Posted by Christy Pastore

Fitness journals are definitely helpful for people who want to lose a few pounds, athletes in training for a marathon, or those that want to set a personal record. They are also a wonderful tool for average Joes and Janes who simply want to improve their workout intensity. I started keeping a fitness journal about eight months ago to track my workouts and my weight-loss progress and with fabulous results!

I went to the bookstore and found a fitness journal that would suit my needs. Looking at the journal helped me recognize when I had reached a weight plateau, which served as a reminder that I needed to up my intensity. At the same time, it was encouraging to realize that even when I felt like I wasn't losing the pounds that I wanted, I was losing inches. I also began logging my daily eating habits, which has made a huge difference. Whatever your goals, big or small, a fitness journal will help you become successful in reaching those weight loss and fitness goals more easily.

Find out how to get started after the jump...

Only at Sephora can you find Ojan's Restorative Hair Treatment. This is a uniquely formulated versatile hair rejuvenator. Ojan's Restorative Hair Treatment contains 100% Ojan palm nut oil. Ojon oil is harvested and extracted by the Tawira people of Central America and has been for centuries. After the oil had been extracted from the nut it is then sent to a small village in Northern Italy where the oil is then purified and filtered to preserve the potency. Why am I telling you this? No reason I thought you might find it interesting.

This restorative hair product works to improve the condition of damaged, color treated hair without weighing your hair down. By fortifying, rebuilding and moisturizing this hair treatment will leave your hair unbelievably shiny, and manageable. You can use this product three ways as a deep conditioning treatment, a leave in conditioner or as a shine enhancer.

Find out how to use the product after the jump.

For many, sororities are for women who want to be a part of a sisterhood. Through the help of the organization, one may participate in campus activities, community service and of course the be a part of the social scene in college. I was in a sorority in college and it was the greatest time of my life. I believe it taught me a great deal, especially when it comes to maintaining relationships with other women.

Every national sorority is different, with each chapter on each campus widely known for a distinguishing characteristic within the Greek System. And as much as the stereotypes often attributed to each group of girls can often have a grain of truth in them, they can very often lead to interactions reminiscent of high-school bickering, overshadowing the positive qualities associated with sorority membership.

Delta Zeta sorority at DePauw University, which maintains a 75% Greek population within the student body, worried that a negative stereotype of the sorority was contributing to a decline in membership that had left its Greek-columned house here half-empty. Delta Zeta's national officers interviewed thirty-five DePauw members in November, quizzing them about their dedication to recruitment.

According to the New York Times, they judged twenty-three of the women to be insufficiently committed to the organization and later told them to vacate the sorority house. The twenty-three members included every woman who was overweight, as well as the only black, Korean and Vietnamese members. The dozen students allowed to stay were slender and popular with fraternity men -- "conventionally pretty" women the sorority hoped could attract new recruits. Six of the twelve remaining members were so infuriated they quit.

This year at the Oscars we saw a lot of stunning and bold fashion statements. This year seemed to be extremely glamorous and extravagant fashions were seen everywhere on the red carpet, with vivid colors, the stars dazzled dripping in diamonds and shiny metallic's! Diamonds weren't just used as accessories for jewelry alone, there were several dazzling diamond accents on gowns as well. Here are some of our favorite beauty statements from last nights Oscars!

Diamonds are a girl's best friend. Just ask Rachel Weisz who wore a beautiful strapless art deco-style platinum Vera Wang gown with jewels sewn onto the hem and bust, including a small glistening bow on the left side of the bust line. Her platinum and diamond necklace was a very elegant touch to the gorgeous dress. Cate Blanchett dazzled in her Swarovski crystal mesh gown by Giorgio Armani Prive, and her fabulous choice for earrings just an added touch to complete the look. Jennifer Hudson while I personally did not like her outfit (the jacket was terrible and her hair was all wrong) was wearing a striking tear drop necklace and beautiful dangling earrings, both by Fred Leighton. Jennifer Lopez's lilac Marchesa gown had an antique jeweled neckline that created a chain-link effect. I loved her look - the Grecian Princess look and her Lorraine Schwartz jewelry dazzled and complimented the gown perfectly not too busy it was all just right! Anne Hathaway has such a unique look she was definitely bold last night with her Valentino gown. I personally did not like it on her, however she had gorgeous Van Cleef & Arpels jewels including beautiful dangling pearl and platinum earrings with a three part sparkling diamond and platinum bracelet.

Studies have shown that people who drink three or more servings of antioxidant loaded juice weekly are less prone to develop Alzheimer's disease! According to research found by a study in The American Journal of Medicine people who consumed more than one glass of juice per week were 76% less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease.

Here are a few choices for juices that you can add to your daily diet!

Dole Sparklers is an invigorating, low sugar sparkling juice made with real fruit and added B vitamin complex. Not to mention Dole Sparklers has 50% less sugar than leading juice drinks. Dole sparklers comes in four delicious flavors like Cranberry Raspberry, Pomegranate Blueberry, Orange Tangerine and Pink Grapefruit. Each flavor comes in a 16.9 oz single serve four pack.

Healthy Balance by Old Orchard Brand has several flavors to choose from such as Apple Cranberry, Apple Raspberry, and even Kiwi Apple Strawberry among several others! All are sweetened with Splenda the no-calorie sweetener, and equipped with 130% of the daily value of Vitamin C. I enjoy the three cranberry flavors that you can choose from: Cranberry Grape, Cranberry Raspberry and just Cranberry!

Diet tip: For a lower-sugar drink fresh squeeze your own juice at home!

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This is not a one of my typical beauty columns today - where I share a fun beauty trick or recommend a beauty product. Today--or tonight, rather--we say farewell to the show "The O.C." which premiered four years ago and has since become a phenomenon with a loyal cult following. We couldn't get enough of the drama, the Cohen family and the beautiful sights of southern California and now they are being taken away from us...forever.

We were introduced to things like Chrismukkah, a slew of bands exhibiting super-cool, California-style music and the original beauty and the geek relationship between Seth Cohen and Summer Roberts, all of which have left their indelible mark on popular culture. Premiering in the summer of 2003, the show seemed to make a connection with teens - 30-something's across the country, making way for a rebirth of the night-time soap. And the ten million viewers that tuned into the show made it a marketer's wet dream, with advertising for youthful and engaging products and services. Not since the days of "Melrose Place" and "Beverly Hills 90210," has there been a better show that centered around the teeny-bopper drama or lifestyles of the rich, successful and beautiful people of La La Land.

More of Christy's hearfelt goodbye after the jump...

So I was doing some online shopping the other day and I came across a few products that I thought were shockingly expensive! I thought for a minute that there was an extra digit in there or that my eyes were playing tricks on me! Well come to find out that these really are the prices and posing the question would you pay $400.00 for foundation? I don't think even the A list in Hollywood would do that - oh wait I forgot someone probably gave it to them for free. Here are just a few of the most expensive beauty products that I found. I am sure that there are products out there that are more expensive and I just missed them!

Foundation - Cle De Peau Teint Naturel Poudre
Powdery Foundation SPF18 (Deluxe Metal Case and Refill ) - $400.00. Cle De Peau is a French company part of the Shiseido Company. The qualities that this particular foundation posses is that it gives the skin an absolutely flawless finish hindering dullness leaving the skin in smooth and perfect refinement.

More expensive things after the jump.

According to a recent report on msnbc.com iPods and the televisions in the gym may do more harm than good for some exercise enthusiasts. According to recent findings, the audio and video that is seen and heard at the gym keeps some exercisers pumped, but distracts others.

We have all been to our gyms and we all know that most of them have a half a dozen TV's, not to mention loud music blaring from the aerobics studio, as well as tunes playing on the sound system. All of those factors combined can serve as a major distraction for some people trying to work out. So that poses the following question: Are those distractions good or bad for exercisers? Researchers say that it goes both ways. Some music and video can inspire a workout for better, but for some individuals they may serve as distractions, hindering one's performance. In a way, music can add static to the mind-body connection.

For me personally, when I did not have my iPod and had first started to exercise again, my workouts were not as great. When I invested in the wonderful creation by Apple, I ended up enjoying my workouts much more and found that I was working out longer. I think workouts are much more enjoyable when you are listening to your own music and not a random play list that you can't control. I enjoy people-watching or having a focal point like a TV to watch as well. For me it makes running on the treadmill seem to go a lot faster.

Continue the debate after the jump...

Joan Collins, whom you might better remember as the infamous Alexis Marissa Morell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan from a little late-night eighties phenomenon known as Dynasty, has just signed a deal to be the new face of Cellex-C. Upon discovering that Joan has been using their products for years, Cellex-C Cosmaceuticals signed up the British diva to promote a new mystery product set to launch in May 2007.

When I heard that Joan Collins (who is still looking fabu these days) was crediting Cellex-C with helping her age so gracefully, I decided to do some research into their products. Cellex-C is the original formulation that pioneered the present worldwide interest in the topical application of vitamin C. Its patented complex sets Cellex-C apart from all other vitamin C products and is available in all of its products from exfoliators, moisturizers, anti-aging and a complete sun care line.

As for my personal recommendations, I love the Cellex-C Advanced-C Serum, which is a 17.5 % Vitamin C serum that is oil-free and retails for $115.00. I also recommend the Cellex-C Hydra 5 B-Complex, which is an amazing oil-free, clear gel that moisturizes without clogging your pores. Those with acne-prone skin that is too dry from Retin-A or other treatments will love this gel, which retails for $66. It seems a bit steep, I know, but think about it as an investment for great-looking skin. The high concentration of Vitamin C serum is what you're paying for, and is worth it, if you want to help keep those nasty free radicals at bay. Cellex-C products are available at Dermadoctor.com.

(via ShoppingBlog.com)

Unfortunately, short of a surgical procedure, there is no overnight treatment that will give you a rack like Pamela Anderson or Dolly Parton. Bust enhancing creams don't claim to make your chest spill out of your tank top like the girls at Hooters, anyway (or some of them, at least). Most bust creams work to tighten up the appearance of the soft skin around the breast for a firmer, more supple look.

Although using creams to get a bigger cup size is going to work just as well as "I must, I must, I must increase my bust" exercises of the past, perk up! Sisley Phytobuste Intensive Bust Compound, (www.sisley-cosmetics.com) was recommended as the one cream that might actually make "the girls" a little tighter!
This luxury cream does not run cheap, but Sisley boasts a 34% enhancement in 3 weeks.

Sisley's Phytobuste is a cream that aims to give the "natural bra" a firmer look by helping the skin regain tone and resilience. The light cream is rich with botanicals, algae extract, and essential oils and is very easy to rub in. Sisley recommends applying it morning and/or night after a shower covering the breasts up to the neckline for 3 weeks.