Beauty-full Tuesday: Nina of MommaGoRound

Meet Nina, the excessively funny, California chic, surprisingly frugal, undeniably gorgeous host of MommaGoRound.

Who decided what was "supposed" to be beautiful?  What committee met to decide what the definition of beautiful was?

I never felt like I met the beauty requirements.  For years I struggled with accepting myself. It's so easy to beat yourself down if you don't look exactly like what is "supposed" to be beautiful.

My Stats

5ft 2in on a good day
(if I get out of bed and stretch)

186 pounds
and(now)proud to wear that number

40 DD
not as awesome as it may sound

12/14/16/18...
I own and wear pants in all these sizes

I have thunder thighs, stretch marks, scars, acne like a teenager, and thought I was the palest person on Earth until I met my son (the reincarnation of Casper himself),
AND I LOVE ME!

Beauty can't be measured by a scale or the number inside your skirt.  The beauty committee will not show up at your house to put a big sparkly pretty sticker on your back if you fall within a statistic.

Real beauty is the confidence that comes with knowing that you are the only you, embracing that unique you, and sharing you with the world.

A few months ago I decided to stop comparing myself to what I was "supposed" to be, and just decided to be me, and I found my real beauty.

Let me tell you, it's one of the
most freeing things you can do!

Whatever it is
that makes you feel beautiful, jeans and a tee, a fancy dress, being covered in sand with your kiddos, simply not putting your hair in a ponytail that day...
DO IT! 

You are worth feeling beautiful
because you are, 
no matter what pretty committee says!

Merry Memorial Day: Lime Ricki Swimwear Review

Odessa Tankini Top + Black Stripe Classic Bottom

The inaugural swim of summer.  Smelling of delicate sweat and thickly applied sunblock.  Refreshing the toe meat cooked on the sun fried concrete.  Sounding of intermittently muffled slashes and echoed squealing. Tasting like a frozen grape confection.  But how will you be seen? 

Kindly sponsored by

 Shining like a French circus: I adore the brightly colored print of my Lime Ricki selection.  The appropriately stretchy fabric smooths out my smaller lumps and bumps without losing the more flattering direction of my curves. 

 

 And the bottoms stay below my bottom.  The modest legline doesn't lengthen my shortish lower appendages, but it also isn't continuously wedging its way between their buoyant meeting point.   I'll compromise half an inch of legline for several inches of booty coverage any pool day.

I do however wish I had ordered the Beverly Tankini.  It's haltered underwire and ruched center would have made a better nest for my abundant Lady Eggs and slightly squishy center.  The fine print on the Odessa clearly states I have outgrown its accommodations, but I am too used to order for my natural lower figure rather than my current milk induced upper figure.  And these pictures clearly show I have overfilled the cup's contents.  It will however be perfect for next summer when I retire my nursing responsibilities.

For the time being, I feel quite cheeky.  I even noticed a few younger men checking me out.

Get your own Lime Ricki delivered sans shipping.  Ends tomorrow (Tuesday, 5/31) at midnight!

Swimwear Edition 2011: How to Keep Cleavage Covered

How can we support our substantial sisters in swimmers while avoiding overexposure?  

Andrea & Elisa

--------

Dear AndrElisa,

Let's define the posutre of your predicament.  First you want to support the lady eggs, but most under-wire options not only buoy your girls up but also offer them up for display. 

First, try a modest solution equipped with underwire, (a must for anyone D and above).  But for sans-wire swimsuits, experiment with a swim bra.   An underwire bandeau like the one featured below can be layered under any swim solution, thereby broadening your swim wardrobe possibilities.  Standard stretch tube bandeaus can also be layered to add compression and coverage to your nest.

Next, while you don't want to brandish your busting fission, an aquatic turtle-neck would just amplify the territory.  Uninterrupted expanses of fabric offer an overwhelming visual buffet.  Diving necklines actually break the bust into optically digestible bite size pieces.

One strap suits and high neck halters are available answers to this fashion quandry.  The still divide the area in question while providing modest coverage.

High-Neck Swimmers

Modest swimwear options to keep your lady eggs nested.

One-Piece Swimwear by L-Space
One-Piece Swimwear by DKNY

Sponsored by

A memorial day BBQ with miscellaneous male extended kin may inspire you to pool dip your bashful body in an ocean insulated wetsuit.  But at least you can keep your smile confidently on display.  Make sure you’re prepared for the festivities by grabbing a box of Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips ($54.99, 4 whitening strips).  Just ONE two-hour treatment will give you a sparkling white smile that will last for up to three months!  Meaning you'll still be sparkling come Fourth of July Fireworks.  

And to make sure your smile stays optic summer white in between whitening treatments, all you have to do is brush twice a day with the new Crest 3D White Advanced Vivid Enamel Renewal Toothpaste (4.1 oz $4.25), which removes up to 90% of surface stains in just 14 days.

Swimwear Edition 2011: Swimsuits for Swimming

What about cute swimsuits for actual swimmers? I love to do laps at the local pool but I find most bathing suits lead to a wardrobe malfunction when I am doing the crawl.

Roo

--------

Dear SwimmeRoo,

Having competed participated in multiple (read two) ^sprint^ triathlons, I can understand your desire to have an sporty swimsuit that doesn't look like another athlete regurgitated energy gel across your torso.

You do indeed deserve a cute yet reliable swimsuit, especially if you can do that flippy thing at the end of your lap.

Here are my suggestions:

Beauty-full Tuesday: Busy Bee Lauren

For anyone whose ever had a pile of negatively charged discards on their bedroom floor, the sparkly eyed, shiny smiled, gorgeously real Busy Bee Lauren. 

As someone who struggles with depression and self image issues, it can be hard to focus on what is beautiful about myself. I have spent so much time devoted to telling myself I was ugly, and hideous and not of worth, it's almost a natural instinct to say, "nothing is beautiful." But I know that is not true.

For years and years I would try on at least 3 outfits every day before school. I would say, "ugh! I look so fat!" or "people will think i am so ugly in this!" and finally, I would settle on something because if I didn't I would be late for school. I remember one day as I was gazing in the mirror, deciding what level of ugly I was that day, I noticed how beautiful my hair was. I noticed that it was thick, and shiny and had beautiful waves. I noticed that it framed my face perfectly. And while I might not be happy with my overall appearance, I was genuinely happy with my hair. That day I made progress.

Every day since then I have looked in the mirror, and maybe I haven't loved everything I have seen, but at least I have loved my hair. It has been an accessory I can wear every day that helps me feel confident, and beautiful and puts a pep in my step! And as silly as this may sound, every day I am grateful for that day that I realized that I had pretty hair...because that day I realized, there was something about me that was beautiful. Something that made me feel of worth.

And ever since then I have known, it's not just my hair that is of worth. It's me.

Swimwear Edition 2011

The Swimwear Season tide is rising.  Get ideas for every body and budget this week on Cardigan Empire.  

For now, post special swimmer shopping requests in the comments.

ps-I decided to prioritize modesty with the initiation of potty training.  For now, diapers and one pieces do not play well together.  Any advice on this issue is as always appreciated

And don't forget to raid my closet. Auctions end today!

Fitting Room Friday: What to Wear to a Wedding

Lang Photographers

So Miss Mandy had a wedding inked in her engagement book for her bosom friend Chelsea.  Chelsea had a groom from South Africa, an eviable collection of passport stamps, and Bali sunset inspired wedding hues.  But what Mandy needed was something exotic to wear, so we went on an wedding ensemble safari:

Back Porch Blouse + Parading Hues Dress

Back Porch Blouse + Antilles Tank + Ackee Pencil Skirt

 

Sunny Soiree Dress + Transitional Cropped Topper

Nostalgic Astericks Dress + Buttdown Colwneck

Gull Wing Dress + Of the Ages Pullover

So which frock do you fancy?

And could this bride get any Prettier?

Are wedding bells  ringing in your approaching future?   Contact me for details on booking a live or virtual wedding consultation.  I'll help you fashion the perfect expression of your union from veil to train.