paris fashion: Juli 2011

Beauty Is Within Header

I have to admit that I have slight complex about my thighs. In college I wanted bigger thighs, and now that I do have bigger thighs, I want them to be muscular. Don't get me wrong, I do love and accept what my body looks like. This just gives me something to work towards, besides being healthy. So this next month I will be concentrating on thigh exercises for leg strength.

Many women retain fat in their thighs and I often hear my friends complaining about "cottage cheese thighs". If this sounds like you, here are a few of my favorite exercises that you can do at home to give your thighs a good workout:

Wall Squat - Stand with your back against a wall. Slowly lower your body down like you're going to sit in a chair and place your body weight in your thighs and feet. Hold this position for 30 seconds while taking deep breaths. Return to standing position.

Bodyweight Squat - Stand straight up. Squat down slowly while keeping your back straight. Stick your arms straight out in front of you for balance. Return to standing position.

Lunges - Stand with your feet shoulder-length apart while holding a 5 lb dumb bell in each hand. Keep your back straight as you step forward with one leg and lower your body down until the rear knee is almost to the floor. Return back to the standing position and repeat with the other leg. Repeat 10 times with each leg.

These exercises aren't just great for the thighs, but they also help you maintain strong knees and ankles. We do so much walking in our lifetime, so it's important to build your leg strength. Besides, that you'll look great in those shorts or bikini!

What are your favorite thigh exercises?

Photo Credit: lululemon athletica

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Sassy City Chicks Comes Back to San Diego

It's that time again! The Sassy City Chicks big shopping extravaganza is coming back to San Diego on August 4th and 5th, 2011. Check out all the fun I had at the last event plus my tips for shopping sample sales.

I guarantee you'll score some great deals on designer clothing and accessories. I do recommend arriving early if you want to take advantage of the free spa services during the event!

Here's your official invite:

WHO: Sassy City Chicks Summer Fashion Bash

WHAT: A night of summer shopping in the Gaslamp, hosted at The Culy Warehouse- the opportunity to shop summer fashions at prices up to 80% off retail and a raffle to include select media to promote the event. Test drive new vehicles and get "chauffeured in style" and pick up some complimentary snacks courtesy of event participant Chevrolet. Find deep discounts on labels like ViX swimwear, Tarte, BB Dakota, and more! Featuring fab swag bags, complimentary spa services, and cocktail sampling courtesy of Pinnacle Vodka.

WHEN: Thursday, August 4th & Friday, August 5th, 2011

Media Preview 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Main Event 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

WHERE: The Culy Warehouse, 335 6th Avenue, San Diego 92101

WIN FREE TICKETS! The first 25 shoppers to enter 'BEAUTY WITHIN' at checkout will receive a FREE Sassy Tote Ticket!

Don't want to risk not winning? Then enter 'SASSY10' at checkout for 50% OFF a Sassy Tote Ticket or 'GEN AD' for free general admission (gift bag not included).

Get your tickets now: http://www.sassycitychicks.com/events/San-Diego

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The Beloved Maxi Skirt and more...

The Beloved Maxi Skirt

Dear Black Maxi Skirt,

I bought you in the summer of '99 knowing that you were going to be a classic. I could dress you up or down, wear you to work, and wear you on the weekends. Regardless of what season it was, I could find some way to create an outfit to include you.

You've been there for me as I moved from place to place, outlasting every other piece of clothing in my closet...and even though you are black, you never faded in the wash like my other black skirts did. For that, I do love you.

Today I pay homage to you for being there for me through thick and thin. I share you with the world and fellow fashion bloggers who also posted their beloved maxi skirts in the Bloggers Do It Better Series.

Love,
Maria

P.S. I love that I can lay in the grass with you...

Skirt: Prophecy by Sag Harbor
Shirt: Gap
Sandals: Steve Madden
Hair Accessory: (My own design)

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Can a 30-Something Pull Off the Neon Trend?

It was a bright spring morning, and my mom watched me at the front door as I headed out for my first day of 6th grade. A dark blue polo shirt with popped collar, blue jeans, brand new dark brown Sperry Top-Siders (similar to the ones pictured here), and bright pink neon-colored socks was the outfit for the day. (Yes, I was a tomboy back then.) I'm sure my mom was wondering what the heck I was thinking when I put that outfit together. She was always very supportive of my sense of style, so all she did was smile and wave goodbye.

Pink neon socks with brown Top-Siders?!? I'm so glad none of my school mates took a picture of me with that outfit on.

I did love those pink neon socks, though, and decided to wear them with everything. Then I got a pair of yellow neon socks and wore them out.

For whatever reason I really did not want to see this neon trend come back. But how could I deny something that I loved so much back in the 80's? I was close to buying a really cute neon pink striped shirt I saw in this store the other day, but I just kept wondering if a woman my age could actually pull it off.

Instead, I decided to have a little fun with neon orange nail polish. I'm going to attempt to wear this polish by POP Beauty (~$10) all weekend. They have some vibrant colors for the summer.

I'm actually having fun watching my fingers as I type up this post...

Here's an article over at Refinery 29 that offers some tips on how to wear neon...

Shop for neon clothes below...

neon

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New Beauty Resource: YouBeauty.com

Do you radiate beauty?

Need tips and advice to live a healthier, more beautiful life?

Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Michael Roizen have joined forces to create YouBeauty.com, a new beauty resource with a mission to help women improve their inner and outer beauty.

Here's how it works: At YouBeauty, you can take various quizzes that examine all the factors that affect your beauty. There are quizzes on happiness, stress, sleep quality, physical activity levels, skin and hair health, along with tools that find your face shape, facial symmetry and body shape, among others.

Your score on each quiz will be compiled to measure your YouQ™. Through an ongoing series of personalized action steps based on your quiz results, you'll be encouraged to improve your YouQ™ to reach your full beauty potential, while learning about yourself in new and important ways.

I took the brief Happiness Quiz where I learned that I'm generally a very happy person. I was also given the suggestion to meditate at least 5 minutes a day and show gratitude to maintain my happiness.

Unlike other beauty-related resources that offer tips and advice, I like YouBeauty because it helps you with the emotional and psychological aspects of beauty. For me, that's more important than learning what the best lipsticks are. Don't get me wrong though, I still like reading regular beauty magazines, but in my opinion, the best beauty tips and advice are those that help bring out who you truly are on the inside.

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The Best Travel Accessory

If you're jet setting around the country or across continents this summer, there's one travel accessory that I highly recommend packing in your purse or carry-on: a light-weight scarf.

Between airplanes and airports, temperatures can change dramatically. Sometimes it can get a tad bit cold on an airplane, so I always make sure to have a scarf and a light sweater handy.

During my vacation last month, I took my scarf from The Shawl Shop everywhere I went. It's lightweight and a great stylish travel accessory even in warm weather. I'm wearing the "Paige" style in lime green...