MOMMYSPIT The No Rinse Cleanser

This product is a no rinse cleanser for your face & hands and comes in 2 flavors: Fig Green Tea or Lemon White Tea. It was inspired by the real "Mommy Spit" and is intended to be thrown in your purse and used on the go (or left on your desk or in your car)... It will leave your skin soft and moisturized and smelling wonderful. The idea is fantastic, but I am not so sure I love the name. But, I cannot bash it until I try it- yes, I am going to try it!

Go to ShopIntuition.com for more information or to purchase mommyspit.

Do The Girls Need A Lift?

Pick-me-ups, by Pure Style Girlfriends! Now you can defy gravity and get up to 2 inches of lift without going under the knife! Pick-me-ups have non-adhesive tape so it won't hurt when you take it off. They are also sweat-proof, waterproof & hypoallergenic... What will they think of next?!

You can purchase Pick-me-ups at ShopIntuition.com or from PureStyleGirlfriends.com

Rent ANYTHING you want

I just got an email update from one of my favorite websites, UrbanDaddy.com with some fascinating information that I had to share. There is a website that has virtually anything you could ever dream up available for you to borrow. This website is different because it has such extensive product offerings and it will connect you with a vast number of people. Some of whom are looking to borrow things from you.

This site started out as a place for people to borrow DVDs & games from each other without having to pay a membership fee like with Netflix or Blockbuster. I Let You then evolved into the online rental/borrowing site that it is today. What a great way to access clothing, furniture, costumes, jewelry, etc. that you would not otherwise have access to!

Skip the Dry Cleaning

Why spend money on dry cleaning unless you absolutely have to?

If you have a job requiring you to sit at a desk all day your clothes

are bound to get wrinkled, & they might even smell a little by the

end of the day. Even if you have the $$ to spend on dry cleaning,

I highly recommend that everyone invest in a bottle of Febreze &

a Spray Water Bottle, (see above) because frequent dry cleaning

is not good for your clothing nor is it good for the environment.

Instructions for care are as follows:

-Remove clothing promptly [upon arrival home after work, etc.]

-Hang each item on a proper hanger

-Find area such as laundry room/bathroom (shower rod works)

-Fill spray bottle with water, water temp doesn't matter

-Mist each item until lightly damp-focus on wrinkled areas

-Smell clothing

-Even if you don't detect an odor, Febreze anyway

-Waiting until dry before using Febreze is recommended, but damp is ok

-For thick fabrics process may need to be repeated to eliminate wrinkles

-Once clothing drys, it is ready to be worn

PROBLEM: HEEL WEDGIES

Heel Wedgie: The uncomfortable bunching of the pants in the back of one's shoe- typically happens with a sling back pump or open back shoe.

SOLUTION: Kix by Katie

No more heel wedgies. This disposable devise adds weight to the back of your pants preventing them from getting caught and bunched in the back of your shoe. Simply place Kix by Katie inside the back hemline of your pants (as shown above). This should take care of that annoying heel wedgie. You are safe to wear your sling back shoes again!

Kix by Katie

SHOPPING IN YOUR OWN CLOSET

The best way to find a new look is to borrow someone else's

When I start wearing what I like to refer to as my 'uniform' (jeans and a wife beater during the day or all black to work/out at night) I know it is time to find a new look because it means I am getting lazy. I usually pull out a magazine (doesn't have to be a current one) or go to a website such as Lucky or Instyle and check out some of the featured looks. This usually gives me ideas on how I can wear different pieces and gets the creative juices flowing.

With so many fashion blogs and websites available these days you should be able to put together new looks without leaving your home. If you need a place to start, I am following many fashion blogs. However, if after visiting some of these sites you are still not inspired, each blog has addition websites and blogs that you ought to explore.

The Best Shoes EVER

Flat dress shoes are so deceiving! You would think that because they are flat- without a 3" heel, that is, that they would typically be comfortable. WRONG!
I assumed that as a woman my choice was High Heels & then Pain or Flats & then Pain (ok, maybe slightly less pain with flats)... WRONG! I feel it is my duty as a shoe-a-holic, and as a woman, to share with the world the most comfortable shoe in the world.

SUE LONDON'S BALLET SLIPPERS.

Not only are these what you imagine when one says the word slippers, but they are sleek & chic. They can be worn around your living room, walking in the park, or even out to dinner. They may not be as fancy as your [Jimmy] Choos, but a black pair of these is no different than a black pair of flats (except your feet will be in heaven). They have what feels like a pillow underneath the heel & ball of your foot, but nothing under the arch so they can fold in half for easy transport. I can't explain my love for these shoes, you are going to have to check them out yourself.

You can order them from her website: SueLondon.com or you can click on Retail Locations to find out where they are sold.

If You Want to Look Good, Your Closet Has to Look Good

I am a strong believer in a clean closet. I also love to shop (thus, creating a balancing act between shopping a store & shopping my closet)! However, I was reading how to Recession Proof Your Closet written by The Budget Fashionista and I think she has some really great tips. And, if followed, it will make getting dressed in the morning an easier task.

Oprah actually called her up and asked her to share these tips on the Opera Winfrey Show!

Here are my top 3 picks from The Budget Fashionista list:

1. Develop a signature piece/look (according to TBF this is what you are known for- it could be crazy shoes, earrings, bright dresses, etc. I love shoes, and dresses. Shoes are what I invest in and dresses are items I can buy at discount stores or consignment stores).
2. Calculate the cost per wear when shopping (i.e. if an item costs $100 and you will wear it 2 times, the cost per wear is $50. I always try to buy dresses & blouses that can be worn both to work and out at night. This drastically increases the number of times I can wear an item and, thus, allows me to invest more money on these dual purpose pieces).
3. Follow the 70/30 rule (70% of your closet should be classic staples & 30% of your closet can be fun trendy items... I would like to add that you should think of your life style when deciding what is a staple-what is your dress code for work? If you wear business wear to work 5 days a week you don't need 9 pairs of jeans, but if you wear jeans and flip flops to work, you probably don't need very many suits).

I would like to add the following tips that I think are important:

1. One in one out (every time you purchase a new pair of shoes, you ought to get rid of a pair of shoes- this keeps your closet from growing out of control as well as makes you think through whether you like the new purchase better than what you currently have).
2. If you haven't worn it in 2 years get rid of it (AND, you should try on everything in your closet once a year! This way you don't forget what you have and, thus, purchase something very similar. After going two years of being unworn, you are better off donating the items for a tax write-off and freeing up the extra space).

Luxury For Less: Beyond the Rack

For those of you familiar with the luxury discount websites such as Gilt.com or Hautelook.com, there is another website that has come to my attention: Beyond the Rack. These sites all offer deep discounts on designer brands, but the sales only last for 24-48 hours and you must be a member of the site in order to shop.

Click HERE for an invitation and a $10 shopping credit on your first purchase.

Unfade or Dye Your Jeans Dark

If you have ever wanted to dye your denim either a darker color, such as inky black or to a darker blue because maybe they have faded over the years, please see the products below. (This entry is from Lucky Magazine.) I am just cataloging the information on my blog for when myself or someone else needs to locate it. However, I will say that the websites in which the below products can found have some other fantastic products. I have not tried them myself, but if you have a few minutes or feel like procrastinating, check out the below sites! Anyway, back to the denim dying products below: Lucky said that they have tracked down and tested two ridiculously easy ways to dye dark or unfade your jeans. In addition to just dying them, they have found a softening solution since dying jeans can leave them slightly hardened. Voila! 

BLACK

According to Lucky, this dye will will make your jeans a fabulous inky black. 

Rit Dye, ritdye.com approx $3

CLASSIC DENIM

According to Lucky, this will get your jeans back to the most perfect shade of deep rich blue.

Dylon Machine Dye for blue denim, chaffinch.com

FINAL STEP

Afterwards, soak them in this for a worn-in softness.

Milsoft Softener, dharmatrading.com

A Cure for the Excessive Sweating

You may have heard of the brand Hollywood Fashion Tape before because they have a plethora of products that have been helping women out in all sorts of sticky situations. The most recent product that I learned about is one I think everyone should know about: Behind The Seams. These pretty, self-adhesive disposable apparel sheets are a quick fix to many women's problem of excess sweating in the underarm area. They will prevent embarrassing underarm wetness,  save money on dry cleaning bills, keep BO off clothing, and  prevent fabric from permanent stains. Hollywood Fashion Tape has many other products such as a Here Comes The Bride Collection and a Fresh Face Collection, which is great for nights on the town or perfect to take with you when you jet set around Europe. 

For All You Wine Lovers

I have wanted to check out a website a friend told me about: Bottlenotes and yesterday I finally explored this this really great site. To register for the site you answer a few questions such as what are your favorite foods? Do you prefer salty or sweet food? What is your favorite food to pair with wine? Do you drink red, white, rose or all of the above? This is how they create your personal taste profile and help you to identify the flavors within wine that you prefer. This site is customized to you. Bottlenotes will suggest wines that they think you will like based on your personal taste profile. You can buy these wines and once you try them you can rate them. You can see what other people think of these wines. Because wine is such a matter of personal preference, you can find people with similar taste profiles (meaning they have a similar palate or like similar wines as you do) and see what they think of the wine you are thinking of buying or look at other wines they have liked and disliked. If after trying some wines you would like to alter your personal taste profile, you can do that as well. They have a winecyclopedia that contains anything you need to know about wine or how wine is made and this site will even do custom labels for wine. 

Its a social networking site as well, so you can ask people to be your friend and share your thoughts on wine via RSS, Facebook, and Twitter. I strongly recommend you check it out. 

Zit but no Zit Cream

You don't need zit cream to help clear up that zit. You can use any of the following-and I have listed them in order of my preference:

1. Neosporin

First clean your skin, then apply the Neosporin. It is an antibiotic ointment & helps prevent scaring 

2. Toothpaste (Not gel, it must be paste)

First clean your skin, then put a dab of the toothpaste on the zit. This is best when applied and left on all night. Then it has time to dry out the zit. 

3. Household Ingredients:* 

-QTip, Hydrogen Peroxide 

-1/2 T. of lemon juice 

-1/2 oz powdered oatmeal

-1/4 cup egg white

-3 drops honey

DIRECTIONS:  Clean zit with Hydrogen Peroxide; mix remaining ingredients & apply to zit; let sit for 20 mins then rinse with warm water

*I have not tried this formula, but it is courtesy of Sally Hershberger 

Make The Scents Last

To make a candle burn longer you should 

1. Trim the wick so it is between 1 & 2 inches. 

-The longer the wick the larger the flame & the faster the candle will burn down

2. Put the candle in the Fridge before you burn it. 

-The wax will last longer and burn slower if you chill it before burning it

Is Makeup Really Worth The Price?

There are always going to be items in which we will pay department store prices because the products are that good or because we haven't found suitable alternatives. 

My Makeup Love List- Please note that final item is DISCONTINUED, my only drugstore brand! :(

-Laura Mercier Tinted Face Lotion: (with SPF 20) because it is my moisturizer, sunblock and foundation all in one. 

-Bobby Brown Shimmer Lip Tint in Twilight Shimmer (SPF 15)

-Clinique Eyeshadow Duo in Starstruck/Golden Lynx  (this is so 10 yrs ago, I know) 

-COVERGIRL EYESLICKS in Cats Eye (an olive green thick, chunky eyeliner with a hint of shimmer). It was fast & easy and always looked good. 

How can the only inexpensive item on my Makeup Love List be DISCONTINUED!! I went to the Cover Girl website and their suggested replacement was a powder eyeshadow! UM, NO, I DON'T THINK SO! Powder shadow cannot replace a silky smooth liner AND the eyeshadow they suggested didn't even come in green! Now I have to go scour the internet for a place that still sells these eyeliners so I can make it another 50 years without running out!

Gadgets I Love

When I am working hard from home or even perusing my favorite websites, I am often doing so on the couch watching TV. With this BELKIN 'Laptop Cooling Lounge' (below left) has a cooling pad in the center & adjustable height so I can keep my computer comfortably propped up and my legs cool.


I also love the BELKIN 'CushTop' as a portable desk (below right) because I have a place for my remote, my wallet (for the occasional trip to the cybermall), and I can run my power cord through this so no one will trip walking by me.


www.belkin.com

Salt For Spills

I learned my favorite stain removal trick when I spilled olive oil on myself at a restaurant in Florence, Italy. If you happen to dribble a little red wine or olive oil on your clothing while trying to enjoy a nice romantic Italian meal (or simply because you carelessly missed your mouth while shoveling food & drink into it) that by pouring salt over the FRESH stain and letting it sit for about an hour you will find the stain no more. [I believe] the salt absorbs the liquid right out of the fabric. Just make sure to cover the entire spill with salt and give it time. 

*I have not tested this with every type of spill, but according to the mostly-English speaking waiter in Florence who taught me this trick it should work with anything you would normally spill on your clothing. Every time I have remembered to do this it has worked.  

Problem: Pants too long

www.zakkerz.com

Problem: I would step on my pant hems & get the bottoms of my pants filthy while wearing Uggs or Rain Boots or Flip Flops while going to and from work (obviously my pants are hemmed to be worn with my pumps).

Solution: (Or the solution I have found thus far) Zakkerz! 

What is a Zakkerz?

Zakkerz (n.) a temporary pant roll-up wrap used to hold pants that have been rolled up to a shorter length for flat shoes.

 

Like many people, especially the women in New York, I like to wear comfy shoes when I go & from work. I would then change into my sexy 4" stilettos once I was in the comfort of my office. However, I would constantly step on the hem of my pants or get the bottom filthy. Then I discovered Zakkerz. Although these are not perfect (on one or two occasions they have fallen off my pants while I am in transit) these are a great option.

New York's Biggest Shoe Sale (Just In Case You Didn't Know)

For anyone who loves shoes as much as I do, I suspect you already know that it is that time of year. All the major department stores are having their SPRING SHOE SALE! Go buy those crazy Jimmy Choos you have been eyeing all spring, go, go go! 

I suggest Bergdorf Goodman or Barneys, but I now that Saks Fifth Avenue has an entire floor (and zip code) dedicated to women's shoes their Spring Shoe Sale might be out of this world!

If you need more info, here are the websites of my favorite stores:

www.bergdorfgoodman.com

www.barneys.com/

www.saksfifthavenue.com/

Everything You Didn't Know You Needed To Know

Have you ever been reading a magazine like Lucky Magazine or watching a TV show such as Martha Stewart and read about or learned a great new trick or fun fact? For instance you might see on the Today Show, "how to host the perfect cocktail party for little money little effort" (delicious recipes included), but you probably wont be throwing a party for a year or two, so you probably won't remember anything except that you wish you had a copy of the Today Show to help you 'effortlessly' plan your 'inexpensive perfect cocktail party'. This happens to me all the time- not throwing parties, but wishing I could recall the tidbits of information I read about to help me with issues. 

I am starting this blog because it is much more efficient to catalog info online than ripping pages out of magazines and storing them in 3-ring binders. Some tips I will post are things I have discovered myself, Thank You Very Much! But, the rest are a compilation of the most useful 'how-to's', do it yourself (DIY), and tricks that actually work! Frankly, I am running out of storage space in my Manhattan apartment for all my seemingly significant clippings.... It might take me some time to transfer everything onto the blog, so please bear with me. But, when it is all here it will be everything you didn't know you needed to know!