I was always intimidated by the thought of “extensions.”   To me, extensions were reserved for the  Hollywood rich and famous type that had their hair professionally brushed and sprayed.  That was until I met a girl at my salon who had these fabulous clip in extensions from Sally’s and I had a whole new world opened up to me.  The extensions were human hair that she had colored to match her hair perfectly and they were about 16 inches long.   She sat there so nonchalantly and popped them in, and in like 3o seconds, she had these beautiful, flowing locks.  Of course, I couldn’t just sit and watch, so I asked her if I could try them on.  And, who knew!  They even worked on me!

I went home and researched some about extensions ,  but “weaves” must still be taboo because there wasn’t much out there.  I ordered a head of hair off Ebay anyway and hoped for the best.  My kids were scared when I pulled them out of the box, but in no time my 4 year old was popping them in her hair, too.  It took few tries to figure out where to place them, but once I did, I loved my new long, sexy ’do.   I wore them the other day around town to Costco, carpool, kids gymnastics class and not one fell out and they never bothered me either.  It was weird.  I expected to be itching and readjusting all day.  So, if you’re letting you hair grow and need instant gratification or just want a change of scenery in the mirror, try some clip in extensions.  Really, they’re fun!

{This is not me, but I love this before and after shot!  From here}

Who’s tried them and what did you think?

I usually have some obsession for the week that turns on my creative juices and leads to great words of fashion wisdom.  But, this week….I’ve got nothin’.  The only thing that this week has taught me is that sometimes oldies really are the goodies.  Maybe this was the God of Fashion’s week to reconfirm a few truths in my life.    Honestly, here are my “random fashion truths for the week”

1.)  Preparation H is a great eye de-puffer and it’s okay to admit it.  If Jennifer Aniston does, it. then it should be good enough for us.  Right?

2.)  Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Blackest Black is still the best.  No contest.

3.)  If you are coloring your hair dark, just do it out of a box.  Really.  So much more convenient and cheaper.  Clairol Perfect 10 Dark Brown forever!

4.)  Double sided Scotch tape works just as well as it’s more expensive counterparts for all those don’t-need-a-wardrobe-malfunction moments.

5.)  Foot Petals.  Foot Petals.  Foot Petals.

What are your beauty and fashion never-goes-out-of-style truths?

Your answer really doesn’t matter with me.  I just ordered mine from Piperlime yesterday…   I guess I should have posted this first.   But, still I’m curious what your thoughts are on this new trend:  a welcome change or a little too “Pretty Woman”ish for you?  Here are some pics of my favorites from www.Piperlime.com.  (The last pair are the ones that I ordered.)

They’ve been seen all over the runway and are splattered in every fashion mag, but how do you think they will work for all of us “normal” people?

Ugh!  Why do I try to fight it?!  The fashion trends that I protest the most are almost always the ones I become deeply commited to,  and  this Fall’s big trend is shaping  up to be no different.

Juicy Couture opened a new store here in Birmingham last week.   I stopped in just to “browse”  and I was doing great until I picked up their Fall 2009 cataloge.   The  looks were great… comfy and fashion forward.  What scared me though was that the looks I loved the most all had the common theme of black, stirrup leggings.   Last fall, I saw these familiar yet tucked away things of my 80’s past and said “No.  Never.  Not again.”  But, alas, I am caving.  Must. Have. Stirrups.  Here are some looks I found that made me do it.  (You’ll do it, too.  Trust me.)  Oh, and check out the denim shorts in pic #1.

(Photos courtesy of MarieClaire.com, KatieHolmes.com, and The Magic Fashion Closet)

So, Ireland was a ball!  The people were great, the food was fresh, and the Irish coast was beautiful.  The fashion, however, was debatable.  I mean is it 1984 again?  Seems like there were two really big fashion statements in Dublin.  I saw a lot of girls in black hose (you know, the kind your grandmother wore), denim shorts, and white Keds.  Really???!!!!  Then one night we were at The Octagon Bar and there was this girl in a lime, neon green, nylon, shorts jumpsuit (think 1980’s roller skating/Jazzerize) with silver stiletto heels.  The Octagon Bar is in The Clarence Hotel, U2’s hotel in Dublin.   Rooms are like $6oo dollars a night.  This was no”cheap” bar.  The funny thing was that the guys she was with looked like they had just walked out of a Brooks Brothers catalogue.  Strange.

I always look with a suspecting eye at the new trends.  I think about how would they look on the average person.  How “wearable” and practical are the trends, etc.  I’m still not sure about the white Keds, but this month in Marie Claire they have a page spread on denim shorts, black tights and most of the girls put them with black booties or boots.  Better.

Usually by the time the new fashion season comes around the trends have “refined” themselves, so here’s hoping these high fashion trends work themselves out by September:

• Open toed, heeled oxfords or boots with knee high socks
• Shoulder pads
• Denim shorts and skirts with tights/hose
• Matte makeup
• Plaid, plaid, and more plaid

What current fashion trends are on your “please-no!” list?

Sunday’s the day!   As my mom would say, “I’m off like a prom dress!” and I couldn’t be more fired up about it!   I board a flight at 5:29 and for nine days, I’m livin’ in The Motherland of Ireland.  I’ve got all my outfits laid out (like I’m in 6th grade) and toiletries packed,  so now all I need is a plane to take me there.  Oh, and thanks to you all, I have these AWESOME shoes to wear (see below)…so European.  Bear with me, they aren’t 100% practical, but 70% is good enough for me.

I’m going to try to post on my blog (Ok, that sounds too official.  I’ve never had my own blog, but registered one to post for this trip.  May be a total bust.)  Any who, if you’re interested, check it out here.  I am going to try and document some Irish fashion for us.  Should be interesting….I asked a woman that I spoke with at the Dublin hotel what she would wear if she were going out to eat or to a oub.  Response: “Just some nice fitting jeans and I nice top.”  I followed up with “What would you wear to church?”  Answer: “Ugh!  You could wear your bathing suit top and shorts to church!”   Exsqueeze me?  If I heard her correctly, there are either some major cultural differences, or she just goes to a really cool church!

While I’m gone, I would love to hear from you all what you want to hear about from me.  Does that make sense?  I could write about the perfect lip balm and be totally interested, but what in my posts do you all want to know?  Send me your thoughts and I will talk to you all when I get back.

Cheers!

We all have our “security blankets”….even as adults.  Sometimes they’re as psychological as a friend of mine who counts the light fixtures in every new place she goes.  Somehow, that makes her feel better.  (Weird, I know. )  When my sister in law was little, she used to have to lean down and touch the ground every few steps.   I guess just to make sure it was still there????   For me, my security is my watch.  My good ol’ classic Timex.  I could have had it for 20 years, or 2 months, you would never know.  That’s why I depend on it so much.

I have no idea how you or I would classify my style.  I guess my “signature look” would be that you never know what my look will be.  Make any sense?  I could be bohemian one day, and English rock n’ roll then next.   It all depends on my mood.  But, the one constant in my fashion experimentation is my watch.  Somehow, that one ever-present piece adds just the right amount of credibility to any outfit.  I can wear the trendiest, craziest thing in my closet and somehow I feel like people will still take me seriously if I have on that tiny little ticker.  Here is the one I have and a few others that will add that sophistication even to your 1980’s neon pink leggings.  (I love steel and gold watches.  They go with everything.)

My watch; Dress Watch with Stainless Steel; $65, Timex

Chronograph Champagne Dial, $135, Fossil

For the high rollers; Link Quartz with Diamonds, $3,250 (crap!), Tag Heuer

T Series Women’s Chronograph, $120, Timex

What’s your choice of timepiece?

Okay, so some of you may not even get the joke in the title. For all of us that remember the 80’s, you know what I’m talking about. White Rain was the premiere hairspray of the 80’s and early 90’s. It cost maybe $2.00 at the drug store and if you added some Wet N Wild pink lip gloss and blue eyeliner you were instantly cool. I still actually love Wet N Wild lip liner number 666 (I once read that Heather Locklear wears it too) , but beyond that my tastes have significantly become more “sophisticated” through the years.

As a self-proclaimed bargain shopper, it’s been hard for me to accept this fact. I never wanted to be that woman that just had to have my (fill in the blank) to feel put together. But, alas, there are just those things that I can’t live without. In no particular order, here are my faves from the beauty department that are worth the green.

Arbonne self-tanner: No streaks. No tanning spray smell. Perfect golden brown.

{Read the rest of this entry…}

Two posts ago I wrote my ode to dresses; the most versitle piece in your wardrobe hands down.  Now, I’ve decided to count all the reasons I  love them s0.

Take this one little baby doll dress….

Forever21, H81 Chiffon Baby Doll Dress, $26.90

1.  Add some cute espedrilles, a host of gold bangles , wtih maybe some feather earrings and go bohemian.

2.  Add a cropped denim jacket and some Haviana flip flop’s and enjoy dinner beachside.

3.  Add a white 3/4 length sleeved cardigan and some nude strappy heels and head to that bridal tea.

As the weather gets colder….

4.  Belt with a thin camel colored leather belt and layer over a long, navy cardigan.  Finish off your day of shopping outfit with some gladiator sandals.

5.  Bring back the denim jacket, the feather earrings, and throw in some slouchy leather boots and say “yee-haw”… in a fashion forward way.

6.  Pull on some navy tights, some leather ankle boots, and a black cardigan for dinner with the girls.

7.  Skinny jeans, the slouchy leather boots, and whatever else fabulous accessory you can find and you are so money!

See I told you so.  Now go buy a dress.

We met last night to talk about our upcoming trip to Ireland, and I walked away totally overwhelmed.  I have done nothing to prepare for the 10 days away and I really mean nothing!   I have to find babysitters, and passports, and hotel rooms.  But, of course, what I’m most concerned about right now is my wardrobe.  Is anyone surprised?

Ireland in July is tricky.  The highs most days are in the upper 60’s and lows in the 50’s, and July is one of the wettest months there.  This really poses a dilemma for footwear.  My first thought was just take the Uggs, but it’s summer and, though not very hot to us, I have a feeling to them it is like living in the tropics.  I think I would look silly in sherling lined boots.  Then there is the rain issue….waterproof  Wellies?  And what about comfort?  No doubt, we will be walking a ton in the city.

I need your help!  Come on, world travelers, I’m counting on you.   What do I take with me?  In my head, I’m seeing a beige/tan pair of small wedged mary jane type shoes, but that are super comfy, too.  Anyone?  Anyone?  Taking suggestions.