Fashion and Make-up Tips From Mom...........

Well, I missed a few days of the blog every day challenge
so we need to catch up this week:)
The topic for this post is "what are some tips your mom gave you?"
Like everyone else, I could say the obvious ones.......
Read your Bible, go to church, be honest, pay off your credit cards..........
very good advice, right?
But as I was making a list, I found a trend.
The ones that seemed to keep popping up were tips having to do with
make-up and style/fashion.
So I thought, keep it light.  Nobody needs a life lecture.
And it's not like ANY of these are important.  But a little goes a long way, you know?
And she had 4 daughters, so it was in her best interest to pay attention to us.
(Although how she ever let me leave the house in my shimmery bright blue eyeshadow phase, or wear orange high top tennis shoes to church,
I'll never know:) LOL


* * * Please know, she is not vain. My Mom was never some DiIVA, creating mini divas.  We just used to read a lot of magazines and play with make-up:) 
 Appearance is not everything and she would be the first to say it doesn't matter how someone looks.  She would say "I need to figure out what to do with my OWN face",  if you asked her, but that's not true.  She's figured it out, very nicely!!  
See...........

Actually, it cracks me up writing this because I realize I am the same with my girls.
I mean, slap a bit of lipstick on before running out to the store, you know?
They don't always listen, just as I didn't always listen.
And it was/is not all the time.
But I bet someday, they will remember some little tips I passed on that
my mom also said to me.
At least, I hope! lol

 In no particular order, here are some of the "gems" she passed on.........
Unfortunately, I was great about some and not others..........
and yes, she was right!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Make-up Tips
-wear sunscreen everyday, even if it's in your moisturizer or foundation.
Nope...didn't follow that one.  And now I pay.  Or as Jamie Lee Curtis said in Freaky Friday,
"I Look Like The Crypt Keeper"

 -always wash your makeup off before going to sleep. 

-if your face breaks out, don't pick at it:)
-you do NOT need to pay a lot for cosmetics or skin lotion.
I happen to agree with this one.  My Grandma had AMAZING skin using Oil of Olay, and my mom and I love cleaning our face with Pond's Cold Cream:)
-do your makeup in natural light.....and make sure your blush is even.

-  Apply lipstick then blot your lips with a tissue. A few times.  ALWAYS.

-Wear makeup but blend, blend, BLEND.

-Black eyeliner rimming the eye entirely looks harsh.  
-don't scowl.......it makes bad lines.
--use a natural, matte blush.
 We always use a cool pink/warm peach/touch of brown shade.
The intensity depends on your skin tone.  Got it? :)  lol

(M.A.C Desert Rose is a great blush!)
-brown eyeshadow, brown eyeshadow, brown eyeshadow.
-wear your make-up.......don't let the make-up wear you:)

Fashion/Style Tips:

-if something you are buying is damaged in the least, ask for a discount.
she was way better at this than I am.

-when in doubt,wear something black.

-Remember slips?  Her rule was if you can see through a dress/skirt in the sunlight, you MUST wear a slip.  
We would stand in the living room and look in
the big mirror with the light from the picture window shining in, 
to see if a dress was too sheer. Now, I have to confess that we do not wear slips, but
I do shop with the thought in mind that I don't want a skirt too sheer. And we would NEVER have been allowed to try this!

-If you're gonna pierce your ears, wear earrings, even tiny ones at all times. 

 Nobody wants to see an empty hole and you don't want it to close up.
-"It's all about that bling, bout that bling.....:) "Got a plain top or jacket?  Embellish it.
Bling, Bling, BLING!

Well that's it.......... fashion and make-up tips from mom.

Catch you next time!

XOXOXOXO

Suzanne

Style 101.......25 Top Tips!

So here I go again, passing on style tips that
I could use myself!  Oh well...let's figure this out together:)

TOPS

~Wear scoop or v-neck tops to frame the face and "open you up"; few of us look our best in crew neck.  

~Wear blouses with camisoles, and leave the first 2 to 3 buttons open to reveal a small triangle of skin.  Popping your collar a tiny bit (keyword: tiny) frames your face and elongates your neck

~If you want to wear a turtleneck and can pull it off, go for it.  But avoid mock turtlenecks…..they tend to shorten your neck

~If you are very petite, stay away from large cowl necks or too many ruffles that overwhelm you

~Length of tops is important.  Not too short (you need enough to "scrunch" around your hips, reinforcing a smaller waistline); not too long (you don't need to frame the bum)

~Avoid baby doll tops unless you are in fact a baby doll or you are pregnant

~Avoid pockets on your tops…….specifically pockets that are very small or very large

PANTS & SKIRTS

~To balance the hips, choose a boot cut pant, narrow through the hip and thigh, slightly flared from the knee down.  This cut reinforces an hourglass shape.  (However, if you want to downplay too much hourglass, do the opposite)

~Skinny pants create an inverted triangle.  Wear only if the area you want to emphasize is your best area.

* * * *Pants that are cuffed pull the eye down and shorten the legs. Pleated pants add bulk around your stomach

~Cargo pants add bulk to the worst possible spots - your hips and thighs.  Avoid these like the plague.   (Hey….I’d give anything to wear a cute pair but no supermodels here so we avoid them:)

~Capris shorten the legs and widen the ankles. Choose a length more akin to a peddle pusher that hits right at the ankle (think Audrey Hepburn)  

~Skirts look best at or just above the knee.  Choose a pencil if you are comfortable with your waistline.  A-line and gored skirts are great for pear and apple shapes

~Wear long skirts (as in below the calf) with boots and make sure they're cut on the bias so they don't look frumpy

SHOES

~Supposedly, shoes with pointy toes, cut-away arches and those cut low at the toe are the most.  flattering because they extend the long vertical line of your legs (I disagree…they look like wearable boats!)  

~Avoid chunky heels, t-straps and ankle straps as they visually cut off the leg. (Only if this is a concern)

~Throw away all your man clogs.  

~Choose well-made shoes in good materials - you are taking care of your feet, ankles, knees, hips and back if you do

~No matter the color of dress/skirt you are wearing, nude pumps are the most flattering and elongating.  Watch Miss America sometime.  

COLOR & PATTERN

~Pair black with other neutrals (as opposed to primary colors) - white, camel, grey, brown, etc. for a more sophisticated look.  Pair with bright primaries if you have the coloring.

~Pair primary colors (pink, blue, green, yellow, etc.) with white or off-white for a fresher look

~As for khaki pants and shorts - this is the color of school uniforms and camp counselors, and restaurant hosts.  If the shoe fits……. hehehe

~Pattern is tricky.  Look at the best dressed women - they most often dress in solids and add interest with their accessories.  I know trends sometimes show patterns but proceed with caution.  They are tricky…….

~Choose statement jewelry instead of a bunch of teensy pieces. 

* * * *Most of all, wear what you love in the color you love, regardless of the "latest" trends.  Trust your instincts.  You need to be comfortable, happy and functional.  These are just SUGGESTIONS...not law:)
XOXO
Suzanne

About Organizing, Fashion, Cleaning, Boot Camp and Life.......

these are some of the coolest things I've come across lately.

and of course, i absolutely MUST pass them on to you:)

let's talk about 

boot camp.

fitness boot camps are popping up all over.

down here, they are usually at 5 a.m and 20 miles away,

or 5 p.m. when the sun is still beating down AND it's getting buggy.

NOT good for sticking to a program:)

(hahaha.......excuses, excuses:)

well, here is a boot camp you can do from home.

now, NO excuses:)

next up,

 fashion.

i don't know fashion and these days,

that doesn't really bother me.

i know what i like.

but every once in awhile, i would like to know

that i can open my closet and find something to wear

that is a bit classic.

sound familiar?

well, then we both need this list.........

i was going to leave this next one to the end as it is my 

absolute favorite.

but i don't want to take the chance on you skipping out

early, so i'm sharing it next.

this is a SMART person's guide to using the computer.

this SMART person is a teenage girl who has this on her bedroom wall.

YIKES........what the heck are the rest of us doing wrong,

because i'm willing to be we just flip open

the computer and have at it,

while she has tips, really worthwhile and

important tips, to do BEFORE surfing the internet.

yes, this is from a teenage girl with a cool blog.

if you visit, you will be just as impressed as i was, i promise.

you can visit sarah at princesspinlist.

and here is her common sense list........

pretty amazing, huh?

now for 

ORGANIZING. CLEANING

and FOCUS.......something i CLEARLY need:)

 great cleaning organizer, isn't it?

now look at these tips for focus,

so you can actually accomplish something.

actually this is MY problem.

maybe you're good at it.

 finally, i use this next daily list,

when i think of it;)

to get something done in my day.......

well, that's all for now.

we are off to the BEACH:)

Suzanne