Kivivi Blog

In my role as a fitness professional, I have the rare opportunity to be the recipient of an amazing gift: bearing witness to transformation.

When a new client first approaches me, most of the time she does so with a predetermined and very specific goal that relates exclusively to her body.

But as we move forward in our training sessions when the pounds melt away or climbing out of the car no longer pains the lower back she begins to uncover something much bigger.

I once defined wellness as a state of being where body, mind and spirit have ingested adequate nourishment to satisfy the need for energy, regeneration, growth, strength and/or healing. If we break it down like this, nourishment is fuel input, which stimulates a process of growth, healing or energy expenditure that I consider to be fuel output. When balance exists between fuel input and output, it exists within us and wellness is achieved. Sounds a bit textbook, don't you think?

Hair colors for 2010 sound good enough to eat! Read on to discover what tickles your taste buds and learn what your hair color says about you.

Yummy New Shades

Chocoholics rejoice!

Stunning shades of chocolate are all the hair color rage for 2010, especially streaked with highlights. Cherry cola, eggplant, burgundy, cinnamon, maroon, bright red and lavender offer additional depth. For a lighter look, mix in honey, bright gold, platinum or caramel.

White chocolate counts, too. If you prefer being blonde, go for a blindingly bright platinum. If you're feeling bubbly, add some pink--as in pink champagne.

Are chocolate-covered cherries more to your taste? Try a red base with streaks of chocolate. Add mixed-fruit highlights of strawberry blonde and plum.

Avon Global Stylist Advisor Tippi Shorter has been on tour with Alicia Keys (nice work, if you can get it!) but took a break from her styling duties to answer a few quick questions for us:

Q: What are the hottest hair trends for winter?

I believe hair with controlled volume and sleek ponytails and buns will be huge for Winter 2010.

Big, sexy volume:
- Begin this look by running volumizing mousse through hair root to tip.
- Create soft curls by setting hair with curlers (like Advance Techniques Pillow Curlers). Spray a light mist of hair spray to ensure hair will hold curl.
- Remove the curlers from your hair. Flip hair over front of head and spray with additional hair spray to create extra volume and hold. Run fingers through hair to loosen curls for a soft finish.

With New Year’s Eve solidly in the rearview mirror, it’s now the time of year where everyone is driving towards their New Year fitness goals.

For most folks, their fitness destination this year isn’t just losing a few pounds, experts agree. Rather, 2010 will see more peo-ple opting to make life altering, overall health and wellness plans instead of the “lose 20 pounds in four days” crash diets – though they’ll still be prevalent.

“The short term programs work, but they’re exactly that – short term,” said Matt Gibbons, managing partner of Armstrong Athletic Club in Gastonia. “The key is, it’s a lifestyle change. You have to change your lifestyle slowly to be successful.”

A lot of it is common sense, said local personal trainer and fitness professional Lamail Spain.

Hair colors for 2010 sound good enough to eat! Read on to discover what tickles your taste buds and learn what your hair color says about you.

Chelan Simmons is most likely known for her role in Good Luck Chuck, alongside Dane Cook and Jessica Alba, and she also stars in the new movie Sorority Wars. In this exclusive interview, Chelan talks beauty, and lets us in on her secrets and favorite products!

Makeup artist Bobbi Brown has some advice for women who may be wondering how to update their look for the holidays.

Before you finger a single false eyelash or buy a bright red lipstick, take a step back and consider whether your basics - primarily foundation and concealer colors - are absolutely perfect.

"I keep saying it, but it's really true, that is the most important thing," she said during a recent visit to San Francisco, where she trained makeup artists who work for her eponymous line. "Ninety percent of women don't get it right."

-- The elusive "it" means finding just the right colors to balance the redness or other undertones in skin, and dark under-eye circles.