor's office & it comes with a 60-day, money-back satisfaction guarantee!


The Doctors had their most successful press event when they gave beauty editors a sneak peek of this baby last fall & Marie Claire has already shown us love in their January issue. Keep your eyes open for a slew of media coverage in the coming weeks and months. But you don't have to wait to see why they were so wowed...

Until Wednesday morning, you can start to REDEFINE the future of your skin at a MACRO discount!

If you're already a Rodan + Fields existing Preferred Customer (PC): Add the PC MACRO Exfoliator Flash Deal (AAMEX01P) to your next PC Perks replenishment order & you will receive the tool at the convention price of $210; that's an additional 15% over your usual PC Perks price!

If you're not yet one of our beloved PCs (but would like to join the club): This same offer applies when you become a new PC during the flash deal & include the PC MACRO Exfoliator in your enrollment order. That's over 25% in savings off the retail price!
Remember, this offer expires February 13, 2013, at 10 a.m. PST, so CONTACT ME TODAY so I can hook you up with this MACRO deal & place your order!

REDEFINE YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE
Thousands of Rodan + Fields independent business owners just returned from our annual convention in Dallas, TX where we learned how we can REDEFINE our financial future by leveraging our new product, programs & technology, as well as promotions, like cash bonuses, our car incentive program with Lexus, free iPads & fabulous trips to places like Maui, Cabo San Lucas & Paris!

Timing is critical in positioning a tool like this, as the market for in-home tools & skin care devices is growing (it's projected to soon to hit $3 billion). 1 in 3 women will use at home beauty devices. When it comes to aging skin, we are all aging all the time, so our market is almost limitless.
The current recession has shifted consumer mentality from professional treatments to in-home treatments to save money. Professional exfoliation treatments on average cost about $180/treatment & require follow-up treatments every 4-6 weeks to maintain results, so our new Macro Exfoliator pays for itself in no time. I love that there is no downtime, but you still get the same visible results as a professional treatment. Marie Claire scooped us last month & we anticipate many more positive reviews in the press on the product.

To keep up with the demand, I am looking for leaders to join my leadership team who would enjoy:
-working virtually, from home
-creating your own hours
-being your own boss
-unlimited earning potential
-leveraging the credibility of a big brand
-leveraging the resources of a big corporation

If you're at all interested in learning more about our award-winning opportunity, here's why NOW is the perfect time:
-Rodan + Fields was recognized as the Direct Selling Association's "Rising Star" & received eight major awards in two years. The direct sales industry has clearly taken notice.
-The beauty editors love our doctors & we are positioned to receive a lot of incoming press for our new product.
-We had a 126% increase of 6-figure earners this past year. We are debt-free & growing in triple digits every year.

R+F truly is "REDEFINING" aging, and direct sales. Isn't it time you joined us?! Message me to chat!

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...

Now when I'm talking about not letting the stress get to you, I am not just talking about work stress or relationship stress... I'm talking about ALL kinds of stress!

Today has been one of those days for me where everything seems to go wrong JUST enough to screw up my day. As I sat in my chair staring at my computer screen I reminded myself that I can't let the stress get to me.

There are many reasons that stress is bad for you... just to name a few:

1. It can make you fat!*

2. It can lead to high blood pressure (though the American Heart Association says the actual link is not clear, I have a few ideas...)

3. It can make you unpleasant and difficult to deal with... (sometimes I think "who cares" about this one, but you never know how you are affecting others...misery loves company -- but don't pass it on)

4. Medical research suggests that up to 90% of all illness and disease is stress-related (crazy!), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.**

5. Loss of Sex Drive (no thank you!)

Now let's address #1. I have heard a number of different ways that stress can lead to weight gain, especially around the middle. Here's what TIME magazine published regarding the topic...

"Researchers believe this abdominal fat lodges deep within visceral organs (ew!), such as the heart, liver and blood vessels, and may be an indicator of increased heart-attack risk. In a study of 42 female monkeys, the scientists found that those with the most social stress — in the monkeys' case, that meant being at the bottom of the social hierarchy — packed away the most fat around the middle."

The other part of this is the hormone "Cortisol". People with high levels of stress tend to produce excessive amounts of this stress hormone and tend to have more weight around their middle; we're talking apple-shaped bodies, rather than pear-shaped ones.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1915237,00.html#ixzz1qvjLbN8d

Now if that doesn't make you want to slow down and do a few breathing exercises next time you're feeling overwhelmed, I don't know what will!

High Blood Pressure!!! Here's how this works... we are basically primitive animals and we all have a natural stress response called the "Fight or Flight" response. Now this is a VERY helpful little tool we have developed since the beginning of humanity... when we needed it on a daily basis. Essentially, when were are presented with a stressful situation, are bodies are pumped with adrenaline and cortisol which prepare us to "Fight" or "Flee". This is for "situational stress", and like I said it is a good thing. It's this response system that allows a mother to lift a car that's pinning her son to the ground... don't believe me? Check this out: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2636/supermom. However, once the situation has passed, adrenaline and cortisol are supposed to go back to normal levels... BUT chronic stress means that these hormones could be elevated for long periods of time! This is NOT GOOD for you. This can be a precursor to the negative affect of stress!

Illness and disease are a result or related to stress 90% of the time?! What? That's crazy?! Or is it? When you are in a chronic state of stress, your immune system can be more vulnerable, making you more susceptible to infections.

Loss of Sex Drive?! When you are under a lot of stress, your mind tends to be busy thinking about the cause of that stress. Your mind is elsewhere. It's much more difficult to get "in the mood" when you're stressing on what happened at work that day. This is more of a common problem for women by the way... surprise surprise!

Now... I know what you want to know now! WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT!?!

Here's just some tips on how to lower stress. If you find that your stress is the result of a much more serious life event, sometimes therapy can be a good place to find solace and relax your mind. For every day stresses, try these tips:

 
1. Positive thinking and positive self talk. Reduce stress by eliminating negative self talk. A study to corroborate this was done by researchers at the Mayo Clinic. 
It's unclear EXACTLY why this works, but one theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body.*** 
Be optimistic! Have a half full glass, rather than a half empty one. Think about it... if the endless stream of thoughts going through your head all day are negative, you're probably going to be a more negative person and have a negative outlook... this can make it harder to deal with stressful situations when they arise.

The Mayo Clinic has a great top ten list of stress relievers... here are just a few of my favorites from that list. Go here to see the rest: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/positive-thinking/SR00009.

2.  LAUGH! Laughter is the best medicine, haven't you heard? Laughter can lighten your mood and cause positive physical changes in your body -- even if you start out by faking it! So fake it till you make it... or watch some funny movies or hang out with funny friends :) But just increase the laughter in your life!

3. CONNECT! This means basically that even though you want to crawl under the covers and get away from the world, do the opposite! Being social and surrounding yourself with friends and family can help to give you support, or just distract you. Studies also show that being social can help alleviate some symptoms of depression... I don't know exactly where to site that, but I'll find it and post the study soon.

4. Yoga/ meditation/ breathing exercises. Do I need to really elaborate? Doing yoga or meditating really helps to clear your mind and bring you back to your center. Sometimes all you need to do is clear your head after a long day and meditating or yoga can help. Some good breathing exercises are ALWAYS helpful and you can even do them at work! Here's a link to a good video for breathing exercises: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87_EWLS5h4I 

5. SLEEP! Yes, sleep is our body's natural way of taking care of itself, regenerating, and recharging! You must not skimp on the sleep. If you feel especially anxious during bedtime thinking of the day ahead of you, try to be consistent with your sleep routine and get yourself relaxed. Take a warm bath with lavender, drink some sleepy-time tea (or good ol chamomile will do), and get the clocks out of your room. DO NOT TURN ON THE TV. And lastly, don't check your phone in bed -- it can wake your mind up and make it harder to get back in the sleep zone.

How happy does this baby look??

So this is all I have about stress for now... It was a good reminder to myself to not sweat the small stuff. We are all dealing with our own stress and it's important to do our best to reduce our stress or channel it into something positive. Don't let it affect how you treat others, and especially don't let it affect how you treat yourself. Give yourself a break, cut yourself some slack. Remember... You're doing the best you can!

*Time Magazine article:  http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1915237,00.html#ixzz1qvjLbN8d

**Science website called "How Stuff Works" - very informative: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/human-biology/how-stress-works1.htm

***http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/positive-thinking/SR00009

Side note: I'm not a doctor, and my advice is based in experience, opinion and Internet searches. Happy reading!