What is SHE doing in MY closet?? Gwen…GET OUT! My dream room (minus the kid although he is real cute). sweetydesign.com
I’m trying to make the best out of a tiny situation, namely my closet space. The fact is I have more clothes than closet. My closet is a walk-in but not very deep – more like a “stand in” and now it’s time to edit everything – for the change of season.
A lot of stuff I’ve given away and I used to consign but decided it’s now better to put it into the clothing bins. I still have closet envy but short of moving to a bigger closet house, I have to make the most of a small situation. That was part of my spring cleaning promise to myself – to clean up my act closet and re-arrange my life it all. Not an easy task. Have you done this recently? Maybe you’ve been thinking about it too.
Hooks help to organize a few hats, scarves & bags. Hanging shoe racks are a good idea too.
RULES. The first step…
Time to get some of those thin Velcro hangers like they sell at Costco – then you can add a few more items.
Edit your closet. Really take a good look at your lifestyle and realize that some pieces (like the mesh studded crop top) will never see the light of day again. Divide into 3 piles.
1) Keeper
2) You want to keep it but be strong because you know you won’t wear it – possibility pile)
3) Definitely Not!
2+3 – Giveaways(if clothes are in good shape, washed and/or dry-cleaned & still in style you can probably consign them). I’ve consigned many times in the past & after almost forgetting about it after several months would get a phone call to say there’s a cheque for hundreds of dollars (because you won’t get more than 50% of what they decide to sell them for). Great news. Of course you can take the money and go buy more clothes right away with it. But be strong….because remember why you’re getting the cash? You had to clean out your closet.
4)You’ve heard it before but it’s true…..if something doesn’t fit right but it’s worth keeping have it altered to fit properly. If not, give it away. Nothing is worse than an ill fitting outfit. Your body changes so if something that once fit now doesn’t think about giving it away unless you plan to hire a personal trainer & work really hard.
5)Separate into piles the type of clothing & what you wear most often. Jeans, other pants, blouses, t-shirts, blazers, cardigans and put them in order of what you’re most likely to wear – so you can grab & go.
6)In the end you’ll feel so much better that you edited your closet. Then try to resist feeling like you wasted so much money, time and effort in choosing waaay more than you realized you’d have to part with – but know that it’s true. You wasted so much $$$$. Some of your friends will benefit from this & vice versa. You’ll feel good about giving it to someone who wears it better (although a bit envious). You realize you may have either lost or put on a few pounds (most likely) or that you no longer look good in a teeny Brazilian string bikini (not that you ever did – ouch). Good news: one pieces, especially retro style that cover up more skin are back in a BIG way. Realize you don’t need to sweat the small stuff. A well edited tiny closet is a BIG deal. Simplifying things is much easier…..yeah, yeah that is what my head keeps telling me. I still want a big walk-in.
Catchphrase: Make the most of what you have
SPACE SAVER: I love this corset hanger for containing some earrings & pendants. You can hang necklaces on the back.
I love cake in all its forms – flourless, vegan, fully loaded, red velvet & with lots of icing. Now I can put cake it in my hair.
Tell me you haven’t tried dry shampoo! Maybe you haven’t found the right one yet. Who washes their hair every single day anymore? We’re constantly on the go, washing daily will dry out your hair and styling all the time is a pain. Enter dry shampoo – not like the old days.
I think it’s a must unless of course you break out a sweat like crazy. For non wash days I just sprinkle a little cake satin sugar glistening dry shampoo on my roots, work through a little with my fingers & let sit a few minutes before brushing out. It doesn’t really clean your hair but it will take away the greasy look for emergencies or just days when you want to give your hair a rest. It also smells nice – a bit like icing sugar. The packaging is very so-so but the product works. Available at Sephora for $20.00
Can you believe they have a dry bar at Sephora? I’ve been wanting to try “Oscar Blandi” but the girls at S convinced me that cake works better for less $ – so far so good. This was their TOP pick (at least for now).
If you’re looking for something a little less pricey then try the volumizing spray from John Frieda which works fine for about $7.00.
Summer is the perfect time to break out all the stops on anything white – even shoes and handbags……….while we can. That’s not to say we can’t wear white all year long – just not so much of it.
Miranda Kerr localkicks.com
I love the freshness of white and the fact that you can pretty much dress it up or down with scarves, belts & jewelry. White with turquoise looks amazing. I specifically love white and beige together or white with black for a more graphic look (more on that later).
White was all over the runways with most designers showing “all white” looks from feminine dresses to tailored blazers.
Let’s have a look at some more recent trends on this theme
Red carpet white – Charlize Theron at 2013 Oscars from Images.Menswear 2013 – theclothingmenu.comsivanidesigns.comSolange Knowles Imashopaholic.comKarlie Kloss at Mercedes Benz Fashion Fall-Winter-2013 (glamcheck.com)
WHITE HOT!
Then of course the classics – white shirt, white jeans & white sneakers. All the time, anytime.
CUBAN CUISINE contains African, Spanish, Italian and Caribbean elements. The Cubans don’t follow any rules when cooking – the mixture of all possible tastes, smells and colors usually help to create little works of art. Cuba does not have a great reputation for their food – at least for tourists. I’ve been to Havana and found this to be true. Their rum however is second to none and if you stick with drinking mojitos all day long you may not even mind how bad the food tastes. The truth is if you’re lucky enough to be invited into a local home for a home cooked meal or go to one of the handful of local insider restaurants which happen to not be in the very touristy areas, you will be pleasantly surprised. Together with the wonderful herbs and spices from the region – for example, chilli, oregano, onions, garlic, parsley, saffron, basil, etc. – there are no limits to the varied dishes. Here is a simple and delicious marinade.
2 Tbsp. (30 ml) each frozen orange juice concentrate (somewhat defrosted), ketchup and molasses. (I used spicy ketchup from the Mcilhenny Co. brand that makes Tobasco).
1 tsp (5 ml) each ground cumin and dried oregano leaves
¼ tsp (1 ml.) cayenne pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 lime
1 Tbsp (15 ml) Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
4 centre-cut pork loin chops, each about ½ inch (1 cm) thickl
¼ cup (50 ml) coarsely chopped cilantro
In a bowl, stir concentrate with ketchup, molasses, dried seasonings and garlic.
Squeeze in juice from lime, then stir in oil.
Pour three-quarters of the marinade over chops and turn to evenly coat. Cover and let marinate in the fridge for at least one hour but best overnight. Turn occasionally.
Refrigerate reserved marinade in a separate container.
Preheat barbeque, then adjust to medium heat. Remove chops from marinade and discard marinade. Place on grill. Close lid and grill, about 12 to 15 minutes, turning once.
Brush with reserved marinade during the last five minutes of cooking time. Remove to platter and sprinkle with cilantro.
Per Serving: 237 calories
Sides: I served this with cooked quinoa (in a vegetable broth) which was then mixed into a pan with caramelized onions, shallots, red pepper, green beans & cuban black beans.
Sweet yellow corn on the cob with cilantro/chili/lime butter & sea salt.
A true signal of Summer ahead is strolling through the streets of Vancouver and noticing all the beautiful varieties of roses. These were taken Saturday, June 15th.
What good is a size 2 body if your hair ends up looking like hell?
photo credit below
I recently read an article about a nameless 42 year-old publicist from San Francisco who ended up losing a significant amount of hair due to extreme dieting. Seems sometimes we just can’t win. This girls goal was to lose 15 pounds in the first month, then re-evaluate how much more she’d need to drop after that – all with the assistance of a nutritionist.
Her calorie intake was just 750 a day, consisting of a protein shake for breakfast, soup and a shake for lunch, then salad, steamed veggies and 6 ounces of protein (like a piece of grilled chicken the size of a bar of soap) for dinner. She was still famished but wasn’t about to argue with the results – and lost every pound. The follow up visit with the nutritionist consisted of being told to set her target weight even lower and stay on the plan.
The trouble started four months later. The clothes were looser but her nice shoulder-length hair was much sparser. At first just a bit in the shower (which can be common) but in a matter of weeks she was dropping tons of hair – she has fine hair to begin with. She began to inspect her brushes after each stroke to see how many strands were tangled up in the bristles and had to disguise the hair sparseness by pulling it up into a bun or back in a ponytail as you could really see the difference when it was worn down.
The nutritionist would not entertain the idea that the diet had anything to do with it. She on the other hand, was not so sure. She eventually ditched the diet and started eating more sensibly, incorporating larger amounts of protein *(particularly red meat) into her meals. After a few months the shedding stopped, hair started to get back to normal and finally she’s at a healthy (but not supermodel thin) weight. *Whole grains, nuts and tofu/tempeh for vegetarians.
My brush
The Diagnosis:
Humans evolved from a feast-or-famine lifestyle: we cycled through periods when we had plenty of food to gobble up and periods when we had little to eat. Genetically, our bodies have a long memory, and in some ways they still react as if we’re living in prehistoric times. So if your body senses that you’re heading towards famine (hello, crash diet!), it diverts energy away from functions that are less essential, like growing hair or strong nails. If you start to undergo dramatic shedding, see your doctor for a blood workup; sometimes the problem could be the result of a chronic health condition, like hypo-or hyperthyroidism. Eating a healthy diet that includes all the food groups can help, as does popping a daily multivitamin, just to be sure you’re getting the nutrients that your hair needs. – Melissa Pilang, dermatologist, Clevelend Clinic.
NOTE **Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America. Here’s the link:
Apparently a lot, according to author & finance expert SusanHirshman, of a tongue in cheek but interesting & helpful new book on fresh financial advice geared for women (but men could use it too). Before you roll your eyes & tune out let’s just agree that the book puts a cheery spin on something we could all use more sound advice on but at the same time it can all be so mundane and confusing. When was the last time you read a book about financial planning that was enjoyable?
Review: As Susan Hirshman sees it, the rules of successful dieting are the same rules that apply to successful money management. In this upbeat and informative guide she offers women a 3-phase personalized plan that follows common dieting programs to help them understand their finances.
The structure of the book is consistent with that of a typical diet book – it includes an evaluation phase, an induction phase, and a maintenance regimen. Susan offers specific advice on topics that matter most to women including how to develop realistic and attainable goals, how to make smart financial decisions, how to determine the best way to invest based on a reader’s ‘investmentpersonality’, and how and when to get professional help from a financial advisor all while relating it back to a theme that practically every woman has experienced at least once in her life – dieting!.
Susan’s program completely removes the intimidation factor that often accompanies the words ‘personal finance’ and ‘investing’ and provides women with all the information they need to take control of their financial situations once and for all.
From Publishers Weekly – A comprehensive and coherent breakdown of basic financial and wealth management information from a J.P. Morgan financial adviser.
An increasing number of women are controlling more and more of the wealth in America, but studies suggest that women’s financial literacy is not increasing. Hirshman, who counsels investors on their personal finances, uses comparisons with dieting–a framework also used in Alice Wood’s excellent Wealth Watchers–and the metaphor holds up well: both dieting and investing require discipline, take time, and yield rewards. Hirshman presents reviewing a net worth statement as “stepping on the financial scales,” and investment categories as the basic food groups. Though it’s not overtly stated, the advice is aimed at an audience with a fairly old-fashioned view of finances–she speaks passionately about the need for women to be equal partners in their marital finances and admonishes women that “a man is not a financial plan.” Hirshman provides all of the information necessary for a solid financial background, and cheers on her readers with a positive message: “The only person responsible for you is you.”
With NEW glide-on 24/7 EyePencils that come in 40 highly saturated shades. I bought one recently and just got another for 100 points at Sephora – “smoke” a nice deep grey color, not so harsh as black. A super Sephora selection.
What I love is that they stay creamy for blending and dry to a waterproof finish that won’t budge. And as they say in the packaging “the shade range is insane!” Crazy-vivid brights, shimmering metalics or wear-anywhere neutrals. Something for everyone. Choose from every texture imaginable, from micro-sparkle to matte. You can get addicted to the names alone – perversion, smog, bourbon, hustle, corrupt, desperation, freak, psychedelic sister, etc.
Another Urban Decay Staple is the 24/7 concealerpencil. Don’t you just love makeup pencils?
The creamy formula dries matte and stays put (but only on dry skin and not 100% of the time). It’s still nice. Because it’s a pencil, it’s easy to apply with precision.
My color is FBI
With so many choices available it’s nice to sample different products and not stay always with the same brand. For someone who sells beautiful mineral makeup and doesn’t even wear much makeup to begin with I sure have a hefty stockpile. That’s what women do. How about you?
Gold never did go out of style except for quite a while we had a long silver streak. Silver is still going strong and it’s safe but Gold is Bold and it’s beautiful. Plus it was everywhere on the Spring/Summer 2013 runways. I’m enjoying this Gold Rush resurgence.
I love O.P.I.’s limited edition “Man With the GoldenGun” topcoat. It contains real 18K gold flecks and looks great over any dark nail polish (in photo).
Chanel suit from the “love gold” show in Cannes (taken from Images).Bazaar Magazine – May Issue
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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