My Top 5 Rules To Help Any Girl Feel Beautiful!

What is beauty really all about? I've had this topic on my mind for a while. Given that I have four daughters the subject is somewhat of a minefield on some days. Whether it's on a show they are watching, in social media, about a friend, or worst of all... in reference to themselves. We all have bad days, and watching them have bad days is like torture to me. I want to make every growing pain go away. I know I can't and I know trial builds character, still it is horrible to watch when they are down on themselves. 

 

I believe the subject of beauty is among the most difficult, because it is completely subjective. Some think the mountain ranges are the most beautiful part of nature and some think it's the sandy beaches bordering a sapphire ocean. It's no surprise that with people coming in all shapes and sizes our appearances are up for debate, scrutiny, approval, and comparison.

 

As an adult I am completely fine with this, but as a mother I want to empower my girls and teach them to question everything they are taught, read, and see. I constantly tell them to never compare themselves to anyone because it's impossible. To envy someone is such a waste of time and energy. If you want to be that person you will have to take the whole enchilada. You can't have another's face and body without having the parents they inherited it from, and the problems in that family, and the siblings they have, and so on. This simple lesson has cured many cases of envy in my house....not all, but many.

 

Still, the issue of beauty is ever present in our lives. It has been worshiped since the beginning of time in it's various forms and will be until the end of time. The standards will change but it will always be relevant.

 

This brings me to a few opinions I have about it, and how we as mothers and women can help each other. When I look around at the fact that we all come in many shapes and sizes, it is also clear that those many shapes and sizes are considered beautiful. I know we see a sliver of the population on social media and TV, but in reality, not everyone thinks everyone else is beautiful. Some men would happily pass up a Victoria's Secret model for another man...point made!

 

If this is the case, why do we believe the hype we read and hear? Shouldn't we instead be listening to the inner voice we all have, that is more often right than wrong?

 

Here are a my top 5 rules I use for helping my girls feel beautiful.

 

1. Don't criticize other women.... especially in front of your daughter.

 

I see women do this all the time to make themselves feel better, but in reality this only teaches their girls that they need to tear someone down to feel good about themselves. It becomes a beast that is never satisfied. I say starve the beast until it dies before it inhabits your daughters and takes over.

 

2. It is OK to compliment a girl for their outer beauty.

Period. Why not? A compliment is an opinion, and an opinion is subjective. Beauty is individual and should be celebrated. Plus, you just might make someone's day.  Not to mention, they may really need to hear something at that moment... you never know what others are going through.

 

3. Helping others feel good makes you more beautiful in everyway to everyone.
Compliments never get old. I love to see someone light up when I compliment them, and it makes me feel beautiful inside. 

 

4. Self-confidence makes you beautiful.
Feeling good about who you are and what you can do to help and improve something makes you shine from the inside out. Nothing is more attractive than a person with self-confidence... nothing.

 

5. This is my cardinal rule... drum roll please... DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF TO ANYONE...EVER!

 

I am adamant about this. Comparisons are worthless and only make you feel bad...that's it, they have no other purpose. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We need to be examples for our daughters and embrace ourselves, flaws and all. I am constantly making my flaws a source of humor. I also tackle the flaws I can change, I rarely sit back and do nothing if I am unhappy with myself about something....the last thing I want to do is to teach them to complain about something and do nothing about it. Poke fun or get on your horse and ride I say!

 

We were all given our face and body in this life for a reason. We are all different for a purpose. We need to celebrate all of it in every shape, color, and form! There is beauty in EVERTHING! xoxoxo

5 Reasons Why This Is the Holy Grail Of Foundaions!

I finally found the holy grail of foundation....MAKE UP FOR EVER recently came out with a new foundation  just as I was looking for something better than what I was using. It's called HD High Definition Foundation.  I was previously using a foundation that didn't break me out, but the colors were never right, and I was spending way too much time bronzing it up to make it match my ever-changing skin color. Finally, I decided, with literally thousands of options, I should be able to find something better...anything. I began test driving foundations for about a month, and much to my surprise, I actually didn't feel like I was settling when I tried this one. Here are the reasons why. 

1. I didn't break out.

This was HUGE for me. I literally held my breath each morning after I started wearing it before I looked in the mirror. I was expecting a new blemish to pop up, and to my surprise, I didn't have any unwelcome visitors! Hooray!

2.  The color match was perfect.

I have A LOT of yellow in my skin and it was absolutely identical to the color on my neck, which had some self-tanner on it.

3. It felt light.

It's not the lightest weight foundation as it's medium to full coverage, but it didn't feel overly heavy like other foundations I've recently tried.

4.  It looked great in pictures.

Haven't you ever noticed how your foundation can have a very different camera look? I struggle with this all the time. In the past my foundation has always looked too pink or just plain off. This is the first time I've actually liked the way my skin looks on camera.

5. It goes on easily and blends well.

I use either a blending sponge or brush, but either way it goes on easily and quickly because it isn't too thick.






                                      

In sunlight.

 

Without flash.

 

With flash.

 

Enough said.......

The FABULOUS Château de la Goujeonnerie in the Vendée, France...

Restored in 2006 this spectacular home makes my heart swoon. Can't you just imagine sipping mimosas, sheathed in vintage Chanel strolling through these opulent, drool-worthy rooms? I certainly can and it takes me very little imagination to do so.





















Images by: Paul Raeside published in Vogue
http://www.vogue.com.au/vogue+living/interiors/galleries/house+tour+the+fairytale+chateau+of+les+trois+garcons,30947?pos=0
 

When to buy FABULOUS Trendy Frocks vs. FABULOUS Classic Frocks?

I still struggle with this when I see a piece of clothing that I know has a shelf life of two seconds. I want it but I wonder... is it worth it?  When this happens I refer back to my two requirements....

1. Do I LOVE it?

2. Is the cut flattering?

 

 

 

Classic? Or......

 

 

The answer to number one has to be an unequivocal.... YES!  I mean, what won't we do for love? We'll climb mountains and look danger in the eye. I've found this to be true in fashion too. I'll wear a pair of six inch Louboutin's that feel like I've decided to start practicing Chinese foot-binding if they match an outfit perfectly and if...I love them.  I really hit the jackpot whenever I fall in love with a pair of shoes and they're also comfy.  I remember one time I was walking down an uneven side walk in Lala land, wearing sandals that I did not love and hurt when I saw a pair of Gucci platform wedges. They started to scream my name and right then and there they proposed to me. We've lived in blissful harmony for many years and after a few visits to cobbler for marriage counseling I can tell you that we're still living happily ever after. Come to think of it that is when my love affair with Gucci began and to be more specific, Tom Ford the genius behind the brand in the early 2000's. He designed things that just resonated with my personal sense of style. Many of his designs had and still have a streamlined quality that have made them classics and have given them a tenure in my closet.

This brings me to why classics, while they do double duty as wardrobe staples also need to be pieces you love. If you find that perfect white T or black pump that you love...buy two! I promise you will thank me later. It may seem like an unnecessary purchase but two years form now when the original black pump you love starts to look like a raisin, you can pull out that fresh pair and continue the love affair.


The answer to question number two, is the cut flattering(?). The answer is personal and takes trial and error, hopefully not too much. It also takes a full length mirror and total honesty with yourself. I've learned this the hard way. I love the sophisticated look pencil skirts but they just don't flatter me the way other skirts do. I've had several fashion hiccups in attempts to be trendy and finally after seeing pictures of myself wearing things that someone should have arrested me for, I think I have a handle on what works on me and what doesn't. We all can't wear boot cut jeans or skinny jeans or mini skirts and so on. But that's the beauty of personal style and once you know what works on your body type shopping becomes simpler and let's face it ,a lot more fun. When I see a backless dress I stop, admire it and then move on. It's not going to happen because my body type isn't meant for backless. I do however LOVE strapless, halter, sleeveless and my favorite is anything with a tight long sleeve that hits the perfect spot just past my wrist.

So in condensing both questions I think trends will be as much a part of our lives as traffic. Sometimes they will work in our favor and sometimes it is just not meant to be. Lastly, classics don't have to be boring, to the contrary, for me they are building blocks to most of my outfits whether it's my Burberry trench or my favorite soft white t-shirt. 

Here are some trends I'm obsessed with and here are a few of my old standbys that never let me down... and are always... haute.



These Pigalle Louboutin pumps are everything....they are sleek, classic, neutral, trendy and classic. They go with jeans and couture.  The answer to questions one and two are...yes and yes.




Gap basic white T. This is a huge part of my wardrobe. I love pairing it with leather leggings and a bootie or pretty much anything....


Sorry this image isn't better but I still wanted to include it since it is my latest go-to blouse. It's the Marl Drape Blouse by Topshop. The matted texture allows for this blouse to go with leather, denim or silk trousers. Again, this pretty much goes with everything. I just wore it with a pair of silk kaki shorts. I also have the cream version and will buy any other colors they dream up.

http://us.topshop.com/en/tsus/product/clothing-70483/tops-70498/blouses-2291599/textured-marl-drape-blouse-4060408?refinements=category~%5b209855%7c208637%5d&bi=1&ps=20



I love this trend. I hope it stays for a while because a basic like this can be paired with a denim jacket, a tailored blazer, fun baubles, and any shoe your heart desires....sky is the limit with this.

harrods.com



This is my all time favorite that was a trend a very long time ago....See, there is hope that some trends will never leave us...and that's a good thing!

www.jcrew.com

The FABULOUS Christian Louboutin...Spring 2015

Christian Louboutin's Spring 2015 Tribaloubi  Collection (say that 3 times fast) is nothing short of FABULOUS! I'm in love with it...the wavy heel ....the fringe (be still my heart, I'm a sucker for fringe)...The pops of fresh color, the turquoise and canary yellow need to be part of my closet, yesterday... Looking at these photos, I almost want to take a bubble bath in heels but... looking at those beauties submerged in water sort of makes me want to cry.

http://us.christianlouboutin.com/us_en/

My top 5 FABULOUS looks from last night's Oscars!

Here are my top 5 FABULOUS looks from last nights' Oscars. They're in no particular order, if I had to pick a favorite I'd never get this posted. I think this year was the hardest time I've ever had deciding.  I mean, so many people just nailed it, this was harder than deciding what dessert to order when I go out!  I've broken down why I love them...I hope you agree!





The second I saw her I knew she would be in my top 5... This is haute couture at it's best. The fit, the color, the detail, I don't think the Cinderella's fairy godmother could have done better. With that said, I was disappointed when I saw how pink her eye makeup was. In some photos it translated beautifully but during her red carpet interview it just didn't work. I also think a dark lip (as seen on Chrissy Teigen) would have polished off this look as one of her all time best in my book. Of course, nine times out of ten she get's it right. I also, loved the sleek pony, it kept the look fresh and allowed the dress to be front and center. Bravo!





I think Emma Stone (in Elie Saab) was at her all time best! The light citrus lime color of the dress with her hair and creamy skin were perfection. I loved the long sleeve and beaded bodice contrasted by the high slit . And the way the fabric cascaded was just jaw dropping-ly gorgeous.  I just adored everything about this dress on her. I also thought she nailed it with hair and makeup. The red lip and red hair couldn't have complimented each other better. LOVE IT!



Jenna Dewan-Tatum in Zuhair Murad. I mean, can you ever go wrong in Zuhair Murad? I just love her in this white streamlined gown with the polished hair makeup. Aside from the fact that she is gorgeous she just looked so sophisticated. I don't know of a more flattering cut for her figure either.  I loved the edginess of her clutch too (does anyone know who it's by?). Everything just blended together perfectly. STUNNING!



First of all congratulations to Julianne Moore for best actress!  Her Chanel gown fit her like a glove in every way down to her personality. The dropped waist and simple yet decadent elegance of this gown was the epitome of what Coco did best. If she were alive today I think she would have created this exact dress for Julianne... As a matter of fact there must have been some divine intervention when this dress was made. Her chignon allowed for her beautiful face to take center stage, as it should have last night... and the red lip (a personal favorite) made the look even more stunning. I also have to mention her acceptance speech, (for some reason all best actress speeches' make me cry but) hers was just so touching. I can't say enough...she's simply BEAUTIFUL...inside and out!



Chrissy Teigen in Zuhair Murad, again is he ever not amazing? This look was flawless because she is also... flawless. This look is Hollywood glam at it's best! Her golden hair contrasted against the shimmery bodice and long sleeve struck the perfect balance. I love a streamlined top with wavy hair or vice versa. I also thought the slit with the fullness of the skirt was another example of striking the perfect balance of modesty and sexiness. And, last but not least, the dark lip...I think that made her whole look modern and classy. Everything about this look to me is PERFECTION!

Oh-and I am a huge Lady Gaga fan and last night just reinforced the fact that she is INCREDIBLE!  Until next year! How can it get better than this?!





 

FABULOUS.....Gladiator Sandals!

These are serious shoes, a spring must have and there is a style for everyone.....Now, snow-snow go away I want to wear my gladiator sandals!


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Casadei Spring 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

FABULOUS lash extensions...My way!

I'm sure you are familiar with all of the hype surrounding lash extensions. I myself am a huge fan but since I do not possess the virtue of patience and I sort of have the mentality of "I want it now" I decided to give it a go myself... but before I get into all of that let me tell you how and why I got here.

 

When I had my first daughter lash extensions were just making their debut. I decided to get them done in an effort to distract myself the fact that I still baby weight to loose (I was on bed rest it was AWFUL)...anyhow. I went in for my appointment and it took about two hours. At first I didn't mind having a little time to myself but as they fell out I missed the full effect and my eyes looked off between appointments. Quickly I began dreading the long appointments and I loathed lying their still and unable to move (my form of torture, for sure), so I decided to let them fall off and use the strips. Finally after a few months of their absence I missed them. I missed waking up looking more wide eyed and bushy tailed and I missed the fact that I could get away with a little concealer and gloss and head out the door.   

 

Now not to dismiss all of the AMAZING lash experts out there but I just could not keep up the routine so I went down to my local beauty supply store bought the individual lashes and temporary glue (not the permanent). I put them on with tweezers at night then in the morning I'd wash my face with a mild soap then apply my makeup as usual. Inevitably they'd fall out but they didn't take my real lashes with them and they fell out at a rate that was easy to keep up with. It was like my eyes had a revolving door of lashes, one out-one in.  After a few years I got brave and decided to use the permanent glue....here is when the game changed, there were more products to buy online...better products.

 

Now my routine is similar but different. I use individual and the fanned ones (knot free) with permanent glue (black). These details above are very important for me. If the flares are knotted it means they are one long strand and can't fall out one at a time. I use black glue because I have naturally black lashes and VERY dark brown eyes. The lases come in array of colors and there is clear glue if you decide to give it a try and you're lashes and eyes are fair in color. I've used several different produces and each has had it's own benefit. I think that the look you want is very individual and specific. I switch my look up, sometimes I go for ultra glam and sometimes I go for natural (but who am I kidding they never look that great naturally).

 

Tools: A glass of wine (not too much), good music (not too loud), tweezers,  a magnifying mirror and excellent lighting.

 

The glue: I put a drop on the side of the tray and dip the tip of the lash in allowing a tiny bit to stick to the end (I mean so tiny you can hardly see it) then I start in the middle and work my way out on either side.

 

Lastly, I am not trained or an expert but I've been doing my own lashes for about ten years and I've been happy with them. I think the key to it working was using the semi permanent glue for a long time and getting really comfortable with the process. 

 

I hope this helps since some of you have asked me about my lashes....If this seems too extreme and you have patience and need a little nap I recommend going to your local beauty bar for a set. If you are feeling brave just remember no coffee before you attempt to try this beauty challenge steady hands are a must! Good luck! 

 

 

   

 

 

Photo credit: Lash L'Amour

 

 

 

 

 

The eternally FABULOUS, Oscar De La Renta Spring 2015....

Since we're already on to fashion  week for 2016 I thought I'd take a trip down memory lane, back to the Osacar De La Renta Spring 2015 collection. This is too fabulous to forget.  I'm wondering, can one simultaneously drool and swoon?