Mom.Me Market Make Over

Allison

Age 13

Budget of $300.00

This is my amazing Little Sister Allison. She is in Junior High and loves animals. She was brave enough to let me give her a make over from head to toe. Before the Make Over Day, I did my own research. I wanted to have a "Shopping List" of items to specifically look for when we were shopping. I printed it off for her to have while we shopped and away we went. Our first stop was Gordman's. They were having a huge clearance sale, so we took full advantage. Second stop was to WalMart. We found an amazing silver dress there for $16.00! Make up was purchased from the Physicians Formula line. We got her the best basic makeup for everyday use. Last stop was the Cost Cutters within Walmart for a cut and highlight. Once we had our goodies we returned to my home to had the finishing touches. We coordinated two outfits for the pictures, I styled her hair and applied makeup. Total Transformation!

She ended up with 17 clothing items

4 accessories (hats and headbands)

Pair of Shoes

Hair cut and Highlight

Make Up

Good Company

all just under $300.00!

If you're stumped on what to get someone for their Birthday or Christmas, consider getting the a Make Over...You can have me for a day as your Personal Fashion Consultant!

Get the Skinny!

I Love belts, and the skinny belt is a must accessory! Black, red, brown, white, I could go on and on with the possibilities in colors you can find. They are great for dresses, cardigans, and tunics, not to mention they make your figure look great. They accentuate the waist line and make your legs look longer! It's a quick Slim and Stretch!

Jewelery Board

I made my mom a Jewelery Board for Christmas a couple years ago. She has so many wonderful pieces from her trips to Mexico and as gifts that she wanted to be able to see them all so she could wear them all.

" I love my jewelry board!! Lynston gave me the supplies to take a cork board, cover it with velvet, stick pins or tacks in it, and hang my jewelry so I can see it. I'm wearing jewelry more now because it's there in front of me... like a picture when I get dressed in the morning. I even hang earrings! I can easily see what colors/styles work for the day. It's a lot cheaper than a jewelry box and much more convenient!! Bring on the bling!!"

(Susan, My Lovely Mother)

You can use any color of fabric you want, but velvet is easier to poke a hole through without being too noticeable. Use a large stapler to attach the fabric. You can get creative with your tacks and put glue on the end of the and dip in glitter...go wild. I heavier the jewels, the bigger the tack;)

Scrubby Scrubby...Works!

I used the recipe for the face lastnight...honey and baking soda...AMAZING! My skin felt so soft and moisturized. I didn't need to apply anymore lotion to my face for overnight, it was Fabulous! Instead of using Epsom Salt for the body scrub, I used sugar and olive oil. My skin was glowing afterwards. It wasn't greasy, it was just very smooth and shiney. I can't tell you how much better my skin felt and looked! Try it, you'll love it.

Scrubby Scrubby

So, is anyone else getting the winter itch? Dry skin is a constant battle to stay on top of, especially in the frigid winter months. I have been searching for a body scrub to sluff off the dead, dry skin that can be made in my own kitchen. I found a good recipe that is for the face and body:

For the Face use honey & baking soda. It works better than those crystal derma kits! Plus Honey is a natural antibacterial and moisturizer.For the Body it up Walgreens. They make a lavender Epsom bath salt (smells really good)and mix that with baby oil or olive oil!

Staticky Hair Prevention

By BFF Alyssa wanted to know how to cure Staticky Hair, so I searched it out. I found these steps on taming those electric locks on http://www.ehow.com/.

Step 1
Deep-condition your hair regularly. (See Related eHow "How to Deep-Condition Hair".) Properly moisturized hair is less likely to be affected by static.
Step 2
Use a "leave-in" conditioner on your hair after you wash it, or apply conditioning hair gel. These products help to weigh the hair down.
Step 3
Spray your hairbrush or comb with an anti-static spray before you run it through your hair.
Step 4
Keep a fabric softener sheet handy and run it over your hair when it starts to get out of control. Carry it in your purse so you can use it several times during the day if necessary.
Step 5
Avoid hair products that include ingredients that will dry out your hair, such as alcohol or harsh chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulfates.

Rain Boots

Rain Boots are major this time of year and in the spring. You can choose from a great variety at http://www.target.com/. They are all $24.99. Who knew rain boots could be a way of expressing yourself?

*My Lovely Mother had another good idea when it comes to looking for fun rainboots. Try Tractor Supply or Theisens for Fashion "Muck" Boots.

Hattacular

Hats are so much fun. I have a couple of great hats that can really save me on a bad hair day. They are also a great accessory to have for cooler temperatures. Here are a couple of cute toppers, compliments of Younkers.

Grease Ball

I have found an affordable way to keep your skin well hydrated in this coming season. Vaseline is my "Can't Do Without" Cosmetic Cure-All. I use if for lip balm, for my hairs' dry ends, around my eyes, and feet. I slab it all over my feet sometimes at night and then put socks on to wear to bed. In the morning my feet are smooth and soft. I'm assuming the same thing would happen if you wore gloves on your hands....haven't tried that one out yet. Your Guy may start having dreams that he's sleeping with Mickey Mouse!

Vaseline leaves a shiny somewhat greasy look, which is an advantage when you're trying to brighten up your skin. I apply it to my shoulders, chest, arms, and legs, whatever is exposed. It's healthy for all skin type and gives definition to your features. So Get Glowing Girl!

BTW...Michael Buble

Well...have you gone out to get your copy of Michael Buble's new album yet? I HAVE!!! It is amazing, wonderful, and deliciously refreshing. Michael will be performing/appearing on Oprah today at 4!

MICHAEL BUBLE'S New Album, Crazy Love, October 9th!

Check out the new Music Video For "Haven't Met You Yet", the first single of Michael's new album, on the Right.

Personalized Perfume Lotion

When you go to the Moisturizing Section of a store, you are bombarded with so many sent selections....do you want to smell like a botanical flower, a wild fruit, or maybe a nice Creme Brulee? I've also found that as women we collect a lot of perfumes from Gift Bags, Secret Santa's, and those sweet ladies from Bath and Body works! So why not mix a good dry skin lotion with your stash of perfumes? Instead of buying different scented lotions, you can use what you have and what you like from your own perfume collection. You can smell different every day, and be well moisturized. Take a hand full of Moisturizer, spritz it with your choice of perfume or body splash, apply, and You're a Blooming Garden with Hydrated skin! I would suggest unscented Utter Butter or Eucerin Creme $13.99 for 16 oz tub.

Lumber Jackin' It!

Flannel and Plaid are back. Who new Lady Lumber Jacks could be so 2009? This is great way to incorporate color and texture into your everyday wardrobe. Check out Vanity for their Plaid Dress Top for $15.99 and Plaid Flats from Kmart $12.98.

Take the Redness Out!

I've used Visine for years to take the redness out of my eyes, but did you know it will do the same for pimples? When I have a pimple I will wash my face, put a drop of Visine on the spot, and then go on with my make-up application. You'd be amazed how great it works! Generic brands work just as good, so go ahead and save a little!

$5 Eye Make-Up Remover

"I make my own eye make-up remover. My mother taught me this... find an old bottle or buy a small travel size squeeze bottle from the travel section for $1 and fill it about 1/4 - 1/2 inch (depends on how big the bottle) with baby shampoo. Fill up the rest with water and shake to mix. Since it's "no tears" it won't hurt your eys and since you're a mom you already have the shampoo! My mom gave me her big 24 oz bottle when I moved to college and I still have it 7 years later. You barely use any and it's a huge bottle for less than $5. Can't beat that :)"

This is from my good friend from High School and roommate in College, Stacey Carson.

Jumping for Jump Suits!

Florial Cardigan $22.80, Forever21,

Cream Embellished Cardigan $22.80, Forever21

Braided Bead Bracelet $6.99, Rue21

Black Jump Suit, $24.99, Alloy

http://www.forever21.com/

http://www.rue21.com/

http://store.alloy.com

Jumpsuits are a Fabulous way to have an evening look without the stress of finding multiple pieces for a complete look. I'd have to call it "Glamlazy". This is a weather appropriate piece for all you Midwesterners enduring the impending chill of winter.

Now, to dress up your Jumpsuit, I would suggest an embellished or print cardigan. Black pumps and jeweled out bracelets set it off! If you get a jewel embellished cardigan go easy with the necklace, or skip it all together. You don't want to go overboard. Some Dangly Earrings will really compliment your neck and jaw line. Black Skinny Belt to show off the waste line and WaLa...Sparkle and Dazzle!

Cover Me in Jewels

Hot Hues for the Autumn Season include Beautiful Jewel Tones. Deep Purples, Blues, Greens, and Pinks. Burnt Reds and Oranges are Amazing stand outs. My favorite color of the season would have to be Mustard Yellow! It's a great pop of color when wearing gray tones. It can be scarves, hats, tops, and shoes...any accent piece.

Kmart $30.00 and Less

Hot Cheap

Unruly Eye Brows

Great trick to keeping those unruly eyebrows tame. Buy some clear mascara. Take the wand and scrape off the excess gue, then brush it over your eyebrows. This gives you control of the shape and direction your brows are going. I also use Aussie Instant Freeze hairspray to really set the look. I spray a little on my index finger and the lightly go over my brows to lock them into place.

Bronze Baby

I used to be addicted to Tanning, even though I knew the risk I was taking. I just loved being tan and it made me feel good. I also enjoyed the 10-20 minutes of silence and time to myself. I guess you could say I had an "Ah Ha" moment and realized that I was only increasing my chances of getting skin cancer each time I went to tan. I found a great alternative because I was not ready to give up the Beautiful Bronze Glow year round.

I'm sure a lot of you have heard of Bare Minerals makeup, but what you probably didn't know is that they have more than just makeup products. They sell a Fabulous Self Tanner from their Bare Escentuals Line. It's called "Faux Tan", it's in a Brown/Bronze box and the bottle itself is white. I found it at my local Ulta store in Cedar Rapids. You can check it out at http://www.bareescentuals.com/. They also carry a great Bronzing Moisturizer for $18.00, Faux Tan is $22.00. Sounds like a lot when you can buy Jergens Tinted Moisturizer from anywhere, but has anyone else noticed that it smells like stale pee? My Husband sure did. Faux Tan makes my skin feel amazing. I use it 2-3 times a week for my facial moisturizer before I go to bed. I wake up with a nice glow and great feeling skin.

Helpful tips to using these products: The self tanner will make your hands look dark brown to green when you apply it. It will wash off, so don't freak out, get a good hand soap scrub (manicure & tan all at once). It also helps to apply baby oil or Vaseline to dry areas (knees and elbows) and hands before application. This sets up a barrier so the self tanner doesn't soak into your dry skin and leave it a different hue then the rest of your body. Enjoy!

(Little hint that I forgot to include about the tanning lotion, when you apply it to your face, just dap it on your forhead, cheeks, nose, and tiny bit on your chin. This makes it look more authentic. If you think about it, when you get a sunburn that's where it hits your face...not all over.)

A Kiss on the Cheek

I just started buying lipstick for Blush. It works great and you have more color options. Not to mention it's multifunctional.

$6 Manicure

Want a French Tip Manicure that is beautiful, easy on your nails, and little maintenance? Try your local Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, Walmart, or Target for Broadway Nails. There is video on the website that demonstrates application. They are also great with Nail Polish on them. They last for a week, and the Petites work best for me because they are the perfect length when you're working with children. Visit http://www.broadwaynails.com/

My Aunt Raemalee had a couple great tips to add: "I've used these on my 11 year old daughter and if you take the time and give a manicure prior to application they last 10 days to 2 weeks. She loved them. Make sure to ruff up nail bed with a nail file before applying the glue.I have worn acrylic pink and whites for years and these looked awesome in comparison."

Beauty Tip (Hair)

This if for you Blonde's out there. Are you left with bottle's of Baby Powder from your Babe's Shower that you never used? Who really uses Baby Powder anymore, I'm a Butt Paste type of Mom.Me. Take a hand full and rub it into the roots of your hair. It's great for absorbing oil and freshening up yesterday's do. I have no shame in saying I will go 3 days with the Baby Powder fix before washing my hair! Doesn't mean I skip out on cleaning the Wobbly Bits:)

Hot Hair Deals

If you're looking for a cheap (I am not offended by the word cheap) way to keep up those beautiful highlights, try your local Cost Cutters. They have a great deal for 7 foils for $24. I go in and ask them to do the Mohawk Foil (the top of your hair including bangs). This will touch up and brighten up your highlight without spending a fortune. If your thinking "Cost Cutters", and it reminds you of the worst hair cut experience you've ever had, stop and think about it. Every gal/guy who works there can do 7 foils. I have had some of my best hair cuts and highlights from the 42nd St NE and Boyson Road Cost Cutters. Even my Big-City Sister-in-Law, we'll call her Amy, has been satisfied with her results. If you're scared, go with a friend. When you call to make the appointment, ask if the two of you can go together. Good time to catch up on Girl Gab.

Mom.Me Market

I want to share my ideas, creations, inspirations, and style with all you Mom's out there. I'm a stay-at-home Mom.Me and I am always looking for affordable ways to keep myself in style. I felt this would be a good platform to put my discoveries out there for the Mom.Me's who are looking for affordable fashion.