Season's Palette II, Fall 09

Continuing our conversation about color palettes, now we know where they come from. The good news, this Fall's palettes are simply gorgeous! so elegant and classy.
Grey is coming really strong, which is wonderful since there are many shades to choose from. Some tips to keep in mind:

1.- I highly recommend to use a darker shade as the main color in your wardrobe (especial to those of use who love to wear black). Darker shades are more flattering to a wider variety of skin tones, and great for us, the TEENSIZERS!

2.- If you are very fair, be careful wearing a too-light shade of gray, it is a great color, but it can't make you look washed-out.

3.- Combine different shades in one outfit (matchy-matchy is so PASSE), we don't want to look like a walking stainless steel appliance.

4.- Use pops of colors to bring live to falls hues. I love them, but we cannot allow them to be depressing.

And that brings me to two of the most relevant complimentary colors for the season: Purple and Ochre/Chartreuse (think Shrek with hepatitis). We will go deeper into this topic, but for know check the nail polish palette proposed by Real Simple magazine. Isn't it great?!

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season's Palette, and why do we care...

You could be amazed at how designers come up with season's "palettes", or you can be disappointed on how it is a vicious circle. The truth is, there are forecasting companies charging tens of thousands of dollars, trends researches and even color psychologists out there trying to figure out what's the next big color for the upcoming season, and by upcoming I mean at least 1.5 years in advance.

Where do they get the information for their "research"?
Well, they look at the economy, social happenings and so, but mostly, they look at what people are wearing, painting, or using over the world. They look at us!!!!!! Then they produce fabrics, clothes, accessories, make-up, wall paint, etc, and we go out and buy it. A little spike in the use of one color becomes a full-out trend.

Let me be clear, they don't go and choose one color for each season. They propose 8-10 different stories, and each story has a palette of maybe 10-12 colors. Each designer or fashion house chooses what they would like to present.

So, why is this important to us?

To begin with, we don't really have an option. Unless you are willing to dye your own clothes, you have to wear whatever is out there.

But we can (and should) use season's palettes to our advantage, and that's what will come up in my future posts.

Please write with any question about the topic, and stay tune for tips on using this Fall's colors.

Mayo Clinic helps manage family life

I rely heavily on technology to organize my life. If I don't set up an appointment on my phone, that appointment is missed, 100% sure. That's why I thought this was a great idea. The Mayo Clinic has just updated its website to make family life easier.
https://healthmanager.mayoclinic.com

I thought it was going to be a website about weight loss and healthy life style, and that would be fine, but it is a lot more than that. You can upload appointments, your personal info, and even receive advise. Check it out!!!

The beggining

There are some "Marthas" in this world that are organized, good mothers, beautiful and fit. They could teach others about cooking, gardening, entertaining and parenting.

Well... I am not one of those...

I had never imagined I would find myself writing a blog.

Honestly, I never thought I had much to share, but this summer
of 2009 is turning out to be a very different one.

To begin with, I am home with my wonderful two kids and have time to think about my life.

I have also realized that I love/HATE those magazines (to which I am hooked up), that give "cheap" advice, that I still can't or don't want to afford. Easy recipes that never come out right and all sorts of advice that just makes me feel like some sort of half-functioning woman. On the contrary, I know I am a smart, fun and driven girl.


So, I have decided to make some important changes, starting NOW. For once, I will feel and look my best, and I will enjoy my life.


Actually, it just popped into my mind that we shouldn't need to make changes, but we can always improve. So let's name the list:

"IDEAL IMPROVEMENTS"

1.- Get thinner and fitter!!!!!!!!!
2.- Find more peace, and learn to have PATIENCE.
3.- Look better, no matter the occasion.
4.- Become savvy financially.
5.- Find real purpose in my life.

I think this is a great beginning. I am sure that prioritizing is a good idea. I do not want to feel overwhelmed and give up, I've done it too many times before, but right now, let's wait and see how this plays up.

As for you, please feel free to send a comment with your "ideal improvements" list.

Best of luck to all of us!