by | May 4, 2011 | Fashion |
This dress was perfect for the cruise. It was comfortable, colorful and carefree. I could ball this dress up and it would not have one wrinkle in it. I bought this dress on sale at Macy’s about a year ago and it has been such a asset to my spring and summer wardrobe.
My hubby took this picture and it’s one of my favorites because I love the surfboard bench. So cool! When I sat down on it, I felt like I was riding on the wave. The brown and blue beadwork around the neckline gives the dress a very ethnic chic. The color of this dress works with any skin tone.
The beads are lightweight so there is no heavy feeling at all. It’s a perfect dress for an 85 degree day. The lightweight shirt was a shirt I have had for a long time and just so happen to match this dress perfectly. I love when that happens.
It was warm, but windy, and my hair was not cooperating, so up it went.
I hear often that the majority of women like wearing black. On the cruise I saw so much color. The colors of the sea and the vibrant patterns of the cruise guests made me smile.
So add some color! If you do not like to experiment with a colorful wardrobe, try a vibrant scarf for starters. See how it will make your outfit pop.
by | Apr 29, 2011 | Fashion |
Fitness and Fashion
This week we are focusing on one of my passions, Fitness! I love to work out and I love the results.
1. Do you keep some kind of fitness routine? Why?
No, I do not keep a work out routine of what I do because keeping different parts of my body active on different days keeps every part toned. I like to have fun and enjoy my workouts so I do a combination of things. I love spicing up my workouts. I exercise four to five times a week and for longer periods of time on the weekends. I recently purchased a Zumba workout package from QVC. It is so much fun. I am also exercising with Stephanie Huckabee, Bollywood, Power90, Kettlenetics and Brazilian Body. I also have the Pilates, Wii, Yoga, HipHop Abs, Belly Dancing, Latin Dancing and the Firm in my fitness library. So I am never bored with my routines. But the hardest thing is deciding what to do for that day. Decisions! Decisions!
2. Has working out, maybe training for a marathon or something of that
nature, helped with your own perception of body image?
Working out makes me feel so good after I am finished. Feeling good about my body had to come from within. When I lost the extra pounds that I wanted to loose, I still felt I had to loose more. The person I saw in the mirror was not the person who lost the weight, but the overweight person from before. Mental change had to take place and that is where the positive affirmations about myself came in. I saw God didn’t make junk, and that I am special. I may have worked all day and feel totally wiped out; but when I put in the DVD, I am energized and ready to go.
3. When you are hitting the gym or just going out for a long walk what
do you wear? Is it about functionality or fashion?
When I am working out, I wear my workout tops and shorts with fabric that is breathable. This breathable fabric is such an asset because if I am sweating a lot during the workout, it removes the sweat from my body. It’s so great when I work out hard.
I love to hike with my husband and I usually wear jeans, T-shirt and tennis shoes. I don’t wear shorts because I don’t know what I may brush up against or if there are biting bugs out. I can’t forget my trusty walking stick.
4. Do you feel there is a cultural perception of what you ‘should’ be
doing for your own physical fitness?
There are so many different exercise regimes that I have to know what works best for me. I have bought a lot my workout videos and equipment from QVC. I like QVC because it has a great return policy. If I didn’t like a workout routine or piece of equipment, I could send it back knowing that I would get my money back – No matter if I used the product or not.
5. Dream big… what would be your ultimate fitness goal.
I want to maintain my current fitness level and muscle tone. I would love to climb more mountains.
J&T in Santa Fe, New Mexico
I have worked hard to loose the extra weight, and thank the Lord, I have checked that off my list. I don’t want to go back to the old me.
Due to some medication I was taking for something medical, I gained weight. In this picture I was about 205 at the peak of the weight gain. Talking about feeling defeated when this weight gain was not due to overeating. Well I got off of the medication and took a hard look at myself and realized I didn’t want to continue to look like this. I talked with my hubby who loves me no matter what I looked like and with his support, I began my weight loss journey. My main exercise was Walk Away The Pounds with Leslie Sansone and THE FIRM and watching what I ate. So within two years I lost about 55-60 pounds. God is good because I couldn’t of lost the weight without Him and my hubby. I have kept off the weight going on 5 plus years now. Hallelujah!!!
To see how other bloggers feel about fitness and fashion please check out Katy Rose at Modlychic.
by | Apr 27, 2011 | Fashion |
Spring 2011 temperatures in Missouri have been very irregular. One day it maybe 70 degrees and the next day is 48 degrees. With these varying temps, one must be prepared. Make sure when you are putting your winter clothes away that you keep a few pieces out because you may have to put on a sweater or wear a coat.
This pink sweater came in handy on a day that was chilly, but not cold enough to wear a coat. If you know me by now, I really love pink or variations of that color. It brightens every complexion and brings a smile to my face.
Layering is a key word because if I got a little warm during the day I could take the sweater off and maybe put it around my neck for a preppy look.
I bought my headwrap in St. Maarten from a lovely French vendor. It actually has thin wire in it so it’s shapeable and machine washable. There were so many great designs to choose from, I could decide; so I had to get two.
The necklace was a gift and it is so versatile and a good go-to necklace to spice up an outfit.
I love my 5 inch mules. I am an amazingly 6 ft tall in them; and they are so comfortable.
My raspberry handbag is a cool find from my recent cruise. I am really enjoying pairing it with so many different outfits. It is an early birthday present from my hubby. This bag is patent leather so all I have to do is wipe with a slightly damp rag to keep clean.
The key with dressing for Spring is to dress in vibrant colors and to layer key pieces. When I dress in layers, my outfit does not look like a winter outfit because of the use of vibrant color.
by | Apr 23, 2011 | Fashion |
I had finished 30 for 30 a while ago but didn’t upload the rest of the pictures because I was getting ready for the cruise. I really wasn’t feeling this 30 for 30 I guess remixing is what I do on a daily basis. Ever since I was a child my Mother would show me how to mix and match to make my wardrobe stretch.
Sorry the pics are a little late but I had to post them and call this project finished. I don’t know if I will do another 30 for 30, I will have to see about that.
Okay tomorrow I will be working on the post for “Cruise of a Lifetime”. My hubby and I setting sail to St. Thomas.
by | Apr 22, 2011 | Fashion |
Loving this Marc Bouwer print maxi dress and it’s so perfect for work. This dress was transformed into work appropriate.
A maxi dress work appropriate? Oh yes very much so and you can do it. It’s all about the mixing and the matching.
I like to be pulled in at the waist and nothing works better than a small width croc-patent black belt. The belt worked so well to pull this outfit together. I have a black camisole underneath the dress because the armhole of the maxi is a little low for work. By adding the camisole I could take the blazer off if I was hot and I would be totally fine. The blazer was a great thrift gift from my mother-in-law (perfect layering piece). The blazer just so happens to pick up the color in the maxi dress. Totally cool!
When I took this picture it was warm; but the temperature dropped quite a bit that night.
The maxi dress is so comfortable but so CHIC and comfortable.
Comfortable is often considered a bad word because it’s considered frumpy, but you can be comfortable and pulled together at the same time.
Remember that it may take a little time finding what works for your body shape but it’s worth it. I have to take clothes and mix and match to see what’s most flattering because it’s about what looks good on me
and not what happens to be a trend at a certain point and time.
So start thinking out of the box and experiment with patterns and prints.
This maxi dress combo is one of my favorite outfits.
Confidence booster
Feeling good starts from within, no matter what you have on you have to feel good about yourself on the inside first to project that confidence.
This blog is linked to:
Seasonal Saturdays at la Bella Vita
by | Apr 19, 2011 | Fashion, Travels |
The formal night at sea was quite elegant. Almost all of the passengers dressed in their formal gowns, tuxedos or blazers and ties. I do not see many people dress up anymore. Jeans and T-shirts are common attire, but tonight it was a much different story and very special thing to see. I enjoyed seeing everyone all dolled up.
After Dinner we ventured out to the Royal Promenade to listen to the ship’s captain welcome everyone. There were over 5,900 passengers and over 2,200 employees. Wow! That’s a lot of people! The Captain stood on elevated platform, looking out to the people on the deck below. He could look down, while the people looked up to him.
A house band, standing behind the Captain, played a variety of tunes after the Captain finished his welcome speech.
This was a fun night and we enjoyed the opening festivities of the evening.
On the Royal Promenade we found a classic roadster car. I stopped for a quick photo-op.
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