It could be from what you are eating....

Are you in your thirties (or somewhat close to) and wondering why your skin looks like a hormonal teenager sometimes? Or feel like you paid your dues with acne in your teens, and you thought once you were really an adult that you would never see another pimple again? 54% of women of age 25 or older actually suffer from acne and if acne is something that you have always had to deal with, off and on since your teens, then the cause of it could actually be what you are eating. Yes, it really could be from a food allergy. I recently read here @ highonhealth that many people have cured their acne through what they are eating. Wheat and dairy (cow's milk) are the most common culprits, but eggs, nuts, soy, fish, shellfish and gluten are all foods that can cause a food allergy as well. Food allergies cause an inflammatory reaction with in your body, and acne is definitely an inflammatory result.

I know that when my skin is looking all dewy, and clear I definitely feel better about my over all appearance. I can only imagine that most of you feel the same way.....especially if you are a 'grown up' women in you thirties. If you suspect that this could be the case for you, then try eliminating certain foods for one month and see if it helps your skin. You could also always go get tested for food allergies, but it's worth saving some money right off of the bat and trying it out for yourself. If you're not sure then just try paying attention to your body, and skin in particular, when you are eating certain foods and see if you find any type of flare up when you do eat a certain food....if so then eliminate it and see what happens. Another reminder to also get that water in, and lots of it, daily;)

If you are suffering from acne, check this site out http://www.highonhealth.com/ Fran is a women who cured her acne naturally, and shares her secrets, along with so many other great health related topics, with you.

** A great make up tip for dealing with acne is to wear a warm pink lip stick. It naturally gives an illusion of a more even skin tone, and draws attention away from the blemishes!

Happy Monday!!!

Oxox

Black Out

So I know that Labor Day is right around the corner, which means that some of you follow the no opened toe "rule". I am not one that has always followed it because we always still have such beautiful weather through out September in Colorado, and I know that once I put my sandals away they are not coming back out for a good amount of time. Being that darker colors are resurfacing due to Fall rolling in, now is a great time to try black on your nails. I know that this has been popular for a while, but I also know there are many of you that feel like black is a little extreme. It might feel like it at first, but it actually looks pretty good on the toes, and I love it on the finger nails. Plus it always go with everything. I think if you try it out, you will be pleasantly surprised at how good it actually does look. So, if you have wanted to try this popular color out, now is a great time to go for it.

* Just can't do the black? Then try a dark blue.....

.....or even a grey. These are both great alternative colors to the black, that look good, and they are different from the usual wine reds, and dark purples that we see when using darker colors on our nails.

Have a great weekend that is almost HERE!!

I heard this just a couple of days ago, and wanted to share, encourage and inspire you: "A way to conquer fear is through knowledge"

Blessings lovelies!!!

Oxox

Distractions....

Sorry for being such a bad blogger lately! I have had some 'distractions' lately and just haven't put the time aside to blog!! They just get the best of me!




I will be back on the ball and more focused soon enough! Plus I figure that many of your are busy with the summer beat, and heat;), to be on you PC's as much too!

Blessings to all, and whatever it is that you are wanting, going for, and pushing towards....don't stop!!


Oxox

Slip into something comfortable...

Calfskin slingback, Ralph Lauren Collection, $695



Thought I'd show you a little eye candy to start your Monday off!


Blessings this week!!


Oxox

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

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

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