We haven’t heard Macy Gray’s distinctive baby-girl rasp in awhile—her last album, Big, dropped in 2007, and unfortunately, failed to live up to its name. But we were recently treated to a new track from the singer, the cheery “Beauty in The World.” Was the song worth the wait?

This is pretty much the exact opposite of Macy’s ode to casual violence, the electro-tinged “Slap a Bitch,” one of the last tracks we’ve heard from Macy all the way back in 2008 (which continues to be prominently pimped out on her MySpace page). She’s obviously turning in a new direction, as “Beauty” is a joyful, life-affirming pop tune, complete with folky hand claps. And it certainly does not provoke listeners to slap any bitches nearby.

It reminds us of a song that would play during a Coca-Cola commercial, not entirely unlike the all-star revue “Open Happiness”—maybe it’s the simple, feel-good message and the catchy refrain “beauty in the world”? In any case, the song isn’t that trailblazing or remarkable, but it could (and inevitably will) be a great jingle. That might come across as a backwards compliment, but you tell that to CSS, Feist and all the other acts who owe their careers partly to the commercials in which their songs appeared.

Macy’s May release, The Sellout, is produced by the likes of Rodney Jerkins and Caz James, and features several different artists, including Bobby Brown (whom makes more appearances in reality television shows than on albums these days). Gray recently discussed how she was able to find herself while recording her new tunes:

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Sometimes we want to experience changes in our lives. What about considering tattoos and body art?

There are many types of body art, such as tattoo, piercing and scarification.

Tattoo images usually express human nature and carry certain meanings.

How do you choose tattoo design?

Firstly, you should decide what kind of a tattoo you want. A lot of people choose certain symbols or hieroglyphics that carry love, success, health, happiness and other meanings. You may also look for body tattoos such as a heart, dragon, zodiac and Indian tattoos online. Consider choosing the right size, color and the right area for your tattoo.

I recommend you make sure if it’s the right tattoo you want to apply. Tattoo removing is performed by means of a laser and is more painful than getting it.

So, try to choose an interesting  tattoo to emphasize your originality. I don’t think you’ll get bored of such a tattoo.

Body piercing is the second common type of body art. You can pierce your ears, lips, nose and so on. Body piercing may serve both for self-expression and religious reasons, like people do in India. But for modern, young people of America and Europe piercing is just a way to express their individuality.

Body art contains health risks such as infections and allergies. If you suffer from heart disease, skin problems, diabetes or allergies, it’s better not to apply any body tattoos and/or piercing.
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Having a little black dress that flatters your body type is a worry-free way to get dressed — and noticed. Here, we help you find the perfect dress for you, whatever your shape!

Pear Shape	Pear Shape Look for a halter dress. “The shape shows off your shoulders, creating the illusion of a more balanced, triangular shape,” says Sarah Shirley, a fashion expert for CBS’s The Early Show. The width of your hips will seem smaller and in better proportion to your body. Lauren by Ralph Lauren dress, $159, available in select Macy’s stores
Petite	Petite “A sheath dress should be your go-to style,” Shirley says. The clean, elongated shape helps you look taller and leaner — even more so if you choose one that hits just above or in the middle of your knee (never longer) to play up the narrowest part of your leg. Nine West dress, $150, ninewest.com
Apple Shape	Apple Shape “Your squarer torso lacks a defined waistline, so you have to fake it with fashion,” Shirley notes. A shirred dress does so perfectly. “The gathering effect pulls in the waistline, causing it to appear slimmer than your top and bottom halves.” Anne Klein dress, $160, macys.com
Curvy	Curvy Accentuate your middle with a V-neck dress. “It opens up the chest area and draws the eye downward, making the waist appear narrower,” Shirley says. Look for built-in darts and panels, which help define your figure and keep you in place throughout the evening. Rebecca Taylor dress, $315, Principessa, Venice, California; 310-450-6696
Plus Size	Plus Size “A wrap dress looks great on practically every body type, but especially this one,” Shirley explains. The structure of the dress hugs the slimmer areas of the body (your shoulders and waist) and remains looser around the lower half. Donna Morgan dress, $178, Dillard’s stores

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Let’s face it: We’re busy, distracted, overwhelmed by bigger challenges. Eating healthfully tends to get pushed down the priority list when you’ve got a crazy work schedule, a brood of kids, or a gaggle of friends insisting on happy hour. And somehow our minds are always capable of justifying those spur-of-the-moment doughnut and potato chip indulgences — it’s PMS! I deserve it! My body needs it!

But eating right is what your body is truly craving; good nutrition is the best way to help the mind tackle those bigger priorities. And it doesn’t have to be about punishing or depriving yourself either. “Overall good eating is not about dieting, but about making small lifestyle changes,” says San Francisco-based nutritionist Kaley Todd, MS, RD. “I’ve found that people who focus in on small changes tend to have larger success and lifelong success.”
Begin now by making small changes with our simple 2-day plan.

Break down the walls. Begin by taking an honest look at your current habits and readiness to change them, says Deborah Kesten, a certified wellness coach and author of The Enlightened Diet. “Are you really ready to change or forcing it? If you’re staying with bad habits, ask yourself what you’re getting out of them.”
Breaking down your psychological state will help you overcome any mental barriers that are keeping you from embracing an exercise routine. Says Kesten, “Once you decide you’re ready to make a change, you can start to envision it and act on it.”

Rethinking your plate. Many nutritionists today are urging people to rethink the core of their diets. Instead of a fatty cut of meat taking the spotlight on your plate, “shift the focus to vegetables, fruits, and whole grains — with the fat and protein being the side dish,” says Todd.

“One of the biggest keys to healthier eating is to add more fruits and vegetables,” says Jackie Newgent, RD, CDN, culinary nutritionist and author of The Big Green Cookbook. “You don’t need to be a vegetarian; small amounts of meats are fine. But I try and incorporate a fruit and vegetable in every recipe. I like to tell people to think of it as adding [excitement] to your diet, not subtracting from what you’re eating. And that way you’ll enjoy it that much more.”

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Artist Andrea Williams grew up near the coast of Maine where she got inspired by the ocean and coastal nature. Her jewelry are made from beachstones and every single piece is spectacular. In this post, I have presented only the items from her Starry Night collection.

Although I like all Andrea’s pieces, these are my favorites! But every piece is unique and impressing and if you are interested you cand see more jewelry at Bound Earth Presentation Site. There are also theKebyar, Sa, Kyuma, and Mani padme collections. All the jewelry lines have with Tibetan inspired names.

Of her work, Andrea Williams states, “My jewelry is an expression of the wonder I sense in the overlooked intricacies in nature. When we see stones in infinite numbers underfoot at the beach, we cannot help but to miss the unique perfection in each.” (more…)

For a razor-sharp memory, give your mouth this 6-calorie snack to munch on: a stalk of celery.

Celery is a top source of a high-powered flavonoid known as luteolin, and these compounds may help cool off destructive inflammation in the brain’s memory center (otherwise known as the hippocampus). Not a bad trade for 6 calories.

Sending a Signal
Over time, brain inflammation can interfere with memory, magnify depressed feelings, accelerate dementia, and perhaps even play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease and other aging-brain conditions. Enter luteolin. New cell studies suggest that it may mute the nerve signals that tell immune cells in the brain to release inflammatory chemicals called cytokines. (Are you keeping your gray cells young?)

Munch, Sip, Sprinkle
You can eat celery stalks as a snack, blend celery into smoothies, or sprinkle chopped celery onto salads for extra crunch. No celery lurking about in the back of your fridge? No problem. Respectable levels of luteolin can also be found in green peppers, chili peppers, spinach, lettuce, chamomile tea, and thyme. Put these four other brain-building habits into play as well:
-Set aside time for a snooze.
-Give your mind a workout.
-Build more buddies.
-Work those feet.
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