Makin' that List and Checkin' it THRICE!

So..I know you may find this hard to believe but I am a last minute lady when it comes to shopping for the holidays. I tend to go into what I call a Holiday Haze or basically a state of panic. Not only does it become incredibly overwhelming but it can get wildly expensive to have a last minute scramble! After years of floundering around and literally buying whatever I could get my hands on for my kids, I finally decided to take the reindeer by the horns (a little holiday humor from the jew). I figured out the best way to attach this holiday neurosis, is to get super organized and that my friends means LISTS and LISTS!!! I now have the kids go through the strategically sent toy magazines to make their wish lists. This not only allows me to micro-manage (lord knows I love that ) what gifts will come into this house from the family but it allows for some comparison shopping to get the best prices out there! All hale the internet! The key to this strategy is to have the lists made well in advance of the holidays...again not my strong suit...but I am trying ladies, trying hard actually. So the moral of this Holiday tale is that Santa was onto something brilliant when he was "makin' that list and checkin' it twice".

PS. if you are reading this now saying "eeeeks" I am about to do the scramble, pour yourself a glass of vino, sharpen your pencils and get to to it!

DressTherapy

Now that we changed the clocks back, I don't know about you all but I get kinda moody when there is no daylight past 3:00! It's actually very similar to how I feel when I realize at 8:00 at night that I am still in my gym clothes and haven't showered…. DEPRESSED!
I had a good chat about this very thing with a woman who showed up at a very muddy football game absolutely dressed to kill. She looked fabu in a her skinny jeans, riding boots, darling blosson sweater and great gold chains (excellent look for the fall- http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=709931002&tid=plfr1r).
When questioned why she looked so stunning, she replied that it was because she felt so bloated and crappy. “Interesting” I muttered as I mulled over her logic. When she woke this morning and didn’t feel her best, she promptly showered, put on a cute outfit and blew out her hair to perfection! Suddenly all was well with the world and those extra 5 pounds of bloat faded away.
Ladies, similar to light-therapy during the winter months; DressTherapy can do the same to lift your mood. I dare you to try it. The next time you feel down in the dumps with bad hair and a pimple, drag yourself into the shower and start anew.
This is an especially effective technique as you are searching for a job. Even if you are just sitting at your computer, it is a proven fact that if you feel good about yourself everything else just seems to fall into place (ok- so it’s a fact that I declared proven!)
So, moral of the story? Feeling good about how you look is categorically the cheapest therapy you will ever have!

MoZella

MoZella....you heard it here?>>> will be the next hottest pop star...she is super fresh and cool!
Hear her new single at www.myworkbutterfly.com

see MindyFinds is full service for being "in the know"

To match or not to match...should NEVER be the question

I love when bloggy posts come out of real life experiences...and this one does. As I baked in the sun watching the ever exciting 4th grade Lancers football game (shout out to the green and white) with my fairest b-fly of them all, Ms Bradi Nathan, we noticed a Mother/Daughter comin' accross the bleechers wearing matching bike shorts and t-shirts (and there were no bikes in sight). This sparked the conversation of the "acceptability" of mothers and daughters dressing alike...acceptable or not? (Although, I do say "bravo" to their clear confidense in how they want to dress)
This very cerebral and poinent question really has 2 parts both relating to age...1) Is there an age at which a daughter is too old to be matching her mommy and 2) Is there an age where mom is wayyyyyy too old to be dressing like her daughter?
This self proclaimed fashion maven says "yes" to both.
There comes a point in both a mothers' and daughters' lives when they need to be dressing their age. I am certianly not saying that one cannot dress to the trends..but it needs to be tailored to the age. For example, lets' take a current trend and see how both mom and daughter can wear them at the same time- if in fact you feel the strong urge to dress like eachother.

Neons!! we know that the brighter the better for the fall. So let's try neon pink on for size. Mom- go with it at an accessory ...a bag..a shoe.. a scarf. Daughters-(going with a 6 and up crowd...dressing like your toddler is just a bit silly) you can certianly get more adventurous and go with the actual clothing items- a mini dress, a blouson top or even hot jeans! The point being that we can COORDINATE ladies not try to match your 7 year old's tye dye Lemon shirt (http://www.animalcrackers.com/Brand.aspx?name=Lemon) as cute as it is...

Faux Fur- here is a good one that could be the opposite. Mom- rock out a full faux fur jacket or vest. you can totally carry it and feel it without having PETA on your back. Daughters- go with a sliding scale on this, the younger fille's can wear more of a touch of fur- a boot - a vest...were as the older teens can get away with a bit more. HOWEVER- you do not want to look like a herd of fur coming down the pike. If you want to wear it together balance it out a bit...capish?

As always have fun with your fashion but beware of pitfalls and "twinifying" yourself with your offspring is definitely one of them!

Oy! the 80's again?

As I pause to ponder the trends of the upcoming fall season, I take a deep breath and say to you all...Oy! the 80's are back! Before you freak out, like I did, having done that decade to death....I say to you, do not fret...it's all good. Thankfully the designers clearly spent time working through what not to salvage from that decade (such as shoulder pads or football pads as I so fondly referred to them as) and what to bring back with a new, fresh edge.
So without further delay, here are the top ten trends for fall:
1. Neon Hues- for clothes and accessories. It's fashions attempt to lift spirits!! Works for me!
2. Black Velvet- seems to be that the layering pieces, vests and blazers, are rockin' even the simplest of outfits
3 Cocoon Coats- voluminous and yummy- these fun coats are actually "cool" and "warm"...go figure!
4. Shades of Gray- converse to the Neon craze, layers of gray with blacks are a sophisticated way to freshen up even that little black dress
5. Hats- one of my fav accessories is totally back. Even if you think you cannot carry it off, ya can...just have to try because it is so much fun!
6. Naked Shoulders- revealing your shoulders through slashes and slits and one sleeve is totally in an in my opinion totally sexy
7. Chartreuse Baby- the happiest of happy colors is shining all over the runway for day and nite looks
8. Bondage Boots- thigh high boots are back- but beware my 5' 5" and under friends- please only wear these with a mini dress or skirt or ya may be mistaken for Peter Pan!
9. Shimmer- thrilled to say that metallics are perfectly acceptable for the day and night- whether that's a layering piece over jeans or a silver sheath dress for the night hours
10. Sharp Shoulders- different from it's ancestors, the 2009 shoulder is sharp. Its more geometric and modern and certainly does not make you look like a heavyweight champion of the world!

So there ya go- that's just enough to keep you in the "know" without seeming like a "know-it- all"! But here's the bottom line my b-fly lovelies...take this all with a grain of sea salt (healthier). Trends are "trends" for a reason, because they do not last long. So have fun with them, wear what you feel comfortable in. If neon isn't your bag perhaps start with just a bag and go get a hot pink clutch! Do as little or as much as you like- but certainly do something!
If you're like me and you need some visual guidance, head to http://www.elle.com/Fashion/Fashion-Spotlight/TOP-10-TRENDS-NEW-YORK-FALL-2009...for a full breakdown

As usual- post any comments or questions or just rant and rave with my at either myworkbutterfly.com or mindyfinds.blogspot.com

Pass the BUTTER or pass on the BUTTER??

Is BUTTER better?

This month’s little ditty is focused more on being a fashinista mom to a fashionsta 7 year old and managing reality! I am a self proclaimed cross-shopper, meaning that I take a lot of pride in mixing a fab dress from the Dolce and Gabbana Collection for Target with a great pair of Marc Jacobs heels and suddenly the whole outfit looks expensive. Now when it comes to my daughter, I really only cross shop for special occasions…she mostly sports adorable threads from Old Navy, Daffy’s and of course Target.

Suddenly this BUTTER sweatshirt craze came along- selling for the low, low price of between $75-$85 for kids!!! Check this out in case you aren’t aware of this nonsense-http://www.maxandginosclothing.com/store/kids/girls/tops. Now, I must admit that they are very cute on…but come on moms, in this climate, is it really necessary to spend that much money? I , of course, tried to explain to the child the ridiculous cost of these “slices of heaven” but when she said she would use all of her money in her piggy bank, a pit formed in my tummy. Uh! What to do! So… I must brag for a moment that myself and some other B-fly fab moms got together and came up with a great plan. We each split the cost of these Mercedes Benz priced sweatshirts and each of our girls got one for their birthdays. What I liked about this notion is that it treated this article of clothing as it should be treated which is a SPECIAL occasion! I think (and ya know I love to throw my opinions around) that you cannot teach your children soon enough the value of money ESPECIALLY as it relates to a fashion piece! I think the moral of this little tale, my gal pals, is that there are definitely creative ways to get your kids more extravagant items and teach them life lessons at the same time.

To vent your fashion rant or raves, contact me by adding a comment on the blog or on myworkbutterfly.com.

StylEpidemic

Happy Summer my Fab Friends! As I sat my, somewhat large, pregnant tush on a beach chair this weekend- I pondered my next rant or rave. I watched from my deck as lots of bikinis, short shorts and sundresses passed me by. As I peered over my US Weekly mag, a site caught me that was so shocking it ripped me from the article I was reading chronically the faces of Michael Jackson (sidebar emotion: I am devastated by the King of Pop’s passing!) A relatively large breasted woman was wearing a tank top, meant for a flat chested waif, with a bra! The straps of the bra were blatantly obvious beige and stood out without shame! I suddenly had a flash of another woman from the day before wearing another inappropriate tank with less than acceptable clear straps. OMG- I have to blog immediately, I thought, to stop this StylEpidemic!
Ladies, its relatively simple-..Bra Straps are Never Ever to be Seen …bottom line!
So our choices are as follows:
1. Wear a bandeau style strapless bra or a seamless strapless bra under the tank (check out the Infinity Edge bra at www.victoriasecret.com ). This can be a bit tricky so please make sure you really look in the mirror for bra lines or excess skin hangover before leaving the house
2. Look for tanks that have built-in bras (www.barenecessities.com) . They have become much more popular for designers as they are finally respecting the breasts' need to be secured!
3. CHOOSE ANOTHER STYLE TANK TOP! Not all styles are meant for everyone. Some tank tops cater to smaller boobs and others to larger. The width of the straps generally dictates the type of figure that can wear them. The wider straps allow you the flexibility of sporting a bra while spaghetti straps are best for the bra-less wonders.

So let’s ban together, take my vaccine and stop the StylEpidemic of the bra strap virus!

Things that Make You Go "Hmmmm"

Things that Make You Go “Hmmmmmm”


This month’s little nugget comes in the form of a hot of the presses, real life experience that just occurred last Thursday evening. As I was basking in my pregnant glory (oh, you didn’t know? Yes I am completely knocked up with #3) of being temporarily on hiatus, a friend of mine rang me and asked if I would help produce a fabulous Burberry. All she need to say was that it was a VIP party to celebrate the lighting of their new sign adding to the skyline of NYC. All she needed to say was that it will be chock full of celebs like Jennifer Aniston…um, “DONE” I said!!! Well, what I didn’t know was that it was 7am_ midnight pretty much every night. Needless to say my ankles have luxuriously turned in the “thankles” (ankles that are the size of thighs) and I literally waddled home each night.

The Burberry girls, as I so fondly called them, a pack of 20-somethings who hadn’t a care in the world except making sure they had the newest Louboutins in the closets to match the newest Burbs trench: http://www.burberryusaonline.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2067810&cp=3146777.2127128 Certainly a tough crowd to break into as I tried my best to “coolify” my maternity garb. I went maxi dress , ala Angelina Jolie, and armed myself with a bit of TUDE and still barely got noticed. Damn, this was killing me!

So the night of the event, I was determined to show them that even old pregnant broads could run neck and neck in the Fashion Ivy Leagues. So I put on my cutest and tightest black tube dress (completely showing off the belly for solicited attention) and draped myself with my coolest necklaces, because as I mentioned in a previous MindyFinds pieces, accessories are the Holy Grail of every outfit! So the event craziness begins and no one is focusing on anything else. Then the celebs start rolling in, and yes I did get a smile from Blake Lively from Gossip Girl and Emanuelle Chriqui from Entourage, and was basking in it. Then finally after I was about to give up hope, a Burberry girl wearing 10 inch Manolo Blahniks, teeters over to me, grabs on off my bobbles and asks..”I love this necklace, is it Bulgari? I have such a weakness for them”. A delicious feeling of superiority came over me as I replied “No, JCrew” http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Shop_By_Category/jewelry/necklaces/PRDOVR~16916/16916.jsp
Her shock and awe could not be concealed as she finally uttered….”huh”. Had I not been quite confident in my wise selection, I would have been concerned when trotted back to the girls to report. But I knew that they knew, I was no one to be RECOGNED with!

The End

Do Fashion "Rules" Still Exist?

I remember growing up with a few key "rules" as a child....

1.Always look both ways before crossing the street
2. Don't go swimming until at least 30 minutes after you eat

and the biggest and most important one of them all..
3. DO NOT wear white after labor day

As I have grown and developed my street and fashion sense, I now say "FONGUL" to those rules (at least the fashion ones- you should always look both ways before crossing the street). Especially during these tough times, it is critical that we make the most out of our wardrobes and stop the limitations we put on our clothing because of what our "bubbes" or "grandmas " touted 125 years ago.

Here are a couple of fun tricks to break those rules and extend the lifespan of your threads.

*All of the fabulous sun dresses that you tuck away until it hits the mid 80's can come out now! Free them from storage and just layer them up. Throw a cardigan or cute jacket over them or a long sleeve shirt under them and some tights for warmth and BAM! you have a cute new look without spending a dime. Take a look at:
www.luckymag.com/style/streetstyle/2009/01/street-style-london

*You know that you are so sick of that black heavy pocketbook you have been carrying all winter long. Just because the groundhog says we have 10 weeks until spring, doesn't mean that your spring bags have to be in hiding! Take out your brightest, whitest and happiest spring/summer bags and wear it with pride. Change is needed and it’s time to break the barriers and mix it up! Take a look at:
www.shopbop.com/lookbook/lookbook_main.jsp?FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302143675&AS

*Infuse some color! Why is it that we only wear color when its over 70 degrees? Here's a little Mindyism, I believe color can actually lift your spirits and its better for you than booze! So as we muddle through this recession, through a bright pink tank under your blazer or an orange scarf around your neck. Brighten and freshen all year long...don't just save it for the summer. Check this out:
www.shopbop.com/ci/features/bblkbk/bblkbk_sep_01.html

So ladies...let's do it together- march on Washington, picket outside your house or what ever you want to do..but let's rebel against those ancient Fashion Rules and enjoy our clothes all year round.

When to Retire a Look....or rather Bury it

In my last article, I referenced a dear friend who pulled on my heart strings in regard to her denim debacle. In this next piece, I am going to try and work through another soul sister's plea for help. This one came in a classic "Dear Abby" manner- which of course I live for...

Dear MindyFinds...I have gone for nearly a decade wearing clips in my hair. But in the recent few years, I have realized this to be unacceptable. I have been unable to find an appropriate replacement, so have resorted to wearing a low ponytail tucked in. this, of course, makes me look somewhat like a bald man since I have no flowing tresses falling around my face. MINDY, please help me FIND....
Sincerely and Quite Lost,
"Cookie"

Let me first start, "Cookie", by telling you that you are not alone (and very funny by the by). So not so, that I am going to expand this little lesson out to all of my "b-flies". The crux of our issue today is that you got very comfortable with an iconic element of the 80's. You know we all did it, and some of us (you know who you are) even expanded into banana clips. BUT and I stress the “but”, it is critical to our fashion growth to know when to retire a look and actually in this case, BURY IT! MindyFinds is all about finding a solution, so let’s break down the elements. You like to wear your hair back and you clearly liked the ease of a clip. So here are some suggestions on how to accomplish both. I direct your attention to http://www.allure.com/trends/look/2008/09/look_now and kindly ponder slides 7, 19 and 21. Give it a whirl and welcome to the 2000s.

I would like to bring this out to the bigger question that swirled around this specific problem and that is… when do you retire a look? This is particularly important to my b-flies getting back into the work force...what worked in 1999, probably does not in 2009. The rule of thumb generally is if it was a TREND in that era, it most likely is not now. The actual definition of “TREND” per the www.freedictionary.com (love this site) is “Current style; vogue”. The key word here is current and if it, whether that be a plastic hair accessory or parachute pants, is not current it shouldn't be residing with you. Focus on the elements that you liked about the trend of that time and look for a fresh, new replacement...and if all else fails, just ask me! Feel free to submit your burning question or problem via the "add a comment section below".
Need more useful or useless fashion tips? Go to mindyfinds.blogspot.com for fashion rants and raves!

My 15 Minutes of Fame- One Week Away!

The urban myth about my "open house experiences" will soon be made honest as the air date has finally been posted for my DEBUT on PrimeTime's "What would you do" show on ABC. The segment will be on Jan 27th at 10pm. For those of you that only know me by my blogginess, kindly do not judge. A fashionista I was not, HOWEVER this is how you will know that this show is REAL. Thankfully the Fashion Gods did smile upon me as I was possessed to wear my MindyFinds t-shirt that very day. The rest of the story you will have to see for yourself! Would love to know your thoughts apres!! Just click on comments and fire away...who would have known that I would have national advertising for free! Unless I get discovered- Blog with you soon!

MyWorkButterfly.com...Spreading My wings with some Fab Butterflies

The New Year has brought some Fantastically Fun opportunities for MindyFinds. It all started when I was lucky enough to be sweating on the treadmill next to Bradi Nathan, one of the Co-Founders of MyWorkButterfly.com (hardly luck considering she stands about 6ft tall, legs
up to my eyeballs and gorgeous- where is the justice?). Anywho...What's MyWorkButterfly.com you ask? Well my friends, it is the next big thing in the
Social Networking world.
Bradi and Success Communication's, Terry Starr, have partnered to create the most comprehensive social networking site for women. The site will include a community of moms on a journey to find "family friendly" work- paid or volunteer. Additional components include celebrity support and profiles of mentors from mothers (and one daughter) like Malaak Compton-Rock (Philanthropist of the Year, wife of Chris Rock), Danielle Monaro of Z100, Kathie Lee Gifford, Di and Colbie Caillat, lifestyle content (beauty, fashion, fitness, travel, nutrition, health and finance), resources for entrepreneurs, childcare/eldercare, adult ed, career counseling, psychotherapy and a robust post/seek job board. AND- little ol' me will be a contributing editor for the site (OMG that sounds so grown up and important. I will be debuting posts of my MindyFinds' Blogs on MyWorkButterfly.com. The articles will be saturated with relevant content for the most fashionable "butterflies." I will also be chatting live twice a month for your burning fashion questions or issues...or if your just lonely and want to talk ( I am a closet psychiatrist- self taught!).
This amazing Mecca is set to launch on Jan. 15th...so come spread your
wings with me!

My 15 Minutes..What Took So Long!

The urban myth about my "open house experiences" will soon be made honest as the air date has finally been posted for my DEBUT on PrimeTime's "What would you do" show on ABC. The segment will be on Jan 27th at 10pm. For those of you that only know me by my blogginess, kindly do not judge. A fashionista I was not, HOWEVER this is how you will know that this show is REAL. Thankfully the Fashion Gods did smile upon me as I was possessed to wear my MindyFinds t-shirt that very day. The rest of the story you will have to see for yourself! Would love to know your thoughts apres!! Just click on comments and fire away...who would have known that I would have national advertising for free!


Unless I get discovered- Blog with you soon!