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I’m always on the lookout for the latest greatest thing in makeup. I came across Christian Dior’s Fix It 2-in-1 Prime & Color Correct sticks a while back, but had a primer color combo I wanted to finish.

I now have the Dior green primer concealer, a necessary color to neutralize the bit of red on my chin and forehead. A week into using this product, I’m impressed. It’s smooth, goes on easily, and doesn’t cake. It blends easily with the Dior Fluid Foundation Brush, number 11.

What color will work best for you? Here is some info on all the combo options:

• Blue: This lilac-blue evens out yellow toned skin for an enhanced glow. Dabbed on the light catching areas, the forehead and the tips of the cheeks, it gives an instantly fresh and rested look.

• Apricot: perfect for deep or tanned olive complexions designed to tone down dark spots, hyper-pigmentation and dark circles.

• Yellow: corrects dark spots and under-eye circles for lighter skin tones and neutralizes lips that have a blue hue, bringing out the true color of your lipstick.

• Green: the anti-redness ally that tones down flushed areas of the complexion.

Dear Email, I Need an Hour

October 17, 2018December 27, 2018 Lora Knows...

art I remember using dial-up to get to the welcome screen of AOL. The excitement of dialing in would make me smile, and then to hear that familiar voice say, “You’ve Got Mail”, was great. Fast forward a couple decades and the newness is long gone, and email is just a part of our lives.

In the past, I would wake up and within five minutes I would grab my phone and see if there were any missed calls, texts, and then emails. As soon as I opened the inbox I was immediately focused on its contents. I would grab my laptop, bigger screen, and sit on the sofa and dig into the contents of my inbox. Before I knew it at least 30 minutes, more likely 60, would be gone, and I would feel a bit stressed.

Then in early October my boss, Kim, was telling me about a speaker she heard who talked about not doing email for the first hour after waking up. She went on to explain that one hour can make a huge difference in our productivity level for the rest of the day. I like to try new things to be more productive, and thought I’d give it a go.

At first it was hard, and I cheated a day or two that first week. I decided I needed to put my phone temptation out of reach, and placed it on the end table in the living room. Moving it from my nightstand made a big difference, and helped me start a new morning routine.

I’m an early riser, and instead of sitting down to work on emails, I’m getting things done. It isn’t always something big, but just to have time to empty the dishwasher, start a load of laundry, write a note, and to get cleaned up for the day without worrying about that inbox, is amazing.

I was sure there was more information about waiting an hour, and while Googling the subject I found some good articles, blogs, and even entire books on the subject. One author, Julie Morgenstern, wrote in her book, “Never Check Email In The Morning”, that, “there is very little that cannot wait a minimum of 59 minutes”. I agree, and the email can wait.

Daily Happenings

… & That’s Just the Way I Want It

September 25, 2018December 27, 2018 Lora Knows...

007 We’ve all heard the inspirational quotes like negative in, negative out, positive in, positive out. Some think these types of sayings are hooey (yes, I just used hooey, a much under used word). These types of phrases make a lot of sense to me, and are necessary to keep my overactive imagination in check. They also help me focus more on the positive aspects of a situation.

You see, I’m a worrier. I’m not an every day the sky is falling worrier. However, when something happens I cannot understand, cannot fix on my own, and cannot control, I worry. I worry about the hundred questions that race through my mind. You know what I’m talking about, the what if.

I bring this up because I’m in the midst of playing this what if mind game with myself. This morning I started to wind myself up again and began to worry when I decided to thumb through some old quotes. It said that the words we speak, no matter if meant innocently, can have an impact on not only that moment, but that day, and even long term. Again, negative in, negative out.

Example: How are you today? Answer: Not so great. Now here is where the quote comes into play. After you say your answer, add “and that’s just the way I want it.” Example again: How are you today? Answer: Not so great, and that’s just the way I want it.” You see where this is going.

So, to get out of my what if state of mind and be more positive about the situation I have going on, I will be thinking this quote and keep myself in a better place.

Update: I originally wrote this entry on Tuesday, here it is the weekend, and my situation has not been resolved. However, the statement, “and that’s just the way I want it”, has proved a very good tool against the what if’s.