Since our weather is finally beginning to feel more like summer, we wanted to spotlight something related to an activity that Minnesotans do mainly in the summer: SWIMMING! It is finally time to grab your beach towel, sunblock and flip-flops and hit the beach!

If last year’s suit isn’t cutting it, keep these tips in mind when you are shopping for a new swimsuit:

1. Elongate a petite frame with a one-piece suit that has thin vertical stripes. Lend short legs length with a suit cut high on the hip.

2. Use blocks of color to divert attention from wide hips or a belly bulge. Wear one-piece suits with a dark-colored, solid lower half and a lighter-colored or printed bodice.

3. Give a square or boyish figure the appearance of a waist with a one-piece or tankini (a bikini with a top shaped like a tank top) that has a darker color from the crotch to the middle ribs and a lighter color over the chest. Consider a skort – a combination short and skirt to conceal and divert attention away from a too-round bottom.

4. Minimize a full chest with a dark, monochromatic bodice that has a high or square-cut neck. Make sure the suit offers ample support to resist drooping or sagging, and choose a wider-cut bottom to balance your overall look.

5. If you have toned legs and beautiful shoulders, flaunt them in a string bikini or cutout one-piece swimsuit.

6. Choose suits with at least 15 percent spandex to minimize flabby areas.

One of the hottest trends this summer for suits is the stylish one-shoulder number. Taking the lead from the current trend in one-shoulder toga-style dresses and asymmetrical necklines, this year’s single-shoulder swimsuits are sophisticated and beautiful. The diagonal line narrows across the upper body for a flattering look.  Plus one shoulder will be without tan lines that way!

Don’t forget to slather on sunblock while you are out there enjoying the sun and sand! Stop into Belladerm to stock your beach bag–we have amazing products to guard your skin from harmful rays! Enjoy your summer and whatever swimsuit you decide to wear, just make sure it is one you feel comfortable and confident in, and you can’t go wrong!

With summer just around the corner, you probably have home/garden maintenance on your mind, as well as your to-do list!  We’ve included some tips to help you out and keep you on track. Summer’s heat and dry weather can be tough on your home.  A little home maintenance can go a long way to keep your house in good repair.  Follow this checklist to stay on top of your home maintenance during the summer.

Outside
There are many home maintenance projects that you can do in the summer to keep the exterior of your home and your yard looking great. 

• Trim back any trees or shrubs that have grown too close to the house. This not only prevents damage from tree limbs but helps with safety, too, by eliminating any blind spots.
• Make sure no water pools or collects anywhere in your yard.  Stagnant water is a breeding area for mosquitoes.  There will be enough mosquitoes about during the summer without providing them a place to multiply.
• Maintain your deck or patio.  Thoroughly clean and scrub your deck or patio and apply a deck sealer the next day. You will need sunny, dry weather for this home maintenance task.
• Wash the exterior of your house using a garden hose.  A pressure washer can actually cause damage unless used by a professional.  An attachment on your water hose should be sufficient.  You can even buy an attachment that allows you to add a mild detergent to aid in washing your siding.
• Repair any cracks in the driveway or sidewalk with a concrete caulk for small cracks or a concrete patch for larger ones.
• Take care of your swimming pool.  Have it ready for the season and maintain it throughout the summer.

Inside
Don’t neglect the inside of your home. Here are some summer home maintenance projects.

• Service your air conditioner.  If you have not done so already, have the biannual service done by a professional.  Also, change out all of your air filters.
• Check the windows and doors.  The weather stripping may need some maintenance.  Cold air can escape through any cracks here.  Caulk around the doors and windows as needed as part of your home maintenance.
• Thoroughly clean the dryer lint.  Clean the lint trap as well as the exterior vent cap.  It needs to be clear to allow air to not be trapped.  It can actually result in carbon monoxide backing up into your house.
• Clean the icemaker.  You are going to need a lot of ice-cold drinks with the summer heat, so make sure that your icemaker is up to the task.
• Before you go on vacation, check your home’s security.  This is an important part of home maintenance that involves the interior as well as the exterior of your home.  You want your yard well-lit and your home easy to see. (With the trees and shrubs trimmed, it should be.)  Make sure all the locks work well on the windows and doors.  Test your alarm system.  Cancel the paper and mail or have a neighbor pick them up for you when you travel.  Leave a few lights on or better yet, have them on a timer.

A few hours of home maintenance can help improve the condition of your home and head off any potential problems.  A little preventative maintenance can save you lots of money in pricey repairs.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you moms!

Our wish for you is a day full of relaxation and pampering that is spent with the ones you hold dear.

Are you still doing some last-minute shopping for your mom? A gift card from Belladerm is a perfect way to show Mom she is appreciated! She will be delighted to schedule a time to come in for a beauty treatment or to purchase a much-needed product.  She may be excited to try Latisse, our new lash product.  We are offering a special 10% off discount for the month of May! Every woman would love fuller, longer, darker lashes! Treat mom to a gift that will make her feel more beautiful than she already is.  We’ve even made it easy for you to purchase a gift card online! Click here to learn more.

You may have seen this before, but it is so funny that we wanted to share it with you for Mother’s Day.  We applaud the hard work and dedication of moms everywhere! Have a special day!

JOB DESCRIPTION FOR MOMS

Position:
Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy

Job Description:
Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

Responsibilities:
The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

Possibility For Advancement & Promotion:
Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

Previous Experience:
None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

Wages And Compensation:
Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and then wish you could only do more.

Benefits:
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

Are you in pursuit of the perfect pair of comfy jeans but keep finding yourself completely frustrated in a dressing room? You don’t need to have a perfect body to look great in denim–you just need to choose a pair that flatters and fits your body!

Another great tip that you’ve likely heard is to know what dark can do! A dark color will make you look slimmer, whereas a light color of denim can highlight your trouble spots.

You might really enjoy a couple of websites we’ve found that take your measurements into consideration and then dish out ideas of ideal jeans for your body.  It only takes a couple of minutes to find flattering jeans! Yes, it sounds way too good to be true.  What will  you do with the time you used to spend hunting for jeans that fit?

Zafu.com has over 200 different styles of jeans and over 70 different brands to draw from.  They can help you minimize curves, accentuate your best features,  and achieve the exact look you want and so far, they have over 4 million happy customers.  You can also find your best fit in bras, other pants, and accessories.

Another one to try is truejeans.com.  This site serves the guys, too! Check it out!

Happy shopping!

Listen up, rosacea sufferers! The spotlight is on you this month as we take a look at this incredibly frustrating disorder.  Take heart, there are solutions out there for you and we’re ready to help you look and feel your best!

The Facts:

An estimated 14 million Americans have rosacea, yet only a small fraction are being treated.  In recent surveys by the National Rosacea Society, more than 76 percent of rosacea patients said their condition had lowered their self-confidence and self-esteem, and 52 percent reported it had caused them to avoid public contact or cancel social engagements.

Although rosacea can affect all segments of the population, individuals with fair skin who tend to flush or blush easily are believed to be at greatest risk. The disease is more frequently diagnosed in women, but more severe symptoms tend to be seen in men — perhaps because they often delay seeking medical help until the disorder reaches advanced stages.

While there is no cure for rosacea and the cause is unknown, medical therapy is available to control or reverse its signs and symptoms. Individuals who suspect they may have rosacea are urged to see a dermatologist or other knowledgeable physician for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

The Triggers:

Below is a list of common rosacea trigger factors that may affect various individuals. It is the result of a patient survey by the National Rosacea Society.   It doesn’t necessarily include everything that may cause a flare-up, but it may be helpful in determining one’s own trigger factors.   Patients are encouraged to keep a diary of daily activities or events and relate them to any flare-ups they may experience. A rosacea diary booklet is available here.

The Help:

While the cause of rosacea is unknown and there is no cure, help is available that can control the signs and symptoms of this potentially life-disruptive disorder.  Enjoy beautiful, bright, and healthy skin once again with the help of Obagi Rosaclear System.  This is the first and only complete therapeutic system for treating the signs and symptoms of rosacea.  We’d love to tell you more about these wonderful products and while you in for a visit, check out our glominerals makeup to achieve a flawless complexion.  Mineral makeup is a great choice for skin with rosacea, as it typically doesn’t contain potentially irritating ingredients.  These products are talc-free, non-comedogenic and free of perfumes and chemical dyes, making them suitable for even the most sensitive skin types. 

We look forward to serving you!

PAISLEY

One of the big trends this season is paisley prints.  It will be infused into so many great fashions this spring and summer.  Paisley is colorful and fun!

BLACK AND WHITE

This combo will always have its place in fashion.  Look for it to be mixed with the trendy colors of spring. 

STRIPES

Another trend this spring is anything striped.  Expect to see lots of stripes, not only on wonderful knit nautical tops, but on handbags, dresses, and even shoes. 

BOLD JEWELRY

In 2009, jewelry is all about making a big statement.  From ethnic beading to exotic stones, one thing is constant: it must be big, bold and colorful. 

 PINK PEARL JEWELRY

An exception to the bold color you’ll see is the soft pink pearl jewelry.  This is a hot item for spring and you’ll look ultra feminine wearing these on necklaces, bracelets and earrings.

What is your favorite spring trend? What do you plan to add to your wardrobe?

What Will You Do on St. Patty’s Day?

We live in an area that has one of the best St. Patrick’s Day celebrations across the country. The best part of this annual city-wide celebration is the parade.  The parade starts in St. Paul at noon and runs in and out of the city streets passing many Irish pubs on the way.  The parade is thick with floats, local Irish royalty and leprechauns. Attendees are of course encouraged to wear green and donning a “Kiss Me I’m Irish” is a near must.  The parade lasts a few hours and there is plenty of parking along the parade route.

The parade is Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 12:00 NOON.  It begins at Fourth and Sibley Streets, heads West on Fourth Street and ends at Rice Park.  For more information on events in St. Paul/Minneapolis on this glorious, green holiday, visit the events webpage at www.stpatsassoc.org. This website will give you complete rundown on events of the day, times, and what to expect.  Irish or not, you cannot help but have a blast when you are downtown St. Paul on St. Patrick’s Day.  Have fun! 

Click here to send some fun St. Patrick’s Day greetings to your friends.  Post any other fun events you know of that are occurring on St. Patrick’s Day! And don’t forget to wear green!

Do you find yourself daydreaming of the beach these days? Winter seems to be dragging on and spring won’t be here soon enough.  If you have travel on the brain, or are looking for a spot to take your spring break, you might want to know what the top travel destinations are going to be for 2009. 

Worldwide Travel Destinations for 2009:

The island of Sardinia in Italy is apparently going to be hit by visitors because its seaside resort of Budoni has been named as the #1 destination on TripAdvisor’s TravelCast predictions. Among other destinations on this top ten list of places we will be heading around the world, there are several other Mediterranean destinations including Crete and Hanioti in Greece, Cyprus, Spain and another region of Italy, Peschiera del Garda. Ardmore in Ireland and Goslar in Germany round out the European part of this top ten list and then Sri Lanka and Jordan are the only non-European destinations to get the nod.

For those Americans traveling within the United States, here is the Top Ten Domestic Travel Hot Spots:

TripAdvisor TravelCast Top Ten U.S. Destinations for 2009 :
1. St. George, Utah
2. Englewood, Florida
3. Keauhou, Hawaii
4. Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania
5. Haines, Alaska
6. Bainbridge Island, Washington
7. New Buffalo, Michigan
8. Pahoa, Hawaii
9. Gurnee, Illinois
10. Ruskin, Florida

“Staycations” are still on the radar for 2009: the TripAdvisor survey found that almost one in five United States travelers are planning to stay at home for their vacation during the next year, with the economic crisis clearly still biting.

Don’t be shy; tell us about your favorite destinations! And remember Belladerm has some great specials on Laser Hair Removal, and IPL treatments until the end of this month (click here to view them) so whether you plan to travel or just stay home, we can get you ready to look your best!

Enjoy your adventures,

Robin

Check out these pictures of Robin Bernens, RN and owner of Belladerm MedSpa.  Yes, this was the gloLash product from last year but it contains the same active ingredient as the new Latisse from Allergan. On 11/27/07 she started testing the new product, gloLash Enhance Eyelash Enhanced Serum, now Latisse from Allergan, and the after pictures were taken on 1/27/08 just over two months later.  Look at her results!  

A once a day simple application delivers visible results in just 4 to 16 weeks. You’ll notice stronger, longer, darker lashes with continued use. Once you achieve desired results, the product can be used as little as once a week to maintain your current look! We have Latisse in stock right now and we know it will be a hot item! Stop in to get yours today!