Your 30's are the perfect time to build a simple core wardrobe while also experimenting with trend-driven items. ~InStyle

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Mash 'um up.

Want a fresh feel and some extra glow to your skin? A secret weapon in helping you give your skin a little pick me up just might lye in your refrigerator. Chilean women actually create a mask of mashed up red grapes mixed with 2 tablespoons of flour, leaving it on their face for 10 minutes, to give their skin a luminous glow. They credit this 'glow' to the antioxidants found in red grapes. According to author Shalini Vadhera, author of Passport to Beauty , "It wakes up the appearance of tired and fatigued skin to give you an amazing glow". Might think twice the next time you throw some of those left over red grapes out.....



Hope your week has been going well!!

*** Just read this their other day: "Remember that with great love and great achievements, there are great risks" ~Anonymous

Bendiciones lovelies!!!!

Oxox

Friday, July 23, 2010

Please, NO.



I think one of my biggest pet-peeves are pantie lines. It is with out a doubt just one of those big fashion No No's, yet we all see plenty of them. It seems like summer time brings out the best in many to wear some cute outfits but not properly dress underneath to make their ensemble all the more classy. I have seen many great outfits gone bad all due to pantie lines. It's amazing how much better even your jeans look with out pantie lines too. They are so easy to eliminate as well. These days there are so many alternatives if you are not one to wear a g-string...btw, don't forget to wear a slip with that thong, if needed, under a skirt or a dress;) Just because it is a thong, does not mean it will be pantie line free.








We have just about all heard of Spanx (LOVE). These will automatically give you a pantie line free look with some control top too. What a difference the picture below shows.


















There are the 'no line' boy shorts (ultra comfy) like the ones made by jockey here.





Seamless panties are not only ultra light weight and comfortable but they really do look smoother under clothes. This style is great to wear under jeans. They give a little more coverage if you are worried about bending over, and giving a little peek. This style of a seamless 'girdle' is perfect for a more snug, curve showing dress, or top. It really smooths you out through mid section, and definitely takes some inches off within minutes! It has a fabulous control top. This too, is made by Jockey.

Seamless thongs are great under dress pants. A nude one is especially great for those fitted white pants that come out for summer time.



















I know that it seems 'old school' to some these days, but a slip really does make a difference in appearance with certain materials, and white under white does not look nearly as clean as wearing nude under white. For instance, wearing a nude bra or panties under a white blouse or white skirt/dress/pants will blend in and give you a much 'cleaner look' vs. wearing white under white.










Blessings!!!







Oxox

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

And I quote....

So, I wanted to pass along something that I have actually known since I was a teenager, yet for some reason it really rang true to me this past weekend when I heard it from my husband's mouth. Let me rewind real fast. When my sister and I were growing up and hit our pre-teens/teens, we were naturally wanting to start showing some midriff, let our shirt hang off of our shoulder, and wear a shirt that was 2 sizes too small so it was nice and tight. Our mom, however, would NOT buy clothes like that for us. We of course, felt like she didn't understand and that we weren't going to be viewed as 'cool' in school, or more importantly, with the boys. However, my mom always stood by her decision to keep us on the more conservative side (and I can see now, that is was preserving our youth and innocence) and backed it up with this quote that her dad, my grandpa, told her, " I can guarantee that if a man walks into a bar and sees two beautiful women, one which has more clothing covering her, he will probably look at the one bearing more first, BUT he will remember the women that is covered up far more because there is something so sexy when a women leaves something to the imagination". Of course a 14 yr old hearing that isn't really listening to this, but instead thinking of what she can borrow from her friend.


Fast forward to this weekend when I showed my husband this lovely suit that I purchased, after waiting for it to go on clearance with VS...and it did!
Well, of course he loves it and gave me the whole "yea, baby that will look good" stuff. But when I showed him how I missed wearing things like this (which I don't, due to my stretch marks on my tummy from babies..just don't feel as attractive baring them, like to keep those for my viewing only;)

....this is what my husband told me "I actually have always preferred something like this "
I was, of course, surprised and when I asked him why, what do you think he told me? "Well, of course the bikinis are hot (go figure) but I have always thought that it is more sexy when you see a beautiful women with something on that leaves a little to the imagination". Was my granddaddy right, or what?? I had heard that same thing over 15,16 yrs ago, yet when I heard it from my husbands mouth again it just really made what my mom always preached, and that example from my grandpa, ring so true to my sweet ears.

I have actually always held that close in the back of my mind, and really never revealed too much, my sister being the same way, because of that example my mom used. But don't let me fool you, I have always made sure to keep myself in style and can proudly say I have turned a few heads......JK....well, kind of;)

Now that I have a daughter boy does that really mean something. I am not knocking anyone who might like to dress wearing something that is "less is more", but I am saying that these young girls today have skin right in front of their faces. From the TV, to magazines and the internet we see women with very little on and it is so important to educate and reassure them that "baring a little extra" is not always as sexy as it seems to be. Don't believe me? Ask a couple of different men and see what you come up with.

I hope for all of you with daughters out there that you can pass that on to them too. How a women holds herself with confidence, dresses with class and exudes the respect that she has for herself, is definitely going to hold her in a man's head longer than that women who might have caught his first glance.


**On that note, I also just wanted to post some suits that look fabulous on some women of plus size (according to who?)....cough, the average women.....to show that it's all about how you wear it...and wear something that fits. This rule of thumb actually goes for you little size 2's as well. Oh, I have seen some little thin women have a droopy, saggy butt in their bikini bottoms that are too big on them....just sayin'.....not cute. On that note take a look...








All images via: Victoria Secret and Layne Bryant


Have a FABULOUS summer, leaving a little to the imagination lovelies!!!!
Oxox

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Downward Dog


Did you know that most work out routines are missing yoga? I recently learned this and have to admit that I am one of those who fall into that category....until this week that is;) I just starting incorporating 10 minutes of yoga at the end of my workout routine and I have loved it so far....for the last 3 whole days! OK, I know that it is still knew and fresh, and that is why I am on a yoga high right now, but I have been asking myself "why have I not started this earlier"?
I am one that has always suffered from leg cramps from time to time (TERRIBLE ones when I was prego) and I can't tell you how the stretching in the yoga is already doing wonders for my calves. I did not realize how tight they were/are until I was forced to really stretch them more in my yoga. I can see how great this is for your body, and just wanted to encourage those of you that are not doing it to try it out. I have a friend that had some pretty bad back pain, and her doctor recommended for her to try yoga....she has been pain free since starting yoga class and I can really believe it now that I am doing it myself.
On that note, y'all have a great week. If you get a chance, even try a quick 5 minutes of some yoga on Youtube...seriously worth it...especially for your body.
Blessings!!!
Oxox

Friday, July 2, 2010

Other Places

So, I like to draw inspiration from just about any style when I am wanting to change my own look up. What better way than to see what fashionistas are wearing from all over. Here are some women showing off their styles from San Juan, Brazil, Madrid and England.


















Our first one here, left above, is photographed in San Juan. She definitely has some great legs to wear some flat warrior sandals with that short minidress. It's workin' for her. For those of us that might not feel comfortable in something so short, pair that with a great pair of jeans and some heels, and that will be workin' for you.




This Brazilian lovely is all about adding some louder color to her black and white ensemble. You see this a lot out here in Panama too. Many Latin American countries embrace lots of color. I have to say, that I have added a lot more color to my wardrobe since living here.....and LOVE it!





Preppy and little masculine, yet still sexy due to those heels.-Spain






Minishorts + High heels= Muah!-Spain






1960's look for you vintage lovers.- Spain

Personally, I like this dress...a little peasant, vintage, hippie in one...I might loose the jacket myself.





So, shorts with heels are definitely a go in Spain....I would have to agree with that. Definitely makes the legs look longer, which is flattering in shorts. Shorts tend to widen the look of our hips and legs...unless you're super skinny. I would say to put on a smokin' pair of heels if you are going to wear some shorts for a dressier look.






She is wearin' this dress!












Love the clutch...perfect touch to this soft dress.



London -So just about anything goes in London, or so I've heard. I can't completely say that since I haven't been there:) It's a pretty safe place to step out in your own style, or just be bolder with your fashion in general.























































Accessories. Here are just a couple of pics to show. I always like to see what others decorate their wrists with:)

































pictures by:Jose luis Diez Garde/Susana Molina/Raul Murciego and found via glamour






Tengas un buen fin de semana y bendiciones!!

Oxox