People often complain that eating nutritiously, deliciously and on a budget is near impossible. With this economy, everyone is looking to save money but wants to stay healthy as well. I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks from my health-conscious pals about eating well on a dime and thought I’d share them with you… Some might seem disarmingly simple or obvious, but you’d be surprised about how much of a difference they actually make.
- Buy a combination of fresh and frozen fruits and veggies. Only buy what is in season because it is often cheaper and tastes better when buying fresh, and opt for frozen veggies during the winter months that are flash frozen (frozen at their peak of ripeness), thereby maintaining their nutrients and low cost.
-Go veggie. As I’ve discussed in other posts, not only is dining sans meat healthy for your body and mind, it’s also easier on your wallet. Delicious, easy to prepare dried and canned bean as well as whole grains, like brown rice and whole wheat pasta are inexpensive and delicious.
-Drink water. This seems like an obvious one, but those alcoholic drinks, sodas and juices add up to a good chunk of change. Not only will substituting tap water refresh your body, it’s obviously free (duh). Invest in an inexpensive Brita pitcher for safer water.
-Stay away from the processed stuff. Items that are prepared are laden with preservatives, added sugar and salt, and artifical ingredients as well as being pricey.
-Use coupons. If you don’t feel like spending your free time clipping them, sign up for a site like Shortcuts.com, which emails you coupons you would be interested in that you can print out and use at your local supermarket. Simple, thrifty and oh so easy!
-Start a garden. If you don’t exactly have a green thumb, start with growing herbs and progress onto veggies. You’ll eventually save a bundle when cooking.
read comments (0)Doing the Rosa Cha
Posted by admin in Line We Love
I realize it’s somewhat late in the summer to be doing a post on swimwear, but better late than never. This season’s bathing suits have been retro-inspired, glamorous and a bit more modest. One swimwear company that blows the competition out of the water is Brazilian label, Rosa Cha. Not only are designer Alexandre Herchcovitch’s suits sexy and high quality, they are also high fashion in a way never quite seen before. The label manages to embody drama, bright and splashy color and a playful as well as exotic feel, much like Brazil itself and the label’s clientele list, which includes Naomi Campbell and Heidi Klum.
The line was launched in 1990 by Slama, a former history professor and his wife. After taking home a Brazilian Designer of the Year award twelve years later, Slama opened the first Rosa Cha store in NYC in 2008. A year ago, Alexandre Herchcovitch took the reigns from Slama and hasn’t looked back. His newest collection is lovely, a bit old-school, soft and even a bit tame but still with Rosa Cha’s signature bold femininity.
Every summer (AKA party season), I get an influx of short-haired women asking for ways to style their crops for parties or black tie events, instead of just doing it as they normally would. Short hair is sexy, sassy and all the rage right now, yet many people don’t know it can also be versatile. Simply glance at a fashion magazine and see a bevy of bobbed and cropped beauties making the look work on the red carpet for inspiration. Stars like Carey Mulligan with her Mia Farrow-esque look, beautiful and elegant Halle Berry and unpredictable Kelly Osbourne have all explored hairstyling options which make their short ‘dos festive and so can you.
The tried and true idea is to add hair accessories. Sparkly and vintage-inspired pins, combs and barrettes are all adorable but may be best saved for those on the younger side. Try piling 2-3 decorative bobby pins on one side of the head and play around with positioning for a more modern look. Headbands of every size and type are a great option as well. Funky ladies like Kelly Osbourne go for a not so subtle look of oversized bow headbands and bright colors. This is also a fun going out style but is not for the faint of heart. It helps to have a similarly unique hairstyle/color and clothing style to pull it off. For a more mature look, opt for a simple black or solid colored headband. Chunky bands work better on older ladies without bangs. For this sophisticated style, I recommend adding a little volume after the headband for a more fun and fashion forward style.
Another option is to change up your color, part or texture. Have stick straight hair but want to dazzle during a night out? Curl your hair with a curling iron or create some texture with a texturizing spray and a blow dryer. If you’re naturally wavy and want to switch it up, simply section your hair and blow dry then go over it with a flat iron for a smooth finish. For a more long term solution for boring short hair, add some color and shine with a glaze. On crops, I prefer solid but dimensional color rather than highlights. They are too much coupled with the short hair. If all else fails, you can always throw in some extensions!
Totally M.I.A.
Posted by admin in Style Stakeout
I was going to do a Culture Clash post on Sri Lankan singer M.I.A’s newish album… That idea was aborted when I started doing some reading about what the forever feisty lady in question has been up to. It seems there was a controversial New York Times Magazine article that portrayed her as hypocritical, naive and airheaded. After perusing said article, I decided to make this M.I.A. post about her completely singular style instead.
After all, there is a lot to be said about the eclectic pop star’s wardrobe. Much like her music, it is an amalgam of traditional, punk, English, ethnic and pop influences that is always thought provoking and attention grabbing. M.I.A. stomps around in Sri Lankan garb, studs, and hipster ware and yet it always looks effortless and not studied at all. There is an ineffable cool about her and a certain sophisticated playfulness at hand beneath the bright, clashing colors and patterns. Her makeup usually looks flawless, whether she’s rocking avant garde looks or a classic face. Likewise, her hair always looks up to date, hip and comepletely appropriate. She has gone from long, dark waves to short and highlighted, straightened and back again all within a blink of an eye. Yet, it always feels right. Like her predecessor Madonna, M.I.A. is genius at mining the zeitgeist and combining the best of it in a fabulously post-modern way. Who can argue her style (or street cred) after starring in an amazing Marc Jacobs campaign by Juergen Teller or sporting an outrageous sheer, stretchy mini dress while pregnant to a music awards show?
Hair Be Gone
Posted by admin in Other Awesome-ness
I had to tackle the topic of hair removal and waxing next because, well, it’s a sticky scenario (no pun intended) for both men and, particularly, women. Most ladies don’t want a whiskery mouth or chin and more guys are opting to wax or shave their shoulders, chest and back as well as doing a little pruning below, just like the ladies. We’re all a bit hairy, it just depends to what degree and if you decide to do away with your body hair, what type of hair removal process will you use? There is Nair, shaving, waxing, threading, plucking and a myriad of infomercial products and electric razors out there. At a loss still? I’ll walk you through each process a bit below, so you can make the best, informed decision for yourself.
Shaving is perhaps the most inexpensive, least painful and most common option which makes it a good, first step in the war against body hair. Then again, some people want results that last longer and don’t want to have shave their hairy bits everyday. Also, it might not be appropriate for certain body areas, such as your face or arms (if you’re a woman) because it can cause hair to grow back thicker and more noticeable and it’s not exactly a feminine thing to do. Also, your bikini line or eyebrows, since it doesn’t help to leave an already sensitive area subject to rashes, chafing and infection. Shaving is for you if you want quick, cheap results delivered in a user friendly way. Just stick to only your legs if you’re a woman and maybe your bikini line (if you’re careful).
Depillatories, like Nair, are also popular for good reason. They are virtually painless, also somewhat inexpensive, easy to use and immediate. You simply apply the cream, wait a few minutes and wash it away along with the unwanted hair. I recommend using depillatories on your ’stache or chin if you’re a lady and maybe your arms. Stay away from using it on your eyebrows or bikini line because, again, you can get irritated very easily from these products, especially if you have sensitive skin. It just generally might be a good idea to keep chemical laden substances away from those parts. Also make sure you get a formula that doesn’t smell rancid, is for sensitive skin and be sure to test it on a patch of skin first before smothering your body to make sure you won’t have an allergic reaction.
The third choice for hair removal purposes is perhaps my favorite to use on ladies. Threading, the old Middle Eastern art of removing small hairs by sharply rolling a single strand of strong thread over the hair, thereby cutting it, is great. It doesn’t usually leave irritation, is generally less painful than waxing and the results last a while. Try to scout out a threader with affordable rates because doing this a few times a month can get pricey. Also, make sure you go to a well-trained threader. You can do this on any part of your face, but it is probably best left for eyebrows.
Lastly, you can wax, which is another salon favorite. Waxing can be costly and painful, but it lasts a while and can be done at almost any salon. I suggest waxing for your bikini line, lip/chin and eyebrows or chest and back, if you’re a guy. Again, go to a reputable, clean and professional place and be prepared to feel the pain. If you’re body is very sensitive, you might want to apply witch hazel to the area that is getting waxed beforehand or take some Tylenol or Advil to ward off pain.
Then, there is always plucking but, who wants to patiently pluck out each and every hair and deal with all that self-inflicted pain? And you can always do laser hair removal, but only if you want a more pricey option. It’s a personal choice and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Just don’t get into any hair situations (pun intended) and think through your choice beforehand.
Sheena Matheiken, an Indian-American, youngish, Brooklyn type has all the great fashion options in her adopted city of New York. Yet this altruistic young lady opted to forgo these trendy mainstays and wear the same little black dress (albeit, she had 7 identical copies of the dress for each day of the week) for 365 Days (from April of 2009-April 2010) in an effort to call attention to the plight of schoolchildren in her native India and make a host of points about our obsessions with material things, sustainability and creativity/fashion. Sheena accessorized and styled her way into 365 different outfits successfully and documented the whole thing, calling it The Uniform Project and and blogging about it.
Soon, the media caught onto her clever plan and Matheiken received tons of press about her true cause, the Akanksha Foundation , an organization that is revolutionizing Indian education. They provide funding for children’s school uniforms and other educational expenses. Matheiken recalls wearing a daily uniform during her own school days there and how every child would manage to style theirs a bit differently, hence the inspiration for the blog. The dress itself was designed especially for her needs in minds, being a basic, black seasonless piece in cotton, fit for any time of year or occassion. If you’d like to make a donation to the Akanksha Foundation or learn more about this cause (or if you just want to purchase the dress Matheiken wore everyday and get some sartorial inspiration), click here. So far, $103,389, or 287 Indian children, have attended school well-equipped as a result!
We all love designer goods, even if we say we’re not label snobs. There’s something luxurious about an item that’s carefully produced and indulgent or being treated like a V.I.P., even if it’s just for a few fleeting moments. Unfortunately, we don’t all have the means to treat ourselves to decadent things all the time . This is where smart shopping comes in, especially if you have a taste for the finer things in life.
I personally am a big fan of invitation only luxury shopping sites like Gilt and Ideeli. Many of you may have heard of these popular sites but may not have tried them out. Trust me, they are worth the time it takes to fill out the free invite-only registration. Not only will you get discounts on big tickets items like Marc Jacobs bags and Vivienne Westwood heels, they both sell lovely home goods and sometimes even nice, hardcover coffee table books. Gilt, in particular, occasionally offers discounted vacation stays. On Gilt today, are sales including items from Lutz and Patmos, Thread Social, Moschino Cheap & Chic and the lovely Kendra Scott’s jewelry. Upcoming sales will have pieces by Splendid, Tracey Reese, Cynthia Rowley, Dolce and Gabbana and Vera Wang Lavender Label. But act quick because these sales function sort of like live sample sales! Once the allotted number of items is sold in a select category, they’re completely out of it. In other words, if you like it, buy it immediately. There is even a small countdown clock on every section’s page, letting you know when each sale ends to add to the frenzied feel of it all.
Ideeli is also a good option, but showcases lesser known and not as high-priced, but still good, products. Both are definitely worth a look and occasionally carry men’s as well as children’s clothing and accessories.
I will post an invite from my Twitter for membership to Gilt. Follow this link to be invited to Ideeli and let the shopping begin!
By now, you’ve probably seen or heard about the transportation trend that’s been sweeping urban areas the world over for the past few years. That trend would, of course, be young hipsters biking their way through busy metropolitan areas on sleeker versions of old school bicycles. I fully support the biking phenomenon. Not only is it fashionable to be cruising the city streets (witness the photo spread below, taken from a Teen Vogue story on stylish cycling) on a pastel two wheeler, it’s also a cheap way of getting around that doesn’t rely on traffic conditions, subway crowding, etc. Additionally, it’s a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, get some sun and exercise, and maybe, well, pick up some guys… Apparently, chicks on cool bikes are a turn on for men, as seen by the numerous popular blogs devoted to, you guessed it, pretty girls on bikes.
So, where to go to snag your own groovy bicycle? No fear, I’ve got you covered. After doing some research, I’ve scouted out the coolest, most bang for your buck bike purchases out there. Bicycle shorts not included.
The first option is to go truly vintage when it comes to your wheels. Have an old bike lurking in your family member’s garage? Bust it out and restore it yourself, or take it to a specialist to be updated. You’ll instantly win cool points for your authenticity.
There are also numerous web sites catering towards those who love banana seat, older style bicycles but want a new, non-clunky and updated ride along with their style. Find it here. Just don’t be surprised to shell out more money, though I tried to pick out a more inexpensive site to recommend. This option can be pricey.
Lastly, head to Target for an affordable option. They actually have a pretty decent bike section and cute, old-fashioned styles occasionally. If you can’t find these in store, go to their site. Recently, the Liberty of London collaboration with them produced a really great, floral, vintage-looking bicycle that sold out in days online and in store (pictured here).
When Big is Better
Posted by admin in ♥ ♥ ♥ Makeup
Having big features is not always considered a good thing, especially not when it comes to body parts… But there is one facial feature where bigger is indeed better. I’m talking about having huge, expressive, doe eyes. Not only will having larger peepers (or the allusion of it) make you seem more attractive, younger and rested, it’s also just a plain cute look. If you’ve ever seen a picture of Twiggy, you’ll realize that much of her appeal had to do wit her huge, adorable and blue eyes framed by spidery, black lashes.
Not all of us have been blessed with big eyes, however, so below, I’ve compiled some tips and tricks to make your eyes large and in charge. I work with a lot of makeup artists in my salon and on shoots, so I’ve managed to pick up these helpful hints for applying women’s eye makeup. Here we go…
- Put a shimmery light colored eye shadow on either side of the bridge of your nose as well as on your lids (apply lightly here). White or light colors in general, make the allusion of more space between your eyes and bigger eyes overall. Just don’t go crazy with the white eye shadow.
- Try a peach toned liner on the inner rims of your lower lid instead of black or brown. Then, apply a black/brown/gray liner a little underneath the rim and the peach liner.
-Apply a darker shadow in the crease of your eyelids. If your eyes are close-set, try just putting the shadow on the outer part of your crease. If your eyes are far apart, do the opposite and apply shadow on the inner part of your crease.
-Don’t forget the mascara!!! This is key to creating a lush, sexy eye. I like black and glossy mascara for night and a more opaque and natural shade for day. Curl your lashes and apply a few coats of mascara (just make sure it doesn’t look goopy). Two brands that are great are DiorShow mascara and, for the more budget conscious, any Maybelline kind (can’t mess with the tried and true).
If you like fashion, photography, art and culture in general, you need to take a look at Lula magazine. A beautiful tome about fashion and all of the above, it’s a high brow concept that completely delivers, with a little bit of fairy dust sprinkled on top (Lula strongly emphasizes girlish, feminine pixie-esque style). They also style their models in vintage, as well as designer pieces, and sometimes use real people to model. Additionally ,the interviews are always great and feature someone compelling… So, now, I leave you with some images from the mag (and some good eye candy). Enjoy!
