Blog Posts by DivineCaroline

Hair Conditioning Tips You Probably Don't Know
Like last week's post on shampooing, I'm here today to dish out my best tips and secrets on conditioning your hair for the greatest results possible.

1. Find the right one for your needs.
Like all products, you need to find the right conditioner for your hair type. Consult your stylist for help choosing one. You might just need a standard conditioner for normal hair, or you might need something heavier/richer if you have processed or dry ends. If you feel that your hair hair tends to be weighed down, volumizing conditioner is the way to go. Those for volume are much lighter than those for moisturizing.

Five Healthy Hair Habits for Sumptuous Summer Curls

2. Pay attention to application.
Always start at your ends and work upwards when conditioning your hair. There isn't much need for conditioner at the roots, because your scalp will create natural oils up there. I don't apply anywhere above my chin. It will only weigh down your hair more, and make your hair look greasy sooner.

3.

Who doesn't love summer? The mercury starts to rise, the sun shines brightly, and suddenly we're all a little happier. And, as an added bonus, the change in season also gives us a perfect excuse to do a little shopping. To update your wardrobes for warmer temps this year, look to these nine runway-inspired trends-each one sure to keep you looking cool in every sense of the word. Best of all, each of these picks can be yours for less than $100!

1. Overstated Footwear
Runway shows are often full of outrageous footwear that most of us would never dare wear and this season was no exception. But, that doesn't mean we can't play with the trend in a more real-life-worthy way. The "Letitgo" wedge from Nine West takes a basic wedge shape (perfect for summer-who wants to sink into the grass!) and covers it in a fun, bold floral pattern. Pair them with the orange shorts (below) for the perfect summer look. ($88.95 at Nordstrom)

J. Crew's classic twill shorts
2. Tangerine Orange
Pantone, the authority on color and color

8 Healthy Food Swaps You Haven't Heard Of
Just because you're trying to eat more healthily doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your favorite food preparations! There are a number of nutritious ingredients that can replace your naughtier preferences without forgoing flavor. Try the following examples and see if your palate isn't as pleased as your waistline!

1. Quinoa instead of rice or pasta
White rice and pasta are "bad" or simple carbs-you know, the ones that don't provide much in the way of nutrition. But quinoa! This amazing ancient grain not only acts as a perfect platform for soaking up sauces, just like pasta and rice, but also it's a complete protein, which means it delivers all nine of the essential amino acids.

Quinoa: The Healthiest Food You Aren't Eating

2. Shaved zucchini instead of pasta
Another magical swap, shaved zucchini (created by shaving zucchini into strands with a vegetable peeler) can carry sauces from the plate to your palate-and add a serving of veggies to your dish to boot. Bonus: You don't even

5 Reasons Why Your Crunches Aren't Working
There are more reasons to ensure you do your crunches correctly than the fact that you won't get killer abs if you do them wrong. Fitness experts warn that incorrect crunches can lead to backaches, muscle cramps and more. Fortunately, the ab-tightening, core- and back-strengthening exercise is pretty easy to do. To learn whether you're performing pointless or even dangerous crunches, determine whether you're not doing any of the following erroneous moves, and if so, correct them.

1. You do good old-fashion sit-ups.
Old-school sit-ups strain the lower back and neck, which is not good for them nor helpful to your abs. Crunches focus on the ab muscles, which is what you want to do. Isolate the abs and work from there.

2. You clasp your head or neck when you "crunch."
The point is to isolate and work your abs, not pull yourself up with the help of your noggin. Make sure your hands are crossed in front of your chest to hone in on working your core. You can also put your fingertips next

You're Probably Not Shampooing Right

Even though we've been shampooing our own hair for most of our lives, I often find that many of my friends and clients aren't doing it right. A good shampoo is more important than you might think, and if you do it wrong, you can even damage your hair! Here are my tips for the most efficient shampooing job resulting in the squeakiest clean and healthiest of hair!

Find the right shampoo for you. Always consult with your stylist about this before buying shampoo. You might need shampoo for color treated hair, you might need it for volume, dry hair, flaky scalp or for just plain normal everyday cleaning. The first step is to be using the right product and your stylist will help you figure out what your shampooing needs are.

Why You Should Use a Sulfate Free Shampoo

Don't shampoo too often. If you are in the habit of shampooing every day, it's likely that your scalp is working over time to produce the natural oils that are being stripped away when you wash your hair. This is one reason

questions to ask before marriageWhile it's impossible to gauge in advance whether any couple will actually make it 'til death do they part, there are some compatibility factors that offer insight as to whether they've got a fighting chance. While you probably can't straight out ask your partner whether or not he or she is physically or verbally abusive, a cheater, or an addict-all of which rank among the most popular reasons for divorce-you can and should sit down and ask each other the following questions. If your perspectives match up, you have a better chance of making it for the long haul.

What NOT to Say in a Relationship

Do you want kids?
There is no reason to get married if you don't see eye-to-eye on this matter, period, unless you're willing to be swayed. But don't even think about entering marriage with the hope that you can change your partner's mind. It's a recipe for disaster if you're wrong. If you find you both want kids, you might follow up with a question about how much participation your partner

corporate benefitsLike most people, you're probably meticulously keeping track of and leveraging your allotted vacation-, sick- and personal days. But if you're working for a corporation with a robust benefits package, there are likely myriad extras you are not taking advantage of. From extra insurance to paternity leave, the following nine perks may be missed opportunities to save money or time if you don't know about or use them.

1. Health and Wellness Programs
More and more companies are incentivizing employees to live a healthy lifestyle for good reason-a fit and well employee takes less sick days and is more productive and happy! Who cares if their incentive is selfish! If your company offers discounted gym membership or hundreds of annual dollars in reimbursements for gym membership or athletic gear or equipment, that's money in your pocket for something you'd probably spend your own cash on anyway.

Surprisingly Lucrative Jobs

2. Flexible Spending Accounts
With the skyrocketing costs of

As of this Sunday, Kate Middleton has graced us with her classy royal presence for an entire year. Ever since the April 29 th royal wedding (and honestly, even before that), we've been obsessed with her carefully crafted, sophisticated fashion choices. And it's not just her pretty outfits; her willingness to re-use items she's already worn (shocker!) has us standing in awe over her and her "commoner" ways.

In honor of the one-year anniversary of the royal wedding, here are the Kate Middleton looks we loved this year.

Kate Middleton Wedding Dress





















This stunning Alexander McQueen wedding dress is what made us fall in love with Kate's style in the first place. Who knew lace long sleeves would come back in style?
The Royal Couple's Relationship Do's

First public appearance























In their first public appearance after the wedding, Kate wowed us all with this shimmery blush-colored Jenny Packham gown. Love the sheer sleeves!


Kate Middleton

























The detail on the coat is stunning, but what about that hat? Nothing accessorizes an outfit quite like a big, extravagant