Fall's Latest Shoe Trend: Shoe Boots

Last season they were called the  "bootie", the season before that the "ankle boot" and this season the "shoe boot". Although when it comes to trends, I always heed warning. However, this trend is on it's third season. Some things are in for a season which usually means by the time we have access to them, we can wear them for a month or two before they are out again. The shoe boot is not in that category. Here are some of my faves for fall 2009.
 
Mia Seductive                                        Worthington Georgia
(piperlime.com)                                       (jcpenny.com)

Kelsi Dagger Roseabella                   Michael Kors Jamesport
(nordstrom.com)                                 (macys.com)

Rachel Roy Jenna Peep Toe
(macys.com)

Bountiful Feasts: Watching Calories Over The Holiday

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I just had an amazing family gathering and am truly grateful for everyone in my life. I am also very grateful for the apple pie, pumpkin pie, gravy and mashed potatoes with roasted garlic butter. We are weeks away from the next feast and here are a few choices that will help you cut a few calories along the way. If you have any medical conditions, always check with your doctor.


Portion Control: Our society has serious portion distortions. Help yourself by literally measuring out one cup, one tablespoon etc. to see what that looks like. The more that you measure, the more realistic your portions will be.

Low Calorie Snacks: Choose snacks that are 100-150 calories and will give you energy, satisfy your sweet tooth and benefit your waistline. A great example is celery with nut butter and raisins. The raisins have a higher concentration of natural sugar satisfying your sweet tooth and provide immediate energy. The nut butter will give long term energy to tide you over until your next meal. Steer clear of packaged goods that are 100 calories as they will not provide long term energy and they are loaded with modified ingredients. This is a marketing trick and an unhealthy choice.

Cut Out Soda: Empty calories, empty calories, empty calories. Two sodas are equal to a full meal. Drink more water. Your breath will smell better, your skin will be plumper and your eyes will be whiter as a result.

Cut Out Coffee Drinks: Everyone is on the coffee bandwagon but ask yourself this: do you really even like coffee? I love an eggnog latte but let's think about it. A small 12 ounce drink is 350 calories and 15 grams of fat. That's a full meal. It’s one thing to treat yourself once a month but it is not okay to drink these daily. Have a cup of black coffee. It's 5 calories and doesn't have any fat. Save yourself 345 calories.

Holiday Glow: Glamorous Make-up Tips That Will Make You Shine

Every girl has an event to attend during the holidays. Make sure that you are in the spotlight with these simple tips.


Dramatic Eyes: Get out of your comfort zone and create a smoky eye with darker eye shadow. Make your eyes pop with a few falsies. Carefully apply a few lashes near the corners of your eyes for extra drama. Make sure that you have a light color or nude lip if you have a dramatic eye.

Shimmer and Glimmer: Dust your shoulders with a soft shimmer powder or lotion. Sprinkle a little in your hair as well.

Use A Primer: Before applying your make-up, put a primer on your skin to decrease the appearance of fine lines and help even out your make-up application.

Allow Extra Time: Take extra time for hair and make-up to reduce last minute stress. This is an event, take time to prepare for it!

Clutch Touch-ups: Carry a concealer, lip gloss and glue if you applied lashes.

Reinvent the Classic Cocktail Party

I feel that our generation has completely revised the cocktail party and not in our favor. What ever happen to the days of being prompt, having a cocktail hour followed by dinner, then the after-dinner cocktails? It's time to reinvent the cocktail party.

Be prompt: Whether you are the host or the guest, if the invite says 6pm, be there at 6 pm.

Dress in cocktail attire: The better you look, the better you feel and the more fun that you have.

Cocktail Hour: Cocktail hour is designed to sharpen the palate and heighten your senses. Serve a classic dry martini, a manhattan or a negroni. A dry champagne or a fortified wine such as Lillet or Maderia are great as well.

After-Dinner Drinks: After you have served an amazing dinner, serve your guests a digestif with their dessert. Port or a Tawney, Sambuca, Grappa and my favorite, an Old Fashioned are great choices.

Safety First: Make sure all of your guests have a designated driver or have made arrangements to stay somewhere for the night.

Etiquette: Be The Perfect Guest

Whether you are entertaining or you are the guest, there are a few rules of etiquette that should be followed.
Remember these few tips when receiving an invite this holiday season.

• RSVP: This is commonly overlooked with all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. It is important to give the host accurate numbers so that he or she can plan accordingly. For extra sugar, include the names of each guest accompanying you.
• Hostess Gift: Never show up empty handed. Bring a small, tasteful gift for your host.
• Dress Appropriately: Know your host and follow suit.
• Do Your Research: Find out who the guests are and their interests. Have a few appropriate topics to discuss in the event of a conversational lull.
• Children: Don't assume that the children are invited.

Iv'e been phished...

I've been phished. My facebook account has been compromised and has sent a spam message with a virus attached to all of my friends without my consent. I feel violated and wronged. I am wicked angry and don't even know where to start. I got the virus the same way that it is spreading...unknowlingly through an inbox text. If you receive a message with strange text like this (yoooouu arrre innn thhhis viiideo) DON'T BELIEVE IT.  It's a virus....and I am mad!!!!

2009 Travel Tips to Keep You Healthy this Holiday Season

The holidays are around the corner and travel is inevitable. 2009 travel differs from any other year with the H1N1 pandemic causing additional concern. Here are a few easy tips to make your travel a bit easier.

• Hand Sanitizer: Normally I am not one to promote the idea of carrying around hand sanitizer; however this year, I feel that it is a good idea.
• Tissues and Baby Wipes: You don't have to have little ones to carry these around in your handbag. They are great for a quick clean-up of the hands or face when the bathroom isn't accessible.
• Stay Hydrated: If you have upcoming travel plans, be sure to drink plenty of water leading up to your flight. Carry lip balm and a small container of hand lotion in your purse to keep your hands and lips moisturized.
• Vitamin C: In addition to your daily dose of vitamins, buy some clementines. They are at the height of the season, perfectly delicious not to mention easy to carry.

Travel safely this season and keep your health as the number one priority.
With love,
Cyn

A Run In With Static Cling: Diffusing the Energy

Static cling is a common problem and unfortunately today I tried to aid a friend and only wreaked havoc. Static cling is the result of protons and electrons that are off balance. A charge, static electricity, is created and must be diffused. Here are a few ways to combat the static.

Wire Hanger: Rub a wire hanger back and forth on the clothing to diffuse the stagnant energy.

Hand Lotion: Rub small amounts of hand lotion on hands and then rub hands on your nylons.

Dryer Sheet: Dampen a dryer sheet and rub on your nylons.

Personal Power Moves: Creating an Enterprise...YOU!

Dear Santa,
This Christmas, please bring me a Kimora Barbie...I need a mogul.

Some think that she's too intense, others call her a bitch, I say she's a genius. Regardless of your opinion of Kimora Lee Simmons, she is a mogul, a powerhouse, a role model and a huge success. She has created a personal brand that is the foundation of her enterprise. No matter what you do for work, your "real" job is to create a personal brand for yourself. Jobs come and go, careers can come to a screeching halt. How are you going to bounce back?

Start creating your personal brand today by applying the following:

• Networking: It's all about who you know. It's creating and nurturing relationships that may someday benefit you. Join organizations to meet other professionals or individuals with like interests.
• Social Networking: What is it? It is the most important skill that you can ever learn. This is the future of all communication and if you aren't familiar with it, start learning. And if you think otherwise, consider this: I once said that I would never have a cell phone....Now our lives depend on them. Social networking is a single or series of web-based profiles of yourself that display your networks or circle of friends and acquaintances. This is key to developing your personal brand and it is a reflection of you as an individual. Check out Twitter, Facebook, and Linked-In to get started.  Just remember to keep personal and professional separate.
• Volunteer: Give back to your community by helping others grow. In addition to making you more marketable, it is a great way to connect with the people who make the decisions that affect you first hand.
• Get in The Know: Read local publications to find out the who's who of the what what. Be informed and aware of local business deals, political debates, community progress etc. Research and read books or articles that pertain to personal growth. Knowledge is key.
• Create a Business Plan: this may sound aggressive but the truth is only the strong will survive. This is applicable to any position that you may currently hold. The point is to create direction and focus for yourself. What are your goals and how are you going to achieve them?

Start building your enterprise today; one step at a time. Consider it your personal benefit plan. -Cyn
Please err on the side of caution when creating online profiles. Protect yourself and your identity by choosing the correct security settings.

Recessionistas Rejoice: The Reinvention of an Old Piece

Let's face it, we may be on the "expansion" side of the economic curve, but we are still at the bottom looking up.  Buying a whole new outfit may not be in the budget...yet. Here are some tips to refresh your current pieces.

• Add something new to your jewelry collection. Mix in a new trendy piece with classics. Layer two or three necklaces of different sizes and weights to create a more dramatic look.
• Clutch swap! Switch out your LV for her MK. It will give your outfit a whole new look.
• New shoes...we all feel fabulous in a new pair.
• Cinch at the waist to create an hour glass figure. Layer your look and accessorize with a belt.
• Call your stylist and get a blowout or get an up-do.
• Have your make-up professionally done. For extra sugar, add some lashes to take your look to the next level.

Cyn needs a make-over: I'm in a make-up rut!

This rut is serious and I need your opinion. Maybe it's the seasonal changes but the other part of me thinks that it's just time for a change; a new style and a new look. My make-up and hair need a revamp and my closet needs a make-over so I did some research but today I want to hear from you. I found some great tips on Carmindy's website (http://www.carmindy.com/tips/index.php?id=routinesand) and almost all of them apply to my current issues.  But I really want a new style...Tell me your beauty secrets that you pull out when you need a change. What tricks do you have up your sleeve?

Sugar love in advance,
Cyn

Balanced Eats: A Few Tips from an Average Girl

"You are so healthy". "You eat so well". "You are so thin". 

You obviously don't know me as well as you thought. I am a junkie for junk food. I will throw down a quarter pounder with cheese like it's my job. I will house some Taco Bell at 3 am with the best of 'em. I heart the Golden Arches. What I don't do is make this a habit or a part of my lifestyle.

Here are a few things that I do to stay healthy and happy. Obviously, these are things that work for me and each individual is different but these are easy and adaptable. If you have a health problem, use your head and contact your Doc before ever taking advice from this blog or any other blog. 

Let's get started. These small changes can be implemented in increments leading to a fairly easy, fresh, flavorful lifestyle. And if you know my beau, you know that I love food, wine and flavor!

• Incorporate fruits and vegetables where ever you can. Add sliced fruit to your cereal, add an extra scoop of pico and lettuce to your taco. Make fruit your snack. Have a salad before dinner.
• For crying out loud...Don't give up carbs! It's ludicrous. It's like driving a car without wheels. You need them. Make smarter carb choices and you will feel better and look better. And FYI, Robert Atkins, the dim-whit came up with that diet concept, is DEAD. Take note.
• Eat very limited amounts of white sugar and white flour. Read the labels. It's in everything. Substitute honey or raw sugar for refined sugar and get whole wheat flour or oat flour or some other flour that suits your tastes. Google "types of flour" and you will be floored at the number of substitutions that you can make.
• Cook from scratch to avoid modified and altered ingredients such as modified corn starch, high fructose corn syrup, monosodium glutamate (MSG), partially hydrogenated oils; the list goes on. If you don't know how to cook, now's the time to learn. Read the label and try to duplicate it as best you can.
• Drink water. It sounds basic, but it's major. It will make a serious change in your life. Your eyes will be whiter, your skin will be clearer and younger looking and it will fend off bad breath. Take your body weight, divide it in half. Drink that many ounces of water a day.
• Walk more. Find ways to add 20-60 minutes of walking to your day. Walk to get your coffee, take the second half of your lunch hour and walk around outside. The fresh air is good for you. I lost 20 lbs. four years ago by making these small changes and walking an hour a day. Make time.

Love your body and cheers to a healthier, happier you.

With sugar,
Cyn

The Bee Keepers Best: Sustainable Green Honey

Stop eating white sugar start eating honey.

When I lived on the Big Island of Hawaii, I met a Lawyer turned Bee Keeper who is extremely passionate about his honey and the process by which it was made. This rare, organic, white delicacy comes from a single kiawe forest at sea level on the dry side of the Big Island called Puako. Once I experienced the farm and tasted it for myself, I knew that I would never choose anything else.

It is common knowledge that refined sugar is considered toxic and has been linked with numerous diseases and obesity. Here are a few fun tid-bits about honey and why it is the better choice.

• Honey is a great alternative to white sugar as it has a lower Glycemic Index.
• Did you know that honey is absorbed directly into the body because the bees add a special enzyme to the nectar dividing the sucrose into glucose and fructose? Amazing!
• Honey is naturally sweeter so you will use less saving numerous calories. 
• I also heard that if you are dealing with allergies, eating a local honey can help your body acclimate.
  

Eat more honey. It's the healthier choice. If you really want to experience honey in it's natural form, get in touch with the Bee Keeper. It will knock your socks off...the info is below.

Visit Volcano Island Honey online to learn more about the process and philosophy behind the most AMAZING, rare, organic honey in the whole wide world. http://www.volcanoislandhoney.com/index.htm

Sugar Lips Lifestyle Tips Website is Launched!!

Launched today! http://sugarlipslifestyletips.com/
Check it out! W W W Dot....

Shopping Tips to Dress Your Best: Shed 10 lbs. and 10 Years

Shopping is hard and finding the right fit can be grueling. Instead of spending hours in the dressing room, spend a few minutes researching the following and you will save time and money!

Determine your body type: Everybody carries weight differently and therefore must excentuate the positive and camouflage the negatives. This will help eliminate the frustration and help you look 10 lbs. thinner and 10 years younger.

Find a great tailor: Clothing comes in general sizes and having them adjusted will make a world of difference. Seeing is believing; try it and see a thinner you.

If you are tall, buy tall: Although I am only 5'7" tall and I have tall measurements. My knees and arm holes need to be lower for a better fit. Check out the sizing chart on Banana Republic/Gap to see if you are considered tall.

Determine your color palette: We all have our favorite colors and chances are we gravitate towards the colors that look best on us. These are called complimentary tones. Finding out what colors compliment your skin tone will help you narrow down your choices faster and help you always look your best.

The Tight Test: Is Your Moisturizer Rich Enough?

Fall is here and winter is knocking on the front door! Test your moisturizer to see if it is rich enough to keep your skin hydrated as the seasons change. Apply your current moisturizer and wait ten minutes. If your face feels tight, your moisturizer is not rich enough and you will need to find a heavier one. This heavier application can be applied at night so that it can be absorbed properly and will not interfere with your daily make-up.

Eyebrow Shaping: Find Your Natural Arch

Sugar Tip: When looking straight into the mirror, take your eyebrow pencil and line it up with your bridge of your nose to find the head of your brow. This will give you an idea of where your brow should begin. You want your eyebrow to line up with the front of the bridge of your nose bringing more definition to your whole face.

To find the arch of your brow, hold one end of the pencil at the end of your nose and the other end of the pencil will run directly over your iris showing you where your natural brow arch should be.

Extra Sugar: When tweezing, don't raise your eyebrows. Relax the muscle to be more accurate.

You Are What You Eat - If You Can't Read It, Don't Eat It

This section is going to test some readers. It holds people accountable for their actions and may sting a bit. I am really passionate about today's piece and it's clear. Just remember, I am not the bad guy here. I call it how I see it and not everyone will like it. With that being said, cheers to change. Let's go forward healthier and happier.

What we consume is critical to our health. It is not only critical to ourselves but our future generations as well. I am seeing more and more children who are ridiculously heavy and are dealing with childhood diabetes. They don't exercise and lead dormant lives. They eat take out and cheap boxed food. Their hot lunch menu consists of Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? Fruits and vegetables are as foreign to them as calculus.

When I grew up we had one "fat kid" in the class and his nickname was Beef. Today, you have a sea of little Beefs and struggle to find the "normal" weight child. I put normal in quotes because today's norm is too much. None of them are "normal" weight.

Am I a doctor? No, I have a pair of eyes. I can see that they are overweight. This is a direct result of what they are being fed by the powers that be whether that is their parents, grandparents, caregivers, whomever.

I see an overweight individual slugging down a 24 oz. frozen coffee drink loaded with partially hydrogenated oils and other garbage while nibbling on a baked good with preservatives and modified ingredients. I see a parent grabbing a # 5 for little Johnny because they just don't want to cook. I see water being exchanged for soda. I see an apple being exchanged for a fruit snack. News flash folks: Just because it says fruit doesn't mean that it is fruit. Convenience has taken over and it is killing our children slowly. Those choices influence their choices that form the eating habits that they take into adulthood. This is not the type of example that I want my family to see. We are the example. Let's start leading like one.

• Read labels: if you can't read it, don't eat it.
• Start cooking. FROM SCRATCH.  
• Make better choices everyday as they will lead to lifestyle changes.
• Change today and change for the better.

"Never Was a Cornflake Girl" - Cornflakes, Raisins and Grapes

Yesterday I had touched on the importance of a skin care regimen that included a cleanser, toner, scrub, moisturizer and SPF. Today we are going to talk about the epidermis layer of the skin and the importance of an exfoliator. There are five layers to the epidermis and we are going to focus on three.

This is going to take some visual creativity...Imagine a tall clear glass cylinder filled with plump grapes on the bottom, raisins in the center and cornflakes on top. You have the outer most layer of the skin, the cornflakes, also known as the corneum. These are the dead and dried out skin cells that dull your skin and will need to be removed by an exfoliator. The second layer is your raisin layer, also known as the stratum granulosum. These are the dying skin cells that will soon become cornflakes. The third layer, and most beautiful layer, is the grape layer. These big, plump, juicy skin cells are what keeps you vibrant and young looking.

When caring for your skin, it is important to cleanse daily and exfoliate 2-3 times a week.  Exfoliating prevents bacteria from harboring in your skin and clogging your pores. A good moisturizer is equally as important to help keep your grapes at their best.

When choosing an exfoliator, choose one that is gentle on your skin. It should have tiny round particles in it to remove skin and prevent harm. Avoid scrubs with nuts or stone fruit centers. These are chopped sharp edges that will leave small scratches on your skin and do more damage than good. Should you have additinal questions, please feel free to email me at paperdollstyle@gmail.com.

Today's Tori Amos title reference is dedicated to Shea and Rach. My two "raisin girls" that have given my the "yo heave ho" to make this happen. Love you!

Keys to Success : Big Investments Small Costs

You may be familiar with one of my favorite fashion writers Andre Leon Talley, author of Life With Andre for Vogue magazine. He had written an article years ago and one of his quotes was branded into my brain playing over and over like a skipping record ringing true on every accord. He reflected on the "...four keys to success: immaculate grooming, manners, articulation and confidence".

All too often, we become lax with our self care. It starts with not flossing one night before bed resulting in a cavity, we sneak a scoop of ice cream, pretty soon we are 5lbs heavier. We are too lazy to wash our face before bed and wake up with a zit and we always seem to be suprised. How did that happen?!

Today, I am going to focus on five key players in passing Beauty Basics 101. These are the big ticket items, the investments. The items that can not be compromised as they are the first thing people will notice about you. No, this doesn't mean that you have to spend large amounts of money to master Beauty Basics 101, it means that you need to invest in them. When considering cost, calculate cost per wear. 365 days a year for an unlimited amount of years to come, we are talking fractions of a penny. Make the commitment.

The following are five critical pieces to the perfect outfit, the best look and timeless beauty.

Hair:  Invest in a great haircut! Make sure that you get your hair cut regularly every 4-10 weeks depending on your style. Ask your stylist for his/her recommendation. If you color your hair, maintain it. Roots are not sexy and it gives the impression that you don't really care what you look like. There is nothing sharper than clean cut hair.

Skin: Your skin is with you for the rest of your life. Take care if it. Everyone should have a basic skin care regimen that consists of a cleanser, toner, scrub, moisturizer and of course, SPF. These are the tools that keep your skin clean, healthy, hydrated and young looking. I will discuss this more in detail tomorrow.

Teeth: What is the first thing that you notice about someone when you meet them? Their smile. It is critical to maintain your mouth. See the dentist twice a year. Cleanings are affordable for those without dental insurance so please don't use that as an excuse. Do your research. Your smile is a main confidence builder in many people. If you are not happy with your smile and it causes you to be conscious keeping you from feeling your best, look into having that fixed. It's worth the investment if it means letting your soul shine through your smile.

Nails: Keep them manicured and clean. Maintain a shorter nail length-just a little longer than the end of your finger. No cat woman nails and no chipped polish! It's just not becoming. If you have polish on your nails, make sure that you maintain it. If it chips, remove it or have them repainted. No biting either. Not only is it a great way to get sick from all of the germs that you are voluntarily transferring to your mouth, it's just gross. Kick the habit or get to the real root of the problem and work it out but NO BITING!

Eyebrows: Now this section is my favorite. I love my eyebrows and I want you to love your eyebrows too. I want you to do a study. I want you to take a really good look at people's eyebrows. Then I want you to flip through any fashion magazine and take a close look at the model's eyebrows. We have a serious crisis on our hands right now...or should I say our face. Over plucking is a serious offense. Consult an expert. Have them help you shape your brows properly. Your brows are the frame of your face. Now, please be particular about who you choose. Just because someone CAN do brows doesn't always mean that they should. Seek an expert with great eyebrows and you will be in good hands.

The Premire of Sugar Lips Lifestyle Tips!

Welcome!

This is the premire of the "go-to blog" for all of your favorite lifestyle tips. Each day I will enter new tip that will encompass different aspects of your life. I will concentrate on basic skin care, make-up tips, wardrobe and body style tips, shopping tips, fashion must haves, food and wine, travel and much more! I encourage your feedback as well as your questions. I look forward to hearing from you!

With Sugar,
Cyn