That Dress

Photo Credit Mimi B.C

I bought this dress recently from the Gap and I just about died. I love it so, SO much. Thing is my body right now isn’t where it needs to be to rock it. But thats ok! You see I love to purchase things like this in order to find fit inspiration.(#Finspiration?) I’m sure many of you have an “inspiration ______ (insert item of clothing here)”. So As a homage to my new dress my health changes documented below.

#1: DRINK MORE TEA and NIX COFFEE: Can’t believe i’m (typing) that out loud! Plus coffee has dairy and we all know how much many calories half and half can have!

#2: DON’T EAT FAST FOOD: With kids, and when you are in a hurry this is, very, very difficult. But it can be done.  I’m super guilty of this, so this may be a hard one.

#3: MAKE GYM TIME A PRIORITY: Not that working out isn’t. I think working out is something that we do, but only when we have time. So much like bathing, gym time should be an important part of the day…no matter what you do, some exercise is better then no exercise right?

#4: COOK MORE: This goes in-line with the whole, not eating fast food thing. As a mom, cooking is something that I tend to pretty much suck at. Not going to candy coat it. I’m not a very good cook. But I try, and trying is all that matters.

#5: HAVE PEOPLE AROUND WITH LIKE MINDED GOALS: Of all of the of these health habit changes, this one is my favorite. I think that having friends and family who are supportive of your lifestyles changes (and tend to have a healthier lifestyle in general) make it easier to maintain a healthier balance!

So what is your fit-inspiration? In what ways do you modify your lifestyle to achieve this?

Four Gifts for girls who have everything.

Shopping for a gift for a friend (who has everything) and not sure what to get her? Here are five simple and amazing gifts to grab for your gal pal without breaking the bank.

Photo Credit: mimi B.C.

 

 

1. The Simple Girl: Succulents are beautiful and really inexpensive gifts that are easy to care for! I grabbed this silver pot to put it in from Target for a $1!

 

 

 

 

 

2. The Makeup Junkie: These lipstick holders are amazing for that girl who has a ton of beauty products! These hold between 18-20 and you can find them online for less then $10!

 

 

 

3: The Fashionista: Statement necklaces are really amazing for girls who like to make a big statement with what they wear. Target and Forever21 are great places to find inexpensive necklaces (both classic or statement for less then $20). Just be sure your gal pal isn’t allergic to synthetic materials.

 

 

 

4: The Working girl: A cool pen set from their favorite designer is always a fun accessory for the working girl to keep at their desk.

Before you shop for Makeup…

Want to buy makeup? Here is what you should know before you head to the makeup counter:

1. Make sure you know exactly what you want: or at least how much you are willing to spend. It is really easy to buy items you don’t need when you are with an artist who know what they are doing. (Meaning, works off commission and is extremely good at getting you to buy ‘extras’). Not saying that all artists are out to take your money, but many do have commissions and sales goals to achieve.

2. Not all artists are created equal: Remember the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover?” Well it applies here. Some of the BEST artists I know don’t wear makeup at all. Just because they don’t wear it on themselves doesn’t mean they can’t make you look gorgeous. And that artist with crazy liner and bright orange lips? Well, just because they have ‘crazy’ makeup also doesn’t mean they can’t make you look like a natural beauty. I suggest asking for recommendations at the counter before you get your make up done. “I’m looking for a _____ look. Who would you recommend?”

3. Research…: With the internet being what it is there are literally hundreds of ways to find different products that you will love even before you hit the mall. Doing a little research will save you time and money!

4. …But be realistic: One of my favorite things to hear when I worked at a counter was: “I want to look like (insert famous person here).” The thing is, her skin, eye shape, bone structure and lips…you guessed it– all different. And imagine her displeasure when I told her that she just can’t look like that because of x,y,z. As makeup consumers we have to be realistic about what we want to achieve with it. Do you want a dewy look? but have insanely oily skin? Maybe that look isn’t for you. Do you like really chiseled, contoured looks but don’t have time to do it? That might not look good on you either. There are ways to achieve the same style of makeup but remember to work with and enhance what you have. You may just be missing a beautiful feature unique to you.

5. Think about the time of day it is: Unless you already know what you want, going to a makeup counter on a Saturday during prom season, is a REALLY. BAD. IDEA. Or during a holiday. Just Saturdays and Friday nights are horrible days to have a lot of questions. If you have lots of questions try visiting counters early in the morning when traffic is typically lower, maybe a weekday morning, or late evening when everyone is home for dinner. Having (lots) of questions about makeup during a busy day can lead to a bad experience for both you and your artist.

6. Request a consult: So you HAVE to go on a busy Saturday, request an appointment. If you are buying a ton of product anyway, odds are you will be able to put that money towards a full face makeup application. So call your favorite artist ahead of time, schedule an appointment with them and everybody wins.

Xo-Mimi