It is very possible and relatively easy to grow your favourite herbs, some ornamentals and vegetables for your use and enjoyment in water. This is known as hydroponic gardening.

Growing herbs in water does not in any way reduce the flavour.

These can be grown on the kitchen counter or window sill, for example, using glass or even plastic bottles.

Coloured bottles such as amber or green coloured ones are best suited as roots like to grow away from light and the plants will therefore grow better if the roots are kept in the dark.

Reduced light also repels the growth of algae on the root surface and also on the walls of the containers.

Clear bottles can be used but with paper wrapped around them to reduce the light and encourage greater root growth.

Narrow mouthed containers are better than those with wide mouths because they offer some support for the cuttings.

However, the mouths should not be too tight fitting around the cuttings as the roots need to breathe and there should be free movement of air into the bottles.

What type of water should be used? Tap water may be used. However, it must be left to “air” overnight in a wide mouthed container. Of course, rain water and spring water are very suitable. To this water add a water soluble fertiliser in the amount of one quarter the manufacturer’s recommendation and fill your bottles.

Planting from cuttings is easier to get started. Cut the stem about six inches from the growing tips of your favourite herb or ornamental and place these cuttings in the bottles you have prepared.

The roots should be kept away from light, but the plants need light to grow, so choose where you place your plant with this in mind. Cuttings may also be obtained from herbs bought in the market or supermarket. To do this, wash the plant, cut off the roots and trim any lower leaves.

No leaves must touch the water as they will rot and reduce the amount of oxygen in the water.

Change the water/fertiliser solution about once a week to once a month and add an appropriate household insecticide to prevent mosquito eggs from hatching.

Herbs which can be grown effectively in water are Spanish thyme, peppermint, spearmint, basil, tarragon and rosemary. Chive may also be grown in water; clean the roots of cuttings of all soil and place in water. Of these, rosemary will take longer to take root as the stems are woodier so be patient.

Growing herbs in this way is very convenient as they are within easy reach when cooking.

Some ornamentals which can be grown in water are ivy, philodendron, dracaena, spider plant, peace lily, dieffenbachia, among others.

Care must be taken when handling dieffenbachia as its sap is caustic and can burn or irritate the skin.

Happy Gardening! For further information contact the Eastern Horticultural Club at 357-5033, 764-9125 or 720-2698 or easternhorticultural@hotmail.

com The club meets on the first Saturday of every month (except public holidays) at 3 pm at the Moreton Hall, Aramalaya Presbyterian Church, Cochrane St, Tunapuna.

Founded by the M.O.R.E. Organisation, a non-profit organisation established in TT with the aim of increasing awareness of societal ills in an effort to find solutions to effect change, the Miss Teen Awareness pageant seeks to empower young women between the ages of 14 and 19 years old as instruments and ambassadors for such change.

The pageant’s mission reads, “To make a meaningful contribution to the empowerment of women,” a mission that Samantha exudes. She shares that her belief in herself is what has made all her strides possible.

The young titleholder acknowledges there are several areas of societal justice that need attention in TT, saying, “Some of these issues that I aim to change and bring awareness to … are racism, sexism, [domestic and child] abuse, gender inequality and [LGBTQ inequality].”

Samantha is no stranger to the experiences – and sometimes-unwarranted backlash – of living in a marginalised community. She speaks of the challenges of representing Enterprise, a community that continues to face negative attention given widespread media coverage of the community’s criminal activities and elements, with some potential personal pageant sponsors voicing their concern that she could’ve represent more affluent areas in the borough.

After becoming a delegate of the Miss Teen Awareness Pageant, she was given the choice of selecting another area to represent so that she would not have to bear the “shame” of carrying the title of Miss Enterprise, “but I saw this as an opportunity to prove to others that Enterprise is not a bad area and there’s good people who are willing to make positive changes in society,” she says firmly.

Before competing in the pageant, she organised a candlelight peace march through Enterprise “with the aim of spreading peace, love, happiness, unity, and also raising the topic of domestic abuse.”

Videos and photos of the march appeared online and Samantha remembers droves of citizens from around the country coming together to make the walk a success, including persons from Tobago.

Her analogy for marginalised communities is: Every bunch has spoilt grapes. “But do we throw the entire bunch away? No,” she says adamantly of the need for members of the citizenry to not throw such communities at the wayside and label them lost causes. “Why is it that we condemn entire communities because of a few distracted minds?”

She does not dismiss the levels of crime in her community but highlights that on the flip side, there are community members that pray everyday for an end to such occurrences.

To others from communities such as hers, Samantha has only words of encouragement. She understands the struggle of being blacklisted because of something as anomalous as an address and believes the best battle against such ignorance is to be the change you want to see in society, starting at home and in communities.

“Don’t accept the stain that’s been placed on you because you’re from Enterprise or [other communities]. Prove to the misinformed speakers that you are not who they class you start helping to eliminate the problems that your community faces and make it so great that they no longer have anything negative to say,” is her advice.

She says these journeys may start alone but do not have to continue in such a way; she calls on the youth of such blacklisted communities to ask relatives, neighbours, or friends to join in upholding and uplifting the good.

As for the activism, she feels passionate about, she speaks of gender equality, an end to sexism, and equal rights for all citizens, including the queer community. She says many would agree with the statement “we all deserve equal rights regardless of our age or gender” but, contradictorily, when the question of sexuality is introduced opinions change. She believes much of this is related to religious views that deem homosexuality a “sin”.

“Cheating is considered a sin yet when a man sleeps outside of his marriage his friends cheer him on and society calls it a part of life,” she says of the glaring double standards that society perpetuates.

“Sometimes people get so caught up on giving their opinions on others that they forget that they’re responsible for their own actions.” She says we all have the freedom to choose and that our choices and compassion are what truly defines us. “I’ve had my own personal struggles that I’ve overcome,” Samantha divulges.

Keeping the future she dreams about and her ultimate goals in mind constantly motivates her to move forward no matter the obstacle. Her dreams of pursuing Law in England after secondary school were dashed after her parents faced some challenging times. She also speaks of the many opportunities she turned down because she lacked the support of her mother who saw such opportunities as “irrelevant”.

She always dreamt of modeling and entering pageants as a way of bringing awareness and change to key pockets of society. “Some of my family members just didn’t believe that I was capable of accomplishing the things that I wanted,” she elaborates on the lack of support she felt.

“To women that have faced these kinds of doubts and questions from persons close to them, I urge you to not give up on your dreams; the only person that needs to believe in you is yourself,” she offers to her sisters who may be in similar circumstances. She continues that the support you give yourself is irreplaceable and says the key is taking the first – but sometimes hardest – step toward goals and that it’s never too late to live life on your terms.

She knows her terms already. She aspires to become a model, an actress, an entrepreneur, and a lawyer (to name a few). She hopes to live a full life so that she will be remembered for inspiring change in the world and inspiring others to follow their dreams, beyond circumstance and struggle.

“It matters not where you come from but the decisions you make to get to where you want to be,” she echoes. “Always remember that if you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make the change.”

To see what Samantha has been up to, you can search for her Miss Teen Awareness Facebook page, “Miss Teen Awareness 2016 – Samantha Rampersad.”

She describes the launch at Fiesta Plaza as a highlight of her life given the fact that the album is her first solo venture. Creating the album also required sacrifice as it called on her to be away from her daughter for short stints.

“I attacked [Heart be Light] with every fibre in my body,” she proudly states of the album which she hopes will stand the test of time and live amongst some of the local and regional greats.

But the soft croons on first single “Call me baby” should not fool you; Tricia Lee’s foray into singing and performing started in the roots of soca music.

“I actually got my start on Denyse Plummer’s stage,” she says of her entrance to what has proven to be a long and successful career. “She [Denyse] would invite people from the crowd at her shows, if they thought they could sing, to come and do just that.” It was during her performance on Plummer’s stage that she was heard by Johnny Soong, who passed along the word to a band that was auditioning for a frontline singer at the time.

“The rest was a fantastic start to my career,” Tricia Lee says fondly of making waves with the band, Second Imij on both the local and international music scene. “We brought a new, exciting twang to Soca music and it was dubbed Hip Hop Soca at the time.”

She says the band’s youthful members were all shaped on the stage as their careers unfolded. “I think what we were feeling onstage was infectious and we amassed a huge dedicated following,” she says, adding that their fun was guided and disciplined. It was during this time she was dubbed “the Soca Diva”.

As her time with the band came to a close, she explored new opportunities and ways of expanding her talents. She tried live theatre with Wayne Berkeley, starred in local films, presented on local television, and acted in local classic “Westwood Park”.

She left Trinidad with hopes of auditioning for stage plays in London’s West End, where she recorded a song with band Way Out West. The song reached Number 1 on the UK Billboard Dance Charts, charting in other European countries as well, and eventually mainstreamed its way into the UK Top 40.

“Suffice to say, this was the highlight of my career. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops.” She spent the next two years touring around the globe, experiencing what she describes as “true success”: the marriage of her passion for singing with a career as an international performer – true happiness.

“Well, after the high comes a knock occasionally and I got mine literally when crossing a street in Bristol; knocked down by a car which brought me back to Trinidad,” she recalls of the temporary crash her life took. It was while waiting for her body to heal that she married her husband, which led to the birth of her daughter, Chloe. During this time, her career was also put on pause while she made the decision to devote herself to her family.

But even as a full-time mum, she revisited songwriting, which she says has been a part of her fabric since her teenage years. Her songwriting and art is what “kept her sane”, for as much as she acknowledges her want to be present at home with Chloe, “my creative side needed quenching as well.”

To this day, she continues to write songs that go on to be signed to independent and heavy-hitter labels alike, and muses that she found it miraculous that she became a successful songwriter, “quite by the way”. “Writing is one of my truest joys; it’s my most comfortable space.”

She reflects that Heart be Light is the sincerest part of her that she is excited to share with everyone at such a special time of year, which also happens to be one of her favourite times. “[Christmas] is such an expression of joy and harmony and love, a time for forgiveness and letting go, for letting the Christmas spirit in and doing random acts of kindness,” she explains her love for the season.

The album “was living comfortably on a quiet shelf in the back of my mind. It was awoken when I passed into Jason Dasent’s studio and we got to talking about it.”

She says making the album was not a walk in the park but it was definitely worth the many nuances and challenges.

While most of her professional career was handled by record labels, Heart be Light required Tricia Lee’s attention at every turn – something she credits to her growth as an artist.

“I was a pampered artist on my tours and even with my musical projects. On this project, I learnt about and handled every tiny detail.” She enjoyed the learning curve but also notes the exhaustion that comes with such work and attention. Putting her all into her first solo album does come with its fair share of emotions and Tricia Lee is not immune. She admits to bursting into tears upon hearing her songs on rotation in local malls (“Talk about validation for your work,” she says breathlessly).

As for the day-to-day life of a seasoned professional (she and her family reside in the US), she says her key is balancing her passion for creating her songs and artwork and being a dedicated and focused mother as well as supportive and present wife. She has begun developing her entrepreneurial side – another unlocked talent – by making her art into a thriving business.

She says the thrill of getting everything on her list done is what drives her to succeed. She also describes herself as sensitive to her surroundings as she is an observer of the world and the people in it and credits this as one of her greatest inspirations. “I feel things very deeply,” she shares, “it could be as simple as a droplet on a hibiscus leaf and I’m off running with an idea.”

Lastly, she reflects on the secret to her success, which she says has never been her looks or her charm, but her talent. “Let your voice be your art form,” she advises artistes, old and new alike. “It’s the only way you can trust the accolades which further inspires you to create.” Her talent has taken her far and continues to blossom, something she believes requires trust in self.

“Trust your voice within, never go after the glamour; go after the opportunity for creativity. And never turn your back on your passion, no matter how many times you get the door slammed in your face.”

Tricia

This is the response given by someone who is frustrated about not being able to achieve a goal due to lack of money. When asked how much money is needed, she was unable to quantify.

Many times, people in this situation have a selfimposed money mind block. They tend to focus on the lack of money and not on the goal and possibilities. Can you relate? To move forward with your financial goals, it is necessary to know the accurate cost of your goal and examine other available options for purchase.

When you have all the facts, then write down the details and determine how much money you need to put aside, using a realistic time frame.

Be prepared, as you may need to change some lifestyle habits and make sacrifices. Waiting on the right time could be your way of not addressing the problem due to fear. If you are in a similar situation, then make that commitment to release any doubts or negative thoughts and take action towards achieving your goal.

With respect to a desire to change her job, due to being unhappy and having no opportunity for growth, this client’s justification was: I have found that in situations such as this, procrastination is a key factor. There is the uncertainty of what’s ahead, such as the pursuit of higher education, the fear of failure and job security.

Unfortunately, there are people who are petrified with change and would keep promising to make that big move but remain stuck. Do you fall in this category? If you do, the first step is to change your mind set.

Build your self- confidence by unearthing your hidden skills and talents. Carve out some quiet time to reflect and write down all your positive attributes. Visualize yourself in that new position. Keep that vision going and add daily affirmations for reinforcement. Unless you see yourself in a positive light, worthy of a new job you, would remain stuck in the old.

Harboring negative thoughts and giving life to them through your words can also hold you back from moving ahead. Have you ever experienced a situation where you constantly expressed fears resulting in bad visions and it actually happened? However, the opposite can also materialize when you think positive thoughts and visualize a positive outcome. What you send out to the universe is generally what you would receive.

Be also mindful of gossip and the negative people around. Many times in conversations, I would hear the remark made about how lucky someone is because of what they acquired or where they are in life. These remarks normally give a negative connotation that the person is lucky because they have attained something that they didn’t work hard towards or not deserving of.

These comments are generally based on assumptions or the opinion of the news bearer and not on facts. Jealously and the lack of confidence in their own abilities can cause people to refer to success as luck.

Be passionate about what you want, believe it, see yourself in the position you want and enjoying the life you dream of. To keep focus, start a journal and write out your feelings and the plans you have for you. Reward yourself along the way to avoid feeling frustrated or stuck. All the best on your life journey, make it a happy and fulfilling one.

Jennifer Gibbons-Joseph is a Certified Life Empowerment and Financial Coach of Conec Professional Life Coaching Services Ltd. You can contact her by emailing coneccoach@gmail.com or phone 766-2148/271-5020 and she’ll be happy to help you plan for a successful future

Although it was not my experience I could only imagine how painful it must have been for her.

Through her long and trying time, many friends and family deserted her but those of us that remained are waiting to celebrate when her children are finally returned.

The US election stirred similar sentiments in me. No I didn’t bawl, I was numb. To be honest I had already started drafting an article about how wonderful it was that the United States had a female president and how we in the Caribbean were not late to the party.

I had done my research and was ready to remind Trinidad and Tobago about Dame Eugenia Charles and Portia Simpson Miller as well as our own Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Well that went out the window. Like the rest of the world, Hillary’s loss came as a shock. Then the sense of palpable fear from minorities that America would slip into Jim Crow 2.0 began to emerge. I read a lot and while reading the ‘expert’ analyses of the election, peppered throughout the websites were the reports of incidents of racism, with Muslims, Sikhs, Hispanic/ Asian/African Americans being physically assaulted, or subject to racist actions.

I thought about my friend and the fact that sometimes the pain of those around us needs to be our pain too.

Sometimes rather than turn a blind eye to injustice we need to support those that fight, we need to console, encourage, and sometimes cry along with them too.

I don’t know what a Donald Trump presidency will look like and that is not the point of this article. My point is if my neighbour is scared, what can I do to make it better? That is one of the duties of being a member of a community. Without a willingness to look out for someone other than a friend or family member, we are not a community but just people living alongside each other. I have yet to come across a religious doctrine that does not encourage us to love each other. Caring about each other is the best way to express that divinely ordered love.

You know what the opposite of love is? Nope, it’s not hate, it’s indifference. Indifference to the plight of those that are scared, suffering and in need around us. Unfortunately, it seems it is difficult for us to have positive sentiments towards people that are different from us. If they don’t look like, think like, sound like or are just like us, we relegate them to the other and they become ‘those people’.

Unlike many I really dislike being surrounded by people exactly like me, same ethnicity, same educational and socio-economic background. What on Earth am I supposed to discuss with them? Are we supposed to compare the slightly different versions of our almost identical lives? Yawn. How dull. Rather, I choose to surround myself with a very diverse group, and associate with persons from around the world, from different faiths, different sexual orientations, with varying levels of education and of all different ages. I want to discuss world affairs, international relations, what things were like in the old days, other ethnic groups’ traditions and customs, comparative religion and the like. I can learn from the people around me and share what I know too.

Anyone that has been to New York knows the city is a microcosm of the world, in fact you can experience the entire world in just a few blocks. There are people from every country in the world, no matter how obscure, right there. I can have a world class bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup then five minutes later eat a wicked curried goat. Learning to live together and to co-exist with each other is a very enriching experience.

So when your neighbour is living in terror, it is a test of your humanity. What are you going to do? Will you cry with her and console her, protect her and be an ally or will you turn a blind eye and busy yourself with your own life? While this seems to be true of the United States right now it is just as relevant a question to each of us. If you have a neighbour who is a victim of domestic violence are you going to pretend you don’t know or are you going to extend compassion and aid to the person. Yes, it will cost you something, it is not easy to be there for someone during the hard times, it takes a lot out of you. I can’t tell you the nights I sacrificed precious sleep to console my friend over the phone, or just to talk with her like if things were normal just to give her a mental break from the stress.

I can tell you, though, the victory of my friend was like my own. I cried from pure relief, knowing what she, no, we had endured together. Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel was cathartic to me. The way things are these days it makes me doubt the things I was taught and question the values I learnt at my grandmother’s knee. I was relieved that my beliefs were right, in the end you know what? In the long run, bullies still loose, truth still triumphs over dishonesty, hard work and diligence still bring results and vindication is the sweetest thing you will experience in this life. This is true no matter who you are and no matter where you live.

So, to those of us with family or friends living in the USA who are traumatised by the results of the recent election or those of us with friends, relatives, coworkers, or acquaintances who are enduring terrible circumstances, let us sacrifice self and offer support.

What can you do to help? Can you offer shelter, money, advice or emotional support? Will you help dry their tears and hold their hands and help them stand again so they can fight another day? Can you be the difference between them giving up or enduring long enough to overcome their circumstances? Now that I’ve stopped crying in relief for my friend I can tell you, those of us that continued to support her feel there is nothing we can’t achieve. It was long and hard being there for her but I’m glad I did it. There are still hurdles to overcome but after what we’ve all been through, it doesn’t seem impossible anymore.

So, M, as long as you need me I’ll be there with a hand to help in whatever way I can. I look forward to doing the impossible, battling more giants and celebrating success with you and I promise next time I wouldn’t bawl so much..

There’s something about being away from school and work on this beautiful little island, when you frequent the beach and acquire a sun-kissed glow. Or around Christmas time, you might sport a candlelit glow, which looks lovely under the Christmas tree lights.

So, in the spirit of the coming season, let’s learn how to highlight our best features, and master our “lit from within” glow. I think some people can forget that highlighting doesn’t mean using only shimmery products, so they shy away from it, for fear of it aging them or making them appear oily.

To highlight is to draw special attention to something. It can be either bright, reflective or simply defined. There are a few different ways that you can highlight your face.

Today, we will be talking about using both shimmer and matte types of makeup, as well as liquid and powder luminizers. You can combine these options for a more dramatic effect. Feel free to mix and match, and see what you like. That’s the beauty of makeup; if you don’t like something, simply wash it off.

Liquid Highlight A product such as Josie Maran’s Argan Enlightenment Illuminizer can be used to get your glow going. You can wear it under your makeup as a moisturizer or mix it into your liquid makeup to create a subtle, luminous, highlighted finish.

Concealer Apply a concealer two to three shades lighter than your foundation through the centre of your face. That is, the centre of your forehead, down the bridge of your nose, under your eyes and on the chin. Using either a brush or sponge, pat to blend the concealer into your foundation.

This trick adds brightness and a natural highlight to your face without sparkle. This is excellent if your skin is oily, and you find that shimmery highlighters can sometimes make you look greasy. It can be used in conjunction with contouring for a more slimming, defined and dramatic effect.

Matte Powder You can “bake” your makeup with a loose translucent powder. Use a shade slightly lighter than your skin tone to highlight and brighten your complexion, while simultaneously setting your makeup in place.

This technique is best done by applying a heavy amount of loose powder with a sponge to the areas of your face that you want to highlight. Areas such as the centre of the forehead, down the bridge of the nose, under the eyes and onto the cheekbones, above the lip, on the nasolabial folds (or smile lines), on the centre of the chin and under the hollows of the cheekbones.

Leave the loose powder on your face for about ten minutes, then dust the excess away with a large, fluffy face brush. This technique is especially great for those with oily skin. The heat from your face works with the powder to “bake” and set your makeup, leaving you with a flawless, poreless, creaseless finish. I don’t, however, recommend using this technique during the day, as it can look quite unnatural in daylight. If you find that it makes your skin look dry, you can mist your face with a finishing spray such as Urban Decay’s All Nighter Setting Spray, which should soften the overly powdered, cakey look.

If baking seems too daunting for your liking, there’s a simpler option. After your foundation and concealer are on and set, you can highlight your face using a tapered fluffy brush to dust a powder a few shades lighter than your skin to whatever areas you want to highlight.

A product such as Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit will be a great choice, since you have three highlight shades, and three contour shades to choose from. Dust a little matte highlight powder underneath the hollows of your cheekbones. This is called reversed contouring, since you’re not using an actual contour shade. You’re only highlighting, but this gives your face a more structured, defined appearance.

Shimmer Powder The final option is using a traditional shimmering highlight powder. An affordable highlight powder would be ELF’s Studio Baked Highlighter, and a more luxurious option could be Hourglass Strobe Lighting powders which can be used wet or dry depending on how intense you want the finish to be. Simply apply your highlight powder to the areas of your face that you want to glow.

I like to apply it to the cheekbones, lightly on the brow bone, down the nose, on the inner corners of the eyes, on the cupid’s bow, and with whatever is left on the brush, I sweep over the temples, chin and neck. If your shoulders and d?colletage are showing, be sure to bring your shimmering highlight to these areas, as it can look quite silly to have such a luminous face and a matte body.

Contrary to the misguided beliefs of some, makeup is not, or rather should not, be used as a mask for women to hide behind. It is instead a tool used to enhance a women’s confidence by reflecting her personality, and on the most important day of her life the right look should accomplish just that. At the end of the day, confidence will be her biggest tool but a little lipstick won’t hurt either.

Makeup artist Jodi Valentine offers a few useful tips that can assist any bride in achieving t he look that she wants for her big day.

Flawless wedding glam is not entirely dependent on makeup. A proper pre-wedding skin care regimen is just as essential, and this should start in the months leading up to the big day. Jodi suggests that preparations begin several months in advance.

“The bride should pay close attention to drinking lots of water and sticking to a skin care regimen that suits her skin type.” Every woman’s skin type will vary, so find a skin care line that works best for you. A proper skin care routine must include a suitable cleanser and toner that is gentle on your skin to remove the excess build up of dirt accumulated on the skin during the day, as well as moisturiser for rehydration. Keeping your body hydrated from the inside out is the best way to ensure healthy, makeup friendly skin for the big day.

Jodi also suggests “paying close attention to the way your skin behaves,” with regards to certain foods in these months leading up to the wedding.

“Different people have different triggers that would affect their skin. Some persons break out if they consume too much sugar, oils or pepper,” she says, adding that “the trick is knowing how your skin reacts to particular foods,” and avoiding anything that may lead to breakouts. She also recommends using a moisturising mask the night before the wedding as well as exfoliating the lips to ensure maximum hydration for the following day.

There will of course be dozens of flashing lights in your face for the entire day, from the hired photographer to your favorite uncle who’s never quite sure how to operate the camera on his iPad. This will of course have an effect on your photos and so you should prepare your face for the harshness of all of that extra light.

Jodi says that “the largest problem with the lights of a camera is flashback. This can be prevented by avoiding silica based HD powders,” – the white powder, also known as setting powder, that is usually used to set liquid and cream foundations. It is a fantastic tool for creating a flawless finish, but light tends to reflect quite harshly off white surfaces. Although the powder blends into your makeup, it still leaves a thin white powdery layer of residue on the skin that is only apparent when in direct contact with harsh camera lights. Jodi recommends taking a few test photos with and without flash during the make up process to “ensure the look translates well in photos”.

In terms of choosing the right colors for your photos, Jodi suggests “a neutral but glamorous look. Twenty years down the road the bride would still look timeless.” But remember, in the words of fashion icon and makeup enthusiast Coco Chanel, “the best colour in the whole world is the one that looks good on you”.

One of the biggest trends at the moment is contouring. While Jodi notes that she has noticed a decline in heavy cheek and nose contouring, social media is still swarming with budding makeup artists demonstrating the many ways to accentuate the natural curves of your face. These looks are, for the average Jane, a bit challenging to duplicate (believe me, I’ve tried). So if this is the look that you are going for, it is probably best to leave it to the pros. If you are looking for a more refined look, then hiring a professional is always the better call.

However, in the given economic climate, a bride may be forced to cut costs when planning her wedding. But depending on the look that you are going for, doing your own make up does not have to be a total disaster.

“Many people might disagree,” says Jodi fervently. “But at the end of the day marriage is about your relationship with your special person and your journey together. All the material things of a wedding are beautiful and who doesn’t want the best? But too often people only think about the wedding and not the marriage.” So, remember that however you decide to do your makeup on your wedding day, or any other day for that matter, ensure that it captures the truest version of yourself. It is the only way to be flawless.

It’s pretty easy to identify the items we don’t “need” to survive if we’re to ride out these hard times, but putting it into practice may be a little harder for some of us ladies who’ve come to rely on certain beauty routines. No matter how naturally blessed you may be with good looks, staying beautiful ain’t cheap! Can I get an Amen?!

So, while weekly salon/spa trips are no longer economical to some, that doesn’t mean your beauty game needs to die alongside your dream of winning the lotto (yet).

This week the Girlfriends share some tried and tested beauty and health remedies with a couple household remedies thrown in that not only works wonders, but can also be made from regular, everyday items that most of us already have at home.

Staci: My favourite party trick is using Club Soda to remove a stain. It’s really easy too. As soon as the stain happens, grab some club soda and a clean cloth or tissue. Dab generously and voila! The first time I tried it was after an encounter with red wine and a crisp white shirt. Miracle it came out so quickly, with not a trace of red wine anywhere. Like Jesus and the wedding kinda red wine miracle. I also swear by toothpaste on an oozy zit too, dries that bastard right up overnight.

Lis: Toothpaste cleans silver as well.

Kimba: To cure fever: soft candle/grated nutmeg and Bay Rum. Light the mixture on fire till soft candle melts to a liquid. Let it cool, then rub over entire body, go to bed under a blanket and in no time the fever breaks.

Martie: Nothing cleans windows and mirrors like newspaper.

Staci: For real Martie, that just requires a little more elbow grease though.

Martie: Once you clean the glass and it’s still a bit wet, not much elbow grease required, don’t wait til it starts to dry.

Staci: I love this one as it tastes so good… honey and lime soothes a sore throat.

Lis: Vinegar in the final rinse softens clothes.

Staci: Serious? What about the smell? Any?

Lis: No smell… white vinegar and not too much… use just like fabric softener.

Staci: Nobody believes me with this one but it works every time for me, a teaspoon of brown sugar gets rid of hiccups. Every. Single. Time.

Lis: Olive oil and salt rubbed on scratches on wooden furniture and the scratch disappears… tried and tested… I was amazed.

Ronz: I grew up hearing if you have gas or, “wind” on your stomach then drinking water with bitters will break it up and get rid of it. You have to put more than just a couple drops but it works.

Martie: Oh, yes the bitters. Cure for lots of ailments, which was its original purpose anyway!

Tamz: My granny use to tell me use Vicks. In fact, everything was Vicks! You hungry? Smell Vicks. Headache? Vicks. Pimple? Vicks. Knee pain? Vicks. Yuh want long hair? Vicks. Need your nails to grow? Vicks.

Martie: My dad used to say Tooze not Vicks. Anything wrong with yuh, go in the toilet. Headache? Tooze. Bellyache? Tooze. Gas pain? Tooze. Everything for him ‘twas to sit on the toilet…worked most times anyway.

Rors: Throw vinegar over the dishes in your dishwasher to stop the white residue or your silver from getting dull. A glass of water, with 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of honey, first thing every morning. Skin glows, you cough up impurities, and it keeps your tummy flat. One week you’ll see the difference. I do it every day.

Staci: Omg stealing that one

Elle: I use to do the apple cider vinegar (ACV) as well. Swear by it. I add lemon and cinnamon sometimes, in some warm water.

Kimba: ACV is life! As a toner, as a hair rinse, for hyperpigmentation, fading marks on skin etc. I also have it in pill form!

Martie: Also, can I say I had a skin flap for yearssssss and after less than a week of dabbing a little ACV on it, it dropped off. True story.

Mel: I have a sex health one. Washing your lady bits with diluted hydrogen peroxide and you will never have an odour. For a killer tan mix some Guinness with lotion, it gets ya nice and brown.

Martie: Oh tanning! Everyone knows I’m a full believer of cocoa butter to get an amazingly gorgeous spice brown tan. Apply on wet skin (preferably sea water wet skin). It will dry fast. Apply again and lay in the sun. It also helps you not to peel. To prevent peeling, run vinegar on the skin after you tan. Wait about 30 mins and go shower it off. No peeling and the tan stays for months. An old man told me that when I was in Tobago when I was 12 and I never ever forgot that.

Ronz: Lemon juice will lighten your hair. Squeeze it wherever you want the highlights and go out in the sun.

Rors: Brushing your teeth with strawberries is a natural tooth whitener, and there’s a homemade face scrub that I love!

Ingredients:

1/2 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon raw sugar
Fresh lemon juice

Combine the honey and sugar and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Mix the ingredients well. If the mixture is a little loose, add a bit more sugar.

Ronz: That scrub works! I use it.

Rors: It can also make a nice gift too. Get a cute Mason jar and tie a ribbon on she. Name she something exotic sounding too!

Tamz: Using the lemon is for people with acne prone skin, because it’s a citric acid but using it on normal or combination skin can tend to dry skin more.

Rors: I used to use a popular apricot scrub, but I went for a facial recently and the lady said it’s too harsh and was leaving micro lines on my skin.

Tamz: On normal to dry skin u can use brown sugar and olive oil or brown sugar and honey.

Mel: I use Sudocrem (Diaper rash cream) on the inside of my thighs, keeps it smooth.

Tamz: Ladies you can use the sugar and olive oil/ scrub on entire body in the shower, it’s also good for ingrown hair as well.

Ronz: I’ve tried coffee grounds as a scrub, which not only smells fantastic but is good for battling cellulite. And well, coconut oil for everything!

The Girlfriends is a group of 15 women between the ages of 26 – 45 who are willing to give an unadulterated look into their own experiences. Some names have been changed for privacy.

By Jennifer Gibbons-Joseph Who or What Is Holding You Back?

However, many women I speak with have a misconception of what qualifies as a good and healthy snack. Unhealthy snacking is a problem for busy people who want to improve their health. Fast foods like fries, doubles, pies, and chicken wings are consumed locally as snacks, and they are just junk that gets stored as cellulite.

Basically, a healthy snack is a mini meal you have so you’ll be less likely to overeat at your next major meal, like between lunch and dinner. This means that a healthy snack should comprise of the three macro-nutrients, proteins, carbohydrates and fat. Therefore, for example a slice of whole grain bread by itself would not be a well-balanced snack, nor would a piece of meat or a table spoon of butter. However, if you put them together to make a sandwich, then you have a healthy snack! Realistically hitting all these markers with every snack is near impossible. So aim for overall balance. If one snack is short on protein, for instance, make sure your next one has a little extra.

Keep these general guidelines in mind when choosing a snack: 150 to 250 calories, about 3 grams of fiber, 5 grams of protein, and no more than 12 grams of fat. Protein and fiber help you feel satisfied for much longer.

Check out these examples:

• Apple or pear wedges with peanut butter

• Low-fat mozzarella cheese stick (string cheese) with wholewheat crackers (look for whole wheat as the first ingredient listed)

• Whole-wheat wrap spread with hummus and topped with turkey lunch meat, lettuce and sunflower seeds or pine nuts

• Nuts (about the amount that fits in the palm of your hand) and a piece of fresh fruit

• Nuts and dried fruit, with a few semisweet chocolate morsels for that chocolate craving (easy to carry with you in a zip-top bag)

• Plain or vanilla nonfat or low-fat yogurt with berries and nuts

• Butter-free popcorn, with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese

• Baby carrot sticks with low-fat dressing for dipping

• Turkey roll-ups made with turkey slices spread with pesto and sprinkled with sunflower seeds and chopped lettuce and cherry tomatoes

• Celery sticks spread with peanut butter or with low-fat cream cheese and topped with nuts or raisins

Storing personal possessions can be traced back before the Ancient Egyptians. In those days, because of nomadic their lifestyles a chest as it was easy to carry around. Today, we use closets for our storage needs and it has become indispensable to our modern lifestyle.

Many of us complain that we do not have enough storage or none at all. However your closets are performing, they should be able to yield more space with careful planning and space saving tricks.

Closet Systems Today’s closet organisers can transform the space into a unique and workable area that is suited to your needs. They consist of sets of shelves, hooks, racks, boxes and storage bins that would transform the chaos of any closet. Organisers are available in several sizes, styles and designs and accessories.

A good closet organizer can double or triple your space by shortening the clothing rack, raising it to make room for a second rack below or adding shelves on one side of the closet. Some closet organizers include built in storage bins that slide in and out like drawers. Placing the shoe rack below the double hung clothing rack is a good way to utilise the area.

When buying an organizer keep in mind the type of clothes you have and how much you may have.

Do you have lots of shoes, hats, handbags, jeans etc? Make sure to design in storage space for these items. Your system should be customized to the type of clothing and accessories that you own.

Assessing Your Needs First things first, get rid of stuff that you do not need or use. After you have done this, the next step will be to determine how much space you would need. The basic closet and clothing dimensions can help overcome any anxiety in deciding your needs.

Spatial requirements: Long dress 69 in.

Regular dress 45 in.

Skirt 35 in.

Trousers (cuff hung) 44 in.

Trousers (double hung) 30 in.

Blouses and shirts 28 – 30 in.

Women’s suits 29 in.

Men’s suits 38 in.

Ties 27 in.

Hanging shoe bag 36 in.

Organisation Here are some ideas to help manage the space.

Begin with a starter kit of at least 30 sturdy plastic hangers or 60 if two people share the closet. Also, get sturdy skirt and pants hangers in addition to the 30 hangers. Invest in an expandable shoe rack and tie rack if necessary.

Finishing touches Install new hooks on the closet wall to hang belts, umbrellas and handbags. Purses and hats can be stored on closet shelves if you do not have cubbyholes for them.

Tips • Add a second rod to the closet.

• Outside your closet install a hook or pull out rod for hanging dry cleaning and for planning outfits.

• Utilise the back of the door with a shoe rack that holds 12 pairs of shoes along with purses on the hooks below.

• Plastic pull out shoeboxes can also be used for storing underwear.

• Shelf dividers help to keep shelves and drawers neat.

• String shower curtain rings on hangers to hold scarves and belts.

• A shoe bag can also be used for holding stockings and socks.

• Ice cube trays can be used for storing jewelry.

• Create a second shelf by cutting a board to fit and support it on both ends with two sturdy boxes.

• Use furniture creatively. Store items in the dining room hutch or credenza.