By Deborah L. Frazier

Ah, spring is here! It’s time to pack away our heavy winter coats and boots, and dig out our brightly colored spring dresses and sandals for the season ahead.

While Many of us not only try to create a new, fresh palate in our closets this time of year but in our makeup bags, as well. One of the best ways to get healthy, glowing skin for spring is to ditch your winter makeup and experience the benefits of mineral makeup.

Mineral Makeup 101

Mineral makeup is made up of micronized mineral bases that contain concentrated pigments without dyes or fillers. Regular makeup is produced using ingredients that can be harmful to your skin, such as talc, dyes, oils, and chemical synthetics. All of these can block pores, irritate skin and cause inflammation. Unlike regular makeup, mineral makeup allows skin to breathe and function normally. It is easily applied, lightweight, and offers complete coverage that often outlasts normal makeup by hours. Because mineral makeup is noncomedogenic and oil-free, it is a perfect alternative for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

In Dawn Career Institute’s Esthetician program and at our New Beginnings Spa, we encourage the use of Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup line for all skin types. Both students and clients love it for its healthy benefits and easy application.  Many of our clients tell us they love Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup for its sheer coverage and light, breathable feeling. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons also suggest mineral makeup as a great way to cover up skin discoloration and redness.

Be Sun-Savvy

As you pick out your new makeup for spring, it’s also important to remember what needs to go under your makeup. While you should be wearing sunscreen year-round, now, more than ever, you should be diligent about your daily application of sunscreen with the increased sun exposure during the spring. Simply apply a layer of broad-spectrum sunscreen on your face before you put on your foundation. Mineral makeup can also give you a double barrier from the sun thanks to its ingredients of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are natural UVA and UVB blockers.  However, never rely on makeup alone.

Also, instead of hitting the tanning bed this spring, save some time and money and avoid the risk of skin cancer and skin damage by using sunless tanning gel.  At Dawn Career Institute’s New Beginnings Spa, we like to recommend St. Tropez and Bronze Biologic cosmeceutical spray tans.

Your Spring Look

At New Beginnings Spa, many of our clients come in this time of year ready to change up their look. Rather than the matte, powdered look of winter, they’re ready to have a brighter, more natural look with many pretty colors. Our students often suggest bright pinks, reds, and mangos for lips and cheeks, as well as using bronzer to give skin that sun-kissed, dewy appearance. Here’s a favorite Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup routine we use at the New Beginnings Spa to get our clients ready for spring:

• Start with an exfoliation treatment, such as A Natural Difference Mango Peel, which will wash away dead skins cells and reveal the glowing, dewy skin you’re wanting

• Spitz on Jane Iredale D20 Hydration Spray – this spray will set your skin and keep it hydrated

• Apply Dream Tint® for a sheer,
light coverage

• Use Rose Dawn Bronzer for extra shimmer – this can be used on the cheeks, eyes. or as a highlighter

• Use Eye Gloss on your eyelids in shades Aqua Silk or Pink Silk to make your eyes pop with color

• Finish with Pink Lip Definer and Just Kissed Lip Plumper in the color L.A. for bright poppy-colored lips

This look is a great way to try out mineral makeup and incorporate fresh, spring colors in your beauty routine.  If you’ve never tried mineral makeup, this spring is a great time to check it out.  You will love the lightweight feeling, your glowing complexion and getting your springtime look more naturally!

Want to learn more….

Dawn Career Institute can prepare you for a career in the beauty and wellness industry! Students in DCI’s Esthetician program can learn how to perform facials, waxing treatments, microdermabrasion, makeup application and many more skin care procedures. The New Beginnings Spa at Dawn Career Institute also offers students an excellent opportunity to gain professional experience working with real clients.

Dawn Career Institute is located in Wilmington, Del., and offers convenient day and evening classes, along with helpful job placement assistance to all students. Financial aid is available to those who qualify. It’s time to begin your education to become a professional in the beauty and wellness industry!

Learn more today at www.VisitDCI.com or call 1-800-495-8260.

Dawn Career Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
For useful consumer information, please visit us at www.dawncareerinstitute.edu/consumerinfo.

By Maggie Lage

This is the time of year when many children are concerned about finishing up the school year and are excited about the long awaited summer vacation. But before floating about the pool with ease, there is one last hurdle to jump.  Shortly, schools will be distributing the final interim report cards for the school year. The skills developed during the year will be your child’s foundation for the more difficult work ahead. What should you do if you are unhappy with your child’s interim report card?

According to Dr. Raymond J. Huntington, Co-founder and Chairman of Huntington Learning Center, “Parents know their own children. If you believe your child could be doing better than his or her grades show, you owe it to yourself and your child to remedy the situation.”

“More than current grades are at stake,” Huntington continues, “If grades are mediocre or poor, it means your child is not gaining valuable skills. This can come back to haunt children later.  The skills children learn in school are like building blocks.  If a skill is not learned adequately, future skills will suffer. When a child tries to build advanced skills on a shaky foundation of knowledge, there is likely to be trouble ahead.” Mediocre or poor grades can result from a variety of problems. Dr. Huntington offers the following suggestions for what to do when a child brings home a poor report card:

Examine the situation realistically.
It is important to remember that every drop in grades indicates that valuable skills are being missed. An effort should be made to learn and reinforce those missing skills. While this is being done, it is also important to identify and remedy the basic problem, so it does not continue to hurt your child’s education.

What is really the problem?
Is there a behavior problem?  Sometimes, bright students get bad grades for behavior related activities. Does your child hand in homework? Is it correct and on time?
Is your child bored with schoolwork, and therefore is not paying enough attention? These are not excuses; they are symptoms of different problems. You must identify the problem before you can remedy it.

Talk with your child.
Why does your child think he or she got poor grades? Does he or she take the situation seriously? How does he or she
plan to do better? It is important that your child knows you take the situation seriously. Work with your child to develop a plan that will help achieve better grades. Let your child know that your are supportive and that you believe in his or her abilities.

Talk with your child’s teacher or counselor.
Your child’s teacher or counselor is a professional educator. What are his or her observations? What does he or she recommend?

It is important to remember that the difficulty that caused these poor grades may be a serious problem. Your child may have missed one or more important basic skills. It is vital that you get help for your child as soon as possible, before the problem gets worse. The summertime provides the perfect opportunity for children to strengthen weak skills and prepare for the more advanced skills they will need in the upcoming school year.

The Huntington Learning Center is a nationally recognized leader in the field of improving a child’s basic study skills through remediation and enrichment programs. Students are given individual attention by certified teachers using personalized programs tailored to improve skills in a child’s trouble areas. Huntington offers individual testing and tutoring in reading, math, study skills, writing and SAT/ACT preparation to students of all ages.

Hear what parents are saying about Huntington

• Our son was struggling with school at the end of 2nd grade and now with Huntington’s help and great teachers, at the end of 3rd grade he is at grade level and looking forward to 4th grade. Huntington really helped our son.

• We just wanted to send a note of thanks and great appreciation to all of you for the wonderful work you all did to help Carol get back on track academically. Your skills of pinpointing problem areas then methodically regaining those “lost” skills are exactly what Carol needed. Carol has gained confidence in herself knowing that Huntington staff helped her to get back on track. We will definitely recommend your team to other families.

• We wish to thank you and everyone at Huntington. The devotion and patience shown has been wonderful. Maggie, we will never forget how you went beyond the call of duty to help us.

Founded in 1977, Huntington Learning Center has offered supplemental education services longer than any other provider. Parents often contact Huntington when they receive a particularly alarming report card or other communication saying their child is falling behind. Many also reach out to Huntington because they are concerned their child may have poor study skills, or difficulty in performing to grade level in reading and math.

Maggie Lage is the Executive Director of the Huntington Learning Center in Newark

34 Liberty Plaza | Kirkwood Highway | Newark, DE 19711

For more information or to schedule a consultation at the Newark location

call 302-737-1150 or visit www.newark.huntingtonlearning.com

By Maggie Lage

SAT/ACT Test Tips

Long- and short-term test-taking tips for the SAT and ACT exams.

Long-term

Long-term preparation focuses on academic performance in general, not just on the test at hand. It’s what students do in high school to prepare for college, through a program of solid academic courses that build fundamental math and verbal skills. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors all have the time to build the academic skills needed for a successful college career. In addition, when exam time comes, you will be even better prepared.

Long-term preparation focuses on:

• Reading more effectively, to comprehend what the author means as well as what the author says.

•  Improving your vocabulary, plus learning better tools to figure out new words from the context in which they are used

•  Developing problem-solving abilities, including ways to get started on challenging problems when you don’t know what to do.

Short-term

Short-term preparation involves learning a number of specific test-taking tips. When you understand the reasoning behind how the test questions are written, it will give you an edge in answering them. There are many different books, tapes, computer programs, school courses, and courses offered by private companies, such as Huntington, that teach these strategies for students who need to study with a crash course.

Specifically, short-term preparation involves practicing and knowing:

•  How to relax

•  When and how to guess

•  What to expect on the test

•  How to identify the easiest questions

•
All the directions for each type of question on the test

•  How to pace yourself

•  Hints for answering each type of question

Remember that the SAT and ACT are like any other academic tests, and what you get out of your preparation is directly proportional to what you put into it. The better you study and prepare for the SAT or ACT, the better you will do. Higher SAT or ACT scores leads to more admission and scholarship opportunities.

Now is the time for high school juniors to prepare to take the SAT or ACT during the spring testing cycle.
Call today to discuss how Huntington can help your student.

Hear what parents are saying about Huntington

• I just wanted to thank you, the staff, and the wonderful tutors at Huntington Learning Center for the SAT and ACT test preparation for Taylor and Whitney. We were truly surprised and please that both girls got a 200+ point boost to their scores. Each daughter started in a different spot, had different goals and tutoring time, but had similar, excellent results. While the format of your program is very structured, I especially appreciate the customization to each child. I also want to thank you for being an extremely helpful college testing and application consultant. We would (and have) highly recommended the program for other families that needed flexibility and high quality tutoring. Thank you again, and we’ll be back again with daughter #3 in a few years.

• I just wanted to let you know that Courtney was offered a full tuition scholarship to Arcadia University. They told her that her ACT score was what really put her over the top…I know Courtney deserves the majority of the credit for all her hard work and dedication throughout her school career, and the extra effort she made this summer to take Huntington’s prep course and do additional homework over her break, but I really want to thank the teachers who worked with her and you, specifically, for suggesting she take the ACT.
I hadn’t ever considered that test, and no one at her school mentioned it either.

Founded in 1977, Huntington Learning Center has offered supplemental education services longer than any other provider. Parents often contact Huntington when they receive a particularly alarming report card or other communication saying their child is falling behind. Many also reach out to Huntington because they are concerned their child may have poor study skills, or difficulty in performing to grade level in reading and math.

Maggie Lage is the Executive Director of the Huntington Learning Center in Newark

34 Liberty Plaza | Kirkwood Highway | Newark, DE 19711

For more information or to schedule a consultation at the Newark location

call 302-737-1150 or visit www.newark.huntingtonlearning.com

Presented By: Michael J. Cronin

“Economists say that the great recession, the longest and deepest since World War II, ended months ago and the US economy is growing again. Growth is relative. That doesn’t mean sit and wait for things to improve. Rather retool for the economythat exists today.” ~ Rosalind Resnick, Entrepreneur Magazine.

As you review your company’s strategic plan and forecast for 2012, what can you do to ensure that your company will meet those objectives?  Ms. Resnick’s comment is absolutely on target, you can sit around and react to your environment, or you can retool your business objectives and take a proactive approach to succeed for 2012.

There are a number of strategic areas that may be worth focusing more time and effort on in your business as you begin to think about retooling:

First and foremost, revisit your strategic plan.  It is appropriate to focus on the 3-5 year horizon because you need to identify what you want to grow into. However, it is critical to focus on what your business needs to accomplish in the next 12 months. What are the critical success factors that your business needs to focus on in order to accomplish your forecast? Do your employees know what the 12-month plan looks like and do they know what they need to contribute in order for the plan to be successful? If you cannot answer ‘yes’ to any of these three questions, you are not ready for 2012.

Second, identify what is really working and set a plan in motion to maximize it. Capitalize on your strengths. What product or service is your top seller, and how do you get customers to buy more of it? How do you grow your customer base for that product or service? Knowing your core business strengths allows your organization to maximize on existing opportunities where your company is already excellent.

Third, try new and different things. After you have identified the core products and/or services of your business, look for new, out-of-the-box opportunities. Outside and uncontrollable distractions often cause us to pull in the reins and focus on what we have always done. Use these changing times to your benefit. Challenge yourself and your employees to look at every process, product line, service, and customer for new opportunities. You will be surprised what your team may find and suggest. At first pass an idea might seem outrageous, but outrageous could mean the difference between status quo and a new level of success.

The last thought to consider is leveraging your uniqueness. The business marketplace is becoming a sea of similarity. Your brand should communicate the value you bring to your customer – from the eyes of the customer. Your brand is not really about what you think you do. The brand you should be leveraging is what value your customers say you bring to the table. Find out what your customers really think and start spreading that unique message.

If you did not like the results you generated in 2011, you have two choices. You can continue on your current path and hope for different results, or you can set your objectives, maximize your strengths, honestly look for new opportunities, and incessantly market your brand with a voice that is meaningful to your customer.  Hope is never a successful strategy, but focused action is … what will make 2012 a successful year for your company?

Hope is never a successful strategy!

Michael J. Cronin founded ResTech Solutions, LLC in 2002 after 15 years in the corporate world. He has hands-on experience in a number of functional areas and has worked with both domestic and international organizations. ResTech Solutions prides itself on the development of practical, cost-effective programs for its clients. For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation, please contact Michael at (484) 883-2707 or mjcronin@restechsolutions.com.

By: Susan D’Alonzo Ament

It’s easy to get caught up in the magic of holidays in Delaware.  Everyone seems to be in a better mood, and all of the hustle and bustle – including shopping, parties, and visiting with loved ones – makes the cold weather a little easier to bear.

Of course, making merry has its price, as travel can be especially dangerous during this time of year.

Whether you are traveling locally or planning a trip to visit friends or family out of state, it’s important to take some extra precautions when driving during the holiday season.  To best avoid unpleasant situations like collisions, theft or more, follow these safety suggestions:

Perform routine maintenance. One of the easiest ways to avoid car mishaps is to drive a safe vehicle.  Check and rotate your tires, get a tune-up and have your oil changed regularly, at least every six months.  Keeping up with these tasks ensures that your vehicle will be in top driving condition for Delaware’s often-treacherous holiday weather.

Prepare for inclement weather. Due to the unpredictability of the East Coast’s weather conditions, it’s always a good idea to keep an emergency kit in your vehicle.  Emergency kits include items that can help signal others in times of distress, make minor repairs, or help keep you protected from excessive temperatures while stalled.  These kits can be purchased for as little as $30, or you can make your own.  Some items that you might want to include are blankets, water, road flares and tools.  For more ideas on what to include in your vehicle emergency kit, speak to your auto insurance agent or visit www.redcross.org

Drive defensively. Just as the old adage goes, sometimes the best offense is a good defense.  The lack of a sales tax draws more people into Delaware during the holiday season, which means the chances for collisions increase.  When driving, be on the lookout for erratic drivers, slippery roads, snowdrifts and other unusual conditions.  Never drive at speeds that would prevent you from taking necessary corrective actions, particularly in the evening when hazards are more difficult to see.  Also, keep your eyes on the road, as you never know what other drivers have had too much eggnog.

Don’t leave valuables in the car. When you travel, there’s a good chance that you’ll leave your vehicle unattended in places with which you’re unfamiliar.  In order to avoid holiday breakins, don’t leave valuables in your car, especially in clear view of anyone who walks by.  Many criminals take advantage of holiday shoppers’ generosity, and when your new purchases are visible, they make for a tempting target.  If you must leave items in the car, opt to put them in the trunk, away from prying eyes.

Give a copy of your itinerary to a friend. Whether you are headed out to the mall, a party or a relative’s house, let someone know where you are going and how you intend to get there.  In the event that you are in an accident, stranded or are incapacitated, your contact will know your intended route and be able to pass relevant information along to the authorities.

If you practice these safety suggestions and are still the unfortunate victim of an automobile accident this holiday season, don’t burden your holidays with the worry of how you’re going to handle the details.  Instead, contact our Personal Injury Attorneys who, together with their reliable staff, will guide you through the process.

Susan D’Alonzo Ament is a partner with Morris James LLP and has practiced for 28 years representing personal injury victims.  Over the years, Mrs. Ament has found that some women don’t understand the crucial need to have adequate automobile insurance coverage in the event of a serious accident.  Susan Ament educates women on these needs every day in her practice and in seminars that she presents throughout the year.

Presented By:
Frederick J. Dawson, ChFC, CLU

There is an undisputed fact in this world, and that is if you don’t control your money, your money will control you. If you are a “believer” in this old adage, then here is the first step in controlling your money.

Prepare a comprehensive list of all your expenses and how much you spend on each item.  In many circles, this is known as a budget. Here is an example of the items that you may need to include:

• Alimony payments Hobbies Health Insurance Premiums
• Food/Groceries Domestic Help Medical Expenses/co-pays
• Clothing Homeowner’s Insurance Allowances
• Utilities Yard/Pool Maintenance Child Care
• Phone Home Maintenance Education Expenses
• Cleaners Subscriptions 401K/IRA Contribution
• Auto Insurance Gifts/Birthdays Mortgage
• Auto Maintenance (gas/oil/repairs) Property Taxes Charge Cards
• Auto Payments Sales Taxes
• Entertainment Charitable Contributions
• Club Dues Tax Preparation
• Vacation Life Insurance Premiums
• Personal & Miscellaneous
• Other

Now total it all up!  As presumptuous as it may sound, if you continued this wonder system for the rest of your life, you would be amazed at how much financial discipline you would develop!

Now compare your “outgo” to your “income.” If you find that you’ve got “too much month left over”, (you run out of money too soon), then you now know where you need (and can) cut back. Additionally, you are now prepared to do some serious retirement planning!

32 years ago, my wife and I agreed to do this system. Louise has not missed one month all these years!  We are in control of our money….our money is not in control of us.  Everyone should do this! You NEED to do this! Begin today!

If you don’t control your money, your money WILL control YOU!

Fred Dawson, ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant), CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) has over 30 years of comprehensive wealth management experience.  He is Executive Vice President of Bassett, Brosius & Dawson, Inc. and a founding principal partner of the firm.  Successful women are prominent among Fred’s diverse domestic and international client base of professionals, retirees, professional musicians and business owners.  In 2008 Fred was cited by Delaware Today Magazine as one of Delaware’s Top Financial Advisors.  Criteria are not necessarily based on client satisfaction or advisor performance.  Fred received a State of Delaware Senate Tribute in 1999 for his “long and distinguished record of service to his community, his country, his state and his region.”

For more information or to schedule a complimentary, no obligation initial consultation contact Fred’s office at 302-999-9330 or fdawson@bbdinc.com.

• Bassett, Brosius & Dawson, Inc. is an Independent Registered Investment Advisory Firm with the State of Delaware.
• Securities Offered Through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC
• Any opinions are those of Fred Dawson and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

The results are in! You spoke, we listened! NAWBO members (and potential members) have stated that they are looking for programs with more substance…more value…giving more connections …to open more doors.

As a result, our 2012 programs were designed to add value to business owners of all levels.  Whether you are just opening your doors, or have been in business for years, finding valuable resources can be a challenge.

Here is just a small sample of what NAWBO Delaware is bringing to you:

First Fridays
Join NAWBO Delaware the 1st Friday of every month for a little “breakfast and business.”  Bring your business cards and some questions/topics regarding your business that you would like to discuss with your fellow women business owners and community experts.  This is a great time to learn from other women business owners.  SPACE IS LIMITED SO PLEASE REGISTER.

DATE: 12/2/11 • TIME: 9:00 – 10:00
TOPIC: Willie Wonka had the Chocolate Factory – and Cher Przelomski has the Planning Factory, come tour with us and be dazzled by her wonderful creations.
DATE: 1/6/12 • TIME: 9:00 – 10:00
TOPIC: Another New Year, Another Resolution – Jump Start Your New Year and discover “Why Engaging Your Customer is Critical!  How to Cost Effectively Get It Done; and How to Measure the Results” – Dave Yunghans , Philadelphia Regional Development Manager.  Constant Contact will deliver all the New Year Secrets.

Power of Partnership
Held monthly, these networking events connect women business owners with powerful decision makers throughout the region.

DATE: 12/15/11 • TIME: 2:00 – 4:00
TOPIC: Tis the Season of Giving – Join NAWBO Delaware’s Board of Directors, its Members, Sponsors and Partners as we nestle by the fireplace for holiday tea.  There will be music and song, with a “Special Holiday Performance” from the Board of Directors of NAWBO Delaware.
DATE: 1/26/12 • TIME : 12:00 – 1:30
TOPIC: Don’t let the Winter Climate “Blue Your Business” – It is time for a Caribbean Get-Away.  NAWBO Delaware Brings the Tropic to you.  Join us for a Caribbean Lunch, and get tips from the World Trade Center on how you can Export your Product and Services.

If you are not a member, please consider joining TODAY!
To register or for the complete list and descriptions of our events, please check our website: www.NAWBODelaware.org
NAWBO Delaware: 302.235.5757 info@nawbodelaware.org
NAWBO® National: 1.800.55.NAWBO
www.nawbo.org
national@nawbo.org

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