(NewsUSA) - If the monochrome of winter has you dreaming of brighter days ahead, you're not alone. Thankfully, the spring beauty forecast is in, and it's all about color, shimmer and glow for nails, lips and skin.

Vogue published a feature highlighting all the biggest beauty trends stemming from the Spring 2022 runways, and among them was "high-gloss pouts." Now, maybe it's the two years of near-constant mask-wearing that makes this such a welcome trend, but the fact that lips are back in the spotlight is something to get excited about.

• GET THE LOOK: To achieve that high gloss effect at home, look no further than the Lipgasm™ Lipglosses by female-owned brand Trust Fund Beauty (TFB). Simply swipe across your lips for a sexy and moisturizing finish to your lipstick or lip liner, or use it on its own for a glossy shine.
  
  Spring's emphasis on sparkle doesn't stop at a glossy lip. As the runways previewed, glitter is in for hair and skin as well. So how can you pull off a head-to-toe shimmer for everyday without looking like a disco ball? It's easy with the right liquid and powder products.
• GET THE LOOK: TFB's That Glo Tho™ Liquid Highlighter can be used on its own or mixed with foundation, primer or moisturizer for a subtle sheen. It comes in two shades: champagne (Lit AF) and bronze (Glowy AF). The powder version of each shade is designed with a buttery soft lightweight texture that blends seamlessly into the skin for a healthy glow.
  
  Toss those winter gloves, and get ready to flaunt your nails, because vibrant tips are coming back in a big way. Snapshots from Fashion Week show spring nails in a range of colorful shades, playful patterns and artistic designs. Boring nails? Don't know her.
• GET THE LOOK: Known best for their 21-free Nail Lacquers, all made in the USA, TFB offers bold AF shades for every style and personality with an array of spring colors, including aqua blue (Spill the Tea), pink coral (CEO of Wellness) and a buttery yellow (Never Boring).
  
  Spring is the perfect time to experiment with your beauty products and go bold with your skin, lips and nails. With its selection of vibrant hues and its ever-evolving, cruelty-free product line, TFB is the brand to take your look (and your attitude) to new heights.

"We are on a mission to redefine the meaning of non-toxic and vegan beauty, making it more accessible, inclusive, loud and proud," says Amanda Zweig, Co-Owner, Creative Director of Trust Fund Beauty. "We've been a trailblazer in beauty since our 2013 launch, and we've only continued to elevate our standards."

In addition, the company is committed to sustainability by partnering with organizations such as Pachama and TerraCycle to offset carbon emissions and plastic consumption. All Trust Fund Beauty products are non-toxic, cruelty-free and vegan.

Visit trustfundbeauty.com for more information.

(NewsUSA) -During the winter months, many Americans look to make the most of the fresh snow and cooler temps by skiing and snowboarding in cities and towns across the United States, often taking a weekend getaway to experience some place new. But trips to the slopes can be a costly expense.

As a longtime ski enthusiast with 50 years of experience road tripping to ski resorts across the United States and Canada, Joe Miron has spent several decades perfecting the art of planning cost-effective ski voyages. He shares his five best tips to make traveling to the slopes budget-friendly without sacrificing the adventure below:

1. Seek Early Bird Specials: Purchase passes in advance, rather than at the ticket window, to get the best bang for your buck. Many resorts and ski passes will begin offering discounted prices in early spring, known as "early bird specials." Miron opts for the Indy Pass, a multi-resort season pass offering access to 80 independently owned and operated ski areas across North America. For a limited time, My6 Members can receive 10% off adult and kid passes.

2. Consider Weekend & Holiday Crowds: For large resorts, consider the crowds on holidays and weekends in January and February, and time your visit to the "off" days. Weekdays are typically less crowded and will allow you to take full advantage of an uncrowded ski slope. Miron prefers visiting large mountains between Tuesday and Thursday to avoid the high ski traffic.

3. Road Tripping with your Furry Friend: Pets are great travel companions, especially for ski trips. When deciding to bring your furry friends along for the adventure on your next ski trip, make sure you have all the necessities, such as a pet-friendly lodging option such as Motel 6, and bringing a dog jacket and heavy blanket to keep them warm. Miron, who travels with his dog, Kilo, throughout the winter months, even attaches a Tractive GPS device to his dog collar.

4. Select Affordable & Accommodating Lodging: Identifying lodging that accommodates all your needs is vital for planning an affordable ski trip. Miron chooses Motel 6, an economy lodging brand with more than 280 locations near ski resorts. Motel 6 is known to be clean, comfortable and affordable, and it offers a pet-friendly environment, where up to two dogs or cats can stay for free.i Miron personally appreciates how over 1,400 Motel 6 locations are locally owned and operated and are easy to spot from the main road or freeway.

5. Seek Out Unique or Smaller Locations: While exploring the various winter wonderlands, seek unique and smaller ski areas, as there may be some hidden deals and unpolished gems to help keep your trip within budget. Miron loves to visit smaller resorts alongside the major mountains, specifically New Mexico, Idaho and Montana ski areas.

For additional information on Motel 6 and how to activate the Indy Pass discount, visit https://www.motel6.com/en/home/promo/skiforall.html.

BIO: 

Joe Miron is an avid skier, proud dog dad and member of the American Legion who began his ski career in 1967 at the age of 20 in Lake Tahoe, CA.

Since taking his first ski road trip back in 1972 from San Francisco to Colorado and back, Joe has turned road tripping to various ski resorts into an everlasting tradition.

Joe's road trips became longer after retiring from his career 11 years ago, as he then had the entire winter season to do what he pleased.

Joe enjoys the adventure of skiing at different resorts throughout the U.S. and Canada and exploring all the various places along the way in his SUV with his travel companion, Kilo.

This year, Joe and Kelo departed for their ski pilgrimage on December 9. They will visit 109 ski resorts in two Canadian provinces and 10 U.S. states. They will spend 56 nights at 27 different Motel 6 properties.

(NewsUSA) - The number of Americans quitting their jobs reached record-setting highs in 2021. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, more than 38 million people left their positions during the year. More than 4.5 million of those resignations took place in November alone.

If you were among those millions, you may be starting the new year looking for a new job -- one that offers more flexibility, work-life balance and a greater sense of personal fulfillment. If so, the financial planning profession may be a good fit for you.

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals work with individuals and families to review their financial situations and identify strategies to help maximize their chances of achieving life goals. They may advise clients on saving for retirement, investing money to purchase a home or start a business or paying for a child's education. Financial planners also help businesses design and manage retirement plans and other financial programs for their employees.

Financial planning positions vary widely from one company to the next, and there are numerous ways to enter this in-demand profession. Here are five of the most common:

1. Join a company's financial planning department. Financial planning departments draft financial plans, answer client questions and service requests, research investment options, and perform custom analyses of financial options and decisions.

2. Start a career in financial planning operations. Operations professionals maintain advisor and client files, collect client information, generate client reports and help with troubleshooting, among other responsibilities.

3. Work for a virtual advice center. New hires at virtual advice centers answer calls from existing customers and help them with personal financial matters, ranging from stock trades to portfolio adjustments to account distributions. As employees gain experience, they move into more specialized financial planning roles and services.

4. Join the advisory team at a bank or financial advisor's local branch office. Here, a financial planner typically starts out by assisting clients with opening accounts, completing transfers and other basic service requests. With time, they will handle more complex client cases and assist with more advanced products and services.

5. Work for a company that supports financial planners. These include FinTech companies, asset managers and FinTech company platform providers.

CFP Board's recently published Guide to Careers in Financial Planning provides more information about starting and sustaining successful financial planning careers. You can also find career guidance and financial planning job and internship postings on the CFP Board Career Center.

Whatever path you choose, pursuing a financial planning career may provide you with many personal and professional benefits in the new year. For more information about financial planning as a career, visit CFP.net/Why-CFP-Certification.

(NewsUSA)

"A Heart's Landscape"
by Susan Lax

Unlock a moment of joy in each day no matter how challenging times may be. Let this beautiful collection of stories, poems and words from the garden of the author's heart offer insight, comfort and healing.

Some days we find ourselves on autopilot, forgetting the preciousness of being and losing touch with our creative spirit. But on other days, our being fills with excitement. Author Susan Lax explores the gifts of awareness and encourages the reader to be present in the moment. Lax offers a path to an attentive heart. On every page, her words and timeless photographs meet your soul in the perfect place. In times of grief, illness or life transitions, you'll find healing and strength within these pages. Purchase at https://amzn.to/31DoCIo.

"Schmooze: What They Should Teach at Harvard Business School"
by Cody Lowry

"Wow! Self-help and motivation for millennials, baby boomers, and everyone in between."-- Tim Gannon, co-founder of Outback Restaurants.

In this inspirational chronicle, entrepreneur Cody Lowry shares how the events in his life led him to become a motivational force in the lives of others. He'll share how being raised by a single mother prepared him for an extraordinary life. His odd job stories will demonstrate how reinvention is always possible.

And with his marvelous storytelling technique, Cody will encourage readers to look at their lives differently. Through humorous, real-life stories, he'll arm them with a new definition of the word "schmooze" that will empower them to unleash their full potential. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3kyZGs5.

"Books of God"
by Michael Haghighat 

There are approximately 4.4 billion Christians, Muslims and Jews. Wouldn't it be awesome if their common beliefs rooted in their common God-given truths were represented in the global order by a world religious organization?

This book distills the common truths and fundamental differences of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The author believes the major religious institutions need to adopt a set of core principles based on our common truths and assert themselves as an active united front. In this global order, our major religious institutions can work as one united entity alongside our governments and major commercial enterprises to eradicate hunger, poverty, injustice, inequality, environmental degradation, greed, war and other evils. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3n71f1P.

"Laughing with Old Abe"
by A.T. Kabambay

Abraham Lincoln is the most adored of all American presidents, but oddly enough, two of his unparalleled qualities have completely escaped scholars: of all the presidents, he is the greatest jokester and the most religious.

In this succinct biography of the 16th President of the United States -- perhaps the funniest biography of all time -- discover the most hilarious stories and anecdotes Lincoln has told or experienced in his lifetime. In this difficult time of the pandemic, economic uncertainty and global warming, enjoy the opportunity to laugh with Old Abe. Written by a passionate historian and researcher who specializes in American history, specifically Lincoln and the American Civil War. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3cg4AWp.

NOTE: BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Winter 2022 promises the perfect storm for soaring home heating bills. The convergence of surging energy prices, plummeting temperatures and escalating demand means optimal energy-efficiency is more challenging and critical than ever.

Rising global energy prices hit home with forecasts indicating households could see their bills increase up to 54%, according to The United States Energy Information Administration. Further, forecasters including the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and the Farmer's Almanac predict a colder-than-normal season. Rounding out this frosty trifecta, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the rise of remote work which is set to accelerate and become a more permanent fixture as of 2022, industry observers say.

The good news is that families can prevent a utility-bill blitz by following a few simple tips. With home heating and cooling accounting for nearly half of home energy use, small steps can go a long way.

• Ease Into Electric: According to Columbia University's Earth Institute, electric systems are a solution to decarbonize home climate control. Among the most energy-efficient heating and cooling products, electricity-powered ductless mini-split systems, offered by companies including Fujitsu General America, can save as much as 25 percent on your energy bill. Plus, they are effective with temperatures as low as -15 degrees Fahrenheit. Mini-splits use thin copper tubing to pump refrigerant from an outdoor compressor directly into an indoor air-handling unit, where the air is quietly distributed to the interior space.
• Get "Smart" About Climate Control: When it comes to smart home temperature control, there are Smart HVAC Systems and Smart Thermostats. Smart HVAC systems have built-in Internet capability and can be controlled directly without additional equipment. Smart Home Thermostats create "smart" systems by enabling remote temperature control via a mobile or Internet-connected device or voice-operated home automation system.
• Voice Your Preference: Take control of your comfort. Most HVAC manufacturers offer apps that enable systems to be controlled from anywhere using a mobile device. Voice-control capability uses digital assistants, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home, to verbally dictate home temperatures. Easily controlling the temperature more closely allows homeowners to be more comfortable and improve energy savings.
• Find Your Efficient Comfort Zone: Many of us live in homes designed for bigger families, but have yet to downsize. If you find yourself using a fraction of your home on a regular basis, consider upgrading to a zoned ducted, or ductless, system. That will allow you to save energy heating and cooling spaces where you and your family don't spend a lot of time. This will multiply savings as you're not only needing less cooling, but you also gain from a more efficient system in the spaces you do still use.
• Try Low-tech Fixes: Simple changes can have a big impact. Take advantage of the sun's energy to heat your home by opening your south-facing curtains at sunrise to make best use of "passive solar gain." Force down warm air. Denser, cooler air stays closer to the ground, and warmer air rises. So, force it downwards with a low-speed fan. Insulate and fill the gaps. Warmed air leaking out around poorly sealed window frames, power sockets, recessed light fittings, and other gaps is a big source of heat loss in homes. Thick curtains help to insulate glass at windows.

If your utility bill is spiking as temperatures dip, a ductless heating and cooling system is definitely a worthwhile investment. Many Fujitsu systems with the Energy Star rating are more than twice as efficient as the minimum standard set by the government.

To learn more or find a contractor near you, call 888-888-3424 or visit www.constantcomfort.com.

By Andrew Campanella 
For NewsUSA

(NewsUSA) - Forty-three percent of moms and dads describe the process of finding a school for their child as "stressful." That's 43% too many. This National School Choice Week (Jan. 23-29), here's how to easily get started on school and scholarship applications for August…minus the stress.

As you think about the next school year, take thirty minutes to consider what the ideal learning environment would look like for your child. Would it be large or small? STEM-focused? Art-focused? Sporty? Religious? Secular? Make special health accommodations? Start with your insider knowledge about your child's needs and your family's goals.

Once you've described what you need and want for your child's education, look for it.

You can access the free Schools Near Me tool at schoolchoiceweek.com/schoolfinder to search more than 130,000 public, charter, magnet, and private schools. And don't forget to consider online school and homeschooling as well. If you're open- minded in considering your options, you might be surprised by what works for your child.

By looking for a school based on your insider knowledge about your child -- and not just based on test scores, zones, or your neighbor's opinion -- you can likely find the school option most suited to your unique situation. Today, there are many more school options and scholarships than we adults had access to as kids. This is truly a reason for hope. For any child who is currently struggling in school, there are opportunities and alternatives available.

At the end of the day, making a great school choice starts with knowing your options. Whether you're searching for a new school or happy with your current choice, you can make a difference for others this National School Choice Week (Jan. 23-29) by spreading the word about school choice. You can do this by posting about your educational experience on social media using #schoolchoice, or by telling a friend or family member about the Week.

With free and affordable choices and community support, the school search process can be transformed from one that's laden with stress to one that is empowering. This School Choice Week, let's bring as much support as we can to families so they can help their children succeed.

Andrew Campanella is president of National School Choice Week and the author of "The School Choice Roadmap: 7 Steps to Finding the Right School for Your Child."