Passion For Fashion

   It’s a wonderful time of year; hot, hot weather is headed to the wayside & some crisp beautiful days are right ahead. It’s also the time we ‘switch our clothes over’ (a uniquely feminine thing I believe!) & begin to assess last year’s wardrobe. Yes, it should be considered a wardrobe & not just a bunch of disjointed clothes. So here are my tips for helping you develop at least a smallish passion for fashion!

    First things first, make sure when you are headed out to shop you are hydrated, fed & ‘in the mood’. You will have more patience & much more success. I love, love, love the discount stores but you need patience to go through the racks. My favorites are Ross, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx & Kohl’s (lots of discounts there make it worthy). The clothes & shoes pictured here all came from Ross. These stores are constantly getting new merchandise. I like to go Friday nights. The new merchandise is out & ready for the weekend, yet there are no crowds. I was able to purchase 4 dresses, one casual top, one workout top & these great Aerosoles peep toe shoes for $99! Yes, really.

    Secondly, decide what you already own & feel fabulous in. This may surprise you from year to year. Tastes change, this is a fact. In the last couple of years I have learned to embrace the dress! Nicely fitting jeans & pants were a tough find & I realized for the same cost (or less!) I could find many dress choices & they were much easier to fit. Immediately stylish, comfortable & put together, you will feel pretty. Moo moo dresses are out. Find styles that find your curves & land above the knee, but not too far. Wrap dresses accentuate the best parts of us. Go out of you comfort zone & choose some bright colors too. (Hard for me too, but not just black!) Shades of purple are very in this season. (see photo to left) Remember to check Juniors (you may go up a size) & Petites sections too in these stores. Lots of selection there!

    After scouring some fashion magazines these past weeks I realized the common denominator for the season are boots! Any and all kinds are a go this year. Equestrian, cowboy, high heel, low heel, ankle, it doesn’t matter. You will look immediately fashionable if you are wearing great boots. You can find great styles & prices at the above stores.

    Lastly, take the time & seek out a great go to pair of jeans. Find a great fit. Here is an Oprah link to a guide below. As with all clothes you just need to keep trying things on! Pants & jeans especially. Eventually you find a brand that’s you! For me it’s New York & Company, for a hard to fit girlfriend of mine, it was Bass. (Yes, we spent a great part of a GWA trying to get her out of Mommy jeans!!).

http://www.oprah.com/style/The-Jean-Buying-Fit-Guide

   Last piece of advice is to go outside of your comfort zone. Don’t keep buying the same ‘type’ of clothes. You’re spending hard earned money & you want rave reviews! If you always wear solids, find patterns. If you always wear black, find color. Don’t forget the great boots & shoes out there! They can have a wow factor all their own.

Beauty Buys under $5.00! Marypause50 tested & approved!

   It’s that time of year & the new products are rolling in. This Blogger always prides herself on finding the best on a budget. So here are some top picks from recent months. All pricing is Walmart but again great deals can be found at CVS, Ulta, etc. when using coupons, etc.

1)   Maybelline’s Baby Lips moisturizing lip balm $2.97-$1.00 coupon = $1.97. At this price I bought two. One non-tinted slight peppermint flavor with SPF 20. This is the one you use at night on lips & outside the entire lip line to keep wrinkles in check. The tinted flavor I bought is Cherry Me (yum). With aloe & Vitamin E it feels like silk, tints & STAINS lips slightly. A win, win, win with this product!

2)  Maybelline’s Mega Plush Volume Express Mascara (turquoise tube) $5.94-$1.00 coupon = $4.94 – Gives nice full coverage with an ample size brush. Will find all the ‘lost’ lashes. Slept with it on to test for flaking or rubbing off ~ A+ on that test! Remember to work the base of the lashes first back & forth then apply normally. Tested non-waterproof but comes in both.

3)  Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color $3.58 – I do my own manis & pedis (more on that in a future how-to blog). I appreciate the fast dry & love the durability of the product. It uses a unique brush which takes getting used to. Pick a fun color for fall. I chose 180 Rose Run which is the perfect shade of medium pink. My pedi will last three weeks or until I get bored!

4)  Organix Moroccan Argan Creamy Oil Body Wash / Creamy Oil Body Moisturizer 13-oz., $6.97-$2.00 coupon right on the bottle = $4.97 – This wash is delish & lathers up with very little product. My skin feels wonderful then I add THE BEST moisturizer I’ve ever used & WOW! We’ve really got a treasure here. I’ve blogged on the oil for the hair & the poo & conditioner. Just buy the entire line & be happy with your skin & hair!!!

5)  Freeman Facial Hydration Mask in Gogi-Berry .5-oz., $1.37. Wonderful 10 minute treat for you to give yourself. I’ve used it twice so far & have at least a couple treatments left! Lie back & relax… rinses off for a smooth feel.

6)  L’Oreal Evercreme Cleansing Conditioner 8.3-oz., $5.67-$1.00 coupon = $4.67 – The new idea of not washing your hair everyday to keep it healthier overall is a tough concept for some. This is part conditioner with a little bit of cleanser built in (but doesn’t lather). It’s fabulous! I use it every other shampoo. I alternate with the Evercreme shampoo & conditioner counterparts which I’ve blogged on before. My hair smells, looks & feels like thick silk. Trust me, my hair has never felt this good.

Revlon Colorstay Brow Enhancer $7.72-$5.00 coupon = $2.72! I wasn’t going to include this one because of the price point but realize they accept the foundation/moisturizer coupon for this product. One end is a waxed tinted pencil & the other end an under brow illuminator. Goes on effortlessly & fills in the sparseness perfectly. The wax keeps it all in check. I can’t imagine a better product for the job!

Plethora of Purple Perennials!

   Autumn is upon us this weekend & there are a few more perennials to enjoy that are in bloom right now. These purple ones are my favorites:

~ Aster (A. novae-angliae) – Easy to grow. Sun/Pt. Sun. Comes in pink & purple. If you cut back in early July they will stay bushy come bloom time, just like mums. Spectacular. Nice cut flower too.

~ Obedient Plant (physostegia) – Easy to grow. Sun. Great blooms this time of year. These get very tall (4’-5’) so I do cut it back, again like the asters, in early July. Take it down a foot if you like. It helps so I don’t have to stake. Keep deadheading for continuous blooms. Again, a nice cut flower.

~ Liriope – Easy to grow. Likes Sun/Pt. Sun. The purple blooms on the variegated variety are so beautiful. The tropical feel of the foliage on this hardy plant is wonderful.

~ Beautyberry Bush (callicarpa) – Likes Sun/Pt. Sun. So now an easy to grow shrub. The small, insignificant flowers down each stem are now forming tiny green changing to purple berries. So pretty & great food source for the birds. (Although I like to enjoy the berries for a few months yet!) If you cut this down in the spring you can maintain a smaller 3’ size. If you have room then go for it!

~ Butterfly Bush (buddleia) – Likes Sun/Pt. Sun. Another easy to grow shrub mentioned before in my blogs. The beautiful purple blooms of my bush are lovely & fragrant mid-summer through the fall. The silvery foliage will stay all winter long here. Again, cut down in the spring if you need to maintain its size.

Okay a few honorable mentions that aren’t purple: Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ & other wonderful varieties & Mums too. Salvia, Phlox Paniculata, Black-eyed susans, Lamium, Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’ are all still blooming although not as vigorously.

Easy Tortilla Roll-Ups - It's Game Time!

Here is one last tailgate/ game watching recipe that can be made ahead of time & is served cold.

    Tortilla Rolls-Ups

8-oz. cream cheese    1 c. finely shredded cheddar cheese

8-oz sour cream         ½ c. chopped green onions         

1 -4-oz. can green chilies (well-drained)

1 pkg. large tortilla shells (8-in. or larger) I like the flavored ones.

Ex. Sun-dried tomato or basil ones. The color makes it more festive!

Chop green onions & chilies together in small chopper or food proc. Then mix in softened cream cheese & sour cream. Spread onto tortillas and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Roll snuggly & wrap in plastic wrap for a couple hours. Cut into one inch slices when ready to serve. Can top each slice with more shredded cheese. Have salsa ready to serve as topping, store-bought (sad face) or use my recipe! Enjoy!!!

Flatbread Bruchetta Pizza - Tailgate Time Recipes!

    It’s that time of year again – Tailgate Time!!! Wherever your tailgating might occur I will share a few recipes that are always a big hit with the fans! Here is recipe number two for the grill if you are doing the parking lot tailgate thing!

    Buy flatbreads which are sold in grocery stores now in the flavor of your choice. Buy fresh mozzarella. (some are pre-sliced, others whole. I prefer the whole & just slice with my egg slicer). Take tomato Bruschetta (well drained) from my Recipe Week recipe or buy storebought (sad face) {or simply add sliced tomatoes & basil}.

     Preheat grill to medium. Brush flatbread with evoo on bottom side & grill 2 minutes. Brush top side & do the same. Flip & top with fresh mozzarella slices & place bruschetta on top of mozzarella. Grill approx. 5 more minutes or until cheese melts & flatbread is nice & brown & not burnt.  Slice with pizza cutter. Easy & Delish!

Easy Salsa Dip - It's Tailgate Recipe Time!

    It’s that time of year again – Tailgate Time!!! Wherever your tailgating might occur I will share a few recipes that are always a big hit with the fans! This one is served cold, no oven needed.

    This first I call an easy Salsa Dip that you serve with your favorite tortilla chips. (This blogger is loving the Frito-lay Tostitos whole grain Scoops right now!)

    Soften 4-oz cream cheese. Blend in 8-oz. sour cream & a well drained 12-oz. medium to hot chunky salsa. Draining keeps a watery dip from happening & the cream cheese & sour cream lessen any heat from the salsa. You will need to experiment with taste for your crowd. Spread into an 8-9” disposable tin (Dollar stores sell 3/1.00). Top with shredded cheddar or taco blend cheese. Top with veggies of your choice. I always use tomatoes & peppers. You can add onion, olives too. Refrigerate for a few hours before serving. I guarantee this to be a big hit. Enjoy!

A Simple Abundance September

   Here we are with another summer swiftly passing us by. I can’t believe it either. We all agree the summers go faster and faster as we get older. I have a first September unique situation & that is an empty nest to coincide with the end of summer blues. So I decided to read ahead a bit for September in Simple Abundance (Sarah Ban Breathnach’s fab book). Her wonderful entries seem to include a lot of introspection on what you really need, what path you should be on to make yourself feel as happy & authentic as possible. To me this sure beats a hundred little projects around the house I thought I would be doing come empty nest time! So here are a few suggestions to get you started. Every entry is so lovely & thought provoking. Be sure to read & have fun with it!

~ Turn over a new leaf – Autumnal resolutions only ask that you be open to change. No pressure here. No one to ask what resolutions did you make or hold you accountable.

~ Are you scrambled or fried? Try to strive for scrambled then believe in the phrase “enough is enough” & find some serenity…

~ Do you have a job, career or calling? You want to devote more time to your calling or finding your calling. So when you find some serenity, think about your calling… then muster up the courage to answer it!! “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

~ Do some self-nurturing on the job. Face it, we all work whether it is our calling or not. So create a wonderful environment for yourself at work. A ‘toy box’ drawer if you will of treats & teas and other items that make you smile or give you a warm fuzzy. Update photos. Bring in a lamp to counteract the overheads you may have (and hate). Bring in a few cut flower stems from your garden. You spend soooo much time there… spend a little time recreating your environment.

~ Last but not least… give yourself credit. As Sarah suggests, bask in the glow of your accomplishments, revel in your achievements. We as women accomplish so much in the course of a day, a week just by the nature of our sex! I recently had dinner & saw a play with two gal pal moms who all three of us were sending our first off to college. It was a wonderful celebration of this accomplishment of our kids & us. Yes, we parents get credit too for raising wonderful kids who can go off on their next ‘calling’ in life! Celebrate you!!