A Feather Frenzy

Dear Readers,

Forgive me for my blogging absence. Busyness is a primary cause, but more than that I have felt largely uninspired of late. I am having a difficult time with summer's fashions this year. I appreciate the Bohemian vibe and the throwback to the 70's, but few pieces strike me and/or would work on my figure. Both styles make use of billowy tops, dainty fabrics, and outrageous prints. Such accoutrements are not beyond me, but I've combed several stores in the last week as well as searched online and have come up empty handed. Meanwhile, I've made use of pieces I already own, which is probably better in its own right, but as a woman, I am only all to glad to add to my wardrobe. :)

My mother always keeps an eye out for interesting and controversial goings-on in the fashion industry for me. She came across an article about the newest rage - feather hair extensions. Made intensely popular by Steven Tyler showcasing them on the most recent season of American Idol, fly fishermen and their tackle suppliers are getting highly annoyed with women coming into their shops to buy the "hackles," the especially long tail feathers of a rooster. In an article posted on PETA's website, it is explained, "Roosters used to make these extensions are bred and genetically altered to produce long, luxurious saddle feathers (the ones on their backsides, which can take years to grow) before they are killed [euthanized] and de-feathered for their precious plumage." Needless to say, PETA sides with the fishermen. Recently, these birds have been killed in record numbers to meet the demand of fashionistas, desiring to make a statement.

My take on this situation:

I will not be adding feathers to my hair, albeit they do look pretty neat. They are rather expensive and only last a few months - not something I'm willing to put the money out for. (I'd rather get my next tattoo). :)

I do feel bad for the added number of birds who have died recently in the name of fashion; however, remember, this has been occurring for quite some time for fishing, etc. just not in this great a quantity.

As with any fad, the craze will eventually die out. Next season it could be peacocks! Actually, this would not altogether shock me. Why not peacocks!? They have beautiful feathers! But these roosters are already getting messed with by being genetically altered, so I will not be signing any PETA petitions.

 Nevertheless, since we live in the land of the outsourced and artificially fabricated, it would be nice if someone devised a way to create artificial feathers that looked great and did not cause a bird to die before its time. Oh look! China did! Furthermore, Amazon.com sells them for less than $10 with shipping. For that amount of money, I just might put them in. I could see my sister and I doing that together for the summer (*hint, hint*).


Your thoughts??????

The Quest of a Bathing Beauty, Part 2

So my quest brought me to Fashion Bug - on a whim, not really sure I would actually find anything, but I have found some winners there in the past. I tried on a few suits, finding only one potential possibility.  Behold...

I thought it looked nice on me. I liked the shirred sides, the shimmering color, and the skirt that served to minimize the girth of my hips and thighs. I tried two sizes - an 8, which fit albeit snugly over my thighs and a 10, which fit more comfortably over my legs without looking overly baggy in other areas due to it being a size larger. However, upon inspecting my back side to see how it measured up, I noticed with the size 10 that the fabric had pulled away from the center back seam. Now, in the past, I have had trouble with seams on items purchased from Fashion Bug, so seeing this occurrence sent up flags of alarm for me. Unable to get past this, and the $40+ price tag, I took a picture of myself in it and resolved to think about it for at least 24 hours.

I sent the picture I took to my sister - an always trustworthy 2nd opinion. She did not like it. In fact, she hated the skirt. She said it made the suit look like a dress. Her husband said it looked old ladyish, and my husband said it looked like it could pass for lingerie. Needless to say, I did not not return and purchase this suit. With my doubts regarding its manufacturing and such "glowing" reviews from those closest to me, I decided it wasn't meant to be.

I pressed on.

Today, I went to JCPenney. I tried on about 5 suits. I found myself getting highly irritated. You see, I fall in the middle. I am not small enough to pull off a bikini well, and I'm not large enough to require slimming add-on's like super spandex or boning. I took 4 pictures to bring before my committee. The results:

• One made me look almost pregnant - a definite NO! 
• One, upon review by Jon (husband), seemingly added about 40 lbs. to my figure - a resounding NO! 
• Changing the color of that style did not do anything for me; in fact, the picture I took of myself in color option #2 has been captioned, "Trailer trash." Eek! 
• I tried a bikini. The style wasn't bad, but well known to me, yet unbeknownst to my sister until this evening, I have a "funny hip," so exposing that much skin does make me appear a little odd. Indeed, my right hip actually sits higher than my left, throwing off my proportions. I've known this for years. It bewildered my sister.

I left Penney's discouraged and hating my shape. It seemed as if I would not be able to find anything. Not really an option for someone who hopes to travel to the beach semi-frequently this summer and whose suits from last year are 2 sizes too big. Thank you, Zumba. Nevertheless, woe is me.

This week, many department stores are having huge sales on all sorts of items. Specifically, swimwear has been discounted anywhere between 40-60%. So, I wanted to cash in while opportunity was knocking. So, later, I went to Kohl's. I perused their website beforehand to get an idea of which suits I wanted to try. I found these:





I really did not want to get a mostly black suit so bottom-right was my least favorite option, but at least armed with a few visuals I would not be searching blindly upon arriving at the store. I did not come across 3 out of the above 4 suits. Truly, I wasn't aggressively searching for them (except for the pink one; I liked that one a lot). I ended up in the fitting room with 4 suits again and repeated the process.

• A deep purple one - beautiful color on me, halter style, tankini. Tried on paired with 2 different bottoms. Close, but no. The picture of me in it was captioned, "Battling bulges!!!"
• One by Nike - the fit was not doing me any favors. It just simply was not me.
• The one pictured right - I didn't like all that black. I really wanted a print. It didn't look bad; it just was not what I was really looking for.
  
•  Top-right in the above table - turned out to be the one. This suit is by ZeroXposur - a brand that I had seen previously in my "research." I instantly fell in love with their overall look - athletic, yet not all brute and no class. I had seen similar suits in Penney's and Sears, but they were never quite what I was looking for (usually mostly black as in the case above). So, I was thrilled with this find. However, I was unable to purchase the displayed bottoms; they did not have them in my size. Instead, I purchased boyshort bottoms by Candie's (see below).

The best part about it was not only that I looked fabulous in it, but the top and the short cost $37.98 together, which is under the $40 I budgeted for this purchase. But, wait! :) There's more! Because they were on sale, I saved about $25 between the two of them! Major score! Now, I need only the beach!

I am happy to have closed this chapter in my never ending quest towards fashion greatness. (So is my husband).

My advice: don't settle. You know what you want; don't put out the money until you are 100% sure of what you are buying. It's not worth it. Furthermore, with everything online, your possibilities are endless; you must be willing to search for them, however. I've also heard that you love an item most in-store, so if you're not head over heels in love with it there, you most likely will not be when you get home. But I wish you all the best in your bathing beauty quests. Make sure you work with your body shape. I know it can be highly frustrating and even a little scary, but it is possible to find a suit that makes you look great and feel awesome while wearing it. Feel free to hit me up with some stories/photos of your journey. But until then, see you at the beach!

Rocco Dispirito's Shrimp Po' Boy with Spicy Mayo

Taken from Rocco Dispirito's cookbook, Now Eat This, this is his take on a po' boy sandwich.

Shrimp Po' Boy with Spicy Mayo Recipe
Serves 4

1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups whole wheat panko breadcrumbs
3 egg whites
8 ounces medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
salt
1/2 cup lite mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Tabasco sauce
4 whole wheat buns
1/2 bunch romaine lettuce, shredded
1/2 cup roasted red peppers, sliced
.
1.Preheat the oven to 450F. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet and set aside.
2. Pat the shrimp very dry and season with salt.
3. Place the flour in a shallow dish. Place the panko in another shallow dish. In a medium bowl, whip the egg whites with a whisk until they are foamy but not quite holding peaks, about 3 minutes.
4. In small batches, lightly dredge the shrimp in the flour, shaking off any excess. Add the shrimp to the egg whites; toss to coat completely. Then add the shrimp to the panko and turn to coat them completely.
5. Place the shrimp on the wire rack. Bake until the golden and crispy, about 8 minutes.
6. Stir the mayonnaise and Tabasco sauce together in a small bowl. Spread 1 tablespoon of the mayonnaise mixture generously on the bun. Top with lettuce and red pepper strips. Pile the shrimp on top of the lettuce and peppers.

Gonna try it this week! :)

The Quest of a Bathing Beauty, Part 1

With all this warm weather lately and spring kicking into high gear, my thoughts drift off to continued warm weather, visits to the beach, and of course then - bathing suits. EEK! I don't know about you, but bathing suits are one of my most dreaded items to shop for. I loathe the idea because I know it will take a significant amount of time and more than several disappointing fittings before I find one that I can live with (let alone one that truly suits me).


Swimsuit shopping is seemingly a more treacherous task than others because it is the one clothing item that potentially has you publicly displaying more of your naked self than usual. Thankfully, many fashion magazines and fashionistas understand this peril and offer advice as to how to find the perfect swim suit for your body shape. I am fully convinced that it is possible to purchase a bathing suit, bask in the sun, and maintain a level of classiness while doing so. Unfortunately, others don't always share in my belief. You see it walking down the beach far too often.

 
So, in an effort to help, I offer you these expert opinions:

Click here for Cosomo's take on what works for various body types.

Good Housekeeping offers this 20 swimsuit slideshow with style tips.

Glamour magazine offers multiple looks & suggestions for each body type and includes categories of physical features that I have not seen receive a distinction in other guides.

And, Fitness magazine contributes these helpful guidelines specific to bikinis.

As for my own endeavor, I will now share the details of my maiden voyage. Before leaving for any store, I settled on a strategy:

1. I have zero money available, so I cannot buy anything today. You may ask, "Then why bother shopping at all?" But by not pressuring myself into thinking, I have to find the perfect suit today I can relax and enjoy the shopping experience more fully. And what's more, if I do find something I like, I can mull it over for at least a day to be sure I want to purchase it.This will safeguard me from an impulse buy.
2. $40 was my target price. I did not want to spend more than that.
3. I am primiarly looking for a tankini.

There was a specific swimsuit store in the mall that I wanted to check first. I figured if swimsuits are the only thing they sell, they ought to have a good selection available. However, it took me about 2 minutes after walking in to realize that all of the suits in the store were outside of my price range. Many of them were two piece suits with one piece alone costing $60. Granted, they were name brand suits, but names mean little to me. I moved on.

At the 2nd store, I found 2 possible options and tried them both on. I learned - bandeau tops, even when disguised as a halter top, do nothing for me. C'est la vie!

See them dimples? Not for me.

More of what I'm looking for.

Secondarily, I became comfortable with the idea of wearing regular bottoms. For the last couple of years, I have worn swim skirts in an effort to minimize my thick bottom half. I tried on a regular bottom today and was not horrified. In fact, I thought, "Yeah, I could rock this." However, after doing a 360, I decided that if I was to get a more traditional bottom, I want full coverage. No one needs to see half of my buttocks (as cute they are). :) Can't find the class in that.


I didn't even bother with the swim skirts at that store as they were longer in length than I like. So, I felt that they would end up looking matronly on me, as if I was trying to hide something, which I'm not.

I tried one more store and was disappointed in the selection. All of the bikinis were too itty bitty for me, and the tankinis were mostly in blacks and greys. While I would prefer dark bottoms, I want a fun print for the top, and this store just didn't offer that. So, that is where my search ended today, but I went home, feeling accomplished and a little wiser. Overall, it was a positive experience. I will continue my search and keep you updated as I go. Good luck with your own!! I hope the websites I provided help you in your quest.

Entrenched

One of my favorite fashion features of spring is the ever classic, always "in" trench coat. Trench coats have been couture for decades. One memorable trench coat toting individual is Humphrey Bogart as displayed in the movie, Casablanca. Boy, did he wear it with style! After watching his performance, how could you not want one? They give off such an air of adventure and a certain savoirfaire (that's know-how in plain English). I'm in! (And at this time, a big shout out goes to Mom, who is a big Humphrey fan). :)





In recent years, trench coats have fanned out from their singular and most familiar khaki color and double breast. Now, trench coats come in all sorts of colors, prints, and styles! And, with the emphasis on bright colors this spring, don't be shocked to to see one in an outstanding hue.

Length has also been updated as you can readily find shorter styles, which make me happy as I benefit from a style that hits right at my hip as opposed to mid-thigh or lower.





As spring started rolling in, I began to hunt for a trench coat that I really liked as I did not yet own a spring jacket suitable for wearing out. Finding one that fit into my budget was of primary concern. Secondarily, I was focused on the style, color, and fit - naturally. It was difficult to find an inexpensive one, and understandably so. I acknowledge that when it comes to fashion, something as timeless as a trench coat is worth spending a bit more money on than you may otherwise simply because you will likely get years upon years of usage out of it. However, one needs an extra $50+ in order to spend it, which is not a luxury I have had recently.

(If you're interested, you can click here to read a recently written article entitled, Is A Timeless Burberry Trench Coat Worth Your Full Tax Return (And Then Some)? that makes a great case for why spending nearly $1000 on a trench coat can be considered a wise investment. But if you're budget conscious. as I am, here is another article that highlights coats costing under $50).

I have also learned that if you're not 100% sold on something in store, it is likely not worth putting out the money for the item. So despite my grand desire, I turned away from not a few jackets before I found two I liked enough to try on. I was in Marshall's and happened upon a categorical trench coat with the type of modern appeal I was searching for - color: black; length: at my hip. Added noteworthy features - single breasted with a tiered design below the waist. It was cute and a little different. I called in my sister for a second opinion on this one - hence the fitting room photo.

My second option was the one I settled on, that my sister liked best, and which similarly appealed to me more for a few different reasons: Color - grey, suitable for just about any ensemble. Style: Single breast, mandarin style collar, cape sleeves. Length: stops at the hip. For all of these reasons, I liked this jacket more. The cape sleeves were a big hit with me as they were different, a little bit of a fashion risk so to speak as they are a bit out of the norm. Also, the mandarin collar is not something one may expect to find on a spring jacket - another plus. Oh, and let me not forget about the price tag: $19.99. SOLD!


So my search for a trench coat didn't land me a traditional one, but I am more than happy with my purchase. I continue to oogle at the pictures of various trenches that have been invading my magazines. Below are a few more designs that have tickled my fancy.

Ruffle Detail	Kimono Style	Military Style (with scarf) :)

One of my absolute favorite looks is this simple, safari-like look as worn by my beloved and beautiful sister, Erica. Looking debonair and ready for whatever life throws her way. I would dare say she could rival Humphrey! :)

Tricks of the Trade

Time for a true confession -

So about two months ago, I was turned on to an app called MyFitnessPal. It allows you to set a daily caloric intake goal, log the foods that you eat and their caloric values, and track your exercise and fitness activities. At first, it was love at first touch (to my iphone screen, that is). I was hooked. I faithfully logged everything I ate and every exercise session I completed. However, after about 3 weeks, my propensity for logging turned into slight obsession. I found myself thinking too much about what I was eating, when I was eating next, and how my numbers would be effected with my next Zumba session. Seeing mental patterns emerging that could very well lead me down the road I once traveled, I deleted the app.

Now, that is not to say that any and every fitness application or tool will invariably lead one down a path of eating disorders and OCD behaviors. Rather, they can prove quite helpful. Many thrive off that type of accountability. I, however, with my past ever lurking, only benefited so much. And, for the most part, I already make good choices daily; I don't need an app to encourage me to do so or keep me on the straight and narrow, so to speak.

This whole episode got me thinking about the "tricks of the trade" that I carry with me on a daily basis to accomplish my fitness and healthy living goals. I think they're pretty good, so I wanted to share them.

Plan ahead & be prepared.
No matter what I am doing, but especially when it comes to my work day, I always plan ahead and bring food with me. I think about what I would like to eat that day and load up my lunch sack with that and more. I generally have uneaten food in my bag when I arrive home at the end of the day, but I would rather have options and more than what I can consume then be left with nothing. Doing this keeps me from reaching for less healthy, yet readily accessible food options, such as fast food or highly processed items you often find in a convenient store. I enjoy having control over what I put into my body, and I am the one who packs the food so I never have anything I don't like. It takes a little bit of extra thought and work the night before/morning of, but that little bit goes a long way.

Size control = portion control.
For the longest time, I have utilized this methodology when it comes to food. Everyone knows that the printed serving sizes on food items often leave one wanting. Comedian, Brian Regan, tends to agree. Check this out! 





Nevertheless, when the saturated fat content or caloric value is high in relation to a single serving, one would be wise to heed the suggestion. The way I combat this is by using small containers for potentially hazardous food items. For ice cream, I use a small bowl. I can fill it up and make it appear as if I'm having a whole dish's worth, which I am. But, my waistline is much happier that my small bowl is only about 1 cup as opposed to a cereal bowl which can hold between 2-2.5 cups. Same thing for dinner. If it's really late, and I don't want to overeat, I use a 7 inch plate as opposed to a 9 or 11 inch one. My plate looks full, but I'm not consuming as much. Such a simple trick that works wonders.

Along these lines, I have discovered a product to help anyone trying to get their portions & nutritional balance right. Developed by Slimware, these plates are designed beautifully with a hidden portion control device. The design pictured here is the Jubilee design, and the large flower is for vegetables, the 2nd largest flower is for protein, and the smallest one is for starchy carbs. Using this, all of the measuring and head scratching disappears. Portion control couldn't be easier.

Drink lots of water.
Water is important for hydration and makes up almost 3/4's of our body's weight. It keeps your system running efficiently. I know there are some great vitamin infused waters, etc., but you can't beat good ol' H20. So try to steer away from water with additives. Take a multi-vitamin daily and then add a dash of lemon, lime, or even a cucumber slice to your water throughout the day. It will jazz up the otherwise monotonous beverage naturally and effectively.

Also, keep in mind that what may feel like hunger is actually your body telling you that you are dehydrated. If you feel hungry when you know you probably shouldn't, drink a glass of water, wait 20 minutes, and re-visit the idea of a snack. If the hunger pangs persisted, you probably could use one, but if they vanished you know what your body actually needed. So have another glass!


Exercise.
DUH! But everyone thinks to incorporate exercise into their life, they have to be willing to commit to hour long sessions at the gym 5 days a week. WRONG! In this case, less is more. Even if you log only 20 minutes 3-4x per week, you will do your body good. Any exercise is good exercise, and it can take on various forms: walking, running, bicycling, rollerblading, kick boxing, dancing, vacuuming, stair climbing, stretching, yoga, and the list goes on and on. It doesn't so much matter what you do, just so long as you DO something.

And for people who feel really time crunched, do two 10 minutes sessions at different points during your day. It will give you an energy boost and get the job done without breaking your time bank. Lots of trainers include shortened sessions as a bonus to their DVD's. Upload them to your smart phone, write them down, or run a quick search online. They're out there! Do a little hunting, or make up your own! Again, anything is better than nothing.

Eat frequently.
I eat with great frequency, but in small portions. On average, I eat something every 3-4 hours. It keeps my metabolism buzzing, prevents/rectifies mid-afternoon slumps, and keeps my energy up. Not to mention, it's delicious! I try to vary the types of foods I eat throughout the day (fruits, veggies, carbs), and incorporate healthy fats and proteins at key intervals when my energy would otherwise like to peter out. It can get tricky at night. If I eat very late, no dessert for me! But if not, I'll leave room for a special treat an hour or so afterward. I try not to eat anything within 2.5-3 hours of bedtime. You don't need calories just sitting there overnight and aligning themselves ever so nicely to your hips. No, thank you!

Everything in moderation.

Just the other day, a friend of mine could not have stated it better, "It's not about what you eat, but how much." So true! I like so many different kinds of foods. My favorites tend to fall in the sweet and salty departments, so believe me, I take time to enjoy French fries. But! I try not to overdo it. It's about portion control, yes, but it's also about taking a holistic perspective. If you happen to have a heavily fried or high fat item one day, don't sweat it too much. Just make sure you leave that out of your diet over the next day or so. If you have a piece of birthday cake at a friend's party (or your own for that matter), don't freak out! Savor it, and opt for fruit as dessert tomorrow. One "bad" food item will not knock your whole diet off track. So feel free to indulge once in a while. Food is there for nutrition and enjoyment, not for creating guilt and anxiety. Let yourself eat everything, just do so in moderation.

I hope you found these tips helpful. Like I said, I live by them, and I feel pretty good about my overall health and fitness. Adopting one or even a few could be just the thing you need to get yourself on track. Now, I am not a doctor or a licensed nutritionist, so don't take these suggestions as gold. But they work for me. Perhaps they will work for you too!

Eye Liner 411

One of my most beloved features are my eyes. They're big, brown, and beautiful. Hence, when I wear makeup, I always make sure to accentuate them.

When I was in college, I participated in a girl's only event where a graduate from a local "beauty institute" gave us the 411 on how to apply makeup well. Oftentimes, less is more. Our educator confessed that before learning a few simple techniques, she would go overboard with her makeup application, and rather than emphasize and accentuate her already beautiful features, she wound up looking like Mi Mi from the Drew Carey Show.

I learned two techniques that night that I have carried with me over the years:

1. Applying eyeliner to your waterline. 
2. "Layering" eye shadow.

Applying eyeliner to your lower waterline (that is, the small space behind your eyelashes on your lower lid) is great for large eyes as it minimizes their size. Whereas, if you apply eyeliner to your upper lash line, it gives the appearance of larger eyes.




So, I never wear eyeliner on my upper lid. Furthermore, I do not use liquid eyeliner; it is impossible. I attempted it a few times only to end up with incredibly terrifying looking eyes as the liner would get all over my actual eyeball. *shudder* I prefer pencil.

Oftentimes, people line their top and bottom lids; it looks great! It gives your eyes a dramatic effect and makes them a focal point of your overall look, which can be embellished or simplified depending on the thickness of the lines and/or colors of liner used.

Kim Kardashian

Here is simple table with 4 different techniques on how to line your eye for various effects - helpful & self explanatory:

Now because I apply my eyeliner to my lower waterline, I have some difficulty getting it to stay put. I did some digging and discovered not only an effective way to enhance the definition and improve its staying power, but also add a playful dimension to it.

I found these tips on an Indian Makeup & Beauty Blog. The process goes like this:

1. Dry your waterline, using a Q-tip. By relieving the area of existing moisture, it allows the makeup you will subsequently apply set up better, thereby creating a more sure foundation.
2. Apply your preferred eyeliner directly to the waterline.
3. Using a slanted brush, apply eye shadow of the same color atop the eyeliner. As moisture accumulates throughout the day, it will make contact primarily with the powder of the eyeshadow, not your eyeliner, allowing it to remain intact all day. Also, it brightens and further intensifies the liner and its effects.
4. To add a fun dimension to your look, you could use an eyeshadow that compliments or mimics the color of your eyeshadow. The possibilities here are endless. Just have fun!

Give it a try! I really like this technique because it is so versatile.

As an aside, I have recently discovered grey eyeshadow. It is a great color in that it can blend with just about every other color and adds extra pizazz without looking overdone.

I hope these insights have helped you. I extend a special thanks to Shuggra, the writer of the Indian Makeup & Beauty blog, for all of her tips, demonstration photos, and step-by-step instructions. I'll definitely be checking back there for more helpful hints.