Step it up…with Neon Heels

by: Ashley Stewart

A pop of neon this season is like 6AM boot camp in Central Park: scary but worth it – and much needed.   Whether it’s an electric orange purse or a neon green, oversized top, you MUST grab a pair of neon heels, and get noticed.

So, how exactly do you move to the bright side with ease?  Baby steps of course!  For those too scared or simply turned off by things that glow in the dark, start with a neutral color-based shoe that reveals a neon heel or sole. You will be sporting full-on neon in no time.

I like to pair neon shoes with a monotonous outfit (all one color) for that spark, creating that, too strong for words, look.  If you are in a professional setting and have a meeting to catch than pair these bad boys with dress pants and a blazer for that, I know what I’m saying, look.  Searching for an outfit for that not-so-blind date that you met on Match.com?  Well, to look as good as your profile picture, dress to impress with skinny jeans, a ribbed tank and a draped leather jacket.  Hey, if the date doesn’t go so well, you have already grabbed the attention of the thirty other single guys in the place.

Feeling inspirational?  Try this DIY I found at (www.whatwouldashleywear.com) to turn your old kicks into show stoppers.

#1 Start by selecting a pair of shoes that you want to makeover (wipe clean)

#2 Head to the nearby paint store

#3 Use Jacquard acrylic paint or Tulip soft paint for fabrics ranging from silk to denim and leather (don’t forget the brushes!).  For plastic, stick with the acrylic paint

#4 Start painting! Start small for a big look and if you are thinking the color may be too strong, you can always dilute with water.

#5 Let dry and get to steppin!

If you love what you see, then it’s time to head online, to your favorite boutique store, or to the paint supply shop so you can achieve this summer’s hottest look.  No matter what option you choose, one thing is for sure: you will give both Dorothy and her red slippers a run for their money.

http://pinterest.com/poshmark/electric-neon/

http://high.heels.com/neon-signs/

Summer is Coming, Bronzer it Up!

by Ashley Stewart

Wanting to be bronze is like wanting to be the president:  you have all of the resources, know about the different issues, but don’t know how to quite pull off the job.  Start with some easy tips that we found to pull off that bronze-goddess glow, we all envy.

Powder vs. Liquid, Gel, Cream

Choosing what type of bronzer to use can be a chore of its own.  With so many options out there, your bound to get lost in the maze.  But if you stick to what your skin needs and looks best in, you will achieve that perfect look.  If you have oily skin then stick only to powder.  The exception to this rule is if you find a great primer, then you can try the gel bronzer to achieve that dewy look.  If you have more dry or combination skin, then score with a great liquid, gel or cream, which not only gives you that glow but adds moisture at the same time!

How to find the Right Match

Never go more than two shades darker than your natural color!  The exception to that rule is if it's Halloween, then you can do what you want.  From there, follow this advice to choose the color that is right for you.

If you have fair to pale skin, choose a rose or peach infused bronzer, even try blush if you are very pale, and pull off that damsel in distress look.  If you have medium tan to olive skin, then go with gold and shimmer bronzer for the earthy look.  And for dark skin, stick with the darker, mocha infused bronzers for extra glow.

Bronzer ain’t bronzer if you don’t apply it right! Make sure that you use a blending brush; short, light-weight and fluffy. If the brush bristles are too stiff, the bronzer will go on streaky, and no one wants to look like a bronze zebra.

Once you have decided on your bronzer type, and your brush, it’s time to apply! This is when the power of three becomes so important! You want to bronze your forehead, cheekbones, jawline, and neck.  Your starting point should be right below your hairline on your forehead, swooping down through your cheekbones (hit your nose of course), and curve again down to your jawline and sides of neck, drawing a three on each side of your face.  This will leave you with a sun-kissed look, minus the UVA and UVB rays that demolish your skin’s health.

Tips!

If you are going for a dewy finish rather than the satin-finished look, try a bronzer gel over a face primer.  Facial primers go great after your morning moisturizing regimen and work by blocking oil and minimizing pore appearance.  Just apply about a quarter size all over your face and Hello Flawless!

If you must wear foundation, please don’t put on a liquid, gel or cream bronzer.  It will make your face look very shiny (not in a good way) and primer cannot save that mess.  If you are a liquid foundation-goer, stick to a powder bronzer.  If you wear a powder foundation, then slip on the gel bronzer before applying the foundation so it sets and isn’t too bold.

If you are new to the bronze game, start with a powder and leave the gel and liquid to the rookies.  It is difficult at first to master, so I recommend practicing before you perform a sales pitch to potential clients.

Less is more -  More people notice you (in a good way), the more natural you appear.  Hey, no one said you have to go Blake Lively on everyone, but if the question ever pops in to your head, am I wearing too much makeup? Then the answer is, YES.

Last but not least: if you have practiced and still don’t have the look that you want, get help. MAC stores are always around, and who doesn’t use MAC? Just walk in, ask them to show you how to apply bronzer – the normal way (no one wants to have as much makeup on as a MAC employee) and take mental notes. Good Luck!

From Poverty to Harvard | How Dreams Really do Come True

by: Ashley Stewart

Today is the day that Dawn Loggins will graduate from a small high school in Lawndale, North Carolina.  Soon after summer’s end, her journey as a freshman at Harvard will take place.  This story captured my attention because it shows the roughness, abuse and poverty that someone can endure, and then somehow, build the strength to keep fighting forward.

Throughout history, we have all heard the stories of those great people that overcame adversity, made a change, and survived their troubles; that is what keeps people motivated and inspired. If you haven’t read the well-written CNN article (http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/07/us/from-janitor-to-harvard/index.html?hpt=hp_c2), I suggest you do.  Not only does it bring you back to reality of the overwhelming poverty epidemic that rests in our nation’s hands, it forecasts how one’s struggle, can in turn, prove to be one’s success.

Not only should we applaud this teenage girl for chasing her dreams, we should also take a look at ourselves and evaluate how much further we wish to go in our own success – and how to make our life journey meaningful.  This shows that you should never give up and all though it is cliché, it seems to be the perfect fitting for such a moving and motivating story.  Let us all try to achieve above our standards and help people along the way to create a positive change in the world :)

Nail Stickers…Just Stick ‘em

From classic to trendy, to downright outrageous, your mouth won’t have to utter a word…your nails will say it all.  This season, take life with a firm grip, all while keeping your nails intact and chip-free.  Nail stickers and decals are this season’s sure thing, a way of avoiding those rushed, lunch-hour manis (that only last three days), and actually giving us time for the stuff that really matters…like lunch hour trips to an end of season sale or downing an entire Chipotle burrito in one sitting.  Whatever you do during your precious lunch hour, you can now remove the nail salon from your list.

By now, we have all come across the cheap-looking nail decals that we would never be caught dead in; but if you take a closer look, brands are popping up everywhere, and their stock of stickers is anything but cheap.  Nail stickers and decals have a bad name, but once you browse the selection at Duane Reade, CVS, or even Sephora, you will take a double look.  Designs from pure pink to cheetah, to metallic-gold are all options and the combinations, endless.

If you are like most women, and can’t stay within the lines when using the microscopic brush of an OPI bottle, or have the patience of a three-year old, then all you need to repeat is: peel, stick, file.  There is no staying in the lines with nail stickers.  They come precut and you just match them with the size of your nail, and file off the excess with ease. Don’t worry about waving your hands obnoxiously to dry them either, no dry time needed.

Stickers are the anti-nail polish and it’s clear to see why.  You can be cute from head to nails for up to fourteen days for only around $10. You can’t even get a polish change for that! Worried about your nail’s health after a Shellac or OPI Gel massacre?  Well, calm down…do a breathing exercise, and count to ten, because there is zero damage with nail wraps.  Another positive is once you’re ready to forfeit your bold look, simply peel off or use nail polish remover for a quick removal.

For great brands that have the newest looks and designs, check out Sally Hansen, Kiss, and Nail Rock. Oh, and for that, right out of the spa look, put the stickers on your toes and go all in!

http://fashion.elle.com/beauty/2012/01/13/instant-runway-ready-nail-art/

http://www.sephora.com/nail-bling-P294707?skuId=1357888

Girls who Show Skin have More Fun!

The rulebook this season is full of do’s, and pretty empty on don’ts. The verdict:  Anything and everything goes as long as you look good in it, which must be why crop tops are back with a tummy-twisting vengeance.  I suppose all women should be praising the genius (yeah, right), who thought it was a good idea to sneak these small tops back into the fashion forefront, but since top designers such as Donna Karan and Prada revealed there bare-bearing fashions on the runway this Spring, a whole new mindset has set in, on us all.

Before you hunt down the crop top culprit, read on about how this unsettling trend may bring out the NEW you!  The great thing about this trend is that there are several ways to wear these midriff showers, and different types and variations to give a try.  If you are very confident with your body and don’t mind getting some extra attention, then I would go with the bandeau type. 

Yes, people are actually purchasing and wearing swimsuit-style bandeau tops for a day of shopping and brunch.  Most of us, unless we are workout buffs or were on the last season of ANTM, cannot pull this off without constantly looking down, worried about what is happening below head-level. 

For us working women, a simple midriff bearing, corset-crop may be the perfect option for us.  This allows us to show just enough skin without feeling like we work in the Red Light District, and in addition, lends us the sexy appeal only crop tops can offer.  If hitting the work scene, slide on a blazer and a long pleated skirt or dress pants, to have an outfit that makes you feel like you’re on the runway, and look like it, too.

Still not convinced?  Then you should opt for the cut-out dress.  This shows the least amount of skin and if you are not feeling so great about your ab-game then this style is perfect for you.  It portrays the illusion that you are in tiptop shape without the hassle of the workout.  Another option to try, is grab a pair of high-waisted shorts or jeans and have a loose crop top that will only show an inch of skin, if that, and will give you the security that not too much is revealed.

Keep in mind that confidence is everything, so if you don’t have it…get some!  Look around, everyone is trying new things and there’s no reason you shouldn’t.  Yes, fashion is a scary thing sometimes, but it is always fun to try new things and that’s what fashion brings to us each season: new ways to wear something and new attitudes to go along with them.  Something is always too far out there for us, but with a little exercise (and some praying), we can pull it off!

http://www.vogue.com/guides/the-list-voguecoms-50-plus-picks-for-spring/
http://www.elle.com/Fashion/Fashion-Spotlight/The-Cropped-Top-Challenge/Wear-the-Bra-Top-Trend-in-Public-Spring-2012-Fashion-Trends-ELLE.com
http://www.elle.com/Fashion/Trend-Reports/Top-10-Trends-From-Spring-2012/Top-10-Trends-From-Fashion-Week-Spring-2012#mode=base;slide=36;

Drinking Hot Water, more Benefits than We Know | Purifying your body

Recently my boyfriend returned back to NYC from a trip to China, where as we all know, the culture, religion and food are drastically different from our Americanized way of life.  During our brief phone calls via Skype (yes, Skype works there), he went on to tell me all of the differences he had discovered and experienced while visiting China.  Being a self-proclaimed world traveler, he has been all over the world and has had the opportunity to prevail and live within other cultures of people.  I have heard his heart-felt stories of the paths he has walked during his travels to small towns in Macedonia, Israel and Morocco.  Now it was China’s turn.

I was surprised and taken aback when he told me (without disgust, I must say), that in China they do not refrigerate their meat.  I automatically resented the country upon hearing this news (yes, I know - shallow).  However, he kept talking.  He was traveling around parts of China, beginning in Beijing, and was changing hotels every two to three days during his three-week stay.  With excitement always in his voice, his hotel accommodations were more than he could hope for.  He was blown away by the cleanliness of the hotel grounds and room, and loved the marble and granite shower.  Food is always a mystery when visiting other countries, China being no different; he ate with open-mindedness but was surprised when he began to feel mildly comfortable with the 5-star dining experience (although he did incur food poisoning within hours of devouring a Subway sandwich).

I believe it was during dinner one of his first nights where he caught glimpse of another China-culture extra – hot water, and even more so, the lack of cold water.  He noticed the locals and some of the tourists with cups of steaming hot water, during all times of day; no ice cubes in sight.  During this particular conversation, I was a little embarrassed I had not heard of this hot water trend before.  I wondered why on earth would they drink hot water in the afternoon when it was so hot outside?  Don’t they feel the heat?  He went on to explain to me what knowledge he had gained from the others: it purifies your body and helps with digestion.  Just like that, I wanted to follow in the Chinese culture (at least, in the hot water sense).

After researching on this topic, it somewhat revealed to me that I am not as experienced as I thought.  This hot water practice has been in use since the beginning of time, and China was not the only place where people indulged in this practice.  One can learn a lot about life through experiences and this is just one more reason to always have your ears and eyes open.  Having an open mind is much like having an open heart: you let everything in, but always take it with fair and realistic measure.

The benefits of Drinking Hot Water:

1. Purification – drinking hot water creates perspiration which is key to releasing toxins from your body.  The average body heat is 98.6 degrees, imagine how a cup of boiling hot water can help raise your body temperature momentarily.  We have six quarts of blood in our body, and it travels nearly 12,000 miles each day, so try to keep it clean and purified when it’s working hard for you.  Drinking hot water also is known to remove deposits in the nervous system; those deposits are believed to have a negative effect on thoughts and emotional responses.
2. Great for Diet – Some people believe that drinking hot water helps with weight loss.  Hey, can’t hurt to try.
3. Congested?  Clear it Up! – If you are feeling ill and congested, or just need to open those nasal passages, then try water instead of coffee or hot tea, which only dehydrates you due to the caffeine.  If you can’t stand the taste of plain water, add a slice of lemon!

http://www.healthydrinkingwaterblog.com/final-tips-on-drinking-water/benefits-of-drinking-hot-water-36/

Float on Baby, Float on | What will keep your baby afloat and looking cute as a button

While you’re diving and doing cannon balls this summer, your baby can be maxin’ and relaxin’ on the shallow end of the pool, with a drop-top float device.  This summer, childrens’ water brands are getting cooler and really stepping up their game with a selection that will bring a smile to your baby’s face and a peace of mind to yours.

Life is made for living and it’s great to expose your baby to new experiences, such as their first interaction to the pool.  It can be a hurdle introducing a child into the water environment, but will be an easy task once they catch a glimpse of their water-borne vessel.  With floating devices ranging from a simple tubed shape, to whale and duck shaped devices, it will be hard to keep your baby in your arms once they lay eyes on their new transportation.  Lather your baby with some great sunblock and grab a floatie with a detachable canopy.  Floaties with the canopy attachment offer extra protection from the sun and also keep your baby cool while in the water.  Boredom rarely happens with babies, especially in a pool setting, but if this did occur, most of these floaties have toys attached; such as rattles, noisemakers, and steering wheels.  With cool shapes of their favorite water animals, you won’t hear any cries or fusses from your little one.

Money is not an issue with these floatation options because you can find them priced from $5.99 to $59.99; keep them for years to come, or even regift when your baby grows!  Assembly is easy and most of the floaties just require to be inflated; so easy, a baby can do it!  Availability is crucial, which makes these a convenient buy since they can be found at nearly every super store and online.

Although there are many floaties that are kid-safe, don’t forget to bundle the little one in a vest - sure to keep them above water at all times.  When it comes to life vests, selecting the right one for your child is very important.  It is crucial to determine the best type and make sure, depending on your baby’s age, that they fit correctly and that the vest is safe for them to wear.

When choosing a life vest, make sure that the U.S. Coast Guard approved label is present.  This signifies that the vest has been through several safety tests and has passed requirements, therefore ensuring the safety of the vest.  Next, buy a size that fits your child appropriately.  You want the vest to fit snug, not allowing the chin and ears to slip through.  If they do slip through, then the vest is not safe for your child.  Kids grow at surprising rates, so do not opt to save money and buy a larger vest they will grow in to.  Invest in your child’s safety and get the appropriate size.  

There are several vests that give head support for younger children, which is very important; if your baby is younger, make sure the vest has this functionality.  Lastly, make sure the vest has a strap at the bottom to clip them into.  This prevents the vest from rising above the child’s head which adds further protection.

Due to babies’ proportions when they are younger, it is not completely safe and effective to have a child under 6 months old or 16 pounds to be in a life vest, and therefore, be in the water.  Wait until your child is age/weight appropriate to be on the safe side.

Tips!

Never cut or alter a floatation device!

Check the vest and floatation device prior to any water interaction for cuts, rust, mildew, etc.  If it doesn’t look safe, it probably isn’t.

Be an example! Children often mimic their parent’s actions, therefore, wear your own life vest so they feel like you are cautious as well.

Do not think that your child does not need a life vest if they have a floatation device or tube.  They need to wear a vest at all times until they are fully comfortable in the water and their skills have been tested.

http://www.toysrus.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2257631

http://www.swimways.com/baby-floats-c-446.aspx

http://www.squidoo.com/the-best-baby-pool-floats

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/boatwater/pfd_selecting.html