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In This Issue:

• Spring Fashion Colors
• The Alligator Industry
• Design Tips by Suzanne Copenhaver
• Spring Makeup Trends
• In the Kitchen: Can You Have Your Chocolate & Eat It Too?

Next Month:
Spring Is Here - Are you Ready?

Last Month's Issue

They stopped selling winter coats in the store around November and started gearing up for spring. The transition started with the spring colors but longer sleeves and sweaters, but now they are stocking the shelves with spring and summer garb. Before you hit the racks, do you know what items you need, what colors are right for you and what styles best compliment your image? Remember our rule. Unless you are dumping the entire closet in the trash (and there are some out there who should), never buy dailywear unless it goes with 3 items in your wardrobe.

So what colors are hot this spring? You will see the return of the turquoise and hot pink of last year but this years palette is topped off with orange (and we mean orange!) and kelly green. The sage, celery and celadon greens of the past 2 years have gone to the wayside. We even saw a kelly green polo shirt for men last week.

However, the shocking news especially for the east coast is this. Despite the line from Wicked! that "Black is this year's pink," black is out! Khaki and olive green and "sand dollar" are replacing black as the staple for the wardrobe. I personally will be hiding out in my house until this trend ends. On a serious note, be careful what you choose from this color set. These neutrals are not as nuetral as they sound. Most of us cannot wear olive green and the khaki colors come in a variety of shades that can leave some of us looking like yesterday's leftovers.

In other fashion news, white has also made a huge comeback along with a few pastels. Again, watch out for this one. Skin tone, your age, and your natural hair color play a major role in your ability to carry off white...and I don't care what anyone says, don't get those white shoes out until after Memorial Day!

Now that we have thrown you into thinking about color, stay tuned for next month's fashion advice on the styles that will make or break your spring and summer collection.

Completely overwhelmed by what you read and not even sure what we mean by the right color or fabric? Our personal shoppers will help you get on the right path to a better look in the new year.

Read more about how to create a basic wardrobe.

Only another month until the weather turns nice and you want to be outside. Time for a quick home pick me up. Give yourself a lift of color this month. Be a little bold. Take any room in your house which hasn’t been redone in a few years and give the wall color a good look. Is it dated? Boring? Tired? Just plain grubby? Inventory your furnishings and window treatments and then head to the home store and chose a daring new color of paint for your walls. This is a weekend project and you can pep up a tired room in a few hours. When the painting is finished, wash the windows, throw the window treatments and throw pillows in the dryer on air fluff to get the dust of winter out of them, put the furniture back and then head out to pick out some new accessories to pull everything together. If you want something temporary, forced bulbs are everywhere this time of year and bring spring inside at a time when the weather can be cold and dreary.

Well ladies, this season is not so much about the makeup colors as the style. Eyebrows are the hot topic this spring. Perfectly shaped, arched eyebrows are the trend which falls into line with the classic Parisian chic style of makeup that is making the scene this spring. According to the experts, with perfectly shaped eyebrows it is easier to obtain the "I look this great all of the time" look that is the thing this spring.

In addition to the focus on eyebrows, pink is the shade for lipstick. However, please don't throw caution to the wind. Skin color plays an important role in what shade of pink you wear. Also, if you are heading towards middle age, watch how much super shiny lip gloss you use. Remember that everything is great in moderation.

Now that we are into March have some of those New Year’s resolutions to eat better and get in shape already fallen by the wayside? If you are like most people it is just too hard to make such major changes to your diet and life style. Giving up chocolate and pizza and walking 2 miles a day may seem insurmountable! Instead of going for drastic changes, resolve to make one small change at a time. You may be surprised that eventually those small changes will add up to a big lifestyle change.

Small Changes You Can Make:

• Snack Smart: Add 1 serving of fruit each day. Blueberries and strawberries are power foods. Instead of chips have a few whole-wheat crackers and natural peanut butter or spicy hummus.
• Order Smaller Sizes of your favorite drinks or fast foods: Order skim or low fat milk in your latte or mocha, skip the whipped cream and order the smaller size. By doing this you can save up to 200 calories per serving!
• Eat Smaller Portions. You can still eat most of what you like just eat a smaller portion. Did you know that the standard serving for cooked meat is 3 ounces, the size of a deck of cards? Trim all visible fat from the meat before cooking. For starches such as pasta or rice, a serving size is the size of a closed fist or about ½ of a cup. Keep in mind restaurant portions are much larger.
• Eat Chocolate - In moderation!: One ounce of dark chocolate or cocoa powder has beneficial antioxidants and can feed those cravings. Try the Dove Dark nuggets.
• Plan Your Meals Ahead of Time: Know what is for dinner before you get home from work or a busy day. This will prevent last minute decisions to eat out or bingeing when you get home. Plan your menus on the weekend and shop accordingly. You will make fewer trips to th store and fewer impulse buys.