HOLIDAY DECORATING DELIGHT
Written by: Joen Garnica

 Uncomplicate your holiday décor with easy to implement tips.

Jingle Bells are jingling, the air outside is crisp and the steam from my hot cocoa is warming my holiday spirit. Holding my warm cup of cocoa between my hands, I close my eyes and take in the sweet aroma, savoring every second. A smile comes over my face. I slowly open my eyes and the sound of a screeching record stops me in my tracks. Staring back at me are dusty boxes of tired holiday decorations.



You didn’t think that would derail my holiday decorating, did you? Of course you didn’t.



Many things can complicate the holidays, such as the drag race to see who gets what seems to be the only parking spot. Making your home festive doesn’t have to be one of the complicated things in life. I am going to uncomplicate your holiday decorating life with ideas on keeping it simple, while making a dazzling impact.



Create a Theme – Gone are the days that creating a theme meant using nutcrackers or Santa Claus. Get creative and keep it simple. It can be as easy as picking a color or two (or three). Unify décor and create flow with your colors of choice. Pepper your home with a color theme or with a bolder theme such as jewels and jewel tones.



Focal Pointer – Pick a couple of areas in your home that will give you more bang for your buck. Focus your efforts on areas such as entryways, dining rooms or living rooms. Create one focal point in each of these areas, while sprinkling holiday cheer in between.



Tea Light Twinkle – Drop a votive or a tea light in a clean glass food jar, tie a ribbon to the neck and you now have a simple, yet beautiful luminary. For a more layered look add peppermint candy, sand or cranberries under the candle. Group a few luminaries together for dramatic evening lighting.




Borrow from Nature – Not many things are easier than going outside and borrowing from nature. Infuse outdoor items such as magnolia leaves, twigs, nuts, berries or even sea shells and sand into your décor. Natural items are easy and good for the environment.



Mantle Madness (Or lack of) – Don’t have a mantle? Temperatures don’t often dip very low in Long Beach. So if you don’t have a fireplace, use a console or sofa table in lieu of a traditional mantle. Hang stockings and decorate the table top as you might a mantle over a fireplace.



Festive Floral – Poinsettias are abundant this time of year, but are not the only floral option for the holidays. Use other stunning classic flowers that coordinate with your holiday décor colors. Tie in the holiday theme with holiday greenery such as pine needles.




Window Wonderland – Toss out the can of snow and instead opt for ribbon, wreaths and ornaments. A stunning window can be as simple as hanging a wreath or ornaments on ribbon and placing in your window. Accomplish indoor and outdoor décor with one step.



Gift Wrap– Add a touch of the unexpected to your holiday gifts by making the wrapping part of the gift. Embellish gift-wrap with an ornament, candy, a beautiful brooch or wrap the gift with a stunning scarf. I have to admit that this tip doesn’t necessarily uncomplicate your holidays. I will however go out on a limb and say that one of these gifts will be love at the first sight for the person on the receiving end. Not to mention the enhanced experience of unwrapping.

This time of year is all about joy, laughter, sharing and holiday parties. A beautifully decorated home for the holidays is just that. The best, least complicated tip I can offer you is to fill your home with much joy, laughter, friends and family and make memories that will last a lifetime. Happy holidays!

Styles of Sunglasses for 2010

Just because it's winter doesn't mean you can tuck away your sunglasses in Southern California. Make sure you get the latest styles, both new, old, and enhanced from a collection that celebrates the best decades of the past century.

Plastic Aviators

These aviators work for both men and women, but are more down to earth by ditching the gold glam for basic colors and thicker frames. They're the best type of sunglasses to get in neon colors.

Miami Vice Sunglasses

Jump back into the 80s by wearing the best eye wear straight out of Miami Vice. The best part about these Miami Vice glasses is that they're related to the aviators, but come with lens that are multi-colored.

Vintage Glasses

The 50s are here to stay for a season. This vintage eye wear is the most retro of the latest styles and comes in unique colors for both the lens and frames. They're also in season for regular eye wear when you need a good pair of reading glasses to catch up on your latest Twilight novel.

Extreme Bugeye Glasses

Someone channeled Jackie O when making a contemporary version of these bug eye glasses. Although they're fashionable, they only work with certain face shapes, like long or oval ones. Certainly use caution when wearing the purple ones, they have a scary resemblance to Elton John.

Cat Eye Sunglasses

This contemporary version of Cat Eye Sunglasses are a mixture between Lisa Loeb and a blast from the past from the 60s. They're retro, sassy, and look great for upscale events or just driving through the town in your turquoise Thunderbird.

Enhanced Flattop Sunglasses

Although flattop sunglasses made their big debut in '09, they've been altered just a bit for the new year with a thicker frame and smaller lens. They work for both men and women, but only for particular styles.

Katie Cervantes

Live OC Magazine

www.LIVEOCMAG.com

Keep Yourself Warm

          Refreshing coats to get comfy in

Nothing says it's getting cold outside like wearing a classic black pea coat. This look is something you can wear year after year and looks great with boots and fingerless gloves. This year detachable hoods are popular for this common coat and it's great for either guys or girls. 

Huge collars are in this season. Go for a chunky coat that stands out and rests just below your jawline. You can wear this with skinny jeans and flats. Try not to wear anything extreme or big with it, as it'll make your outfit appear like it's wearing you, instead of you wearing it.  

Blazers work great for the fall because they're trendy, yet still keep you warm until Winter comes. There are many different styles for both men and women, and the range of fabrics are broad (try tweed). 

Sleeveless coats are great because they easily rest over any outfit you feel like wearing, dressy or casual. They might not keep you warm, but they will keep some of chill off your shoulders and make you look comfy. 

Fur is back, for both men and women. You can find it on the insides of coats and on collars. Try to avoid cheap fur that looks thin. Also, don't go overboard by getting an all-fur coat unless you're planning on pairing it with a dress and some tights. 

Motorcycle jackets aren't reserved for leather. This look goes great on men and looks fitted with the tight sleeves. Avoid zipping it up and wear something that's longer underneath. Pairing it with boots also works. 

Katie Cervantes

Live OC Magazine

www.LIVEOCMAG.com

Five Ways to Tan in the Fall

1. Spray Tan

Although going to a tanning salon every week can get expensive, spray tanning is a great way to maintain your tan and keep yourself looking hydrated and healthy. In the summer, it's ideal to spray tan once a week, but in the fall and winter you only need to visit the salon every 10 to 12 days. It's OK, and actually preferable, to have a lighter tan after summer, so that your light tint is believable and still keeps you looking like you live in California.


Cost: $30 per visit

Apply: Every 10-12 days

Where to go: Any tanning salon.


2. Bronzers

Let's face it: make-up works. Although it's only temporary for a day, make-up is great as a great way to fake a tan and is an immediate solution. Buy a bronzer from any convenience store and apply it over your make-up. Lightly sweep it over your face, neck, chest, and arms--depending on how much skin you're bearing. Men should use this sparingly and find a bronzer that doesn't come with shimmer in it.

St. Tropez bronzing mousse is great for your face and your body--it should work perfectly if it's a warmer day and you're bearing your legs and arms. This brand is highly recommended by many make-up artists.

Milani Bronzer XL is a great powder to use mainly on your face, but will also work on your body.

Cost: St. Tropez Bronzing Mouse $30, Milani Bronzer XL $10

Apply: Once or twice a day.

Where to buy: StTropezTan.com, Target for Milani Bronzer XL

3. Tanning Lotions

Although tanning lotions aren't ideal for summer, they're a great fit for colder seasons. They come in different shades and usually build your tan up with each use. Be picky with the type you use and don't just go off of the price. The best products are L'Oreal's Sublime Bronze and Bobbi Brown's Sunless Tanning Gel--they don't leave you walking out of the house streaky and orange.

Cost: L'Oreal's Sublime Bronze $10, Bobby Brown $30

Apply: Once a week.

Where to buy: Any local drugstore.

4. Go Outside

It seems like a no-brainer, but most of us forget that if we just exercise outside or get some sun during the fall and winter, we'll get tan. It doesn't get too cold in California and for a place that is sunny on Christmas day you can avoid getting pale by going on runs outside or just laying in your backyard. Always apply SPF-15 and try getting some sun once or twice a week to see a difference in your skin color and to get your Vitamin D.

5. Tanning Beds

Although we really hate suggesting this, it will work as a last resort. If lotions, spray tans, and going outside all aren't working for you then go to a tanning bed, but try to limit how much you go. Besides tanning beds being unhealthy and terrible for your skin, they are a good way to maintain your tan. Try to not do this during the summer since you do live in "the sunshine capital of the world," but if you really must, then the tanning beds are always there for fall.

Cost: $40-$60/month

Use: Once or twice a week.

Where: Look online for local tanning salons.

Katie Cervantes 

Live OC Magazine

www.LIVEOCMAG.com