Skin Deep

My make-up frequently takes over my favorite room of the whole house. I love my bathroom, it was built just for me. I got almost everything I wanted except for the heart-shaped tub, the husband won on that one.....something about red heart-shaped tubs not being practical.





Anyway every so many moons I have to completely reorganize my area, which seeps into his area. As I was cleaning my bathroom and filling the medicine cabinet with all my bottles of magic creams I realized I had quite a bit of make-up. I counted 11 tubes of mascara and that doesn't include the one in my purse or my car.





I have to say when it comes to make-up I want to try it all. Well I've come up with some tips on all the many products I have tried. Tip #1, if you find that perfect lipstick or a favorite eyeliner, buy a bunch because it may be gone before you were ready to let it go. I recently had this happen with not one but two lotions. The beauty rush line at VS had a scent called Slice of Heaven, well it's gone and I'm mad as hell. So recently I switched to Lemon Sugar and I bought 7 bottles, so at least I'm covered for awhile.





I'm still on the hunt for the perfect mascara, I wish for once they would have an ad without false eyelashes. It all comes down to the brushes...I like the color of CG exact eyelights in blue but much prefer the brush of Revlon's Beyond Natural defining mascara. I also buy L'Oreal telescopic mascara to separate lashes and remove clumps. The Organic Wear mascara is the worst it rubs off and basically runs down your face if you get near moisture, so beware! The packaging is cute but the results are definitely not.





Tip #2, I read magazines and rip out pictures of make-up looks that I like and try it out at home. This is another reason to escape to my bathroom, lock the door, turn on ipod and play with my make-up. I also tear out make-up ads because I never remember what I'm looking for once I've reached the store.





Okay back to make-up favs....I love MAC pressed powder, so far nothing has come close to comparison. But be careful paired with MAC foundation it can seem to look a little too heavy. I use other foundations instead. I have yet to find the perfect foundation since it's hard to match skin tone when it changes by season. I remember using a foundation once that I loved but I didn't keep the bottle or write down name and now I'm in a constant search again. I do know it was oil based which is probably not great for the skin but it looked great on.





Chanel blush lasts forever so it's worth the higher price, a little bit goes a long way. The Chanel eye gel seems to help with puffing eyes, apply at night and come morning ...Voila! I have used every eyeliner because this is the area I choose to highlight. I have tried the jane mineral gel eyeliner that comes with the slant brush, when that didn't work out I tried the same kind but by Maybelline. It is not a good buy... the gel doesn't stay smooth after opening and the slant brush hardens even after rinsing. It's good for one time use only unless someone can give me a tip on this product. I have used liquid liner which I do like but sometimes I see people wear it and it looks harsh, they need to smudge it and soften it up a bit. So really I like the pencils best, the ones that have to be sharpened not the twist up kind.





Tip # 3, always use what works best for you. In the eyeshadow department I have found Revlon's metallic, it's cream based instead of powder, only drawback the eyeliner gets on it easy, so apply and then blink a couple of times and touch up. The color sticks for eyes never show the color saturated enough and you end up pressing to hard on your eyelids. Powder eyeshadow still works but it's all about blending and of course the brushes. Tip #4, buy brushes and sponges, don't just use what comes with eyeshadow.





On to my favorite make-up purchase....lipstick. I love red lips unfortunately if I wear red lipstick I look like a clown. I stick with light lipstick or glosses. I'm currently using Revlon's nude attitude and I overlap Revlon ColorStay Mineral lipglaze. Tip #5, mix your colors. I have yet to find the perfect shade or sheen unless I mix it up. Think of artists, do you think they use the color that comes straight from the tube?....I'm thinking no, so why would I.....my face is my canvas. A lip liner is not always a must either, don't mess with it if you are not going to touch up your lipstick throughout the day. It looks weird when you can see the liner, it's not meant to be seen just to highlight the area.... so make sure your colors match up. If you're not into lipstick then use chap stick or one of my favorites... Lipsmakers....I'm using Starburst but I love Dr. Pepper. Burt's Bees carries a fun line of chap stick that is colored, another alternative to lipstick phobics.





As with everything it all comes down to what works best for you, don't be afraid to experiment. Make-up is an inexpensive and temporary way of changing your look. If it doesn't work out just rinse it off and try again........I won't even get started on cleansers and lotions.

P.S. My itunes kept shutting down so I blogged this all in silence.

Project Lost & Found

I have come to a point in my life of self-evaluation and re-invention. This blog is helping me take those thoughts that rattle around in my head and turn them into reality. I started thinking that I would like to find key players from my past or some that may have been. This is where Project Lost & Found begins. I will try to find four people.

1. Jessica Zipperman (Bff of childhood in LA)

This is the same girl that introduced me to heavy metal but when New Kids on the Block arrived on the scene she jumped ship and all her Ozzy posters & her Cinderella (group not Disney character) pillow were ditched for the likes of Joey. We lived in the same apartment complex and our moms were best friends as well. Her family came from Canada and her dad Gary was always gone on tour with Rod Stewart. Her mom loved SOAPS and salt n' vinegar chips. Our cats were married in a formal ceremony that we arranged. Jessica and I used to get into hair pulling fights and we shared one of my most cherished Christmas memories screaming in joy over the coveted Cabbage patch Kid doll. My doll had red hair and was named Margo, I still have her!

1. Mike Pappas (1st boyfriend in grade school)

I met Mike in 3rd grade or at least close to this time. We found we liked each other through playing the game ZAP! I had his name on my hand and my name was on his hand. So I guess that made us an item. He wasn't able to attend my birthday party so his parents took us out to eat at a Mexican restaurant, again the details are fuzzy but I think this is close. I moved away and that was the end of that. I want to find this guy to see the difference in the memory of men and women. My girlfriends all remember the little details of names of guys from their past and when I ask my husband he has no clue. It strikes me as funny that I could potentially find this person and he will have no clue to who am I or what I am talking about.

1. Laurie Kuusisto (Big Sister program)

One of the most influential people of my life, there are not enough posts to demonstrate the power of this relationship. We did so much together, I even lived in her home. I was a junior bridesmaid in her sister's wedding...still till this day the best wedding I ever went to. I moved away, story of my life, and lost the connection.

1. ??? Kanable ( half-sister)

This one may be the trickiest. I need to find out her first name. It may seem weird that I don't know but it's not. I was raised by a single mom and did not have contact with my dad. I met him for the first time at the age of 12. I saw him a handful of times but decided I didn't like his crude behavior and never attempted to keep the connection, nor did he. The story that I heard was that he remarried and had a child and like the first time around he ended up divorced and the mom and daughter moved to Florida. Same scenario with us except to California. I am now curious since I have no other siblings.

After find them I will post the reunion stories or the non-reunion and what methods worked for finding them or if it was not possible at all. Wish me luck!

P.S. I am listening to Peter Frampton Comes Alive will writing this blog.

Oprah Made Me Do It!

I have this amazing aunt who guest hosts on HSN and every time she goes on to demonstrate a new product I like to watch, it makes me feel like I'm getting to see her. The only problem is that I should never be allowed to watch any home shopping channels or infomercials ever. I get totally sucked into what they are selling. I think I NEED that product and how did I ever get along without it. Why I think I would need any scrap booking products when I have never scrap booked a day in my life, I do not know. Well that's not entirely true, tried it one time and gave up. Too time consuming and I was thinking I would rather pay someone to do it for me.

So I stay away from these channels but I still hit Walgreen's for their "As seen on TV products". Do I own a snuggie? I have one for every member of my family. Do I use them? Not so much, I prefer my thick blankets or heavy quilts. I am often times disappointed in the product but I keep coming back for more. Sometimes there are those products that do work well, like the bra clasp.....love them, have them in every color!

Tthis brings me to the Queen of talk shows, Oprah Winfrey...Do people even say here last name anymore? I put Oprah back on the Tivo when she announced this was her last year of daytime talk. I'm thinking these episodes are going to be good.... they have also been playing "the best of" episodes. One day Oprah is talking about how 3 out of 5 women in America are watching porn.....follow me here, I know it's a big jump from the clapper to porn but it all connects. Anyway she has porn star Jenna Jameson on to talk about how she revolutionized the way women were paid and taking charge in the porn industry. So I'm all for women empowerment so I was loving this episode. The talk was pretty candid and I learned that Jenna is huge in this industry and that her video The Masseuse is considered one of the biggest sellers of all time . This movie is supposed to be considered the #1 movie for women to watch. Well infomercial addict that I am I know I must see this movie.

This is where the adventure begins, minds out of the gutter, this is not a play by play of my bedroom encounters. I tell my husband that I must see this movie, as you guessed he had no problem with that. I enlist the help of my girlfriends and at a girl's night I explain that I need to go to Sirilla's( I think this is the name, used to be Priscilla's, lawsuit so name change). This is why I love my friends, strength in numbers and in we go. If you're looking for customer service this is not the place, the girl at the counter said they didn't have it but she barely listened to the question. There is not an alphabetical system in place so we just started reading titles...Too funny. If you ever need a laugh, this store is the place. We find a whole Jenna section and BINGO, we find it!

The research begins, I tell my husband I have the video. He was like "you paid $29.95 for that?" "Hello, I needed to see this video, it's for women!" I have now seen the movie and really I don't know what the hell they were talking about. The movie has a storyline and prolongs the intimate moments but the in between moments are creepy. The guy is a virgin but he has no problem asking The Masseuse for little sexual favors. When he gets her to his place he has a whole weird bondage supply shed and puts some hanger in her mouth. Can I say "So NOT Sexy", I did and I will. Basically porn is for men and all I have to say for this little escapade it that "Oprah Made Me DO it!"

Hope As A Habit

It's a Sunday evening and I'm reflecting on the week getting ready for the Monday. I feel the keyboard calling to me to document an experience that affects me now as it did to so many others twenty years ago. The ipod is playing on my pink portable player, Elton John & This Train Don't Stop There Anymore, the mood is set and the words flow through me to the screen.

An evening celebrating the life & legacy of Ryan White with a special performance by Elton John. I was fortunate enough to be invited by a member of Ryan's family and get a closer look at how one little boy changed a nation. The story of Ryan White is displayed in an inspirational exhibit called The Power of Children: Making a Difference at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. There was an ABC TV movie special and in the late eighties up until 1990 Ryan White was a household name. He changed the face of AIDS , and from fear and ignorance there became knowledge and acceptance. But as I have learned people tend to forget and there is this generational gap of those who have never heard of Ryan White. This is why the 20th anniversary marking his passing is so important. His story is retold and he is remembered and he continues to inspire.

The evening started out as cocktails at the Children's museum with Jeanne (Ryan's Mom) there with support from her family, friends (Phil Donahue included, he hosted a special Ryan White Talks to Kids About AIDS in 1988) and community supporters. Having a member of his family near my ear I was able to have special people that were in Ryan's life pointed out. The nurses and doctor that held the press conferences during his treatment were all gathered . The man who helped Ryan get back into school after a legal battle and the best friend that he met because of those who fought and granted his wish to live like a normal child. All these people gathered together again after twenty years. Jeanne thanked all those people who helped make a difference in her family's life while photographer's and news media documented her walk down memory lane.

This entourage then traveled to Clowes Hall. The Ryan White monologue was performed by actor Fred Zanto who performs for The Children's Museum at The Power of Children gallery. Phil Donahue explained his special connection while presenting video clips and introducing actress Judith Light (she portrayed Ryan's mom in the ABC movie), she then presented video messages from Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch. Judith also spoke of her connection with the family and introduced Jeanne White-Ginder.

Jeanne walks on the stage hand in hand with her daughter Andrea and the room applauds, it doesn't die down but increases into a full standing ovation. The words she speaks touches the soul of every mother when she speaks about a mother's greatest pain. The loss of a child. She is moved to tears when she explains that time never heals the hurt of that loss but that you simply learn to survive the next day. She proceeds to tell the story of Ryan's last week of life and the angel she felt Ryan bestowed upon her. That angel was Elton John. When Ryan was asked to name a celebrity that he would like to meet the answer had been Elton John. I don't think anyone would have realized how intertwined their lives would have become. Ryan admired Elton's ability to be different without fear of what others thought. So that last week of Ryan's life in the hospital Elton was there as well. He became the buffer to all the media calls, the secretary to organizing Jeanne's schedule, the room decorator to uplift Ryan's spirit, and the friend that delivers a 5 gallon bucket of Jeanne's favorite Sunburst ice cream. Jeannie introduces her angel....Elton John.

While Jeanne's words were heartfelt and tearful, Elton's were passionate and informative. He reveals that his deeds were not without reward. The family changed his heart, he realized that he complained about trivial things and was a spoiled celebrity being and that Ryan in his near death state never uttered a word of complaint. The family was able to forgive even those people who were so filled with hate that they shot at their home in order to exile the White family from the community. The White family fought for their rights and won . The family was kind and had a christian attitude he just couldn't comprehend. He explained that he would have wanted to bestow revenge and the fact that the family did not confounded him. He goes on further saying that the family of Ryan White not only changed his life but saved it. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Ryan White's death but it also marks the 20th anniversary of Elton John's sobriety. The speech was incredibly personal and he laid out his feelings for the whole crowd to feel as well as inform of all the foundations that are now in existence all because of one little boy. The Elton John AIDS Foundation(EJAF) is one of the leading nonprofit HIV/AIDS organizations and has raised $220 million to support HIV/AIDS prevention and service programs in 55 countries around the globe. He goes on to explain the significance of songs and how when he plays them it takes him back to the that time and some songs he just is unable to play, until tonight.

This night is about remembrance and he begins, in his words "the boring part of evening". The audience laughs because we all know that the songs are highly anticipated. The night in filled with ballads that envelop Clowes Memorial Hall, even the security is enchanted and turn a blind eye to the flashing cameras that are not allowed. The music pulses throughout your body and the thought of ever having to settle for radio versions is unthinkable, this is how Elton John should be heard. He plays one last song and declares that he never leaves crowd with a ballad but on a high note. The whole room is up on their feet and dancing and singing..la lalalala la lalalala...........

The evening is wrapped up in a nice dessert reception filled with a less sombre mood and more socializing. This gives Jeanne a chance to catch up with people and they are all vying for her attention and photo opportunities. The night dies down and the photographer is finally able to wrangle the many members of Ryan White's family. I am able to thank Jeanne for the ticket that gained my entrance into this unforgettable evening and I thank her now for the courage that she faced to keep hope as a habit.

Volunteer Hero

If you ever want to feel like a rock star, then all you have to do it volunteer. It's astonishing the response you get out of elementary kids when you walk into the building. They are all clamouring for you attention and trying to rush up and and give you a hug or get some kind of individualized attention. It's an amazing feeling to realize that you make a difference in some one's life with such a small act of volunteerism. I may have been out of the PTO and elementary scene for awhile but I still try to find ways to give back when I can.

I realize that the reason I volunteer is not only for the benefit of my children but a driven need to make that distinction. I was lucky enough to have a single mother that realized that she wasn't able to focus all her attention on me and knew that I would benefit from a program that the community provided. I was enrolled in the Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America during my childhood in L.A. The Big Sis that I was matched up with helped define the woman I am today.

I will never forget the years of weekend events that we attended together. She made me feel heard....just like in Avatar, she saw me.

So this week I was given another chance to possibly influence another set of youth. The college that I am currently enrolled, set up a service week for the students to participate with the Simon Youth Foundation (sadly I am disappointed in the small percentage of students who give up their free time). So here I am all excited for the bus of elementary students to arrive and I picked my outfit accordingly. I am a fashion student after all, I go for a "teacheresque" look of primary colors and a homemade finger knit necklace. I am okay with the idea of getting messy with the paints and am ready to go......Except for the fact that the bus unloads and it's all high schoolers. Yikes! This is no problem though, I can downshift easily and adjust to this slight change of demographics. They were definitely a harder crowd to please but with a tour of the school, some Q & A, and a heated debate over the Superbowl ( We had a loyal Saints fan in the mix, among many Colts supporters) we were looking good.

So what is the point to all this? You never know in what way you influence another being but if shield yourself from volunteer events you may never get the opportunity. You impact people everyday of your life, good or bad. I have a specific McDonald's I go to just for a drink...My reasoning? Miss Joann in the drive-thru, who calls me sweetie or sugar and tells me to "Have a Beautiful Day". Because of her, I do!

Baseball Time Warp

"Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Take Me Out to the Crowd...." I don't know about you but when I hear certain songs it triggers a mind time warp and I'm right back there in the moment. I remember the sounds, places, people and even in some cases smells. So I thought it would be fun to write down some songs and share some of my memories or thoughts that are evoked by the power of music.

That little baseball ditty takes me back to Dodger stadium and I'm seven years old with my Big Sister(Part of the organization Big Bro/Sis of America). I went quite frequently and had a crush on Steve Sax. He was the cutest to me and even at that age I liked his tush. I still have my autographed baseball and Steve Sax's name is still there even though it has faded over time.

Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N' Roses was my introduction into heavy metal by my best friend Jessica. At the time it was pure torture, it was the music she put on to clean up the apartment and I helped. Eventually it grew on me and now I love a old GNR and crank it up.

Anytime I hear classical music I think of my grandpa(my L.A. cowboy), he used to let me sit on his lap while he drove his Rolls Royce on the freeway. This was pre seat belt laws. I thought it was awesome, now I know this was just plain crazy. He was such an important part of my life and the events of his death became a defining moment that I will further blog about titled Sliding Doors.

The Pretty In Pink soundtrack was the tape that I played in my bright yellow Sony Walkman. I remember walking home from grade school and this boy Raymond following me on his bike. He just wanted to know where I lived. We ended up boyfriend and girlfriend until this new girl Lark appeared on the scene and kissed using her tongue. I still have good memories though because that was the apartment directly across from the park. I used to use the gym stage to dance and watch while Tony Danza would play basketball with the neighborhood boys. I had my favorite banana seat bike and would chase the ice cream man for blocks with money I had shaken from my piggy bank.

Born In the USA by Bruce Springsteen brings back memories of my very first concert and I loved wearing my t-shirt of "The Boss". It was just a picture of his jeans clad rear with a faded red ball cap peeking out.

The album Tuesday Night Club by Sheryl Crow reminds me of John Grisham books. I used to have the CD on repeat while reading, I was introduced to these books by a good friend in high school who took me to see the movie Pelican Brief or maybe it was The Firm. Anyway he had to explain what was going on and I decided to read them because he was so enthused by them. I ended up on a nonstop reading addiction until one day I decided I was done with"law". Next author and now next song.

Madonna brings up many memories in each of her songs but Bedtime Stories was the CD that my bff of high school played in her car. We did everything together and she basically provided all of my high school transportation. The stories that we share could be content for a series of blogs, we were the party planners and always had these outlandish ideas and then a Top Ten list of reasons why they didn't come to fruition. Why we ever thought we could build a sand volleyball court in a couple days, I'll never know.

So in the 90's the movie Reality Bites come out and there is this song by Squeeze called Tempted 1994. My first official serious boyfriend sang this song in his red VW Bug. I had to pry it out of him, he really had self-esteem issues and I was glad when it finally ended. I thought he was so cool, he was 21 and the manager of the movie theater. I remember when I first met him he was wearing these bowling shoes and had a dragon tattoo. In my 16 year old mind I thought he was so daring. Turns out, not so much. I used to tell him J'taime which was french for I love you. He thought it was cute but really it didn't have the meaning that the English form had for me, really I could tell anyone J'taime and it would be no big deal. He took the break up hard, I feel bad about that. I definitely used the 'rip the band-aid' approach on that relationship. On to the next!

Keep Your Hands to Yourself by Georgia Satellites and it's high school heartbreak all over again, but in a good way. I find myself not dwelling on the bad but on the fun memories. This boyfriend proves Karma exists and definitely set me straight for the relationship that was to follow. I had this unbelievable chemistry with my high school heartbreak and I always imagined that if we had gotten any closer that everything around us would have gone up in flames. Put the fire extinguishers away, if was not meant to be. Lesson learned!

Strawberry Wine by Deanna Carter was the song that played constantly on the radio traveling from Bloomington to rush home every weekend into the arms of my first lover. Since then there have been numerous songs that remind me of the relationship that I have with my husband. But that one song takes me back to when it was all new and the pain of being away from him was only extinguished once I was in his arms.

While I was in labor for my third child which entailed a speeded entrance into the emergency room and some music awards on the television. While I was panting and feeling the heat rise from labor, Nelly comes on stage and starts singing Hot in Herre. I found this incident so funny and started laughing because it was getting hot in there and in the song it makes these panting noises. I have no idea why I was watching the awards, the only thing I can say is that I was really great at labor and delivery. If I could bottle it up and sell it, I would make a FORTUNE!

I have a million more stories just like these ones, I could have made an ongoing series. I think it's fun to recall those memories and put them down on paper or in a blog. For me music could tell the story of my life. So I will leave you with my favorite jogging play list and maybe one of these songs will become your memory to recall.

Tree Shuffle

Chemical Calisthenics-Blackalicious

Kiss Off- Violent Femmes

Justify-Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Nike Boots- Wale

A Rush Of Blood To The Head-Coldplay

Tape Song- The Kills

Meds- Placebo

Spaz-N*E*R*D

Beautiful- Eminem

Church- T-Pain

Chop Suey!- System of a Down

When Did This Storm Begin-Shiny Toy Guns

Are You The One?- The Presets

Pushing Me Away-Linkin Park

Tore My Heart-Oona

Streets On Fire-Lupe Fiasco

Michael Jordan- Five For Fighting

I Can't Do It Alone- 3OH!3

Swing Ya Rag-T.I. Feat. Swizz Beatz.

Direction-Interpool

ENJOY!

Got Style?

I just attended this great event this weekend, Simon Fashion NOW. It covered a range of events, runway shows, tips from style expert Bobbie Thomas and vendors in all specialties of fashion. It got me thinking, do people really not know if they have style? The answer is No.I talked to many women who said they just don't know what to wear and they didn't want to spend the money on themselves.

Okay so first things first, you must figure out what looks best on you. This means color and shape. All of these things can be accomplished on a budget. I crown myself the Queen of budget shopping. Everyone should have a style, this can range from fashionista to casual comfort. The key is to know what looks good on you. What kind of body type are you? It's simple and free to figure out.

There are about eight body types.

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  Ideal....this is usually not the case for most, this is where everything is perfectly proportioned.


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  Triangular......traditionally called Pear, this is when you are bottom heavy


• 
  
  Inverted Triangular......this is when you are top heavy, broader shoulders and bust


• 
  
  Rectangular....just like it implies, the shoulders, waist, and hips are the same width


• 
  
  Hourglass...this is when the waist comes in more dramatically, hips are usually 10 inches or more wider than waist.


• 
  
  Diamond...this is when the waist in larger than the shoulders and hips,


• 
  
  Tubular..this is a lot like rectangular except the waist comes in a bit, many models are this shape


• 
  
  Rounded...traditionally called Apple, the shoulders are broad as well as waist and hips, may have smaller legs

After you figure out your body type, you need to wear clothes that compliment the shape instead of trying to hide in the clothes you wear. Clothes can wonderfully accent the body even if it isn't your ideal shape. Another problem women have is wearing the wrong undergarments. It's important to get fitted properly for bras. Undergarments are the support and will make the clothes look even better on your body. Find panties that have no show lines, forget about finding cute designs on undergarments. This is one time where functional is better than aesthetics. If you are thinking about later when you are with your partner and want to impress, remember this one little detail...men prefer women naked!

Another problem is color, everyone just wants to wear what they like. I'm not saying this doesn't always work but try to find colors that will enhance your appearance. A great style tip from Bobbie Thomas....look at the inside of your wrist. Go ahead and do it now, what do you see? Are your veins more blue or green? If they are blue you are a COOL, if they are green then you are a WARM. There are then two phases of the Cool & Warm...whether you need the saturated or more muted tones. You can also find your color season to find your best color fit....all can be done for free on the Internet. Then wear the colors that look best on you and listen to the compliments. People usually will say something when you look good. Take note!

So you dress according to your body type and your skin tone, now you need to accessorize. Adding little touches to an outfit can make it go from blah to WOW. Figure out what works best for you. Do you like jewelry such as pins, necklaces, bracelets or earrings? Or maybe you prefer handbags(this is the time to go for the color you like) or scarves(find best color for skin tone). Shoe lovers know that a shoe can change the whole look of an outfit. Splurge once in awhile or take a peek at clearance sections. One tip I can't stress enough is the wearing of tennis shoes with jeans, unless this is for a function like working out, it is a fashion NO. Jeans are already a casual neutral, wear shoes that will dress it up a bit or get a beach casual look with sandals. Tennis shoes just make you look frumpy and adds weight to your body, don't do it.

Don't forget about resale shops and the Goodwill, these are great places to hunt for fashion bargains. Great style does not have to be expensive. There are also great retailers like TJ Maxx with bargains on designer labels and Target with its continuous cycle of clearance racks. If you are still not sure, take a brutally honest girlfriend with you to the store. Always try on clothes, the sizes are different in every store and every clothing line. If you still need help there are professional stylists located in a city nearby, you deserve to put your best self forward.

I love when someone tells me that that outfit or piece is So ME, or a style reminds them of ME. I have branded myself with a look and that is important to getting noticed or(in some cases) getting the job. Now go out there and brand yourself. I'm always looking forward to comments, so if you have questions....ask away.

Another rule.... every rule can be broken....you must find what style is best for you then answer the question....Got Style? I hope you answer YES!