Saturday, July 27, 2013

Summer Sale Round-Up

It's happening, I'm starting to get Fall preview catalogs and advertisements in the mail.  I'm not ready to think about the end of summer yet!  I mean, I love boots and leggings as much as the next girl, but it's too soon.  Lucky for me I live in NC where the weather doesn't usually turn cool until well into October, but this year is flying by and it will be here long before I'm ready.  But there's good news, retailers have to make room for all of these boring, neutral, fall clothes somehow and that is by putting all their pretty summer stuff on sale!

So just for you, my very good friends, I have collected some promo codes and sale links so you can snap up a few more bright, shiny, things before it's too late.

First up, Lane Bryant has an additional 50% off Clearance with code HOTSTUFFLB.  I picked up this adorable cover-up for my upcoming beach vaycay for a measly $18.00.

Get in my closet!

Next Simply Be has a ton of cute things on clearance and, as always, first time shoppers can get 30% of their order with code 5550.  I'm totally drooling over this maxi dress that was originally $125.00 but is now marked down to $62.00!  Then if you subtracted the additional 30% off that would be........well, you do the math.  ;)



Torrid also has 50% off clearance with code EXTRA50.  You can grab a couple of trendy pieces like these print, cropped, skinny jeans, and this pretty floral dress.

I'm not sure that I'm cool enough to wear these, but maybe you are.




One Stop Plus has 25% off orders of two or more items with code OSPSALEWEEK.

Tablbots, a retailer that I have recently fallen in love with, has an extra 50% off markdowns, no code needed.  You might see me in one of these in the near future.

Wrap tops look good on every body, true fact.


Seriously, I think this skirt and I could be best friends.

It's also not too late to get that perfect bathing suit.  Swimsuits for All has 30% with code JULY8; if you sign up for their mailing list, they will send you a promo code just about everyday for up to 50% off.


I love that retro styled swimwear is so in this year.
Always for Me has some pretty cute suits and cover-up on sale right now too.  I just got the following suit in blue and it looks even better in person.


$66.75!

This 8-way cover-up is only $24.00
Enjoy the summer and these deals while they last, friends.  XO, Kelly



Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Boop Boop Be Doop!

Greetings Horizontal Stripers!
    An outfit you feel sassy in is one that will be around for a long time! Everyone should have something they can throw on that makes them feel polished and happy in less than five minutes! If you don't have that outfit ladies begin the hunt!
Dress: Lane Bryant circa 2009 // Peeptoes: BCBG // Headband + Earrings: Cato

Ginny's not the only adorkable one in this group!

Walk this way! Attempt to look cool on camera this way!  


Alrighty Horizontal Stripers,
Now that I'm done channeling my inner Steven Tyler, I will bid you adieu! What's that outfit or makeup trick that equals instant polish for you?
Until next time!
Brittani

Friday, July 19, 2013

Gray skies are gonna clear up......

It has been a bit dreary here the past few weeks with all of this rain and it hasn't really felt like summer at all.   Nothing perks me up quite like a new dress, so I got this cheerful, poppy print, number from Simply Be and it has done the trick. 


This dress definitely spreads sunshine all over the place, especially when paired with a bright yellow Lane Bryant cardi and Aerosoles sandals.


Please focus on the dress and not the seriously weird, faces that I am making in these pics. 
I sometimes hear people say that they can't wear a particular color because of their skin tone or hair color and I can honestly say that I have never considered either of those as a factor when buying clothes.  I have four orange dresses in my closet and only one black one.  If I like a color, I wear it.  And sometimes I like to wear multiple bright colors together.  I'm sure they don't always flatter me as well as some other colors, but life's too short to wear neutrals all the time.  So rock that hot pink and neon green, friends, as long as it puts a happy face on you.





:)  Kelly

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Avoiding Summer Makeup Meltdown


We've talked a lot about cute summer dresses and keeping cool during the heat of summer. But the summer heat can also play havoc with your makeup. And who's going to be looking at your perfect summer dress when your makeup is sliding down your face?

But that doesn't have to be the case! I've been collecting a few tips from the experts in keeping your summer look in place and I am totes willing to share, so read on!


The first key to keeping your makeup in place in the heat of summer is to use minimal layers. The less makeup on your face, the less you have to smear. And that's a good thing!


Second, prime, prime, prime! I don't know about you, but my face turns super oily in the summer. Oily skin usually means big pores and that's a bad combination. Using a primer will not only help minimize pores, it will create a tacky surface on your face, giving makeup something to cling to. If you can find a primer with SPF sunscreen in it, all the better! 


Too Faced Primed & Poreless helps makeup last while avoiding oil buildup.


I've tried tons of primers. Some are better at keeping oil at bay, while others are better at helping makeup last. Few have been able to do both well, in my opinion. But I seem to have a lot of success with Too Faced Primed & Poreless. It seems to do a great job of keeping makeup on without turning my face into a grease pit. I've even worn it to work on some 90-degree days, then to the gym after work and still had makeup on my face when I got home!
Those of you who have oily skin an also add a mattifier to help control oil and shine throughout the day, but again, the more layers you add to your face, the more obvious it will be if things start to run when you begin to sweat in the heat.

When wearing foundation in humidity, less is always more. In the following video, Tiffany D explains something I have recently learned myself: even though it is summer and you want a lighter, dewier (is that a word? LOL) look, it is better to apply less of a foundation with better coverage than to apply tons of foundation with a sheer coverage. I love Makeup by Tiffany D! She is just so cute and gives the best tips!



So as Tiffany explains, wearing less foundation and putting it just where you need it is ideal in the summer months. Make sure you have good coverage and a good match to your skin tone and you will not need to coat your face in tons of foundation.


I love both the Revlon ColorStay and the Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet+,
but I think the Make Up Forever keeps me more matte for longer.

I really like the Revlon ColorStay in Normal to Dry too. I have really oily skin, but like Tiffany says, it wears better than the oily skin version and I'm not putting on enough to make my skin overly oily, so it's all good. My current favorite is a little more pricey, but I find it's the best foundation I've ever used. It's the Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet+. This foundation has a mattifier and is oil free and it really lasts on my skin. It may cost a little more that drug store brands, but I think it is well worth it!

Another trick to making foundation more long-wearing? Apply it with a damp brush or sponge!

I use a Beauty Blender, but any damp sponge or brush would do! I just dot foundation all over my face, wet my sponge and stipple it all over my face to get a really nice, full coverage with very little makeup! You can see a beauty blender at work here. I love mine and use it every day!

For eyeshadow, long-lasting cream shadows last a lot longer in the heat. I've been playing with these a lot lately. I like them because they last and also because they leave no under eye mess when applying. Two brands I love? Maybelline Color Tattoo, as I am wearing in my picture above and Benefit's Creaseless Cream


Benefit Creaseless Creams and Meybelline Color Tattoo are two great long-wearing cream eyeshadows!

The color choices from both of these brands are lovely enough that they can be worn alone, or you can take a more nude color and use it as a base to keep your powder eye shadow on longer!


Other Tips to Avoid Summer Makeup Meltdown:


  • A setting spray like Urban Decay's All Nighter can help lock your look in place and keep it there.
  • Rice paper blotting sheets are a girl's other best friend! Keep these babies in your purse to dab away oil without messing up your makeup!
  • Waterproof mascara is a necessity. Humidity can make your mascara flake and melt. Keep your lashes looking great with a waterproof or a least water resistant mascara - eye liner too, for that matter.

That's it for today Horizontal Stripers. Did I miss something? What's your trick for keeping makeup in place? Hit me up in the comments! 

Until then, hugs!
Ginny



Saturday, July 13, 2013

Girl Look at That Body! I Work Out!

Greetings Horizontal Stripers,
        The other Stripers and I have been shut in lately due to all the rain we've been getting here on the East Coast. So what have we been doing with our free time you ask? We've been gettin' our sweat on...literally! We decided to try Hot Yoga and everyone loved it! If you've never done yoga, I would definitely suggest trying it at least once! Here in America, yoga (Hatha yoga) primarily consists of a physical workout using a series of poses which help increase flexibility and strength. There are also stress relief and calming aspects to yoga classes that stem from deep breathing and body awareness. The ladies and I chose to do Hot Yoga (BikramYoga) which for the most part uses the same poses as Hatha Yoga, but the room it is held in is kept at 105* F and 40% humidity. Kelly and I hadn't done yoga in years, so it was fun to get back into it together! It also gave me an excuse to buy some new workout clothes!


These are just a few examples of the stuff I bought:
www.lanebryant.com

Danskin Active at Walmart

        I'd love to say I had a myriad of cute sports bras as well, but turns out very few retailers think plus sized women want cute, functional sports bras like everyone else! Is it really hard to make these above a  36D people? If they do come above that size, they will almost always have to be ordered online, which promises added expense in shipping and handling on top of the exorbitant amount of money that one must pay as a penalty for having a cup that runneth over. And, oh yeah, on top of that the increase in price does not always promise functionality or fit. Way to motivate me to workout sports bra manufacturers!

Image courtesy of  Tumblr

Without sounding crazy, I can't tell you how irritating it is to not only not be able to try them on in the store, but to be given the hope online that they exist according to a company's website, and then find that said company doesn't even stock anything in the larger sizes on the size chart;as in, it's not even an option for choosing! Isn't that just peachy?


    On a high note, we've also been making a splash in our Water Aerobics class! It's great cardio with the aid of buoyancy. That ab workout that you hate on land, just became a bit more doable, and it's great for those with knee problems, arthritis, or for anyone just looking a a challenge and a change from the usual routine. Most importantly another reason to search for the perfect swimsuit! Below are a few we've come to love and actually use. Who says you can't look good while working hard?

Image Courtesy of Smosh

 
 Images courtesy of SwimsuitsForAll


        I hope you're taking advantage of the sunshine and higher temps to get your exercise on too! You can start small with walking, or if you've been wanting to try something new, now is as good a time as any. Anything you can do to make yourself healthy, can't help but come across in your jeans and on your face. Even if your goal isn't to lose weight, exercise makes you feel better. It may not feel great during, but afterward you'll be glad you did it! As the infamous ElleWoods would say, "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands. They just don't!" So in addition to having a tried and true antidote for murder, you'll also have the satisfaction of accomplishment, an improved mood, and better regulated internal systems. That's enough of Brittani Howzer M.D. for today.
Until next time Stripers!









Monday, July 8, 2013

My first Anna Scholz

I have wanted an Anna Scholz dress for a while now and kept seeing this great mixed-print one on other blogs and online.  So when Simply Be sent me an email with a 30% off promo code for new customers, I decided the time was right to finally get my own AS dress.  I also had the good excuse of an upcoming Junior League dinner at the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens.  Seriously, I NEEDED it.

Is this a perfect garden party dress, or what?

I loved the colors so much and decided to punch them up a bit more with red accessories.  I almost wore red shoes but then decided at the last minute that they were a bit much.  The necklace came from QVC and the clutch came from the depths of my mom's closet (thanks, Mama).

The dress was perfect for the dinner, so comfortable and easy to wear. I do sort of wish that I had gotten one size down, but I didn't have time to return it.  Anna Scholz is currently having a sale, you can check it out here:  Anna Scholz.  I am dying to get one of her caftans.


Ginny (in Eshakti) and I with our lovely friend, Jen (in ASOS) right before our dinner.  
We had a great time at the dinner and miraculously I didn't spill any food or drink on myself, like a real, bona fide, grown-up.


 xoxo, Kelly

Friday, July 5, 2013

Brighter Than The Summer Sun!

It's summer! 

There's just something about the summertime that calls for color in the wardrobe! Black is a staple in my wardrobe; I wear it with everything. But I'm having a black-free summer as I work the brights that give summer a fun feeling!


Check out Brittani's nod to summer fun in this green number from Ashely Stewart! Brittani always looks to me like she's about to hop a plane to Tahiti or Barbados or somewhere exotic and beachy. I love that flower in her hair!


I am in love with the ASOS Curve dress I "stole" from Kelly's closet! 
Shoes are from The Avenue. Point me toward the luau; I'm ready to go!


Kelly approves and is ready to hula the night away!


Kelly has paired another ASOS dress – this one in yellow – with an adorable cardigan in soft florals. Her shoes are from Naturalizer and I think she looks totes adorbz!

We got the giggles while posing. Professional models we are not!

It's a lesson I'm still learning, to not be afraid of color. But if you can't go bright in summer, then when can you?

Stay bright all,
Ginny 

Monday, July 1, 2013

It's Like Netflix for Clothes!

Greetings Horizontal Stripers!

        Firstly, let me congratulate Erika on winning our giveaway! Keep your eyes peeled for the next one, it's a doozy y'all. Today I am writing you about the most fabulous thing! If you haven't heard of it, you'll thank me after reading this! I am absolutely obsessed with this company called Gwynnie Bee. It is literally like Netflix for plus sized clothing (10-28), so do yourself a favor and check it out! Gwynnie Bee's slogan is Clothing Without Commitment, and I love it! Not only is it a fashionista's dream, but it offers legitimate ways to try out different designers and styles and is a fun way to add trendy, but curve friendly clothing to a wardrobe without spending a fortune! Plus they'll even give newbies a 30 day free trial!

                                                                  
Dress: Jones New York c/o Gwynnie Bee, Shoes: Carlos by Carlos Santana

        I've worn many different brands and have been able to really weigh the difference between staple and trendy, as well as what brands are worth sinking a bit more coin into. I've also gotten to try brands I'd never heard of or couldn't afford to try before. I've bought a few of my favorites on clearance or sale on their respective websites.

        Here are examples of a few other things I've tried:

Ponte Knit Striped Dress
Image c/o Eloquii.com

The Portia Pin Up Dress
 Image c/o Kiyonna.com

Multi Sequin Pencil Skirt
Image c/o Asos.com

        If you've been following our blog long, you definitely know I will work a print in a heartbeat, but for those of you who want monochromatic or more subdued clothing, it's available at Gwynnie Bee as well.
If you have any questions leave us a comment. Both Kelly and I have tried it out, and don't forget to check out our Facebook page by the same name, and Like us please! We'll see you in the Cybersphere! Until next time y'all!

Brittani
"There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness." ~ Lady Blessington