Playing at Being a Fashion Journalist

As many of you know we recently held our very first modest swimsuit giveaway hosted by Elaine at Clothed Much. Clothed Much is a "Look What I'm Wearing Today!" blog, but with the added emphasis on modesty and frugality. I picked Elaine to host our first swimsuit giveaway because I love her sense of style and how she proves that not only do you not have to have a ton of money to invest in your closet to look fashionable but you also don't need to compromise on modesty, either.

In working together getting the swimsuit giveaway up and running I had the opportunity to talk to Elaine and interview her. Channeling my inner Dianne Sawyer I really delivered some tough questions. Here is my interview with Elaine:

DM: Hi Elaine, and welcome. Who is your Fashion Icon?

Elaine: I actually don't have one fashion icon.. I try to receive inspiration from everywhere. I really look to fashion blogs, street style and chictopia.com for my fashion inspiration!

DM: What defines modesty to you?

Elaine: Modesty is not just a style choice but a lifestyle. I have learned to curb my desires and wants for what is really important - self-respect, dignity, and self-worth. Through my clothing choices and style, I want to portray to the world that I respect my body and want people to see me for who I am and not my hot body (ha!)

DM: Describe one of your favorite outfits.

Elaine: That's so hard!! Here's one... It's nothing special - I am just really proud of how I put the items together so they hold a special place in my closet.

DM: That outfit looks so comfy and yet just a little more dressed up than jeans. It's perfect! In reading your blog we get an insider's view of your closet but tell us a little about YOU.

Elaine: I was born in Seoul, Korea but immigrated to the states, specifically, Philadelphia, with my family when I was younger. I now live in Salt Lake City, UT with my dear husband of two years. I like to stare at my sewing machine and pretend to know how to use it. I like thrifting - I'm not very good at it but I like to think I am getting better!

DM: What are some of your favorite places to shop?

Elaine: Deseret Industries (a local thrift store), other thrift stores, Uptown Cheapskate, ebay... I've been looking at secondhand clothing a lot more. I like to think I'm "helping" the earth...and my wallet and husband appreciate it too ;)

DM: I'm also a big fan of eBay. What was one of your best shopping "scores"?

Elaine: This is going to be so boring and practical but definitely my secondhand Kenneth Cole Reaction coat. I've been looking for a new winter coat because my other one was too poofy and made me look like a marshmallow and so when I saw this at a consignment store for $60 I snagged it! I don't know the brand too well and I looked it up and their coats run for at least $300!!! So yeah...it was definitely a good score!!!

DM: That IS a gorgeous coat! Jealous! If you woke up late and only had 2 minutes to throw an outfit together, what would you put on?

Elaine: Hahaha that happens to me a lot often than you'd think...... I'd wear my J Brand jeans, Hanes men's v-neck, Geox flats (if it is warm outside) or my Tsubo boots, and my leopard print scarf! That is my default outfit...it has never failed me! ;)

DM: Thank you so much Elaine for stopping by. Since I already had a leopard print scarf, you inspired me to purchase a white v-neck Tee (on clearance!) and I now have a go-to outfit for those mornings when I don't want to think about what to wear to work!

Summer Swimsuit Shapeup: Update 3

Well....yeah. I have a big "FAIL" stamped on week 5 of my diet log-sheet. I whined cried met last night with my Health Coach, and today I feel somewhat jazzed to get back on-plan.

WARNING: Reading from this point on may trigger intense chocolate cravings!!!!

All through this diet so far I have had the mind-set that any delicious food that I can't have now, will be available later...and that has worked great until I was faced with my all-time fav treat that is only available around Easter each year. The Cadbury Mini-Egg.

I have joked in previous comments that I love Love LOVE Cadbury Mini Eggs. But it's no joke. Each year I look forward to Spring when the purple packages hit the store shelves. I actually remember clearly when my friend Tammy first introduced me to these yummy treats a good 20 years ago in Charlotte, North Carolina. Last week after running some errands for me, my son picked me up from work with a "Hey! Guess what's in the stores??"
"Only let me have six", I told him, thinking a small taste would be a nice treat and not affect my diet too much and... it wouldn't have, except that there is such a thing as not-enough-of-a-good-thing...Yea...I've been on a week-long Chocolate Splurge and enjoyed every second of it.

But all good things must come to an end. My Coach's idea last night was for me to hit the diet hard for the next 3-4 weeks until Easter, then reward myself on Easter with all the Easter trimmings including Mini-Eggs for that one day. Then back on-plan again the next day.

This, I can do. Onward and upward, right? Because out of all our new 2010 modest swimwear line I have finally picked out my favorite and I want it in a medium, not an x-large.

Another Giveaway!

Head on over to Fabulous Fun Finds and enter to win a FREE modest swimsuit from Diviine Modestee! You can also read her review of our new swimsuit line.

Is your favorite modest swimsuit the Banded Halter?
Or maybe the Bowtie Tankini?Or the Classic Square Halter?
Enter the giveaway by letting Fabulous Fun Finds know which of our new 2010 modest swimsuits are your favorites. Plural, because I know you'll find more than one to love.

Fun Fashion Blog

In my web-surfing today I came across a fun fashion blog called Thrifty Muse. I love the combination of Fashion+Thrift because not all of us can afford Christian Louboutin or Max Azria although (some of us...me!) want to LOOK like we can. Lisa, who writes for Thrifty Muse likes to put together her layered outfits starting with Diviine Modestee Camisoles. One recent look she put together can be seen here: http://fashiongirlsgallery.blogspot.com/2010/02/triple-decker.html

Welcome!

Welcome to all our new followers! It's exciting to me to see the blog grow and expand. I hope that you will feel welcome here and want to stop by often.

We have a few exciting things in the works. We have an upcoming guest post by Tawny from This Christian Lady and we have an interview with Elaine from ClothedMuch, a modesty blog that many of you already know and follow, but she is a fun gal and we have all the 411 on her.

So be sure to check back in the next couple of days...week...whatever, but definitely be sure to stop back by!

Summer Swimsuit Shape-Up-Update 2

The Swimsuit Shape-Up has been easier than I thought it would be. Of course I haven't added exercise yet, ha! But even so, eating better and healthier has been great for me and the whole family. One of the major perks of my diet has been my kids' new-found love of vegetables. I guess I never cooked vegetables enough for them to have had an opinion, but now that I have to eat 4 cups... CUPS! of vegetables each day, I am cooking them much more often. Here's my kids' favorite:

Roasted Cauliflower (I did not know you could roast cauliflower!)
1 Head cauliflower
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder

Preheat oven to 400. Cut cauliflower into flowerettes. Combine EVOO, salt, pepper and garlic together then sprinkle over cauliflower and arrange on a baking sheet. Bake about 10 minutes.



My kids swear these taste like french-fries. I don't think they do at all, but they are indeed yummy!

So...February 15...It is time to re-commit to the Shape-Up! Low carbing was very hard this past weekend. A neighbor brought over fresh-baked bread (curse her!), my son made ricekrispy treats...all sorts of powers conspired against me and I caved. But only for one day and only temporarily. Tomorrow it is Back On Plan. So far I have lost 15 lbs since starting the Swimsuit Shape-Up which I think is pretty good, I wore a skirt on Sunday that I haven't worn in a while. That made me happy. VERY happy. Ok...so it was a little snug. I still wore it! Go me!

Swimsuit Giveaway!

When we decided to do our first EVER (yes...we're slow!) modest swimsuit giveaway my first pick to host it was Elaine at ClothedMuch. If you haven't seen her blog yet, you need to (just follow the link). She has the most amazing fashion sense and style, fun personality that shows through in her posts, great photography, and best of all every. single. one. of her outfits are modest.

Elaine graciously agreed to help us out, so...head on over to ClothedMuch and give her some blog love! Enter the modest swimsuit giveaway she is hosting for us. Also coming SOON: an interview with Elaine right here on this blog. Look for it this coming week.

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.