Beautiful Blogging ~ Color Trends for Summer

This week our Beautiful Blogging post is all about summer color! I figured since Memorial Day is the "unofficial" start of summer, why not update our wardrobe with some fun color! All of the articles that I read on this indicate that designers are really in-tune with the economy and our personal struggles (not financial of course, ha). This means that they are turning to colors that are seen as "optimistic." I am sure you have all been to the mall recently and have seen some of the "optimistic" colors in hues of blues, greens, and corals. Personally, I am in love! Even makeup counters are reflecting this. The amazing array of vibrant colors is fabulous such as bright purple, hot pink, and sunny golds. Love, love, love, love it!



This color palette is from fashionising.com (just click on the image and you can go visit them). You can see that the top row is more vibrant while the bottom is more neutral. The violet and the turquoise are my favorites! How about a pop of those colors to make you feel alive and er, well, optimistic, ha!
For those of us on a budget (and who isn't????), virtually all retailers will be carrying some shades of these colors. As such, you can add these to your existing wardrobe. Think shells, t-shirts, costume jewelry, scarfs, handbags etc... Simply take the neutrals you already own and add some color. How about some white shorts with a turquoise t-shirt? Tan pants with a coral handbag? Navy blue with yellow earrings and/or shoes? I am not a "yellow" person and I NEVER buy yellow clothing. But, I am sure loving the yellows that I have seen in shoes, belts, and handbags. What a great "pop" of color that would add to virtually any outfit! I love neutrals too because it is so easy to add color with accessories for very little money!

I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge what Memorial Day is all about. We all love to picnic, go to the beach, plant our gardens and shop for our favorite summer colors! But, please take time to remember all of our heroes who have given their lives to protect our country! To all of our service men and women, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Happy Memorial Day!
Jacalyn

My first Give-a-way Winner!

I wanted to let you know that Kat of Sweet Kathleen's is the winner of my very first give-a-way! Yay! You have to visit Kat because she has some of the most yummy goodies on her site and some great blogs with AWESOME recipes!

Here's my adorable helper (Erin, my daughter) assisting in the selection of the winner.

Unfortunately the first winner didn't respond and I had to pick another winner while my assistant was away so I don't have a picture of the winning entry.

Thanks to all who left a comment, I truly appreciate it!

Hugs,

Jacalyn

Happy Birthday Pink Saturday!

I think most of you know that this is a very, very special Pink Saturday post! I am just so excited that I thought I'd throw a party and you are all invited! So,

Grab your PINK party hat...

Bring along a pretty gift, preferably PINK...

Here's your free PINK balloon...


Flowers might be a nice touch... PINK of course...

Oh, we should wear our prettiest PINK pearls...

And add some PINK chocolate Hearts to our gift...

Because we have a birthday to celebrate...

PINK Saturday is turning 2!!!!!!! Yay!

While I have only been a part of PS for about 6 months I just had to take this opportunity to celebrate and wish PINK Saturday the happiest of birthdays!

Please visit Beverly to join in this fabulous birthday bash and to see all of the pinkies that are wishing PS a happy birthday! Cheers!

Jacalyn

Beautiful Blogging ~

Welcome to this week's BB post! To start, I did choose a winner from last week's posts yesterday afternoon but I haven't heard back from her. If I don't hear back by later today I will draw another name! BTW, thank you for all of your great suggestions last week! I do plan on addressing them in future posts so please check back each week!

This week's BB is a few tips on managing stress! We all experience stress everyday in our lives! I often tell my clients that just getting out of bed in our society is stressful! How many of us jump out of bed and immediately begin thinking about the day's "to-do" list? We all seem to try to jam as much as we can into our day. Did you know that when we are stressed our heart rate and blood pressure rise! Plus, we are releasing adrenaline too. That is why stress can lead to physiological problems, like hypertension, down the road. So here are my suggestions and please feel free to add your own!

• Make yourself a priority! I can't tell you how many times women tell me "I just don't have time." The reality really is that you MUST make time. If we don't care for ourselves how in the world can we possibly take care of anyone or anything else!
• Exercise! I know, I know, we hear this all of the time but the fact is that it's such an important ingredient in our lives! Exercise relieves stress, releases endorphins (the "feel good" hormone), and helps us manage a healthy weight. Of course you don't need to go to the gym. There are oodles of ways to achieve this ~ gardening, bike riding, walking, engaging in sports etc... Find what YOU like and do it!
• Avoid caffeine! Yep, I am the original caffeine queen and I know most of us like to indulge! But, when you're stressed or anxious adding caffeine to the mix via coffee, tea, chocolate etc.. will only further aid to your problems. Caffeine of course is a stimulant so imagine what your rev-ed up body already feels and then add more!
• Deep breathe! This is huge! When we are stressed we tend to have very shallow breathing so deep breathing immediately calms us. Here's a great breathing exercise to try but remember you don't have to lie down. Just make sure that you sit comfortable and allow the exercise to work.
• Plan a fun activity! Make sure you schedule enjoyable activities in your schedule. We all need something to look forward to. Plus, it can help us get through those less enjoyable activities!
• Laugh! It truly is one of the best "medicines" we can use! So socialize, play, laugh. All great ways to relieve stress!
• Self-nurture! This means you do something EVERYDAY that makes YOU feel good. This doesn't have to be a long activity but it has to be something that is meaningful to you and only you can define what is meaningful to you. Personally, I love mindless computer games and a long hot bubble bath with a good book!

There really are many, many ways to relieve stress as I have only listed a few. The most important thing to remember is to pay attention to your body and LISTEN to what it is saying. Tight shoulders, shallow breathing, upset stomach, etc... are all ways our body is telling us that we are stressed. Now that you've heard, what will you do?

Have a wonderful week!
Hugs,
Jacalyn

Happy Pink Saturday ~ I love Pink Millinery

Happy Pink Saturday! Did I ever tell you that I love millinery and paper flowers? Of course pink is my fav! I could have oodles and oodles of it and still want more, ha! There is just soooo much you can do with it. I love to use it as an embellishment and it's so pretty just in a container! Here's a peek at little of what I have.

Vintage Lily of the Valley ~white & pink!
Love my Forget Me Nots!

A paper rose is nice too!

These are very cool ~ tapioca wood roses but they feel like paper!

I just wanted to let you know that I am having a give-a-way! My very first and I am very excited! Click here for the details but hurry because I am drawing a winner on Sunday!

Please be sure and visit Beverly to see all of the lovely pinkness today!

Have a wonderful weekend!

OXOXOX,

Jacalyn

Beautiful Blogging ~ The essentials of Foundation & How to use plus, a give-a-way

Welcome to week 2 of Beautiful Blogging! Be sure and read the entire post today as I am having a give-a-way this week and you don't want to miss out!

But first, we are going to talk about Foundation. I had a couple of requests last week so I did my homework and found out some great information!

If you're like me, foundation is essential, even in the summer! I have oily skin plus I still get acne and have some ruddiness on my face that I like to even out. If you think about it, foundation is just that: the foundation upon which the rest of our make-up is applied. Thus, it is very important to choose the right foundation for you! There is absolutely no excuse these days for not finding the "just-right" foundation for you as there are about a zillion different types and brands out there. Of course mineral make-up is all the rage these days but is it right for your skin type?



How to choose the "perfect" color for your skin
~ Contrary to popular belief, putting foundation on your inner wrist is NOT a great way to determine the color. Rather, apply it to you jawline in daylight to see if it "melts" into your skin. So, head on over to your favorite make-up counter with clean, moisturize skin and select a few colors that you think might match. Apply to the jawline and head to the nearest window (ask to borrow a hand-held mirror if you don't have one). Natural light is always the best. If it vanishes then it is your match! Remember too that if you don't like it when you try it at home then return it! Now I know department store counters can be expensive. However, there are occasions where I prefer to work with an expert and the price is worth it to me. You can always make one purchase and then head to your drug store with your new knowledge when you need more!
~Don't try to add color to your skin by going darker or by choosing a bronze shade. Rather, apply bronzing powder AFTER you've applied the right foundation.


What type of foundation should you use
That of course depends on the amount of coverage you're looking for as well as the type of skin you have!
~Women with "normal" skin can basically choose what they like. Gosh, I'd like to meet this woman, ha!
~Oily Skin? Be sure and choose a foundation that is WATER-BASED. If you have acne--prone skin try to choose one that has "Non-Comedogenic" on the label or Salicylic Acid listed in the ingredients. These types will keep pores cleaner than other types.
~Dry Skin - Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!!!!!!!!!!! Moisturize before you do anything else. This is a good step for all of us, but especially for those who suffer from dry skin. Foundation ALWAYS looks better on hydrated skin. It seems that the best option is a CREAM oil-based foundation is the right choice. Powders will simply dry you skin out more and highlight the flakes, while matte finishes will simply make you skin look lifeless!
~Aging Skin is something we are all dealing with or soon will be. I think many of us want to apply heavy foundation to cover up signs of aging but that will only accentuate lines and wrinkles. You want to apply foundation that gives you medium coverage that moisturizes and evens out skin tone. Try one with light-reflecting pigments because this will soften the appearance of "flaws."
~Many of us fall into the Combination Skin category. This typically means that our "T-Zone" (forehead, nose, and chin) tends to be oily. Choose a foundation that is oil-free but that has moisturizers in it.

What coverage to use
there are so many different types of coverage you can choose from so here's a quick guide to help you decide. There are several different types of coverage: Sheer - lightweight with minimal coverage, Medium which is the standard and Heavy which will cover most of our "flaws."
~Tinted moisturizes provide light coverage and are great for those who just want to even out skin tones.
~Liquid foundations are good for dry, normal, or combination skin types. It comes in sheer, medium, and heavy coverage. Best for those seeking medium coverage.
~Cream foundation is perfect for those with dry skin and provides medium to heavy coverage.
~Powder foundations are best for those with oil skin and they provide medium to heavy coverage.
~Mineral Make-up is designed for all skin types and you can achieve a medium to heavy coverage by using a kabuki brush. Want a more sheer coverage? Did your make-up brush in water then foundation and apply! Dry skin? Again, use the proper moisturizer and you should be able to wear it! In some cases, in comes in liquid form which you may prefer.


How to apply foundation
~ Again choose the color that is closest to your skin type
~Always moisturize before you apply make-up.
~Begin applying to the center of your face - cheeks, nose, chin - apply with a sponge, make-up brush or your fingers (I prefer the latter).
~BLEND, BLEND, BLEND out towards your hair and jawline until it "vanishes." Pay special attention to the nose, jawline, and mouth to ensure a smooth finish.

A note about sunscreen - many foundations have a built-in SPF. However, this generally isn't enough plus we don't always put make-up on all of the exposed areas. So, apply an SPF before your foundation ensuring you apply to the neck, ears, and about 1/2" into the hairline. Remember to re-apply throughout the day!

Now for my very first give-a-way for which I am soooooooo excited! Easy as pie to enter. Simply comment on this post with a topic you'd like to hear more about that relates to health, beauty, exercise etc... Reply with as many topics as you would like, but you are only counted once. Want a second chance? Simply follow me or if you already are following me, let me know! I will draw a name randomly from all of the entries on Sunday May 23rd and post on my blog. Please leave me your email so I can email you with the good news! If I don't hear from the winner by May 26th I will draw another winner. Super, duper easy, right? Here's what you'll win:

A beautiful "Dare to Dream" hand-crafted Journal, a lovely embellished bottle filled with Lavender Scented Dead Sea Salts, and a gorgeous set of three Rose Gift Tags. I may even throw in something else!

I am so looking forward to hearing your thoughts and I can't wait to draw a name to win these fabulous goodies!

Wishing you a wonderful week!

Jacalyn

References:

http://www.essortment.com/lifestyle/bestcosmeticfo_sbzn.htm

http://www.wisegeek.com/how-should-i-choose-the-best-foundation-makeup.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_162_apply-foundation.html

http://beauty.about.com/od/makeuptrickstips/ht/foundation.htm

http://www.newbeauty.com/dailybeauty/entry.aspx?ID=1470

5/23 ~ WE HAVE A WINNER ~ ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU!

Pink Saturday, a Give-a-way, and Mother's Day Gifts

Happy Pink Saturday! Once again please stop by http://www.howsweetthesound.typepad.com/ to see all of the lovely PS posts!

So this week I thought I would share some of my lovely Mother's Day Gifts. My family knows me well and so I certainly have some pink to share!

Some lovely flowers, purple I know! But if you look closely, you'll see a pretty pink heart in the back on the right side.

From my lovely daughter Erin whose knows me oh so well! A PINK cupcake! Love it!


Here are my daughters ~ Megan on the left and Erin on the right.
The only way to show you my new pink camera was to take a picture in the mirror, ha! This was from my fabulous hubby!

There were more goodies, cause my family does spoil me, but they're not pink!

I wanted to let you know that I will be having MY FIRST give-a-way in association with my new blog feature ~ Beautiful Blogging. This is a weekly feature that covers health and beauty topics that I think you'll find very useful! My first post is here if you want to take a peek. I will post details about the give-a-way in the beginning of the week when I do my weekly Beautiful Blogging Post. The give-a-way will be soooooo simple! All you have to do is leave a comment suggesting a topic you'd like to be covered in a future post on the next BB post! Super easy!

Happy Pink Saturday and please stop by in the beginning of the week to enter my very first give-a-way!

Super Big Hugs!

Jacalyn

New Goodies at RME Boutique

I thought I would show you some pictures of my new goodies I've received for my boutique! Some are already listed and some are not yet. Just keep checking back because I am adding new items often!

Have a wonderful day and I'll see you tomorrow for Pink Saturday!

Shabby Lane Shops New Blog Backrounds

I am so excited to pass on that Shabby Lane Shops is now offering FREE blog backgrounds! As you can tell, I already have mine! There are a variety to choose from and more will be added every day! Don't be shy, head over and check it out here ~

Happy Blogging!

Jacalyn

Beautiful Blogging at RME Boutique

I've decided to start a weekly post on health and beauty items that hopefully will be of interest to my blogging friends, called ~ Beautiful Blogging! I just love makeup, skin care, shoes, clothes, exercise techniques and such. I spend a lot of time reading about the latest trends and I thought I would share what I find! Please feel free to leave me comments re: if you like, don't like, a topic you'd like to hear about etc... Of course, as a mental health professional I will surely throw some in some tips for managing stress, anxiety, depression etc...

This week's Beautiful Blogging post is all about Summer Skin Care so read up and get going on your beautiful skin!

Here's my essential skin care tips:
~Exfoliate! This is essential because we are constantly re-newing skin cells and if we don't remove them, our skin looks dull! So, used a sugar or salt scrub a couple times a week to re-new your skin!


~Shave! Many of us slack off on this in the winter so now is the time to begin again! Make sure you use a good razor, not the cheap, disposable ones, to ensure a smooth shave. Additionally, use a good shave gel/cream and avoid using soap. Soap can be drying and doesn't provide the best protection against nicks and cuts!
~Moisturize! Again this is essential to keep our skin soft! Make sure you moisturize right out of the bath or shower to lock-in the moisture!
~Use sunless Tanner! We all know the dangers of sun-bathing and tanning beds and quite frankly we don't need to do that! There are so many great sunless tanning lotions on the market today that it is just a matter of preference in choosing one. Click here for a great tutorial on how to apply sunless tanning lotion.


~Don't forget your feet! If you can't afford a professional pedicure do it yourself! Purchase a good foot scrub, pumice stone (or the Ped-Egg which I love!) and lotion made specifically for your feet! If you're like me, you love all those strappy sandals and our feet must look well-groomed! Don't forget to apply that fabulous shade to your toenails to finish it off! Try fuchsia or coral, both of which are very popular this year!
~Check your Sun Block! Did you know that Sun Block has an expiration date? It is probably best to purchase a new one each summer and check the date on the bottle! Oh yea, don't forget to use it while outdoors!!!!!! Re-apply every 1 - 2 hours!
I hope this helps you in getting "your glow on" this summer!
A couple of administrative notes: Source for post: click here Also, click any picture and it will take you to the site from which I obtained them. I want to make sure I give credit where credit is due!
Please stop back for Pink Saturday on Saturday of course! And, check back next week for a new Beautiful Blogging post!
Have a happy week,
Jacalyn

Happy Mother's Day from RME Boutique

Wishing all the Mom's a very Happy Mother's Day!!!!!

Rosie says it all, don't you think?!

Hugs,

Jacalyn

Happy Pink Saturday and Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Pink Saturday! I thought I would do a post for all of the moms out there on the eve of Mother's Day! But, not just any post will do of course! This is a PINK post... pink ideas for Mother's Day gifts, just in case you still need some ideas to pass onto those who are buying you gifts!
The standard flowers...
Of course pink candy...

How about some nice pink pearls...

Can you go wrong with pink jammies...

This necklace is beautiful... how about that?

How about a nice bubble bath...

Hmmm... a nice comfy pretty pink chair....

Please visit Beverly at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/ to see all of the pink posts!

Big Pink Hugs!

Jacalyn