things that make my eyes bleed

• socks with teva's 

 source

•  pants that are neither ankle or capri...they are called high waters and they make you look like you have short weird legs.

 source

• beautiful women wearing sweats

 source

• moms picking their kids up in pajama pants. it's 2010, NO ONE WEARS PAJAMA PANTS TO PICK UP THEIR CHILDREN...i'm embarrassed by you and you're not my mom, i'm embarrassed to be in the same category as you: a woman and a mom...stop wearing pajama pants in public.

no pic will be used in order
to not embarrass the guilty any further.

• multiple stretched out faded layers...long sleeve, short sleeve, leggings, skirts, socks, buttoned shirt, backpack...this is all one outfit...you look like a hobo. hobo-hippy-"chic" is not a look.

next time i'm downtown 
or at my local library
i'll take a picture .

fall fun from wal-mart to neiman marcus

sometimes the clothing deals at wal-mart are just 

too good to pass up!

wal-mart:

and is it just me or has kmart really stepped it

up the past few years?

growing up we only shopped at kmart 

and i hated my lack of options,

but they have so many cute options now!

i am in love with the selena gomez line!

kmart:

what girl doesn't love target?

they are the perfect place to shop season

by season and trend by trend.

reasonable prices and the latest trends.

target:

i think a lot of people forget about

jc penny.

they think of it as a mom store or where old

ladies shop.

but jcp has some of the latest looks

and being a department store

they have great sales!

jc penny:

the clothes from jcrew below aren't actually 

all that badly priced...i think we all 

know that jcrew prices can get up 

there in cost.

i'm in love with that velvet blazer.

jcrew:

almost every girl i know loves

anthropologie.

i was introduced this last year to this fine

merchandiser. 

i love that the clothes are unique.

my best advice for anthro is read through the 

reviews...just because it costs an arm and a leg

doesn't mean it was made well.

anthro:

ahh, neiman marcus

incredible selection of designers

at your finger tips...

with all the designer price tags too.

you can fantasy drool or consider

saving for an investment piece.

neiman marcus:

look 4 less

how was your weekend?

the only shopping i did was

grocery.

honestly, even that type of shopping

gives me a thrill.

as i was perusing all my favorite

online places to shop

(and by shop, i mean fill my bag and never purchase a thing)

i was looking through

nordstrom's fall catalog

and cam across

this amazing kate spade new york ensemble.

do you love it?

there's something about textile

and pattern mixing that seems

elegant

and 

so modern.

i especially like this look with these 

bordeaux tights!

so here are some ways to 

do this look without dropping $815:

the blouse:

the skirt:

the cardigan:

and some fun tights:

do you like texture and pattern mixing?

it's all about putting the right

colors together.

fantasy friday

i wish i was wearing this kate spade look

with these tall-licious frye boots.

i love everything about this look

right down to the hair!

i have zero idea how much this look costs

but these boots are $448

things i learned during hair week:

*spraying your hands with hairspray to 

help the fly aways lay down

(i looked so much more polished this week!)

*getting the right stylist to find the right

cut for you is crucial

you can have volume in your hair if it's flat but you need to have the right haircut

*if you're over 40 you shouldn't be mistaken for a 20 year old

from the back...it's time to let go of the super blond hair.

*if you put a little effort into your hair, you can look put together,

the whole package.

in an effort to get this post put out at a reasonable time 

i'm posting it now.

but as soon as i get my pics of the perfect pony, 

i'll post them up later.

have a great weekend.

p.s. i may put hair stuff in posts next week as well, 

everyone seemed to like it, so i'll splatter posts

with it periodically.

hair week extravaganza 2010

this is why i'm getting the brazilian blowout:

when my husband saw these pics he said:

"this is exaggerated"

and i said:

"do you even know me?"

then i explained that no, this is not exaggerated,

this is why i never blow dry my hair.

and when i do, i do it section by tedious section

and flat iron as i go.

(i wonder why my arms aren't more toned?)

regadrless i am always on the lookout for 

hairdo's that i can do...or at least

take something from it and try it with

my own crazy hair.

one thing i've learned, if you really want 

to concur the hair battle

you have to invest a little into it.

you need products that help your hair woes:

volumizers

de-frizzer

straighteners

serums

hairspray

etc.

i found some tutorials all over the web that

are quick easy and doable!

follow this link

to find a fun little slideshow 

from totalbeuaty.com

here's what it has to offer, along with 

easy steps for 10 minute or less style:

in this hairstyle handbook

from marie claire

there's hair ideas for:

long, short, medium,

wavy, curly, straight,

caucasian, african-american and asian

check out bangs for your face shape 

from instyle mag

hopefully i can get over to my friends house today

and take pics of her doing her amazing ponytail.

until then

go here for

quick and easy hairdos!

make sure you have time to surf the web for a while.

hair week extravaganza 2010

today's very, very late post

is brought to you by

about.com: beauty

10 hair care products and tools every woman needs

by julyne derrick, about.com guide

1. A good brush.
The higher quality your hairbrush, the healthier your hair. We've found the best brushes have rubber bases with boar's head bristles. These allow bristles to flex, cutting down on the damage to your hair.

2. The right shampoo for your hair type.
Shampoos work by cleansing hair of dirt and oil. Picking the correct shampoo is all about the ingredients. Extra tip: More shampoo is not better. All you need is a half-dollar-sized dollop, perhaps a bit more if you have long hair. And although it says on the back of every shampoo bottle, "rinse & repeat," you don't need to if you did a good job the first time around. Beauty experts tout Pantene as the best basic shampoo on the market. We tend to agree, having tried dozens of different shampoos from the fabulously pricey to the basics. Check out their various products from moisturizing to volumizing.

enSTYLEpedia side note:

i've heard dove is absolutely amazing too.

3. Conditioner.
Unless you have baby fine hair that goes limp at the sight of creamy conditioners, you need to a conditioner. Hair pros will tell you conditioner can help repair heat- & chemical-damaged hair. The truth is conditioners protect your hair from these things (and harsh brushings). More than conditioning, we like how conditioners have moisturizing agents that coat hair leaving it tangle-free. Want to spend less time brushing out long wet hair? Condition the ends. Your comb will zip right through.

4. A wide-toothed comb.
Never, ever, ever, never use a brush to comb out wet hair. That's why they call it 'combing out' - a wide-toothed comb is the only equipment that should touch your wet head.

5. Shine serum.
Here is where you may say, 'what?' But really, who would turn down a shiny mane if promised one? These shine serums really do work. If you have fine, straight hair, forgo the serums for the spray & don't use too much. Shine products will weigh down fine hair, so a quick spritz will do you. If your hair is thick, try the serums, which help smooth the hair & give it an added gleam, or just use more of the spray. Check out shine serums, from cheap ($5) to steep ($30). Women with fine hair should consider the shine sprays.

6. Dry shampoo OR talcum powder.
These shampoos are great for absorbing oil in between washings. Don't want to splurge on the fancy stuff? Here's what I do (having tried the fancy Bumble & Bumble powder): Talcum powder. Just make sure you go easy on your part & at the hairline. You don't want the powder to be obvious.

7. A blowdryer.
Never underestimate the power of a good blowdryer. The more powerful your dryer, the better. A strong blowdryer, like the pro favorite, 'Tourmaline,' (see compare prices link below) will speed drying time which reduces your hair's exposure to damaging heat. If you have thick hair, you'll want a dryer with at least 1,875 watts. Those with finer hair can make do with 1,500 watts.

8. Volumnizing mousse or spray OR straightening balm.
Volumizing products are a Godsend for those of us with fine hair. Spray it on your roots & voila! all of a sudden you have volume. Got coarse hair, skip this product & buy the balm, which will calm down those frizzies.

9. Rollers OR straightening irons.
If you’re like me, you spent many a night as a teenager sleeping with those fuzzy pink rollers wrapped in your hair. These worked great, but they were annoying to sleep in. Rollers have come a long way since then. Even coarse-haired girls can benefit from a good set of rollers. And remember, the longer your hair, the larger the rollers need to be. Don’t like rollers? Try a good curling iron. Curly girls, of course, can skip the rollers & invest in a high-quality straightening iron. Find one designed for your hair texture & flatten away.

10. Hairspray.
Hairsprays are a must for holding your style in place while also protecting your hair against humidity or even heat & UV rays. Don’t want helmet head like my Grandma (I call this look 'Grandma head') who still gets her hair done every week at the salon leaving it perfectly curled & fluffy for 7 days? Go for a flexible, soft-hold formula. For extra body, lift sections & spray close to the roots.

for the complete article

and price comparisons for each

of these products

click here.

hair week extravaganza 2010

how long have you had your

current cut and color?

if you're holding up more than one hand

of years...it's time for a change.

honestly i think more than 3 years is

pushing it.

it's easy to get stuck in a hair

rut because you become comfortable

with how you look.

maybe when you first got the look

people said how great you look all the time

but do they still?

i have some exciting news for you:

hair grows back.

i know, you're in shock.

one more thing,

hair color is evolving and

changing with the times...your color should too.

of course with color i'm speaking to the girls

that do color their hair.

whenever i color my hair i color it the same color 

as my natural color,

mostly to get rid of my grey's.

(yes i have grey hair, i've had the little pests since i was 23)

i'm finally embracing my dark brunette locks

instead of trying to make them blonde.

(what is it with being blonde? frickin' America)

anyway...it's fun to try new things.

especially if it's time for a change.

so first with color, here are the hottest trends 

via Tracey Cunningham, Redken Creative Consultant for Color

i found her fall/winter hair trends all over the web

(do people say web anymore?)

here are her tips for brunette's, redheads and blondes.

i'm not sure why there wasn't a black hair category.

brunette

source, lily aldridge

 

"For my brunette clients, I plan to keep their base a dark chocolate truffle hue but you’ll see a lot of thick golden highlights starting from the mid-section of their hair. Let it be fun and flirty in the winter months to spice up your look, think Lily Aldridge for this look!"

redhead

source, julianne moore

"Va va voom color! Redheads this Fall/Winter will lean towards a single process tone, with no highlights just vibrant deep mahogany tones. For this must-have look of the season, think Julianne Moore. She has the most luscious shade of red that’s full of intense shine."

blonde

source, kate bosworth

"The Fall/Winter blonde will be a California blonde with the base a shade darker to give some dimension to the look. The blonde locks will be light and golden to compliment your client’s look of the season. This look is so fun and can be worn from season to season! Think Kate Bosworth for this blonde shade, it pops on her and looks great with a red lip."

i'm toying with the idea of trying the brunette look.

it's fun and i could wear it for a few months.

changing your hair really is fun

and it keeps things interesting.

i challenge you to try a new color

or cut if you've had the same look for a while.

have long locks?

think about cutting off 4-6 inches.

have you had the same shape 

(like...no style or shape at all?)

to your hair?

some razor sharp layers or bangs could be just the thing

to bring you into fall.

here are some cut, color and, style inspirations:

hair week extravaganza 2010

welcome, welcome.

your hair is key in your look.

you could be wearing the cutest clothes,

feel amazing and beautiful

but if your hair doesn't match

in equal awesomeness

then the whole look sort of

falls flat.

today, i'll be showing you trends in

hair for the fall 

and

giving some great tips

via instyle magazine

on easy steps to achieving

these hair trends.

of the trends for fall, i've chosen ones

that i think most women can achieve on their own.

i know a lot of my readers

are busy moms and my blog originated

for moms.

so i've picked hairstyles that i think

i could achieve with 5-10 minutes.

sleek hair trends are in the mix.

how do you achieve sleek without going greasy?

it's all about the products.

if this is a look you think you'll wear often

then i suggest buying a quality product.

my guess is if you by hair gel from the 

dollar store, it's going to look crunchy, greasy 

and flake white crap in your hair.

 

pics from: marie claire and instyle

p.s. for me personally to get this look

it takes me 30-40 minutes...i do not have naturally straight 

hair and it's thicker than the rain forest.

for straightening:

pin straight locks are hot for fall.

the smaller you make the sections you flat iron, 

the straighten your hair will be.

an extreme side part can be an easy way to 

update your look for fall.

tips via instyle mag for achieving this look:

Taylor Swift’s pin-straight strands “add an edge without taking away from her dress," says the singer’s stylist Jemma Muradian. "It's a smart look that goes well with fall fashion.”
STEP ONE Flip head upside-down and blow-dry hair. Gently rake hands through hair, but keep strands from looking greasy by limiting contact with the roots: "Touching your scalp causes it to release natural oils," explains Muradian.
STEP TWO Flat iron side-parted locks with one slow movement from roots to ends and spritz with hairspray.

my absolute favorite hairstyle

for fall is the high bun.

i have yet to get it perfected to wear

out in public. i need to get my fall

wardrobe ready before i can debut my awesome

fall hair so...that could be the real reason i'm procrastinating 

my tall bun-a-licious hair.

pics from: instyle, stockholm street style, elle

i think this look is best created with day old hair.

and it's going to be achievable

with medium to long lengths.

if your hair is fine or thing i suggest

wearing little buns or braids all over

your head the night before and sleep on it...maybe even

dampening it and adding a little product to it before you

bun or braid it for the night.

that can give you some texture and volume to work this

look the next day.

tips from instyle mag:

“This updo is everything that Vanessa Hudgens is: hip, current, casual and sexy,” says the actress’s stylist Bruce Wayne.

STEP ONE Apply thickening cream to damp hair and blow-dry with a large round brush for volume.
STEP TWO Mist-in shine spray. Pull hair into a high ponytail and secure with an elastic.
STEP THREE Gently wrap locks to form a bun and hold the updo in place with hairspray and "as many bobby pins needed to make it feel secure," says Wayne.

the last look for today is the tried and true classic

of all hair styles.

the ponytail.

somehow this timeless wonder shows up every season

with trendy updates.

this season the ponytail can be done high and sleek 

(like the above side part)

or low and loose. 

but the key

to rocking any style of ponytail is that it is styled.

 pic sources here

sometimes it's hard to get the "messy waves" look 

without looking like, maybe you just woke up 

and put your hair in a ponytail.

although it may appear that way, these

loose pony's are styled and purposeful.

it's all about placement of your hair 

and

using products correctly.

“Elizabeth Banks’s look is carefree,” says her stylist Adir Abergel. “The texture doesn't have to be perfect—loose pieces and height give it a slight ‘60s vibe.”
STEP ONE Spray hair with texturizer and finger-comb strands as you blow-dry.
STEP TWO Center-part the waves and tease at the crown.
STEP THREE Spritz locks with gloss spray and pull hair into a ponytail, leaving face-framing strands loose. "A light mist of hairspray and you're ready to party," says Abergel.

i hope you were inspired by some of these

trends and can experiment with them.

later this week:

*cuts to flatter your face/hair

*hot color trends for fall

*a step by step guide (with pictures!) 

to a classic and sexy ponytail via one of 

my closest friends who always rocks an amazing pony

*taking the leap and finding a new style

*hair woes and cures

*styles for short, medium and long

thin, thick and wavy.

see you tomorrow.

you can still leave hair questions in the comments.

fantasy friday

sooo, i just realized it was friday.

wow.

anyway, do you guys watch project runway?

i've done a few re-caps on it this season.

but last night was the best.

i love mondo.

his use of color is a dream.

the outfit he created last night was amazing.

it is my fantasy right now

to have that outfit.

i would do anything for it, i loooooooove it.

the top, the skirt, the combo

of pattern and colors is so great.

p.s. it wont hurt my feeling if you don't love it.

when i was telling my husband how much i would

kill to wear that to church on sunday,

he looked at me like i was crazy.

that's fine.

bask in the awesomeness of mondo:

loooooooove

trends to try and summer to fall...

all over jcrew is the button down

tucked in one side and not the other:

o you think you could pull this look off?

my guess is you'd have to have a pretty nice stomach.

soooo, i wont be trying this...but if you've got a waist line

i say try it out...see how you feel.

i like it with the messy hair, 

it's effortlessly cool.

i've had a few questions about transitioning

your wardrobe from summer to fall.

the answer is layers.

i got my inspiration from jcrew for this whole post.

a trend to try for transitional wear

is tights under your shorts and add a scarf and blazer.

here's the look jcrew style:

i think this look is best pulled off with shoes that look like this:

brands and prices here

these shoes are hot for fall. 

the oxford ankle, short boots and combat style shoes.

adding tights and light layers are always a great way

to wear some of your summer clothes in the weather 

transition to fall too.

with a summer dress, adding tights, fall inspired shoes

and a scarf or unbuttoned shirt on top

look chic and cool.

here's a dress with the tights

and combat style shoes,

she looks ready for september!

here are some of my own ideas:

brands and prices

be creative with what you have and 

look to thrift shops and goodwill/di

for good deals to keep it light

for your bank account.

happy transitional-summer-to-fall-weather-fashion!

(this is not a real holiday...said holiday was made up

for purpose of blog post. no holiday's were hurt in the

making up of this one)