Tips for Life

As many of us are adjusting to this stay-at-home lifestyle, there are a few tips and tricks to think about and maybe you can come up with your own ideas and it will lead to a light bulb moment in your life. 

Yes, as the nation is opening up their stores and businesses again, we are still encouraged to stay home if the trip is not necessary and when we go out to cover up looking much like a ghost at Halloween to protect ourselves from viruses.

Here are a few tips based on things I have discovered since being home and contemplating where my next soiree will take place and should we wear masks and gloves or just a whole bed sheet over our bodies.

You may notice that sizes of liquid or cream products are getting smaller while prices stay the same or are a bit higher. Be mindful that you can buy the smaller sizes and simply conserve and not use as much of the product and, yes, add water to make it last. I personally go by price and add water to the product to stretch its life and I don't have to worry about making space to store dozens of the same household product. 

For your household and bath products, you may like a certain name brand but see that a generic brand is a larger size and cheaper. In most cases, that cheaper brand is watered down. The solution? Buy what you like and prefer, however, once you use about a quarter of the liquid or cream product, even for shampoo, fill it with water yourself. It still works just fine and it will last a lot longer than normal especially when you notice the stores are raising their prices and providing either the same size or a smaller size of the same product.

Now, you can't do the watering down bit for your expensive beauty creams. I get it. But you can use a bit less or skip a day or two in your beauty regimen. If it's a product you cannot do without, then dump the stuff you rarely use or just like the packaging or the scent but it really doesn't do anything in particular to boost your appearance. You can dump those products for now unless you have the dough to splurge, then go for it. But, the point is, to stock up on your essentials only, those must-haves in your beauty cabinet. For me, I can't do without my Natura Bisse products, they are essentials in my life. What about you? Make a list of your essentials. If you can afford it, then buy a box full of the product and store it on a shelf in your closet or pantry. Then, if any future governmental lockdowns occur, you're covered.

Your makeup? Yeah, that's a bit more difficult since you have to use what works and you cannot make it stretch by adding water. It will ruin the product. Now is the time to make that list again and see what your essentials are in that beauty bag. Yes, cost is a factor, but you have to think about availability if the stores have a shortage and are slow in restocking the shelves. 

Even when you order online, it make take longer for your essentials to arrive. So again, take stock, what do you need to survive? Me? Yeah, I need my Clinique foundation plus specialty products like Kett cosmetics. Again, go online and buy a box of the stuff you wear all the time. Store it in your closet and you're done. Your eye makeup should be the same; stock up on essentials. On my days at home I am pared down to a bare face. If I am only going to the grocery store and have to wear a scarf in case I need to cover my nose and mouth, I have a minimal makeup look. Otherwise, I like the full face makeup for shopping or making an appearance at the office or on a Zoom meeting camera - yeah, full face makeup is essential.

Okay, let's talk about that Zoom video conferencing app. Most offices now require a weekly Zoom meeting or whichever video conferencing application they are using, even with remote learning. There are YouTube videos telling you how to have your computer camera at about eye level and not too far above your head. If you place the camera too high, your roots will show as well as what is on your lap, whether it's the cat or your lower half exposed to prying eyes. Plus, you do not want to be straining your neck trying to look above you at the camera. You really want to try for about eye level and tipping your chin downward a bit.

Always have a place ready to go for video conferencing whether in business or in your personal life. Sit as close to a wall as possible, your back to the wall, so if you get up and run around, the camera will not have that wide angle and see everything. Only the wall will show. It's fine if you want to back up your chair against a bookshelf to display your Oscar and Tony awards, but again, be mindful of what is on camera and that most sessions are automatically recorded. Even if they are not, any member of that video conference can do a screenshot and your image can be saved and downloaded onto anyone's hard drive.

Wear your regular makeup and foundation, but adjust your foundation color. If you have light skin, go a bit darker than you normally wear because the camera will pick up on light. If you have darker skin, choose a foundation a bit lighter than you would normally wear. Wear your normal eye makeup and blush, but maybe tone down on the lipstick. You don't want it smearing or appearing on your teeth as you talk away during a video conference call.

Place lamps, depending on brightness you may need a few lamps, directly behind your computer screen, where the light emits from behind the screen. You want the light source directly on your face, from the front only. Close all windows and shades to control the light source. If you only want to use natural light, that's fine, but be sure you are facing the window, do not have the window behind you.

Adjust the camera and video settings on your computer and choose the ones most flattering to you. Test your camera and lighting before you go live to see if everything looks okay. Do not feel self-conscious. Just be yourself and smile. Most people will not have these important tips I am providing here to you right now and will look bad on camera. But for those who read this blog? You'll be fine. Don't be embarrassed, drop that, just have fun with it.

I hope these tips have helped and remember that we are all going through the same difficulties and have had to adjust and we will continue to evolve and make this life better for everyone.

#fashion #style #makeup #kett #clinique #naturabisse

#vogue #decor #home #celebrity #hollywood #zoom

#videoconferencing #zoommeetings #homeoffice

#shelterinplace #bardot #beaches #ocean

#movies #television #magazines

Easy Feng Shui

Feng Shui interior decorating can be as complicated as you want to make it. I prefer the Western type of Feng Shui which is applying an easy template to your home. If you have multiple stories of your house, the template would apply to each floor. Don't mix Eastern and Western styles of Feng Shui, pick one and use it throughout your house or apartment.

The Western type is an easy template you can use for your home or apartment, no matter if it's one story or more, you use the same template aligning the bottom of the template to where your front door is located. In my opinion, you don't have to purchase anything or worry about buying a compass to figure out which room faces which direction.

You'll want to start very simple and basic, and if you want, delve deeper into the finer points of Feng Shui later on. It can be a bit of a rabbit hole and could drive you nuts. The intent is to create a peaceful and harmonious home where every room flows into the next without distraction or clutter, keeping the energy flowing smoothly throughout the home.

First thing is to declutter your house. Start making piles of what to donate, what to keep or store away in plastic bins for future use or posterity, and what to throw out in that garbage bin. No clutter is the first rule. Clear space now in your home, pick up stuff off the floor, clear tabletops except for one or two decorative items. Family photos can go on a shelf in your bedroom or home office. But still, keep out only  a few nice photos in pretty frames, store the rest. Then hit the kitchen area and clean up everything. No dishes in the sink or drying on the counter, pick up everything and what you don't want, throw it in the trash. Declutter the pantry by storing items in baskets or varying sizes of tins of the same color or style. Keep an abundance of food items in your fridge or pantry to create more abundance in your life. You don't have to over-spend or buy what you can't afford. Just don't have empty food shelves in your pantry or fridge, because you want to attract abundance and not appear to be existing in a "lack" mentality.

Put away any clothes or laundry in the bedroom and place into a hamper and declutter the bed and bath areas. Cleaning your home generally will create a restful environment and energy will not be caught up in a pile of dirty clothes on the floor. Do not over-decorate a bathroom. Keep the colors neutral, like a soft lemon yellow, beige, grey or wood tones, natural bamboo, real wood and stone, no black colors if you can avoid them and no extra mirrors.

Experiment with creating a friendly entryway that can be in green or teal colors with beige as a suggestion to invite family and friends into the home. Your home still can be functional while you're doing Feng Shui decorating.

Pictured below is an easy to follow template for any home. The lower edge of the template equates with the wall where your entryway door is, not the door to the garage or back door if you don't use your front door. It is aligned with your front door, so the bottom of the template includes your front door. I do not suggest investing in anything pricey, like, don't repaint all your walls or buy new furniture. This is just to get you started using what you already own. If you buy anything new, think about the color and design and where it will be used.

You can use the template for each floor of your house or apartment. Remember, it stretches out along the entire wall where your front door is, so, depending on your floor plan, it will encompass the entryway, bedrooms and maybe a bathroom. The middle or center of your home from wall to wall will be the family sector with earth tones, maybe your living room or office, even closets with blankets and linens. Throw out anything old and stained and keep things fresh and clean. The upper left corner is your wealth sector even if it might fall where a bedroom might be or maybe a family room. Think about what images or decor means money to you. Use rich blue and purple tones, gold tones or real gold or gold-plated items and a silver box for coins. Anything that means prosperity to you can go in that section of your house, even photos of a beautiful castle or a beautiful ocean with a yacht sailing along peacefully.

If, for example, your "people and travel" sector is in your bathroom, then avoid black and stick with gray tones, natural wood vases or for a soap dish, use natural bamboo, wood or beige tones or soft yellow. If your bathroom falls in the money and wealth sector, then bring in forest green tones and natural green plants, and wood elements.

Experiment with the energy in your home and use Feng Shui as a guide to a peaceful house. Start looking at various decor ideas online and you'll see what vibes with you. Don't let this rule your roost, however, have fun with it and don't stress out. It could lead to a whole new interest and hobby.

#fengshui#home#decor#stylesheetdaily#style#fashion

Cannes Film Festival Style

We love to watch the stars at the annual Cannes Film Festival and see what is the latest and the greatest on the red carpet as celebs from all over the world flock into Cannes to promote their films or just to be a part of the action. 

First off, let's look at some of the makeup styles of the stars. Some chose to emphasize the eyes while others chose to have bold color on their lips as the makeup styles were pretty conservative and not much to write home about. One caution for any lady [or gent] no matter what their age, please pay attention to basics. You want clear skin and beautiful teeth. Don't do a faux pas like Claudia Cardinale did, her teeth are horrible and her makeup is overdone. Her hair looks glamorous but she needed to have softer bangs to cover up her forehead. Jane Fonda is normally put together well and pays attention to details.

Of course Catherine the Great is always on the cutting edge of style as her glorious eyes shine with darker hair:

Then we've got a few of the obvious fashion flops as I don't know what Kendall Jenner was thinking with her disastrous outfit or Lupita Nyong'o with what looks like a rehash of a dress she has worn before at an event and her hairstyle looks silly.

A few fashion wins as I love these styles and they all look good on the ladies who are wearing them:

Honorable mention for Carla Bruni as I think the dress is lovely although a bit boring yet you need a perfect figure like Carla to wear it. I would have selected a better hairstyle, soft waves framing her face that have movement, not this severe:

This is just a sampling of the styles at Cannes this year as watching what the celebs wear helps us to develop our own style.

#cannesfilmfestival

#stylesheetdaily

Eye on Spring

There are a lot of new trends on the fashion runway showing the makeup looks for Spring 2018 and some are very wearable, others, you need to be either very young or very dumb and follow every fad out there. Extreme makeup can be worn if you are young and have very good skin, since metallic eye shadows, glosses, and bright colors will only highlight your skin flaws. Other than that, you may look stupid if you are over 25 and wear extreme makeup providing you are willing to be stared at, like artists, actors, models, painters, you get it, not really for the average person shopping at the dollar store.

That being said, please never do this new trend. It looks like a plastic surgeon's laundry marker that's still on your face drawing out exactly where he needs to do his nips and tucks.

Other trends are very wearable. It's basically concealer matching your skin tone, add soft eyeliner and shadow, and then a dusting of light color on your face along with a natural lip color. You can add more color to your lips either day or night, depending on your style.

At Sonia Rykiel, all neutral shades to highlight
clear skin. Add basic mascara with eye shadow
on the top lid to the brow bone and along the
bottom lashes, then add peachy lipstick.

Margot Robbie wears eyeliner on the top lash,
a light dusting of eye shadow, minimal color on the rest
of her face.

You can wear this look from Manish Arora if you are very young
and have clear smooth skin, otherwise, the bright color
will emphasize your flaws. This may not be the look
you want at the office, but it's a fun daytime look
for browsing the shops on Main Street.

Have fun experimenting with different makeup as you learn to develop your own style.

#stylesheedaily  #fashion  #beauty #marilyn

#spring  #makeup

Meat-Free Feasts

Yes, the holidays are upon us and it doesn't mean you have to gobble up the turkeys or the ham or the steak and eggs, but start transitioning to a meat-free diet that is healthier for you, and will make you happier that you have contributed to the ending of cruelty to animals. I know, it's a preference, but when I have gone back to tasting real meatballs or real chicken, all I taste is the grease, fat, and gross tissue of the animal that died for my dinner, aside from the attacks on my health due to the fat and high cholesterol side effects. 

I know, you say some slaughter methods are not cruel, but there are no humane slaughter methods in spite of what the government tries to say. Any quick Google search will take you to real video of what goes on in slaughter plants, even at the hands of professionals. The quickest methods are employed leaving little thought to the animal being slaughtered since time is money, and it's all about production and getting the work done and slaughtering as many animals as they can each day to make more money for the slaughter plant owners and operators and of course for the employees.

Meatless dishes are really good, but you still have to watch the calories and fat you are consuming if you are concerned about losing some pounds over the holidays this year. If you are careful about what you eat and control portion size, you should see a difference in your waistline in a few months so you don't have to make any major New Year's resolutions about weight loss or diet, since you will already be on your way to your weight loss goals.

Here are a few recipes that might get you going in the vegetable direction if you choose to cook. There are many prepared foods that are just as good to choose from at the market or in the produce or fresh foods section of the store where the food is prepared for you on the premises.

All recipes are from MarthaStewart.com

Cauliflower, Red Onion and Chestnut Tart:

Click here for the recipe.

Roasted Butternut Squash Lasagna:

Click here for the recipe.

Roasted Parsnip Bread Pudding:

Click here for the recipe.

Pumpkin and Pecorino Gratin:

Click here for the recipe.

Mint and chocolate added to your coffee is an easy recipe or just make hot chocolate with almond milk for your morning or afternoon break. For dinner, you can have that one glass of red or white wine to compliment your meat-free dinner.

I know, hunting season officially starts on Friday as I wish you good luck on your shopping expeditions that don't result in any harm to any living thing.

#thanksgiving  #holiday

#meatlesscooking #meatfree  #marthastewart

Fixer-Upper

How many times do we love something we see, whether we see it on a celebrity or on the runway and we can't wait to see it in stores but we would have to fix it to actually make it wearable. I have done this many times and it just doesn't work out the way I think it will and I end up throwing the item in the garbage. Don't do this with your life. When you see something you love and have to have it, think first, can you really wear it in the real world? Is it for shopping in the Village where nobody knows who you are and doesn't care? Is it for the workplace and you won't be snickered at behind your back? Or, could you wear it to the local mall shops where you might meet a friend from the neighborhood?

Fashion by Junko Shimada
Spring/Summer 2018.

Here is a dress that might work [photo, right] but let's get real. You would have to wear a giant flesh-colored opaque slip under it or you might get arrested and please, take that thing off your head since you look really stupid with that cheap plastic looking palm branch on your head. But the dress is pretty, right? Wrong, don't attempt to fix this, just pass it up.

What about this style below for your wedding? Well, I suppose if you are married to the idea of wearing something outrageous for your special day, then you must commit to it, but you will be extremely uncomfortable in a wacky getup and remember, those wedding photos are forever. I would opt for a neutral style that won't embarrass you down that long aisle of life whether or not you keep the husband or the gown.

Your fashion choices don't have to be boring, but think about where you want to wear it and your body type, and you will never go wrong.

#stylesheetdaily

#stylesheet

#style  #fashion #parisrunway

#catherinedeneuve  #blogspot
#womensweardaily