Are your Brows living up to their best potential?

I am so excited about the bold brow trend this season.   As a "brow enthusiast" I have often commented on how eyebrows are under appreciated.  They make a huge difference in the way you look, yet many women do nothing to enhance the brows ability to frame your face.

Believe it or not, your eyebrows play a huge role in keeping you looking young! As we age, so do our brows. For some they may become increasingly thin, others may get even bushier! The trick is to keep them full but tamed!

 If your eyebrows are too thin they probably aren't framing the eye to their best ability.  Don't be afraid to fill in your eyebrows, a little product can go a long way, and if you have the right tools, it isn't all that tricky to do.

On the flip side, if they are too bushy they can be distracting.....and not in a good way.  Tweeze away those stray hairs that don't fall in the line of where you want your brows....but remember don't get carried away, we want full brows!  If you don't trust yourself to do it on your own, ask a friend (who you trust) where they go to get their brows groomed and make an appointment!

Here are a few products that have been tested and proved worthy of a try:

Anastasia of Beverly Hills "Brow Powder Duo" / "Brow Pen" / "Brow Wiz" $$$














Paula's Choice "Browlistic Precision Long Lasting Brow Color" / "Brow/Hair Tint" $











Sephora "Retractable Brow Pencil-Waterproof" $



















Urban Decay "Brow Box" $$$


















Physicians Formula "Brow Definer Automatic Brow Pencil" $









There are literally hundreds of products out there so chances are there's one perfect for you.  If you have a product that you love stick with it, but for those of you who have been shamefully neglecting your arches....get to the store and try out some products.  You'll be pleasantly surprised at what a difference it makes to your overall look.







So step out of your comfort zone, put down the tweezers and embrace those full eyebrows that are so popular this season!

Spring Clean Your Closet!

Going along with my last posts theme, here are some tips I've compiled from numerous resources on ways to sort your wardrobe and get rid of the items you don't need!


First step is making sure you have the time to sort....give yourself an hour or more to do this.

Pull all of your clothes out of your closet/drawers and begin sorting into these categories!

• Items you like and fit well, but don't wear often. These will go straight back into the closet, maybe you haven't figured out how to incorporate them yet but you WILL!

• Items you dislike, but wear often.  This could be for a lack of better items.  Keep these for now, but these will be candidates for replacement.  You should designate a section in your closet for these "items to be replaced."

• Items that don't fit or are unflattering.  More often then not, these are items we WANTED to fit because we loved the design or style, but sometimes even the best of designs don't fit every body type.  Maybe you spent a lot of money on it and don't want to give it up.....so it just sits in your closet day after day....week after week...  These items could be better served given to a friend or if it's in good condition you could try consignment....even better you can donate to Goodwill or a Shelter. 

• Items you dislike and don't wear.  It's pretty straight forward here....if you don't like it and don't wear it......don't hold on to it.  Why over clutter your closet with clothes that are never worn.  If you haven't wore it in over a year there is no need to stare at it. 

Afraid of having an empty closet? Take baby steps..... bag up the items that are unflattering/don't fit and the dislikes/don't wear and put them away (in your garage or shed, under your bed, somewhere you won't see them)  If you haven't bothered to find them after a couple months you know you won't miss them and can dispose of them which ever way you like! 

Does YOUR wardrobe need an update?

How to tell when it's time to update your closet.


1.   Your clothes are worn out.  We all like to hold on to those special items that make us feel young, sexy, smart or comfy, but when you wear something a lot you will start seeing some wear and tear.  If it's a pair of your favorite "comfy's", promise to only wear them at home and I will understand, but any other item that begins to look ratty should be replaced.

 

2.  Your clothes don't fit.  We ALL go through different phases of life and sometimes our weight is effected by it.  I'm not sure what is worse, a women who worked her butt off in the gym but continues to wear her clothes that are 2 sizes too big or the new Mom who is shoving her new shapely body into her jeans from high school.  If your clothes fit right, no matter what your size, you WILL look better.  I promise a pair of jeans in a size 12 that fit look SO much better then a size 7 that don't.

3.  You have clothes from 10 yrs ago or more.   Ladies......very few items of clothing can be worn for 10 years without looking like it!  With the exception of your basics (Jeans, White Tee, pencil skirt, black dress, etc.) most items will be outdated.  Even if they are still in style....they are probably worn out.  Obviously, there are some exceptions to this rule but if you find yourself questioning any item's condition or style , it's probably time to part with it. 

4.  You can't find anything that makes you feel good.  One of the best things about clothes is their ability to hide our flaws and make us feel better about ourselves. If you don't have a single outfit in your closet that you love to wear.....you need an update!

5.  You are missing your basics.  The following items are the most timeless pieces that should be incorporated into your wardrobe. 

 

• Great fitting jeans (they MUST fit)
• White Tee / Black Tee
• White Button Down Shirt (Fitted) / Black Button Down Shirt (Fitted)
• Black Dress
• Pencil Skirt
• Comfy Sweatshirt or Hoodie
• Black Pumps
• Cardigan
• Pea coat (or Dressy coat)
• Sundress
• Flip flops
• Converse (or casual shoes)
• Flats
• Plain Long Sleeved Shirt (Black/White)
• Black Pants
• Blazer
• Black Tank Top/White Tank Top
• Black Boots (Flat or heeled)
• Brown Boots (Flat or heeled)

It's okay if you don't have all of these pieces.  (For example a stay at home Mom isn't going to have much use for slacks or a pencil skirt) Keep your lifestyle in mind and make sure you have items that you will actually wear. 

Tip: None of us have tons of money laying around to buy a whole new wardrobe, so check your closet before you go shopping and make a list of items that you need.  You don't have to buy everything on your list, just add to your closet whenever you can and remember when you are buying a basic it's okay to spend a little extra to get good quality.  We want these items to last as long as possible so it's best not to cheap out especially when it comes to these!

Patterned Jeans....Cute or Crazy?

There is no denying that 80's trends are back in style.  For my husband, it's all too soon.  The memories of his neon aqua snow suits still haunt his dreams. Despite his efforts to keep me from repeating fashion mistakes of the past,  I find myself jumping on the bandwagon of neon colors, over sized shirts, and tapered jeans (now called skinny jeans), which brings me to today's question......

Should we be jumping back into patterned jeans?

I think the answer depends on how you wear them.

• Are you short? Tall?
• Curvy? Athletic? Petite? Large and in charge?
• Are you trendy? Do you often branch out of your comfort zone?
• Do you have the right shoes to wear it with?
• Will you go with flats? Heels? Flip flops?
• Where are you going to be wearing them?
• How often will you wear them?

I believe all of these questions need to be answered before purchasing a pair of patterned jeans. Though many of the patterns are really cute, I don't think everyone looks good in every pattern.  However, I do believe there is a pattern the suits everyone, you just have to find it!

Keep the size of the pattern in mind.  In general a smaller repeating pattern is less obnoxious. That being said, I love the subtle patterns.  I recently bought a pair of leopard print skinny jeans! Call me "crazy," but they are actually pretty tame as far as patterns go.  The colors used are darker and though you can definitely tell they are leopard print, they don't scream for (too much) attention!

 

I believe styling plays a very important role when wearing a bold pattern! This model proves that, if done right, a large, bold print can look stunning.  Make sure you style your look from head to toe.  She looks great!

 

Remember that anytime you wear a pattern you are making a statement.  So while I definitely think this trend is worth a try, wear it when you want to be seen because you will draw attention!

 

 

Do yourself a favor and remember to ALWAYS try clothes on! 

Especially when you are attempting something new!

 

 

 

I like BIG BUNs and I cannot lie.......




 

Gone are the days of ballerinas being the only ones able to sport buns!  Whether they are worn sleek, messy, high or low buns have made a major comeback. With the help of Pinterest, celebrities, hairshows and magazines we are given an unlimited number of ways to show off our "buns."  (and no I'm not talking about our back sides)

 

Hi Ho Silver.....Jeans

Silver Jeans.....I wore them in college.....I wear them now! 


There is something about this brand that keeps me coming back for more.  With a variety of styles and fits, Silver jeans give you numerous options.  I like that they come in "high" or "low" rise, straight leg, boot cut, skinny, bell bottoms and flare....... not to mention different colors and washes. 



The price is anywhere from $75 - $110......while most styles are around $80-$90ish.  Of course, if you can find them on sale they will be significantly less.  :) 

Where can you find Silver Jeans?   Nordstrom, Macy's, Buckle, Maurice's and Amazon to name a few!





Next time you need a new pair of "go to" jeans, I would suggest giving this brand a try.  Like ANY brand you will find pairs that you dislike, but I am confident you may find something that suits your fancy.  :)

SWIMSUITS a.k.a. small overpriced pieces of fabric

It's cold and rainy here in Eburg, I'm trying to stay positive.....summer is just around the corner, and warm weather brings out one of my most dreaded pieces of clothing........(cue the scary music....da...da....da SWIMSUITS).


Can I just start by asking who the heck invented the woman's swim attire?  No doubt it was a MAN! What woman in her right mind would attach 4 tiny triangular pieces of fabric to form a bikini? Goodness....I'm seriously getting irritated just thinking about it.  :)  Are there any other women out there who, like me, wish that a tank top and shorts were the norm?  :)

How many times have you looked through a Victoria's Secret Catalog, found a really cute swimsuit/bikini, ordered it, tried it on and immediately went on a crash diet?  Weird?  It looked amazing on the model (?) I didn't see cellulite, a muffin top and stretch marks in the ad?  I want my money back!!!! 

Now that we've established that swimsuits are a necessary evil, how do we find the best suit to fit our needs? 

Ask yourself some simple questions:

• Will you be "swimming" in this suit?  You may think this is a stupid question, but make no mistake, MANY women buy suits NEVER planning to step a foot in the water. 
• Do you plan to "wade" in the water? Swim laps? Dive? Flip? Surf? Boogie board?
• Are you going to be chasing kids around?
• Are you attempting to blend in with the crowd?  Or stand out?
• Will you have time to shave? :)

Why are these questions important?  Well do you want to be caught in a tiny bikini on the beaches of Hawaii, chasing your children who are attempting to boogie board and suddenly realize your suit isn't cooperating?  Since your kids are what is most important.....you can't be caught maneuvering your suit, instead of keeping them safe in the water. 

Here are some recommendations for suits that will (hopefully) cause the LEAST amount of anxiety!  :) 

Retro Style!  This swimsuit is really sweet and sexy in a "not so revealing" way!  It has straps, which means it will stay up when swimming and the "cinching" near the waste give the illusion of a smaller mid section.













 This black lacy look is great for covering stomach imperfections.  The lines in the suit camouflage stretch marks, all the while giving more of a "bikini" feel.  :)







This black Anthropologie suit looks like a "winner" for chasing kids around. With a halter strap to keep you "in place" and extra coverage down below,  I bet you can swim, dive, flip and surf in a suit such as this. 















This purple number looks like it will give your stomach a little extra room for breathing,  you won't have to suck in (as much).  YAY!  However, due to the "strapless factor" you won't be worry-free.  This can still be a great suit, just keep in mind you will most likely be adjusting the top throughout!

Isn't this cute!  I love this swimsuit, BUT I have to admit it may not be THAT easy to wear.  Looks like you have to be almost completely flat or very "perky" to pull it off.  I appreciate the coverage on the stomach and strappiness of the back.  I would DEFINITELY need to try it on and evaluate before purchasing.  :)  I don't think it would be great for swimming, chasing kids, etc.....though if I were going to be laying out minus the kids.....I might be tempted. :) 

Another cute, modest, black swimsuit!  Add straps and it would be perfect for a day at the water park with the family.  (I like the hat with it too) 
















Be careful with stripes!  The diagonal lines on this suit slim your body, but if they were horizontal it could make you look bigger.  I think this striped suit is a good substitute for someone who is looking for something a little more trendy. 

Ruffles!  I think this suit is cute, but ruffles can help or hinder your situation.  Make sure you aren't adding to areas you don't want to draw more attention to.  While ruffles can hide your imperfections they also add width, so make sure you aren't "hiding one problem" only to "create another." 

You may notice that I didn't give any examples of bikinis.  My reasoning is this....if you STILL look good in a bikini, you have thousands of options!  You don't need a "MomJeans" giving you advice on which one to buy, so I will extend my efforts for those of us who have less options.

  Happy hunting!  :)