Tuesday 30 October 2012

Let's hear it for moms!

In light of my girls being complete jerks the other day, I thought that I would write a little shout out to all the moms out there. Being a mom is tough work! I can't even imagine what it's like for single moms!  I don't remember the last time I had a bath or a shower without being interrupted, or having toys thrown in or constantly being asked, "is dat your bagina?"! It's worse when they double team me when I'm trying to go to the bathroom.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being a mom. But some days it's absolutely maddening. The whining, the complaining, the screaming, the crying - those days test me.  They test my patience, they test my temper, and they test my blood pressure. On those days, I turn into Monster Mommy.

So, to all you incredible moms out there, the ones who get up early to make lunches, the ones who stay awake all night keeping an eye on a feverish child, the ones who cross the street while juggling a crying baby and a defiant toddler, the ones who breastfeed while cooking, cleaning or putting on makeup, the ones who always put their kids first above all else - You are doing an AMAZING job!

And remember, it's OK to get frustrated, or angry with your kids. It's normal. I'm not saying that you should scream or yell at will, but it's not necessarily a bad thing for your kids to see you display emotions.  I think it's a sign of strength, not weakness.

What are your thoughts? Have you ever really lost it on your child?









Thursday 25 October 2012

Warm & Cool for Winter

The autumn leaves are falling, the days are getting shorter, and that frosty morning chill is a timely reminder to update our wardrobe with some new winter warmers.  But before you run out to buy yet another cozy sweater, here are some ultimate Winter Essentials worth investing in keep you warm while looking cool throughout the season.



A practical & stylish coat.  Let's face it, you will wear your coat for longer periods, & more often than probably almost anything else in your wardrobe, so it needs to be comfortable, it needs to be practical and it needs to be flattering.


Kenneth Cole New York Down Coat $165 at The Bay


Beaver Canoe Toggle Coat $228 at Roots 

SOIA and KYO Carmella Coat $375 at The Bay

Toppers.  There are many fun and flattering styles of hats, earmuffs and headbands to keep your head warm without sacrificing protection from the upcoming arctic temps.

This winter's top accessory trend are earmuffs. What more can you ask for? They keep your hair in style while keeping your ears warm!  There are lots of cute designs to choose from; decorated with fur or knit details, bold colours as well as other embellishments.

ASOS

Juicy Couture

   If earmuffs aren't quite your thing, then try a head scarf on for size.

Gloves. I don't know about you, but I can't stand for my hands to be cold, if my hands are cold my whole body is freezing. That's why winter gloves are an absolute necessity. And, if you have to have them, then why not make sure they are warm and pretty! Right?

Leather gloves will not only protect your hands, but they will be stylish enough to wear everywhere, even to dressy occasions. Look for either black or brown to match your coat or look for gloves in fun colours or prints to make a fashion statement. 

UGG Australia Bailey Glove at The Bay

Painterly Leather Gloves at Anthropologie

Anna faux-fur cuff leather glove at Banana Republic


With these stylish and warm winter essentials, you'll be be ready to brave any storm.  

Monday 22 October 2012

Hallowe'en Mummy Craft

This is a super easy and relatively mess free craft to do with kids.  
Easy + mess free = 1 happy Mummy! 

All you need are popsicle sticks (or coffee stir sticks), plastic or wooden spoons, glue & strips of fabric.

Glue the popsicle sticks to the handle of the spoon for the legs and one across for the arms.

 While you are waiting for the glue to dry, find an old t-shirt to rip in strips.  This was a great activity for the girls. It kept them amused and away from the glue! 

 Once the glue has dried, start wrapping the mummy. I found it easiest to start with the head and finish with the arms.

 Draw on some eyes, and Ta-Da! You have a mummy!


This one happens to be my favorite. 

Thursday 11 October 2012

Another testimonial

Never in my life would I have thought that I would hire a style consultant. For one, I had this image in my head of what a stylist was, and it wouldn't be accessible for someone like me. Definitely not the case.  Beth's warm and professional demeanour made me feel instantly comfortable.  Plus, lucky for me, I have the Style Guru as my neighbour.  It was back in 2010 that Beth & I discussed doing an exchange, and finally in 2012, I decided to take the leap and the exchange began!  (Knowing what I know now, I wish I would have done this earlier)

One of my hesitancy's from asking Beth for help was being worried of having to get rid of all my clothes and have to shop for a whole new wardrobe.  However, that wasn't the case at all.  Beth was so creative in how she mixed and matched pieces that I loved to create whole new outfits.  She showed me how clothes should fit my body, what items look great on me and flattered my figure. Which made it really easy to get rid of the pieces that did just the opposite.  In the end, I really only had to buy a few staple pieces to complete my revamped wardrobe.

The whole experience was so affirming, fun and enlightening and was a lot easier than I originally thought. The first step was to answer some thought provoking questions about who I was & how I dressed and the importance of clearly communicating my true self.  I am playful, creative, kind, energetic, beautiful - but how I dressed didn't consistently portray that image.  Now, I am confident that who I am on the inside is conveyed clearly by what I choose to wear.

Because Beth is very client centered, it wasn't her agenda that drove the process, it was her desire to help me feel beautiful & great in everything I wore.  The more I started to feel good about how I looked, the more confident I felt to choose clothes myself. Throughout the process, with Beth's help, I grew to trust my own instincts.

There was also an unexpected consequence to having Beth help me discover my personal style. Not only was what I wore inconsistent with who I was in the world, I realized that my outdoor space was also inconsistent with who I was.  Building on the confidence from reworking my wardrobe, I looked at my backyard & decided to make a change. It was time to create a space that reflected me, my personality, my passions.  I followed the same process as when Beth went through my wardrobe: purging, mixing & moving, reorganizing & assessing what's missing to make it complete.

Now, after the process, I feel empowered to be able to create outfits on my own, and stay consistent with who I am.  Since having this experience I have had numerous comments on how great I look and I have been more than happy to tell everyone about what a wonderful time I had with Beth.

Beth met me where I stood. We went on a wonderful ride together and it's surprising how much more integrated I feel in how I present myself.  

Monday 8 October 2012

Testimonial

When I first decided to start my business as a wardrobe consultant, I knew that I wanted to help women realize their style potential. I wanted them to value themselves and value the importance of looking their best.  After my sessions with clients, I want them to feel empowered.  I want them to feel beautiful. I want them to feel worthy of looking good.  It's doesn't have to cost a lot of money, but it does require time and work.  As you can tell from the testimonial below, it's all worth it! 


I sought out the help of a stylist because I was tired of purchasing items that hung with their tickets still attached  because I didn’t think I could pull them off or because I bought them and discovered soon after that they weren’t the look I was going for.  I have also struggled with my weight which left me hanging on to favourite clothes that were 2 sizes smaller.  I wanted to simplify the morning routine of picking out clothing. I found Beth Thomas – Style Guru through an internet search.  I needed someone to help me clear my closet and help me learn how to fill it with a functional, fun and stylish wardrobe.  Beth understood my style even better than I did even at our first meeting.

I have always struggled to figure out my style. I could pinpoint the looks I liked in a magazine or on a “together” women walking down the street.  I could pick out an item that was fun but I was completely stuck when it came to putting an entire look together. Beth showed me how to do just that. We went shopping and I learned what flatters my figure and what to avoid. She made fun outfits out of items in my closet. What I love about Beth is that, like my mom, she doesn’t hold back when something doesn’t look good on me or when she thinks I am holding back from my potential.  I have learned to trust my instincts that I now know are often good ones. I guess I just needed a bit of validation from someone who knows what she is doing!

I have learned so much about myself and my style since working with Beth.  One gem of wisdom that will stick with me came out when Beth was helping me clean out my closet.  As I tried to debate holding on to 3 plain, worn out, Old Navy long sleeve cotton shirts, Beth told me that I was worth so much more than those shirts. Every time that I go out now, I wear things that make me feel good, instead of just the closest thing I can throw on, even if I am just out running errands. I might wear a skirt or my good jacket and boots, just because.  A second gem of wisdom was to set my own bar of what to wear instead of thinking about what others might be wearing. Instead of worrying that something might be too dressy or too casual, I set my own standard now and I just go with it.
Since our first closet cleanse and shopping spree just over a year ago, I have lost two dress sizes. The clothes that Beth helped me pick out were too big so I had Beth come help cleanse my closet one more time.  On my own and using the advice that Beth shared with me, I have purchased almost an entirely new wardrobe and I no longer second guess my purchases. I wear my clothes with confidence and I have never felt more content and more like the “me” I always knew was hiding out somewhere within.  Picking out clothing for work or an evening out is now a piece of cake. In fact, I now have multiple options that I feel good in. Next year, I will turn 40. It took me a while to figure things out but thanks to Beth I have done so while I am still young!


Stay tuned for another testimonial from a past client. See how her style transformation propelled her to make more changes in her life!

Wednesday 3 October 2012

A few small changes

Sometimes, making small changes can make all the difference.  I often get messages asking for advice on how to update a wardrobe without breaking the bank.  Simple.  So, here are my 3 tips to getting your outfits out of a rut and into style.


1- Update shoes and boots.  Shoe styles, like clothing, change from season to season, year to year.  Updating your shoe wardrobe is an easy way update your look.  Of course, it's still important to keep in mind your lifestyle when you're out shopping.  So if your shoes are worn out, falling apart or are still stuck in the 90's, then it's time for an update!

Well worn and outdated                                   New and modern



2- Have fun with accessories! Scarves, bold necklaces, bangles.  Not only are accessories fun, they also help to define your personal style. By simply changing your accessories, you can change the overall look and feel of an outfit. It can also make or break an outfit at times. So instead of spending more money on buying more clothes, invest in some accessories to change and even update your existing wardrobe.



3 - Push up your sleeves!  I have many clients who I know now think of me when they push up or roll their sleeves.  It's the easiest thing you can do to update your look.  Added bonus, it's also the fastest way to make yourself look leaner as it draws the eyes to your waist - which is usually the narrowest part of your body!

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Simple right?! So push up your sleeves & start having fun with accessories & find some fun and functional footwear.