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Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
Meaningful Mondays
I have a Monday morning routine that helps me stay focused and organized for the week ahead. This is the best time for me to take a few moments alone, to reflect on my past week and week ahead. I often find myself on Monday mornings feeling overwhelmed because I did not finish what I needed to accomplish the prior week. It is a feeling of always playing "catch up" which of course is never going to happen.
I titled this post Meaningful Mondays because this is the time where I can take mental inventory of what is important to me. The fact that the kitchen floor did not get mopped, the blog article did not get written or the evening didn't go as planned; may be what is yelling the loudest at me; but definitely what is not the most important and meaningful thing in my life.
I am a rather organized person. I like being on time, having a plan and working with a calendar or list. When the house is a mess, my office unorganized, dinner not planned or a sudden change of plans; I get in a bit of a tizzy. I tend to go with the flow to keep the peace, but then find myself somewhat resenting that my plans were changed by someone else who unintentionally upset my apple cart.
To make my Monday mornings meaningful, I take a short time to reflect on what is important. I usually find myself admitting that my "feeling out of sync", was because I did not meet the plans and expectations I had set for myself. I soon realize that meeting all expectations, is unrealistic. I also realize that taking this time to take personal inventory, empowers me to feel confident and in control of my life through out the week. It allows me to reflect of what is most important to me.
I have now begun to make a plan for my week on Monday mornings. I do make my organized list; but this time I have it divided into three sections.
1. Must Do
2. Never Do
3. Would like to do
Must do is obvious, the stuff that really has to get done no matter what. Be honest with yourself here. The would like to do are the things I would like to accomplish this week. Some of which will get done and others will be transferred to the following week or until I can accomplish them.
Writing down things in my never do list actually helps remind me by declaring what I will not do to sabotage myself and anything that will cause unnecessary strife in our family.
I am becoming the person God wants me to be. I have not arrived yet but I am staying on the road to becoming a happier me.
Give it a try. The point is not just about making the list, it is learning to embrace each week as an opportunity to discovering a happier, more confident you. Keep you lists short, not more than ten things in each category. Be realistic and think positive. Each of us knows when is the best time of day to slip away for a few minutes to have some quiet reflective time. Mine is Monday mornings. When is yours?
I would love to hear about what works best for you.
Lady Lynn's Gift Boutique
www.ladylynnsgiftboutique.com
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Refreshing Spring Beauty
Spring is the time for new beginnings, stunning colors and a sense of
renewed energy. Guess that is where someone got the bright idea for "spring
cleaning".
My automatic biological clock starts ticking first of March, setting off
little alarms in my brain reminding me of all the little chores that have been
piling up all winter. My honey-do list expands and my hunger for freshness comes alive. It can be
anything from fresh fruits and veggies to fresh fashions or just enjoying the
crisp spring air while planting in the garden.
We have one spring rule in our home every year, no outdoor garden planting
until April 15th. Something about the chance of killing frost before then.....oh
well...I am the city girl and he has the agricultural background, so I will just
take heed that my smart hubby knows more than I do in this area.
Besides, that gives me until then to plan the garden, spring clean the
house, and go through the closets and drawers getting ready for a change of
season.
Just like our gardens need preparation
and our homes need spring cleanings; our bodies and wardrobe need to get a
little attention before swimsuit and bare shoulder fashions appear. There are
hundreds of lotions and potions available in department stores. You can make an
appointment and go to the spa to have a facial or you can do it yourself at
home. Since I love a bargain, here is a fun and inexpensive ways to get your
skin nourished and softer this season.
Face mask and scrub to renew, refreshed and brighten your skin.
Kiwi is a superfruit for your skin. It is full of vitamin C, antioxidants, and alpha hydroxy fruit acids. The little seeds in Kiwi will. Serve as a natural exfoliating scrub and leave your skin brightened, nourished and feeling softer. Here is a mask you can make yourself using kiwi plus a few simple ingredients.
Directions:
2 kiwis - peel and pureed in a blender.Add 3 tablespoons of plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon of orange juice and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Blend until smooth mixture with tiny seeds.
Using your fingertips, apply to your entire face (avoiding the eyes). Leave on until dry and then rinse off well.
Enjoy!
Lady Lynn's Gift Boutique
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
“Beauty is Only Skin Deep” - Really?
It's not about what you wear, what size you are or how stylish you are. I have been following Bonnie for over a year now and know that her message will lift your spirits, as it has mine. I hope you will join me in welcoming her and following her on Pinterest. Her life has been a blessing to so many and I am thankful that she wanted to be a light of sunshine to all of us!
Lady Lynn
"Beauty Is Only
Skin Deep" is a 1966 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy
(Motown) label. Written by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr., and
produced by Whitfield, the song was a number three pop hit and a number one R&B
hit in the United States.
The song's theme is
inner beauty and its value over physical appearance. David Ruffin sings lead on
this song, relating the story of a man who's become frustrated with dating
pretty women with "ugly" attitudes. He now praises his current girl,
whom he does not find as physically beautiful, but feels that her personality
more than makes up for it. "She may be fine on the outside/but so untrue
on the inside", is a typical lyric from the song. – Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beauty_Is_Only_Skin_Deep
OK ladies, I know we all want to feel beautiful . Can I get a resounding Amen??? I
almost hear the chorus of your voices right now & I can feel your tears
& pain.
When I started this article I was looking at it in the
correct general direction, but I as I went on I knew I had to take it further.
This because I know my story is the same as many of yours. Let me say this, True Beauty starts within you first. It must.
I, for one, certainly have always wanted to feel beautiful.
Since I was 12 years old, I’ve loved all things hair & makeup. I’ve tried to
daily adorn myself outwardly to look nice, to feel good about myself. But it
was to no avail, because I didn’t believe in my own uniqueness, my own
individuality, my own beauty. No matter
how much I painted or sprayed on, how tight or how low-cut the clothing, how
much I changed the outward, the inward stayed the same. The battle for my
self-esteem continued on. I walked through a childhood with an alcoholic
father, an over-worked, over-tired & angry (who could blame her) Mother,
molestation as a child and pre-teen, raped at 15 & subsequently 5 years of
physical & emotional abuse as a young woman. These all only further drove
the awful paralyzing belief home – that I wasn’t worthy of real love from
anyone, and never had been. I share these intimate things to let you know I
really do understand what hopeless & ugly feels like.
Fast forward many years later & at 43 today, I can
honestly say I feel truly beautiful, and it started on the inside. This came from my finally getting revelation
of how much God loves me & accepts me as I am. Yes, I wish I had “gotten it” earlier, but it came when I
believe I needed it most & when I was finally broken enough to receive
it.
It was near the end of September of 2011. You can say, on
that bittersweet day, that I saw the Light. And guess where it happened? - In a
WalMart parking lot, of all places. I
had been sitting in my car crying & talking to my precious Pastor’s wife on
the phone about watching my 14-year-supposed-to-be-forever marriage crumbling
before my eyes. I was so spent, so
exhausted, so broken. As a result of that conversation I had an epiphany. God used her mightily in those few moments to
encourage me & He spoke so sweetly to my heart that fateful day.
In His Fatherly voice as only he can, He whispered deeply
into my heart & said:
“Bonnie, you have believed a lie since you were a little
girl, and that lie is this – that you have never been enough.” He went on to give me examples starting from
childhood, all the way up through the current day & marriage. I was doing the ugly cry by then, to say the
least. But what got me, what hit me the hardest – was the Truth that he spoke
to me then & there that set me free of that horrible lie I had believed for
so long - He said “I want you to know that you ARE enough, because I say you are
enough.”
In that moment, my striving to be this or that, to be
whoever I thought I needed to be to my husband outwardly/inwardly - & to anyone else for that matter –went
flying away into the breeze, carried in His sweet Grace, Mercy & Love.
Those beliefs of not feeling beautiful - struggling with my weight, skin, hair,
all the things we go through as ladies – suddenly took on a whole new meaning.
Today, as I type this, I now know I am beautiful because of whom my Creator is
& I now know am good enough for the same exact reason. I have great Hope that one sweet day another
special someone else will see it too.
BUT if that never happens for me again, I have God most of
all, and my family & friends. I will be just fine no matter what. And so will you. J
I pray that each and every woman - young or old - that reads
this will feel a spark inside of you; one that, with time & a change in
your belief system, will ignite into a blazing fire. I pray it will embed deep
into your spirit & soul just how precious, loved & accepted you already
are - in the Beloved heart of our Father. And for that reason alone, you can
begin to see your own unique beauty.
Peace ladies - Sweet Grace-full peace.
Xoxo,Bonnie
http://pinterest.com/embraceyrbeauty/
Monday, March 18, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
What's Your Style Personality?
Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes.
It is not something physical.
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren
Even if you only have a very small budget, with a bit of
planning it's possible to guide your wardrobe into the way you'd like it to
look, fabulous! First you have to define your fashion personality. Your
fashion personality is your individual, unique way of expressing yourself
through clothing and accessories. Not sure where to begin. Here are a few ideas
to help you get started. Can you relate to one of them?
Sporty
You gravitate toward casual, comfortable, athletic
style clothing. Denim is you go to fashion by choice. You are probably outgoing, exuberant, spontaneous and enjoy activities.
Romantic
You are all girl! You love wearing soft, feminine, delicate clothing, soft fabrics, details
like flowers, bows, or ruffles, Romantic style clothing is a very feminine
style, emphasizing the beauty of female.
Classic
You prefer the tailored look in your clothing. You gravitate towards more conservative styles. You are classy, more traditional and neat.
Dramatic
You are a trendy fashionista. You like making a statement in your fashion expression by wearing bold, unique, colorful clothing. You like to wear latest looks to stand out and be seen.
Natural
You are most comfortable in simple, neutral color clothing with little to no
detail, earth tones. You like to blend in rather than stand out. You are most likely easy going and casual in your fashion choices.Eclectic
Whatever goes because you are a free spirit. You love constant change and originality, being care free and full of life. Eclectic style
wears a combination of different clothing and accessories to give a unique look. She creates
a combination of different styles that are unique.Bohemian
You fashion choices are all about being comfortable, self expressive clothing. Boho Chicks are usually
relaxed free flowing styles, who love to wear exotic and tribal prints and layers. You have a bold, creative
personalities.
If you are still not sure, try going through fashion
magazines. Cut out your favorite styles of clothes that you love. Make a
fashion collage with these pictures. They will give you an idea of your style.
Another great idea is to go to Pinterest.
Pinterest is a tool for collecting and organizing things you
love. It is free to use. One word of caution, it is addicting. Click here to see my favorites. I love
using “pins” for all sorts of things from decorating my home and garden, wish
list, recipes, fashion and makeup ideas. There are lots of creative uses and in
no time at all, you will have you style personality figured out.
I confess, I am a bit on the dramatic side in choosing my style. How about you?
Lady Lynn's Gift Boutique
www.ladylynnsgiftboutique.com
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Easy Way to Change Your Body Shape
Change your Body Shape with a Few Simple Rules
v
You can change your body shape with the colors you choose
Dark colors minimize
while light colors will maximize. Make choices to help bring out your best features
and to camouflage areas that are less than perfect. This timeless rule has
never changed but is often forgotten or overlooked.
Heavy hips? Avoid
wearing light pants. Choose darker colors to camouflage your hips.
Large Bust? Once again, choose to wear the darker colors in
sweaters and tops.
Your eyes will focus on the lighter colors, so you will want
to keep the lighter colors where you want to draw attention and the darker
colors where you want to disguise.
Women, who are curvy
plus and opt to wear darker colors, don’t have to settle for drab. Bring
out your beautiful smile, eyes and hair by wearing a scarf, earrings or
necklace that will draw the attention to your face.
v
You can also change your body shape with patterns
Busy patterns and
designs in fabric will draw attention to that area. Likewise the busy patterns
will bring out areas that you wish to enhance to appear larger. It is so easy to fall in love with a cute
blouse, but if it is in a busy pattern and you are trying to camouflage that
area, better to make a different choice.
I recently bought a
darling yellow top with trendy studs on it. I thought it would look so cute
with a pair of black pants. By the time I arrived back home and actually tried
it on, I realized that it was way to “in your face” (to put it nicely) where
the actual studs were located on my bust line. If you are uncertain, it is
always best to try it on before you invest in that purchase. We do not need
anymore clothes, hanging in our well organized closets, which we are not going
to wear.
So, be honest, am I
the only one who forgets this rule and finds myself making unflattering clothing
purchases? I would like to hear from you by leaving your comments below.
www.ladylynnsgiftboutique.com
Monday, March 11, 2013
Finding the Right Bra for You
If you want to look your best, it is important that your clothes fit properly. You've probably heard the statistics - it's estimated that up to 85% of women
are wearing the wrong size bra. That's an astounding number, but not so
surprising when you look at what we know and don't know about bras. Things like:
- Most of us have never been professionally fitted for a bra
- Most mass-market retailers don't sell bras in a cup size larger than a DD so we make do with what's available, even if we need a larger cup size
- Bra sizing and the relationship between band size and cup size is confusing and never adequately explained
- What we know about bras and how they should fit came from our mothers, who probably had never been professionally fitted and who learned from their moms, who had never been professionally fitted, and so on.
Lady Lynn's Gift Boutique
Thursday, March 7, 2013
NEW Giveaway! Designer Inspired Cable Buckle Bracelet
CONTEST CLOSED
Congratulations Janice Geddings Joyner #478 you are the winner!
We would love to give one of our readers this awesome Designer Inspired Bracelet. Enter below for your chance to win. Winner we be selected by Rafflecopter's random generator when contest is over on 03/14/13 and the winner will be announced on our website on Friday 03/15/13. There are multiple ways to enter this contest and they are listed below. Good luck to all!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
How to Dress for Your Body Type
Women come in all shapes and sizes. Most women hate talking
about their body shape, because there is always one area we are not happy with.
The most important rule of stylish dressing and the one people will remember,
is how your clothes fit. Wearing clothes that are too big, too tight, etc are
what people will remember about you. It does not matter how cute the outfit is,
if it does not fit properly, it will not emphasize your beauty and minimize
areas you are trying to cover up. By using clothing correctly, you can easily
hide your body's imperfections and create the perfect style for you. It is
human nature that people will notice what is wrong with your appearance before
they look further. You may have just left the Salon and have a great hair
style, perfectly polished toes and nails and the trendiest designer jewelry on
and one unflattering fitting outfit dominates their first impression of you. Knowing
what to wear to look your best starts with your body type.
We are going to start by taking a body type assessment of ourselves. Knowing your body type will help you choose the right styles for your figure. Wearing clothes that are proportionately right for you is the key for looking your best.
Once we figure out
our body type you can choose styles are the most appropriate for your figure.
We already figured out our best colors; if you haven't started yet, hop on
board here.
If you are like most women, now you realize why your closet is full with
clothes that you almost never wear. Now you have the tools to make the best
decision when buying clothes and accessories, saving you money and frustration.
Make yourself a
promise not to buy something because it is pretty, trendy and chic without
first checking to make sure it is in your color palette and secondly that is an
appropriate style for your body type. Emphasize your best features by knowing
what to wear.
There are basically six body types. The easiest way to figure out what is your body type, is to stand in front of a full length mirror and observe the relationship between your shoulders, bust line, hips and waist.
Hourglass
Rectangle
Oval
Triangle
Inverted Triangle
Your shoulders are narrow, small bust line and
most of your weigh is distributed in your midriff and waist area. Diamond body
types should avoid anything that emphasizes their waist area.
Diamond
The main objective ladies, is to find out what looks good on your body type to bring out the radient you. We all know that when we feel good about how we look, we radiant confidence and receive compliments.
Enjoy!
Lady Lynn's Gift Boutique
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Jewelry Capsules
Today I am going to reveal the best kept secret of jewelry
storage and organization. I know you are expecting something amazing to be
written here but; out of all the many jewelry boxes, hooks and organizers I
have had through out the years, I keep going back to the same method. Many
women like to hang their jewelry so they can easily see what they have and
avoid them from getting tangled. The only problem I have with this method is
that the air oxidizes all jewelry (including fashion jewelry) and the dust in
the air settles in the tiny spaces and groves in the jewelry.
So my tried and try method is this:
All of my jewelry is kept in individual zip top bags.
I take coordinating jewelry (each piece in their individual little bag) and
make a jewelry capsule by placing all the coordinating items in one larger zip
top bag. This makes it so easy to select the color of jewelry and see all the
matching choices I have in the same color. You can purchase a variety of little
zip top bags at your local craft store. I have one drawer in my dresser where I
store my jewelry, fancy headband and hair clips. This will keep them from tangling,
getting lost, banging around and scratching each other in your jewelry box and
preserve the life of your jewelry.
I use drawer
organizers to keep my colors separated. You can purchase nice ones but to be
honest with you, old shoe boxes work best for me. If you want to dress them up
by painting them or covering them with paper, that would be a cute way to
personalize them. I find that the shoe boxes are the perfect depth to hold
several bags and the perfect size to fit in my drawer. I keep them separated by
color. If you take a look on our website, www.ladylynnsgiftboutique.com
, you will see the way I group the different colors. This makes it so easy to
grab a bag and know something in that bag is going to coordinate with the color
I am wearing.
I actually
discovered this trick when I was packing for a trip. I attached the
coordinating jewelry bag to each of the outfits I was wearing. When I got back
home, all I had to do is put the bag back in the drawer and it was ready for
next time. My daughter, who is a single Mom, is always rushing out the door for
work. She chooses what she is going to wear the night before and lays the
jewelry bag on her dresser so she won't have to stress out in the morning
getting ready for work and the kids ready for school.
So now get creative
and save your shoe boxes. Decorating them can be a fun project to enjoy with
you kids or grandchildren. So now some of you are wondering what to do with
those beautiful jewelry boxes you have. I have one of those tall, stand up
jewelry boxes. I use it to store anything from sewing supplies, sunglasses, and
etc. Most of the things that people keep in a "junk drawer" will be
perfectly organized in there.
Getting organized
has very little to do with having to spend more money, it is all about being
creative with what you have and taking proper care of it. Okay y'all (that's
the southerner coming out in me), I am off to clean out another drawer. Little
by little we will see a big difference. If you haven’t started yet, jump in and
join us.
I would like to send one of our readers, who leave a
comment on this blog, an assortment package of zip top bags, to help them get
started. I have them in eight different sizes and I will send you a bunch of
each size. You will not believe how much time this will save you and how nicely
it protects your jewelry.
Until next time,
please continue to let us know how it’s going and any good suggestions you may
have to share with others.
Lady Lynn's Gift Boutique
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Divide & Conquer
Dividing Space
Dividing shelf space
into smaller, more manageable sections works well for storage. A system for
doing this involves using acrylic shelf dividers. There are styles, shapes, and
sizes of shelf dividers on the market to suit anyone's taste and budget. Some
are inexpensive plastic stackable shelves; some are laminated modular shelf
units.
I have found that what works for me is to divide my closet
shelves into smaller sections using shelf dividers. Shelf dividers come in
acrylic, wire, grid wall in all sorts of shapes and sizes. You can also use a
laminated modular shelf unit or create your own by using a step stool.
Sweaters
All sweaters should be folded, not on a hanger. If I was
given a dollar every time my Mother or Grandmother told me this I would be rich
by now. Folding your sweaters will keep the shape of your sweater and hanging
them stretches the fabric.
Belts and Scarves
Belts should be stored in such a way that they are neat and
accessible. You can keep your belts in your dresser using drawer
dividers or shallow boxes to compartmentalize the space. Then you can loosely
coil your belts and put them into individual compartments. I have this one
below and it works great for me. I also use it in a drawer to keep my socks
organized.
Drawer Organizer
32-compartment customizable
honeycomb-shaped organizer―just snip off the ends with scissors to fit a small
drawer. bedbathandbeyond.com.
The other alternative is to hang the belts from hooks -- the
back of the closet door or a closet wall is the perfect place for this. If a
garment comes with its own belt, it is best to remove it before you hang up the
garment, otherwise the belt could pull the fabric out of shape. I love this DYI belt hanger; I am going to have to make some
of these.
As far as scarves go, I like to keep mine hanging so they do
not show fold lines and get wrinkled. There are endless ways to do this, here
are a few suggestions.
Scarf/Belt Hanger
There
are endless ways to store your scarves. I like this scarf hanger from Bed Bath
and Beyond. I can view my scarfves easily and it also has four small hooks you can
put your belts on. The large holes have a non slip surface.
$10 for two,bedbathandbeyond.com.
$10 for two,bedbathandbeyond.com.
Handbags and Purses
Women love their handbags and sometimes face the problem of
how to store them. Here are a few suggestions to get you started. I place all of my handbags on shelves at the top of my
closet using shelf dividers to keep them in place. I would love to use the
handbag cubby below so I am putting that on my wish list. This is a great idea
if you have enough space in your closet.
Handbag Cubby
Preserve the shape of your handbags by securing them underneath. Crisscrossing elastic bands hold them in place. The bag sits on sturdy wide shelves and fold flat when they are not in use. You can store two small purses under the bands. $20, bedbathandbeyond.com
Shelves and Dividers
Handbags can be stores on shelves and you can use shelf dividers to support them. There are several samples of dividers in the above photos.
Hooks
You can hang your handbags on hooks in your room or wardrobe.
The picture below is using shower curtain hooks, what a great idea!
Once you have you clothes and accessories organized; you will be amazed how easy it will be to get dressed, coordinate your fashions and look fabulous! Next we will finish up with Jewelry Storage. After spending my life in the jewelry business; you will be surprised how I organize and store my jewelry. Until next time...
Monday, February 25, 2013
Closet Organization Hanging Clothes
There are endless numbers
of ways to store you clothes and accessories. Here are a few of my favorites to
share with you. You may not be able to make major changes to your closet; but
organizing your storage is a great place to start. Some of these storage
solutions I learned from my Mom, Grandma and from professional organizers. Today we will chat about hanging clothes
Hanging Clothes
I admit I am a bit
or a hanger snob. I use only plastic or wooden hangers. They will keep your
clothes hanging properly and from falling to the floor. Return your wire
hangers to the cleaners or donate them to a thrift store. I use a variety of
styles of hangers and each one is used for a specific function. I purchase most
of these at Wal-Mart or Target because they always have them in stock and are
not expensive. I am a firm believer that if I take proper care of my clothes,
they will last much longer and save me money in the long run.
· I hang
all of my sleeveless tops and dresses on white plastic hangers that have
the little groves cut out on either side to keep them from slipping off
the hangers. The ones with the wire hanger on top, allows me to fit more
on the pole. The all plastic ones take up a bit more room.
·
All my tops and dresses with sleeves, I hang on
either one of these two plastic hangers below. Notice one has the non-slip
grip.
· For my jackets and coats I use heavy wooden hangers to help keep their shape.
· Delicates
receive special treatment. I use cloth lined hangers and usually store
them in garment bags.
Something as simple as hangers, make a difference!
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