Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions

I can never make just one New Year's resolution, and I think that is a good thing. Why not reach for as many goals as one can muster in one year? Plus, I don't want to put all of my time and energy into losing weight- that would just drive me crazy. Instead, I always make a few resolutions for different areas of my life like, relationships, health & fitness, aspirations, family, spirituality, career, and self. This way as each year passes I am moving forward in as many ways as possible. I also don't beat myself up if I don't reach my goal in one year. Some goals take more time! 

For my health & fitness resolution, I wanted to lose weight the healthy way. I wanted to lose weight, gain muscle, go to the gym more, and maintain healthful eating habits. Although I started losing weight in February and not December 31st at 12 am, I am continuing my journey of healthy weight loss going into 2014. This year I am 13 lbs lighter than I was last year. I consider this a complete win, and am enjoying taking my time as I lose weight and move towards my goal!

Here are some tips to help you keep your resolutions this year:

1. Celebrate your efforts towards your goals even if you haven't met, or completed them yet. It is the steps we take in the right direction that count. 

2. Don't measure your progress strictly by "how much". Meaning, don't measure by how much money you saved, or how many pounds you lost, but by all the changes you have endured and the growth you see in yourself as you have steadily worked towards your goals.    

3. Remember, some goals take more than one year to complete! Think about the goal you are setting. Is it a two-year goal? Three year? Four year? Setting appropriate goals means understanding what you can actually achieve in a certain time frame. Reaching our goals is supposed to be fun and gratifying, not stressful and overwhelming. 

4. Keep yourself motivated throughout the year. With weight loss, I find it works best to give myself short goal incentives. At the end of every month I would celebrate with something special like a new dress, a small stay-cation, or a new book. 

5. Make more than 1 resolution! Instead of focusing on the resolution you didn't meet, what about all the ones you did, or are in progress? Having more than one resolution gives you more than one opportunity to make it stick. 

Want to know how to make these completely motivational weight loss trackers? It's simple...

DIY: MOTIVATIONAL TRACKERS

Step 1: Find or buy 2 glass jars (Mine are candle holders from the Dollar Tree)

Step 2: Hot glue one of your glass jars/ candle holders onto a glass candlestick holder (also from the Dollar Tree) 

Step 3: Use scrap booking letters to label your two glass jars. For an even easier DIY use stickers to label "pounds lost" and "pounds to go". Further decorate your glass containers however you please! 

Step 4: Find or buy marbles, buttons, glass gem filler, or anything else you can get your hands on to use as counters. Pebbles from the beach will work as well, and they're free...and Voila! 

Step 5: With every pound you lose, you will be able to move a stone from your "pounds to go" pile into your "pounds lost" pile. It is a very rewarding feeling! 

You can use this DIY to track anything! It could be miles you ran during the week, money you saved, or even each resolution you plan to reach this year. Find what inspires you to be better this year, and start moving towards it.

What are you planning to make your New Year's Resolution this year? Share with us through e-mail, facebook, instagram, or in the comment section below!

Like always stay lovely, 

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies Blog

CONTINUE READING

Coloring Outside The Lines Of Beauty With Farah Zulaikha

So often we, especially women, are bombarded with definitions of beauty. We are constantly told who we should look like by magazines, television, and the web. Even science has decided to join this discussion on beauty by dedicating itself to figuring out the exact formula behind sex appeal. With both media and science constantly chattering in my ear trying to tell me what makes someone aesthetically pleasing, meeting Farah Zulaikha was like hitting the reset button- she was exactly what I needed to help me better figure out my own beauty, and what it truly means to be beautiful.

Walking the wintry streets of the Upper East Side, before hailing a cab to CuRious Candy (Cynthia Rowley's flagship building), I kept myself warm with my own excitement- and nerves. I was about to meet the inspiring Farah or, as her admiring followers know her as, Fafa. After my picture was snapped in front of the artful yet playful walkway, I headed into Cynthia's boutique where I was instantaneously made comfortable. Cynthia's people are like the fairy god-mothers of a good time. Within seconds I was gracefully removed from my coat, and my well-manicured fingers were occupied by the stem of a champagne flute. Even more remarkable, was when Farah glided over matching my excitement perfectly by greeting me like a longtime girlfriend.

"You must be Danielle! My publicist told me so much about you! We both love your blog, and she said you were the sweetest thing. I am so happy you're here!"

I was floored to say the least, and extremely humbled by how personable Farah was. She took my hand and pulled me through a crowd of her guests, and we talked about her cause, her dreams, and why she pursued her path in a special interview.

On Being A Fashion Ambassador...
I've always been a girls' girl. When I was younger I would look at magazines and think 'how come no one looks like me?'. I want girls to know that beauty isn't defined by just being one thing. You don't have to just have blond hair and blue eyes to be considered beautiful.

On Her Inspiration And The Launch of Her New Website...
Girls would always e-mail me asking me how I got my hair to be so shiny, or what I do for my skin, and I would tell them 'oh, my mom mixes these home-made remedies in our kitchen and we use it on our hair'. I would make some- I have a background in biochemistry- and send out samples. My followers were like Fafa is this really you e-mailing me?  I would think of course it's really me!

Farah holds up the tinted lip balm in the shade Pink Champagne that everyone invited to the event went home with, and she is all smiles. I told her that I had recently met Maureen Kelly the founder of Tarte cosmetics, whose cosmetics I happened to be wearing, and is also known for her natural cosmetic line.

On  Creating Natural Cosmetics...
Yes, I know Tarte! My lip tint, like Tarte cosmetics, is completely natural and I am really excited about it. From constantly using home remedies, it just felt natural to start to create an all-natural cosmetics. I am really excited about the lip tint because it was a shade designed to look great on every girl, and every skin tone.

As the night continued, Farah personally greeted each guest as they arrived, and we continued our conversation throughout the evening. One of the personality traits that Farah possesses, which I firmly believe is what draws people to her, is her compassion. At one point in the evening I had expressed that it was her philanthropy that I found so profound and beautiful. She replied by grabbing my hand and with a genuine seriousness stated, Yes, I strongly believe that charity is spreading love and beauty. 

Farah is involved in so much, and is bettering the world in so many different ways. I love that Farah is well known not only for her ads and editorials as a model, but also as the face behind her humanitarian efforts. See some of her outstanding photographs below.  

By the end of the night, I felt as if I had known Farah for years. Every guest was touched by her enthusiasm, and her ability to put into action the good she wants to see it the world. Beauty grows and spreads like wild fire through women like Farah, and that is the kind of beauty I wish we saw more of. She is humble, philanthropic, kind, intelligent, and friendly. It is because of all of this that Farah radiates beauty, a beauty that is not just visible to the naked eye, or measured by science, but a beauty that can be felt.

I cannot wait to see what Fafa has in store for her #fafanistas!

For more info, and to stay up to date with everything Farah check out her website!

Follow her on

instagram: @Farahzofficial

facebook: Official Facebook Page

Stay Lovely,

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk & Rubies Blog

------------------------------------------- 
Part of the WSWP: Women Support Women Project

Know someone who is starting a small business and is looking for press? E-mail us your story, and your business may be chosen to have an article written about it [duskandrubies@gmail.com]

Written by: Danielle A. Rufrano
NYS Teacher Certification in English Language Arts
Freelance writer for: yourzenlife.com and getfesty.com
BA in English, 2010

CONTINUE READING

Winter Outfit Inspiration: Penguin Parade

Winter Outfit Inspiration: Penguin Parade by duskandrubies featuring Pier 1 Imports

Brave Soul christmas sweater
$37 - newlook.com

DVb Victoria Beckham blue jeans
boutique1.com

Timberland shoes
zappos.com

Milli Millu leather handbag
$725 - profilefashion.com

Chan Luu bracelet
bloomingdales.com

Kate spade jewelry
bloomingdales.com

Silver earrings
boticca.com

Betmar vintage hat
hats.com

Henri Bendel nail polish
henribendel.com

Pier 1 Imports drinkware
pier1.com

CONTINUE READING

The Health Issue: Slow & Steady Wins The Race

I know you have probably heard of the idiom, "slow and steady wins the race", and have probably read the fable that the well known cliche is from. But if not then I'll refresh your memory. It is a story by Aesop titled "The Tortoise And The Hare", and the story involves a turtle who has to race a terribly fast rabbit. Well, my ability to lose weight is one of the turtle lately, and I'm okay with that because guess what? I don't know if you remember but the turtle wins the race.

June 8th marked three months of eating healthfully for me. I have been eating better (eating 3 meals a day and 2-3 healthful snacks instead of my daily 2 pints of ben & jerry's) I have been losing weight the hard way, the right way, and damn I am proud of myself for sticking with it. In three months I have lost 12 lbs.

I could have easily done a cleanse, or only ate 2 meals, or gone vegan, or any one of the plethora of fad diets that are out there, but I didn't. I did it the old fashioned way, because I am tired of losing weight and then gaining it back. I want it off, and I want it off for good!

I'm sure there are those of you who feel the same way. For me, I just can't not have a burger if I want a burger. I can't not have feta cheese if I want feta cheese. And, ohhh, if I want peanut butter, and only peanut butter, then I will eat it off the spoon!

So what does one do when they want to lose weight but not actually go on a diet? Well I knew I didn't want to restrict myself from all types of foods. I knew I wanted to still be able to go out to a restuarant an order a meal, and not feel guilty about it.

I mean go out to eat with a group of women and you will see how crazy we are!

There is the girl who: claims she hasn't eaten anything all day, but really has eaten part of a pop-tart, two chicken nuggets, a bite of someone else's fries, and a diet coke, but thinks its cool to say she hasn't eaten anything.

Then there is the girl who:  

• can't eat carbs
• can't eat meat
• can only eat meat
• can only eat carbs
• can only eat like a caveman
• can only eat gluten free, although she herself is not allergic to gluten.
• can't go over her points
• is using a calculator under the table to count her calories
• won't have dessert but five long island ice-teas are okay.
• will only use artificial sweeteners, but will order dessert.
• lost 7 lbs on a three day cleanse.
• drinks water all day...and only water.
• skips meals.
• eats only dessert and no real food (that used to be me).

What I am trying to say here is that a lot of us (and I am including myself in this) are crazy, straight up crazy, and we will do anything to look like what we think is beautiful, instead of accepting ourselves at the moment, and taking into account that sometimes weight loss is s-l-o-w.

Joy always looks good on you whether you've gained a little or lost a lot.

So although my weight loss has been slow it has also been steady. 12 pounds in three months averages down to a healthy loss of one pound per week. Let me tell you it wasn't always smooth sailing. But, with the understanding and acceptance that as long as I stick with it the weight I wanted to shed would eventually have to come off I have been doing great!

Of course there are those few days when you are craving something not so healthy like: salty snack mix, chocolate covered graham crackers, or pretzels with Marie's Creamy Italian Garlic Dressing, and it is okay to give into a craving once in a while. But if you're eating well chances are you won't crave that stuff that often.

So remember that when you lose weight the right way it is usually slow and steady, and that it's not really a race at all, but rather a way for you to live a longer, better, more joyful life. I mean who doesn't want to be able to enjoy their piece of finish line pie once in a while, and who doesn't want to be able to order chicken parmesan for dinner, and who doesn't want to be able to nourish their bodies? I most certainly do, and I hope you do as well!

Stay Lovely and Healthy!

D.R

Editor and Curator of

Dusk  & Rubies
                                                       

CONTINUE READING

The Health Issue: 5 Steps To Better Our Self Image... (Because, we all could use a little help sometimes)

If you haven't watched this video, a part of Dove's real beauty campaign, then you must click on the video below, pronto. It is blowing up on the Internet right now, and all over social media mediums. I will be honest it brought tears to my eyes. It is poignantly accurate at pointing out how most people see themselves differently than others. Take a look.

So what can we do about this? All of the women in the video were beautiful, yet they all seemed to see themselves as corroded, run down, doppelgangers, of their true selves. One woman states, "my mom told me I have a big chin". Showing that this self-esteem issue can be started by not only "mean girls", but our own loved ones. During college I used to have a part time job at Pier 1, and my manager used to tell us this about marketing and customer service. He used to state that someone can have a wonderful experience shopping at the store, and maybe they'll tell one person, maybe it won't make that much of an impression at all. But if they have a terrible time, they will tell everyone. I feel this applies to our self-esteem as well. We can be told that we are beautiful by our parents, close friends, significant others and for some reason what they say, when it has to do with our beauty, doesn't mean anything. A compliment from them, like good service at any store, is expected. But, if one person says one negative thing about how we look, or we take it as a negative, we never forget it. We seem to place importance on that one negative remark, than the compliments we receive from the people who love us. This seems incredibly backwards to me; don't you think?

I tried to think about what I do when I am thinking negatively about myself, or I am picking myself apart in front of the mirror, so that I could share these tools with you. Dusk & Rubies is about helping women find success in their life no matter how minuscule or important the task is. I finally came up with my 5 steps to better my outlook, and they may sound ridiculous, and you may scoff reading them, but keep reading, and try it. You may be surprised at how powerful these steps can be.

Step 1: Fight the demon in the mirror. We all do this. We look into the mirror, and instead of feasting our eyes on our whole delicious selves we pick at that one, two, maybe three things that really bother us. Our eyes zero in on our insecurities and we have no peripheral vision for anything else. Once, while in the dressing room I heard a girl sigh and ask out loud, "Do I really have all this cellulite?". I smiled, because I was thinking the same thing. We both happened to walk out at the same time, and she was undeniably, beautifully thin.  It reminds me of the scene in Mean Girls where "the plastics" find even there cuticles imperfect. When I meet a woman who doesn't rip herself apart when looking in the mirror, and instead nods her head in approval I want to shake her hand because that's truly amazing.

My fix:  On a sticky note write the words "I accept myself unconditionally right now!" and stick it on a mirror that you see everyday. Twice a day, look yourself into your bright shining eyes and tell yourself this. I know what you're thinking, probably what I was thinking when I first heard of this technique from the documentary "Hungry For Change". I thought: I can't tell myself that; you have got to be kidding me; no way, no how, that won't help. One look at my derriere and my mind will revoke that statement and say NO YOU DON"T. But guess what? That's okay, let all those negative voices out. Let them out. Let them speak their peace, and then repeat what is on the sticky note again. The funny thing that will happen over time is that after a while you'll start to believe it. It is called positive self talk, and you're body can hear it, and eventually you'll believe it too. What do you have to lose?

Step 2: Stop weighing your worth by what you look like, or who you attract. Weigh your worth by who you are, and what you do. I cannot tell you how many of my friends weigh their self worth by how many men they attract, or who they don't attract. Or they think that the number on the scale, or their pant size is some insight into how much they are worth. No, no, and no.

My fix: I have always weighed my self-worth on who I am, and how I act. Everyone should do this, and this is how. Think about all your wonderful qualities. Think about what you do well, and create a list. It can be a long list; it can be two bullets long. Make a list. You don't even have to write it down. All you have to do is know it without a doubt. For me, I place a lot of my worth in the fact that I find myself intelligent, I find myself to be a loyal, and good-hearted friend, sister, daughter, cousin, person, and I know I have the ability to talk to anyone about anything. I place my worth in how I try my best to do right by others, to be fair to others, and to give everyone a chance to show me who they are, and accept them, and their beliefs, even if they are different than my own.

Think about what your self worth is made of, and see if they are made up of things that are ephemeral or adversely effect you like your: weight, sex appeal, or attractiveness, and replace those things with things that can stand the test of time.

Step 3: Don't surround yourself with negativity; change it. Compliment your friends, and compliment yourself. If we learn to compliment others, then we can better learn to compliment ourselves.

My fix: Girls love compliments. (As long as they're sincere). Challenge yourself to compliment five people during the day, and for every compliment you give to someone else think about one for yourself. Maybe you like the red pants you've incorporated into your outfit that day, maybe you spent extra time on your hair that morning, or maybe you were a superstar at work that day. I call it give five compliments, get five compliments. It is very possible that someone else may return the compliment too! Imagine that.

Step 4: Don't take anyone too seriously. There are going to be people out there who just don't like you. It may be the way you dress, it may be the way you walk, or talk. It may be because they're jealous, it may be because there is just something about you that peeves them. Repeat after me...who cares! That's right, I said it, who cares.

My fix: Don't even worry about there reasons as to why they feel the need to try to bring you down.  Don't respond. Don't  even give that person the time of day. Instead just keep smiling. There is no better way to beat the person who is trying to bring you down then by keeping a smile on your face.  A smile is contagious, people gravitate towards happy people. Why? Because people think that somehow that persons happiness will rub off on them. So remember the best weapon for "the haters" is a smile. Lock, load, and show those pearly whites.

Step 5: Remember you are your worst critic. We have to remind ourselves that half the things we think are wrong with us no one else notices!

My fix: I read this on twitter and I thought it was brilliant:

"It doesn't make sense to call ourselves ugly, because we don't really see ourselves. We don't watch ourselves sleeping in bed, curled up and silent with chests rising and falling with our own rhythm. We don't see ourselves reading a book, eyes fluttering and glowing. You don't see yourself looking at someone with love and care inside your heart. There's no mirror in your way when you're laughing and smiling and happiness is leaking out of you. You would know exactly how bright and beautiful you are if you saw yourself in the moments when you are truly yourself."

Don't forget you ARE lovely,
D.R
Editor, and Curator

CONTINUE READING