Categories
Travel

Stay-cation – playdates, possible sleepovers and some sweet treats!

It’s Monday – the first day of school vacation here in Boston.

What to do…..what to do?  Whether it’s a playdate for your kids, a trip to Boston (not today though with all the marathoners!) or a surprise sweet treat, there is something to do that is close by and affordable. So, we are spending our week as a Stay-cation.

A vacation that is spent at one’s home enjoying all that home and one’s home environment has to offer is a Stay-cation. We will advenutre to some other towns so here is what we have planned. What is own your list for school vacation with your kids? 

Playdates and a possible sleepover – always a fun time for the girls to get together with friends.  A sleepover has been requested however the last (and I said only time) that we had 8 girls sleep over there was no sleeping – of course you would know that if you have a 8-10 year old girl! In the future we will limit it to one or two girls!

A trip to Treat Cupcake Bar in Needham, MA – I think this might be for me and not the girls. You choose a cupcake, a frosting and topping treats. YUM!

A visit to red box one night and “pan” popcorn (and a dash of parmasean cheese).

Rollerskating – can you say retro?  We usually head to Roller Kingdom in Tyngsboro

A day trip to Boston – swan boats, north end pizza and maybe Mike’s pastry!

For a fun water filled adventure, In Danvers there is the area’s indoor water park called Coco Keyes which the kids feel like they are on vacation far away.  Althought the last trip up there during winter break a few years ago was PACKED – so word of warning…

Enjoy your week!

Categories
Clothes fashions

A Passion For Fashion: Susan Kanoff, Fashion Coach

I sat down with Susan Kanoff, fashion coach and founder of A Great New Look. Don’t we all need a fashion coach at some point in our lives?  With a passion for fashion and a natural flair for style, Susan has the innate ability to create fabulous outfits for women of all shapes and sizes. Working with Susan will help you to look and feel great, inside and out. Whether you’re updating a wardrobe, revamping a closet, or shopping for new clothes, Susan will teach you how to put stylish outfits together to suit your body type and lifestyle. You will always get honest and objective guidance without pressure to conform to fashion trends.

Here’s a quick Q&A on her background and advice to other women owned businesses.

Q: When did you first come up with your business idea?

A:  My background is in social work but I’ve always loved helping my friends and  family with their clothes. My business was born about 4 years ago when a close friend who is a life coach, persuaded me to follow my passion for fashion & style by launching a business as a “fashion coach”.  My first thought was “who will hire  a social worker as a wardrobe stylist”? But when you follow your passion good things happen, and within a year I had a robust clientele and was styling for television and print.

Q: What does the future hold for your business?

A:  In addition to working with private clients and running style workshops, I’ve started to do more makeovers. I recently launched Project Makeover,  a team  of service professionals who are dedicated to providing head to toe makeovers to  deserving women. I get a great sense of satisfaction when I’m giving back to the community and helping to improve women’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

Q: Any advice for other mom/women owned businesses?  

A: Don’t spread yourself thin.  It’s easy to get pulled in too many directions—networking meetings, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc.  Pick and choose what works best for you and don’t try to overdo it.

Categories
Uncategorized

Momma Jam

I had the pleasure of being a guest on the weekly radio show MommaJam.  We chatted about some of our favorite products that we received from The Getting Gorgeous event in NYC last Saturday.  It was a blast – we cannot stop talking about it!

MommaJam Interview

Categories
fashions Travel

Getting Gorgeous

Wow….that is how I would describe the Getting Gorgeous event in New York this past weekend. Getting Gorgeous Events brings bloggers together with some great companies.  The fashion and beauty event was at the Metropolitan Pavillion on Sat. April 2 and it was a blast.   These events were created by two fabulous, smart and talented women: Vera Sweeney and Audrey McClelland.  

We connected with representatives from Tide, Hanes, Flipout Sandals, Degree, Goody Hair, LifetimeMoms and many more.  We also met some great bloggers including ladies from:  Frugalfamilyfunblog A mom knows best and Mabels Labels 

There is so much to talk about like…..

Those wonderfully dreamy cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake  in DC. Yes I had two – the red velvet and deep chocolate and I am still thinking about them – luckily they deliver.  

Any product from Belli Skin Care smelled amazing. I would use these lotions even if I wasn’t pregnant.  I liked their hand sanitizer the best. These products are great for expecting moms, new moms and baby skin care.  

I LOVE the concept behind Flip Out Sandals Flip flops with interchangeable shoe jewels. They also sell jelly sandals as well.  It brings a little bling to your summer flip flops.  We all know how much I love my flip flops!   

BJ’s Wholesale Club has a spread of dips including guacamole, hummus and salsa. ALL were yummy.

In our fantastic gift bag we received some great products from Hanes, Degree, Tide to go and these pretty earrings from Studio Jewel.   

A talented make-up artist created a smoky eye for me. Leora Edut did a great job. My travel companion, mommajam  thank goodness knew her way around and we had a blast not to mention some laughs along the way!   It was just a great time meeting other bloggers, talking to some great product companies and enjoying some great treats!

 

 

Categories
fashions Travel

Getting Gorgeous

Wow….that is how I would describe the Getting Gorgeous event in New York this past weekend. Getting Gorgeous Events brings bloggers together with some great companies.  The fashion and beauty event was at the Metropolitan Pavillion on Sat. April 2 and it was a blast.   These events were created by two fabulous, smart and talented women: Vera Sweeney and Audrey McClelland.  

We connected with representatives from Tide, Hanes, Flipout Sandals, Degree, Goody Hair, LifetimeMoms and many more.  We also met some great bloggers including ladies from:  Frugalfamilyfunblog A mom knows best and Mabels Labels 

There is so much to talk about like…..

Those wonderfully dreamy cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake  in DC. Yes I had two – the red velvet and deep chocolate and I am still thinking about them – luckily they deliver.  

Any product from Belli Skin Care smelled amazing. I would use these lotions even if I wasn’t pregnant.  I liked their hand sanitizer the best. These products are great for expecting moms, new moms and baby skin care.  

I LOVE the concept behind Flip Out Sandals Flip flops with interchangeable shoe jewels. They also sell jelly sandals as well.  It brings a little bling to your summer flip flops.  We all know how much I love my flip flops!   

BJ’s Wholesale Club has a spread of dips including guacamole, hummus and salsa. ALL were yummy.

In our fantastic gift bag we received some great products from Hanes, Degree, Tide to go and these pretty earrings from Studio Jewel.   

A talented make-up artist created a smoky eye for me. Leora Edut did a great job. My travel companion, mommajam  thank goodness knew her way around and we had a blast not to mention some laughs along the way!   It was just a great time meeting other bloggers, talking to some great product companies and enjoying some great treats!

 

 

Categories
fashions Travel

Getting Gorgeous

Wow….that is how I would describe the Getting Gorgeous event in New York this past weekend. Getting Gorgeous Events brings bloggers together with some great companies.  The fashion and beauty event was at the Metropolitan Pavillion on Sat. April 2 and it was a blast.   These events were created by two fabulous, smart and talented women: Vera Sweeney and Audrey McClelland.  

We connected with representatives from Tide, Hanes, Flipout Sandals, Degree, Goody Hair, LifetimeMoms and many more.  We also met some great bloggers including ladies from:  Frugalfamilyfunblog A mom knows best and Mabels Labels 

There is so much to talk about like…..

Those wonderfully dreamy cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake  in DC. Yes I had two – the red velvet and deep chocolate and I am still thinking about them – luckily they deliver.  

Any product from Belli Skin Care smelled amazing. I would use these lotions even if I wasn’t pregnant.  I liked their hand sanitizer the best. These products are great for expecting moms, new moms and baby skin care.  

I LOVE the concept behind Flip Out Sandals Flip flops with interchangeable shoe jewels. They also sell jelly sandals as well.  It brings a little bling to your summer flip flops.  We all know how much I love my flip flops!   

BJ’s Wholesale Club has a spread of dips including guacamole, hummus and salsa. ALL were yummy.

In our fantastic gift bag we received some great products from Hanes, Degree, Tide to go and these pretty earrings from Studio Jewel.   

A talented make-up artist created a smoky eye for me. Leora Edut did a great job. My travel companion, mommajam  thank goodness knew her way around and we had a blast not to mention some laughs along the way!   It was just a great time meeting other bloggers, talking to some great product companies and enjoying some great treats!

 

 

Categories
Clothes fashions

Spring/Winter Clothes

No it’s no April fools’ joke  – that is my front lawn covered with snow. At least it wasn’t a blizzard.  Our schools had a two hour delay and while we had the winter coats close by my hubby put away the winter boots and did not want to dig them out!  Just the other day I was wearing flip flops and now I am back in my Uggs and North Face parker.  Ugg….

I was so looking forward to wearing bright clothes and open toe shoes but have not fully transitioned my closet yet from winter to spring/summer clothes. I spent three hours a few weekends ago going through my kids closet and then went out to buy shorts and T’s and then it snowed again. There were back and forth between short and long sleeved T’s and heavy sweatshirts that they were so confused. What do you wear this time of year?

Here are some of my favorite transitional clothes for this time of year in New England.

Black Leggings – hey you can wear them with flip flops or boots

Long sleeved black shirt – add a bright T shirt over it and if you really need to a long sweater and a scarf. Take off layers if the temp rises!

A T-shirt dress – I have this great black short sleeved one that I can wear a heavy sweater over it. It is linen though…..but add some tights and boots and a sweater and you really can’t tell.

I still have my black tights out and have not even attempted to wear a skirt without leggings or tights…..yet

Can you tell I like the color black?

Categories
jewelry

Spring Cleaning – Jewelry Storage

You know I love my jewelry but keeping it organized can be a real pain. To hang or not to hang?  To put in a tray or not?  Here are some neat solutions to solve that jewelry storage problem.

 The container store has some great storage solutions like the Green EVA Jewelry Store.  It is made of dense foam to help protect the jewelry and can be stored in a drawer. This is great for watches, earrings and rings.  The Green EVA Modular Drawer Organizers are so inexpensive you can buy a whole bunch and customize it as you wish as they are stackable.

 I do have the Pottery Barn Teen wire storage trays but instead of using them for jewelry I use them for my bath products!

I like this tray from Bed Bath & Beyond as it keeps sterling from tarnishing.  The trays have a dark brown faux leather exterior, a tan faux suede interior, and a lining treated with what the web site calls – Eliminox –  which keeps sterling tarnish resistant for up to 30 years with normal use.

If you have a ton of earrings try this folding earring rack from get organized

For those with tweens the Bling Hangit jewelry hanger is cute and you can store earrings and necklaces.   

Here’s to spring cleaning with our jewelry!

Categories
makeup Products

The New “it” Color: Honeysuckle

I am a bit behind on my trends.  Pantone named Honeysuckle the Color of the Year for 2011.  Just now it’s everywhere – in makeup, in clothes, in home decor. 

It’s a pinky orange or as the Pantone web site says, “Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting” They are even offering a Pantone visa card so you can purchase all those lovely Honeysuckle items. 

You know we love any pink!  If you don’t want to go full blown with a dress or shirt try a scarf or makeup like the following:

My favorite line of nail polish is OPI and of course they had to have the latest trendy color. This fun pink color is called Party in my Cabana.

We love Bloom cosmetics and their lip color called Honeysuckle is just great.

Kate Spade has a cute scarf with white and pink that will perk up anyone’s pasty skin this season. 

There are just a few items. 

This great blog called the plastic diaries did a fantastic blog post on this color and it was just so comprehensive and chock full of fun stuff so check it out!

Categories
makeup Products

The New “it” Color: Honeysuckle

I am a bit behind on my trends.  Pantone named Honeysuckle the Color of the Year for 2011.  Just now it’s everywhere – in makeup, in clothes, in home decor. 

It’s a pinky orange or as the Pantone web site says, “Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting” They are even offering a Pantone visa card so you can purchase all those lovely Honeysuckle items. 

You know we love any pink!  If you don’t want to go full blown with a dress or shirt try a scarf or makeup like the following:

My favorite line of nail polish is OPI and of course they had to have the latest trendy color. This fun pink color is called Party in my Cabana.

We love Bloom cosmetics and their lip color called Honeysuckle is just great.

Kate Spade has a cute scarf with white and pink that will perk up anyone’s pasty skin this season. 

There are just a few items. 

This great blog called the plastic diaries did a fantastic blog post on this color and it was just so comprehensive and chock full of fun stuff so check it out!