Happy Hour, a time to unwind with coworkers and friends to reflect on the day or to forget it all together. Traditionally it’s a few loud hours of deep-fried finger foods and cheap beer. It may be good for boosting ones morale but not always great for the scale. Another option, host your own happy hour. Forget the crowded restaurants, watered down drinks and menus that list calorie contents (seriously why do they do that). Below are a few delicious drink and appetizer recipes that will leave you completely satisfied without the guilt.

DRINKS:

Sangria Punch

• 1 bottle dry red wine
• 1 can diet lemon lime soda
• 1 cup low calorie orange juice
• 1 cup of your favorite diced fruit (apples, strawberries, pears)
• Lemon, lime and orange slices

Mix everything together and serve over ice.

Strawberry Pink Lemonade

• 4 oz. Sweet Revenge (strawberry flavored liqueur)
• 32 oz. of all natural strawberry sparkling water (Poland Springs is my favorite)
• 4 packets of Crystal Light lemonade.
• lemon slices

Mix everything together and serve over ice.

Orange Oasis

• Orange slices
• 4 oz. Orange Vodka
• 12 drops of Mio orange and vanilla water enhancer
• 4 oz. low calorie orange juice
• 1 can of club soda.

Mix everything together and serve over ice.

APPETIZERS:

Jalapeno Poppers

• 12 jalapeno peppers (sliced lengthwise and seeds removed)
• 8 oz. low fat cream cheese
• 8 oz. reduced fat cheddar
• 8 oz. low calorie parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• ¼ tsp. black pepper
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cracked red pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Cover your baking sheet with foil and lightly grease it. Place pepper halves on pan, spacing them an inch apart. Mix the remaining ingredients together. Spoon on filling mixture to each pepper. Bake for 20 minutes.

Honey Sweet Potato Fries with Lime Mint Yogurt Dipping Sauce

Fries

• 4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch long slices, then 1/4 -inch wide inch strips.
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tablespoons organic honey

Dip

• 12 oz. plain Greek yogurt
• 8 mint leaves finely diced
• 1 tbsp. lime juice

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking pan with parchment paper. In a bowl toss sweet potatoes with olive oil. Bake until sweet potatoes are tender and golden brown, turning occasionally, about 20 minutes. When out of the oven drizzle honey on them. Mix yogurt, lime juice and diced mint in a bowl. Let fries cool 5 minutes before serving. Serve with yogurt dip.

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

• 3/4 cup panko (Japanese) bread crumbs
• 1/3 cup plus 1/2 cup Louisiana-style hot sauce, divided
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1 large egg white
• 1 pound lean ground chicken
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• ¼ tsp. pepper
• 1 packet ranch salad dressing mix.
• Reduced-fat blue cheese or ranch salad dressing for dipping
• Celery and carrot slices for on the side

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, 1/3 cup hot sauce, celery and egg white. Add chicken; mix lightly but thoroughly. Shape into twenty-four 1-in. balls. Place on a greased rack in a shallow baking pan. Bake 25 minutes or until cooked through. Toss meatballs with remaining hot sauce. If desired, drizzle with salad dressing just before serving. Should make around 24.

 

Summer is winding down. The nights are getting cooler and joyful back-to-school thoughts are dancing in your head. As you look down at your chipped coral painted toe nails, you think to yourself, what color is next?  It is in-between summer and fall, you’re dreaming about the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte but are still going to live in flip flops for a couple more months. It’s that awkward period where you don’t want to showcase bright summer hues any more but it’s definitely too early for those heavy, warm polishes we see displayed for autumn, already.  Nail color is always marketed to us seasonally, which can leave one in a tizzy. Well there’s got to be something in-between. A happy medium of beautiful colors that works great for this time of year.

So what nail colors are still appropriate?  It’s far too soon for those pretty mossy greens, deep reds and purples. Even if you are lucky to live in a place that’s nice all year, you still go through the seasons and fashion changes, your nail color should reflect that too. Dropping the kids back of at school doesn’t mean it’s time to place little apple appliques all over your nails or rock your favorite football team emblem. It does mean, you should probably retire your beloved fluorescent pink shade for the year. Fear not, there are some great options that work perfectly for this time.

Nail color is something we change a lot. People always see your nails. Stores are always full of thousands of nail polish colors and a wide variety of brands to choose from. One of the best brands out there is, OPI. They have a wide range of colors and textures. Their polishes are durable and fun. Some great OPI choices for this time of year are:

Dark shades of your favorite colors with a shimmer too them. The deep hues reflect the colors and warmth of fall but the sparkle encompasses the fun of summer.

Go With the Lava Flow, With a Nice Finn-ish, This Color is Making Waves, Show Us Your Tips, Worth a Pretty Penne

Different shades of nudes and creams are perfect for this transitional time. They look pretty alone but topped with a light gold or silver shimmer, perfection.

Tiramisu for Two, Bubble Bath, Where did Suzi’s Man Go, My Vampire is Buff, Be There in a Prosecco

A great shimmering top coat for all of these colors is Pirouette My Whistle.

Pink is a staple, just ask Barbie. It’s a feminine, fun and empowering shade all in one. There are hundreds of shades of pink. For this time of year, pick one that isn’t real bright.

Princesses Rule, A Rose at Dawn… Broke by Noon, I Think in Pink, Italian Love Affair, Malibu Pier Pressure

You can see what all these shades look like on OPI’s website or stop in at Essentials Medispa and see them in person. Summer is rough on your feet. Between the sliding around in flip flops, rough trail walking or grinding against the sand, those piggies have been through a lot. An end of summer session with a professional for a manicure and pedicure is a good way to approach fall. They have a variety of options with fantastic add-on services. They can give you more color advice and show you some of the great ones list here while making your hands and feet look amazing.

 

Eyebrow glamming is topping beauty trends everywhere. You may have noticed a lot of new brow products spilling into your favorite makeup aisles. From hundreds of coloring tools and trimming devices, it can be hard for a girl to keep up. Our eyebrows actually serve a purpose. Their main duty is to help us see by protecting  our eyes from sweat and water. That beautiful arch (if you haven’t over plucked) shields us by diverting moisture away from our eyes. Times have changed and while they still do their job, that isn’t their only use anymore. Thanks to heavy marketing by several makeup companies and a few beautiful models with thick brows, their purpose has transcended.

Eyebrows help shape your face, draw more attention to your eyes, and can make your look pop. Your brows can be very expressive and help define you. A lot of us have issues; from over tweezing, faulty at-home wax jobs, unevenness or aging, but a little brow pencil and powder can go a long way. If you are a lucky ducky and have little problems, you can still use products to make them look even more glamorous and make a statement. There are tons of products available and for good reason. Everyone’s eyebrows are unique and we all have different trouble spots. Play around and see what works well for you. Some of the more popular tools are pencils, gels, powders and waxes. Sometimes a combination of a couple of these is the best option.

Pencils are great for shaping your arch. Almost like a lip liner for your lips, your brow pencil is going to be your best friend for getting a nice angular look to your brows. They are also great for lengthening the tail. A lot of the pencils come with a spoole brush on the end (or you can get one separately) which is great because once the color is applied you can gently brush it and it gives it a non-caked on look and defines the shape evenly. They come in a handful of shades and you have several options when it comes to brands.

Gels look like mascara tubes, they are used over your finished product to set everything, keeping every hair in its place. They come in tinted shades or clear. It’s a great addition to your brow collection that shouldn’t be overlooked; it really creates a finished product. For those of you whose brows don’t need that much love, this is an awesome product for you. A tinted gel will hold everything together and a slight tint will showcase them. It is important you look for a good one, some of the cheaper ones can leave a light residue. A good gel will last awhile and are a valuable investment.

Powders are great too. They can be used to fill in to give depth and soften the look of your pencil. They are not too compelling, just give off subtle color and thickness. Perfect for an everyday look or those who have minimal problems. Another positive to the powders is unlike the pencils and gels, they come in an array of color choices.

Last but definitely not least, waxes. Eyebrow wax helps hold a shape like the gel but can also be used to fill in gaps. They are great and if applied correctly, all you need. It is the most water resistant option of all four. It comes in tinted and clear. The tinted colors are limited but one can easily find one that pairs nice with their complexion and hair color. With all of these coloring products you want to make sure the color you are choosing doesn’t match your hair but are one or two shades lighter.

There are several options when choosing brow products. When it comes to picking a company, it doesn’t get any better than Lizette.  They are a makeup brand that only deals with the eyebrow. All their products are natural looking, water resistant and come in a vast variety of colors.

If this is new to you or you are looking for color matching help, it is a good idea to consult with a professional. Aside from giving you great tips they can help you maintain a nice shape and evenness to your brows. Try a brow make-over. A fun grooming session that finishes with a mini brow makeover with an eyebrow shaping expert. You could also try a wax with color match. Essentials offers both. Regular appointments with specialists can ensure that your at home care is in check and can keep you on the right path.

 

Back to school commercials and cooler nights can only mean one thing, summer is ending. It was packed with the beach, outdoor concerts, vacations, sports and picnics. With fall approaching, there should be more on your mind than which legging prints are going to be in. You should be concerned about sun damage. Many of us know today that we should wear sunscreen and avoid tanning beds; however, many people still don’t listen. According to the American Cancer Society it is estimated that nearly 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. Women may be more prone to talking about their skin and sun damage, but skin cancer is common in men too.

Sunscreen is your best source of prevention, tanning oils do not count. Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher needs to be applied every day to sun exposed areas of your skin. If you’re outside for a prolonged period of time it needs to be reapplied every 2 hours and after getting wet. Also to get the full effects of the SPF it claims, you need to slather it on. Depending on the size of the person, around one ounce is enough to cover the average sun exposed areas of a person for two hours. The majority of Americans don’t come close to using the correct amount. Spray sunscreens are very popular, sweeping the shelves at every store. They are easy, convenient and great if you are trying to put sunscreen on a handful of anxious children waiting to go swimming. However it is hard to tell if the proper amount is being applied because you can’t tell how much is actually coming out. Many of us forget that lips are skin too. You can tell when they become chapped but it is also important to realize they can get burned too and are easily susceptible to getting skin cancer. Find a chapstick with SPF 30 also. You may have to say goodbye to the ones that taste like your favorite candy but there are a lot of great options out there.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, but also the most easily preventable. With all that we can’t control in this world, you might as well get the edge on something you can. There aren’t excuses anymore.  We know UV rays are bad for us and thousands of products have been developed to help us. There is a vast array of sunscreens out there for you and your family’s outdoor activities, you can find something that works for everyone. Standard sunscreens are effective but can be greasy and aren’t always the best thing to wear daily under makeup.  There is; however, a variety of products to help keep your skin protected and looking healthy.

There are several noteworthy face lotions out there to try. Everyone has different skin and reacts differently to certain products, try a few and see what works for you. A moisturizer is important for your skin to keep it hydrated and also helps with a smoother makeup application. A lot of us think that our foundation protects our skin and some even have SPF in it but it’s not at a high enough level to get the needed protection.  An ideal face lotion will have, like your sunscreen, a SPF 30 or higher with antioxidants to decrease the damaging effects of the sun and environmental exposures. My favorite daily moisturizer is by Image. Their tinted moisturizer is amazing for all skin types. It evens out your skin tone and gives you a natural glow, while protecting you from future damage. Win Win!

There are hundreds of corrective serums and lotions that are effective at improving the overall look of your skin, minimizing dark spots and reducing wrinkles.  Image, has a full skin line of prevention and rejuvenation, all available at Essentials.

Preventative skin care is essential to a long-lasting healthy look, but many of us already have damage. I’m reminded of this every time I flip my cosmetic mirror to the magnifying side. Reality sets in as every dark spot, broken capillary and fine line stands out. Most of us have done some damage, but lucky for us times have changed. Aside from corrective serums and creams there has been several medical advances that can help reverse the skincare mistakes of our past.

Regular facials are great for overall skin health but a specialized Anti-Agingor Skin Brightening one helps reduce discoloration, age spots and redness. Essentials offers both and has several add on services you can do to customize them to give the most benefits to your skin as possible. Essentials also offers more advanced options to restore skin.

Microneedling

Microneedling is a process that uses a sterile pen-like device, to vertically penetrate the skin with micro-needles. These micro needles penetrate both the dermis and epidermis layers of the skin to create micro wounds and pinpoint bleeding at specific depths. This procedure stimulates the natural healing process of the body, leading to the growth of collagen and elastin which restores the appearance of healthy skin.

DermaSweep MD™ Epi-Infusion treatment

DermSweep’s technology takes MicroResurfacing to the next level through a unique, customizable, treatment approach. The proprietary bristle treatment tips gently lift away the top layer of skin and increase circulation to enhance lymphatic drainage, oxygenation, and the delivery of key skin nutrients. Exclusive infusion solutions formulated with cutting-edge ingredients are added to target specific skincare concerns.

Laser Skin Resurfacing

Laser skin resurfacing removes skin layer by layer with precision. The new skin cells that form during the healing give your skin a tighter, younger looking surface.

The skin is your body’s largest organ. It’s important to take care of it daily and take the lead at preventing skin cancer. It’s easy to do with daily sunscreen, protective clothing, and a great SPF 30 moisturizer and chapstick. To repair damaged skin there are specialized facials, lotions, serums, and medical treatments. All these options can help you say hello to a younger, brighter and less damaged surface. Give your skin some love today.