Did anyone say WORKSHOP? Now is the time to get your wardrobe makeover lessons. Call us for details.

Cool Clothes & Makeup

Makeup: If ever there was a time for the natural look, it is in the summer. Remember to use makeup that has spf in it if you are not wearing sunscreen.

Sephora is now carrying Bourjois Paris' Frump to Foxy Kit which contains makeup for eyes, cheeks and lips as well as the book Frump to Foxy in 15 Minutes retailing for $49. If you have a Sephora near you, stop by and have a makeup makeover. Walk around the store and identify the makeup artist who has a style that works for you. Sit down and have her/him show you how to apply your makeup to get that natural look for summer. Then treat yourself to some new cosmetics. Makeup should be thrown away at least every six months to avoid bacteria.

Wardrobe: We all try to camoflouge the parts of our body that we don't like. This is more difficult in summer because it is hot and we wear less. Remember the golden rule: Just because they sell it in your size does not mean you should wear it.

However, here are a few things to think about when selecting your summer wardrobe:

Sleeves: Unless you have toned arms, sleeveless and cap sleeves are not the way to go. PLEASE! By selecting the correct weight fabrics and styles, you can be just as cool and way more stylish in a little longer sleeve.
Shirt Styles: If you have a little belly that you want to disguise, wear a garment that is fitted under your bust and flows out a bit. Be careful about large gathered or patterned fabrics if you have a larger bust size. Select a loose fitting fabric. It is a cool, refreshing style and you will look fab.
Pants & Shorts: Look at yourself in the mirror! We can't go into all of the details here because there are so many, but every shape and every height has a good length for pants and shorter pants (shorts, capris etc.). Capris and cropped pants come in all lengths and if you choose the wrong one you make look shorter and dumpier than you are or you make look like you bought a pair of floods (remember those!). AND AGAIN I SAY...Just because they sell it in the store does not mean you should wear it (i.e. low rise). I would truly love to go a whole day without seeing fat hanging over a pair of low-rise pants. Oh if I just had a genie in a bottle!
Swimwear: The subject most of us hate to address and most of us get wrong. Do you own a bikini? Ask yourself a hard question. Should you really be wearing it and is it the right style. Boy shorts and string tie bikini tops are a no-no for just about everyone. Prints on top are great to enhance a bust. Hide a belly with a shirred one-piece. Create a waist with a cut-out side one piece.

If you feel like your summer wardrobe is doing you in instead of making you shine, call us for a wardrobe makeover appointment.

Cool Cooking Ideas

Iced Tea: Make unsweetened iced tea. Instead of adding sugar when you pour over ice, add a few teaspoons of mango & guava juice. You can buy the juice at the supermarket in cartons in the latin foods aisle or refrigerator section.

Mixed Drinks: Summer would not be complete without a mojito in your hand. The combination of mint, lime and rum makes a cool drink. For a refreshing fun experience while getting the recipe, go to Bacardi's Mojito website. And when all else fails, make your standard original margarita.


For cool refreshing summer foods, use light ingredients. Switch from potatoes to rice for your starch. Use seasonal vegetables and fruits and think out of the box. Make gazpacho which is a cold soup instead of a hot appetizer. Serve grilled fish instead of a heavy meat. Here is a great recipe for fish with a fresh mango and vegetable salsa.

Ingredients:
Fish fillets of your choice. We recommend sole, orange roughy or talapia.
Fresh Mango, diced.
Fresh Tomato, diced.
Spring Onions, chopped
Fresh Green Peppers, diced
Olive Oil
Fresh Tarragon

Instructions:
Preheat the grill to low or medium low.
Sprinkle aluminum foil with a small amount of olive oil.
Place the fish fillets on the foil.
Sprinkle fish with a touch of salt and crushed black pepper.
Mix together all of the chopped vegetables and herbs.
Spread generously over fish.
Close the aluminum foil and cook packet on grill.
Serve with rice and fresh steamed asparagus.

Decorating:
By ON THE GO 4 U Design Consultant Suzanne Copenhaver

Summer is almost here. Before air conditioning was common, most housewives prepared their homes for the heat of summer by packing away the heavy rugs and drapes and those things which made it harder to care for the house. Chairs were covered with washable slip-covers, knick-knacks were packed away so they didn’t need to be dusted and the home was made as low maintenance as possible. This resulted in a clean, stripped down effect which required less work to keep it clean and comfortable during the sweltering days of summer. Decorations were flowers and fruits of the seasons. Lace and linen mats were used instead of heavy linen cloths. Sheer curtains or sun blocking shades were put at the windows. Houses looked cool and living was less formal.

These days many of us have air conditioning and it isn’t necessary to pack things away to make the house low-maintenance for the hot weather. However, if we use these same principles-clear the table tops and shelves, simplify the table arrangements, put away the heavy bedspreads and curtains, there are rewards for the modern homeowner. We have a home which appears cool and fresh and more time for those outdoor activities which we enjoy and which help us to store up good health for the winter. Why waste time in caring for our homes when we want to be outside hiking, gardening, or playing tennis and enjoying time with friends and family? In the autumn when the weather starts to cool, we can bring out the heavier items and place them around the house and enjoy our homes and possessions much more because we’ve had a break from caring for them.

Find out if you need a design consultant or a personal shopper in our article published on Ezine Articles.

Reviews

Books:
Be a little daring this month and go to your local bookstore to pick up any book title with the word "summer". Then let us know what you read. For those of you in Loudoun Co., Virginia, don't miss out on the Adult Summer Reading Program at the Rust Library. Just write a few sentences about a book you read and drop it in the box. Prize drawings will be done all summer for adult readers who participate.

Music:
Heart throb Rob Thomas has done it again with his new album Something to Be. Now I know our topic this month is cool, cool, cool but you are going to sizzle when you listen to this one.

Food:
Bonefish Grill is our pick of the month. There are several in the metro area. Since you want light food in the summer, their fish dishes should sooth your palette. It is a great place to go for a martini too, but make reservations because the place gets packed.

Have you read a book or been to a restaurant that you think ON THE GO 4 U readers would enjoy? Send us an email. No time to read a book? Call us now!