Book Reviews

By LadyThrills Staff
The Woman’s Guide To Money
By Kelley Keehn

I will be the first to admit that I’m not very good with money. I spend too much, I have no idea what to invest in and saving is almost a foreign word to me.

Kelly Keehn’s book, however, can definitely help women get organized and comfortable with money by helping us understand the fundamentals associated with it. You will stop resolving your guilt by shopping and will start to feel more confident and secure with your paychecks.

If you want to start setting monetary goals, following a budget and building a long-term plan, then The Woman’s Guide to Money will help you do just that.

Thrill Rating: 3 out of 5

For Women Only: What You Need To Know About the Inner Lives Of Men
By Shaunti Feldhahn

As simple as we might like to think men are, it’s evident that we have no idea what’s going on in a man’s mind. If you’ve ever wondered why your significant other acts strangely or freaks out on you for what you think is “no reason,” this book might help you get to the bottom of what’s really going on.

After interviewing 1,000 men, one of which was her husband, Shaunti Feldhahn reveals what most men don’t know how to say. And it isn’t just limited to significant others; this book will help you better understand every man you deal with, whether it’s a colleague, a nephew or a friend. We always knew that men think much differently than we do; now we can finally figure out what it is they’re thinking and what we can do about it.

Thrill Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office: 101 Unconscious Mistakes Women Make
By Lois P. Frankel

Frankel attempts to address the “girly” things women do in the boardroom that sometimes discredit them as heavy hitters in the workplace. Unfortunately, she doesn’t address the fact that being outspoken and “unfeminine” would make a woman quite unpopular in the workplace as well.

The book does offer some insight to some mistakes that women make that hinder their progress in the workplace, such as unconscious body language and constantly apologizing, and helps them to stop pointing the finger and look within. But she unfortunately does not talk about the delicate balance between being a professional and a woman.

Thrill Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Fitness Q&A

By Diane Bomba

Weight loss plateaus, eating more often to burn more calories and why caffeine pills don’t work.

Plateau with weight loss

Dear Diane,

I’m 20 pounds overweight and began doing cardio exercises about 4 months ago. At first, I saw some significant weight loss, but now it seems that I’ve hit a plateau and can’t drop these last 5 pounds. I’ve even been doing more cardio but nothing seems to be working.

Brianna

Hi Brianna,

First of all, congratulations on your commitment to weight loss. It seems to me, however, that your problem is a complex one. The beautiful thing about the human body is its ability to adapt to most anything that’s thrown at it, and it seems that your body has become accustomed to the cardio and you’ve hit a plateau.

To begin, you should not be doing more than one hour of cardio per day. Anything more than that and your body begins eating away at your muscles for calories. Second, I recommend you start lifting weights. Muscle development will help you burn more calories (keep in mind that the scale numbers may actually increase, but you’ll look hotter than ever). Third, try HIIT, High Intensity Interval Training.

Recent studies have shown that interval training is very beneficial for women. What you do is exercise at a steady pace for two minutes, then increase intensity to as quickly as you can go for one. Then return to walking for two and repeat this process for up to 30 minutes.

Remember to keep switching up your routine every four to six weeks so that your body never becomes accustomed to a routine. That way, you’ll achieve the weight loss, or rather “fat” loss, and look amazing.

Keep fit,
Diane

Eat more often for weight loss

A friend of mine recently told me that I should start eating six times a day if I want to lose weight. Is she crazy?

Tina

Hey Tina,

Well, popular opinion is yes, you should ideally be eating six smaller meals a day instead of three, but people aren’t certain what a “smaller meal” actually consists of and . Dietitians however, recommend that you eat only when you are hungry and never avoid breakfast, as it is the most important meal of the day.

Signs of hunger include an empty-feeling stomach and feeling faint. The tip for success, however, is that when you do eat, you should make healthy choices and avoid eating to the point where you cannot breathe and regret having eaten. Keep in mind that it takes the stomach 20 minutes to send the signal to the brain that it is full. If weight loss is what you desire, these steps will help you.

The “eating 6 times a day” philosophy usually lends itself to people who work out quite frequently and have very little body fat. You would be better off eating when you’re hungry, making healthy food choices and eating slowly so that you know when you’re full.

Regards,
Diane

Ephedrine for weight loss

I know that ephedrine is illegal but I have a friend who was taking it and experienced dramatic weight loss. I want to start taking it but am afraid of long-term problems. Are there any studies that show potential complications?

Want the Weight Loss

Hello Want,

While there have been no studies that prove that ephedrine does cause long-term complications (I know that there were headlines of deaths due to ephedrine-use but it was likely because the individuals took more than the recommended dosage), I do think that the weight loss will only be temporary.

Ephedrine is known to cause an elevated heart beat and decrease appetite, which means that your resting heart rate will rise so that you are consistently burning more calories than you normally would, hence the weight loss.

In 8 weeks though, when the ephedrine stops working (which is when most supplements stop being effective), your heart rate will return to its normal rate and so will your appetite. As a result, your metabolism will slow down and you will ultimately regain your weight. So I recommend strength training strength training, cardio exercise cardio exercise and a balanced diet if you want to lose weight.

Good luck,
Diane

Caffeine pills for weight loss

Dear Diane,

I recently purchased caffeine pills because I was told that they will help me reach my fat-burning goals. But before I take them, I want to make sure I’m doing the right thing. Is this a good idea?

Darlene

Hi Darlene,

In my opinion, the only safe and effective way to lose weight is via a healthy diet and exercise, and while caffeine pills may work temporarily, what do you think will happen once you stop taking them?

Of course, the decision is up to you, but there are some distinct disadvantages to taking caffeine pills, so before taking them, consider this:

1- Caffeine is a diuretic, so you’ll need to drink plenty of water throughout the day.
2- Caffeine increases unsightly cellulite cellulite
3- Taking caffeine pills late in the day will keep you up all night, so you shouldn’t take any after 3 p.m.
4- Because caffeine causes the body to avoid using its calcium stores, you’ll also need to take a 5- calcium supplement.
6- You can’t stop taking them in one shot because you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and fatigue, so you’ll need to ease off of them slowly.
7- An increased dose of caffeine may make you nervous and agitated.

If you still think that taking them is a good idea, make sure to test your resting heart rate beforehand and during your time on them. Also, I strongly recommend you visit a doctor before you try these pills.

Good luck,
Diane

Salt Intake; Is It Making You Fat?

By Meredith Thompson

Do you know that an increased salt intake makes you retain water? Of course you did. But did you know that an increased salt intake also makes cellulite more prominent and visible? That’s right, and although salt is necessary to sustain life, chances are you’re salt intake is likely eating too much of it.

Salt, a very popular white crystalline used to make food more palatable, comes in many different forms, although the debate over how good it is for you is still on the table. Next to the pepper.

FACTOID: Salt is 40% sodium and 60% chloride.

Registered dietitians recommend that the average healthy woman consume anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 milligrams of sodium a day (2,000 milligrams = 1 teaspoon). The problem, however, is that most of us are downing anywhere from 4,000 to 6,000 milligrams each day. This is way too much sodium.

There is a host of salts available on the market, the best of which is considered sea salt, as it has a softer taste.

Although salt comes from salt mines and from the sea, most of today’s salt comes from huge deposits left by dried salt lakes all over the world.

Read on to discover how much salt you’re actually eating, what type you should be eating (if any) and what to do if you end up at your mom-in-law’s and she’s serving up salted fish for dinner.

Salt causes cellulite

As aforementioned, high salt intake causes water retention, and in turn makes cellulite look even more unsightly. Now keep in mind that it doesn’t necessarily cause cellulite, but it sure as hell makes it look even dimplier and gross.

So by reducing your salt intake, you’ll be reducing the appearance of dimply skin. And that is always a good thing in my book.

For many women, the way salt is making us appear when we step on the scale isn’t very healthy for our morale, either. That said, here are some things you can do to ensure that you’re on the right track when it comes to salt intake.

Eat less salty snacks
When you’re starving, you need sustenance immediately. And when it comes to immediate foods, you’re usually left with undesirable foods like chips, pretzels, nuts, and cold cuts.

The problem with these foods is that they usually contain a whole lot of salt. If you’re going to have any of these snacks in your home, make sure that they contain no salt.

Read ingredient labels
The beauty of food labels is that all the information is right there for you, so you can see what kind of potential damage you might be doing to your body if you opt to ingest it.

That said, labels clearly indicate the amount of sodium you’ll be ingesting per serving of a given product. So be vigilant about minding your salt intake and put down the Saltines.

Go for “low-salt” or “reduced-sodium” options
If you usually buy chicken broth to put in the food you cook, opt for the “now with 30% less salt,” version of it. In all fairness, it doesn’t taste much different and it’s that much better for you.

Avoid using canned foods
Your best bet when it comes to using produce, fish or meat, is to opt for fresh or frozen varieties rather than canned because canned products tend to use a lot of salt to preserve whatever is in them.

If you happen to have many cans in your home as you’re reading this, what you can do for now is rinse whatever’s in them to wash away some of the salt content and instantly reduce your salt intake.

Pickled & smoked are bad words
I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but pickled products, such as pickles and hot peppers, become that way via salted brine. Smoked products, such as smoked salmon and smoked meat, become that way because a layer of salt is used in the smoking process.

I know they taste like heaven, but you need to reduce, if not eliminate, these items from your diet.

Use other spices
Salt is customarily used to make food taste better, but it’s time you started experimenting with spices and added some flair to your dishes. Get your hands on some garlic powder, oregano, coriander, cayenne pepper, and a host of other spices to flavor up your food.

Seasonings like lemon juice, rosemary and ginger are also great at adding some zest to your food without the addition of salt. And if people like salty foods in your family, then let them add some after the dish is served.

Make your own salt substituteIf using just garlic powder is not cutting it for you, create your own seasoning, put it in a shaker and place it on the table as a salt replacement.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

1 tsp. ground basil
1 tsp. ground marjoram

1 tsp. ground thyme
1 tsp. parsley
1 tsp. savory
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. sage
½ tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tbsp. garlic powder

Reduce your salt intake

Salt is not terrible in moderation, but considering that most packaged food already contain salt, you’d do best to avoid adding anymore to your diet.

Bad Credit, 5 Ways To Improve It

By Vanessa Cohen

If you were to receive your credit report in the next 24 hours, do you think you’d be impressed with what an amazing dollar-minder you are, or do you think you’d be left wondering how the hell you let your credit turn into bad credit?

Did you know that 26% of Americans are living far beyond their means? And women are charging everything they want onto those fantastic plastic cards that magically make them the owners of every hot pair of Manolo Blahniks this side of Spain.

Well, it’s time for you to make sure that you’re not living beyond your means so that you can eventually invest in some property and acquire some assets. Do you remember that beautiful and rich man that you kept dreaming about when you were a kid? Yeah, well, he’s not coming, so you might as well turn your bad credit into good credit.

And that’s where credit scores come in. Credit scores are three-digit numbers that range between 300 and 850. The higher your score, the better, but keep in mind that only 11% of Americans rank above 800. And, unfortunately, anything lower than 620 makes acquiring a loan very difficult.

That said, here are some ways to improve your credit report so that, when you do finally need it to buy a house or invest in a business, you can get a loan at a relatively low interest rate.

Eliminate bad credit

1- Pay your bills before the due date
Considering the advancements we’ve made with technology, I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t be able to pay your bills on time (and please don’t say that you just don’t have the money). You have the option of paying your bills automatically each month (allowing telephone companies and the like to withdraw the necessary funds directly from your account) or you can opt for online or telephone banking to pay your debts.

Ultimately, if you have bad credit because you haven’t been paying your bills, it’s high time you began getting your priorities straight. Pay off your current debts before you accrue more.

2- Lower your debt accumulation
If you can’t pay your credit card in full each month, you can minimize bad credit by at least paying more than just the monthly charge. That way, you will end up paying less interest and can pay off the capital more quickly. And another thing: I know that the gorgeous black dress is on sale and you don’t have the cash right now, but if you can’t afford to pay for it in cash, chances are you can’t afford to pay for it with a credit card, either. Don’t make your bad credit worse.

3- Don’t cancel credit cards that you don’t use
Although popular opinion dictates that, in order to improve your credit rating, you should terminate already paid accounts, Fair Isaac Corporation (a.k.a. FICO, the company that tabulates your credit rating) reports that closing off such accounts can actually end up hurting your credit.

By closing your accounts, especially older ones, it makes it appear as though you haven’t had a very long credit history, thus making you undesirable or “untrustworthy” to financial institutions. But if you have 11 credit cards, it’s best to cancel the ones you acquired most recently.

4- Don’t apply for too many cards
While having a wallet full of plastic may make your feel important, it’s not exactly the smartest move you could be making in the world of credit. What creditors look at when you apply for a loan (or the like) is how much you could possible owe should you max out all your credit cards. And that can make you an unattractive candidate to banks because you’d be more likely to end up with bad credit if you have credit cards valued at $50,000.

So while having one of every card might look nice in your wallet, it doesn’t look so nice to lenders. Keep your credit cards down to a minimum, like say one or, maximum, two.

5- Order a copy of your credit report
While too many credit report checks can do some major harm to your credit report (it means that too many people are checking it, which might mean that you are asking for a lot of credit), it is good to take a look at your report once a year to ensure that no one has stolen your identity and that changes that you made (like canceling cards or paying off debts) have been noted in the report.

There are three major credit reporting agencies that can give you your FICO (a credit score based on the Fair Isaac Corporation model) score:

- Equifax (Equifax.com)
- Trans Union (TransUnion.com)
- Experian (Experian.com)

Eliminate bad credit for good

There you have it: Easy-to-follow tips that will help you improve your credit rating in no time. Remember that, in the future, your good credit rating will make it a cinch for you to own property (or anything for that matter). And yes, if you say goodbye to bad credit, you can even have those Manolos.

7 Tips for Finding The Perfect Little Black Dress

By August Gertz

You don’t want to purchase a dress that can only be worn one way, or that has a design on it that’s unmistakable, because if you wear it to one event, you’ll feel awkward about wearing it again because people might realize that you’re wearing the same dress.

Let’s be honest: How many little black dresses do you actually own? If you’re anything like me, you have about 6 or so. Well, today’s fashion advice centers around getting that one black dress that is suitable for every and any occasion, whether you want to look all out sexy or conservatively attractive.

Finding the perfect little black dress, however, isn’t as easy as it sounds, which is why we all own more than one not-so-perfect black dress. But if you want to make that one awesome purchase, you need to keep the following points in mind.

Little black dress traits

1- The bra dilemma
If a bra is an absolute necessity, then make sure you have the appropriate kind for a halter-type dress. And if you’re going to go backless, keep in mind that there’s no way a bra will work.

2- The body type
What kind of body do you have and what would you like to minimize and maximize? Since black is a slimming color, you can pull it off more easily than say, wedding-dress white.

Nevertheless, if you want to minimize your hips or butt, wear an A-line dress. If you want to maximize your chest, try a low-cut V dress. And if your legs are your power asset, opt for an above-the-knee or asymmetrical cut. If your arms aren’t as toned as you’d like them to be, use an accessory like a wraparound sheer shawl.

3- The comfort level
Any dress that leaves you adjusting every time you stand up or sit down is far from perfect, hence defeating the purpose of this any time, anywhere dress. When you try on the dress at the store, make sure to walk around, sit down and stand up. This ensures that the fit is fine and that you won’t feel the need to fidget around. As well, raise your hands in the air as high as you can; after all, you never know when you’ll have to bust a move on the dance floor in your sexy little number.

4- The material
While linen is a very breathable material and silk feels so great, choose a material that won’t wrinkle the second you put it on or sit down in it. The material should also correspond to the different seasons, so you want to invest in something that can be worn year round. Although they’re synthetic, rayon and polyester work well when it comes to the little black dress (if you opt for a dress with sleeves, however, these may not be the best options due the underarm “stink” factor).

5- The design
You don’t want to purchase a dress that can only be worn one way, or that has a design on it that’s unmistakable, because if you wear it to one event, you’ll feel awkward about wearing it again because people might realize that you’re wearing the same dress. Make sure the dress you purchase can easily go with certain accessories you have at home and that, by adding a simple shawl or belt, it’ll consistently take on a whole new look every time you put it on.

6- The accessories
From wearing a blazer while at work, to ripping that blazer off in a frenzy and donning a great pair of shiny earrings and a necklace to the club, what you opt to accessorize with will determine the setting for your perfect little black dress. And you don’t have to wear black heels and a black purse with it each and every time; spice things up with a variety of colors (just avoid white) and play it up a little.

7- The body part
If you opt to show a little cleavage, you’d do best to cover up all your other assets. So whether you think your back, legs, bust, or shoulders are the hottest thing about you, feel free to show off that one feature off and minimize the rest. And if you think everything on your body is smoking hot, go to your event naked. Just kidding.

Little black dress to impress

So until next time, get your hands on that dress and impress everyone from the boardroom to the bar. Keepin’ it simple.

7 Job Interview Tips

By Jennifer Towers

The job interview leaves many women feeling nervous for good
reason. It’s hard to know what to expect and what the interviewer’s experience with other candidates has been thus far. And if they haven’t read these job interview tips, you’re in luck.

A job interview does not have to be much different than a first date, minus the dinner and sexual tension, of course. If you can master the following seven job interview tips in your interview, then I’m confident that the only thing that will make or break your landing the gig is your credentials.

So check out these easy job interview tips and, before you know it, you’ll be starting on Monday.

Job interview tips

1- Show up on time
Everyone thinks of their time as valuable, and this rings even truer at an establishment where time is money. For every minute you’re late, you’re wasting the interviewer’s time.

That said, however, don’t show up 40 minutes early, either. There’s nothing more awkward than sitting around waiting for the interviewer to finish up with the candidate before you and then having to make nice when they’re on their way out.

Show up 5 to 10 minutes early, go to the bathroom to get yourself together and freshen up, and show them what you’re all about.

2- Dress in a professional manner
Even if it’s summertime and the temperature is hovering in the 100s, do not dress like you’re heading out for cocktails. The last thing you want is for anyone to dismiss you because you don’t look professional.

The smartest wardrobe choices include at-the-knee skirts, button down shirts and blazers. As well, keep your hair, accessories and makeup looking neat, minimal and sharp.

3- Be firm with your handshake
There’s nothing more irritating than a wimpy, damp handshake. That’s not to imply that you need to crack the interviewer’s knuckles when you shake her hand, but you definitely need to leave a good impression with a firm handshake. If you have sweaty palms, make sure to wipe them on your pants or skirt beforehand.

The following describes the ideal handshake:

- Always use your right hand
- Make steady eye contact
- Face the person directly
- Interlace the space between your thumb and index finger with hers
- Close your hand so that your fingers and thumb wrap around her hand (not her fingers)
- Apply comfortable pressure (if your hand is very small, you may need to adjust the amount of pressure applied)
- Pump no more than twice

Note that a handshake is appropriate in North America but may not be customary in other parts of the world.

4- Show your positive traits
When you’re asked to describe yourself, don’t say generic things like “I’m trustworthy and independent,” give solid examples to follow up your description. Tell the interviewer how you figured out a problem at your last company that saved your boss thousands of dollars. Or that you are so trustworthy that you were given the keys to the company safe. Back up any good qualities you have by furnishing examples from your prior work experiences.

5- Be thankful for their time
Without sounding ridiculously grateful (remember: They need an employee, that’s why you’re there), one of the most important job interview tips includes thanking the interviewer for her time when you initially sit down for the interview, and then again after you leave. This gives the impression that you understand how valuable time is in a business environment.

6- Make sure you’ve done your research
You have to look up the company or the employer you’re interviewing for. Googling someone has become commonplace (I’ve Googled everyone I know… and their dog) and doing some research beforehand will leave you with the ability to make suggestions about the company. As well, it always bodes well on you to sound like you’re resourceful and don’t need to be led around by someone if you’re hired.

7- Speak well of everyone
Make sure that you never speak ill of anyone. Even if your last boss was a sexist pig who didn’t promote you simply because you were a woman, and you’re asked why you left your last job, say something along the lines of “I felt that I had achieved what I wanted at the company and seek a new challenge.”

You shouldn’t lie outright and say you quit if you were fired, but you don’t have to go into detail about why you were let go or left the company.

If you are pressed about why you left the company, tell her what happened and what you learned about the experience. Don’t leave her with a bad taste in her mouth: Make sure you explicitly turn the experience into a positive thing.

Perfect job interview tips

And there it is; easy ways to make sure you leave your interviewer with the right impression about you and all the wonderful things you can bring to her company.

Remember that you were called in because you looked good on paper; the only thing left to do is make the right physical impression. And with these job interview tips, you’ll nail it, no doubt.

Long wavy bangs hairstyle

Winter hairstyle 2008 - long haircuts

The model has long, wavy hair in a loose style with a fringe, or bangs. Her hair color is very dark brown, almost black.This kinda long haircuts suit winter .

This is one of our favorite Mischa Barton hairstyles. The color is perfect for autumn and winter (you want to go lighter in spring and summer, as Mischa tends to do).
If you want more long hairstyles, you can go here.