2014 Fall Fashion

I have been out shopping a lot lately. An inordinate amount. Searching for the perfect shower dress, the best bracelets for my bridesmaids, the warmest hoodie for my son, the best bargain on home storage. I'm not going to lie, my husband hates shopping with me because I have to look at and touch everything. In all of these shopping missions, at malls, boutiques and departments stores alike, I could not help but look at the latest fashion trends. I made a list of my favorites and I thought I'd share it all with you!

Here it is, my favorite 2014 Fall Fashion Trends!

GRUNGE

I love it but I'm apprehensive. The last time I was into grudge fashion my family called me "Cobain" for oh.... the last 20 years. I mean, after all, the stringy hair and ripped clothes can't help but out a target on you. Still, I can't help be a little excited about it's rewind. There's something so intriguing about the challenge of making "unkept" look cool. As long as your going for the more sophisticated approach, I'm all about this comeback. Here are some great looks Forever 21 out together. (www.Forever21.com)

What I love about these grunge inspired looks is the mix of old and new. They represent the movement through flannel, ripped jeans, layering and casual vibe. However, they are modernized by bold, bright colors, femininity through fitted clothing and lace and stepping up the accessories to a more elevated level with layering and a statement piece. Something traditionally you wouldn't have seen, as minimalizing your accessories is part of original fashion concept. These looks screams glamorous attitude! Going Grunge? Let grimy inspire you and glam reign you in. 

SHEER

I noticed a lot of lines carrying sheer pieces. I like it because that means detail and embellishments, solid construction of garments (because sheer fabric is difficult to work with you'd have to do it right) and subltle seduction.  It also inspirses an airy lightness in a season that starts motivating us to bundle up. Here's great piece from BCBGeneration I found at Bloomingdales. (www1.Bloomingdales.com)

I love it, absolutely love it. It screams look at me in an alluring way. It can be done up with high end accessories for an event or paired with red lips for a sassy date night. Particularly, this dress ties in two trends this season in the sheer skirt but also a somewhat gothic vibe. A lace covered bodice gives a feminine innocence to a piece that would otherwise put you blatantly out there. The sheer overlay adds movement and a level of intrigue. It gives you very "now you see it, now you don't" feel. Going Sheer? Tap into your deep emotions and let them guide you into something light and uplifting. 

RED

I'm not sure when red isn't in style but this season it's front and center. Red is a powerful color. It evokes emotion and motivates action. It's a color that signifies leadership and strength as well as passion and sensual energy. Not everyone feels they can wear red, however everyone can and should. It's not a matter of if but a matter of how because everyone deserves to feel the attention of a red. I found a couple of pieces in red that are new this season and tie in other popular fall trends. 

First, let's start with how. What red should you wear? Well, essentially there are two types: warm and cold. Warm reds pull more yellow and cold reds pull more blue. An easy trick that I made up while working in a beauty store was, "what do you you look better in gold or silver?". My skin pops in gold, though I prefer silver, I am a warm tone. Lots of blondes with blue eyes, like my sister, look better in silver so they are cool tones. This is a good go to trick when debating reds. 

 This Michael Kors walker coat takes the popular tie front approach to a side breast zipper jacket in an orange red. This particular shade of red is a warm tone and would be a great match with any traditional fall colors such as rich browns, oranges, yellows and golds. I found this jacket at www.Macys.com on sale for $179. 

 This blue red, called "wine", sweater by Olive & Oak is a cool tone. It exemplifies several other fall trends as it's perfectly layered on top of a light blue denim button down and paired with leopard print flats. All things you will find in fall collections right now. This ensemble was out together and available for purchase on www.

Lulu.com. These pieces vary in price but are very affordable. 

This floral print silk blouse is the perfect example of mixing reds and how to wear red in the work place. Believe it or not, this is something a lot of women struggle with. This larger print, also available at www.LuLu.com, is fun and energetic without being too outrageous or sexy. This is the prime example of wearing red to portray power and motive others. Floral prints and flattering pin skirts are fashion forward in the work place this season. Going red? Don't forget to find the right match with your undertone and have fun with it. Confidence is key! 

KIMONOS

What is there not to enjoy about a kimono? Honestly, it doesn't really do much. Like an accessory, the kimono doesn't offer physical purpose but  it does give you something pretty to look at. Which I think is why I love it so much. They're beautiful, graceful and they make the outfit. Here's a beautiful piece carried by Anthropology. 

This sheer beauty offers a variety of color in an Asian inspired print. I love that this kimono can give a chic look with little effort. Pair it with solids, put your hair up in an "off duty ballerina bun" and throw on some comfortable flats. Voila! A full, trendy look in minutes. I've literally seen this similar look in just about every store and price point. Going kimono? Pick a length, cut and pattern that will flatter your shape, not hide it.

ANKLE BOOTS

For me, this is a hard trend to follow. Being 4'10, I naturally have short legs and stopping my boot at the ankle just cuts my leg in half. However, I love ankle boots because they're cute, comfortable and easy to wear. This season not only are ankle boots in, they're a perfect fit for the grunge and western styles prominent this season. 

As always, I love these Madden Girl by Steve Madden boots and they're available for only $59. (www.SteveMadden.com) Going ankle length? Pair them with pants, roll them up. Throw a dress on and leggings, or not. However you wear them, have fun! 

STATEMENT PIECE NECKLACE

This is one of my all time favorite trends that I will never get sick of. I'm so happy to see oversized bauble necklaces are back on top this fall. Statement piece neckalces are a good way to dress up a plain garment and refresh your look. Think of it as an opportunity to get creative and express yourself without having to invest in a whole new wardrobe. Because I'm such a fan, I found a few examples of how we to be bold this fall. 

You can find this fall color themed gem at Bauble Bar (www.baublebar.com) for $44. I think it's a great piece for this time of year because it plays on the many warm tones organically found in autumn. It also incorporates some cool tones in the blue and rhinestones so anyone can wear it and it can be mix into many themes.

This link and pearl with rhinestone statement piece is a great way to show your classic and edgy sides at the same time. Something about this piece makes me think, "lady in the streets and a freak in the sheets". Find this one at Express under $60. 

Mix it up and get funky with this Betsey Johnson (of course!) necklace that definitely makes a statement! It says, "I love animals and I'm not afraid to be glamorous about it". It combines oversized bauble necklaces and hip animal prints in one. But you have to go to straight to the horses mouth for this one, I could only find it at www.BetseyJohnson.com for $95. 

MESSY HAIR, DONT CARE

This is my favorite new fall trend of all. Maybe all time. It's called, messy. Seriously, spend 2 hours making your tresses look perfectly braided, then mess it up! Or it throw it in a braid before you go to bed and then roll out in the morning. This works perfectly for all your adventurous grunge fashionistas. For girls with long hair everywhere, I beg you to embrace this & let your long haired sisters rock this trend through winter! Here are some fine examples: 

I'm also a fan of the "tinted hair". Emphasizing understated color, for all of us tired of looking at Katy Perry knock offs gone bold. There is a pretty way to have green hair, I swear! 

Finally, the sectioned pony. This is a fancy spin on how I used to play with my hair when I was bored in elementary school and I like it. It's a modern remake of a classic, easy to accomplish and interesting to look at. Here it looks like it's worn for more of a festive night occasion but I feel like you could also rock it for lunch with the ladies or even work. 

So there you have it, my 2014 fall fashion trends favorites. I'm very excited for where this is going and am happily obliging trendsetters. I hope you all have fun going out and discovering some new styles for yourself! And please, let me know what you think about me picks and show me if you try them too! 

OGtoberfest!

Here's a little Throwback Thursday to a "OGtoberfest". It's a super easy, fall themed frugal find meal I did almost exactly 3 years ago. For a family of four, this dinner will only cost around $1.31 per person. Here it is:

Part One: kielbasa and peppers. Store bought, sliced and sautéed in a frying pan. Cost is $1.25. 

Part Two: potatoe pancakes. I just bought them fresh that morning from a local polish bakery. Their cheaper than purchasing frozen or homemade and they taste better. Cost is $2.24. 

Part Three: tossed salad. While not exactly German, I like fresh salad with my meals and this is my go to when there really isn't one that fits my theme. 😉 Cost is $1.25. Normally, you can get a salad in a bag for around $2.50 (so you'd use half) or lately I've been making my own garden salads at the beginning of the week. 

Took about 15 minutes to shop, 20 minutes to prepare. It was around $5.25 cost for the portions I used which equal $1.31 per person. 

Festive, fast, frugal. Just the way I like it! 

Fun Oktoberfest Facts: 

* Then first Oktoberfest was a celebration of a wedding between Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. 

*Oktoberfest is really in September and last for 16-19 days ending on the first Sunday in October. 

*Approximently 6 million people attend Oktoberfest in Germany each year. 

*Although famous for their beer consumption, there are only 6 breweries allowed to serve at the event because they must brew inside the city of Munich and meet the Reinheitsgebot order.

*Each annual event produces 1,000 tons of rubbish. Ew! 

Wedding Hack: RSVP Cards

I have heard from an inordinate amount of hosts that they're increasingly receiving anonymous responses.  I don't know if guests don't understand them, don't think about it or are in too big of a hurry. But, a lot of people get back blank response cards! So for all your wedding planners out there, skip trying to coordinate your cards and guests in a number system. I have a hack. 

First, I thought, well I'll just leave my return address off the respond envelope promting people to write their own. However, I also know some people (hopefully not many) purposely leave their return address off so it will still reach the recipient without the proper postage. As in the , "I'm cheap and tacky and will screw the sadly under untalized USPS out of $.48" mailers. By the way, how sad is that?! 

Then I thought, well then I'll just write their name on the response line. However that leaves a lot of room for error. As in your friend who loves you but always receives your mail and asks, "why can she never spell my name right?". It also allows the recipient to not only respond with or without a guest but also communicate the proper spelling of their names (or new boyfriend)! Not to mention, it's a lot more time. 

So then I thought, well putting the time in to get it right is worth it so I'll label them with names in a sneaky James Bond way! (that way your poor friend doesn't get rubbed the wrong way -- FYI I'm your friend) Flip your stack over, while you're stuffing envelopes write their name small but ledgible on the inside before you fold it over. Bonus points for hiding it in pencil or if you don't want to use two writing instruments (save yourself ANOTHER step) build it into your design! 

I (will call myself out) wrote it very small on the back of my border! 

Voila! You have organized and informative cards and no one will ever know... Until they read this! 😉

Catch Up Chicken Noodle Soup!

Hey guys! I had to take a little hiatus there. So, sorry I've been absent. A lot has been going on in life. On the down side my grandmother recently took a tumble and broke her clavicle and she's needed a lot of family support. On the up side, I've been celebrating a lot lately! My bridal shower, near here babies and decade birthdays to just name a few. 

It's all been time consuming but I used it inspiration for my version of catch up. I have an injured grandma, a sick neighbor, a friend that left me Tupperware full of lunch last month and dinner to make for my husband who's about to travel. What do you do? Well, you make a very large batch of chicken noodle soup! 

Everyone loves a chicken noodle soup, it's easy to make and it's a "go or grow" batch. Which means, you can take it to go as is or add your own vegetables and seasoning to help it grow. It's pretty affordable. And, I think I heard once that it's good for your soul. 😉 

So here is my easy peasy take on it: 

3 - 1 quart chicken broths 

1 rotisserie chicken, de-boned and cut to bite sized pieces 

3-4 stalks of celery, diced 

3-4 carrots, diced

1/2 yellow onion, diced

1 bag of egg noodles (or otherwise to choice) 

Seasoning, I use: salt, pepper, minced garlic, parsley and oregano. 

Directions are super easy: 

Put your broth into a large stock pot on medium covered. Add in onion, carrots and celery. Put on high heat until boil. Bring down to a slow simmer for 15-20 minutes until vegetables are tender. Add in chicken and seasoning to taste, let the flavors blend for another 10 minutes. Add in noodles and cook until they are al dente. Once complete, seperate and package for recipients. If they are going to get their soup to reheat, let it come down to room temperature before storing in refrigerator or freezing. That helps ensure the flavor and longevity of the dish. 

Easy, delicious and enjoyed by everyone. Hope you like it too! 

Losing Ginger

Like many new moms, l pull my hair up daily. A bun, a princess up do, a braid... they're all great ways to keep your hair from your face and your baby's tiny grabby hands. While I was checking my pony in the mirror this weekend I noticed, it's happened. Postpartum hair loss. Everyone warned me but I was in denial. 

Everyday, 85-95% of your hair folicals are actively growing, the remainder are in the resting stage and tend to shed. While you're pregnant the flux in estrogen causes your hair growth to increase leaving your a full luxurious head of hair. After birth, your estrogen level crumbles and the percentage of resting hair increases. This causes postpartum hair loss. For me, I describe it as "my hair line receding". So, I'm getting proactive, doing research and working this out! 

Here are some products to try for postpartum hair loss. Because really there isn't anything you can other than volumizing products and faking a full appearance.

The Front Runner 

I love Paul Mitchell products. I used the moisturizing line this past winter when I was brutally dry from our terrible weather and it simply saved me. What's cool about this line is the lemon and sage will promote volume and the peppermint will tingle and refresh. It contains the vitamin  Panthenol (B5) which will strengthen the hair and smooth split ends. It's also paraben and gluten free, vegan, green and color safe. Great products for dull lifeless hair. www.paulmitchell.com 

The Full Line

John Frieda's name is synonymous with accommodating hair care. His brand crosses from high end to the most affordable. It's highly accessible brand through salons, education and products. This affordable line of volumizing and thickening hair support offers not only shampoo and conditioner but also styling products! They offer a hair spray, moose and blow dry lotion to create the illusion of full, thick and volumized locks. Products anyone can use!  www.johnfrieda.com 

The Loyal Brand 

Who doesn't love a good L'Oreal product? The company, founded in 1909, has been serving it's consumers for all their beauty needs since. They have a comprehensive and extensive thickening line but I'd like to focus on their Everstrong products. It uses an amino acid complex that helps thicken the hair, deeply penetrating the strands to rebuild, reversing damage and create longer lasting healthy hair. My favorite aspect is that it is sulfate and silicon free and uses natural botanicals so it does all it's heavy lifting in a safe and gentle way. Best part? It's retail value is very nice in your wallet. Beneficial for extra dry, damaged and course hair. www.lorealparisusa.com 

The "New Kid" On The Head

Have you met Samy Fat Hair? It hasn't  been around too long but it's making a big "0 calorie" impact! We like their cool name and that they're vegan and sulfate free. Why we love them is this they actually repair and build the proteins back into the hair with a fuller finish. They also promise to leave a soft touch and a shine. Their line also offers a wider range of products: shampoo, conditioner, moose, hairspray, blow dry spray, leave in conditioner, creme, most and root lifter. Perfect line for damage, long and fine textured hair. 

The Organic/Guy

 I love Organix! I was super excited to find this product. Not only is it my favorite affordable line it's also organic and for men! Similar to PM it uses citrus blend extract to replenish the hair strands and a mint blend extract to refresh the scalp. Uniquely to this product it uses complex combination of ingredients, it has a "seductive" sent and it's all organic. It also offers and invigorating wash. The perfect product that's strong enough for the organic but made for a man. www.organixhair.com 

So there you have it friends. My research into combating postpartum hair loss. Go out and try them, buy them and good luck getting your hair back! I'll let you know what I find in my experimental phase!  

Black Bean Salsa

I've seen this recipe 100 times. I've asked my mom for it about a dozen and every time she gives it to me all I can remember is "it's so easy". So, I just kind of made up my own version. This recipe makes plenty to share with your friends. Here we go! 

Ingredients 

2 cans of black beans, drained and rinsed

2 cans of sweet corn, drained

2 red bell peppers, diced 

1 red onion, finely diced 

1 can of green chillies, drained and diced 

1 lime, halved  

1/8 cup if fresh cilantro, finely diced

Directions 

Mix all ingredients except limes. Squeeze over mixture. Stir well. Serve cold or other temperature desired. Best with chips and a Corona! 

Share & enjoy!