Spring Trends You Already Own

Each season is an opportunity to play around with your style. Now that Spring is here, it's time for a fling with fashion once again!

Spring fashion is all about being feminine and sophisticated, yet also bold and fierce. It’s the time to be in full bloom, after all, with a refreshed style that breaks out of winter’s drabber colors. This season, the color palette is bursting with brights and pastels. It’s all about being youthful and fresh.



But you don't have to spend on a whole new wardrobe just for the season. Spring's blooming trends might already be hiding in your closet! Super fun fashion blog stylebakery.com gives you a rundown of 20 trends you already own that could not be any hotter this season:

1. Statement Necklace - One trend we're thrilled to see continue is the statement necklace. Ubiquitous for the past few seasons, it's the quickest way to make your outfit pop.

2. Boyfriend Blazer - Last season's must-buy, the boyfriend blazer, still looks fresh layered over dresses and skirts, or paired with jeans and shorts.

3. Belts - Thick or thin, belts continue their run as an important accessory, instantly transforming virtually anything in your wardrobe. Wear yours to cinch cardigans, jackets, t-shirts, blouses, dresses and more.

4. Florals - A top trend for more than 4 years in a row (2010, 2009, 2008, 2007), florals always look fresh.

5. Ruffles - Another trend that has been hot for several seasons (fall 2009, spring 2009), there's no need to put away your ruffled pieces just yet.

6. Trench Coat - The one piece on every Top 10 list year after year is the trench coat. Hopefully you've got at least one in your closet, bonus points if it's in a bright color. Don't own a trench? Get one - now.

7. Bangles - Cuffs may be the big trend for wrists this season, but it's still chic to pile on your chunky bangles.

8. Grecian or Gladiator Flats - In 2008, we predicted gladiator sandals would be a one-season trend, boy were we wrong! For the third year in a row, Grecian flat sandals are a summer footwear favorite (including ours).

9. Hobo Bag - You likely have a slouchy bag in your closet from seasons past and, thankfully, it's still in style.

10. Cargo Pants - A staple of your casual wardrobe for several years, the military-inspired pant looks fresh again this season. Wear yours with pretty printed tops and heels or wedges for a fresh look.

11. Denim Skirt - Whether mini or pencil, it's time to dust off your old denim skirt. Bonus points if it's a medium blue color a la Stella McCartney's spring collection.

12. Wedges - A mainstay of spring wardrobes for several seasons now, you likely own a pair or two, lucky you!

13. Skinny Jeans & Boyfriend Jeans - Both denim silhouettes are still favorites this season.

14. Turquoise Jewelry - Every few years, turquoise jewelry regains its must-have status proving to be a wise investment for your collection. Odds are you've got at least a piece or two in your jewelry box.

15. Nautical Striped Top - Timeless navy and white or red and white striped tops are suddenly trendy again.

Te read the rest of the trends, including some so-lucky-to-have items, visit stylebakery here!

Image fro instyle.com.

Lose that New Year Weight!

A new year marks a new beginning. We often tell ourselves: new year, new me! After all, a change (for the better!) is always good.

After the celebrations and festivities during the holiday season, by now you may have seen this "new you." That is: you + the NEW 10 pounds!

If this "new you" isn't exactly what you had in mind, then keep reading! Dr. Maoshing Ni of Ask Dr. Mao in Yahoo! Health gives you six simple tips that will help you lose weight the healthy way.

Here's an excerpt of his article:

New Year's Weight Loss: 6 Tips

1. Lose weight with water. Water is essential for everybody - it is also the key to losing weight. If you haven't been drinking enough water, your body has developed a pattern for storing water. This water retention equals extra unwanted wait.

By drinking more water, you are not only flushing out toxins, you are also teaching your body that it no longer needs to store water. Drink at least 60 ounces of water (about 8 glasses) a day. Boil water and sliced lemons and drink this throughout the day to help with fluid retention. If you are still not sold on the merits of water, try this on for size: water is a natural appetite suppressant.

2. Soup up your weight loss program.
A simple dietary change will have you shedding pounds: eat a bowl of soup at least once a day. Nutritious, low-salt soups will nourish you as they flush waste from your body. People who eat a serving of soup daily lose more weight than those who eat the same amount of calories but don't eat soup. Go for homemade soup whenever possible, as canned soups are loaded with salt and chemicals.

3. Eat early to keep the weight off.
The human body follows a circadian rhythm, which means that the same foods eaten at breakfast and lunch are processed differently than when eaten at dinner. Studies show that when you eat your daily protein and aft at breakfast, you tend to lose weight and have more energy; however, eating the same things at dinner tend to increase tendencies toward gaining weight. I suggest that you eat your last meal of the day by 7PM.

4. Eat smaller meals, more frequently.
Follow an eating schedule with five little meals every day. Eating steadily through the day keeps you from becoming famished and overeating at your next meal. Make a low-fat trail mix from raw almonds, pumpkin seeds, dried plum, and apples and have it available at all times to avoid the tempting lure of high-calorie snacks.

Definitely tips that are doable and I'm excited to try right away! For the rest of this juicy article, click here.

Holiday Partying Without Adding the Pounds

Let's face it, ladies. Sometimes it's hard to ignore that perfectly roasted turkey beckoning us to get just a little more. It lies golden on the dining table, the sheen coming from the buttery fats glazed over it. Even from afar, you can almost hear its crisp skin breaking, to reveal the moist tender meat underneath. Ahhh... the holidays.

But then 20 pounds later, you find that giving in to the turkey (or steak or pasta or...) was not a very nice thing to do. Of course, I'm not saying that you should starve yourself these holidays. Go ahead and celebrate! But remember to pace yourself and take everything in moderation.

For all the celebration dinners you will be having, here are a few helpful and DOABLE tips from E-zine Articles:

1. Eat your food mindfully. If you slow down your pace and become more conscious of the food, you will naturally eat less and make better food choices without anyone catching on. Here is the trick, chew every bite of food thoroughly and then swallow EVERY morsel in your mouth before taking the next bite.

2. Divide your plate. To be sure you are getting the right foods in the right amount at a dinner party, divide your plate. Fill the top half with vegetables or salad and the bottom half with one serving of protein and one serving of carbohydrate. You get a complete and healthy meal without counting calories.

3. Drink water. Carry around a glass of water (even add a splash of lemon or fruit) like it is attached to your hand. This will allow you to do something other than reach for a snack and it is social.

4. Don't go too hungry. You are not doing yourself or your body any favors by starving before a party. Your body will store more of what you eat at the party as fat if you starve ahead of time because you throw off your natural balance. Eat light but often before the party.

5. Use a stopper. This is a great trick. It is simply having something ready to do that is not compatible with snacking. A quick and easily available stopper is a minty piece of gum or breath mint.

Click here to read the article.

See? That doesn't seem so hard! More importantly, you still get to enjoy the food (come on, who goes to a party without the intention of eating?).

I do have an additional tip and I think it's so fabulous: dress up your little darling with super adorable baby hair accessories and you'll be too busy with all the guests' attention that it would be impossible to overeat! These make great baby gifts, too.



Happy, lovely holidays!