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How to do salat prayer

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How to Perform Salah

Having cleansed yourself by Wudu, you may proceed to perform Salah. Wudu is a ritual cleansing. Before you begin your Salah, however, you must make sure that you have a clean body, a clean place to pray, and that you are wearing clothing free of impurities. The minimum clothing required during Salah is:

A. For males: Any clothing that covers from the naval to the knees. It is preferable to cover the shoulders.

B. For females: Any clothing that covers all of the body (including the head) except the face, hands, and according to Imam Abu-Hanifah the toes and a portion of the front of the feet.

The way to offer Salah is:

1.          Stand upright facing the direction of Al-Ka’bah.  This position is called Qiyaam and the direction is called Qiblah in Arabic.  The Qiblah in North America is towards the east with a slight angle towards the north.

2.          Make Niyyah (intention) in your heart for the prayer you want to pray.

3.          Raise your hands to your ears and say: “Allahu Akbar.” This means: (Allah is the Greatest). This is called Takbiratul Ihram

4.          Now place your right hand on top of your left hand on the chest and look downward to the place where your forehead will touch the ground in the Sujood (prostration) and recite silently:

“Subhanaka allahumma wa bi hamdika wa tabara kasmuka wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuka.”

سبحانك اللهم و بحمدك،  وتبارك اسمك، و تعالى جدك، ولا إله غيرك

This means: “O Allah, how perfect You are and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty. There is no god but You.” [Only recite this supplication, Subhanaka, at the beginning of the first Rak'ah]

Then recite silently:  “A’udhu billahi minash shaitanir rajim.”

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم

This is called Ta’awwudh, and it means: “I seek shelter in Allah from the rejected Satan.”

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Then recite:  “Bismillahir rahmanir rahim.”

This is called Tasmiyah, and it means: “In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful.”

5.          After this, recite Suratul Fatihah (the opening chapter) of the Noble Qur’an:

“Al hamdu lil lahi rabbil ‘alamin. Arrahmanir rahim. Maliki yawmiddin. Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’in. Ihdinas siratal mustaqim. Siratal ladhina an’amta’alaihim, ghairil maghdubi’alaihim wa lad dhallin. (Amin)”

<< الحمد لله رب العالمين، الرحمن الرحيم، مالك يوم الدين، إياك نعبد

< وإياك نستعين، اهدنا الصراط المستقيم، صراط الذين أنعمت عليهم غير المغضوب عليهم ولأ الضا لين >

This means:

“All praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the most Gracious, the most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, from You alone we seek help. Guide us along the straight path – the path of those whom You favored, not of those who earned Your anger or went astray.”

You must recite Surat Al-Fatihah in each unit (Rak’ah) of the prayer, if you pray alone.  However, if praying behind an Imam and he recites loudly, then it is not necessary for you to recite it.

6.          Now recite any other passage from the Noble Qur’an.

For example:  “Bismillahir rahmanir rahim

Qul hu wal lahu ahad, allahus samad, lam yalid wa lam yulad, wa lam ya kul lahu kufuwan ahad.”

< بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم >

< قل هوا لله أحد،الله الصمد، لم يلد و لم يولد، و لم يكن له كفوا أحد >

This means:

“In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful.  Say, He is Allah, the One. Allah is Eternal and Absolute. He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none co-equal unto Him.”

7.          Now bow down saying: “Allahu Akbar” and place your hands on your knees and say silently: “Subhana Rabbiyal Adhim.” This means: (How Perfect is my Lord, the Supreme) three times.  This position is called Rukoo’. Keep your head in line with your back, and look downward to the place of Sujood. (See step 9)

8.          Stand up from the bowing position saying: “Sami’Allahu liman hamidah” (Allah hears those who praise Him)”Rabbana lakal hamd.” This means: (Our Lord, praise be to You).

9.          Prostrate on the floor saying:  “Allahu Akbar” with your forehead, nose, palms of both hands, your knees, and toes all touching the floor.  Then recite silently: “Subhana Rabbiyal A’la.”

(How Perfect is my Lord, the Highest) three times. This position is called Sujood. Keep your arms away from the sides of the body and the ground.

10.        Sit up from the floor saying Allahu Akbar. Sit upright with your knees bent and palms placed on them and say: “Rabbighfir li.”

رب اغفر لي

This means:

“O my Lord! Forgive me.”

Say “Allahu Akbar” and again prostrate in the Sujood position. Recite “Subhana Rabbiyal A’la” three times. Sit up from this position saying “Allahu Akbar”

This completes the first Rak’ah or unit of Salah.  Now stand up for the second Rak’ah and perform it in the same way, except that you do not recite Subhanaka at the beginning, and after the second Sujood (prostration) you sit on the left leg while keeping the right foot upright and put your right hand on the right thigh, with all fingers together in a fist except the index finger. Stick the index finger straight out. Put your left hand on the left thigh. Now recite Tashahhud silently:

التحيات لله  والصلوات  والطيبات، السلام عليك أيها النبي  ورحمة لله

وبركاته، السلام علينا و على عباد الله الصالحين، أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، وأشهد أن محمدا عبده و رسوله.

“At-Tahiyyatu lillahi              This means: “Greetings, prayers and

was- Salawatu wat-Tayyibatu.              goodness belong to Allah.

As-Salamu ‘ alaika                                                Peace be on you,

ayyuhannabiyyu                                                               O Prophet

wa rahmatullahi                                          and the mercy of Allah

wa barakatuhu.                                                    and His blessings.

Assalamu ‘alaina wa’ala                              Peace be on us and on

ibadil-Lahis -Salihin                      the righteous servants of Allah

ash hadu al-La ilaha                                           I bear witness that

il-Lal lahu                                                there is no god but Allah,

wa ash hadu anna                                           and bear witness that

Muhammadan abduhu                          Muhammad is His servant

wa rasuluhu.”                                                        and Messenger.”

In a three-Rak’ah Salah (as in Maghrib) or a four-Rak’ah Salah (Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha) you stand up for the remaining Rak’ah(s) after you have done Tashahhud. For a two-Rak’ah Salah you remain seated after Tashahhud and then recite silently Assalatul-Ibrahimiyah:

اللهم صل على محمد وعلى آل محمد، كما صليت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم، وبارك على محمد وعلى آل محمد، كما باركت على إبراهيم

وعلى آل إبراهيم، في العالمين إنك حميد مجيد.

“Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin            “O Allah, let Your mercy come upon Muhammad

Wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin                                 and the family of Muhammad

Kama sallaita ‘ala Ibrahima                             as You let it come upon Ibrahim

wa ‘ala ali Ibrahima                                           and the family of Ibrahim

wa barik ‘ala Muhammadin                             O Allah, bless Muhammad

wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin                                  and the family of Muhammad

Kama barakta ‘ ala Ibrahima                          as You blessed Ibrahim

Wa ‘ ala ali Ibrahima                                         and the family of Ibrahim.

Fil a’lamina Innaka                                           Truly You are

hamidun Majid.”                                               Praiseworthy and Glorious.”

After this say silently: “Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min adhabi jahanam wamin adhabil qabri wamin sharri fitnatil mahya wal mamat wamin sharri fitnatil masihid dajjaal. Rabbi-ghfir li waliwalidayya, rabbi-rhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira.”

اللهم إني أعوذ بك من عذاب جهنم، و من عذاب القبر، و من فتنة المحيا و الممات، و من فتنة المسيح الدجال، رب اغفر لي  و لوالدي  رب ارحمهما  كما ربياني  صغيرا.

This means: “O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the torment of the Hellfire, from the torment of the grave, from the trials and afflictions of life and death, and from the deception of the False-Christ. O my Lord! Grant me and my parents forgiveness, and bestow Your mercy upon them, just as they brought zme up when I was small.”

11.        Now turn your face to the right saying: “Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah” (peace and the mercy of Allah be on you) and then to the left repeating the same words.


How to Perform Salah

Prayer is a Muslim’s Mairaj, or communication with Allah. Prayer purifies and cleans your mind five times a day, and serves to bring peace to your life. Prayer is a man’s way of thanking Allah, and reminds him that Allah is watching over his life, giving him the courage to face even the toughest of times. This article explains how the Islamic prayer, salah, is performed.

Steps

Prepare for prayer. Preparing for prayer includes cleaning yourself, wearing clean clothes, and finding a clean and pure place to pray.

* Perform the Wudu, or the Ghusl, depending on your requirement. You must perform the Ghusl if you have had sexual intercourse, after discharge of other sexual fluids, and after a woman has completed her menstrual cycle.
* Wear clean clothes. Men should cover at least the part of their body between the navel and the knees, but it is preferable to wear a (preferably long sleeved) shirt. The lower garment must extend to below the knees, but must be above the ankles.
* Pray in a clean place. The place where you pray must be clean and pure. If you are not sure whether the ground is clean or not, spread a clean cloth over it.

Stand to face the Qibla. The Qibla is the direction towards the Holy Kaaba. Some compasses modified for this purpose are now available. Many hotel rooms also have the Qibla direction marked somewhere on the roof. You must be looking towards the spot where your head will touch the ground during the Sajdah and your feet must be evenly spaced. Shiite muslims use a stone in their prayer. When they go to Sajdah, they place their forehead on the stone. If you are a Sunni, you don’t need a stone, but if you are a Shiite, you should use a stone. If a stone is not available, use a napkin or a blank piece of paper.

Make the intention to pray. You do not need to say it out loud, but you need to know which prayer of the day you are performing, what will be the type of the rakaat, and the number of rakaats. An example would be to think “I will perform 2/4 rakaat farz/sunnat/nafil of the fajr/zuhr/asr/maghrib/isha/ prayer”.

Perform the Takbiratul Ihram. This starts the prayer. Raise your hands, palms facing forwards, up till your ear lobes (or to your shoulders if you are a woman), and say الله أَكْبَر (Allahu Akbar = God is The Greatest).

Perform Qiyam. Qiyam is where you stand up, your hands folded across your chest, and recite the Surah Al Fatiha and another short portion of the Qur’an.

1. Stand up straight, with your hands folded. Your right hand should be over your left, and they should overlap till the wrists only. Men place their folded hands below their navel, and women at chest level(Three of the Sunni schools of Islamic law: the Hanafi, Shafi’i and Hanbali groups pray with their hands folded. Malikis pray with their arms at their sides. If you are a Shiite, stand with your arms at your sides.)

2. Recite Surah Al-FatihahAl-Fatihah. Your voice should preferably be audible to yourself, but if it is not, at least your lips need to move. If your lips do not move, and you think the prayer, it will be invalid.

3. Recite a short portion of the Qur’an. It is helpful to have memorized small surahs of the Qur’an by heart. The last of the 30 parts of the Qur’an contains many small surahs that are easy to memorize. Commonly recited surahs are Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq, Surah Al-Nas, and Surah Al-Kafirun.

Perform Ruk’u. The ruku is basically a bow. You unfold your hands and bow, then placing your hands on your knees. Your back should become parallel to the ground. It is essential to completely bow, not just tilt your body at 45o to the vertical. Say الله أَكْبَر (Allahu Akbar)as you perform this step. When you are in ruku, recite سبحان ربى العظيم (Subhan rabbi alAdheem) thrice.

Rise up. Rise from the bow, while reciting ربنا لك الحمد (Our Lord, to You is due all praise).

Perform Prostration. Say الله أَكْبَر (Allahu Akbar) and prostrate, placing your forehead, palms, and knees on the ground. The bases of both feet’s fingers need to touch the ground. Your forehead must be bare – a covered forehead invalidates prayer. Recite سبحان ربى الأعلى (Subhan rabbi alAla) thrice. A woman’s elbows may touch the ground, but men must keep their elbows raised above the ground.

Rise to a sitting position, saying الله أَكْبَر (Allahu Akbar). When you are in this position, you must keep your eyes at your lap. Men turn up the heel, and bend the toes, of the right foot. Women keep both their feet, soles up, under their body.

Prostrate again, saying الله أَكْبَر (Allahu Akbar). The second prostration is identical to the first one.

Rise up to proceed to the next raka’at, saying الله أَكْبَر (Allahu Akbar). The second raka’at is identical to the first one up till the second prostration, but without the Takbiratul Ihram.
* Perform the Tasyahhud at the end of the second raka’at. After the second prostration, stay in a sitting position and recite the Tashahhud (also known as Tahiyat) and then the Salawat

Atta-hiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibatu As-salamu ‘alaika ayyuh-an-Nabiyyu wa rahmat-ullahi wa barakatuhu As-salamu ‘alaina wa ‘alaa ‘Ibaadillah-is-salihin. Ash-hadu-al-la-Ilaha illAllahu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluh. meaning All worships – oral, physical and momentary – are for Allah. Allah’s peace be upon you, O Prophet, and His mercy and blessings. Peace be on us and on all righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.

* If you are performing only two raka’ats, then this is the last raka’at. After saying the Tasyahhud and the Salawat, say the Durud,

اللهم صلى على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما صليت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم

و بارك على محمد وعلى آل محمد كما باركت على إبراهيم وعلى آل إبراهيم فى العلمين إنك انت الحميد المجيد

(Allahuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala Aali Muhammad kama saliet ala Ibrahim wa ala Aali Ibrahim ennak hameed majeed, wa barik ala Muhammad wa ala Aali Muhammad kama barakta ala Ibrahim wa ala Aali Ibrahim ennak hameed majeed) and then complete the prayer by looking over your right shoulder (where the angel who records your good deeds is) and saying the Salaam

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

and then looking over your left shoulder (where the angel who records your wrongful deeds is) and saying the same.

If you are performing more than two raka’ats, do not say the Durud or the Salaam, but rise after saying the Tasyahhud and Salawat and proceed to the next raka’at. The third raka’at is performed just like the first one, and you rise directly after the second prostration without saying the Tasyahhud or Salaam, unless it is your last raka’at. After your last raka’at, complete the prayer after the second prostration by reciting the Tasyahhud, Salawat, Durud, and Salaam, as described in the step above.

* Note on farz and witr prayers:
o In the farz prayers, the first two rak’at are performed as stated above.In any raka’ats after that, during the Qiyam, only the Surah Al-Fatiha is recited, and is not followed by a short portion of the Holy Qur’an/
o In the three witr raka’at for the Isha’ prayer, the first two are performed as stated above. In the third raka’at, after reciting a short portion of the Qur’an in the Qiyam, say الله أَكْبَر and raise your hands to your ears (chest for women), as in the Takbiratul Ihram, and then lower and fold them. Then, say the Dua-e-Qunut. After that, bow and prostrate as usual.

EditThe five prayers of the day

* Fajr prayer is offered between dawn and sunrise. It consists of two raka’at sunnah, followed by two raka’at farz.

* Zuhr prayer is offered between true noon and the time when an object’s shadow equals it in size. It consists of four raka’at pre-farz sunnah, four raka’at farz, two raka’at post farz sunnah, and two raka’at nafil.

* Asr prayer is offered between the time when an object’s shadow equals it in size, to just before sunset. It contains four raka’at pre-farz sunnah, and four raka’at farz.

* Maghrib prayer is offered between sunset to the time when twilight disappears. It contains three raka’at farz followed by two raka’at post-farz sunnah and two raka’at nafil.

* Isha’ prayer is offered between the time when the twilight disappears and mdnight. It consists of four raka’at pre-farz sunnah, 4 raka’at farz, two raka’at post-farz sunnah, two raka’at nafil, and three witr.


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How to do simultaneous equations

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Simultaneous equations – Higher

Sometimes you will be asked to find 2 unknown values by solving 2 equations at the same time. These types of equations are called simultaneous equations.

Simultaneous equations

Simultaneous equations are two equations with two unknowns. They are called simultaneous because they must both be solved at the same time.

The first step is to try to eliminate one of the unknowns.
Example

Solve these simultaneous equations and find the values of x and y.

* Equation 1: 2x + y = 7
* Equation 2: 3x – y = 8

Add the two equations to eliminate the ys:

* 2x + y = 7
* 3x – y = 8
* ————
* 5x = 15
* x = 3

* Now you can put x = 3 in either of the equations.
* Substitute x = 3 into the equation 2x + y = 7:
* 6 + y = 7
* y = 1

So the answers are x = 3 and y = 1

Sometimes you will need to multiply one of the equations before you can add or subtract. Have a look at the activity below.

On other occasions you will need to multiply both equations to find the unknown values. Always look for a way to cancel out one of the unknown terms. Have a go at the question below.

Question

* Solve the two equations:
* Equation 1: 2a – 5b = 11
* Equation 2: 3a + 2b = 7

Answer

* 4a – 10b = 22 (Multiply by 2)
* 15a + 10b = 35 (Multiply by 5)
* ———————-
* 19a = 57 (Adding)
* a = 3

* Put a = 3 into the equation 3a + 2b = 7:
* 9 + 2b = 7
* 2b = -2
* b = -1

So the answers are a = 3 and b = -1.

We can also use a method of substitution. Look at the following example:
Example

Solve the simultaneous equations:

Equation 1: y – 2x = 1

Equation 2: 2y – 3x = 5

Rearranging Equation 1, we get y = 1 + 2x

We can replace the ‘y’ in equation 2 by substituting it with 1 + 2x

Equation 2 becomes: 2(1 + 2x) – 3x = 5

2 + 4x – 3x = 5

2 + x = 5

x = 3

Substituting x = 3 into Equation 1 gives us y – 6 = 1, so y = 7.

Solving simultaneous equations using graphs

Solving simultaneous equations using a graph is easier than you might think. First, you need to draw the lines of the equations. The points where the lines cross is the solution.
Linear equations

The graphs of linear equations will give straight lines.
Example

* Solve these simultaneous equations by drawing graphs:
* 2x + 3y = 6
* 4x – 6y = – 4

For example, to draw the line 2x + 3y = 6 pick two easy numbers to plot. One when x = 0 and one where y= 0

* When x = 0 in the equation 2x + 3y = 6
* This means 3y = 6 so y = 2
* So one point on the line is (0, 2)

* When y = 0
* 2x = 6 so x = 3
* So another point on the line is (3 ,0)

In an exam, only use this method if you are prompted to by a question. It is usually quicker to use algebra if you are not asked to use graphs.
image: graph showing 2x + 3y = 6 and 4x minus 6y = minus 4

Linear and quadratic equation
Example

* Solve the simultaneous equations by drawing graphs.
* y – 2x = 1
* y = x2 – 2

Simultaneous Equations

A pair of “Simultaneous equations” is two equations which are both true at the same time. You have two equations which have two unknowns to be found.
Example

A man buys 3 fish and 2 chips for £2.80
A woman buys 1 fish and 4 chips for £2.60
How much are the fish and how much are the chips?

First we form the equations. Let fish be f and chips be c.
We know that:

3f + 2c = 280    (1)
f + 4c = 260      (2)

There are two methods of solving simultaneous equations. Use the method which you prefer:
Elimination

This involves changing the two equations so that one can be added/ subtracted from the other to leave us with an equation with only one unknown (which we can solve). We can ‘change’ the equations by multiplying them through by a constant- as long as we multiply both sides of the equation by the same number it will remain true.

In our above example:

Doubling (1) gives:
6f + 4c = 560 (3)

Since equation (2) has a 4c in it, we can subtract this from the new equation (3) and the c’s will all have disappeared:
(3)-(2) gives 5f = 300
∴ f = 60
Therefore the price of fish is 60p

So we can put f=60 in either of our original equations. Substitute this value into (1):
3(60) + 2c = 280
∴ 2c = 100
c = 50
Therefore the price of chips is 50p
Substitution

The method of substitution involves transforming one equation into x = (something) or y = (something) and then substituting this something into the other equation.

So,

Rearrange one of the original equations to isolate a variable.

Rearranging (2): f = 260 – 4c
Substitute this into the other equation:
3(260 – 4c) + 2c = 280
∴ 780 – 12c + 2c = 280
∴ 10c = 500
∴ c = 50
Substitute this into one of the original equations to get f = 60 .
This section is higher tier Harder simultaneous equations

To solve a pair of equations, one of which contains x2, y2 or xy, we need to use the method of substitution.
Example

2xy + y = 10  (1)
x + y = 4        (2)
Take the simpler equation and get y = …. or x = ….
from (2), y = 4 – x    (3)
this can be substituted in the first equation. Since y = 4 – x, where there is a y in the first equation, it can be replaced by 4 – x .
sub (3) in (1), 2x(4 – x) + (4 – x) = 10
∴ 8x – 2×2 + 4 – x – 10 = 0
∴ 7x – 2×2 – 6 = 0
∴ 2×2 – 7x + 6 = 0  (taking everything to the other side of the equals sign)
∴ (2x – 3)(x – 2) = 0
∴ either 2x – 3 = 0 or x – 2 = 0
therefore x = 1.5 or 2 .

Substitute these x values into one of the original equations.
When x = 1.5,  y = 2.5
when x = 2, y = 2


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How to do smokey eyes

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“How To Get Smokey Eyes”

Smokey eyes have been a big style for quite awhile and there’s no sign this particular trend is dying. Here we show you step-by-step instructions on how to get the perfect smokey eye.

The key to the perfect smokey eye is proper blending. You want to make sure colors are blended together flawlessly. Also, it’s important to pair light base colors with rich dark colors. Nice mixes include: Soft gold base with deep purple on top, champagne base with bright blue and peach base with green hue.

1. Prep the lid. The key to keeping eyeshadow from melting into your eyelid crease as the day goes on is to kept eyelids oil-free. To do this start with an eyeshadow base (also called “primer”). Simply swipe the primer across the eye and let it dry before you continue to the next step.

Some great primers for a smokey eye include MAC’s ‘paint’ and Urban Decay’s ‘Primer Potion’.

2. Apply eyeliner. If you’re going for a typical black, brown or gray smoky eye, apply liner in one of those colors above the upper lash line, drawing line thicker in the middle of eye. If you’re opting for a jewel-toned eye (violet makes a gorgeous smokey eye), line eyes with a purple, blue or deep green liner.

For more intricate directions on lining for a smoky eye see How to apply eyeliner. Also see my list of the best eyeliners. I include several that work great for the smokey eye.

3. Blend in color on bottom lashes For color on the bottom (a key smokey eye look) you’ll want to use a eyeliner pencil because they’re easiest to smudge. Once the line is drawn, run your finger over it to smudge the line. You can also apply a bit of shadow to get full smudge effect.

4. Apply light base color Again, the key to a smokey eye is pairing a lighter base with the darker hue. I prefer a nice cream shade for my base. Sweep a light, shimmery shadow over the lids to your browbone. I love Stila’s whipped eye shadows. The moist “mousse” consistency seems to stay on forever. My favorite colors are taupe and pearl.

5. Blend in darker color, but keep dark color below the crease. Now that you have the base and eyeliner on, it’s time to get the smokey effect. You need a darker eyeshadow shade. Using an eyeshadow brush blend in color starting at your lash line, blending up. Make sure to blend color into the lash line so the eye liner disappears. Stop deep color at crease. The key here is to blend, blend, blend.

6. Doublecheck your work Make sure eyes match and blend color with a Q-tip if need be.

7. Finish with several coats of mascara. You’ll want to apply a few coats of mascara so lashes are thick and dark. If you don’t have naturally long, curled lashes, curl them with a lash curler first. See my list of best mascaras if you don’t have one you love.

Tips:

1. Remember to keep lips nude. When applying strong makeup (like smokey eyes or red lips) put the focus on either eyes or lips, never both. (Think Angelina Jolie: She either plays up her huge eyes or her huge lips, never both. If she did, she’d look like a clown).

2. For a bit of fun, try a blue or purple mascara. It will make blue eyes “pop.”

3. Liner doesn’t have to come in pencil form. Makeup experts know eyeshadows make some of the best eyeliners. To do this take an eyeliner brush (available at Sephora, MAC or any dept store), wet it, then dab wet brush into the dark shadow. This allows for a deep, precise line. You can also use the dark shadows without wetting brush first. Either way, eyeliner is necessary for smoky eye.

4. This season go jewel-toned (blue is great for you blue-eyed girls) and keep your eyes smoky but stay away from dark browns and black. Instead, go for a deep purple, a gold-brown or any of the many vibrant colors in this year.

What You Need

* Eye primer (you don’t need it, but it’s great for keeping shadow in place)
* 2 Shadows: One light, one darker
* Eyeliner
* Makeup brushes
* Mascara


Smokey Eye Makeup

Smokey Eye Makeup Guide Step 1:
Choose your eye shadow colors.

The traditional smokey eye makeup colors are, of course, black or grey.

You are however not limited to these color choices, you can also use less intense colors such as: violet, chocolate, coffee, dark pink, copper, dark green, dark blue or purple.

Remember when choosing eye shadow shades that colors should be chosen keeping in mind your eye color, hair color and skin tone and not the color of the clothes you wear. For smokey eye makeup you will need to choose 2 color coordinated eye shadows. A darker feature color and a lighter supporting color.

Smokey Eye Makeup – Beauty-Secrets 4 U

For smokey eye makeup what feature color eye shadow best suits blue eyes?

Smokey Eye Makeup feature color eye shadow for blue eyes.
For Blue eyes, in addition to black or grey, violet, purple or dark blue eye shadow will look great. The dark blue eye shadow in particular, as it will be darker than your eye color, will accentuate your blue eyes.

For smokey eye makeup what feature color eye shadow best suits green or hazel eyes?

Smokey Eye Makeup feature color eye shadow for green or hazel eyes.
For Green or Hazel eyes, in addition to black or grey, try a deep khaki, dark green, brown, purple or plum color eye shadow.

For smokey eye makeup what feature color eye shadow best suits brown eyes?

Smokey Eye Makeup feature color eye shadow for brown eyes.
For Brown eyes, in addition to black or grey, copper, coffee, and brown will give you a great smokey eye effect.

Once you have chosen your feature eye shadow color you need to choose your supporting eye shadow color. If you prefer to use single eye shadows, rather than a color coordinated duo or triple eye shadow, choose a light color eye shadow that matches your feature eye shadow color. Possible colors to choose from, for a soft sophisticated look, are: lilac, light peach, champagne, taupe, nude or a sand color. For a more dramatic high contrast look you could use a whitish color eye shadow.

Smokey eye makeup tip: Use powdery eye shadows. Do not use creamy texture eye shadows as they are more difficult to smudge and blend.

Smokey Eye Makeup Guide Step 2: Choose your eyeliner pencil.

Choose a soft eyeliner pencil of the same color or a complementary shade to your feature eye shadow.

Smokey eye makeup tip: If possible choose a Powderliner eyeliner pencil. They are easier to blend and are sometimes available with a sponge tip for easy blending.

Smokey eye makeup tip: Never use liquid eyeliner. Liquid eyeliners are better for sharper lines, not a soft and sultry finish.

Smokey Eye Makeup Guide Step 3: Apply your foundation base.

Normally you would apply your full foundation before applying your eye makeup. This is not the case when doing smokey eye makeup. You should apply your eye makeup first, that way if you get some of your eye shadow on the rest of your face you won’t ruin your foundation. This also helps avoid a raccoon eye look under your eye. For smoother eye shadow application, that lasts longer, you do however want to first apply a thin layer of foundation to your eyelids followed by a thin layer of face powder to set the foundation. This will give you a clean canvas for your eye shadow and will also help to prevent the eye shadow from creasing. This will also give you more even, accurate, eye shadow application.

Smokey Eye Makeup Guide Step 4: Apply your eyeliner.
Line both the top and bottom rims of your eyes with your eyeliner pencil.

Typically you would use a black or charcoal eyeliner pencil but you can also use a dark eyeliner pencil that matches your feature eye shadow color.

Make sure to go into the eyelash line itself (near the root of your eyelashes). Be sure to fill in any bare spaces between the eyelashes.

Smokey Eye Makeup Apply your eyeliner

Start from the inner corner of your eyes with a fine line.

As you go outwards towards the corner of your eye make the line heavier.

If you have any hard lines from using a heavy eyeliner pencil you will want to lightly smudge the line so it is softer and less harsh looking.

Smokey Eye Makeup – Apply your eyeliner 1

This step is made a lot easier by using a Powderliner eyeliner pencil with a built in sponge tip for smudging.

Smokey Eye Makeup – Apply your eyeliner 3

Smokey eye makeup tip: Dark colors tend to make small eyes look even smaller. You can open your eyes up by applying eyeliner starting from the middle of the bottom eyelash line, rather than the inside corner, and going to the outer corner of the eye. If your eyes are not smallish feel free to apply the eyeliner from corner to corner.

Smokey Eye Makeup Guide Step 5: Apply your eye shadows
Using your larger eye shadow brush apply your supporting eye shadow color to your eyelids, up to the base of your eyebrows.

Now, using your feature eye shadow color, and your small eye shadow brush, apply your dark feature eye shadow onto the eyeliner and then blend it upward to the crease of your eyelid.

Smokey Eye Makeup – Apply your eye shadows

When blending your feature eye shadow keep as much of the color intensity as possible along the eyelash line and particularly in the outer corners of your eyes.

Smokey eye makeup tip: Remember smudge and blend so the eyeliner and eye shadows go together seamlessly.

Smokey Eye Makeup Guide Step 6: Apply your mascara

Smokey eye makeup tip: Curl your eyelashes before applying mascara, this opens your eyes up.

Apply 2 or 3 coats of black mascara applying the mascara in thin coats to avoid clumping.

Smokey Eye Makeup – Apply your mascara

Smokey Eye Makeup Guide Step 7: Complete your smokey eye makeup look

Complete your foundation being careful not to mess up your beautiful smokey eyes.

Keeping your lips neutral gives smokey eyes their real impact. Use a flesh toned lip pencil and a pink or caramel shade of lipstick or lip gloss to give your lips a subtle finish.

For your eyebrows you can use your normal eyebrow pencil. You could also use a shade darker than normal to complement your smokey eyes.

Apply a subtle finish of rose or tawny blusher just to the apples of your cheeks blending away to the edges into your hairline. This finishes the face without competing with your smoldering smokey eyes.


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How to do zombie makeup

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How-To Zombie Makeup

For this makeup, we used Mehron’s Zombie Character Kit. I recommend this kit because it included liquid latex, blood, and a color wheel of great bruise colors.

* Fake skin mixture – Use cornstarch to make this fake skin to replace liquid latex in a pinch.
* Cream face paint in red, blue or purple, yellow and green.
* Fake blood – Make your own fake blood using everyday kitchen items. I have 8 different recipes so you can make bright red blood, dried blood, realistic blood and even scabs.
* Paintbrush and Q-tips.
* Stipple sponge. Use a bath loofa or scouring pad if you don’t have a stipple sponge.

Use your cream white to pale the skin. To keep things looking real and creepy, add a light swipe of green and red under the cheekbones to create a sunken-cheeked look.

Use a brush loaded with black and red to create these veins that are often characteristic of zombies that were created by an outbreak or disease.

Be sure to make these lines emerge from the edges of the face. Next, we will sink and bruise the eyes.

For a sunken, diseased or bruised zombie eye, first use your finger to blot red along the bottom of the eye socket and around the top of the lid.

For a bruise, Apply a light layer of blue over the red, and add yellow around the edges of the bruise.

For a sunken eye socket, use your paintbrush to outline the bottom of the eye socket in black, just like in our Skull Face Paint Tutorial. Blend the black in toward the eye. Blot the red area with a light layer of black and blue.

Every zombie remembers their first zombifying bite. To create yours, use liquid latex or a fake skin recipe.

For a round bite like this one, blot on the latex with a q-tip, as shown. Use a press-and-lift blotting motion rather than simply drawing on the circle.

Use a hair dryer to solidify the latex. This will take a minute or two for small areas of latex.

Cover the latex with black makeup, then brush a generous amount of red into the middle of the wound. Lightly brush over the black area with red. We aren’t done with the bite just yet.

Now we need to blend the bite into the rest of your skin. This method also works to make wounds anywhere on the body.

Use your fingers to pat on dark blue around the rim of the black latex. Start out thick around the edge of the latex and gradually apply less as you move away from the wound. Apply red over the blue areas, blending into your skin color at the outside of the bruise.

Now add blots of yellow at choice spots, using your finger again to lightly apply the makeup. The yellow blotches will give the bruise a more realistic look. Next, let’s add some fake blood.

Need blood? You can make your own out of common items in the kitchen: Make Fake Blood.

Use a stipple sponge to apply droplets of blood to the wound. If you don’t have a stipple sponge, use a scouring pad or bath puff instead.

Coat the front of your sponge with fake blood and gently blot it over the wound. The idea is to create round droplets.

For dripping blood, just give the sponge a squeeze to make the fake blood run out over the skin. You can add a little bit of blood to the bite wound, or go crazy and cover the side of your face in a tell-tale blood spatter.

If there is any one scary part of a zombie, it is their hungry, hungry mouths. People really are bothered by a toothless or rotten mouth.

Black out the teeth of your zombie for a truly disturbing touch. I suggest using Mehron Tooth F-X because it will last all day and tastes a little like mint. Alternately, use black lipstick or even some of that prank candy that will turn your entire mouth black.

Most zombies have a generous amount of blood around the mouth. Use your fingers to apply fake blood around the mouth, then blot and drip with the sponge for a natural blood-flow.

Now you’ve got down the basic maneuvers for zombie makeup. Next lets look at some tips for success.

* Don’t imitate. Everyone becomes a zombie in a different way. Are you a fresh zombie or have you been dead for a week or two? Did you get bitten on the face or the arm? Have you been part of any blood-drenched zombie buffets?

* Easy on the blood. When it comes to using fake blood, less is often more. If you smear your entire body in fake blood, then the effect will not be as striking. Focus on choice areas to smear and blot your blood for realism.

* Blending makes the difference. For bruises, sunken skin or wounds, don’t forget that blending into your own skin tone is what will make the effects look real.
* For a simple makeup job using what is already in your cosmetics bag, try this zombie makeup video tutorial.

Zombie Makeup

For thousands of years makeup has been used by women to enhance beauty, it has also been utilized in the movies to create special effects. One of the most important visual effects in zombie movies is the dramatic, appetence of rotting flesh wounds, dried blood, and pealing skin and other bodily lesions created by using cosmetic makeup. Makeup can make a happy little blond girl look like an intimidating pale walking corpse ready to feast on the living.

Zombie makeup can be a bit tricky without knowing where to start. With the right tools most gory wounds can be a much easier than you think. Here are a few tips to help you with your zombie special effects makeup.

Supplies
Most tools used for creating gruesome zombie special effects don’t have to be expensive. Don’t rush off and buy an expensive “professional” special effects makeup kit. Here are some basic products and information:

Some application tools are going to be required to put the makeup on. Try not to buy expensive brushes because they will get ruined. Don’t use fine art brushes; they will clump up easily and quickly become useless. Cheap children’s paint brushes work just fine. Other household items such as sponges, combs or anything else you can imagine can be great for creating interesting textures, just know that these items will probably need to be thrown away when finished.

Selecting the right makeup is easy. Don’t use normal women’s cosmetic makeup it is usually very expensive. Most costume or Halloween shops sell greasepaints, cream and powders for relatively cheap and they work great. Keep in mind if using greasepaints its good to have a powder to help set it, baby powder works great.

One of the most impressive features of zombie effects are the gashing wounds. Liquid Latex is the best way to make these realistic, thin Elmer’s glue or PVA glue are not as convincing but still get the job done if needed. It is important to spread latex thin, if done so it will dry clear and have better results. Other Prosthetic adhesives such as spirit gum can be used to fix random items on to the skin for long periods of time.

Other items can be used for a wide range of effects. Toilet paper is good for creating more textured and rippled looks. Cables, cut plastic bottles, candles, pretty much anything imaginable can be used to have some kind of effect. Zombies wouldn’t be quit as disgusting without oozing blood. Fake blood is cheap in can usually be found in the same places as the greasepaints and makeup. Even cheaper alternatives can be made at home by using red food coloring and corn syrup, some powders such as Kool-Aid and cocoa powder can help giver richer colors and also helps to give a clotting look.


How to Make Zombie Makeup

Whether you need zombie makeup for a small film, Halloween costume or stage play, making the creepy effect is cheap and easy. Apply zombie makeup in about 20 to 30 minutes and transform a normal person into a fantastic, frightening zombie.

Test the liquid latex. The arm is the best place to do this. Some people with sensitive skin may be allergic to the liquid latex. You won’t be able to use it on their face if putting it on their arms causes a reaction.

Prepare the face for the makeup. Wash the face thoroughly and remove any facial hair. Pull the person’s hair away from his face with a headband or bandanna.

Apply a thin, even layer of liquid latex on the subject’s face. Allow the latex to dry. This normally takes about 15 minutes, but may vary depending on the brand of latex you use.

Place one square of toilet paper on each of the subject’s cheeks. Apply enough latex to seal the paper to the face. Fold a square of toilet paper in half lengthwise and place it loosely on the person’s forehead. Cover it with a layer of latex and allow it to dry.

Form wrinkles on the future zombie’s cheeks by pushing up on the toilet paper. Use the same technique to create a long, 1/2-inch wide wrinkle on the forehead.

Cover the latex with the white cream makeup. This is the base coat that holds the rest of the makeup in place. Tear open the top layer of toilet paper somewhere on the person’s face to make a gash. Fold back any extra toilet paper to create a peeling flesh effect. Apply dark red and black makeup into the middle of the gash to look like muscle and blood.

Make thick, black circles around both eyes to make them appear sunken in. Ask the actor to smile and make black lines in the wrinkles around her smile.

Apply the aging makeup. Begin with the light colors and slowly move to the darker colors. Make the skin look as though it is old and rotting. Practice this technique to find the exact look you want or simply experiment as you go along.

ResourceS:-

How to do a french plait

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How to French Braid

A beautiful and classic hairstyle, the French braid is a little challenging to learn at first. However, if you follow these steps carefully and patiently, you’ll soon know how to braid your own hair, or someone else’s.

Steps

Learn how do the basic hair braid if you do not know how already. (Note that basic braiding is referred to as plaiting as well.) This is simply the act of dividing medium to long hair into three separate lengths and weaving each section over and under the other until the hair is plaited. A basic braid can be started from the base of the neck, mid-head, or from the top of the head, depending on your preference. A French braid will always be made from the top or mid parts of the head.

Brush or comb the hair thoroughly. Remove any knots or tangles using a wide-toothed comb or favorite brush. Comb out each part, combing the hair straight.

Separate a section of hair from the rest of the hair at the point of your head where you want to begin the braid.

* It’s a good idea to imagine making your hair section V-shaped, with the point of the V going towards the back of your head.
* You can vary the location and starting placement of your braid. For example, you can choose to start lower on the head with a section that includes all the hair above your ears. While this will make it easier (less braiding to do), it will result in a thick (rather than an intricate) braid.

Separate the section of hair into three smaller, even strands.

Separate the section of hair into three smaller, even strands. Be sure that the strands are completely separated all the way to the ends.
* One way to separate the hair into three strands is to hold the section of hair in one hand and use the index and middle fingers of the other hand to separate it into three strands, as shown. Note that, while this article provides some suggestions, you may find your very own variations that work more comfortably for you, or create more desirable results. With practice, you’ll get the feel for it.

Cross the rightmost held strand over the middle strand.

* If you’re French braiding your own hair, your finger placement will depend on the size of your hands, the length of your fingers, and the thickness of your hair.
* Hold the leftmost strand with your left pinkie while moving the rightmost strand from your right hand to your left. Shift the new rightmost strand (used to be the middle strand) from your right hand to your left.

Add some hair from the right side of the head to the rightmost strand.

Add some hair from the right side of the head to the rightmost strand. Use your right index finger to pick up a section of hair from the right side of the head and add it to the new rightmost strand.

Cross the leftmost strand over the middle strand.

Cross the leftmost strand over the middle strand. Grasp the rightmost strand with your right pinkie, then rotate your left hand so that you can grasp the leftmost strand in your right hand. Shift the new leftmost strand to your right hand.

Add hair from the left side of the head to the new leftmost strand.

Add hair from the left side of the head to the new leftmost strand. Use your left index finger to pick up a section of hair from the left side of the head and add it to the leftmost strand.

Cross the rightmost strand over the middle strand.

Cross the rightmost strand over the middle strand. Grasp the leftmost strand with the left pinkie, then rotate your right hand so that you can grasp the rightmost strand in your left hand. Shift the new rightmost strand to your left hand.

Add some hair from the right side of the head to the rightmost strand.

Add some hair from the right side of the head to the rightmost strand. Use your right index finger to pick up a section of hair from the right side of the head, adding it to the rightmost strand currently held in your left hand.

Cross the leftmost strand over the middle strand.

Cross the leftmost strand over the middle strand. Grasp the rightmost strand with your right pinkie, then rotate your left hand so that you can grasp the leftmost strand in your right hand. Shift the new leftmost strand from your left to right hand.

Add some hair from the left side of the head to the leftmost strand.

Add some hair from the left side of the head to the leftmost strand. Use your left index finger to pick up a section of hair from the left side of the head and add it to the leftmost strand in your right hand.
* Continue braiding. Cross the rightmost strand over the middle, add hair to new rightmost strand, cross the leftmost strand over the middle, add hair to new leftmost strand, and repeat until there is no more hair to add.

Braid the rest of your hair normally as far down as you can reach.

Braid the rest of your hair normally as far down as you can reach. If you have longer hair, bring the braid forward over your shoulder and braid in the opposite direction (instead of folding the strands towards you, you will be folding them away from you).

Tie off or clip the end of the braid.

For a trendy chic look try braiding some ribbon through you hair, or see equip.com for some cute hair bows and accessories like headbands or cute ponytails!!


The French Plait or Braid

There are many variations of French braiding or plaiting, like the whole head plait straight down the centre of the head, placing the braid to one side or both and partial head French braids as in the images below. The difference between this type of plait and the simple three-strand plait is that you are constantly picking up more hair and adding it to the French plait (or ‘braid’). To create another hair style plait variation you can reverse the directions below and have an ‘inside out’ braid. You will need plenty of practice as with any hair plaiting it gets easier and faster as you do, if you are planning to do this to your own hair a few muscles should be gained so that you can hold your arms up for the time needed)!

ideo de cortes de cabelo

A side French braid can be glamourous or for school! This hair style from Paloma Garcia

Rebecca Woloszek has used a French braid here to hold back mass curls in this hair style

Rebecca Woloszek a French braid used to hold back masses of curls in this hair style

Joharn Cuthbert combines a French braid with a top knot for this hair style

Joharn Cuthbert combines a French braid with a top knot for this hair style

Tools and other items you will need:

* Covered elastic bands
* Paddle or similar brush to remove tangles
* A little hair spray
* A clip to keep hair not being plaited out of the way
* Possibly a few pins or grips or odd pin if you have layers to secure any stray bits!

Simple French Braid

This is a single braid that follows the curve of the back of the head. Your hair needs to be quite long for this, a few layers won’t matter as long as they reach from the side of the head to the centre back and pass it by about 10cm. You will need to know how to do a basic plait to understand the instructions. If you need some help with this first then return to simple plaiting.

Method:

1. Separate the front (including sides) of your hair from the back. Some people prefer to separate the top leaving only the sides to be added in later but this is a little more difficult. Draw the separated hair back to the crown of your head and divide it into 3 equal strands.

2. Do a quick left over center, right over centre (as in the simple plait) to start.

3. As you continue, add extra hair taken from directly underneath each new section about to be crossed over. Then go ahead and cross it over. The amount of hair you pick up should be about the same each time.

4. Your braid will naturally follow the curve of the head as you pick up and include the new hair. Keep going until you reach the nape and all of your hair has been included.

5. Finish with a simple plait and secure with your covered band when you reach the ends of your hair .

Tips:

* Don’t try to make the braid too neat to begin with, master the technique then improve on the neatness.
* Try to keep your tension and section size the same when working on neatness.
* Use your little finger to section, this will allow you to hold the rest of the hair firmly whilst picking up the new hair.
* For a variation, you can finish the braid just above the nape and turn it under to form a roll that can be pinned in place.

Side French Plaits (as shown in image at top of page).

Method:

1. Find your normal parting or create a straight down the middle parting (if you have any shorter pieces of hair that may not reach the center back if parted to either side).

2. From the crown to the nape separate your hair into two halves.

3. Clip one side out of the way and begin to plait the other.

4. Divide this side into three sections at the front hair line and plait it as you would for a normal French plait (see above).

5. When you get as far as the nape, remove the clip from the other side and use it to hold the plait in place whilst you do the second side.

6. Once you have both sides plaited as far as the nape, combine the hair and plait as you would for a simple plait until you reach the ends. Secure with a band.

7. If your hair is shorter, then secure with the band at the nape and tuck it under itself, holding it in place with a few pins.


How to Do a French Plait

Braided hairstyles have become again very popular due to the gorgeous and stylish look it helps build. There are a variety of braid styles but the French plait seems to be one of women’s favorite. Learn how you can French plait your own hair so you can look stylish in no time.

A French braid or plait is a popular hairstyle and received the name because it was invented in France. There are several ways to style a French braid depending on the hairstyle you want to obtain. You can French braid:

# the whole head in a single plait in order to achieve one single braid from the top center of the head downwards. This is the most common French plait

# one side of the head and the rest of the hair left loose or pulled up in a pony

# both sides of the head and join the two braids in the back of the head

In order to be able to style a French plait you need to have medium to long hair. The technique is relatively easy but you will need a little bit of practice before you will be able to style the French plait neatly and evenly.


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How to do you make a heart on facebook?

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How to make a Heart on Facebook and other special characters ♥ ♫ ★

There are so many posts on Facebook every day. Your friends write about their activities and emotions. It happens quite often that you think how boring this is and who might care about it. But sometimes there are funny and special characters within the mass of posts. Signs like ♥, ☼, ☎ make the typeface less monotonous. But how can you add these characters, emoticons and symbols to your status updates, comments and chats? Check it out:

Facebook Heart Symbols

Characters by key sequences (ALT-Symbols)

To produce ALT symbols on windows, press and hold the ALT key and, while holding it, enter a special number combination. You have to use the numbers on the right side of the keybord for entering the ALT symbols. If you don’t have a numeric keypad (laptops often don’t have one), you need to hold both the ALT and Fn key and then press the (coloured) numbers that you can find next to the letters on your keyboard. Don’t use the numbers on top of your keyboard as they don’t work to create symbols.

For example:

Alt + 1 ☺
Alt + 2 ☻
Alt + 3 ♥
Alt + 4 ♦
Alt + 5 ♣
Alt + 6 ♠
Alt + 7 •
Alt + 8 ◘
Alt + 9 ○
Alt + 10 ◙
Alt + 11 ♂
Alt + 12 ♀
Alt + 13 ♪
Alt + 14 ♫
Alt + 15 ☼
Alt + 16 ►
Alt + 17 ◄
Alt + 18 ↕
Alt + 19 ‼
Alt + 20 ¶
Alt + 21 §
Alt + 22 ▬
Alt + 23 ↨
Alt + 24 ↑
Alt + 25 ↓
Alt + 26 →
Alt + 27 ←
Alt + 28 ∟
Alt + 29 ↔
Alt + 30 ▲
Alt + 31 ▼

You can also create a heart by typing in the following key sequence:

<3 = ♥

…do you know any more of these “fast-type-in-symbols”? Feel free to post a comment!
Create special Characters and Symbols by Copy & Paste

Feel free to copy and paste the following characters to create you own typeface on Facebook!

♠ ♣ ♥
♦ ♪ ♫ ■ □ ▪ ▫ ▬ ▲ ►
▼ ◄ ◊ ○ ● ◘ ◙ ◦ ☺ ☻
☼ ♀ ▪ ▫ ▬ ☻
☺ ◙ ◘ ▀ € ♥
♂ ▒
٩(●̮̮̃•̃)۶ ٩(-̮̮̃-̃)۶ ٩(͡๏̯͡๏)۶ ٩(-̮̮̃•̃)۶ ٩(×̯×)۶
❤ ❥ ♡ ♥ ღ ɞ
❀ ✿ ❁ ✾ ✽ ❃ ❋
♪ ♫ ♩ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯
★ ✩ ✮ ✯ ✰ ☆ ⋆ ╰☆╮✡ ۞
❇ ❈ ❅ ❄ ❆
☯ ✡☨ ✞ ✝☥ ☦ ☧ ☩ ☪ ☫ ☬ ☭
✌ ☮
♥ ♦ ♣ ♠ ♡ ♢ ♤ ♧
♈ ♉ ♊ ♋ ♌ ♍ ♎ ♏ ♐ ♑ ♒ ♓
♚ ♛ ♜ ♝ ♞ ♟ ♔ ♕ ♖ ♗ ♘ ♙
☩ ☨ ☦ ✙ ✚ ✛ ✜ ✝ ✞ ✠
☾ ☽ ☼ ☀ ☁ ☂
☃
㋡ ㋛
✓
☚ ☛ ☜ ☝ ☞ ☟
✉ ✍ ✎ ✏ ✐ ✑ ✒ ⌨
✂ ✄
☎ ☏ ✆
⌛ ⌚
✈
♨
☠



Heart text symbol is among the most popular signs, even though it is not used in any languages, maths, or other sciences.

It’s because of the feeling it shares! ^.^ Love.. Ahh.. The passion, the agony.. This marvelous, magnificent and charming feeling can hardly be expressed in other words than just Love. You feel the hormones flowing through your whole body, changing the way you feel, act.. think. Time stops and you see the tiniest things that surround you. Things you would never have noticed otherwise. Ordinary, but yet somehow very satisfying, when you look at them now.

What heart symbol means

We think, everybody who ever fell in love knows that it gives a strong feeling of harmony. Of calming safety and satisfaction. You feel as if you have ultimately found the right person you can share your life with.

And, somehow, this feeling is most present in your very heart.

This is the key to why heart symbol is so popular. Just like with emoticons, we share our feelings in this way. Not everything can be explained with plain text. But.. Thanks to heart sign, we can partially express our love. ❥


How to Make a Heart on Facebook

Looking to add that special symbol of love to your next Facebook status update or message? You can make a heart on Facebook with a few keystrokes.

Steps

Login to Facebook.

Start a status message, comment, or any other post.

Write & hearts; but without a space between the & and hearts;
* Another method is to write <3

When you publish your run together & hearts; or <3 will be replaced with a ♥.

Press publish.  Notice & hearts; became a ♥.

Facebook Hearts in Messages

Do the same & hearts; (again with no spacing) for in a Facebook message.


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How to do the splits

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How To Do the Splits

Some people are just more naturally flexible than others. I believe that ANYONE who really works at it can learn to do the splits. However, before you try to get into a split, be sure you have stretched your legs.

Try a pike stretch 1st; sit on the floor on a pike, legs straight, toes pointed, and try and get your nose as close to your knees as you can. Hold for 30 seconds. Next, flex your feet, keeping the nose as far down as possible. After you have done this, sit in a wide straddle, and attempt to get your elbows on the floor. Hold 30 seconds, then reach your hands as far out as possible, attempting to put your nose on the floor. Again, hold 30 seconds.

Next, place either leg in front, and lunge from your knee; your rear knee is on the floor, your front foot is far in front. Hold 30 seconds, then sit back, straighten the front leg, and try to place your nose on your knees. Then slide as far into the split as you are able. Repeat on the other side. Hold each position 30 seconds.

NEVER bounce while stretching or push yourself past the point of pain. Slow and steady does it.

Many people feel that the body is more flexible after a warm bath, so you may want to try these drills after a warm bath. I advise doing this 2 times daily, morning and evening. If you keep at it, you should see a lot of improvement in your flexibility.

The above information is used with the permission of Lee, a host of the Gymnastics Forum. Please note: advice given in this article is opinion and may not be the best advice for *you*. Always consult a gymnastics professional in your area, with your parents permission*


How to Do a Split

Have you ever seen a graceful ballet dancer or maybe a die-hard gymnast and say to yourself, “I can’t do that!” Or, have you taken a dance or gymnastics class or maybe even cheerleading or taekwondo and been required to know how to do a split even though you are not very flexible? No worries my friend, follow this guide and with a little patience, you too may be able to do a split.

Steps

Warm up and stretch. Not doing so will cause injury. Here are some stretches you can try:

Lie on the floor and put your legs up on as high as you can on a straight wall with your lower back still on the floor. Try to reach the wall with your hands as far as you can go without excessive strain or pain.

* Do lunges (similar to a squat with one leg while the other leg extends straight behind you, and swap the legs to the other posture repeatedly do not do to hard)

* Half split one leg and stretch forward and the other back

* Leg rotations and levies

* Jog in place for a few minutes to warm up leg muscles

Stretch yourself. Do lunges, butterflies, touch your toes etc. Make sure your legs are stretched and so is your back. Sit with your legs apart on the floor and put your head down. Then try to put it on your left/right leg. This may be difficult.

Go into position. This will be with your preferred leg forward. Your front knee should be straight and your back knee bent so the shin on that leg is resting on the ground.

After you have warmed up for at least 5 minutes, get into the split or straddle position and go down as far as you can-without any major pain or discomfort. Slowly lower yourself down as far as you can go. Don’t over do it. This means if you can only go down to be a foot off the ground while feeling a decent stretch, don’t go any further.

Stay in that position for about 30 seconds then get up stretch and repeat, not too many times or you could cause an injury. Only do it until you feel like you can’t anymore or you are going to hurt yourself.

Make sure when you are done to repeat your warm up stretches and loosen your muscles. This is an absolute must!

Do not go over your limits and go down too far; this can make you feel major pain and you could pull a muscle. This is a process that happens over time and you will get better at it as you do this every day.

Over split- take a pillow and place it in front of you. Go into your split and put your front heel on the pillow. Hold this for as long as you can. However, don’t attempt this until you have your split or are very close to having it.

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How to do it security audit

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What is a Security Audit?

You may see the phrase “penetration test” used interchangeably with the phrase “computer security audit”. They are not the same thing. A penetration test (also known as a pen-test) is a very narrowly focused attempt to look for security holes in a critical resource, such as a firewall or Web server. Penetration testers may only be looking at one service on a network resource. They usually operate from outside the firewall with minimal inside information in order to more realistically simulate the means by which a hacker would attack the site.

On the other hand, a computer security audit is a systematic, measurable technical assessment of how the organization’s security policy is employed at a specific site. Computer security auditors work with the full knowledge of the organization, at times with considerable inside information, in order to understand the resources to be audited.

Security audits do not take place in a vacuum; they are part of the on-going process of defining and maintaining effective security policies. This is not just a conference room activity. It involves everyone who uses any computer resources throughout the organization. Given the dynamic nature of computer configurations and information storage, some managers may wonder if there is truly any way to check the security ledgers, so to speak. Security audits provide such a tool, a fair and measurable way to examine how secure a site really is.

Security Policy Defined

As stated, a security audit is essentially an assessment of how effectively the organization’s security policy is being implemented. Of course, this assumes that the organization has a security policiy in place which, unfortunately, is not always the case. Even today, it is possible to find a number of organizations where a written security policy does not exist. Security policies are a means of standardizing security practices by having them codified (in writing) and agreed to by employees who read them and sign off on them. When security practices are unwritten or informal, they may not be generally understood and practiced by all employees in the organization. Furthermore, until all employees have read and signed off on the security policy, compliance of the policy cannot be enforced. Written security policies are not about questioning the integrity and competency of employees; rather, they ensure that everyone at every level understands how to protect company data and agrees to fulfill their obligations in order to do so.

Natural tensions frequently exist between workplace culture and security policy. Even with the best of intentions, employees often choose convenience over security. For example, users may know that they should choose difficult-to-guess passwords, but they may also want those passwords to be close at hand. So every fledgling auditor knows to check for sticky notes on the monitor and to pick up the keyboard and look under it for passwords. IT staff may know that every local administrator account should have a password; yet, in the haste to build a system, they may just bypass that step, intending to set the password later, and therefore place an insecure system on the network.

The security audit should seek to measure security policy compliance and recommend solutions to deficiencies in compliance. The policy should also be subject to scrutiny. Is it a living document, accurately reflecting how the organization protects IT assets on a daily basis? Does the policy reflect industry standards for the type of IT resources in use throughout the organization?

Pre-Audit Homework

Before the computer security auditors even begin an organizational audit, there’s a fair amount of homework that should be done. Auditors need to know what they’re auditing. In addition to reviewing the results of any previous audits that may have been conducted, there may be several tools they will use or refer to before. The first is a site survey. This is a technical description of the system’s hosts. It also includes management and user demographics. This information may be out of date, but it can still provide a general framework. Security questionnaires may be used as to follow up the site survey. These questionnaires are, by nature, subjective measurements, but they are useful because they provide a framework of agreed-upon security practices. The respondents are usually asked to rate the controls used to govern access to IT assets. These controls include: management controls, authentication/access controls, physical security, outsider access to systems, system administration controls and procedures, connections to external networks, remote access, incident response, and contingency planning.

Site surveys and security questionnaires should be clearly written with quantifiable responses of specific requirements. They should offer a numerical scale from least desired (does not meet requirements) to most desired (meets requirements and has supporting documentation). Both should include electronic commerce considerations if appropriate to the client organization. For instance, credit card companies have compliance templates listing specific security considerations for their products. These measure network, operating system, and application security as well as physical security.

Auditors, especially internal auditors, should review previous security incidents at the client organization to gain an idea of historical weak points in the organization’s security profile. It should also examine current conditions to ensure that repeat incidents cannot occur. If auditors are asked to examine a system that allows Internet connections, they may also want to know about IDS/Firewall log trends. Do these logs show any trends in attempts to exploit weaknesses? Could there be an underlying reason (such as faulty firewall rules) that such attempts are taking place on an ongoing basis. How can this be tested?

Because of the breadth of data to be examined, auditors will want to work with the client to determine the scope of the audit. Factors to consider include: the site business plan, the type of data being protected and the value/importance of that data to the client organization, previous security incidents, the time available to complete the audit and the talent/expertise of the auditors. Good auditors will want to have the scope of the audit clearly defined, understood and agreed to by the client.

Next, the auditors will develop audit plan. This plan will cover how will audit be executed, with which personnel, and using what tools. They will then discuss the plan with the requesting agency. Next they discuss the objective of the audit with site personnel along with some of the logistical details, such as the time of the audit, which site staff may be involved and how the audit will affect daily operations. Next, the auditors should ensure audit objectives are understood.

At the Audit Site

When the auditors arrive at the site, their aim is to not to adversely affect business transactions during the audit. They should conduct an entry briefing where they again outline the scope of the audit and what they are going to accomplish. Any questions that site management may have should be addressed and last minute requests considered within the framework of the original audit proposal.

The auditors should be thorough and fair, applying consistent standards and procedures throughout the audit. During the audit, they will collect data about the physical security of computer assets and perform interviews of site staff. They may perform network vulnerability assessments, operating system and application security assessments, access controls assessment, and other evaluations. Throughout this process, the auditors should follow their checklists, but also keep eyes open for unexpected problems. Here they get their noses off the checklist and start to sniff the air. They should look beyond any preconceived notions or expectations of what they should find and see what is actually there.

Conduct Outgoing Briefing

After the audit is complete, the auditors will conduct an outgoing briefing, ensuring that management is aware of any problems that need immediate correction. Questions from management are answered in a general manner so as not to create a false impression of the audit’s outcome. It should be stressed that the auditors may not be in a position to provide definitive answers at this point in time. Any final answers will be provided following the final analysis of the audit results.

Back in the Office

Once back in the home office, the auditors will begin to comb their checklists and analyze data discovered through vulnerability assessment tools. There should be an initial meeting to help focus the outcome of the audit results. During this meeting, the auditors can identify problem areas and possible solutions. The audit report can be prepared in a number of formats, but auditors should keep the report simple and direct, containing concrete findings with measurable ways to correct the discovered deficiencies.

The audit report can follow a general format of executive summary, detailed findings and supporting data, such as scan reports as report appendices. When you write the report, develop executive summary first, as you may have to brief management soon after return. It’s important to realize that strengths as well as deficiencies can be addressed in the executive summary to help give an overall balance to the audit report. Next, the auditors can provide detailed report based on audit checklists. The audit findings should be organized in a simple and logical manner on one-page worksheets for each discovered problem. This worksheet outlines the problem, its implications, and how it can be corrected. Space should be left on the worksheet to allow the site to document corrective steps and a comment block to dispute the finding if appropriate.

Don’t Keep Them Waiting

Finally, the audit staff should prepare the report as speedily as accuracy allows so that the site staff can correct the problems discovered during the audit. Depending on company policy, auditors should be ready to guide the audited site staff in correcting deficiencies and help them measure the success of these efforts. Management should continually supervise deficiencies that are turned up by the audit until they are completely corrected. The motto for higher management armed with the audit report should be, “follow up, follow up, follow up.”

The Audit – Not an Event but a Process

It must be kept in mind that as organizations evolve, their security structures will change as well. With this in mind, the computer security audit is not a one-time task, but a continual effort to improve data protection. The audit measures the organization’s security policy and provides an analysis of the effectiveness of that policy within the context of the organization’s structure, objectives and activities. The audit should build on previous audit efforts to help refine the policy and correct deficiencies that are discovered through the audit process. Whereas tools are an important part of the audit process, the audit is less about the use of the latest and greatest vulnerability assessment tool, and more about the use of organized, consistent, accurate, data collection and analysis to produce findings that can be measurably corrected.



How to Do an IT Security Audit

Computerworld – If you’re the IT manager at a small to midsize business, it’s only a matter of time until you’re asked to do an IT security audit. Even in a larger company, if security is decentralized, you may be the go-to guy in IT. You’re neither a security expert nor an auditor, and resources are tight. How will you begin and where will you go from there?

• First, don’t panic. “People sell themselves short,” says Jay M. Williams, senior vice president and chief technology officer at The Concours Group, an IT consulting firm in Kingwood, Texas. “For the most part, security is common sense.”

• Join a security research organization such as the Information Security Forum, says RA Vernon, chief security officer at Reuters America Inc. in New York. “You’ll find a group of individuals willing to talk about security issues, share experiences and add some value to any process you may try to implement,” he says. They can direct you to software, methodologies and other resources to help you tackle the job.

• Consult with your business executives to be sure you understand which aspects of your business are most vulnerable to security threats.

• Consider your industry. “Too often people think they have to create Fort Knox,” Williams says, but in reality, few companies have extremely tight data security requirements. “If you’re in the nuclear power business, you’re right at the top,” he says. “But if you’re in baked goods, nobody’s looking to knock off the Keebler elf.”

• Manage executive expectations. “An IT audit program will not happen overnight,” says David Hoelzer, director of Global Information Assurance Certification and manager of the Advanced Systems Audit track of the SANS Institute, a cooperative security research and education organization in Bethesda, Md. Depending on the size of the organization, it will take at least several weeks, he says. “Prepare management for the work that will be required of them to assist you,” he adds, because they’ll need to help correct any faulty policies and practices that are uncovered.

• Map it out. Work with technology and business analysts to draw a high-level schematic of the vulnerable intersections of technology and business, Vernon suggests.

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How to do different styles for long and short and kids hair

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Hair Styling Basics

Before we get into the tutorials, let’s go over a few basics that you need to remember when you’re working with heat and your hair and attempting these styles.  If you’re already a hair pro, feel free to skip this section.

* Really Important: ANY and EVERY time you heat-style your hair, be it with a blow dryer, curling iron or flat iron, you need to use a heat protective product first!  If you don’t, you’ll fry your hair in the long-term.  This is doubly true if you have highlights or use permanent dye.  My favorite heat-styling product is Frederic Fekkai Glossing Cream but I have also heard good things about Oscar Blandi Jasmine Oil Serum .
* Second, make sure you buy quality tools to use in your hair.  Since a flat iron touches your hair on both sides, there is so much potential for split ends & breakage it’s not even funny.  If you invest in a ceramic flat iron like the CHI Turbo Flat Iron or ghd styler you will save your hair from so much damage  Similarly, a good quality curling iron will do wonders.
* Third, remember that these tutorials are for styles that are easiest to do if you have medium-length straight/wavy hair like Lauren’s.  Those of you with curly hair will need to blow-dry your hair straight before attempting these looks, so they might not be so practical for every day.

Now that you’ve got all that, on to the tutorials…
Twisted Pullback

Lauren Conrad curling her hair with a curling iron      Lauren Conrad with her hair twisted and pulled back

This hairstyle is super-easy to do.  All you need are some bobby pins, a little hairspray and a curling iron.  If your hair is naturally very curly, you will need to blow-dry it straight first.  Don’t worry about getting it perfect, this look works best if your hair has a little wave to it.

Part your hair down the center and separate hair into sections.  I recommend doing the bottom layers of your hair first.  To curl, grab a one-inch section of hair, spray lightly with hairspray and then use a large barrel curling iron to make loose ringlets like Lauren’s.

Next, separate one-inch sections of hair from both sides of the front of your face,  loosely twist and pull them to the back of your head.  Secure with two bobby pins in an X or a cute clip, then spray to hold in place.
Straight Chic Ponytail

Lauren Conrad wearing a Straight Ponytail     Lauren Conrad wearing a Straight Ponytail with a headband

This is similar to the Gossip Girl style chic ponytail that I talked about  in the article on quick and easy hairstyles.  The difference here is that Lauren’s look is smoother and sleeker, and she sometimes adds her trademark headband or head scarf to finish it off.

To get the hairstyle, you’ll need a flat iron, brush, elastic and some hairspray.  I recommend this look for “second day hair” if you don’t wash your hair daily, but if you do, it will work just as well on clean hair that has been blow-dried straight.

First, apply a heat-protecting product (see “Hair Styling Basics” above.)  Next, part your hair to the side if attempting the first look. Don’t worry about a part if attempting the second.  Then flat iron your hair in sections starting with the bottom layers until it is pin-straight.  Finally, tilt your head back and brush your hair into a ponytail.  Secure with an elastic slightly above the nape of the neck.

If you have side bangs like Lauren and want to get her look in the first photo, pull out your bangs from the ponytail and arrange them how you want.  If you are going for her second look, just slip on a headband and spray your hair down with some hairspray to secure.
Pin-Straight & Shiny

Lauren Conrad with straight hair and side bangs      Lauren Conrad with straight hair and headband

You know Lauren definitely loves this look because we see her wearing it all the time on The Hills and to red-carpet events. Unless your hair is absolutely pin-straight, you’re going to need a good quality flat iron to get this look.

To create this hairstyle, you need a blow dryer, a flat iron, and either hairspray or shine spray depending on how easily your hair stays straight.

Step one is to use a heat-protecting product to damp hair (see “Hair Styling Basics” above.)  Then even if you have semi-straight hair, blow it out, aiming your dryer down, NOT up, the hair shaft to create extra-smoothness.

Once your hair is dry, flat-iron your whole head in sections until your locks are pin-straight.

If your hair is naturally wavy and turns back to frizz a few hours after you straighten, you need to finish this look with hairspray.  Make sure to get one that doesn’t list water as the main ingredient – these will turn your hair back to waves in an instant.

If your hair is pretty straight naturally or stays straight for a while after you flat iron, use a shine spray to finish the look off.  I love Citre Shine Shine Mist; it makes your hair incredibly glossy!
Wavy With Side-Bangs

Lauren Conrad wearing her hair wavy with side-bangs

Here’s the look that Lauren has been wearing most recently.  I caught the first episode of The Hills season 3, and it looked like Lauren pretty much wore her hair wavy the whole time she was in Paris.  Don’t let her Paris disaster happen to you though: remember to keep your curling iron away from your designer dresses at all times!

For this hairstyle, you will need hairspray and a large barrel curling iron.  If your hair is curly, blow dry it straight first.  If your hair is straight or wavy, let it air-dry if possible.

First, part your hair slightly to the side.  Starting with the bottom layers, grab 1 to 2 inch pieces of hair, spray each piece with hairspray, then curl.  Stop winding the hair around the iron a few inches from the root – you want to keep those semi-straight.

For Lauren’s first look above, section out your bangs from the rest of your hair once you’ve curled everything, then use your curling iron to “wing” the ends out, so the piece moves away from your face.  Use a little hairspray to hold.

For Lauren’s second look, slip on a stretchy headband over your finished hair, then arrange the front sections so that your bangs are tucked behind your ear.  Again, spray with hairspray to keep everything in place!

Step By Step Hairstyles|Hairstyles Training|Hairstyles Software

Step By Step Hairstyles Training: Make Sure You Look Good Everytime!

Do you spend hours at a time staring at a mirror trying to figure out if the perfect hairstyles for short hair that would fit your face? Your hair is an important part of your image and it reflects so much on the events that are occuring in your life. Making permanent changes to your hair do can be a hard decision, because you will have to live with those changes for a long time. That’s where step by step hairstyles training comes in, hairstyles training can provide you solutions and ideas to enhance you look without any drastic
measurses.

With the proper step by step hairstyles easy hairstyle guide, you can take control of your new hairstyles and enjoy several popular hair styles: hairstyles for short hair, short wedding hairstyles, long hairstyles or even hairstyles mid length . Whether you are looking for a simple hairstyle or something extravagant like bridal hairstyles, step by step hairstyles training will be able to provide you with step by step hairstyles guides, secrets, and resources to bring out your best look.

Easy To Learn Step By Step Hairstyles Training

Step By Step Hairstyles TrainingEasy to use step by step hairstyles training is a hairstylist’s best friend. Can you imagine all the frustration that you can avoid by being able to master several different hair do’s. It doesn’t matter whether you have never worn a hairstyle before, ycan you envision how you look when you are able to create several different step by step hairstyles..

When you are planning on attending an important event, you want everything to be perfect, from your clothes to your shoes and most importantly your hair. You can try on clothes, shoes and now you can try on your new hair do also.The step by step hairstyle training will allow you to deliver the total package.

There is a wide variet of all kinds of hairstyles to choose from, so it will be almost impossible to not find the hairstyle that is right for YOU! The step by step hairstyles training guide also provides you with tips and advice on how to treat your hair. The more knowledge you have the more confident you will become in your making your sure your hair do is exactly what you want.

How to try different Hairstyles this Summer

Summers remain for a considerable part of a year. And the heat of mid year leaves you as uncomfortable as it can. Hairstyles remain a big problem during summers. India is a hot place with dust, sweat, heat, pollution etc. So, here are some hairstyle ideas which will help you look best in summers.

Long hair may cause difficulties for you. It may cause itching at the back of your neck, the nape. So, the best idea would be keeping a bob cut. This will give you a cool and fresh look.

You can also get the hair cut in a way to make it fall on the forehead (do you remember the heroine Sadhana’s style?). This will grace you with entirely different look. Further this will also help in avoiding tanning of your forehead.

Short hair lets you handle it easily, further it can also be washed easily. You can protect it from getting damaged or dry in summers. It also helps in keeping your scalp cool and would avoid sweating.

If you love long hair, then it’s not a big problem. You will definitely feel relaxed with a lock. It could be plain round lock or a French lock. This hairstyle also makes your hair fall on your forehead.

You can go on with a side ponytail or braid. This will give you an amazing young girl look with one or two flicks on your cheeks. You can also have a simple high ponytail to deal with these summers.

If you prefer keeping your hair open you can go on with three or two steps (depending on the length of your hair). This will help you make your head feel light.

Further, either long or short you can give your hair a wet look so that you may seem fresh through out a day in summer. You can do it with a touch of oil or gel if your scalp is not oily.

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How to do it easy for disney princess style

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How to Do It Disney Princess Style

This guide is for people who are passionate about being a true fairytale princess.

Steps

Decide what kind of princess you’d like to be. Perhaps you are romantic and dreamy like Aurora, strong-willed and spiritual like Pocahontas, clever and considerate like Belle or sweet and polite like Snow White. There are many more Disney princesses to choose from though. Watch the Disney Princess movies and note their behaviour.

Be friends with all creatures. When tidying your bedroom or cooking in the kitchen pretend that woodland animals appear out of nowhere like they did in Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Enchanted. It may be helpful to get an unusual pet for yourself. You might want a tiger like Jasmine, a raccoon like Pocahontas, some mice like Cinderella. If you just want something simple get a miniature, wise-cracking dragon like Mulan. Remember, pets aren’t for show! Feed, groom and take care of them like a real princess would!

Hair. Your locks should be in their natural colour. Loose curls will look great, especially if you have a tiara for the finishing touches, or a headband like Cinderella and Briar Rose. Find your ideal length and keep it in good condition!

Sing. You should be able sing with a beautiful voice and think of great lyrics of the top of your head. Practice by singing what you’re doing in a basic rhyme pattern and then move onto a love song. If you cannot sing, hum! And dancing is always recommended!Also see Enchanted because Giselle sings a lot.

Figure. Most women don’t have a Disney princess figure. Don’t bother changing what you are to look like a Disney princess; instead wear something that suits your shape.

Be sweet and curious like Ariel when she went into town with prince Eric for the first time. Be graceful to comments of your loveliness and don’t be vain and shallow. Don’t be stingy with compliments either, if you love someone’s hair, let them know like Giselle would!

Your eyes, skin and lips should also be perfect — even if you’ve just got out of bed or mourning over the assumed death of your prince. Make it seem natural too. Your concealer should not be able to be measured by width. Don’t be applying make up or neatening your hair in front of people except your closest friends.

Clothing. You can wear dresses or something pretty and girly. Don’t go for colours and styles that you like just because your favourite princess wears them. Go for colours that suit you (e.g. if you’re blonde try to avoid yellow and if you’re a red head blues and greens look great. Red looks nice with black hair and brown hair will go well with most colours. If you’re concerned about your waist go for vertical stripes and if you don’t like your arms, go for the sleeping beauty or Belle dress to draw away the attention.

Romance. It’s good to know characteristics of your perfect Prince, but it won’t do to have your head constantly in the clouds dreaming of your ideal partner. It pays to keep your head in a book every once in a while like Belle would! Don’t go chasing after boys; chase your own dreams.

Evilness. You are not evil whatsoever unless a spell has been cast on you. You are kind and affectionate. As for villains themselves, if you are in contact with a male villain – he must fancy you. Take heed.

Speak up. standup for what you believe in, don’t be afraid to say what you are feeling inside.

Be proud. be proud of who you are, don’t try to be somebody else. don’t be afraid to be yourself, look in the mirror and remind yourself of how beautiful and smart you are.

How to Make Your Own Disney Princess Doll

Dolls patterned after the popular Disney Princess character line can be made using a variety of methods. Your own Jasmine, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Ariel, Snow White, Pocahontas or Mulan-based doll can be crafted out of cloth or sculpted from clay, or cast from more complex materials like porcelain and resin. One of the easiest methods of customizing a doll is to build one from a doll kit, which includes all the parts needed to put a doll together. Similarly, you can refurbish an existing doll body with details that resemble the Disney Princess of your choice. To make your own customized Disney Princess doll, complete the following instructions.

The Doll

Decide what size doll you would like to make or refurbish. Dolls commonly range in sizes from 11-inch Barbie-style to 18-inch American Girl-style.

Choose a doll kit or old doll in your specified size that will work best for your Disney Princess character. Doll kits can be bought online from companies like Apple Valley, Playhouse, Syndee and Springfield. Old dolls can be purchased on Ebay or from secondhand stores.

Evaluate what changes need to be made to the existing doll body. You may wish to purchase a different wig, or swap heads and eyes with another doll. Different doll types have different customization options.

Make all changes to the cut and style of the wig, if you are using a new one, before attaching it to the doll head. Some wigs may need to be set with heat and hairspray to hold a particular style.

Assemble the doll body. Attach any new hair and put new eyes in the head. You may wish to change the painted makeup on the face, if at all possible.

The Clothes

Measure the doll body and determine the size of clothing needed. Find a pattern that best fits the size of your doll either online or at a fabric store. Standard pattern companies carry a variety of doll-sized princess-style or eveningwear patterns that can be adapted to a Disney Princess look. The original American Girl patterns are also a great source.

Alter the pattern to fit the specifics of your doll body and the Disney Princess dress you wish to replicate. Use the movies and Internet images to get a good idea of what your dress should look like. You can find good, detailed images of the dresses at Disney’s official website and through Google Images.

Choose fabric and notions that match the dress and its accessories. Make sure that they are in scale to the size of your doll. You can find doll-sized notions online at sites like Tiny Zippers.

Sew the dress and accessories. Buy any accessories you cannot make from commercial doll companies, eBay and online doll stores.

Put the outfit on the doll and add all accessories. Double-check with your reference images to make sure your Disney Princess doll looks as much like the character as possible.


How to Host a Disney Princess Belle Birthday Party

Princess Belle is all about knowledge.  She is a brainiac who loves to read books!  She walks around the streets of her small French town toting a book in hand.  Her favorite place to be is in the library reading.  So, why not play up on her smarts at your child’s next birthday party?

Invite guests to the party using an old world style paper scroll.  Tie it with a beautiful bow.  On the inside, it should say the date, time, location, RSVP, and how long it will last.  Hand out invitations at least 10 days before the party to allow your guests enough time to purchase a gift and to reschedule any plans they may have had at the same time as the party.  Make sure to make it clear on the invitation that guests are encouraged to wear a Belle costume or their favorite dress up clothes.  If you are inviting some boys to the party, they could wear a fairytale dress up, or a prince costume or cape.

If you are having the party at your home, and you want to be elaborate, you could decorate your living room or party area as a French town.  For a simpler version, you could decorate with yellow balloons and red roses.  The yellow balloons would symbolize Belle’s yellow dress at the ball when she dances with the Beast and the red rose would symbolize the curse that was given the Beast as well as Belle’s distinct love for roses.

You will want your child to wear a very special Belle dress to the celebration.  You can find fancy Disney princess dresses just about anywhere, even on ebay.  If your child is older, and you are having a problem finding one in her size, Little Adventures has 4 sizes of dress ups for girls ranging from 18 months all the way up to girls size 10.  Best of all, they are machine washable, so if your child spills red punch on her beautiful princess costume, you can thrown it right in the wash machine!  Make sure to get her a fancy Belle dress and all of the accessories so she will feel extra special.

At the party, make sure to introduce guests and start by playing games.  Since Belle could win any knowledge bowl, you could play a trivia game about France or for younger kids you could ask simple questions about the movie Beauty and the Beast and the person who gets the most questions right gets a princess prize.  Other games you may want to include are pin the crown on Belle or do a fashion show with a real red velvet carpet where party goers can show off their princess look.

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