Frequent eyeglass fans Jennifer Garner and Angelina Jolie…
* Product Review of the Week:
Most of the women in my family wear glasses. My mother has worn glasses for as long as I can remember (normally bizarre options from cheap drugstores, involving pink flamingos or tropical flowers), and my sister Corey does as well. And even though I’ve always joked that my hearing aids are more than enough “bling” for me, I never expected my oldest daughter to need glasses too. Growing up, eyeglasses were the least stylish thing on earth (and if you’re in the Army, they still are), but there are so many more choices on the market these days.
Fortunately for my daughter, prescription eyeglasses can now be found with a vastitude of shapes and sizes (no need to feel like Phillip Seymoure Hoffman all the time). But aside from choosing the right glasses frames for your face shape, how else can you rock your “scripts” without conjuring up images of Urkel? Read on:
* Enjoy Your Eyes: Just because you’re wearing glasses does not mean you need forget eye makeup. In fact, some of the sexiest women on earth emphasize their eyes behind glasses (cough, cough, Tina Fey), instead of hiding them. If you only have a few minutes in the morning- which is a miracle in of itself for most mothers- try using liquid eyeliner along your upper lashline and wing it out slightly at the edge. Add mascara and you’re good to go! Easy, enough?
* Go Cheap or Go Home: Don’t have a ton of money for glasses? If you haven’t noticed the variety of links in this post already (another sign that maybe you need some glasses), make sure you check out GlassesUSA.com. They have a surprising amount of shades under $100, and you can take 10% off any order right now by using the special code Blog10 (you’re welcome!)
* Sound Off: Do you like to skip eye makeup when you’re wearing glasses?
Makeover Mommaâ„¢ occasionally receives cosmetic products for review, with no obligation to positively promote or cover said brand. Receiving products has absolutely no influence over our recommendation of any particular product.
Posted in Fashion Momma, Fashion Reviews | No Comments »
My usual beach fare (plus, the ONLY time I flaunt it like a champ)…
* Fashion Review Fest of the Week:
I hate bikinis. For as long as I can remember, I have never been one of those “bikini” girls, whether I was spending the better half of my childhood in a swimming pool in Florida or having 0% body fat as a 14 year old ballerina. It doesn’t matter what size, shape or amount of cellulite cream that’s been slathered, I simply don’t think bikinis are comfortable. I mean really: who wants chase a toddler around the beach wearing a 1 inch piece of slippery fabric? Who wants to relax in the sun wearing nothing more than a glorified bra and panties? Honestly, I’d rather wear my actual neglige (assuming I had any) than a bathing-suit itself, because I’m yet to find a bikini that flatters anyone other than Jessica Alba. Frankly, exaggerated dental floss wrapped around my hips is never going to be cute.
Never the less, despite my overwhelming adoration for the “itty bitty teeny” (and more overwrought sarcasm than Happy Endings), the majority of mainstream stores have another idea. In fact, before we moms can even process the damage that egg nog and Vitamin D deprivation has done to our bodies over the winter, we find ourselves in a face off with every bikini and tankini this side of the equator. And I don’t want to be an “ini-ist”, but what ever happened to a good old fashioned one piece? You know, the kind that keeps any and all body parts that could possibly be nicknamed as “muffin” tucked safely away, and let us feel like Marilyn Monroe on the sand (except with less bleach and prescriptions). So if you need inspiration before the snow settles, check out my top picks for womens designer swimwear that’s actually made for women…
If You Don’t Want A One-Piece Your Granny Would Wear:
* Phax Plunge: Nothing gets more figure friendly than this baby. She (who, much like a boat, deserves gender specific respect) is perfect for highlighting the lean parts- legs and decolletage – while keeping your midsection under wraps. But warning… it’s pretty saucy!
* Max Rio Floral: If you want a pop of color and don’t mind showing a bit of skin, this suit is super sexy because of it’s low back. Plus, it’s crazy flattering due to the perfect combination of layered patterns. Bring on the optical illusion!
* Phax Square Cut: Wish you had a tiny waist? This choice highlights your bustline (or in my case, lack thereof), thus making your stomach area look as deceptively under-fed as Kirsten Dunst. Of course, you can still enjoy a sangria or two.
* Sound Off: Which one piece would YOU choose?
Makeover Momma™ occasionally receives cosmetic products for review, with no obligation to positively promote or cover said brand. Receiving products has absolutely no influence over our recommendation of any particular product.
Posted in Fashion Momma, Fashion Reviews | No Comments »
Families come in all sorts of packages…
* Column of the Week:
My parents have been married for 48 years.
My three eldest siblings (who like to showcase their seniority by narrowly controlling my life decisions in that “I’m pretending not to be in your business”, Brothers & Sisters, Parenthood kind of way) are going on 20, 18 and 18 years respectively. My older sister, who is closest in age to me and therefor inflicted the most psychological scarring overall, is going on her 4’th year of marriage but has a friendship with her husband like none I’ve ever seen.
After being raised Catholic for most of my life (overly fanatical Irish nuns and unstoppable layers of guilt included), marriage was always the most important thing in my existence. As the daughter of a former wedding planner, I grew up doing my homework in the rehearsal halls of countless ceremonies, salivating at the crinoline and ivory-coated imaginings of my own future union. By middle school, I had even plotted out my entire wedding with more vision than David Tutera, Martha Stewart and Kris Kardashian combined (involving a favorite lake of mine, barefoot attire and a concluding jump in the water before rock and Rum commence).
Yet despite my lifelong, deeply rooted connection to the meaning of marital vows and the significant lack of divorce within my lineage, life has always had other plans. And even though I wed at a very young age to a person I admittedly barely knew, I truly believed that my passion for the inviolability of nuptials could overcome anything. Sadly, this was not the case. As I move forward into the year of 2012, I suddenly find myself a single mother, a single woman, and without a single clue how to navigate my virtual world of journalism without the traditional domestic perspective.
Since I’ve been writing about my existence (and the highs and lows of my consequential relationships) since the age of 13, it seems natural to divulge all of the sordid details about why this was a right decision for our children, and why no amount of Catholic culpability, familial history or passion for matrimony could have otherwise made this a successful relationship. Yet even though this is my first column back on Makeover Momma after a brief hiatus (and a hot steaming bowl of “dish” is duly owed), I have one singular statement to make: no comment.
My children’s father and I used to take pride in the fact the we eloped in a fast, un-fashionable manner, with a substantial lack of candles, cake and basically anything my prepubescent self had imagined in my youth. And even though the conjugal life we created was never meant to be, the family that resulted from our vows will always and forever be the most beautiful, perfect, reverie-fulfilling success of my entire life. Did my childhood fantasies (and strange addiction to bridal TV) pan out in the long run? No, it most certainly did not. Yet now I find myself the proud mother of 2 unique, independent, loving, giving, generous beings that give me more completion than my heart could ever imagine or Jerry McGuire could ever describe.
Moms have friends? Who knew!
As mothers, it often seems impossible to stand up for ourselves and what we deserve. Despite our best intentions (and various re-runs of Oprah monologues), we consistently settle for second… and sometimes even last. We put our health, our interests, our opinions, our wants and our needs in the back of our minds, and tell ourselves that settling is simply the way that we can serve the role of motherhood best. Do I do this with my kids most days of the week (when daily bathing, meals involving more than coffee and string cheese, or conversational content not surrounding The Goodnight Show become a distant memory?) Yes, of course I do. My girls deserve every single part of my being, even if that means I haven’t found the time to put on a bra for half a decade.
Yet for now, I vote for not settling for second best. If being a good mother who puts my children first is what makes me happy, than so be it. But if realizing that I’d rather “fail” at something I cared about (or that I may not have proven many naysayers wrong from my past) leads me to a life of health, happiness and wholeness… than call me a failure.
I would rather fall flat on my face and make mistakes along the way, than give my girls an example of a woman who doesn’t deem herself worthy enough of being a complete person. So call me a letdown. Deem me a disappointment. Or give me a well earned “ I told you so”. But when push comes to shove, I know my little ones will go forward in this world with more love, kindness and devotion than some children find in a lifetime.
In sickness and in health, for rich or for poor (probably more of the latter) and till death do we part.
And that my dear mommas, is what I call a success.
* Speak Up: What is the one you thing you vow not to settle over in 2012?
* Bailey Vincent Clark is the Editor-in-chief, author and founder of Makeover Momma. Find her on Twitter (@makeovermomma) and Facebook.
Makeover Momma™ occasionally receives cosmetic products for review, with no obligation to positively promote or cover said brand. Receiving products has absolutely no influence over our recommendation of any particular product.
Posted in Beauty Momma, Family Momma, Fashion Momma, Fitness Momma, Getting Friendly, Nutrition Momma | 2 Comments »
