Women's Wardrobe Basics

We all have different styles, preferences and favorite colors. And, of course, we all have different lifestyles, priorities and "jobs" (stay-at-home moms definitely included). That being said, the following wardrobe basics are fairly general, and almost every wardrobe style can benefit from including the following items. This list is not exhaustive but contains some of the items that you "should-get-if-you-don't-already-have."

14. Fitted, black blazer (or any color for that matter, really depends upon your taste and style)

13. Longer, sexy, fitted, solid color T-shirts (and tanks if you feel comfortable- These are both great because they can be dressed up or down.)

12. Accessories that coordinate with your unique style (Use accessories to enhance, not distract from, you and your outfit.)

11. Sexy, yet comfortable, undergarments (If you feel sexy about what is going on underneath your clothes, then you are going to feel that much more confident about everything else.)

10. Red heels (Red is a fabulous color and the color of confidence. I also recommend including black and brown heels in your collection. If you like wearing heels, let your imagination free to find all sorts of alluring colors. (I recommend http://www.cutesygirl.com if you are on a tight budget.)

9. Comfortable yet stylish flats (or dressier wedges) in neutral colors

8. Sexy, stylish 'trench coat' in a solid color (black, charcoal, cream, dark khaki, etc.)

7. At least one "Little Black Dress" (I have many LBDs because black dresses look classy, sexy, sophisticated and are perfect for almost any occasion.)

6. Pencil skirts in solid colors and/or A-line skirts (If you do not already wear skirts, what is keeping you from wearing them? If you would like to start, find the skirt style(s) that fits and flatters your body. You can choose from so many styles, cuts and colors out there. You are bound to find at least one skirt that looks and feels great on you. Hopefully, you will find many!)

5. At least 1 coordinating, tailored pants or skirt suit/ensemble (Even if you are not an executive/ professional... you never know when you will need to appear even more pulled together and professional than usual, i..e. jury duty, an interview, a funeral (if your LBD is too little or revealing), going to the bank for an important loan, etc.)

4. Dress pants in neutral colors and black

3. Fitted dark jeans (Jeans come in MANY cuts/styles/colors so you may not find the perfect pair right away. Stay positive! You will find a pair that look made for you. Keep in mind, you may try on 20 or more pairs of jeans before you find the right cut/style/color right for your body.)

2. Crisp, white, collared, long sleeve button-up shirt (This shirt can be worn so many ways.)

1. Your amazing smile (Your smile is the most important piece to the style puzzle.)

***Remember to invest in pieces that you can mix and match, pieces that coordinate with the rest of your wardrobe and pieces that are consistent with your style/ representation of yourself.

Have fun, and pamper yourself!

(c) 2008 CB All rights reserved.

Save Time For Yourself

We are all busy in our own ways. Some of us are busy stay-at-home moms. Some of us are busy executives at huge corporations (and moms). Some of us are busy business owners (and moms). And some of us are so busy we lose track of time, do not get enough sleep and/or do not make enough time for ourselves. We all have busy lives, but we still need to be pampered. Most of us do not take enough time for ourselves. It is time to change that! You are an incredible, hard-working woman, and you deserve some time for yourself.

Here are a few time-saving tips to help allow for some increased pampering time for yourself. You deserve it!

1. Pick out your outfits (down to accessories and shoes) the weekend before the week ahead. This will save you so much time each morning (or at each night if that is when you used to pick out your outfits). Set aside space in your closet to put the week's worth of outfits. Try using a sachet bag for the jewelry that coordinates with each outfit. *This is also great for traveling so you can keep your whole outfit together. Shoe bags are also great for this purpose.

2. If you have kids (especially preteens), have them pick out their outfits ahead of time also. This way they can enjoy picking out their outfits, AND you get to approve/disapprove of the outfits beforehand. Not only does this save you time each morning, it may also save you the hassle of getting your kids to dress appropriately each morning (if this is even an issue for you).

3. If you usually cook dinner, try using a Crock*Pot. Talk about amazing. You can put together dinner in 10 minutes or less in the morning, place in the Crock*Pot and go about your busy day. After your long, hard day, when you are tired, all you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the amazing dinner you already prepared. Let someone else or the dishwasher do the dishes. :)

4. If you do have kids, leave them with their dad (if possible) OR hire a babysitter (or ask a relative, close neighbor, etc. to watch your kids) for a couple of hours (even just one hour) to allow you time for yourself to read, soak in a bath, get a manicure, organize your closet, workout, go for lunch with your girlfriends, take a breather or do whatever it is that relaxes you. I recommend doing this at least once a month, ideally once a week. Your kids do need you, but you need time for yourself as well. You will feel so much happier when you get the much needed time to yourself.

5. When do you shop for groceries (or run other errands)?
Many grocery stores are open 24 hours. Try shopping earlier in the morning or later at night when your kids are asleep (and someone else is watching your sleeping angels). If you want to avoid shopping early in the morning or late at night, try shopping during the weekday when your kids are at school, at after-school activities or at a friend's house. If you work out of the home during the day and your schedule permits, try shopping during your lunch break. This will allow you time to shop by yourself (which should speed things up a bit) and should save time when you would usually go grocery shopping, like on the weekend. The weekend can now be about you and your family instead of dreaded errands.

6. If you do not do this already, try packing your lunch instead of going out to lunch every day. This allows you to eat on the go if you have errands that you need to run, an appointment to get to or to workout. Having lunch out is nice and sometimes great for networking, but it will save you time and money to pack your lunch on most days. Try this for at least a week, and treat yourself to lunch out on Friday(s).

Of course each of our lives is different so you may only be able to use a few of these tips, but I hope you can make enough time for yourself.

Pamper yourself. You deserve it. Have a fabulous day every day!

(c) 2008-2009 CS All rights reserved.