I laughed as I began to hook myself into the flesh-colored “Almighty Cincher” corset that Amia sent me – way back when, I used to be an actress with The Royal Shakespeare Company, and we had to wear just this kind of corset on stage every night, because in the Elizabethan Era, the only time you’d remove your corset would be for bed (and sometimes not even then.) So, it bought back memories.

It has a PowerLatex core with a comfortable cotton lining. It felt strangely rubbery in my hands, but once strapped around my core, it felt surprisingly comfy, and extremely supportive. I sat at my computer for a couple of hours, and it totally made me sit upright with a way better posture than usual. Then, I took it on a test run – a literal run. I stuffed my Chiahuahua, Lucky, into his harness and we took off. I rather hoped I was going to bump into someone because aside from the weight-loss/posture benefits, the Cincher made me look as if I have an 18-inch waist, but alas – the only neighbor I passed was the crazy lady with 8 mutts, who surrounded Lucky, snarling and yelping.

The latex core is supposed to increase thermal activity and I can promise you that is does just that! My mid-section was more than toasty after a short and not very satisfactory run. I’m going to wear it to a spin class this week and am expecting my waist to reduce by at least 2 inches – in fact, I’m expecting my waist to melt away!

Also, what I like about Amia is that $1.00 dollar from your purchase will go towards The Woman’s Alliance, which gives career training and work attire to low-income families.

I was raised to bohemian parents in the country side of Iran until the revolution there occurred. I went suddenly from a childhood nurtured on imagination and nature to life as a refugee. As one assimilating to a new life, I sought solace in old films, fashion and books which led me to work as an actress in TV, film and theater.

After having my first daughter in my early twenties I was diagnosed with an auto immune condition. This diagnosis, and yearning for a healthy planet for my daughter, propelled me on a path as a naturalist and activist. The Local Rose was born out of a desire to celebrate a holistic, healthy, authentic life style without sacrificing taste and glamour. My two daughters and I now live in the Santa Monica Mountains where we raise most of our own produce, nestled by a creek with our cat, rabbits, and chickens.

Allison is Owner and Developer of Holistic Voice (http://www.HolisticVoice.org). The Holistic Voice organization was formed when, at the age of 26, Allison endured the devastating loss of both her parents to cancer after long and challenging battles. Witnessing her mother and father suffer so intensely and needlessly from a cure that brought more pain than the disease, Allison soon dedicated her life to finding a better way to heal. She watched in disbelief as doctors prescribed drug after drug, observed her parents’ hair fall out, their rapidly aging faces, and their exceedingly diminishing vitality. The tragedy instilled in her an unwavering passion for nutritional medicine, and propelled her into the world of holistic health and alternative healing. Allison’s firm commitment to natural health is further evidenced by her current pursuit of a Masters Degree in Spiritual Psychology with a focus in holistic health and healing.

Holistic Voice’s mission is to uplift, enlighten and transform traditional beliefs about health through multimedia productions including social media, video, film, and online articles. The in-development film, Holistic Voices (http://www.HolisticVoiceFilm.com), is a feature-length documentary that follows several inspiring individuals including filmmaker Joe Cross, NBA Star John Salley, and TV/Radio host Kerri Kasem who have successfully seceded from Big Medicine’s billion-dollar necropolis of dead-end, debilitating treatments to heal themselves naturally of chronic, degenerative and terminal disease through a simple change in diet and lifestyle. In this film, both ordinary working citizens and celebrities alike exchange harmful drugs, surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy for the joys of holistic healing with juice-fasting, cleansing, yoga, Chinese medicine and many other non-toxic alternatives. These inspiring subjects share their joyous victories over chronic, degenerative and terminal disease without the use of debilitating drugs, surgery, radiation or chemotherapy.

For more stories, videos, and articles about nutrition, weight loss, and healing naturally without drugs, please visit Holistic Voice at www.holisticvoice.org

Follow me on Twitter @HolisticVoice

Find me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HolisticVoice.org

It’s very easy to use, even for a young girl. You simply charge it up, and then glide is across your skin, as if you were painting your face. Once you get the hang of it, you can do it while reading or watching TV, which is great for those with a low-boredom threshold! You don’t feel a thing (according to my daughter,) and you are supposed to do it for 5 minutes a day, or you can split it up into 2 shorter sessions. There’s a very useful bleeping sound, which tells you when you’re done. The non-UV blue light apparently causes the bacteria, which causes the acne, to self-destruct.

I encouraged my daughter to still clean her face really well (yep – sorry, the magical light doesn’t exempt you from washing!) Then she does her Tria Light thing and finally moisturizes with a good anti-bacterial moisturizer. The result after 1 month is a much- clearer skin. She still gets the odd pimple, but her forehead used to be covered with loads of little pimples, and now they’ve all gone.

If you suffer from adult acne, which I know that thousands of women have to contend with, or if you’re trying to help a tween or teen, I can honestly say that I think you’ll be extremely happy with this skin perfecting light. The other very cool thing about it is that it’s small/light enough to easily pack in your suitcase.

2-ounces coconut water

4 -ounces almond milk

1 tbsp virgin coconut oil

1 tbsp raw coconut butter/meat (the only one I’ve found is the coconut “butter” by Artisana, which is sold at Wholefoods.)

1 cup raw almonds

1tsp vanilla essence

1 cup crushed ice

Throw it all in your high-speed blender and you’re set.

“Yes,” she replied. “But the difference is night and day.”

I’d had bra fittings at regular big chain lingerie stores, and often wound up more confused than before I walked in. I never really found exactly what I was looking for. We all have such different needs and wants when it comes to a bra, and every company is quite different.

So, finding myself at a Bloomingdales the other day, I decided to treat myself to a proper bra fitting. I set aside an hour, which is unheard of for me (always tearing around in a rush,) and decided that I wouldn’t walk out until I got the perfect bra. Chantelle was on my radar because since my BFF had waxed lyrical, I did a bit of research about the company and discovered the following:

They are made in France (not outsourced like most other lingerie companies.) They are beautifully constructed and many parts of the bra are still handmade. The lace they use is exclusive to Chantelle. There is a bra to suit every single need. Chantelle was founded in France in 1876 and each bra is constructed with as much detail and care as a couture gown.

Here’s what I learned from my fitter, Hermine:

1. You should never wear the same bra 2 days in a row. It’s the same as buying an expensive pair of shoes – you should give the bra at least day or so so regain it’s shape and elasticity. I asked her if it’s really true that I should replace my bra every 6 months, and she said that it depends entirely on how often I wear it. The ideal number of bras is to have 3 “daily” ones that are interchangeable throughout the week.

2. You can wash your bra on a gentle cycle in a mesh bag, but you must NEVER  dry it in the dryer. The best way to dry is to hang it up, rather than lay it flat on top of a hot dryer. Don’t use regular laundry detergent, but something softer (I use Ecos Delicate wash.)

3. A great tip for washing your bra is to get into the shower with your bra ON at night. Wash it on your body using a gentle shampoo, and then rinse thoroughly. When you step out of the stall, you can hang it up on the shower head to dry!

4. Start wearing your bra on the outermost row of hooks (the least tight,) and as the band stretches, you can move in to the next row.

5.The back of your bra should sit just below your shoulder blades. If it rises up higher than below your shoulder blades, your breasts will drop – yikes!

6. As our bodies change, Hermine advises have a fitting every single year. Pregnancy, weight-gain/loss and plain old aging can change the kind of bra that suits you best.

I tried on a number of different bras, and the thing that really struck me is how completely different each bra is. Of course, I’m now totally obsessed with Chantelle bras because they are so ridiculously gorgeous. I particularly love the straps – so beautiful that you really almost want them to show! Their racer back is the most comfy I’ve ever tried, and the actual “racer back” part of it is made of lace. Also, I’ve never found a strapless bra that is remotely comfortable, much less one that stays up, but now I know that when I’m ready to invest, it will be Chantelle.

There, are of course, many other high-end stunning bra lines – Wacoal is one that springs to mind, but having spent an hour trying on more bras in one hour than I’ve tried on in my life, I have to say that Chantelle wins out as being the bra that would made me feel pampered and special. Are they pricey? Absolutely, but after I’ve seen how different I look in clothes with a properly fitted and well-constructed bra, I’ll just  cut back in other areas…

However, white polish can be tricky to apply, so celebrity nail artist, Sunshine Outing, shows us how:

To start, Outing prefers a perfectly smooth surface created by using a ridge filling base coat with a milk base such as, Zoya Get Even… “Let it dry completely” before starting your color application. When it comes to white or pastel full coverage color, the biggest secret is to be patient and not to “go back in and overwork it”. Start with a thin first coat and don’t worry about streaks, “just get it on”. The second coat should be slightly thicker and cover the entire nail. Once the second coat is on, if any streaks or imperfections are showing, a “very, very thin” final layer of polish can be added. Allow color to briefly dry and then follow immediately with a protective top coat. The top coat will not only apply a glossy finish but also assist in bonding the layers of nail polish together for that professionally manicured nail look.

After the initial application, Outing recommends a lightly applied daily dose of topcoat for chip-free, glossy perfection.

I’m just going to come out and say it: I love MyChelle Dermaceuticals. When a product is dermatologist and girlfriend recommended, how can you go wrong? And with a product offering as varied and expansive as MyChelle, you know they’re going to have the perfect product for you.

Founded twelve years ago, MyChelle has made it their mission to great the most effective, nontoxic skin care products in the country. MyChelle products are clinically proven, nutrient-packed, and deliver a powerful reboot to your skin care routine. From scrubs and masks to health lash formation to anti-wrinkle serums, MyChelle promotes healthy beauty through natural solutions.

If you’re looking for truly luxurious, natural products that make you feel absolutely radiant, look no further than MyChelle. MyChelle sent me two products to test, both of which will stay in my skin routine.

1.     Cranberry Mud Mask: Creamy, lush, and fantastically fragrant, this post-cleanse mask really does the trick. I could feel its blemish-drawing magic from the moment I put it on. Detoxifying Kaolin and Bentonite clays pull excess oil and dirt from your skin, while super-fruit Cranberry extract kicks in with its high anti-oxidant content to boost skin vitality. ($25.09)

2.     Ultra Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum: The perfect follow-up to your mud mask, this high-intensity serum quenches thirsty cells to help smooth and boost dry, sensitive skin. What really struck me about this product was how silky smooth it is. It’s soft, yet potent, and doesn’t leave your skin goopy or overly saturated.

An added bonus: A little goes a long way with MyChelle products. Using as directed, I barely put a dent in the test products which means this product gives you great bang for your buck.

And the kicker? MyChelle offers online chat capabilities with product experts to find the exact right regime for you. Oil nose and chin with a dry forehead? Cautious about sun exposure (who isn’t?)? Just need a reboot to your same old routine? They’ve got you covered.

However, something rather icky has come to the fore in the personal care space as far as “Fair Trade” is concerned.  So, let’s break is down a bit: There are a few Fair Trade certification organizations. The two largest that are used in the US areFair Trade USA and Fair For Life. The difference between the two is that the former, Fair Trade USA, licenses its seal (image on the right,) for a fee on products that might have as little as 2% fair trade content. Conversely, Fair For Life (above,) does not allow use of its label on any product that is not almost completely Fair Trade. The other great thing about Fair For Life is that they broadened their scope to include virtually all agricultural commodities, which gives more farmers in developing Nations a chance at making a fair wage.

If you want to find out about a particular brand, I recommend going to Fair Trade International, a US organization that only accepts companies as members who are the real thing as far at Fair Trade practices are concerned.

We’ve obviously got a long way to go before major companies come on board and really get serious about sourcing Fair Trade ingredients, however, we can try to support personal care companies who are stepping up to the plate. Two companies that carry the Fair For Life logo and are a member of Fair Trade International, are Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps and Alaffia. Alaffia carries a line of gorgeous skin care products.

Remember, it’s the same deal with the Organic Certification labeling. Here’s a reminder of that the USDA organic certification seal requires:

“100% organic” Every ingredient must be 100% organic, and the product may display the USDA seal

“Organic” must contain a minimum of 95% organic ingredients, and the product may display the USDA seal

“Made With Organic Ingredients” The product must be made up of at least 70% organic ingredients. The product may NOT display the USDA seal.

Less Than 70% organic ingredients: Products cannot use the term “organic” ANYWHERE on the principle display panel, but they may use the term in the ingredient list to denote where a specific ingredient may be organic.