What is your favorite piece of cool weather clothing?

October 1st, 2009

When the weather starts to cool down, do you have a favorite piece of clothing that you automatically think of pulling out of storage?  Is is a nice bulky sweater, or perhaps a big wool coat that just makes you remember all of those cooler days that have long gone by?

Maybe you have a favorite knit cap, that frames your face just perfectly, or is the perfect color for your skin tone.  People speak of comfort food, but what about comfort clothes?  I, personally, am a huge fan of big fluffy socks.  The bigger, softer and fluffier the better.  With my fluffy socks on, a blanket, and a big mug of hot cocoa, nothing could be better.

The weather is starting to change……..

September 30th, 2009

We are in the middle of a season change!  Yay!!  The season is going from the unbearably hot, to pleasantly cool.  I love it when the temperature changes, and I am surprised that I need to pull out my sweaters.  It seems like just yesterday, people were wearing shorts, and today bulky sweaters.

I have to admit though, my absolute favorite time of year, is fall.  I love the briskness in the air, the feeling that everything is starting to go into hiding, the leaves, the animals……. the sun.  The smell of burning wood in the air, and the knit caps start to make their appearance.  I just love this time of year.

A really great raincoat.

September 29th, 2009

When you are on your way to a beautiful evening, the last thing you need is for a rainstorm to come up.  This could definitely put a damper, so to speak, on your evening.  What you need is a really great raincoat.  One that doesn’t look like it belongs on a child, not slick and shiny…  one that  doesn’t even really look like a raincoat, but protects better than you can imagine.

Now you have the opportunity to own a really great raincoat in your choice of 27 colors, and three different lengths!  You are going to love your new raincoat, just check out our testimonials!

I love a rainy night.

September 28th, 2009

If you are anything like me, you love a good storm.  I love the way the rain pounds on the roof, I just love the way it sounds.  I love to watch the lightening, and hear the thunder.

The thing I love most about a really good storm, is the shade of green everything is after the rain has stopped.  It’s the most beautiful shade of green I have ever seen, and it seems like it’s the same shade every time, but only after a really great storm.  It’s like the storm washed away all of the filters that were blocking the bright green from view……….  but then, somehow, it fades.  I suppose if it didn’t fade back to the normal shade of green, then I wouldn’t appreciate the storm as much.

Nature is wonderful.

The Ralph Lauren Spring 2010 Collection

September 25th, 2009

It’s Friday, race fans. Friday, Friday, Friday. Normally that would have me jumping in glee, but as I’m sitting here staring out my window all I can see is gray and rain, and quite frankly I’m feeling a little more “blah” than anything else!

Whenever I need a quick pick me up I like to go online and see what’s happening in the world of women’s fashion, and do you know what I found today? The video showing the Ralph Lauren Spring 2010 collection hitting the runway is finally free and released on YouTube! If you need a little pick me up (or the chance to just sit back and enjoy some great entertainment on a Friday morning, when no respectable person would be doing anything but sitting on the couch buried in a blanket and sipping a hot cup of tea) check it out!

What Should I Be For Halloween?

September 24th, 2009

If I had a dime for every time someone walked up to me during the haunting season and asked what I thought they should be for Halloween, I’d be a very, very rich woman by now. Of course, everyone’s been asking me that since I was Jack o lanterfive  years old, so I do have a little bit of cumulative benefits going here, but still…

Anyway, as we’re getting ready to launch into what is easily one of my favorite seasons I wanted to answer this question once and for all, right here where everyone can see it. (As a matter of fact, I think I may start printing out copies and carrying them around with me, just because I can. Hmmm…) Anyway, much like when you were trying to decide what you wanted to be when you grew up, the answer to this question is extremely simple and extremely complicated-be whatever you want to be! Only this time, you’re not going to be limited by your own skills. Hey, I’ll be the first to admit I’m probably never going to be a brain surgeon or a professional ballerina (not nearly enough tolerance for gore or coordination) but that doesn’t stop me from dressing up like one for Halloween!

This Halloween, let your imagination go wild and, for one night a year, fulfill all those dreams you had when you were a kid. Be anything and anyone you want to be. That’s what Halloween is all about.

Spooky Halloween Delights

September 23rd, 2009

I’m so excited! Halloween is creeping up. I’m beginning to find costumes and ghoulish goodies in the stores everywhere I go. The magazines I can’t help but flip through when I’m standing in line at the grocery store waiting to pay for my groceries are chock full of great ideas for spooky Halloween treats. Pumpkins are absolutely everywhere. Ahh. I love the fall.

Since I can’t help myself (I always spend at least an hour or two during the Halloween season flipping around through the web to see what fun and funky Halloween treats I can find to whip up for the kiddies this year) I think I’m going to make it a grand tradition to add at least one recipe (maybe two) recipes a week here that I find out scouting so you can enjoy these great and ghoulish treats too!

Let’s start with my personal favorite from this year’s spooky line-up:

Brain Surgery Salad

(Ugh-this just sounds gross from the word go!)

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:

2 small or 1 large package of lime gelatin
1 16-oz. can fruit cocktail or 1 1/2 cups grated carrots
2 surgical or rubber gloves

1. Prepare the gelatin according to the package instructions.

2. Transfer to a dome-shaped mold. (A mixing bowl will do.)

3. Drain the fruit cocktail and add it, or the grated carrots, to the gelatin when it’s half set.

4. When the salad mold is ready, unmold it onto a platter and drape the surgical gloves on each side. Makes 10 servings.

 

I found this recipe on the web at http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=14706. Check out the site. They have all kinds of ghoulish goodies and Halloween snacks for Trick or Treaters of all ages!

Finding a Business Suit That Looks as Great as You Do

September 22nd, 2009

One of the greatest laments in the wide, wonderful world of women’s fashion is that men have it so easy. All they have to do is roll otu of bed in the morning, pull on a pair of jeans or dark dress slacks, pop on a button up shirt or t-shirt and walk out the door. If they own more than 3 or 4 pairs of shoes, it’s surprising. Ask a man how many pairs of dress shoes he needs, he’ll tell you one, maybe two. Women know every woman’s dress goes with a new pair of shoes…and shoes are only the beginning!

Now, let’s talk business suits. Women’s dress suits are a whole different ball game than men’s. Why? Because unlike men, who usually look really good (if not downright fantastic) in the traditional boxcut, every woman is different. I think it’s all in the hips. Anyway, the key to choosing a good business suit when you’re a woman is finding a jacket that emphasizes the curves of your figure rather than trying to hide them-even if you’re not all that crazy about curves! Going for a straight hang is going to make it look like you’re playing dress-up in your father’s clothes.

I find that finding a jacket (minus the 80’s style shoulder pads!) with a v-cut, slender-ish sleeves and a snug waist looks good on a slightly boxy figure, while petite women can usually get away with a more traditional style suit jacket tucked at the waist with a few frills tossed in. The key to finding a good women’s suit is to find one that shows off your figure, not one that tries to hide it. You keep that in mind the next time you go shopping and you’re going to be just fine.

Ann Taylor Dress Jacket

Ann Taylor Dress Jacket

School’s back in session-but are you?

September 21st, 2009

Ahhhh, finally. The kids are back at school, and now you’ve had a couple of weeks to get back into the swing of…whatever passes for normal around your house!

Chances are you’ve already adjusted to the back to school rush, but if you’ve just sent your child off on that big yellow bus for the first time or you’re just having trouble settling back INTO a routine after the relative laziness and chaos of summer vacation, here are a few tips to keep you rolling now that the thrill of the school year has worn off a little and the drudgery has begun.

First and foremost, unless you’re one of those disgustingly chirpy morning people (which I, obviously, am not!) I recommend you invest in the most obnoxious alarm clock you can find. Why? Because the sweet routine of getting up when YOU need to get up is over! It’s time to get used to living life on their schedule again, and if you didn’t spend the summer playing the “daycare before the 9 to 5 grind” game that 6:00 wake-up call comes pretty early. An obnoxious alarm clock, preferably left on the opposite side of the room, will go a long way toward getting you up and moving in the morning.

Mornings go a lot smoother if you get in a routine. I was always a big fan of getting up early enough to sneak back into the kids’ beds for a snuggle, but only for a couple of minutes. Then I grabbed their clothes (which we laid out the night before), tossed them their way and headed downstairs to make breakfast and pack lunches.

Yes, theoretically I probably should have packed those the night before, but then the sandwich bread gets stale/soggy, the warm things got cold and…well, it just wasn’t worth it.

From that point on things usually flow pretty smoothly. Everyone stumbles blindly to the table, propping their heads up while they shovel cereal in. By the time teeth have been brushed, shoes have been found and backpacks are ready to roll everyone is bright eyed, bushy tailed and ready to at least consider starting their day.

Now what?

If you have a pile of housework waiting for you, I recommend tossing that first load of laundry in the washer before you do much of anything else. I never could understand why laundry multiplies in dark places, but that was always the biggest challenge for me. And getting laundry and other miscellaneous nasties out of the way before ten or eleven frees the rest of the day up to the realm of possibilities…and really, who can complain about that?

Video: Paris Fashion Week

September 18th, 2009

We’ve been looking forward to it for months, now here it is-live video feed of Paris Fashion Week, Summer 2009! Take a look at what’s hot, what’s not and who’s who on today’s 2009 fashion scene!