Prince or Princess, we all want to be rescued every now and then. None of us is a stranger to the fairy tale; the handsome hero/heroine swoops in and solves all of the problems, hand delivering a happy ending with a big, beautiful, red velvet bow.

While this fantasy has entranced us both as little girls and women, what we are all forgetting is that sometimes the biggest reward comes from rescuing oneself.

So, as we enter February, the month of love, we’re recommending you practice some self love with these ten ways to make yourself feel good!

10. STOP PUTTING OFF THAT ORGANIZATION PROJECT!

While it’s not slaying a dragon, cleaning up clutter certainly has the feel of exiling a beast.

If it were last February, we’d say make the best of the snow days and attack those closets! But, we bet you can still find a few hours each week to sift through that “storage” closet that only closes with a push from your hip.

Give yourself the gift of a clear mind by organizing that space that sends the cogs and wheels springing out of your brain every time you look at it. Better yet, spring for a few great organization tools. If it’s your boudoir that needs order, we love these acrylic jewelry organizers, so you can actually see your accessories.

9. WEAR SOMETHING RED

Isn’t it so interesting that the same color that means love can also mean anger? All that really means is that red is the symbol for passionate emotions! So, when you are ready to say to the world, “Look out people, I am bold, I am fearless, and I am NOT afraid to stand out from the crowd,” throw on something red and go rock the world!

(BTW- red is a HUGE spring fashion trend.)

Jess adores this red hat on a chilly day!

Here, Kimberly looks stunning in a lacework BCBG red dress. Perfect for a Valentine’s Day dinner!

8. LEARN HOW TO WEAR RED LIPSTICK

Red shouldn’t just be confined to clothes. We think learning how to wear RED lipstick is a weapon every babe should have in her beauty arsenal. Red lips are classic, sexy, and dangerous all at the same time! As long as we know our most flattering shade and a follow a few simple rules, we can all feel the power that comes from a fiery pout!

Know Your Shade

Fair skin? Try a true red, which generally has blue undertones, like this Sephora Rouge Cream in Classic Bright Red.

You can also play with deep burgundy hues, like this Urban Decay, Gwen Stefani in Deep Wine.

Medium skin? The color spectrum gets a little bigger for you. Orange reds work wonders. Try this YSL Rouge Pur Couture in Bright Orange.

Olive and Dark Skin? You are one lucky lady! It will be hard to make a mistake choosing your shade of red. They will pretty much all look good on you! Since anything goes, we love this Smashbox in Red Grape.

Pink Undertones? Rosey reds will make your cheeks glow! This Tarte lip tint in Fiery Red is actually a nice warm and toasty rosey red.

Follow the Rules

1. Let the lips do the talking – When wearing red lipstick, keep the rest of the make up simple. Otherwise, you might look like this:

2. Don’t bleed red – Use a good lip liner, either in the same tone or clear to prevent the color from running up your lip lines. Trust us, not a good look.

3. Blot, powder, reapply – We’ve gone through all of the trouble to find the perfect shade. Make it last! Blot with a cloth, dab lightly with translucent powder, and then gently reapply. Voila! Your classic, sexy, and dangerous lips are ready to go!

7. TREAT YOURSELF TO A GOOD BOTTLE OF WINE

There are plenty of low-budget great wines. But, every now and then you’re worth a little more than the budget bin vino. 😉 And, if you decide to pair your nice bottle of wine with binge TV watching and dark chocolate squares, we won’t judge. In fact, we’ll probably give you a high five.

6 . TRY A NEW FORM OF EXERCISE

Exercise releases those same mood-lifting endorphins associated with love. Discovering new ways to tap into these happy hormones will not only make your daily workout a little less hum-drum, but will also improve your daily outlook. A few of our favorites you might consider are as follows:

Public Body – An outdoor fitness routine that combines intense workouts, fresh air, and some good old fashioned tongue and cheek fun!

SoulCycle– By now you must have heard of this challenging spin class, which has the ability to extract emotions and inner feelings better than your therapist. With a new studio in Back Bay, and the Mass flag ship post in Chestnut Hill, you now have two locations to join the ride and “exercise” those demons (and wine and chocolate from aforementioned recommendation 😉 ).

Barre with Jessica Diaz – Long, lean and lovely, we love, Jess Diaz, one of Boston’s Barre Superstars! Barre is part ballet, and part hardcore body strength. (Although, if you’ve seen Black Swan, you know those are both one in the same!) You can find Jess and all of her inspiration at Asana Studio in Charlestown or Equinox Boston.

5. SPEND A DAY ALONE…  AT A SPA

Work much? Mom much? Need a break much? Well go ahead and take it! Kim recently spent a night at the Breakwater Inn and Spa in Kennebunkport, Maine. There, she discovered one of the best ways to give yourself some lovin’ is to find some alone time. Solitude gives us the chance to listen to our inner voice and reconnect with our goals and ourselves. And not only is that good for each of us, but it also makes us better moms, friends, co-workers… you get the point. 🙂

4. ENJOY A GREAT DINNER WITH A GOOD FRIEND

Great food and a good friend are a magical combination! (Don’t forget to throw some wine into that mix.) There’s something about being with your girlfriends that sends you back to a time when things were simpler and sleepovers and Ouija Boards were all you needed on a Saturday night. That’s the wonder of a GNO- we may be women, but we’re still girls at heart!

Jess & Kim enjoy a laugh over desert at Les Zygomates Wine Bar

3. WATCH A SUNRISE/SUNSET

We make this recommendation pretty frequently. So, I guess we think it’s special. Why? Try it. For us, watching the day begin with a fiery orange ball instills an inspiration that only Mother Nature could give. And on the tail end of that, saying good-bye to a day (good or bad) through splendid pastel colors gives us an appreciation for life and the chance to envision the opportunities the next day will offer.

Sunrise after snowstorm on January 13th, 2016.

2. PERFORM MORE ACTS OF KINDNESS

There’s that old saying, you give what you get. When you give out smiles and love, you will definitely receive those gifts in return. The interesting part is that the person from whom you will receive it the most is yourself! Being nice honestly feels good! So, pay for that person’s coffee behind you. Hold the door for the person who is still 20 feet way. Help a neighbor take in their trash and recycling barrels after trash day. You just might find you’re actually the one who is smiling more. 🙂

1. HUG, HUG, HUG!

Did you know hugging can increase levels of oxytocin and seratonin? By hugging you can literally squeeze out sadness and make yourself feel happier. There are numerous other health benefits from hugging. But, besides helping to relax muscles and improve immune systems, hugging is fun! This February, and especially on the 14th, we want you to give yourself some lovin’ by giving it to others! Hug your friends, hug your special someone, hug your family, hug your kids, hell, hug everyone! Give those big bear hugs where you can feel the joy deep inside. You know, the ones that start off with a tight hold and gentle sway, and end with a tickle attack where the receiver begs for it to stop, and then, at the very end giggles and squeaks out a meek request for “more!” Although, we would not recommend trying this one out on a co-worker. That might not end so well. But, it definitely works on the kiddos!

Happy Hugging Hauties!

Love,

Jess & Kim 😉

P.S. Enjoy our “Hugging Gallery.” We’ve got a few oldies, but goodies in there!