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It’s a universal dilemma for moms. The inherent chaos of a life encumbered by responsibilities- kids, husband, house work, meal organization, play dates- and a never expanding to do list eat up the time that used to be spent on YOU!
FIVE MINUTE FIXES shows you how to set your to-do list on the kitchen counter and rejuvenate your fashion fortitude. Whether you live in Miami or Anchorage, having an arsenal of easy style solutions at the ready will get you out of your Mephistos and into a pulled together look in a snap.
Amy Tara Koch is a style expert, author, journalist and all-around fashion aficionado. She is a style expert for Vogue, the AP, People Magazine’s Moms & Babies, Parents Magazine and contributes to Today Show, Access Hollywood, Town & Country, The New York Times, Travel & Leisure, Departures and Huffington Post. Her first book BUMP IT UP: TRANSFORMING YOUR PREGNANCY INTO THE ULTIMATE STYLE STATEMENT was published in March 2010 and immediately touted as a must-read by outlets from the New York Times to Glamour Magazine.
The Ultimate “Wow Factor”? Vintage. ATK shows you how to be a vintage warrior with three levels of acquisition.
Freezing temps invite a host of winter woes. ATK breaks down 5 minutes fixes to nourish your face, hair and nails. READ FULL STORY
“Busy women have no moments to spare. Believe me, I get it. But I still manage to carve out the nanoseconds required to pull myself together. The trick? Having an arsenal of quickie style solutions at the ready.”
Here, for the Chicago Sun-Times SPLASH, I show busy women some quick “five minutes fixes” to pull a look together in a snap.
OFFBEAT HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE
Giving good gift is a challenge. Perfume? Slippers? Gloves? Fruitcake? BORING! For the hard to please guys and gals on your list… there is only one way to go… QUIRKY. Here an offering off-the-beaten-track prezzies to delight the most discerning folks on your list. Hey—and they’re affordable!
1. Knock Knock WTF Sticky Notes $3
2. Claw Bottle Opener $24
3. Kvetch as Kvetch Can $10
4. Nano Blocks Taj Mahal $20
5. Mark and Graham Domed Glass Monogrammed Paperweight $35
6. Cat TeePee $40
7. Nike Free FT $100
8. Suction iPhone Holder $4.95
9. Monogrammed Toilet Paper $10 per roll
10. Damn Good Advice $10
11. Flight 101 Tidy Pak $16
12. LaCie 32GB Rugged Key USB 3.0 Flash Drive $70
13. Jonathan Adler for eBay Holiday Collective Metallic (Disco) Picture Frame $62
14. Apples to Apples $22.99
15. The Original Backnobber $35
Each time I board a plane, I hear my grande dame of a granny’s words booming in my ear: “Always dress to impress! You can never make a second first impression.”
Here, for STYLELIST, I dissect the fashionable, functional power pieces that will make you look and feel great for long hail flights.
I love to entertain. And, crafting a dramatic and creative table is my favorite part. So, when AROUND TOWN anchor Ana Beleval asked if I wanted to turn my passion into a segment, I was thrilled. Yesterday we shot a story that showcased how to transform $50 of food from Costco into what looks like a $500 fancy schmancy spread. Yes, the food needs to be good. But, it can be very simple: cheeses, crudite, meats, guacamole. The trick? It’s all in the presentation. Design and fashion follow share the same principles. Skillful layering, bold pops of color and quirky accents are the ingredients to transform basic food or fashion into glamour.
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TIPS:
- Use a ceramic tile to write out your menu. So Parisienne!
- Layering- your tablecloth with
- Style is in the details: Add unexpected accents like air plants and paper mache birds
- Items should pop on the table: make it colorful
- There is drama in diversity: Use a combination of wood, crystal and porcelain serving pieces. Matchy matchy is for weddings and Bar Mitzvahs
- Whip out the wedding gear: Make your table a glorious mélange of high/low. Just like Kate Moss pairs Chanel with ripped Levi cutoffs, your table will have that edge when you have sterling silver next to flea market finds.
RESOURCES:
- Fleur De Lis Erasable Ceramic Message Board $24.99 from classichostess.com
- Cylinder Beverage Dispenser with Chained Black Board on Rack $39.95 from classichostess.com
USE COUPON CODE “WGN10” FOR 10% OFF CLASSICHOSTESS.COM - Libbey Flare 16 piece glassware set $22.99 from Kmart stores or kmart.com
- Trays $10-$20 each from Target and/or World Market
- Orange Zest Napkins, set of 6 $22.31 from Amazon Home amazon.com
- Fiesta bright stripe Table Cloth $24.25 from Amazon Home amazon.com
- Diamond plastic cutlery $10 from Amazon Home amazon.com
- Vintage tabletop from Randolph Street Market in Chicago
Im lucky. I travel frequently for work and get to Europe at least once a year. An exuberant shopper, I pick up bits and baubles from each and every jaunt. But, even if you cant get to your dream destination this summer, you can look as if you have just returned from a fab, farawy locale. My story in Marie Claire shows you how…read full story here!
Steaming temps & pool parties are the stuff of summer fantasies. But, the sun, heat and chlorine can wreak havoc on your body. How to protect yourself? By stashing an arsenal of five minute fixes in your beach bag; beauty tools designed to safeguard highlights, hair, eyes and skin from harmful effects of summer.
LIPS
Dry, flaky lips are no fun. Keep your pucker in perfect condition with SPF infused product and a nourishing scrub
1. Bliss Fabulips Sugar Lip Scrub $18
2. Laura Mercier Hydratint with SPF 15 $20
3. Smashbox Limitless Long Wear Lip Gloss with SPF 15 $22
HAIR
Sun is evil to those with chemically enhanced manes. Maintain highlights with UV protection
4. Fekkai Cooling Shine Mist $25
5. Bumble and Bumble Defrizz $26
6. Unite 7 Seconds Leave in Conditioner and Detangler $26.25
7. Redken Color Extend Sun Solar Spray $34.95
SUNSCREEN
Not all sunscreens are created equal. The best are broad spectrum paraben free creams with moisturizing properties. Even if your makeup contains SPF, you should layer a hard-core sunscreen underneath for maximum protection.
8. SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 $32
9. Seventh Generation Baby Sunscreen SPF 30 $13.99
10. Sunology Natural Sunblock Stick SPF 35 $12.99
11. Josie Maran Argan Sun Protection SPF 30 $24
12. Sonya Dakar Daily Face Shield SPF 30 $45
HYDRATION
Keep your complexion dewy all day with a moisture enhancing schpritz on the fly.
13. Evian Mineral Water Spray $11
14. Arcona Mineral Magic $38
15. Josie Maran Travel Size Argan Oil $14
EMERGENCY TOOLBOX
Itchy eye. Smelly armpits. Sunburn. Be prepared for every situation with a stash of minis in your bag.
16. Atopalm Moisturizing Cleansing Wipes $14
17. Clear Eyes Itchy Eye Relief $1.20
18. Lavanila The Healthy Mini Deodorant $10
Summertime is all about BBQs, picnics, and- if you are lucky-an invitation to a house by the shore. What to bring? A groovy gift that ensures a return invite next year. Here are some of my favorite host/hostess gifts. And, they are all $50 or less!
- GREEN MARKET GOODIES: jams from and fresh peonies from your local Green City Market.
- ARTISINAL OILS & VINEGAR: The perfect topper for grilled vegetables and salads
- FOR THE FRANCOPHILE: Marseilles Soap collection
- VINO-RIFIC: Prosecco and instant cooler sleeve for al fresco meals
- FOOTWEAR FABULOSITY: Get your hosts size and dazzle them with custom flip flops by Brazilian brand Havaianas (Starting at $20)
- TASTE OF EUROPE: they may not be headed to the Olympics in London or Provence, but proffer a DIY basket of candy and chips from Europe in rattan (re-usable) tray from WORLD MARKET /Cost Plus
- WRITE-ON!: PHOTO NOTEPADS. WOW your guests with groovy notepads bearing their likeness.
- COOL COOKBOOKS from BETTER WORLD COOKBOOKS where a percentage funds literacy worldwide
- GASTRO-GAG: KNOCK KNOCK’s hilarious foodie flashcards make fun of the ever more complex foodie terminology
- CUSTOMIZED CHOCOLATE BARS: Design-and name- a special chocolate bar for your host formulated with his/her favorite ingredients. Pick the flavor chocolate (dark, milk, white) and flavor it with a variety of fruits, nuts and candy. You can buy as many bars as you wish.
- POWER BASICS: colorful kitchen essentials by SANDRA by SANDRA LEE for KMART
- PERSONALIZED LIBRARY LABEL STICKERS: Damask Ex Libris Personalized Library Labels Stickers, $7 Personalize your family library with these customized stickers that go on inside of each book.
- GROOMING IN A SNAP: HEMERGENCY KIT by Ms. & Mrs. This sleek, black mesh dopp bag contains 22 emergency essentials for busy guys. From clothing stains to static cling, the Hemergency Survival Kit takes the guesswork out of men’s personal care. Smaller than a football, this ultra-compact collection can go anywhere he does–from home to the office and everywhere in between.
When you have a huge chest, getting dressed is a challenge. Each morning, you gaze into the mirror and think, Good God, how do I reduce the kapow impact of my boobs? Going with a low a neckline can be too sexy. Conversely, enclosing them with too much fabric creates the dreaded “uni-boob.” Here’s what to do:
Stick with dark colors on top. They act as a minimize. An open neckline and simple silhouette is the most flattering. Steer clear of tops with crew, polo and turtleneck, as higher necklines will impart the afore mentioned an odious “uni-boob” effect. Stay away from attention grabbers like metallic, large prints and jeweled embellishments, as they will only spotlight your breasts. Patterns and prints can definitely be a part of your wardrobe, but they look best on the bottom. And, a loose bra does nobody any favors. An ill-fitting bra is super frumpifying. When breasts are centered and well supported in the right bra, you look taller and slimmer. Look in the mirror. If you see droop, it is time for a fitting and a new bra.
- Open, scoop and V neck tops are most flattering because the exposed skin breaks up the line from shoulder making chest look smaller.
- Stay away from attention grabbers like metallic, large prints and embellished tops.
- Avoid shiny fabrics and baggy tops which will accent the chest and add weight.
- Balance proportion with a flared wrap dress, empire waist dresses, or shift dress. Keep hems above the knee.
- A wider leg pant will balance out your figure.
According to Susan Nethero, founder of Intimacy boutiques nationwide, a great bra has everything to do with looking and feeling your best. ”Women associate looseness with comfort. A loose bra is unstable and contributes to droopage and bra fat. The right bra centers the breasts and creates a more flattering shape. Women need a combination of rigid and stretch to create tension for support. A perfectly sized bra (usually with underwire) offers the lift and pertness that women crave.”
