Women Fashion *Beauty

In Memory of My Mother

2008-06-27T10:59:00.000-07:00

My mother fought a tough battle with diabetes for years.

She was in the hospital a long while this time, and on June 20, 2008 she was able to pass peacefully in the presence of her close family. We loved her very much, and are very affected, yet find comfort knowing that we were able to spend her final hours together and bring her a sense of peace. This was an extremely difficult time for my family, and I haven't completely processed this loss all the way. I just wanted to let all of my friends and family know what's going on with me, and say thank you to those of you who have already sent prayers and such. My wife is an amazing source of strength for me and my sisters in this time, and I will always be in gratitude of how she was there for us through the hardest moment of our lives. My mother passed away knowing that her grandchildren will always be taken care of because of how amazing my wife is, and I am at peace with the relationship my mother and I shared. Even though I am very saddened by losing my mom, I am happy for her true spirit to be free from the suffering. I feel like now she is everywhere and with me always, and I want to do everything in my life to make her proud. I know that she passed away proud of her daughters, and loving her grandchildren, with peace that everything was going to be okay.

Here is the obituary that my sisters put in the local newspaper for my mother:

Rosalee Jeannie Adame, peacefully passed away on Friday, June 20, 2008 from heart failure. For years she suffered silently, battling a number of health issues. Born in Torrance, Rosalee was a life long Southern California resident never straying far from its sunny beaches. Rosalee led a full life, finding happiness in the times she spent with her family, serving her community and spreading her love through her delectable dishes. She is survived by 6 children, Gabriel Carmona, Nancy Semtner, Frances Schauwecker, Julie Phineas, Alicia Adame, Dominique Adame; and 9 grandchildren. Her most precious moments included holiday cooking with her girls, watching her family grow and enjoying the beauty of the Kern River with her Beloved, Edward Marquez. To honor her final wishes, her ashes will be scattered from the Bridge of the Kern River, the only place she found solace.

There are no words to express how much love I have for my mother.

The relationship between a mother and a daughter is full of ups and downs, but my mom always loved me no matter what path I chose. Now, as I’ve grown into my role as a mother, I find myself clinging to the ways that my mom would do things; and now I understand why she did things the way that she did. To me she had the ability to be every kind of woman, to give and give and give some more, and most of all to love unconditionally. It’s been hard for the whole family, especially Noah and Trinity, to realize that although she is no longer here with us physically, she is still here in spirit. Yet we have all found comfort knowing that she lives on through us and through our memories, and we will all do our best to keep her proud. I will always be grateful for the way she would sing along to her favorite music, for her flavorful food, and her many acts of random kindness. She showed me how to have a big heart, and I will carry her there for the rest of my days.

What I love the most about my mom is how she lived her life to the fullest.

Some of my favorite memories of her are about the holidays and how she would always decorate the house for Christmas. She would go all out, and make designs on the roof with lights everywhere. She used to make my older sister and I decorate every single tree on the block with foil and ribbon like candy canes. Once the younger two sisters came along, mom had all four of us to help her during the holidays, and we would all get together and make tamales. She would always come up with creative costumes for us kids on Halloween. She would make pumpkin and cream cheese pies for her family and friends on Thanksgiving, and for Easter she would leave nests of plastic eggs next to our beds for us to find when we would wake up. On the 4th of July we would light fireworks all night long.

What people might remember the most about my mother is her cooking.

She was in charge of the snack bar for the softball field when we were younger, and would have us kids by her side going to Smart & Final, chopping up onions, and helping out the customers. She had her own way of preparing us for life. For the weekend games she would make special items for the menu like green chile burritos, nacho plates, and strawberry shortcake. Many people also enjoyed her cooking from the many parties she hosted for the family. She would throw birthday parties for us kids, Tupperware parties, New Years Eve parties, and her ever famous “midnight BBQs”. She made the potato salad for both of my children's baby showers, and shared her food with her friends too. We all enjoyed her lasagna, macaroni salad, seafood cocktail, tamales, ham, and ceviche just to name a few of my favorites.

What I will remember the most though, is how she would give random acts of kindness, usually at her own expense.

She would give people a place to stay if they were down on their luck, and she was always there for her family if they needed her. She gave many people a shoulder to cry on and a kind word, and showered many of us with gifts whenever she could afford. She loved to travel and would pay for others who couldn’t afford it so they could go too. I will always remember her strength through adversity, the way she encouraged me to follow my dreams, and how she took me, my wife and my kids to Sea World and we had dinner next to Shamu. My mom loved her kids, her grandkids, Eddie Marquez, and the Kern River; and she will forever be in our hearts.

About the Author: Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her and view her photos by visiting her page on MySpace.

Beauty Post: Styling Your Hair

2008-03-14T17:39:00.000-07:00

As a woman I have always been pre-occupied with beauty, style, and looking my best.

With limited time and working on a mom’s budget, I have found that I really have to weigh my options when it comes to styling my hair. Regardless of the type of hair that you were born with and the budget you are on, we are all lucky to live in a time when there are plenty of tools and resources available to achieve the look that we desire. What I want to stress in this post is the importance of styling your hair on a regular basis. Looking your best means feeling your best, and if your hair is styled in a way that enhances your look, you might notice a change in your level of confidence as well.

Ideally we should style our hair everyday, but you don’t want to over do it either.

Nature never intended for humans to shampoo, condition, and blow dry their hair. However, in the new millennium, keeping a clean head of hair is a must; and regular styling should be a must too! On a daily basis, you should make at least some effort into how your hair is going to look that day. Whether you run a comb thru your mane, pull it back in to a ponytail, or bust out your whole army of styling products and curling irons – something has got to be done. But please keep in mind that many of the hair products that we purchase in stores include ingredients that might be harsh on us or the environment. That hair color gets washed down the drain when we rinse our hair! There are more and more nature based formulas making their way onto the shelves, and you can be sure to find exclusive blends in salons that carry their own brand of hair products. Whichever type or brand of hair products that you choose for your specific type of hair, you’ll want to be sure to take it easy on your hair and not overdo it with obsessive styling. Too much pulling, product, heat, and accessorizing with pins, etc. can lead to breakage, which is something you never want to happen to your hair. Be creative and change your style often, working within your own personal limits with the type of hair that you have.

The first step in styling your hair is in growing the hair that you want and finding the right cut.

Taking a daily multivitamin, proper nutrition and plenty of exercise are big factors in hair growth, and you might even consider taking prenatal vitamins if your doctor allows. Keep your hair clean and conditioned, but be sure not to overdo it! Washing your hair every single day can strip it of the natural oils that it needs for protection, and can lead to dry brittle hair.

consultation
Originally uploaded by pudgeefeet

Likewise, conditioning your hair too much can make your hair hard to style. Get to know how your hair reacts and you will know how often and how much to shampoo and condition your hair. In addition, you'll want to find the right hair cut for your face, your age, your personal style, and the popular style of the season. Then you'll want to find a hair stylist that you are comfortable with to do the cut for you. You will want to pay the extra money to have them blow dry and style your hair as well. Be sure to take a picture to your stylist showing the cut that you would like, and be sure to pay attention to how the stylist styles your hair as well. Ask any questions you need to ask, including asking which type of products the stylist used to get the look you now have.

Once you have your cut and you know the basic way to style your new cut, you have the foundation for regular styling and styling on the go.

You really set the stage for styling your hair during the process of drying your hair, once you’ve washed and conditioned it. Decide on which product you would like to use (if any) and apply while hair is damp. Part your hair and basically place your hair in the direction you want it to go. For example, if you are going for a look with your hair pulled back, comb your hair back while it’s wet to ‘train’ your hair to go in that direction before your dry it. You might air dry your hair or blow dry your hair depending on the day and possible event you are styling your hair for. You might be able to achieve the look you are going for with a brush and a blow dryer, or by letting your hair dry on its own. If you are going to style your hair using curling irons or a flat iron, you will want to be sure that your hair is dry 100% beforehand to avoid any damage to your hair. Irons that are really hot work best, but don’t burn your hair off either! Know your hair before attempting any hair styles you are not sure about.

Erin all ready and dressed!
Uploaded by aubreyarenas

Avoid over styling your hair for the occasion, and don’t under style either!

Flip through current magazines for hair style ideas, looking for people with similar features as you such as skin tone and height. Make sure the hair style you have your eye on is appropriate for the type of job that you have, and the kind of people that you plan to be around. If you are going to a major event such as a wedding or fashion show, take the time to research styles that are appropriate for the event and other people who will be there. However, your sense of personal style should reflect in your choice and great care should be taken in the style that you choose since you are the one who ultimately has to live with it. Daily events such as trips to the grocery store or post office won’t require as much effort to pull off a great hair style, but you should always try a new hair style alone at home first before debuting your style in public. *LOL

When you have some time alone, or with some friends, you’ll want to figure out what works with your hair cut, texture and personal style.

Figure out what hair products work best for you, and which tools you will need to pull of the style that you want. Don’t be afraid to try temporary colors, hair accessories, extensions or wigs. Be careful when it comes to permanent colors or peroxides, and know that once you commit to a certain style it can be expensive to maintain. Highlights in your hair, braids, extensions, and other hair treatments can require regular maintenance to maintain the original look or style. Keep your budget in mind when deciding on your style, as well as your lifestyle, age bracket, and schedule. Once you have an idea of the styles that work for you, you can decide what look is best on any given day, for any given event. When in doubt about what styles are best, see a professional! You don’t need a major event on your calendar to consult a professional hair stylist, either. You can go in for a shampoo and blow dry, a quick run thru with the flat iron, or a basic hair styling. If you have the money in your budget, it can be worth it to get a quick style from a professional that will boost your look for a day or two.

For more on styling your hair visit these websites below:

Hair Style.com
Style Hair Magazine
The Hair Style Blog
Hair Styles Cut
Short Hair Style Online
Hair Boutique Hairstyles Gallery
At Home Hair Care eBook
Healthy Hair Tips eBook
Styling Your Hair on About.com
About.com Haircut and Color Advice
Hairstyle Photo Galleries on About.com
Prom Hair Photo Galleries on About.com

There are also Hair Styling Videos from YouTube on this blog for you to watch and learn new hair styles from.

Plus you can find all type of hair styling products on Amazon as well:

Also feel free to join the *Women*Fashion*Beauty Yahoo! Group and share pictures of your latest hair styles with the rest of us.

If you have any questions about hair styling you can always ask at the group as well. I have to say that I am not an expert, just a woman who has taken an interest in looking her best as much as possible. The best advice I have gotten has always been from other women, so visit our group and also stay tuned to this blog for future blog posts about styling your hair.

Thank you for visiting and be sure to stay well until the next time!

About the Author: Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more and view her photos by visiting her page on MySpace.

Fashion Post: The Fashionable Jillian Reynolds

2008-02-29T14:29:00.000-08:00

Jillian Reynolds is a TV personality currently featured on the L.A. based show Good Day LA.

You can read more about Jillian Reynolds here on Wikipedia where you will learn about the Canadian born television hostess and the projects she has participated in. I myself live in the Los Angeles area and watch Good Day LA some mornings. Jillian is a popular person on the show and many viewers tune in just to see what she has to say. Lately, especially after Jillian gave birth to her daughter Ruby, I have found myself tuning into the show more and more just to see what Jillian is wearing and what she has to say in regards to style and fashion. Jillian Reynolds is a beautiful woman with a great personality which has landed her roles as an actress and model, but more so I feel that she is a trendsetter when it comes to style and fashion.

Recently MyFoxLA.com had a webchat where viewers were invited to send in their questions for Jillian which she would answer on the webchat.

Here is the question that I sent in:

Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008
From: "Julie Phineas"
Subject: Jillian's Webchat
To: justask@fox11.com

Hi Jillian!

I am excited to learn about your webchat tommorrow. I have a few blogs, one is for women and talks about womens issues, fashion, and beauty. My question for you - what do you think is the celebrity fashion trend that will take the world by storm this spring? Thanks for all you do!

You can watch the webchat here.

Jillian answers a variety of questions that were sent in by viewers. Viewers ask about her personal life, career advice, and more; plus you will find that Jillian answers my e-mail question as well towards the end of the second half of the webchat.

Here is what Jillian had to say about the latest celebrity fashion trend for Spring 2008:

...I love that question Julie - I think it's going to be Florals. I think it's going to be this big, beautiful floral trend. I'm going to get that Stella McCartney dress that's all pretty chiffon florals, and I'm going to wear it with my Kate Moss Topshop biker jacket and some tough kind of sexy leather sandles to kind of toughen it up cause its so 'florally', and then there's the Ralph Lauren. So I think the floral trend is going to be really really big and stick around, but a little edge to it like a black belt or black leather jacket on top of it.

What is interesting that The Fashionable Jillian Reynolds was right on the money with this fashion tip of hers!

If you take a look at the Pantone Fashion Color Report for Spring 2008 you will see that it includes colors like Pink Mist, Cantaloupe, and Daiquiri Green. I also noticed that on the latest cover of InStyle magazine Eva Longoria is wearing a dress in florals which has a slight 'edge' to the neckline. Jillian Reynolds - you called it!

I've had my eye on Jillian and her fashionable ways for a while, and I'm not the only one.

Another viewer wrote into the webchat asking if Jillian Reynolds would consider giving skincare and beauty tips via YouTube. You can find all types of videos of Jillian Reynolds on YouTube here. (Some videos are titled under her former name of Jillian Barberie.) However, Jillian prefers to make her fashion advice and beauty tips available on Good Day LA as a 'Style File'. Be sure to tune in to find out the latest!

Also, you can find the MyFoxLA.com Style Section here where you can read Style advice, take quizzes, and more. You can also visit the Good Day LA section of MyFoxLA.com to watch Jillian's Style File videos and more.

I like to keep an eye on what she is wearing, how she does her hair, and find out what beauty products she uses.

There is a ton of information about Jillian online, and she is easy to keep tabs on fashion wise. Here are some other websites with more about The Fashionable Jillian Reynolds:

TV Guide.com - Jillian Barberie
Jillian Barberie.org
Jillian Barberie Reynolds on Extra TV
OK! Magazine Interview with Jillian Barberie Reynolds

Also, you'll want to be sure to visit the MyFoxLA.com website where you can watch the latest from the Good Day LA show and Jillian Reynolds.

Thank you for reading all about The Fashionable Jillian Reynolds, and be sure to visit again soon.

About the Author: Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more and view her photos by visiting her page on MySpace.

Womens Post: Desperate Housewife Syndrome

2008-02-01T16:31:00.000-08:00

Houseworks
Originally uploaded by desi.italy

A housewife is a woman who is the primary caregiver of the home, many times foregoing a paid job to manage her household, which may or may not include raising children.

A housewife in 2008 may work out of the home, work from inside the home, or not work at all. The main component of her duties as manager of all that relates to the home does not diminish because of her career, or the career of her spouse. The main duties of a housewife can include meal preparation, household cleaning, laundry duties, and managing any children. Many women take pride in taking care of their home and family, but I believe that in this day and age the existence of what is referred to as a ‘desperate housewife’ is becoming more widespread and I call this Desperate Housewife Syndrome.

The term 'desperate housewife' has been made popular by the TV show Desperate Housewives, but I want to bring attention to the fact that becoming a desperate housewife is a silent epidemic.

We all know that women in general can be a bit EMO to begin with, but there is a lot that contributes to the unique emotions that a housewife experiences as compared to a single woman, or woman who shares homemaking with her spouse. To begin with there is the element of isolation that comes with being committed to your home more so than your social life or career. If you have children, you might find yourself with less adult interaction and more involvement in child centered activities than before. Plus, household duties such as laundry, meals and cleaning are never ending jobs. The current culture of housewives everywhere is pretty competitive and many women are reluctant to admit any negative feelings they might have about being a housewife for fear of being judged negatively by other houswives.

Many housewives have a fantasy in their heads of a perfectly clean home with everything put in its place, well mannered children, unlimited finances and the physical energy to create home cooked meals and unforgetable family memories; maybe even a brilliant career on top of it all.

The ‘Super Woman Syndrome’ and the idea that women can ‘have it all’ fuel this epidemic by giving women unrealistic expectations of themselves. More and more housewives are prescribing to anti-depressants, and it’s easy to understand. Managing a home (and possibly the children too) is an extremely underappreciated and low paying position. If you don’t work out of the home, the change of scenery and lack of social interaction can get to be a bit boring too.

What is interesting to note about depression is that it stems from anger at the self, and desperation is a form of hopelessness.

Could it be that Desperate Housewife Syndrome stems from anger at not being able to be a ‘Super Woman’? Isn’t being a ‘Super Woman’ a situation that seems hopeless?

I’ve been down the road of trying to be a ‘Super Woman’ and have found myself feeling pretty depressed about life. There was a point when both of my children were in diapers, I had just moved into a new home, and was getting my home business off the ground at the same time. My children are my main priority, and caring for them is a full time job in itself. I was extremely overwhelmed and the first thing to suffer was my household duties. I noticed that I had a problem when I was planning how to re-arrange the furniture in our bedroom so that any daily messes were not visible from the living room. It really hit home when I began putting our laundry from the dryer onto the couch, and it wouldn’t make its way to the drawers so that the whole family began getting dressed in front of the couch each morning. (*yikes!) I didn’t have time to be 'Super Woman' with a perpetually sparkling clean home and I was feeling pretty down about it.

Of course, talking to other women about it was out of the question, and I found myself in a situation where I didn’t want to have anybody coming over to the house unless it was perfectly clean.

FlyLady.net describes this as living in CHAOS – Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome. I totally resonated with this and delved into learning more about FLY Lady. FLY stands for Finally Loving Yourself. Once I took a look at FLY Lady and realized that I was living in CHAOS, I was able to open my eyes to the fact that I was not alone in the way that I felt. I took steps to figure out how to overcome Desperate Houswife Syndrome and come to a place where I am content with my situation. Now I feel hopeful about the future and have moved into becoming a Happy Housewife like the one in the picture below.

My happy housewife
Originally uploaded by Enrico Matteucci

Some of the ideas from FLY lady that helped me on my journey to becoming a Happy Housewife were:

-To ‘shine your sink’ every night before going to bed as a gift to yourself. A clean kitchen sink is a good gift for a Housewife – give it to yourself each night!

-Dress down to your shoes. Every morning when you wake up, get dressed with your full hair makeup and shoes on so that you are prepared for whatever comes your way that day.

-30 Minute Missions. Take 30 minutes to hit the hot spots around your house and put things away where they belong.

For more ideas by FLY Lady you can visit the homepage here or check out the following links for FLYing ideas that are best for your situation:

- Work Outside the Home Flybabies
- FLYing while Pregnant
- FLYing with a Baby
- FLYing with Pre-schoolers
- FLYing with School Age Children
- FLYing with Teenagers
- FLYing with Homeschoolers
- FLYing with Big Families
- FLYing as a Single parent

Other ideas that helped me to become a Happy Housewife:

-Daily Exercise. Even if its just 10 minutes of dancing around the living room, getting my body moving really contributes to an overall feeling of well being. Plus maintaining my weight boosts my confidence!

-A Regular Beauty Regimen. Make it a point to calendar time to maintain your appearance whether it’s putting on moisturizer, tweezing your brows, giving yourself a facial, conditioning your hair, etc. Take some time regularly to pamper yourself a bit.

-Adopt an Attitude of Gratitude. Learn to love your responsibilities by being grateful for them. Be grateful you are someone who has dishes to wash and clothes to fold!

-Maintain Open Communication With Your Spouse. Don’t be afraid to verbalize your needs and let your spouse know what you are going through. They can’t read our minds and dropping hints about what we need, beating around the bush about changes we would like to see, or holding in resentments isn’t going to help you become a Happy Housewife in any way. Communication can bring understanding and sometimes that’s all you need after a long day.

-If You Have Children, Create a Routine. This is good for them and good for you too. Developing a routine can provide a sense of security as mentioned in the article The Importance of Routines. The most important routines to establish are routines for mealtimes and bedtime.

-Find Social Outlets. Get active and get out of the house! Attend social events and participate in activities that allow you to make social connections with like minded people.

-Don’t Try to ‘Do It All’. Learn how to ask for help, delegate chores, and get other members of the household to work together on big tasks.

-Learn to Roll With the Punches. Mentally prepare yourself for life’s daily challenges and imagine yourself ‘going with the flow’.

If you find yourself dealing with Desperate Housewife Syndrome and incorporate these ideas into your life, you should notice a change in your perspective and general sense of well being.

Life will continue to change and present challenges, but you will notice your attitude change for the positive. The elimination of Desperate Housewife Syndrome is a beautiful thing! I truly feel this is an unspoken epidemic and simply reaching out can make a big difference, so don’t be shy to discuss what you are going through with other housewives.

Desperate Housewife Syndrome doesn't have to rule your life - you can be a Happy Housewife!

I hope that you enjoyed this post, and that I have been a help to any housewives out there who need it. Take care and thank you for reading! Sincerely, ~Julie Phineas~

About the Author: Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more and view her photos by visiting her page on MySpace.

Beauty Post: The "Realistic" Look

2008-01-18T19:00:00.000-08:00

Miss Linda makes up
Originally uploaded by wili_hybrid

Lately I’ve noticed that as technology has advanced, our ideas of beauty are changing.

With the ever changing world of fashion and beauty it can be hard to keep up with the latest trends and beauty secrets. Many people can get attached to a particular style and embrace it as part of their identity. As time passes on and we evolve as a society, more ideas are presented and they can sometimes be as outlandish as ever. I was watching BET recently and came across a show called ‘Tears, Shears, & Beauty’ and saw a stylist giving a hair cut under water, amongst other things. As trends go, some ideas will stick and last while others do not. Some trends never go out of style, like the little black dress, and some should have never come into existence like Hammer Pants. (*you know it’s true!)The same is true with beauty secrets. Many old wives tails have been handed down through generations of women, and you have to take it all with a grain of salt. I remember my mom mentioning mayonnaise being an excellent hair conditioner. All I can say is that was NOT my experience. LOL

One beauty secret that no longer serves society is unrealistic photo-retouching, and the new beauty secret is "The Realistic Look".

I honestly feel that people are more beautiful when you capture their natural beauty. For example here are two photos of Marilyn Monroe - a classic beauty. In one picture she seems to be trying to take a beautiful picture (and she succeeds!) but in the other picture she doesn’t have to try at all. I find the second picture to be more beautiful than the first.

Unfortunately this is something that has been overlooked, and an industry was born specifically to alter images to ‘look their best’. Watch this video on YouTube of some photo retouching and you will have an idea of how far a photo can get from reality:

What is interesting to me is that I think the real photos are the most beautiful!

You can take a look at a digital photo retouching website with before and after photos here. Like I said, I feel as though the pictures are more beautiful before they are re-touched. I feel that a picture that shows a more realistic look has more beauty. I think it’s okay to re-touch the lighting and all, but once they start altering facial features it get’s nutty! For those who keep heading in the direction of re-touching photos until the subject is un-recognizable, they will inevitably wind up with something more like this anime drawing.

In my opinion, a real woman has more beauty to offer than a drawing of a woman.

I want women everywhere to know - you no longer have to strive to look like the models in the magazines… they should be striving to look like you! Plus size models are getting more exposure, and celebrities who ‘keep it real’ are more popular than those who try to ‘fake it to make it’. (I love to see photos of Amy Winehouse with her eye-makeup running down her face!) Becoming more realistic with our beauty ideas is catching on in society as well. You may recall not too long ago Dove released a marketing campaign called The Campaign for Real Beauty, which delivered the message that “real beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and ages.” They followed up with a campaign for a line of products aimed at older women called Dove Pro Age. Also not too long ago, in the March 2007 issue of Oprah magazine ran a piece displaying photos of real women from different age groups completely nude. The photos are from a book called Bodies and Souls: The Century Project that helps women celebrate their bodies.

That being said I want to encourage all women of every age to stay true to themselves and be more realistic with your beauty regimen.

Being your best doesn’t mean being perfect, it means realizing what you’ve got and what you don’t got and working with it. Being truly beautiful means that you don’t have to be anything other than what you really are!

About the Author: Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more and view her photos by visiting her page on MySpace.

Fashion Post: Becoming A Role Model

2008-01-04T23:31:00.000-08:00

The latest celebrity fashion trend doesn’t seem to be an item of clothing or accessory – it’s a good reputation!

Celebrities often come under fire for bad behavior, but mid-2007 Miley Cyrus (aka Hannah Montana) found herself the subject of an internet hoax claiming that the young star was pregnant. The truth was brought to light ASAP, and soon after, Miley expressed how important it was to her to become a positive role model in an interview with Oprah Winfrey. She made a statement expressing her interest in wearing clothing that “girls would want to look up to”, effectively suggesting that clothes make the role model.

Miley Cyrus took a bad situation and turned it around for her, and also endorsed a trend by embracing her status as a role model.

Other celebrities have tried to achieve the status of role model icon and failed, such as Britney Spears. Another case in point is that of Vanessa Hudgens. In the Fall 2007 issue of Teen Magazine, she was quoted as saying:

I’m a good kid. I’ve been brought up with very good morals and I’m not going to go out and do something I don’t want other kids to do. I love being a role model because, in Hollywood, there aren’t a lot of role models to look up to. The fact that there’s a whole bunch of good kids coming out who are now stepping into the limelight, I’m very proud of that.

Around the same time of the Miley Cyrus pregnancy hoax, Vanessa commented on the activities of other young stars such as Spears and Lindsay Lohan. She mentioned how she saw them as “stupid” because it should be “easy to stay out of those situations”. Unfortunately for her, a nude photo of her was leaked to the press about a week later. As a result Vanessa canceled an appearance on The Tonight Show, and has since refrained from making public statements in regards to being a role model. You can read the details here.

There are plenty of other celebrities joining the trend by visibly working towards becoming positive role models in society.

Lily Allen is one such celebrity who has been vocal about the importance of positive role models, and has proclaimed herself, as well as Drew Barrymore, to be positive role models that other girls and women can look up to. Positive body image is one fashion trend that Lily Allen endorses, and being a positive role model, rather than a negative one, seems to be important to her as well. Perhaps she knows that society is in need of a new breed of socialite.

In any case, the 'role model fashion trend' is indeed a movement, and celebrities have taken notice!

You can find celebrities listed at RoleModel.net, and the term ‘role model’ is being thrown around in regards to many celebrities including Tiger Woods and Sophia Bush. People are keeping tabs on The Worst Celebrity Role Models as well.

Fashionably speaking, it looks good on celebrities and average people as well, to embrace being a role model in society.

Whatever our role is, we can all take it seriously that we don’t exist in isolation and that our choices affect other people. Just like we put on clothing each day, we wear our reputation daily as well. Accentuate the positive and downplay the negative. Nobody is perfect, but we can all work with what we’ve got!

WikiHow has an article on How to Choose a Role Model and you can always join the discussions at RoleModel.net. Plus, I've put together a list of books on role models that you'll find below.

Amazon.com Widgets

Taking your role seriously is a new trend!

About the Author: Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more and view her photos by visiting her page on MySpace.

Womens Post: The DanceOut

2007-12-14T23:53:00.000-08:00

Originally uploaded by ken sent me

Fitness is a major component to beauty and longevity is always fashionable.

The good news is that fitting fitness into your schedule doesn't have to be work. I find the best way to keep my body in shape is by avoiding a regular 'workout' routine – I like to keep my body guessing! I am fortunate to have an exercise bike and treadmill here at home, so I jump on those spontaneously throughout the week. Aside from that, I take my kids to the park to kick or throw a ball around or play a game of tag, but the biggest factor in keeping my body in shape is something that I do behind closed doors. The secret is... I dance.

I don’t 'work-out' I 'dance-out'!

Sometimes I even dance in high heels for extra tone calves. For the abs I recommend all the Latin moves, mostly salsa. For the arms, ladies you need to krump! I know - for some of you this may sound crazy… but seriously, TRY IT!! Lock yourself in the room and put on some music. Dance to whatever music inspires you to M-O-V-E. And honestly, it doesn't even matter how you move!

Just go with the flow and feel your muscles work.

Feel your muscles contract and see which moves work which muscles. After a few times you'll know what music and what moves work best for your body! If you do a good ten to thirty minutes of dancing, you should notice a small difference in your body the next day. If you do the moves really exaggerated then you'll notice even more of a difference. The best moves to try are exotic dancing moves and anything that has you swaying your hips. Add different size dumbells into your "DanceOut" to keep your muscles guessing even more!

For those who need a structured workout, I put together a slideshow of the workout DVDs that I recommend for shaping your body:

Amazon.com Widgets

Of course, for the most noticeable difference in your overall fitness and body shape, remain aware of how you eat.

Nutrition is not only a big factor in how you feel but also how you look! All the DanceOut’s in the world are a waste of time if you eat a 3 course meal right after, LOL. What I like to keep an eye on is what it is that I am putting in my mouth and equate it to a song. Some foods will stick to my hips and thighs while others will slide right off! Get to know your body, and how much activity it takes for you to burn off what you are taking on to your body. A piece of fried chicken is going to require some belly-dancing while a bowl of soup just takes the two-step. (*wink)

I’ve gone ahead and put together a playlist of my favorite songs to DanceOut to:

Revisit this post whenever the mood strikes and get your dance on when nobody’s looking! I’d like to hear of your success with The DanceOut, so feel free to comment on this post and let everyone know of your progress! Thank you so much for taking time from your day to visit this blog and read this post. Happy dancing!

About the Author: Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more and view her photos by visiting her page on MySpace.

About This Blog

2007-12-01T20:03:00.000-08:00

C SHOCK
Originally uploaded by pink_raindrops

Hello and welcome to the *Women*Fashion*Beauty Blog!

Thank you for taking the time to visit and for your interest in this blog! It is this blog’s mission to help average, everyday women to explore their personal sense of style and beauty, and to face life’s challenges with grace and flair. Fashion and beauty are a major part of a woman's life, and this blog celebrates that fact! Women also have many other issues to contend with and this blog will explore the challenges that women face in their daily lives as well.

We plan to present insightful information on what modern women want to know about!

A range of topics will be presented along with resources for your own personal research such as links to discussion groups, supporting books and magazines plus any other related or interesting websites.

You will be able to find exclusive topics specific to women in three different categories:

Beauty Posts
Celebrity Fashion Trends
and Women’s Issues

You can also watch the FordModels YouTube Channel on this page and find the latest Style Buzz and Beauty Deals as well. You can find message boards and other good links and items of interest as well.

I try to post a new topic every other Friday.

You can come back then to see what’s new, or subscribe to our feed. In the meantime, take a look at About.com for more information dedicated to women, fashion, and beauty:

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The *Women*Fashion*Beauty Blog is able to come to you because of the support of our Sponsors. To the right of our blog you will find relevant links and Sponsor banners. Please feel free to visit the websites and/or Sponsors that are of special interest to you. New links are constantly added so check back often!

Comments are always welcome and appreciated.

Your feedback helps us provide you with more insightful information and better sponsors. Letters to the author can be sent directly to Julie Phineas or comment posts directly. Remember to check back every other Friday for new posts, or subscribe to our feed. Plus you can also connect with other readers at the blog community. I hope that you come back soon and comment often. Stay well in the meantime and thanks again for visiting The *Women*Fashion*Beauty Blog!

About the Author: Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more and view her photos by visiting her page on MySpace.

*Women *Fashion *Beauty

In Memory of My Mother

Beauty Post: Styling Your Hair

Fashion Post: The Fashionable Jillian Reynolds

Womens Post: Desperate Housewife Syndrome

Beauty Post: The "Realistic" Look

Fashion Post: Becoming A Role Model

Womens Post: The DanceOut

About This Blog

Women Fashion *Beauty