I saw this AWESOME article on WalletPop.com! 2 major designers give us ladies the best tips on wearing Skinny Jeans!!

Joie Rucker, designer of CJ by Cookie Johnson — the jeans that Oprah wears and recommends — says:

• Keep your shape in mind. Those with pear-shaped figures should look for a traditional skinny jean without too many details or pockets. They should stay away from skinny cargos. Those with boy-shaped figures can get away with more detail, colors and pockets. Skinny cargos may give the appearance of a more shapely silhouette. Boot cuts balance out the hip area, just don’t go getting all Popeye-like with bell bottoms.

• Avoid large back pockets. If you have wide hips or have a bit more booty, large back pockets will appear to increase the size of your back side. (You know, the part where you ask your loved ones whether something makes your behind look fat … ) Ideally, back pockets should be strategically placed and fall no lower than the crease where your thigh and booty meet.

• Avoid a muffin top. Make sure the waist of your denim isn’t too tight. Not only will this be uncomfortable, it will draw attention to the wrong place. (In some circles, this is known as re-positioning belly fat — a situation not unlike the re-positioning of back fat that occurs when you buy a bra that is a size too small.)

• Darker washes are more flattering and slimming. The old rule of thumb about you can never go wrong with black still applies.

• Make sure the inseam isn’t too long. Skinny jeans shouldn’t be baggy at the ankle. Be sure the jean breaks at your ankle and isn’t loose. Helpful hint: Nordstrom’s will hem your jeans for free.

And from Jerome Dahan, founder and creative director of Citizens of Humanity jeans line:

• Consider buying denim leggings. Citizens of Humanity has a a line with 35% stretchability, which means the jeans will hug your body, never lose their shape and always feel comfortable.

• Try on different washes. Dark washes flatter some body types while lighter, more distressed washes flatter others.

• The perfect pair of skinny jeans should hit just below the ankle so it can be work with heels, flats, sandals or tucked into boots without the fabric bunching around the ankle. Aim for a smooth silhouette for an overall lean look.
• Skinny cargos are the current “on-trend” look.

I read this article on Yahoo! and had to share with you! I didn’t know clear nail polish could solve so many problems! So brilliant. Here’s my favorite tips:

Sealing envelopes. In lieu of licking the envelope flaps to seal them (not only can this be ineffective, but does anyone find that taste as gross as I do?) dab on a little polish to keep them glued nice and tight.

Securing buttons. Brush on a dollop of polish in the center of your buttons to keep the threads from coming undone. If you have a sweater or dress with delicate pearly buttons, give the whole thing a coat of polish to keep them luminous.

Avoiding rust stains. You know those rust rings that form on your tub if you leave shaving cream in the shower? Just varnish the underside of the can with a little polish to keep the metal from staining.

Shoelace protector. To stop shoelaces from unraveling and fraying, dip the ends in clear polish.

For the full article, click here!

I just read this awesome article. I hope it’s true because I’m all about a bargain! FYI: If you like the photo above, it’s by an artist by the name of Arturo Elena. He’s so talented! I love his artwork!

Mark Your Calendars: What’s on Sale When

Sales used to be relatively predictable. A popular 1975 book could say with assurance that luggage went on sale in March and the best month to buy a baby carriage was January or August. But these days, with stores pumping out weekly sales circulars and manufacturers introducing new models as fast as they can get them off the assembly line and onto a containership, all bets would seem to be off.

Or are they? We found that it’s still possible to use the calendar to save money on major purchases. Our researchers combed industry surveys and publications, and consulted our in-house experts to compile the calendar. Consider it a general guide, and keep your eye on those sales circulars anyway because there will always be exceptions. Bear in mind, too, that the best time to save money isn’t always the best for selection. In some cases, your bargain might be a discontinued model without all the latest features.

Some other tips that don’t fit neatly into the calendar:

Airline tickets tend to be least expensive to buy on Tuesday afternoon through Thursday. Worst days to fare shop are Saturday and Sunday.
CDs and DVDs generally come out on Tuesdays and might be on sale for the first one to three weeks.
Jewelry sales are common, except around Valentine’s Day and the December holidays. So plan to buy early or hope that your beloved will settle for an IOU.

January
Bedding, CDs and DVDs, computers, cookware, houses and condos, linens, swimwear, toys, treadmills and ellipticals, TVs, winter clothing.

February
Humidifiers, indoor furniture, treadmills and ellipticals, houses and condos.

March
Digital cameras, humidifiers, small consumer electronics (MP3 players, DVD and Blu-ray players, etc.), TVs, winter coats, winter sports gear.

April
Computers, digital cameras, lawn mowers, spring clothing

May
Athletic apparel and shoes, camping and outdoor gear, cordless phones, lawn mowers, small consumer electronics.

June
Camcorders, computers, indoor furniture, small consumer electronics, summer sports gear, swimwear.

July
Camcorders, indoor furniture, outdoor furniture, swimwear.

August
Air conditioners, backpacks, dehumidifiers, lawn mowers, outdoor furniture, snow throwers.

September
Bikes, digital cameras, gas grills, lawn mowers, shrubs, trees and perennials, small consumer electronics, snow throwers.

October
Bikes, computers, digital cameras, gas grills, lawn mowers, winter coats

November
Baby products, bikes, camcorders, gas grills, GPS navigators, toys, TVs.

December
Bikes, gas grills, GPS navigators, home appliances (large and small), small consumer electronics, toys, TVs.

SOURCE: http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/348/mark-your-calendars-whats-on-sale-when/

I read this article and I had to share! It goes through pretty much everything I’ve believed. Really good info!

1. Myth: I pluck one gray hair, multiple gray hairs will grow back in it’s place.
Fiction. This isn’t true — which is good because some of us were starting to worry! While plucking gray hairs won’t make more grow back in its place, it’s not a good habit to get into since it can damage the root.

2. Myth: Cocoa butter will help get rid of stretch marks.
Fiction. There are plenty of creams and lotions that claim to eliminate or at least minimize stretch marks. While we would love for all of these to work, stretch marks are caused by weight gain or loss, and usually can’t be reversed.

3. Myth: Split ends can be reversed.
Fiction. Unfortunately, once split ends happen, the only way to get rid of them is by getting a haircut. The good news is that the right hair products can definitely make them less noticeable. Try a pomade like John Frieda’s Frizz-Ease Creme Serum Overnight Repair Formula. Also, try to limit the use of heated tools and appliances (hair dryers, flat irons, etc) for shinier, healthier locks.

4. Myth: Certain cleansers can make your pores smaller.
Fiction. Pore size is genetic, so although there are tons of products out there claiming to shrink the size of your pores, they don’t work to minimize pores permanently. What they can do is temporarily make your pores appear smaller. Hey — we’ll take what we can get!

5. Myth: Crossing your legs causes varicose veins.
Fiction. There are plenty of ways to potentially develop varicose veins, but none of them are related to crossing your legs (sigh of relief). Some examples of what could causes varicose veins include genetics, obesity, trauma to the skin, etc.

6. Myth: Teeth whiteners can damage tooth enamel.
Fact. Make sure you follow the directions line by line when using teeth whitening products. If these products are used improperly or too frequently, it can result in permanent damage to your teeth.

7. Myth: Sleeping on your back may prevent wrinkles.
Fact. After hearing this, we’re never sleeping on our sides again! The American Academy of Dermatology says that sleeping in certain positions may result in “sleep lines.” After time, these lines can turn into deep-set wrinkles, so flip over and get your shut-eye on your back.