Women's Life Link Be Well, Be Happy, Be YOU!

If you are anything like me, keeping in touch with friends can take a back seat to work, housekeeping, grocery shopping, and mom's taxi service. A dilemma that strains even the best friendships. We all want to improve our relationships but often struggle with consistent communication, the foundation of any good friendship. Fortunately, with a little creativity and planning, we can keep our best buds close.

1. Do pay attention to where you walk; I once caught my heel in a drainage grate. If only everyone could be rescued by a handsome doctor when they step in a hole. (Photo from Columbia Pictures, The Wedding Planner). 2. Do be honest with a friend if she needs to change something about her outfit. You wouldn't want her to let you go out in a too-tight dress or a shade of lipstick that makes your teeth look yellow. It's just good Karma.

I recently posted an article on skin cancer awareness and embracing pale skin. Well, today a friend on face book posted a link to information on vitamin D. Because many are shunning the sun, they are unfortunately suffering from a vitamin D deficiency. I, myself, find it difficult to stay in the sun for any length of time without showing signs of burning. This leaves me with the challenge of finding another way to get my share of the important vitamin.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, a good time to make skin care and sun protection a top priority while counting down the days to warmer weather. With over one million people diagnosed with skin cancer each year, every woman needs to pay close attention to how they are caring for their skin. Though an effective skin management routine doesn't guarantee you won't get skin cancer, it does reduce your chances significantly.

Have you ever considered what it means to act your age? The actions, attitudes, and philosophies of each age group have become fuzzy in a world that produces more and more women who obliterate the mindsets of past generations. With 41-year-olds like Dara Torres winning Olympic medals and children like Miley Cyrus building financial empires well beyond the norm, who's to say what you shouldn't do at any age.

1. Do create a new trend amongst your peers. Just be confident and own it whatever "it" is! 2. Don't over dress for your child's baseball game. There are plenty ways to look good without heels and jewelry.

Every year around this time, I think about what condition my body is in for the summer season; the dreaded call of the pool, the beach, and any other activity for which you normally wear shorts whispers ever so softly but loudly taunts my self-esteem. If you are a mother, you know what I'm talking about.

1. Do get measured for a custom fit. Some department stores have a free alteration service. 2. Do look for this season's "Boyfriend" jacket. Longer and boxier, this trend gives a nice contrast to a frilly blouse.

Time...the most precious resource that we have at our disposal. Well, not to say that we should be throwing it away. In fact, we need to rein it in, tame it, and make better use of it. If only there was twenty-five hours in a day, I could do so much more. Maybe it isn't that we need to do more; maybe we need to find out what is truly important, what is not, and make changes accordingly.

Do you recall the worst outfit you ever wore? Hopefully, it was many moons ago and not yesterday. I would have to say that my worst was while I was in my "pioneer woman" days. Yes, believe it or not, I had a bad era of fashion.

1. Don't ever, ever wear a flannel, granny nightgown to bed. Don't do it even if you are a granny. 2. Do let your significan't other see you in lingerie that flatters your body.

We live in a day where the terms "going green" and "organic" are becoming more prevalent. Many of you have taken the initiative to act on the call to make this earth we live on a better place; however, many have not. It's one of those things that anyone can do and everyone should. I'm not preaching from a pedestal here; I only recently started making an effort to "save the planet" by recycling.

Watch and Learn Each woman on this planet has the responsibility to find a path to her personal greatness. It's a journey of trial and error at best. Consider a small child when ready to walk, she may not understand the mechanics of her body, or how each joint works together with muscles and bones to make her walk; she does want something on the other side of the room-her goal-so she finds a way to get there.

1. Do make sure you know the difference between business, casual, and evening attire. The book, Style Clinic: How to Look Fabulous All the Time, at Any Age, for Any Occasion, by Paula Reed is a great resource.

Whether you work, stay at home, work at home, or none of the above, you need to take care of yourself. There are certain simple things you can do that will make a HUGE difference in your daily appearance. We will focus on those first.