What to Wear Where?

Jewelry For Every Occasion

Recent trends in fashion have seen a change to bolder, more luxurious jewelry. Artisan gemstone creations and intricate wire work are hot right now and very fun to wear. But incorporating these styles into your regular wardrobe can seem challenging. Here are some suggestions:

Business casual
Choose one focal piece of handcrafted jewelry as a standout piece and keep your other accessories simple.

Dinner Date
Consider a delicate chain or pendant paired with dangling or chandelier earrings.

Weddings
Pearls are classic and always a great choice, but this can also be a great opportunity to wear a more formal extravagant piece.



Evening Glamor
Contrast a sleek, feminine outfit with chunky, artisan crafted gemstone-studded necklaces.

At Work
Spice up your business attire with an intricate wirework necklace, but keep the color choices simple and professional.

Casual
For a chic Fall look, pair jeans and a sweater with an eye-catching pendant in classic autumn hues dangling from a long chain.



Shopping
Looking for earrings to match your favorite necklace? Be sure to wear that necklace the next time you hit the mall so that you can be on the lookout for the perfect match

Sports
Use extreme caution when deciding whether to wear jewelry or accessories if you're engaging in sports or other strenuous activities. Jewelry can get caught, snag, break or just be a general hazard or nuisance. Consider skipping it altogether.

Barbecue or Picnic
Keep your accessories casual and limit yourself to just one piece. Outdoor parties are a great chance to show off simple, nature-inspired jewelry, like sterling leaf-shaped earrings.

Garden Party
Like a picnic or barbecue, you may want to have a natural theme. But since garden parties are a little more formal, try pairing a breezy summer dress with a more elaborate gemstone bracelet or necklace.

Cocktail Party
Intricate artisan jewelry is very much at home at a cocktail parties. Wear your best pieces and don't be afraid to stand out!




Travel
I suggest keeping jewelry to a minimum while traveling for two reasons: 1) if you accidentally leave your favorite one-of-a-kind jewelry item behind, you'll probably never see it again and 2) jewelry makes a great souvenir, so buy something new and indulgent while you are away.

Art Galleries
How appropriate it is to wear art while viewing art! Break out your wildest, most unconventional artisan jewelry item and you'll really showcase your appreciation for creativity and design.

Antiquing
Keep your eyes out for a fabulous new find while wear your favorite vintage jewelry. (of course!)

Wine tasting
Check out my collection of grape-inspired jewelry, such as this one:



I hope this post gave you some ideas about how to wear your colorful artisan jewelry. Your favorite gems shouldn't just sit in a box all year long! Find any excuse to wear your fanciest, most lavish pieces because you never know when the next formal occasion may be. Life is uncertain, so make the best of it and find pleasure in the (sparkly) little things!

Little Indulgences: Bath Products

In an ongoing effort to provide my readers with inspiration, I decided to present a series of posts on the theme, "Little Indulgences." Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing some lovely handmade goodies that are both lavishly indulgent as well as reasonably priced.

Treat yourself to some luxurious handmade bath and body products from these great Etsy sellers:

Dhara Holistics has an environmentally conscious approach to making artisan cold process soaps and other products. Her products use natural ingredients like honey, beeswax, essential oils. The featured item, Clarifying Skin Care Set includes a Dead Sea mud masque and an exquisitely scented skin toner. This is the perfect combination for skin that gets oily in the summer heat.







The Abbey James Company began two years ago with a Mom's search for more natural products for her family. Noticing the beneficial effects of natural oils, butters and salts in treating her daughter's juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, she soon found herself creating a variety of naturally nourishing bath and body products. The Fabulous Feet Foot Butter and Spa Socks Gift Set includes a rich Shea-based foot butter designed to soften your feet while you sleep-- definitely a must during sandal season!




Madeline Bea Soap Co. creates handmade, natural bath & body goodies from scratch using the traditional cold-process method . Their goal is to create really wholesome indulgences that can be used every day to help maintain sanity! Fresh Mango Deluxe Spa Set is an amazing comination of fantastic products including soap made with mango and shea butters. These products are nourishing for the skin in a great summertime scent!

Makeup Makeover Series: Part Three

Where to Scrimp and Where to Splurge in Your Makeup Case
Part Three: The Lips

One of the biggest makeup challenges is choosing the right lip color. Lipstick is the finishing touch of your makeup, so it's definitely a step you'll want to get right. Some women of trying to match their lipstick to coordinate with their outfit. Bad idea! Choosing a lipstick that complements your skin tone will not only be more flattering, it will save you money since you won't need to buy dozens of different shades.

So,choose a color that complements the natural shade of your lips and skin. Here's some thoughts:

• The best shade is the one that still looks great even if you're wearing no other makeup. This is a color that will always work for you.
• If your skin tone is warm, look for browns, reds, and other warm shades. If your skin tone is cool, look for plums, wines, and pinks.
• Use your lipstick color choice to downplay whatever you might not like about your skin tone. For example, if you have gray undereye circles, a lipstick shade with blue undertones will only draw attention to that. Likewise, if redness or blotchiness on your face is a problem than wearing a red hued lipstick may not be a good idea.
• Look for a long-lasting brand. The product will last longer if you don't need to reapply 10 times a day. And this will save you money.
• I recommend finding two shades of lipstick that you absolutely love. A lighter one for daytime and a darker one for night. When you find a shade that really flatters you, don't mess with success. You don't need a whole palette of lip colors. You just need a couple that really work.
• Make sure you own a wonderful lip gloss that you love for those days when you just want a subtle sheen.
  

Makeup Makeover Series: Part Two

Where to Scrimp and Where to Splurge in Your Makeup Case
Part Two- The Face

Foundation: Having a flawless complexion is definitely one of the most important aspects of looking your best. In a future post, I'll share some great ideas for keeping your skin healthy and glowing. But great foundation can really make all the difference. Be sure to look for one that contains sunscreen and shop around until you find a brand you really love. Indulge in the highest quality foundation that you can afford.

Concealer: Like your foundation, concealer is important to achieve the perfect smooth look we all want. But as long as you're investing in a quality foundation, you can probably buy a cheaper version of concealer. Remember to use sparingly and blend carefully, since concealer tends to go on thick.

Minerals: Mineral makeup can really make your skin look radiant. Here's a few shops on Etsy who have some great selections:
www.theallnaturalface.etsy.com
www.BellissimaMinerals.etsy.com
www.lighthouseminerals.etsy.com

When you're trying to trim some money from your beauty budget, remember that any looking great begins and ends with your face. It's the first thing everyone notices about you! Your skin deserves some indulgence, so take good care of it!

(P.S.-- Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a free recycled paper bracelet. The last day to enter is May 31st and the winner will be announced on June 5th.)

Makeup Makeover Series: Part One

Where to Scrimp and Where to Splurge in Your Makeup Case
Part One- The Eyes


Eyebrows: Don't underestimate the ability of well arched brows to highlight your face. Get your brows shaped by a professional every now and then. A professional waxing can last for months if you maintain between appointments using brow gel, a brow brush and tweezers. Pluck sparingly, removing only the obvious strays. When you start to lose your shape, it's time to head to the salon again.


Eye shadow: If you like to change your eye shadow shades with the season, this is not the place to splurge. Cheap versions are available for as little as a dollar or two at pharmacies and discount stores. At such prices, it is possible to change your hue to reflect the season, the latest trends, or even to match a certain outfit. This is a great way to experiment with bolder colors, since the investment is small. If you're worried about the creasing that sometimes happens with less expensive brands, invest in a good primer.


Eyeliner: Eyeliner is relatively cheap, so even a premium brand won't cost you an arm and a leg. This is a great place to splurge on a brand you might not otherwise try. But be sure to buy a classic shade like black or brown and steer clear of trendy, gimmicky colors. To save time and frustration, try an automatic eyeliner that never needs sharpening.


Mascara: For the health of your eyes it's important to change your mascara frequently, about every three months. For this reason, it makes sense not to spend too much on this product. But inexpensive brands can leave you wanting more. The solution? Splurge on quality grooming tools! An eyelash curler and an eyelash brush are musts if you want thick, sweeping lashes.