So You Wanna Be A Cuter You?

Starting Sunday, May 1, I’ll be bringing you a new blog series called 
“31 Days Closer to a Cuter You!”

Topics will include: 

  • how not to look old
  • finding your best hem lengths
  • shoes that flatter
  • hair issues
  • how to dress YOUR body
  • kitchen cuisine for beauty treatments
  • my favorite “beauty” products
  • and more!

 But wait! That’s not all. 

Sandy, The Amazing Adventures of Friday Fitness Girl, is the brain behind the “31 Days Closer…” child!

Check out her post here to find out more about the “31 Days Closer…” series and the other cool chick bloggers who are participating.  

In the meantime, is there a particular issue you deal with along the lines of looking your best? 
What is your biggest challenge in looking like the “you” you would like to see reflected in the mirror?

~ And hey, I know this is all superficial stuff, but sometimes it’s fun to have a little girl talk about clothes, shoes, and make-up. 

I know I could use a little “superficial fluff & stuff” now and again. What about you?

Uncommon Women

I get to speak to some wonderful women this week. I’ve prepared a new topic entitled “Uncommon Women.”
In “Uncommon Women,” the women I honor are those in UNCOMMON TIMES of UNCOMMON COURAGE with UNCOMMON FAITH.

Not only do we have the Biblical examples of women like Deborah, Esther, Mary (mother of Jesus) and Elizabeth, but if you look around, there are plenty of women that you know who are UNCOMMON.
In fact, it may be YOU!
Uncommon Women are:
~ called upon to live out a season that is UNCOMMON and not of their choosing.
~ digging deep to discover an UNCOMMON COURAGE.
~ developing an UNCOMMON FAITH that endures despite adversity.

How is this possible?

Come back and I’ll share more from “Uncommon Women.”

In the meantime, the weather here on the west, central coast of Florida is getting a bit cooler so I thought I would do a little online dreaming.
These would be fun to wear!
Have you made any new purchases for fall fashion? Trending fashion I actually like: capes and patterned tights.

Nordstrom

Hue Argyle Sweater Tights, $18

Ann Taylor

Jessica Simpson
Dillard’s
trendy colors for fall ’10

In reality, I wore yoga pants to run in yesterday and got too hot. I’m about to head out now and will be in running shorts. ‘Got to get my miles in!
Have you been to my running blog ~ http://www.seemymomrun.com/? I asked my sidebar trainer, Meka, a question that ties in with the Essie nail polish. Go see how that relates. And if you are a mom who runs, I sure would like to interview you for See My Mom Run! If you’ve never been to my running blog, be sure to click on the month of June, scroll to the bottom and see why I started running again.

Haircut Day, Shop My Closet, Platforms, Doggie Adoration

Sometimes a girl’s just gotta do it! So I did. See the hairstyle in my sidebar? I’ve had a variation of that for 2 years now. I loved it but I was tired of it. So 30 seconds before I sat in the chair Friday I picked up a short hair magazine and chose the first style I saw! Seriously.

Last week I made a “closet confesison.” This is my “new” outfit I wore to church yesterday. All of it came from my closet and none of it was new but I had never worn these pieces together. And that’s what made it “new.” The cami is really old…maybe 6 years old. The skirt is one I bought on clearance last fall (under $12), the tied top is the newest piece that I bought in the spring ~ so technically maybe that is “new.” The necklace is a mother’s day gift from ’08 or was it a bday gift? I have earrings to match but you can’t see them since I cropped my head out. I had a weird expression on my face, no doubt due to the Florida humidity!

Close-up of the platform slingbacks…some of my favorite shoes (at least 5 years old) because the platform makes the high heel comfortable and again…slingbacks visually elongate the leg.

Another style tip to “elongate” the leg: Wear a neutral flesh toned shoe.


Last week was One Fine Man’s and my anniversary. We went out for seafood and then came home and walked our dog and our neighbor’s. Romantic, I know. But it really was because we were together with another couple in love.
These two doggies adore one another. Ours is the pekingese, Ted. Reese is his girlfriend. See how our little dog gazes so adoringly at his big boned girlfriend? And notice how Reese is blinded from basking in Ted’s love?

True Confessions of a “Closet” Shopper!

At least once a week, I go in my bedroom, lock the door and shop! No, I don’t order from QVC or HSN. Without bogging you down with the details, our current financial situation is not what it has been in past years. So unnecessary spending has been cut. That means I am not buying clothes. What I am doing, is shopping

my closet. I take my time and looking with fresh eyes I try on several pieces until I have coordinated a brand new outfit.

Now I have never been one to splurge on myself or shop til I drop anyway so I am not suffering shopping withdrawals. And fortunately, after losing 16 pounds last year, I bought a few new things and was also able to get back into some of the cute clothes hanging around in my closet that hadn’t seen the light of day in years!

With nary a dollar for new fashion finds, I decided not to get all mopey about not being able to go to the mall, or T.J. Maxx or Marshall’s. Instead I make a quick trip to my own little boutique. It’s just down the hallway past the main bathroom on the right. You can’t miss it!

My closet challenge is to put pieces together in a new way. I aim to coordinate a look that is modest yet flattering to my body type, appropriate to the situation and one which projects my inside attitude to my outside apparel!

Shopping my closet midweek also avoids the rush of last minute decision making since I already know what I am going to wear to church on Sunday, or for any other occasion on my calendar.

This past Sunday morning, my outfit, including accessories, was ready and waiting on me. I had never worn these pieces together before and that is what makes shopping your closet fun! Challenge yourself to look at your individual pieces a little differently. You may not be able to afford new clothes but if you get in your closet and mix things up a bit, you’ll feel like a new woman!

The top is one I bought last year after losing weight. The skirt is part of a 3 piece suit (jacket, pants, skirt) that I bought in 2003! (Confession ~ I couldn’t wear it from 2004 – 2007.) But it finally fits again and it’s a classic cut in the perfect length for me (mid-knee).

I added a narrow black belt with silver buckle and wore my favorite pair of black slingbacks.

Here’s a tip: If you want to visually lengthen your legs, wear slingbacks.

And for a pop of color I added a coral bag which also matched my coral lipgloss and my coral toe nail polish (although hidden by the shoes).

How’s that for color coordination?

If your fashion budget is zero, why not shop your own closet?

The best part of all is knowing my husband admires me…not just for my cute outfit or money saving ways, but because we are on the same team and we’re winning the battle of the budget together!

Saturday the Macy’s in my mall had a fashion show with Clinton Kelly from TLC’s What Not To Wear. He was very funny and had a great rapport with the audience. Fortunately I remembered to take my camera! Unfortunately I forgot to get the battery out of the charger! Clinton took questions from the audience and moderated the Fashion Show.

The Season’s Trends

Ruffles – tuxedo shirt type ruffles and gentle ruffles on the cuffs of sleeves

The Color Purple
&
Gray – especially as a neutral

Plaid – Clinton wore a gray plaid jacket over a striped shirt in shades of purple. (‘Can’t believe I left my battery home – but I’m not bitter.)

Vests
Belts

And, yay!!!, shrugs are still in! I love a shrug!

More tips from Clinton:
If you wear a colored shoe, carry a neutral bag and vice versa.
Have a few great outfits that fit well instead of a multitude of ill-fitting pieces.
Layers add interest to any outfit.
Regardless of heel height, pants should be a 1/2 ” from the floor.
(This is my personal pet peeve: high heels with pants that are too short!)
Lastly – ban the T-shirts! Wear blouses instead!
Soon to come – my personal tips for what to wear if you are a short-y like I am!
I have embraced my shortness and actually wear flats sometimes. Check out my new flats I wore while teaching today. (Alfani on sale for $24)

Psst…Do me a favor…pretend the grout on my tile floor is clean!

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