As some of you already know, I am an avid “collector” of license plates. One side of my shed is covered with them. I have also made some birdhouses out of them and stuck them in the ground as “yard art.” Recently, my creative juices have been flowing and I started making “art” out of license plates. I have always been a fan of all things Americana, and these are a true example of that. If you are looking for something unique for your own home or to give as a gift these perfect. Each one is different and a true labor of love. I have the blisters and beat up hands to prove it! Custom orders are available!

Hoist those babies up  chicas!!  Eight out of ten women wear the wrong bra size.
GET MEASURED.  Don’t guess.  Have a friend or professional help you out with this.
I am 36 and have had two children, underwires are essential for me. I know some women say
underwires are uncomfortable,  but not if you have the right fit.

They will help push your breasts up and forward. This will make you look slimmer!

Bras stretch and wear out.  Plus, your breasts and body change shape over the years.
Treat yourself to a new bra every now and then.

I have tried MANY a bra.  You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a good quality bra.

HANES makes a great underwire tshirt bra. You can wear a form fitting white tshirt over top and there is not a seam to be seen.  You can get this at Target or Wal-Mart for around $12.

SOMA also has some great bras, both functional and sexy. Average cost around $30.

VICTORIA’S SECRET is a bit more expensive, averaging around $50 a bra.
However, I have both the Angels bra and the push-up bra from there and the quality is fantastic.

So, no matter what your budget is, there is something out there for you.

I am 36 years old. I have tried so many moisturizers in my years , it’s not even funny.  I have tried some very high dollar ones.  I have also tried some very cheap ones.  High dollar or cheap, I have been moisturizing on some level since I was about 12 years old.

Your face is more sensitive than the rest of your body so it has different needs.  I prefer a moisturizer that is not greasy and absorbs quickly.  I also do not want it to have an overpowering scent.  I moisturize twice daily.  Once at night and then again in the morning.  My skin tends to lean towards the dry side.  If your skin is oily, you may only need to moisturize once.  I recommend doing it at night, after you wash your make up off.  The best time to moisturize is when your face is still damp.  This will “trap” the moisture in your skin.

I am just going to take this moment to say DO NOT SLEEP IN YOUR MAKE UP.  Eww.  This will clog your pores and dry your skin.  Take it off, peeps.  Let your skin breathe.

Moisturizers can help with fine lines and make older skin look less ‘crepey.”

Bottom Line….it takes less than a minute to apply moisturizer. The benefits will last MUCH longer.

Ed Hardy Women by Christian Audigier- Tropical mango, wild strawberry, and ruby red grapefruit. Vintage floral loveliness with a rock ‘n roll edge brings a dark sexiness with black freesia. A backdrop of hot skin musk and warm soulful amber. An alluring embrace of amber and rose accords. It is delicious!
SPLURGE

Statement Necklaces- Edgy. Bold. Inexpensive. These can turn a plain old t-shirt into fashion fabulousness!
SAVE

Printed and Colored Tights- all the rage this season.   Betsy Johnson has really stepped out of the box with some of her designs.  For $6.99 at TJ MAXX, it’s an affordable way to make that “little black dress” POP.
SAVE

Boy Short Underwear- been loving these for a while. Cut to fit like a pair of boxer briefs ( but shorter)…these are both sexy and comfortable.  Just as comfortable as ones from Victoria’s Secret…don’t break the bank…you can get them at Target.
SAVE

Chardonnay Lip Balm- my daughters made this for my Holiday Open House.  It’s fabulous. Makes your lips taste like wine all day long.  I have a tube in every coat pocket.
SPLURGE AND SAVE ( at $2.00 a tube, it’s more than chapstick. But, hey…it taste like WINE, people.)

Legwarmers….

There is a cold snap happening in my neck of the woods.  Apparently,  we haven’t had a cold snap like this in thirty years.
I see all my wonderful warm southern  friends posting on facebook that this cold weather is not making them very happy in the least.
I, on the other hand, a relocated yankee girl…is embracing this cold and welcoming it like a long lost friend.
How I miss the Upstate New York bone chillin’ freeze.  Call me crazy……

Now, on to the matter at hand.  Legwarmers.  Yes, the 80′s fashion trend that has made it’s way back to this decade.
I bought a pair of black ones the other day.  Hey, I like to wear tights and although boots do a good job of keeping my legs warm, I needed a little something more.
Since I have not actually put legwarmers on since I was about 13  and had some bangin’ Rainbow Brite looking ones, I was amazed at all the variety’s that were out there.

First I went to Etsy.  My “go to” site for all things.  Hundreds of legwarmers were listed.  All colors.  Knits, cotton, wool….you name it.  And the colors, yeah, every color.  I was in legwarmer heaven.
Better yet, they showed the different ways you could wear them.  Some even had ….BLING!

I bought a black pair for starters.  Let’s see, I have matched the last three days worth of outfits around my legwarmers.  Under my jeans, over my jeans.  Over my tights, over my boots ( this was my favorite).
My legs are toasty warm.  I have never been a big fan of wearing long underwear under my jeans.  Let’s be honest..I don’t buy jeans that allow for another layer under them.  What’s the point? ( smile, wink).
Legwarmers are a great alternative.  And if your really feeling funky-they make great arm warmers too.  So don’t hate on this fashion fad from the fabulous eighties.  Embrace your inner Jennifer Beals ( FLASHDANCE) and try some!

About 80,000 facial skin cells die every day, which is why your skin can take on that dull, lustreless appearance, accentuating lines and wrinkles on your face if you do not include exfoliation in your daily skin care regime.
Without exfoliating the old skin cells sometimes will remain attached to the surface of your skin. This can leave you with a very dull complexion. After exfoliating just once you will see a noticeable change, your skin will have more of a youthful glow.

Why you should scrub:

1. It removes dead skin cells.
2. It helps moisturizer penetrate the skin.
3. It’s an anti-ager for the skin, can diminish fine lines
4. Helps give skin a glow

I use a Pomegranate Facial Scrub. It is a moisturizing, cream-based anti-aging facial scrub that gently exfoliates dead skin cells. It reveals youthful radiance and super soft results. Packed with anti-oxidants to protect skin from environmental damage. Natural moisturizers hydrate and replenish skin to leave it soft and resilient.

It is an extra step in your skin care routine, but well worth the results.

Feeling inspired yesterday by the gorgeous fall colors, I decided to try my hand at hand dyeing a slip.

Slip dresses have become kind of an obsession for me as of late. So much so , I am thinking of hand dyeing several and selling them at my Christmas Open House in December.

I bought a package of RIT, dissolved it in a bucket and threw the slip on in. I stirred it for about 15 minutes, until it got to my desired color and then rinsed, washed and dried it. The result was fantastic. So very easy!

There is something very sexy about wearing “underwear” as “outerwear”.

lace

The style options are endless. I just saw an picture in Women’s Health that showed a slip underneath a sweater dress with the lace peeking out the bottom..sexy but not over the top.

Slip Dresses range in price. The more “decorated” they are, the pricier they are. However, if you have a creative bone, you can buy and hand dye a plain white slip for under $10. If you can sew, you can get really crazy and add some embellishments. Add a brooch, layer some pearl necklaces…and BAM…a very unique outfit is born.

Yes. I am going to admit this. I bought the most fantastic slip dress at the Goodwill. It was there in all it’s pink glory, calling my name from the rack. Bright pink, lace on the top, lace on the bottom. Beautiful, color of passion. ( wink)

I have seen this fashion trend in the magazines. I had seen some “refurbished” slips. Hand dyed, jeweled. Paired with a jean jacket and boots it was dressed down sexiness. Paired with a sweater and heels, it was fancy and intriguing. As it is hard to tell if in fact it’s a slip or a dress.

It hugs your curves in all the right places. Not bad for $2.00. I wore it with a jean jacket, cowboy boots and some funky jewelry and it gave me that “I am woman , hear me roar” feeling.

So now, I am kind of obsessed with the “slip dress”. In a magazine this morning I saw how it is being layered under a long sweater so that the lace hangs out a bit at the bottom, throw a belt around the waist and BAM…

You just never know what you can find at Goodwill Stores and Consignment Shops. A $2.00 dress, that is one of my favorite items, hanging in my closet next to other dresses I paid much more for and like much less.

My favorite season of the year is Fall! It is also my favorite time to make soap. I love the “fall scents” and I have some really unique ones up for grabs….

Creamy Pumpkin-Delectable notes of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cardamom, and pimento leaf lend warmth to a green, balsamic heart. It also brings together rich vanilla and sweet caramel for a mouthwatering finale. For what it’s worth, fragrance researchers claim that the scent of pumpkin pie filling will turn men into helpless love slaves.

Coffee Mocha-This blend of chocolate, vanilla and coffee is a real “eye opener”. I make this with real coffee grounds in it to add to the texture and add exfoliation. One of my all-time fav’s.

Rainforest-Jasmine, florals, citrus and a touch of a woodsy scent make up this intoxicating fragrance. Honestly, to me it smells like paradise. I am not a big fan of floral scents, but this one floored me. It is a really beautiful blend.

Sugared Spruce-Top notes of cinnamon, peach, strawberry, blood orange, and plum lead to a warm, woodsy heart of juniper berries and raspberry, with a clean, foresty finish of spruce, pine, vanilla bean, and musk. Great for men and women. It is not a harsh pine scent…the other notes balance it out.

Romeo & Juliet- Beautiful, rich amber is enhanced with fruity top notes of pineapple, black currant, and plum, a floral middle, and bottom notes of Egyptian musk and vanilla absolute. It is very sexy and romantic. This is an irresistible twist on one of the cornerstones of fine perfumery — a must-try.

Lumberjack-Woody top notes are accented with basil, armoise, lemon and juniper. A floral-herbaceous middle leads to a mellow drydown of sandalwood and patchouli.
This scent makes me weak in the knees. It is manly and delicious.

Santa’s Pipe- Captivating top notes of damask rose and geranium lead to a heart of sweet orange honey. But this fragrance is all about the bottom notes — a warm, sweet, smoky, comforting accord of vanilla, patchouli, and honeyed pipe tobacco. It is a perfect honeyed tobacco combination.

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