Laurita - Get it!: a beauty, style, and wellness guide to getting your It together

Praise for

Get It!

We GET IT and so should you! A terrific guide for a GO-TO GAL!

Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb

As an avid health and wellness advocate myself, I found Get It! to be a great guide for all women who want to be the best they can be.

Joan Lunden, award-winning journalist and bestselling author

Get It!

Get It!

A Beauty, Style, and Wellness Guide to Getting Your It Together

Jacqueline Laurita and Jen Luciani

Copyright 2016 by Jacqueline Laurita and Jen Luciani

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Photo and image credits on .

BenBella Books, Inc.

PO Box 572028

Dallas, TX 75357-2028

www.benbellabooks.com

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First E-Book Edition: May 2016.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Laurita, Jacqueline, author. | Luciani, Jene, author.

Title: Get it! : a beauty, style, and wellness guide to getting your It together / Jacqueline Laurita and Jene Luciani.

Description: Dallas, Texas : BenBella Books, Inc., [2016] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015051079 (print) | LCCN 2016007319 (ebook) | ISBN 9781940363844 (trade cloth : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781940363943 (electronic)

Subjects: LCSH: Beauty, Personal. | WomenHealth and hygiene. | Fashion.

Classification: LCC RA778 .L38 2016 (print) | LCC RA778 (ebook) | DDC 646.7/042dc23

LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015051079

Editing by Leah Wilson and Heather Butterfield

Copyediting by Stacia Seaman and Shannon Kelly

Proofreading by Karen Wise and Brittany Dowdle

Text design by Faceout Studios

Text composition by PerfecType, Nashville, TN

Cover by Sarah Dombrowsky

Cover illustration by Ralph Voltz

Printed by Versa Press

Distributed by Perseus Distribution

www.perseusdistribution.com

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Please contact Aida Herrera at .

To my children, Ashlee, CJ, and Nicholas, who are my greatest blessings in life, and to my rock, my everything, my husband Chris.

Jacqueline

To GiGi and Kalen: You continuously inspire me to be a better person, mom, and role model.

And to my life-long friend Jacquelyn Mariah Porreca: Rest in peace, girlfriend. This ones for you.

Jen

CONTENTS

O ne thing Ive learned is that no matter how perfect someones life may appear from the outside, everyone faces challenges and has their ups and downs. The grass may look greener in your neighbors yard, but start rolling around in it and youll surely find some hidden rocks and weeds. No matter who we are, there is always at least one area in our lives where were struggling, whether its our finances, our health, our relationships, our spirituality, our home, our time management, or our work.

For those of you who have followed me through my journey as one of the original cast members of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, you are familiar with some of my own struggles. Over the shows six seasons, Ive shared with millions of viewers my miscarriages, relationship struggles, and family issues; my body insecurities and my fears of driving on highways and public speaking; the devastating news of my youngest sons autism diagnosis; and the financial struggles our family has faced. Life has not always been a bed of roses for me, but one thing is certain: I will always pick myself up, and I will always rebuild. I will never give up.

For me, the key to surviving whatever life throws your way is in how you choose to perceive situations and react to them. Its keeping a sense of humor. Its finding balance and purpose. Its realizing your strengths and exploring and focusing on what youre passionate about. Its sharing your knowledge with others in hopes of making someone elses life a little easier, more enjoyable, and more fulfilling. Its allowing yourself quality time to create your own beauty from the inside out. When you take care of your own needs and desires, you will be in a much better position to care for and serve others.

Ive been interested in the wellness and beauty industries as far back as I can remember. I have a background in health and fitness; when I attended community college in Arizona, I studied body conditioning, weight training, nutrition, biology, anatomy, and physiology. I have also been a licensed cosmetologist for over twenty years. Ive worked in salons doing hair, behind a department stores makeup counter, as a freelance makeup artist, as a convention model, and with various hair, makeup, and skin-care companies.

Ive also worked with chemists and formulators to develop new beauty products. Ive tested and given advice and reviews on many beauty products for a number of websites and national magazines, as well as for beauty PR and consulting firms.

Ive done beauty roundups on national TV and Ive been a spokesperson for various doctors and beauty products in order to educate consumers.

I do all this because it brings me joy, and that joy helps me push through lifes obstacles. When I take care of myself, I feel better about myself, and I have always enjoyed helping others look and feel beautiful, too. I decided to write this book because I want to share my passion and my years of experience in the beauty industry with you in hopes that it will help you and bring you joy as well. In it, Ive included my tips, tricks, and secrets to finding beauty from the inside out so you can be the best you can be. Together with Jen Lucianimy friend, fashion stylist, bra expert, and author of The Bra BookIll help you get centered, get on track, get organized, get healthy, get fit, get beautiful hair, get flawless skin, get made up, and get stylish and sexy!

Jen and I believe that taking care of ourselves mentally and physically helps us be our best, so that we can give our best to others. To be constantly improving and evolving, we need to believe in ourselves, no matter the difficulties we face. During those rough patches, learn what you can from the experience and keep the faith. Keep believing that this too shall pass, because it can only rain for so long; eventually, the sun will come out. With a little luck, a lot of hard work, and a positive attitude, you can have whatever you want out of life; you just have to go get it!

Jacqueline

T heres one question I seem to get asked all the time: How do you juggle everything on your plate and still make time for yourself? That question is usually followed by: You must be exhausted/superhuman/crazy.