The Little Red Dress

Currently I'm obsessing over a little red dress (LRD) that I recently purchased from Ann Taylor Loft on clearance...approximately $24 to be exact! Sure we hear all about the glory of the little black dress; or LBD as it is commonly referred to in the fashion world. But, what about the LRD? I was willing to take on the challenge.

After bringing my new purchase home, I hung in neatly in my closet and began to wonder just how I would attempt to accessorize it. After much contemplation, I realized that the LRD isn't that hard to dress at all. After all, it is a primary color. I chose to view it as a neutral, just as I would black, and began to put my expertise into action.

1. My first choice was to give it an equestrian feel, Ala Ralph Lauren. A silk equestrian scarf tied around the neck, gold bangles, gold with rhinestone stud earrings, Ralph Lauren riding boots and to give the look a little sex appeal...a great pair of champagne colored fishnet hosiery. I love mixing sexy with outdoors.


2. The next look is more demure: Fishnet hosiery, pearl and black onyx necklace, a lovely chain belt with a decorative rhinestone flower; and a pair of black patent peep-toe slingbacks.


3. To give my LRD a little retro feel, I decided to leave its funnel neckline alone. Instead, I chose to decorate the dress with a silk champagne colored flower pin, a chunky red bobble bracelet; and my leopard sandals that wrap around my ankle. Meow.

When building my wardrobe, my general rule of thumb is to buy an item only when it will coordinate with three things in my existing wardrobe. I believe my LRD made the count!

The next time you're in the mood for a little color, don't be afraid of RED...it's hot, sexy and quite adventurous.

Happy Shopping!

Fresh Food For The Skin?!!

I'm convinced that there is definitely something special to the organic way of living. I've been on a quest for the best, and most luxurious of skincare products that is both gentle and therapeutic to the skin.

I discovered a company called The Body Deli (catchy name)! The name alone caused me to do further research. So, I jumped into my car and headed to the stores location in Palm Desert, California. Nestled in a strip mall on Hwy 111, as I entered the store, I was greeted by a well-informed employee that made my shopping experience both enjoyable and pleasant.

A delicious assortment of lotions, souffles and oils are aligned on the front counter so that customers can experience the scents and test the products before making a purchase. I sampled every scent that they offered: Tahitian Vanilla, Almond Joy, Coconut Cream, Desert Sage, Mandarin Infusion and Moroccan Mint; just to name of few. Each scent was mouth-watering. With the temperatures dropping and the air becoming dry, I was personally in search for a very emollient skin cream to keep my skin hydrated. I decided on the Tahitian Vanilla in the Phyto-Therapy Lotion. YUMMY!

One thing that I consider very important, when selecting skincare, is that the products use organic ingredients...I have very sensitive skin and I need to pamper it with tender loving care. The Body Deli's products are so fresh that they come with an expiration date; and some of them must be kept in the refrigerator. Some of the ingredients they boast are: avocado, Clary sage, green papaya, blueberries, pomegranate, tangerine, kale juice and kiwi. The products are absolutely chemical and synthetic free!

One more thing, the scent staying power is phenomenal! I nourished my skin with my new lotion in the morning and at 6:00pm I still had the scent of Tahitian Vanilla.

I highly recommend a visit to the Body Deli in Palm Desert. If you can't make the trip, visit them online at www.TheBodyDeli.com. You'll enjoy the experience of having deliciously scented skin that is treated like a delicacy.

Let the Desert Clean Your Face!

I was always under the impression that acne was strictly for the teens. Not the case. Every month my hormones rage out of control and leave behind a cluster of unwanted pimples on my face. Thank heavens for my monthly outing with my girlfriends. During our conversation, I told them that I had been under a great deal of pressure and had begun to break-out. Immediately my friends went into action by dousing me with a lot of questions..."What have you been eating?" "Have you been exercising?" "What are you using on your face?"...etc, etc. I didn't want to tell them that three days ago, I had just wolfed consumed an entire brownie the size of a brick; and then proceeded to wash it down with a large Coke...all this to drown my sorrows over some unwanted circumstances. Nor did I want to tell them that I'd been avoiding our monthly Bootcamp sessions because I hadn't been sleeping well and decided to use Saturdays as time to catch-up on sleep. You get the picture...STRESS had begun to make its mark...and on my face!!!

On our way home from our outing, one of my girlfriends and I decided to make a pit-stop at Trader Joes. While we wandered the aisles, she pointed out a product she once used on her now flawless complexion. It was National Tea Tree Oil Facial Cleansing Pads by Desert Essence. The Pads have been formulated with a combo of pure essential oils and herbal extracts. Each moist pad contains Tea Tree Oil (which is an inherent antiseptic plant extract), Lavender, Chamomile and Calendula. "It worked wonders," she said. "When you get home, take a nice relaxing shower; wash your face really good and then use the Pads. Then drink some green tea; and then meditate on the Word." What great advice!

It has now been 7 days since I began my quest for clearer skin and a less stressful life. My skin looks and feels more radiant...I'm ready to face the world!

If you're suffering from breakouts, try the pads. Available at www.desertessence.com.