Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Ahead of The Curve

I'm a woman. Not necessarily a "girly-girl," but a woman who likes to look sharp. That's why I have own an accessories boutique. A little sparkle to dress up my casual fare. I adore make up (I even call Sephora my "Happy Place"). I see cosmetics as a means of enhancing what I've already got. But I've been seeing a lot in the media lately about who's who's "blooming" as a pregnant woman, what kind of bathing suits are right or wrong, who wore it best on the red carpet, what the "next big thing" is in weight loss, who has (or needs) facial surgery.

As I see these advertisements, I almost buy into it. I see some over-Photoshopped celeb on line and find myself thinking, crap- I think I need Botox! Or, I watch an episode of some guilty pleasure, admiring the stick-like figure of the heroine and think- I'm not losing enough weight/fast enough! And print ads? I LOVE checking out Burberry and Prada and McQueen, but then I see my own arse as I walk past a glass door and totally feel shame.

On the left we have Dior Haute Couture. On the right, SimplyBe for Plus sizes.
Then comes the "a-ha!" moment. What in the world is going on? Why do we compare ourselves to others? Why do we idolize these beautifully perfect (but FAKE) images of other women? I'm not weighing in (no pun intended) on the whole "some women are just born perfect/slim/ample busted" argument. What I think we all need to consider is: Beauty comes in ALL packages, sizes, colors, proportions. Its out imperfections which make us unique.

So the point of today's blog (after an extended absence- apologies), is to let you know YOU CREATE YOUR OWN BEAUTY. I've adopted that phrase. Creation is a powerful tool. As women we have the power to create life, should we choose. But we also have the power to create Beauty within our lives.

My challenge to you is to find something beautiful about yourself- TODAY! Tell yourself you love--- "X". If you don't have someone in your life to encourage you, then count me in. I'm inviting you to find something positive about yourself & totally give yourself praise. Pat yourself on the back. Maybe you made dinner, maybe your rocked the crap out of a pair of jeans. Whatever it is: celebrate that part of your beauty.

Today, I love that I exercised this morning. It was only 16 minutes on the treadmill. But I did it to help with my anxiety. I'm no athlete, but I did it today. And I love that about myself.

A final note of caution: do not doubt you are beautiful. The #1 way for you lose track of your own worth is by comparing yourself to someone else. Whether you compare yourself to a shiny pic in a magazine or to your sister or neighbor: DON'T. Comparison is truly the thief of joy.




Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Casting Off Winter

I don't know about you, but I've endured a long, snowy, never-ending (did I mention long?), winter. We had so much snow and such cold temps, I literally had not seen the ground in my backyard since November. This week the temperature is down right tropical- in the upper 60's! And as the sun warms us up, I find myself looking at my wardrobe wondering what to wear in this in-between-stage.

This blog is a smattering of a few tips to help you make the transition into spring.

Color
If you haven't heard already, Emerald is the Pantone (color) of 2013. I was bored to death of last year's coral, as it is not flattering on all skin tones. But green is a friendly color for everyone. From nail color, to accessories and separates, be bold and know that Emerald is not just for St. Paddy's Day. Be creative. Mix & match. Go for the gold...er, green!

Hair
Tie one on...your head!
You know, I find hair trends to be so all-over the place. According to the runways, we're seeing a TON of braids, buns, parts and more braids. Some sources are saying bangs (or "fringe" for our friends in the UK) are du jour. I say- whether your hair is long or short do it a favor: get a trim and invest in professional color. No need to go lopping it all off (unless you want to). But I see too many women with trendy long hair...which needs a serious snip. Ladies: it grows back! This is the perfect time of year to trim up, sharpen the shape & maybe mix it up when it comes to color. DO remember this: you get what you pay for. Don't expect to look like Heidi Klum or Emma Watson when you hit up the local Dollar Cut Hut. Just sayin'.

Emerald enamel & gold make one affordable statement ring.
Accessories
See above hair, and think accessories! Who would have thought? Turns out one of the big things coming off runways is hair accessories- headbands, feathers, wraps, flowers...its not just for little girls. This is where I shamelessly pitch my own company, House of Josefina. Find pieces which reflect your personality. If you're a little boho chic, go with it. If you tend to be more whimsical or romantic, or nerdy-- follow your instincts. I know as I choose jewelry for my store, I try to keep multiple tastes (and budgets) in mind. Some days, you might want to rock those bright hoop earrings. Other days, you want to grab a delicate necklace that says, "I'm beautiful and feminine." The moral of this story is: accessorize! Its a quick way to make YOUR statement.

Maybe an edgy, studded leather bracelet is more your pace.
So start making the transition into Spring. Shop now. Make yourself unique. And have fun doing it!

As always, I encourage you to hit me up with any questions or comments you might have. You can also find specials and promos on my Facebook page- House of Josefina.