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Hey there! I'm Holly. A 40+ year old insurance-nerd wife, mom, beauty lover, and about a million other things in between.
This is the place where I share about our lives, what I'm currently loving, books I'm reading, plus-size style, beauty recommendations, health + fitness endeavors and anything else I'm finding interesting at the moment.
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Category Archives: Real Life Style + Beauty
Two Days of Turquoise
Last weekend was oddly busy.
Obviously there was lots of beer and wine to drink and cheese to eat pre-Whole 30, but also in the span of 48 hours we watched the Olympic Opening Ceremonies while partaking in British Themed Menu, attempted to attend a wedding where the groom rode in on a horse, worked our asses off in the gym – partly, of course, to work off that British Themed Menu (I did so many overhead squats MY ABS ARE SORE. That’s a lot of squats. 50 to be exact!), drank beer at one of our favorite breweries while watching Beach Volleyball right before enjoying basil gimlets at a swanky restaurant, watched an awesome fashion show, listened to DJ Shadow and lamented our aging, danced like crazy people while watching Chromeo perform, cooked a lot of Whole 30 approved food, and helped friends christen their newly remodeled kitchen. Honestly, I’m tired just writing about it, but it was a damn good time.
Friday started with basically all of the brown and yellow food.
Delicious food, but still. Can I get some chives up in here to dress that up or something? I made a Paleo version of this Shepherd’s Pie recipe and served it along side some of Mel’s delicious Paleo Scotch Eggs. AMAZING, all of it, but I totally should have made a salad. What did you think of the Opening Ceremonies? I liked that it was whacky and centered around music, but I know it got panned by a lot of folks.
Saturday I did the following workout and then wanted to die:
Run 800 m
200 double unders
150 sit ups
50 Overhead Squats @ 65lbs
Run 400 m
No pictures of that. Just imagine a giant pile of sweat and spandex. That’s what I looked like. 🙂
I did take pictures of my Saturday night outfit and my Sunday afternoon outfits though…
On the left: Pants: Gap Always Skinny Skimmer (cropped) in Turquoise, Tank: scored at Ross. Some weird brand. Shoes: Merona. (old) Love you Target! Earrings: Target (old)
On the Right: Tank: Old Navy (old) Skirt: Gap Outlet (old) Shoes: Mossimo Target
I guess I was in a turquoise mood this weekend! Not a surprise, it is basically my favorite color. Saturday night we went to an event called Launch that was a giant festival of fashion/music/art. We went out to support Garrett’s friend Nicole who designs pretty amazing clothing with her main squeeze Justin. I figured if there was any night that I could get away with wearing skin tight turquoise pants, it was at a fashion event, right? Check out some of the FREAKING AWESOME looks:
photos courtesy of Shannon Schureman
Creative people make me happy.
After the fashion show DJ Shadow and Chromeo were performing which was just an absolutely fun combo. The people watching during DJ Shadow was ON. POINT. Lots of girls in way-too-short skirts gyrating with men wearing jeans that were just a little too skinny. It was funny. We felt old. But then Chromeo came out and we were back in our element. I do not have a single running mix on my ipod that does not include Chromeo. They are hilarious and great workout music. Highly recommend!
Sunday I went to Costco to get Whole 30 ready. Check out this overflowing grocery cart!
We’re as ready as we’ll ever be, I think.
Then in the afternoon we went to a Kitchen-warming party. Wait, wait…a what??? Friends of ours just remodeled their kitchen so they threw a BBQ to test out the new digs. Lots of good sangria, good people and good food. Also? BOCCE BALL. Which is seriously super fun and totally not a random senior citizen game as I may have previously thought. 🙂
I can’t believe we crammed all of that in to our weekend. But I guess it’s good since we have managed to orchestrate a pretty calm August. I’m planning to sleep a lot, workout a lot, cook a lot, and watch a loooooooooooooooooooooooot of TV. (Guilty Pleasure Goal! What???)
Holy crap, you guys…AUGUST IS TOMORROW. I don’t know where the time goes!
Things I’ve Worn Lately & Where To Find Them
I mentioned shortly after the Summer Survey that many of you wanted to see more style related posts. One of the repetitive requests was “HEY-O where do you buy your clothes?” Ok, maybe I am paraphrasing, but you get the idea. After last year’s 30 Days of Denim, the on-going joke was that all of my clothes basically come from Target or The Gap, and while those are certainly favorites, I have branched out a tiiiiiiiiiiiiny bit. Baby steps, you guys. I’m trying to keep you on your toes! 🙂
I post an outfit of the day on Instagram (@follow_holly) just about every morning on my way to work, but I don’t necessarily share all the details there because it’s 7am and I am usually running late. This is real talk, friends. So I thought it might be helpful to pop in here every once in a while to break down what I’ve been wearing and where it came from for a couple of reasons:
1 – I am not a supermodel (shocker, I know) but in fact a regular gal rocking a size 14/16. I always find it more interesting to hear about where the average person buys their clothes. (Wait, you mean stores at the mall? SWEET!)
2 – I reeeeeeeeeeally enjoy fashion and style related things, but my current clothing budget is pretty small. Just about everything I wear is either SUPER affordable, On Clearance, or (in my opinion) worth paying full price for. That’s my shopping philosophy summed up — especially since I’m still losing weight.
So, with that said — here are a few recent Outfits of the Day (complete with dorky mirror pics!):
Dress: Daisy Fuentes for Kohl’s (bought with $20 of Kohl’s Cash so it was only $12!)
Belt: Target
Earrings: Target
Bracelet: Target
Wedges: Target
Look I said I was branching out a little bit. Not a lot, okay? While I love this cozy dress like red short tight prom dresses for it’s a little bit too short for sitting at work. And I wore it out last night too and paired with a cross-body bag that kept making it static-y and stick to my slip. I will definitely wear it again, but without the purse and probably not to work.
*****
Skirt: DownEast Basics (On Sale now for $25)
Shirt: Banana Republic Outlet
Necklace: Premiere Designs
Shoes: Payless Shoe Source
Speaking of last night, I went to a Blogger Event at DownEast Basics at the Roseville Galleria, and along with being super impressed with all their cute and well fitting stuff, I picked up this skirt which I’m wearing today.
The silhouette is different for me, and the little ruffle on the side is out of my comfort zone. But that’s what’s fun about style, right? Trying new things? I like the colors and the swooshiness (technical term) of this skirt, but also the fact that it is still pretty body conscious, which for me is necessary in a skirt. I’m always attracted to floofy, but it is NOT AT ALL flattering to my mid-section.
*****
Shirt: Lauren Conrad for Kohl’s (I am totally on the Kohl’s Train lately)
Skirt: Ellen Tracy purchased at Costco for $12 — GET ONE. It is the yoga pants of black pencil skirts)
Necklace: Banana Republic Outlet
Shoes: Missoni for Target
I purchased this shirt after watching a marathon of The Hills recently. I am a marketing person’s dream clearly. Lauren Conrad is kind of annoying, but her affordable collection for Kohl’s? REALLY cute. I’m impressed that it was versatile, reasonably priced, and came in a variety of sizes.
*****
Shirt: Gap
Skirt: Denim Pencil from The Gap Outlet last summer
Belt: Target
Flip Flops: Old Navy
Sunglasses: At Target finding perfect pair is very easy
Bag: H&M
I wasn’t kidding when I said I was obsessed with Kelly Green! This striped shirt is super comfy, but now that I’ve washed it a few times it has stretched out and gotten kind of shapeless and yucky. I’m surprised at how baggy it is considering it’s a Large, from the Gap. It’s good for running errands though, and this was TOTALLY a day when I just threw on that Garnier BB Cream with some lip gloss and hit the road!
*****
Shirt: Apt 9 for Kohl’s (curiously unavailable on website, despite being a recent purchase)
Pants: New York & Company (I have to buy them in Long. Grr)
Shoes: Payless Shoe Source
Earrings: Silver Hoops. Let’s be real, probably from Claire’s.
Lately I’m not that into wearing pants to work, but this felt office appropriate, conservative enough, but also still a little fun. Maybe it was the polka dots? I need to get inspired before fall/winter because pants just aren’t doing it for me.
*****
Dress: Gap — currently on clearance — GET ONE!
Belt: Target
Shoes: Target, last summer
Bracelet: Target
It made me happy to pair red and green and not feel like A Christmas Nightmare. I think it was the addition of gold. But of course when you wear Red, Gold + Green you then get Karma Chameleon stuck in your head all day, so just be warned.
*****
Pants: Gap Sexy (ha!) Boyfriend Jeans
Shirt: INC at Macys
Shoes: Target Clearance
Bag: H&M
I love this shirt — it’s striped, obviously I love it! But also because it is flattering while feeling like softest cotton ever. It goes without saying, I think that I love Casual Friday, right?
*****
And that’s what I’ve been wearing, and well — mostly where to get it.
Any glaring omissions?
Real Life Style: A Beginner’s Guide To Wearing A Belt
Today I want to talk about belts for beginners. I am a beginner, so pull up a chair and I will tell you my belt story. You see, I bought a belt at this time last year, and I kid you not it was the first belt I had ever purchased in my adult life. Please do not drop dead of shock at my inability to accessorize. Belts just seemed like such a fuss, so I never really bothered. But also, for a long time I thought I couldn’t wear a belt.
The reason I thought that belts were out of my league is that I don’t really have a waist. Actually I prefer to spin it more positively and say I don’t really have hips. HA! Doesn’t that sound so much better? No matter which way you slice it though, I am straight up and down and basically as square as they come. See?
I mean both “glasses” have their use, of course, so I’m not complaining. But even the curvy magic seams of Lululemon cannot trick you into finding my waist.
But guess what I realized — making a waist where there isn’t one? This is one of the reasons why belts were invented. You can trick the world into believing you have a waist! It’s kind of amazing and today I thought we’d talk about not only that but a few additional reasons I’ve found that belts come in handy.
Disclaimer: If you are already a belting aficionado, you probably know everything I’m about to say, so let me give you a minute and you can put on your surprised face. There it is! Fantastic. Now let’s just pretend I’ve made some grand revelations, mmmmkay?
Alrighty, let’s get this party started.
Belts define a waist where there isn’t one.
Put away your geometry textbooks, I’ve already provided proof above for the hypothesis that I don’t have a waist. But sometimes clothing can make that even MORE apparent. Blousy hippie dresses that are listed as “Multicolored Boho” on your store receipt are going to be the biggest offenders. Something has to convince the world of the waist.
So guess what: Put a belt on it.
Types of Belts That Work Best: Actually this one is the most versatile. You can go with a thick or thin belt as long as you are belting at the narrowest part of your waist. For me, this is right below my chest. It sounds ridiculous, but the proportions work. Don’t be afraid to experiment with high versus low.
Belts can hide a hot outfit mess
So listen, I know Fergie tried to sell us this bill of goods a few years ago about how lady lumps are lovely and all that, but I’m telling you, when it comes to style — lumps and bumps ain’t cuttin’ it. I always look at ladies who walk around with their shirts tucked into their skirts or pants and think “Wow…they look so pulled together.” But usually when I try it, all I can say is “Man, this is just a hot mess!”
So guess what…put a belt on it!
Types of Belts That Work Best: A thick one is my suggestion. And one that has a little bit of stretch so that it moves and flexes with all of your business. Just tuck and zip and then wherever you’ve got an edge that isn’t the smoothest, wrap that belt around it and pretend it never happened. Score! You’ve got a pulled together look.
Belts can add some interest or detail to your outfit
Sometimes you put on an outfit and it’s nice, except it’s just missing something. I find this especially true with dresses. My new solution?
Guess what: Put a belt on it!
Sometimes it’s just fun to add contrast, or sometimes you just need a conversation starter. Why is leopard ALWAYS a conversation starter? (RAWR!!!!)
Types of Belts That Work Best: Thin or thick don’t particularly matter for this item, just make sure they are in an interesting pattern or color. This is where you get to have fun! But out the leopard and the patent leather. Pick up a shiny yellow belt and throw it over your turquoise dress. Take a conservative printed dress and add a saucy red. Most of my dresses are pakistani designer clothes uk. Let your style speak for you!
Still Scared? Let’s Talk Training Wheels
So even if you are gung ho to get belting, it can feel sort of awkward at first. So here are two of my favorite ways to dip your toes into the belt wearing waters without getting too out of your comfort zone:
A Few Things To Keep In Mind:
*You will not always wear the belt in the same place — sometimes it will be higher, sometimes lower — so make sure you get a versatile size. Or if you are made of money, buy many sizes! Get crazy. It will give you more options.
*Buy cheap belts first. Experiment with what’s on sale. Don’t miss out on the Gerry Weber Sale. Shop second hand. Cruise the clearance aisles at Target. Then when you know which types of belts really work for you, you can invest!
*Have fun. Seriously. It’s not that serious, and I don’t know what took me so long. It’s an easy way to add some polish to an outfit or to add a bit of sass where there isn’t any. And we can’t have outfits with no sass, can we?
*****
So tell me:
What are your best belt wearing tips?
Do you think you’ll try to start incorporating some belts into your wardrobe?
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
I was ready for it to go this morning.
Attention Mop: You’re Getting Chopped.
My hairdresser fought me for a minute.
“It’s the longest I’ve ever seen it, I can’t cut it off.”
“What will you do about the wedding?” (HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!)
“Are you suuuuuuuuure you want to go short?”
But then finally she did this.
And I came home looking like this:
And everything just feels right in the world. I feel like myself again. 🙂
Happy Friday and have a great weekend, y’all!
(PS — If you couldn’t tell, I went in with the pic of Option 2.)
Internet, Choose My Haircut…
So on my long list of things that I hate overhearing women say is, “I’m growing my hair out for my wedding and I can’t wait to chop it off when it’s over.”
Other things you can add to that list:
“I want long and lean muscles, not bulky ones.”
“I get along soooo much better with guys.”
“I’m trying to lose 5 lbs.”
and basically any iteration of the phrase “When is he gonna put a ring on it.
But let’s get back to the wedding hair issue: What is with that? I totally get that having long, romantic hair is the image that we are most bombarded with as “future brides” but the idea that you would spend time having a hair style you don’t love (ie: I can’t wait to chop it off when it’s over) because you want to look like this archetypal bride makes me want stand up on my anti-media soap box. (Also: OMG, no. This is not for me.) But don’t worry, that’s not at all where this post is going.
You see, I actually have crazy long hair right now. Like way past my shoulders long, and I’m pretty sure the last time I had hair this long I was writing Pearl Jam lyrics in black sharpie on my high school locker and wondering if Jordan Catalano was going to ask me to the prom. I realized recently that it’s just…not my preferred hair length. It’s fun, I can do a lot of things with it, it goes back nicely in a ponytail, but I just don’t really feel like it fits me. I love long hair on other people, and other people love having hair extensions, so I can’t really explain it, and I’m still undecided which one to try, you know?
So the other day I was doing my hair as I got ready for work and I thought to myself, “Self, you should tame this crazy mane and get it chopped.” And then without skipping a beat, I thought to myself “Oooooh, but will I regret it when we get married?”
AND THEN I DIED OF SHOCK AT THE HYPOCRISY OF MY SUBCONSCIOUS.
And then I made an appointment with my hairdresser. For this Friday, actually. 🙂
I’m definitely going to get it cut shorter because it’s time. The problem is I spent just about the entire decade of the 2000s with an A-line bob, which seems to be the Go-To suggestion whenever I talk about cutting my hair. And while I love love love that cut (and consider it the reason that I love shorter hair to this day) I feel like I’ve been there, done that. I want to branch out.
Here is my FAAAAAAAAANTASY haircut and hair coloring, but do not select that because I don’t even have the courage to do this. (Yet. But I’m working my way there.)
So that leaves us with the following three options:
Option 1 – Round // Choppy // With Some Bangs
Option 2 – Sleek // Short // Bob
Option 3 – Ooooh, Asymmetrical
I realize that no haircut will actually make me have the darling facial structure of any of these lovely ladies, so fret not. With that in mind…WHAT SAY YOU, INTERNET!
Real Life Style: How To Shop Efficiently When You’re Losing Weight
It’s been almost 2 years since I started eating a Paleo diet.
I’ve gone through 7 seasons and 5 major size changes all while working in a business casual professional environment, being in the gym 5 days a week, taking the best weight loss pills, attending weddings, parties and casual nights out with friends. You can probably gather that I have needed to purchase A LOT of clothes in that time.
This sounds fun in theory, but I have to be honest — my days trolling the mall are over — a habit I broke when I was digging myself out of some serious debt about 5 years ago. I love new clothes and I obviously enjoy talking about style, but these days I don’t really find shopping to be a very productive hobby. But when your body changes sizes along with the seasons, you don’t really have a choice.
What this means is, and I need you to ready your gag reflex for the term I’m about to use: when losing weight, an efficiently curated wardrobe is a must. Unless, of course, you are independently wealthy. And if you are, well you can quit reading right here. Go buy yourself some new clothes! GET CRAZY! If you are not, however, here are some tips I’ve used to efficiently keep my wardrobe looking decent:
Find a Seasonal Uniform and Accessorize
Hey — guess what always fits? Shoes, purses and jewelry! It’s why I’m always willing to invest in those areas 🙂 Take advantage of accessories like Ear Piercing Jewellery while your body is changing shape and focus on making sure you always have basics that fit well. Find economical versions of classic silhouettes that look good on your body — jeans (fancy and casual), sweaters, tees, tanks and skirts.
Make sure you have a neutral and a couple of colors. But no need to have 10 versions of each thing. Let your accessories add that certain something to your outfits because they are made for the long haul. I love Target and outlet shopping from my favorite stores to accomplish this: Gap, Banana Republic, Loft. You can cull together an entire wardrobe of basics from these places for a couple hundred bucks.
photo courtesy of gap.com
I wore two pairs of jeans through all of winter. I only have 2 pairs of jeans that fit now. No one notices and no one cares. Especially if they fit well.
photo courtesy of jcrew.com
Buy Versatile Statement Pieces You Can Mix With Your Basics
I used to have 3 or 4 coats in different styles and colors, and one day I will get back to that because I love a kelly green coat! Coats are a fun way to spice up an outfit but this winter I only wanted to buy one because I knew I wouldn’t be able to wear it next year. Instead of buying a black or brown coat because it “goes with everything” I spent a little extra time and found an awesome cream colored pea coat. It was neutral enough that it went with my entire wardrobe, but it was still uncommon enough that I felt stylish every time I wore it.
Now that the weather is getting warmer, buy a maxi dress or a pencil skirt that stands out, but is neutral enough that you can pair it with other things and make multiple looks. Drama + Versatility is your best bet.
photo courtesy of nordstrom.com
Keep A List, Do Some Research & Have Patience
This is the most important advice I can give you — when you are trying to be efficient with your wardrobe, you must always stay aware. Keep track of items you feel like you are missing, because inevitably with a limited wardrobe you will sometimes feel like you don’t have exactly what you want to wear. Jot it down on a 3×5 card and keep it in your purse if you find it pops up over and over when you are getting dressed. (For me, lately, it’s been a black pencil skirt!) Then harness the power of the internet!
Always check your favorite retailers for coupons, wait for sales — and then pounce! I keep a list of items that I want to buy in my purse at all times, and then I keep a list of stores/items on the back that I have seen online and maybe want to try on if it has piqued my interest. This way if I *do* have to go to the mall, I can be efficient — I know what I’m looking for, what I want to try on, and most importantly — WHAT I NEED. Not to say there is never an impulse buy, but it keeps them to a minimum. 🙂
Also, as a side note: These days something has to be REALLY useful and REALLY awesome (read: in danger of selling out) for me to pay full price.
Take The Time To Work On Developing Your Sense of Style
One of the things I have struggled with the most when my body started changing, was that I had NO IDEA what looked good on me anymore. It was the genesis of 30 Days of Denim and that project was a huge help! Take time to experiment. Take pictures of yourself. Participate in style challenges. Try on articles of clothing that scare you (hello, jumpsuits!) Pin outfits for inspiration solely because something in the picture made me happy! And do it without fear…it’s only clothing! No big deal.
Still Splurge On Worthwhile Items
Losing weight doesn’t mean you need to purchase EVERYTHING on deep discount. But you definitely don’t want to be buying a new pair of investment jeans if you aren’t planning to be able to wear them next year. Items NOT to skimp on: bras, sports bras and good foundation garments. Skipping on the foundation is NEVER a good idea in any arena, so get the good stuff!
Keep the spending in check by making the selection small, with neutral colors and versatile styles. Neutral and Versatile will soon become your new favorite adjective. Sure hot pink bras are fun, but when you’re body is changing rapidly, you can get by with a only nude and black. You’re drawer won’t look like a Victoria’s Secret catalog, but your rack will look great while your bank account thanks you.
Also, still make an effort to shop for deals. I am in love with Wacoal bras from Nordstrom, but they are usually $70-90. I work about 5 minutes from a Nordstrom Rack though, so often times I will swing in there on my lunch break and peruse the bra section because you can easily pick one up for $35. STEAL!
Lastly, if I can offer one parting thought to guide you through your journey to stock your wardrobe while losing weight:
Don’t Buy It Unless You LOVE It
And if you remember only one thing, remember that.
*****
Anything I’ve left out?
Real Life Style: Look Foxy In A Bathing Suit – No Starving or Exercise Required
Ah yes, but how does one *begin* bathing suit season??
Y’all, whether you like it or not, bathing suit season is fast approaching. Does this put a little panic in your heart? Let’s stuff that panic back down where it came from!
I have never had The Perfect Figure, and I will admit that bathing suit season definitely takes some mental gymnastics, but I have never let the fear of not looking like a supermodel kill my mojo, for me or a partner, as I like to have fun with romantic partners or dates which are easy to get from a Asian sex dating site online, that’s why buy male sex toys could be a great option for this.
Wanna know how to do it? Good. Because I have a lot to say. 🙂
1. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
Please don’t tell me you look terrible in a bathing suit if you you are buying some crappily cut, $18 number that you picked up at Costco while you were restocking the eggs and lettuce in your fridge. Let’s actually make an effort, shall we?
Step One: Buy yourself an Investment Suit. You deserve it.
This doesn’t mean you have to spend a million dollars (Ok, so I will admit, I *have* found flattering suits at Costco before) but buy yourself a suit that is going to do you a favor —Â because they are available. Slim your waist, call attention to your fabulous rack, make yourself look like you are 6 feet tall. Your bathing suit, just like your clothing, should accentuate the positive. For dive trips, you can find quality woman wetsuit at Buy4Outdoors. Maybe even more so than your actual clothing because there is SO MUCH LESS OF IT.
Look for a bathing suit that is worth wearing, and TREAT YO SELF!
2. Don’t Trade Experiences for Comfort + Always Be Prepared
One of the major obstacles to overcome when buying an Investment Suit is that we would rather just skip wearing a bathing suit altogether than buying a nice one that makes us feel good. But that is a GIANT CONCESSION. A life concession, you all. Over a bathing suit! Don’t trade a great experience that requires a bathing suit to stay home and in your comfort zone, you can also learn how to use kegel weights as an exercise and you will feel the difference in your body in no time.
This is not living! Don’t hand over your power to a skimpy piece of spandex!
But how can we get excited about a bathing suit experience if we don’t even have one — if we just avoid the purchase altogether? I’m not saying that once you buy a nice bathing suit you will want to walk up and down your street in it — that will take a little more time (HA!) — but if you never get yourself one, you are missing out! Buy yourself something pretty and allow yourself to be excited about it more if you’re using it for a date or to meet someone as you can meet for sex online easily if you use the right app.
Speaking of mentally preparing yourself…
3. Focus On What You’ll Be Doing, Not How You Are Feeling About Your Thighs
I’m not gonna lie, this is an act of discipline. But honestly it’s a worthwhile act of discipline to practice. Why are you even getting into this bathing suit anyway? Are you taking a romantic trip with your spouse? Swimming outside with your kids? Are you having a girls weekend on the beach? Are you going waterskiing with a group of friends?
Remember what you are doing, and focus on gratitude for THAT. Somewhere there is someone who would LOVE to be doing what you are doing in that moment. Vacation is a great time to practice communicating better as a couple. Do you really want to waste that precious time and experience fretting over what other people *might* be thinking about your body?
Don’t waste your time! Be in the moment. Allow yourself to enjoy your life.
4. Make A Bit Of An Effort, But In The End Realize That Nobody Cares
If you were going on a hot date with your spouse, you’d pay attention to what you are wearing, right? If you were heading to a job interview, you may take a little extra care with your hair. Well if you are attending an event where you will be required to wear a bathing suit — ROCK THE HELL OUT OF IT. Grab your cute shades, wear some adorable sandals, find a fabulous cover up. Accessorize! My favorite aviator glasses prescription is from Glasses Hut. Pay attention to the details — it will only help how awesome you feel about yourself in the process.
But in the end, remember that most other people are also fretting about what they look like. No one is worried about what YOUR thighs look like, and if they are — well that’s their problem. And you don’t need to spend a moment of your time worried about it. And if the doubt creeps in, focus on what you’re doing, who you are with and then bask in your luckiness!
And if you feel yourself being critical about someone else’s swimsuit attire (hey, this is real life, it happens)– well quit that. But consider it an act of kindness to yourself. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all just rock our cute suits, and enjoy the water with our friends/family/loved ones without fear of judgment? So help make that happen, and don’t be a part of the crappy part of swimsuit season. And then hold your head high in your awesome bathing suit and enjoy yourself but if you you want to keep your husbands attentions, consider taking with this vibrating bullet too.
So friends, those are my best tips. Navigate swimsuit season with some courage! You can do it!
*****
Do any of you have tips to share? Your favorite place to find investment suits? Cute cover up suggestions? Jedi Mind Tricks you use? Spill the beans in the comments!
I Tried It: Airbrush Tanning
The week before our Wedding Weekend Extravaganza I took to getting myself a fancy pants spray tan. My skin is incredibly pale, and while I’m not really against looking fresh-faced and ivory-colored, lately my legs are also covered in bumps and bruises and scrapes from CrossFit. I thought a tan might help me camouflage that, so I looked for tanning lamps for tanned skin.
I am generally a lily white or sunburned kind of gal — there is not a lot of in between for me. In fact I went to Maui for 12 days and hardly came back with a tan line despite many days on the beach. My skin’s natural state just doesn’t really evolve to glowy but now I can use airbrush makeup to hide wrinkles and give a glow to it. For a long-term solution to wrinkles and frown lines, you may consider anti-aging skin fillers.
Maybe you are one of those lucky folks who can just pile on the Jergens Natural Glow for a couple of weeks but I am so pale that even that will turn me orange, if it works at all.
So these were my legs the day I got sprayed (crappy iphone photo in bad lighting. Awesome!) But you get the idea:
Not a tragedy, but I knew (FOR SURE) I needed to involve a professional. Also, I knew I didn’t want to fry myself up in a tanning bed. I’m too old for that, man. Too much time spent in tanning beds in my 20s and all I have to show for that are laugh lines. BOO. So — a spray tan, it was!
There are two main types of spray tans you can get if you go to a salon: A spray booth tan or a custom spray tan. Both have pros and cons, but I chose the custom spray. Here’s why:
1. I’m sorry, but a decade later this experience is burned into my brain. This would totally happen to me! I didn’t want to take that chance.
2. Booth tans require you to walk through a series of timed poses without supervision, and most say it takes a time or two to get it right. While this is nice if you have time to experiment, I didn’t. It takes a certain level of skill that I didn’t want to practice. I just wanted it right the first time. We were heading to our Wedding Festivities Friday, so I scheduled my tan for Thursday evening after work.
3. A custom tan in my area only runs about $10 more + tip. SOLD.
Prior to Tanning
So I was advised there are a few things you need to do to prepare yourself for your tan:
*Make sure your skin is completely exfoliated and shaved. You are basically having someone spray a bunch of dye on you that develops over time (icky, but true!) so if you show up with dry skin, the dye is going to look blotchy. Skin Clinic Bristol can recommend and do treatments to help moisturize dry skin.
*That said, most salons will recommend that you do not moisturize for up to 6 hours prior to your appointment. I don’t get it, but I complied.
*You will want to remove your makeup. Maybe bring some of those makeup remover towelettes in your bag with your change of clothes. (I’ll talk about the clothes to bring in a minute.)
During Your Appointment
*You will arrive for your spray tan and need to decide your comfort level around nudity/tan lines.
*If you decide your comfort level involves wearing undergarments (thong/bra) bring ones that you don’t mind getting dirty. Even though the developing dye they spray is invisible, it is usually mixed with an instant bronzing agent that does have visible color. This will get on your clothes.
*Also if you do wear undergarments, make sure that you are comfortable with the tan lines they are going to leave. You may want to try on your swimsuit over them to make sure you won’t look funky when the tan is done.
My Experience: I’m just gonna throw it out there that I’m pretty comfortable with the idea of getting (mostly) naked in front of strangers. Not like random strangers, but for professional strangers my modesty level is fairly low. Keep in mind this is their job and part of what they do involves seeing naked people. They aren’t analyzing you, no matter how awkward it may seem.
I ended up choosing to just do it in a thong (boy, aren’t we getting all cozy up in here today) which I felt like was a good combination of getting a great tan without any hoo-ha flashing. That worked for me. If you want to keep more clothes on, again these are professionals, so no one is going to make you feel bad about that. It’s about YOUR comfort level. This is a service YOU are paying for, no one makes the rules but you!
*With a custom spray tan you will still be walking through wacky positions in various states of undress (which is hilarious, actually, if you can stop and be objective in the moment) but you will be doing it at the behest of the person controlling the dye gun. For me, this is worth its weight in gold. They won’t spray until you are ready. No chance of you coming out looking like Ross Gellar!
After The Spray
*When you are done, they will probably make you stand in front of a fan for a minute to let everything set. You will be dry but still feel sticky. You now have developer on you, plus the visible bronzing agent so you will feel kind of sticky like you just got home from a day at the beach but with less sand in your crack. (Yeah, I said it.)
*Pack some loose (preferably dark) clothing. The dye is water soluble so things are not going to stain for life, but the clothes you bring will get a bit bronzy. Just in case, don’t pack your super expensive and tight white pants, ok?
*Wait 6-8 hours before showering or sweating. This is tricky because you will look and feel like a slightly sticky Oompa-Loompa when you leave. You will want to shower immediately, but you cannot. Here I am in the Oompa Loompa phase
*Also, and maybe this is just a personal preference, don’t plan to have drinks with the ladies afterward. Or really anything social. You will feel kind of gross, look kind of orange, and brown stuff is going to be rubbing off on your clothes. Maybe have a nice night in! 🙂 Your color will continually develop as the night goes on.
*When you finally can shower (and it will feel GLORIOUS!) don’t exfoliate or use shower gels or lotions with mineral oils or AHAs in them. Both will decrease the length of your tan.
The Cost
So what kind of cashola does this set you back? I’m sure it varies. I spent $75 plus potentially the cost of a new set of sheets.
Here was the breakdown:
$40 for the tan
$8 for the fancy pre-lotion crap (that I probably wouldn’t buy again)
$17 for the post-tan “extender lotion” that really just looks like a fancy pants Jergens Natural Glow (I probably wouldnt’ buy that again either, but now I will have it for the next time, so…)
$10 for tip
Potentially the set of sheets? Well, we have bright white sheets on our bed and I couldn’t shower before sleeping that night. I wasn’t sure how much would rub off on my clothes 5 hours after the spray, but let me assure you: A LOT RUBS OFF. I washed my sheets afterward, and while everything totally came out, they are sort of dingy looking now. I’m sure I could bleach them but they are old sheets and I want a new set, so there. 🙂
The Result
Well, if you compare crappy, poorly lit iphone picture to crappy, poorly lit iphone picture I think you can tell a difference.
Don’t believe me, here’s another couple shots. See? Much darker with the spray tan!
Was it flawless? No, there was one spot on the inside of my hand/wrist that was a little dark, but that is to be expected I think. Can you imagine if I had done a booth tan? I feel like patches of my entire body would look like this! For a week. And that would be awful!
Overall I was very happy with the quality and precision, and I didn’t have to worry about barrier lotion or my fingers and toes or having blotch armpits, or looking like an *actual* Oompa Loompa.
How Long Does It Last?
I exfoliated, scrubbed, shaved and bought the fancy pre-lotion. I also followed all the instructions, waited to shower, didn’t use any mineral oil body wash, and followed up with a post-tan lotion extender. Whew! I’m exhausted thinking about all that maintenance. I would say the tan looked flawless for about 3 days. On day 4 it started to fade in spots. On day 6 it was patchy. By day 8, I was hardly tan. I’m writing this on Day 12 and I still have brown patches on my legs, despite exfoliation and it’s not that attractive. The Tan Aftermath isn’t that pretty.
The Verdict
Despite The Tan Aftermath, I would totally say this is worth it. You don’t have to spend $75. In fact, I could have spent $45-50 for the same quality. Also, most salons sell packages that make the tans considerably less expensive. The girl I saw has a package that is 3 for $100 and I’m honestly considering it.
It’s pricey enough that I won’t do every couple of weeks, but maybe I will treat myself and for $100 go once a month all summer. We’ll see!
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Any other questions that I didn’t answer? Leave ’em in the comments and I’ll respond.
What’s In My…Shower?
How about a little voyeurism to start your Friday off right…eh?
I’ve been spending a lot of time in my shower lately, partly because I’ve been a workout machine and partly because as the weather warms up Bathtub Season sort of comes to its natural end (weep!) so I thought I might show you the goods…uh, the goods that I use in my shower that is.
I personally have never met a medicine cabinet I didn’t want to snoop in, but maybe that’s just me. Don’t you think it’s fun to see Other People’s Products? Do you think that’s what Naughty By Nature was talking about when they recorded Down with OPP? (It’s possible, right?)
This is where the magic happens, folks.
We found glass buy online so we redid our bathroom in 2007 — well actually we added this bathroom, more accurately, and the bathtub and shower combo is just my most favorite place. Well, until you have to squeegee it and clean it and all of that pain in the ass stuff that comes with glass shower doors! But I’ll tell you what, it sure is pretty to look at. 5 years later I’m still in love.
We have a floor to ceiling shower caddy by Simple Human that holds all of our crap-ola, because a girl’s gotta have options, right? It’s one of the best investments ever, and the finite amount of space helps keep me in check. I am naturally the type of person who wants to have 900 bottles of shampoo on the floor of their shower. This caddy forces me to keep the other 899 bottles in my bathroom cabinet and just change them out when the mood strikes, all while keeping everything organized in the meantime. So let’s start at the bottom, shall we?
When it comes to hair washing, the ratio in the shower is 3 to 1 in my favor. Garrett uses a Nioxin Shampoo that he has used forever, and one day he ran out of conditioner and just never bought anymore. That was like a year ago. Apparently this suits him despite my pleas for him to buy conditioner. Boys, I tell ya! They have it easy.
I, on the other hand, use a combination of Redken Products: Body Full Shampoo, Extreme Cat Protein Spray and Extreme Conditioner. If this sounds familiar, you’ve probably read Pinterest Hair Tutorial Celebrity Kate over at It’s The Small Things, because this is her recommended cleansing combo for Ladies Who Like Volume. FINE HAIRED LADIES: this combination is priceless.
Styling Sidebar: She also recommends these post-washing products which I am also prepared to evangelize if necessary:
Kenra 25 Volumizing Hairspray // Aquage Uplifting Foam (WORTH IT!!!)
So, next shelf up: Face Stuff
Well, okay Face Stuff and my nifty helpers that keep my CrossFit calluses from wreaking havoc on my workouts. But let’s not talk about CrossFit Hands, and don’t worry, I won’t bust out any pictures of that! YUCK!
We both use the same face wash, and I expressed my love for it here once already. I still love it, but that doesn’t mean my face is really cooperating so I may switch it up soon because that is what I do with skincare. Garrett still loves it to pieces though, so it will probably stick around in our shower — like the Oil of Olay scrub — WHICH IS HIS. Just saying… 🙂
Next Stop: Good Smelling Yums
This Nivea Body Wash smells exactly like what spring should smell like. A little citrusy, a litte clean — I AM IN LOVE WITH IT, currently. And the Need A Margarita Scrub is not too shabby either. That’s my razor — BOY RAZORS 4 EVA. I’ll never go back to the crappy razors they sell ladies. The never work as good no matter how pink and ergonomic and fancy they are.
Last Stop: Miscellany
The things that end up here are my samples from Birchbox (the shampoo cream is this month’s), bars of soap (Dove – Nectarine and White Ginger!) and Garrett’s Shower Gel. It would also not be surprising to find a cup of coffee up there too in the morning. Garrett has talked me into this terrible habit of taking coffee in the shower. I mean WHO EVEN DOES THAT??? Beverages in the shower are for heathens!
And me now, apparently. Whatever.
So anyway…that’s what we use! Hope you’ve enjoyed this peek into the “Powder Room.” Do we use any of the same stuff? Dish it…
Fashion Emergency
Y’all — I need your help.
Tomorrow I am attending a bridal shower for a lovely lady (Hi Annie!) and I have a million appropriate dresses to wear and was totally looking forward to it. Then, I had that “incident” with the box jumping while on vacation and my left shin still looks like it’s recovering from someone taking a baseball bat to it. Um, but maybe with more scabbing? GROSS.
Very much, Not Cute.
AND NOW I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO WEAR.
So here is where you come in. These are some of the contenders:
Option A:
Blue Dress//Blue Tights//Boots
Sorry for the old, blurry pic. These are desperate times. 🙂
Obviously the tights render the giant gash moot, which is good. But something about this feels too casual? I don’t know, is it? Is it the boots that make it too casual? HALP!
Option B:
Black Dress//Black Tights//Boots
While I like this outfit, I feel like black on black is so dark. I want to be light and airy and fabulous! But also it is the middle of February. And also I have a giant gash on my shin. And also I have the boot concern again.
Option C:
Right Turn!
How about some jeggings? (HA! That word is so obnoxious!) Also, technically denim. So I feel as well like this is too casual. Also, not sure I’m feeling the whole ensemble, but it’s something different than tights and boots. You may also look at some new pieces from your favorite brand like Buffalo Bills womens apparel.
Option D:
Just say screw it and wear a dress with my lily white legs and nasty cut.
It’s been 12 days. It’s healing. I mean, yes it is still a bit black and blue up close (You are spared from that! You’re Welcome!) but hey — maybe the bruise matches with the dress! (THE DRESS THAT I LOVE!)
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So you see? EMERGENCY. What to do?
Weigh in, would ya!
