Media Literacy & Miss Representation

Have you thought much about how much media we consume on a daily basis? (Now, for example!)  As a teacher and a mother and a woman, I feel bombarded sometimes...images on what to be, how to look, how to act.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE some of this media... the fashion, the art, the socializing. 

I do worry though...How is this effecting my teenage students? My little boys that will grow to be men? My husband?

I heard about a movie called "Miss Representation" from my wonderful friend, Jill, who is raising two wonderful young women.  (One of which is my smart, funny, athletic, beautiful god-daughter.)  This movie is a documentary that rocked Sundance last year.  I know, I know, when I say "documentary" you might have thought immediately about boring old school movies from 1991 that you were forced to watch when you had a substitute.  But, hear me out - this will change your view of all of this media you see.  "Like drawing back a curtain to let bright light stream in, 'Miss Representation' uncovers a glaring reality we live with every day and fail to see."

Check out their trailer...


Newest Miss Representation Trailer (2011 Sundance Film Festival Official Selection) from Miss Representation on Vimeo.

And of course, the website... http://www.missrepesentation.org/ and see and learn for yourself.  And here is my latest contribution to Beauty Equation, which is about healthy relationships and relates as well...http://www.beautyequation.com/beone/healthy-relationships-for-teens/

LaRissa

LBD...love it's simplicity and versatility

Ah...the Little Black Dress.  If I don't get a chance to don one of these little frocks at least a half dozen times over the course of a year, I get downright grumpy.

The Little Black Dress was created by the incredible Coco Chanel. (She also helped us throw out our corsets, and gave women jersey knits to wear - yay!)  And the LBD was made famous by my personal favorite, Audrey Hepburn.

The LBD is great - it is one of the most flattering pieces of clothing a woman can own.  (I think I have collected about 5 - different sizes and cuts - I'm a Gemini...it's a trait. I have multiples of many things.)  It is also one of the most versatile.  Different events require different styles and this little dress will take you far.

A formal, conservative affair?  The classic strands of pearls and a pair of black (or nude) pumps. 

Date night?  Add color!  Bright, chunky jewelry and a sparkley pair of stilettos.  (I have a pair of hot pink heels with a gold sequin wedge that might be good with my LBD...hmmmmm...)

Work lunch? Add a blazer.  Black, or even a rich bright blue would be nice.  And a scarf!  (Thank you, Europe, for making the scarf chic for me again.) Or, drop the scarf and add a belt.

Casual event? Add a jean jacket and some brown leather boots. 

And do you have a Little Black Dress with a great cut that flatters your body so well you wish you could wear it every week?  Find a dress in a different color with the same cut and wear it the way you'd wear your LBD.  Jewel tones in the fall and winter and bright, vibrant Caribbean colors for spring and summer. 

When you purchase your LBD, make sure you get one that best flatters your body.  This little piece can mask a lot of things we see as flaws, but only if it fits.  Try it on and wear it proud!  A flattering shape for most?  Something with a cinched waste and an A-line skirt. 

 Here are some of my favorite places for the Little Black Dress...

www.landsend.com - you'd be surprised here!  Great styles for all sizes and ages.

www.jcrew.com

www.whitehouseblackmarket.com

www.thelimited.com

and I've even seem some cute ones at JC Penney and Target recently.

So, channel your inner Coco or Audrey, stand tall and be proud!  You're beautiful!

My Favorite Things - and if I were Oprah, I'd give you each one!

So, like most of you out there, I have many lists going for the holidays right now.  Lists of things to buy, things to make, things to bake, things TO DO!  And I've also been thinking about Oprah's annual Favorite Things episode where she gifts everyone in her office her favorite things of the year.  Well, since there is no Oprah Show this season, I thought I'd do it for her.  Without giving you anything but some great ideas.  Maybe you might be inspired to create your own list of wishes from it. =)

Favorites for any day:

• Best travel mug ever - from LL Bean!  This will keep your hot things hot all day long and comes in some amazing colors.  (My sister in law bought me hot pink last year and I love it!)  Check out www.llbean.com for details.
• It's lip gloss. It's a LED light. It's a mirror.  And it fits in your pocket. Simply put, it's amazing. It's the Artistry Light Up Lip Gloss.  www.artistry.com or try www.amazon.com.  $12
• Scarves are wonderful right now!  It's a fun accessory that will make any plain tee with jeans look more pulled together.  Target, Macys, and Nordstroms have a wonderful selection right now.  And there is a little website called www.fashionscarvesandshawls.com if you are looking for something more specific. 
• If you haven't been bitten by the Vera Bradley bog, get to it!  These are functional and fun!  My favorite piece is my East West Tote in Happy Snails.  Check out all of the fun prints at www.verabradley.com!

Favorites for the face and hair:

• Last summer I discovered the Origins counter in Macys.  I have not been disappointed!  My favorite products from this company are Checks and Balances face wash, Vita-Zing SPF 15 moisturizer, and Brighter By Nature SPF 30 skin tone correcting powder.  Origins is natural and certified organic, free of the gunk you don't want and is helping the earth at the same time. Visit www.origins.com - they have great packages right now!
• Mario Badescu: Drying Lotion - This is an acne spot treatment.  If you have stubborn spots like me, the $24 is worth it.  You'll have to suffer with a polka-dot face before bed, but turn the lights off.  You'll be fine. ;)
• Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion - better known as "magic powder".  This stuff is the best to add volume to the roots and it's not greasy or heavy.  It gives me professional looking hair more than I ever have  before! It's really magic - and botanically based and earth friendly.  At your local Aveda salon or online at www.aveda.com. 
• Urban Decay's Eye Shadow Primer Potion is the best thing you could have in your make up bag.  A little of this under your shadow and it will stay all day without creasing...and it allows you to be a little more thrifty when you buy shadow, too.  You can find it in major department stores and at Ulta.

Favorite Recent Reads:

Pick your favorite place to buy books - or borrow these from the library! And check out the reviews on Amazon for more detail.

• Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger.  (She wrote The Time Traveler's Wife)  This is the story of twin sisters that move to London to live in an apartment they inherited.  The book has great characters, wonderful scenery, and ghosts! 
• Stealing Buddha's Dinner by Bich Minh Nguyen.  This is a great coming of age story set in 1980s Grand Rapids from a Vietnamese immigrant.  
• Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. This story jumps between a modern woman and France during the 1940s.  It's brillianly written. 

Favorite Creative Outlets:

• www.shutterfly.com is still my favorite for photo art!  Mugs, posters, canvases, and my favorite...photo books.  I do not have the patience for scrapbooking.  And this website lets me do it from my computer. 
• Tik A Tok - www.tikatok.com is a Barnes and Noble product.  This is a site that allows your children (or you) to create a book.  They have the templates and you just add in the words and illustrations.  It's a free service and you can look at other kids' work, too.  There is also an option to purchase the book you've created. 

Favorites that Give from places I admire:

There are so many wonderful charities out there.  I think a charitable donation makes a great gift, especially when many of us have so much when others have so little.  I would encourage you to think of something you care about (or think about something your gift receiver cares about) and find an organization that needs help.  These are two of my favorites:.

• Sow Hope - This small organization works hard to help the poorest 2% of women around the world with education initiatives, health care programs and micro-loans.  I have worked directly with the founder and it is truly amazing.  www.sowhope.org
• Audrey Hepburn spent the last years of her inspiring life dedicated to helping children through UNICEF.  Today, her sons run The Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund and supports organizations that are dedicated to improving the lives of children in the US and globally.  www.audreyhepburn.com

And if I had the money, I would buy each of you a car (current fav is my husband's Mazda3) and a trip to Italy.  But, alas, you will have to surf the internet to take a cyber trip. 

 I hope you enjoy these products as much as I have!  And not to worry, I'm working on my top fashions list right now :) Stay tuned... LP

PS...What are your favorite things right now?  I must know!

I like big boots, and I cannot lie...

This is the time of year that this Northern Girl can't get enough of tall riding boots!  Easiest. Outfit. Ever. Skinny jeans, tall boots, plain sweater and a scarf - or - blazer and some chunky jewelry.  Leggings with a dress! Dress it up, dress it down. Whatever.  Heels or flats. Personal preference. 

Here's some inspiration!

Leggings, tunic and scarf! (And Starbucks!)

Jeans, funky tank, chunky cardigan!

My only real suggestion - a good quality boot that you are comfortable in.  (If you go super cheap, you might just end up with sweaty feet and legs trapped in plastic.)  Find one that is versatile - not too tall (can't look like a hooker at work!) and not too short (it'll cut your calf in half and make them look meatier than most of us want them to look.)  Booties are a whole other blog ;)  This year's trend is hardware on your boots.  Very cool and chic this time of year!

And if you are trying to camouflage your rear end, check out that second inspiration picture... the tank is fitted but the sweater swoops down to cover the butt.  And besides, everyone will be checking out your sweet boots, not your butt.  ;)

So, if you've been hesitant to try this trend, be brave!  You won't regret it. 
LP

PS... these are my favorite brown boots by Jessica Simpson (Macys).  I could live in these - they're amazing.  And you can wear them high or fold them down.  A multi-purpose boot!

Did I become a short order cook? Hosting & Dietary Needs

If you have kids - or have ever been in the vicinity of my two lovelies - you know what the concept of "short order cook" is to a caregiver.  But, what about hosting a group of people when some of them - or, God forbid, all of them - has a "special need".  In my realm alone this is what's going on... I don't eat meat, one child has a life threatening nut allergy, a niece has a severe allergy to carrots and celery (I told her it was too bad the allergy wasn't to lima beans, but I digress), my sister-in-law is gluten-free, 3 of the 4 in my house only drink soy milk, my uncle hates all veggies.

We will all drink water and eat rice. Happy Holidays!

So, what do we do?  How do we cater to everyone's needs? Well, we don't.  We simply can't. 

But, there are a few things you should do.  If you are having a new group over, ask if there are any special dietary needs.  If you are able to meet some needs, go for it.  Don't stress yourself about everyone's issue though.  I would also say that there is a hierarchy of needs to consider - some are more important than others.

If there is a need that threatens someone's life - severe food allergy - take that to heart.  Don't set out a bowl of mixed nuts if your cousin's child is allergic.  Don't make peanut brittle ice cream for dessert.  Read labels.  Is it a pain? Yes.  I live it every day.  However, this is a safety issue.  The people allergic will also feel so grateful that you care about them and want to help keep everyone safe.  (And really, you wouldn't put a loaded gun on the table.  Don't put a giant bowl of strawberries out if little Lucy could go in to anaphylaxis.  Not to be a Debbie Downer, but food allergies can - and do - kill.)  For tips about preparing your home for someone with food allergies, CLICK HERE!   

If someone makes the life choice not to eat certain things to be healthy or due to palette - good for them!  Embrace what makes you unique.  But, this can't be catered to constantly.  And don't feel bad about that.  If you invited me to dinner, I would not expect a special vegetarian meal.  I'm just thrilled I don't have to cook and you want to spend time with me!  People will eat what they want and fill in the blanks later if need be.  I frequently will eat a protein before attending a party if I'm not sure my needs will be met.  If I show up and the host has a Boca Burger ready to grill for me - I'm thrilled.  Impressed really, and honored that someone cares enough about me to do that.  But, so I expect that? Absolutely not.  (Also, don't be offended if someone brings their own veggie patty to your cook out.  It's okay.) 

If you stocked up on cola and grandma will only drink root beer? Oh well.  There's a tap with water.  It'll have to do.

Happy Hosting!  LP

Get a Belt!

My husband is hilarious!  I'm lucky like that.  However, I'm still trying to figure out why he was laughing at my belt yesterday.  Let me back up and give you the visual:

Navy Dexter "deck shoes", pencil leg jeans, teal soft t-shirt, "boyfriend" cardigan - navy stripes, and (drum roll please....) a thick brown belt around the whole thing.  It was stretchy around and had a nice leather front.  I think he couldn't get over the stripes on the sweater.  I was hoping it made my waist look small and I wanted to try this whole new belt-over-my-cardigan thing.  (And I knew I didn't need to impress anyone at Chuck E. Cheese on family fun night!)

I think he was laughing because it reminded him of his old elementary teacher, Mrs. Largebottom, but I digress...

So, this teacher (me!) decided to rock the belt at work today, but not with a stripey cardi.  That may have been too much.  My husband may have been on to something with those snickers about my belt.  I don't think it was the belt so much as the horizontal stripes across my rear. So, I have a better visual for you on this one:

A picture!  So, the key to the whole belt with a cardigan... make sure your cardigan is long or "boyfriend" and if it's not, make sure you have longer layers under it.  And make it a SOLID Color.  It will make your waist look smaller and my husband won't laugh at you.  You'll get laughs if you wear rear enhancing stripes.  (Unless of course, you have no butt.  Then wear the stripes!)  In my above outfit, I had small stripes on my accent piece under the cardigan.  I love stripes!
So, don't be scared...Rock the belt with your cardigan.  I know you can!

PS...this belt in the picture was from TJ Maxx... $12.99! 

New Day, New Blog

November 1, 2011

It has been suggested that I market "my brand" better.  So, I thought I'd start here.  Currently, this is a work in progress. 

Be patient.  It's hard, I know!  ;) You're so excited to hear what I have to say! 

All things relating to being a fabulous, well rounded, shoe loving human will be here soon! 

LP