Dressing as you age AKA I'm only 40, I wanna look hip!

I was invited to do a guest blog post over at Youthful Tips about fashion as we age. I didn't want this to be an "age-ist" post... as in: "You're 40 you can't wear this, that and this other fad!" because heck yes...you sure can. But walking the fine line between trying to look like a 15 year old and trying to look hip can sometimes be a struggle. Head on over to youthfultips.blogspot.com (just follow the link) and leave a comment. Thanks!

Jena over at CuteCovered has posted her Annual Swim Wear Round-Up and had great things to say about our new Swim line. Check out her post by following the hyperlink above. I think Jena has the same great taste I do...her fav's are my fav's!

Thanks Jena!

All things Fair and Equal

I just came across an article I had to share. The article is called Good Idea or Saddest Product Ever , you can find it over on Shine from Yahoo or follow my link. My thoughts in a nutshell? How about "Best Idea Ever!"? I think it's about time that men can now learn from first-hand experience the pain and suffering (I know!...dramatic wording there...) we women sometimes put ourselves through. Body Shapers of any kind are so VERY uncomfortable, and yet... to smooth over that muffin I'll admit to putting myself through that misery fairly often (hence the Summer Swimsuit Shape-up). And now? I can expect the same from my husband. Ha! My world's axis has righted.

Ready....Set....Swim!

The new 2010 Diviine Modestee swim line is HERE! We've been working hard in the warehouse the last week getting ready for this big day. Unloading the shipment, taking inventory, unpacking, etc, etc. Hard work... broke several nails down to the nub, dropped a box on my toe...just to have everything ready for our big launch. You can, of course, see it all on our website but here's a quick preview of a couple of my favs:

This is one of the new designs called Ruffle Square Halter and this particular fabric is called Purple Circles. For those of you who've loved our Square Halter, you will love this one as well. Same great coverage (especially for a halter), same great full support but with added cute ruffles. She's also wearing the Boy Brief which has a little lower cut on the leg, but still more flattering than the boyshort length.

This picture I already posted on Facebook yesterday as a preview, but I am showing it again because it's my absolute favorite. This is the suit that I am doing my Summer Swimsuit Shapeup for. The Ruffle Banded Halter, is another new style shown above in purple and available in several other colors and it is adorable. I will think I have died and gone to heaven if I can look like the model in mine! This is (I think) one of the only v-neck halters on the market that comes high enough to not show any cleavage. The ruffle at the neckline adds even more subtle coverage so that it is a modest swimsuit, but yet stylish and definitely not frumpy.

Ok...a couple more:

The classic Square Halter in Teal Waves. This is a suit style that by popular demand we have done for several years in a row but in different colors. An adorable modest swimsuit with great cleavage coverage and support.

Now for some fun prints...this one is the Purple Zigzag print. I really like this print: from far away it looks like zigzags as you can see, but up close it has a whole different pattern, almost like snakeskin only so much more beautiful. This is the Banded Halter with the Ruffle Swim Skirt.

I really like this pattern called Teal Starburst. These "starbursts" are the coolest design, not stars, not quite flowers, but not quite simply retro circles either. Just trust me...it's the BEST. I got to give this Square Halter and Banded Midrise a trial run last November in Hawaii and I got a lot of compliments on it at the pool. Funny thing was that amid all the ladies also in their swim attire, I was covered the most and yet (in my opinion) had the cutest suit there!

This is another pattern called Bubbles shown with the Banded Halter and Ruffle Skirt again. It's a fun, colorful, playful print that we've done on several styles including the Banded Halter and the Ruched Tankini with Sash. All are adorable done in this print!

These are only a handful of the new suits and colors that we have ready to go. So if you have a cruise planned, a winter trip to a warmer place or just think ahead to summer better than the average person, you need to either come by our store or head to Diviine Modestee's website.

Shoe Love!

I've been searching for the perfect pair of shoes to go with my Moonlight Blue Brecken dress from the new Diviine Modestee dress line and I found these killer shoes by Miss Sixty. I LOVE them! After hours of shoe-shopping online I found them at Piperlime, which is one of my favorite online shoe stores. I'm really excited about these pair of shoes because not only are they are sale (woot!) but they will also match both the Moonlight Blue dress and the Stone one as well should I decide to get that one too. Which I'll probably do since I adore that dress. ----------------------> See, great dress!

Hopefully these shoes are as comfortable as they are hot!

We love our Customers!

Customer Comment of the Day: "Thanks so much for my swimsuit! I love your stuff and your customer service." ~Jena

Brittney, Diviine Modestee's awesome Customer Service Rep received this nice compliment from a customer who she assisted in picking out the perfect swimsuit. Good Job Brittney!

Thanks Jena, for your kind words. Incidentally, our swimwear is on sale this week only, no coupon code needed.

Summer Swimsuit Shape-Up-Update 1

Almost two full weeks into my Summer Shape-up and I am happy to say that I am down 8 pounds! Go Me!

If you've dieted before, you know that one constant to all diets is massive water consumption and unfortunately I've discovered that I really don't like plain water. Inspiration hit remembering the beautiful glass water dispenser filled with ice, water and various fruits/vegetables at a hotel my family stayed at recently in Hawaii. Maybe it was because I was constantly outside in the sun that made that flavored water SO delicious. I don't know, but lucky me... I had some leftover cranberries, Clementines and Granny Smith apples from the Holidays wasting away in my refrigerator.

I sliced the Clementines and Granny Smiths, cut the cranberries in half and put all three in a pitcher. Next I poured hot water over the fruit until the pitcher was full and chilled it in the refrigerator. I found that pouring HOT water over the fruit brings out more flavor. This worked great for several days until I ran out of those fruits and simultaneously wanted a change-up of flavors. Google is my friend and I know how to use it, so I found the following recipe which I absolutely LOVE. I don't think I'll ever get tired of this flavored water:

Cucumber/Rosemary Water
Recipe courtesy of At Home with Kim Vallee

1. Cut 10 cucumber slices for one branch of fresh rosemary.
2. Put the cucumber and rosemary in a pitcher.
3. Fill the half of the pitcher with ice cubes. Fill with water.
4. Let it macerate in the fridge for 24 hours before serving.

One variation: switch the rosemary for mint leaves. Refreshing.

Flavored water is so simple and refreshing and really can't be made incorrectly. Just throw in what you love! For more inspiration Google "Spa Water" and all kinds of tried and true variations will come up...all guaranteed to quench that thirst.

Wish me luck on Week Three. Maybe one of these days I'll be brave enough to post before photos. Hmmmmmm?.........nah. Can't see that happening any time soon!

It's not a New Years Resolution.

I have had it with my weight!

I've had it up to *here* with not being able to cross my legs comfortably. With having both hips hit the sides of the movie-theatre chairs (that was a shock the first time it happened), of not being able to bend down to put tights on with out rolling forward off the bed and onto the floor. Of constantly holding my arms in front of my gut. As if that pose alone would hide the fact that over the past year I have put on way more weight than I want to mention.

So why am I mentioning it? I want the accountability this time. I have dieted in the past, but I was a "closet dieter". Not even my husband knew I was dieting. It was my secret shame, because to say you were dieting was to admit to being fat. Right? Well, yes...but. It was also easier to quit. This time around I have a Health Coach that I am meeting with weekly. She's new at it, so kind of counting on me to do well to promote her business.

So what-the-heck. The more accountability the better I'll do, right? I am officially starting my diet tomorrow and I am letting the world know! Today's weight: 185. Goal: 130.

Thus starts my Summer Swimsuit Shape-Up.

Out with the Old, In with the New

I got a little bee in my bonnet today to update the blog. It's been a while and frankly, about time! The first thing I noticed when logging on to Diviine Grapeviine today was that we have even more followers! Welcome! We're glad to have you along for the ride and hope that you will feel welcome here.

The next thing I noticed was that the Holiday template needed to go. Just like at home it's time to pack away the decorations, vacuum up the pine needles, clean and tidy up. After searching for quite a while I found this blog skin that you see now and fell in love. Hopefully you will find it easy on the eyes and easy to navigate. Who knows...I may decide to change it up again soon but for now, I'm really loving the look. Those of you who blog know, however that each time you change templates you lose many of the widgets. So I'm off to re-add all those little details.

I'm glad to have you all along for the ride this year. Diviine Modestee has some great things on the horizon!

CHRISTMAS IS IN THE AIR

As Christmas time approaches we have time to reflect on all the things we must get done over the next few days. Last minute shopping, baking for the neighbors or just sending out those once a year Holiday cards to update Family and Friends. We here at Diviine Modestee hope that all of you find a moment of a peace and a night or two to get dressed up to feel lovely :) We LOVE helping woman feel beautiful! Thank you so much to our customers and fans for all of the support we get from you. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a WONDERFUL new year! Ciao! Brittney
LOVE TO ALL, DIVIINE MODESTEE