5 Ways To Lose Weight By Looking Great (Thanks Fitbie!)…
Being a self-proclaimed health addict who spends way too much of my time scouring the Web for fitness/healthy eating articles, I was more than happy to stumble upon Fitbie’s “Fashion-Forward Ways to Lose Weight.”
This article offers 10 chic ways to lose weight using some of the seasons most popular styles. I just had to share with you some of my favorites but be sure to check out Fitbie for the entire article.
1. Lipstick: Fitbie states that wearing lipstick, especially those of a coral, red, or fuchsia hue, can prevent you from eating messy or sugary foods since you won’t want to constantly mess up your kissers. Nutrition Director Sari Greaves, RD, from Step Ahead Weight Loss Center confirms that you will want to eat daintier as no not smudge your makeup! My preferred lip colors are from Sephora.
Left to Right: Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain “Always Red” $12/Charlotte Ronson “A perfect Kiss Lip Gloss” $14 (Sophia-Creamy Coral)
2. Carry a Clutch: Marisa Moore, RD, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told Fitbie that carrying a clutch, instead of a shoulder bag or purse, keeps your hands busy, making it more difficult to carry a drink AND a plate of food (genius because, lets be honest, the cocktail would always beat a plate of food if I had to choose one).
From Left to Right : Clare Vivier Aqua and Neon Foldover Clutch from $156/ H&M Straw Bag $17.95
3. Buckle Up: Fitbie suggests wearing a belt to not only kick up your style a notch, but to also help define your waistline. (Also, it is a nice reminder to have: once it starts feeling a little tight you know to put down that last donut)
From Left to Right: Forever 21 Colorful Braided Belt $6.80/ Tory Burch tory Reversible Logo Belt $195
4. Do Denim: Hopefully you work at a more laid back office where you are given the freedom to wear jeans on Friday. A study from the University of Wisconsin showed that people who wore their favorite dark-washed jeans to the office took 491 more steps than those who wore suits.
From Left to Right: Forever 21 Stretch Skinny Jeans $10.80/ Madewell Skargorn Bones Skinny Jeans $128
5. Sneak Attack: Fitbie’s article encourages commuters to save their heels for the office and rock some your favorite paire of sneakers into work. Not only will this make your morning routine more comfortable, but it will also give you the availability to get a quick work or walk out in during your lunch break.
From Left to Right: Nike Free 4.0 Women’s Running Shoe $90/ New Balance 860 $89.99
~Michelle Mass
What To Do This Weekend
Far from your average clothing swap, the extra “Rama” is a series of DIY workshops in which locals can explore easy, creative and sustainable ways to upcycle used clothing and textiles. Here’s how it works: while not mandatory, those who come with at least a bag of unwanted clothing will save $10 on admission and once all the donations have been collected, everyone will get to dive into the massive pile of gently worn treasures like wild (yet courteous) scavengers. Finally, skilled local artists will help Swappers work their creative mojo and revamp their new duds. You can spruce up a boring tee with a screen-printed image with Candy Depew of the Philly-based silk-screen studio, school and showroom, Candy-Coated or with a simpler version of designer Nicole Rae Styer’s unique embellishments. Amber Zaraza of Phea Jean and the crafty folks of Handmade Philly will even show you how to transform an article of clothing into a one-of-a-kind accessory. Saturday, 12pm. $10-$20. @ Broad Street Ministry (315 S. Broad St.)
Spring 2012 Art Star Craft Bazaar
Just in time for Mother’s Day, Art Star has hand selected over 140 local and national artists to set up shop and sell their wares outside at Penn’s Landing for the spring edition of their beloved art fair/craft show. Basically, anything and everything you can think of and then some. Some local vendors to keep an eye out for: exit343 design, Concrete Polish, Black Heart Letterpress, BirdQueen Designs and Bob Dix Illustration. Going through the long list of vendors, I’m going to be on the look out for Moonlight Bindery, Spread The Love and Inedible Jewelry. As usual, there will also be live music from local bands, vegan/vegetarian friendly food and interactive art demos like sculpting/mold making with The Philadelphia Sculpture Gym and recycled crafts with NL Arts. Saturday, 11am-6pm. Sunday, 11am-5pm. Free. The Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing (Columbus Blvd. at Chestnut St.)
Breaking Away: 2012 Fashion Show
This annual fashion extravaganza in conjunction with Moore College’s commencement celebrations will feature 28 innovative senior collections as well as designs by junior and sophomore students of the college’s acclaimed fashion design department. The showcased designs include swimwear, bridal, childrenswear, menswear, sportswear and last but not least, eveningwear. The theme “Breaking Away” is specifically for the senior eveningwear finale. There will also be a closing reception for “Emerging Artists and Designers,” featuring the best work from their senior students in fine art, graphic design, illustration, interior design photography and textile design. So come out and help congratulate the Class of 2012 Who knows—you may wind up discovering America’s next big designer before everyone else. Saturday, 8pm. $25. @Moore College, Aviator Park (20th & Ben Franklin Pkwy.)
Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair
While fine art might be a bit of a snooze-fest, fine crafts are a whole different story. For their signature premiere fair, the PA Guild of Craftsmen has invited 140 of its finest crafts artists to pile into Rittenhouse Square this weekend and showcase/sell their exceptional one-of-a-kind creations. We’re talking everything from handcrafted jewelry, designer clothing and contemporary furniture to functional and decorative pottery, limited edition photography and fine porcelain. Will these items be pricey? You betcha! But there’s sure to be some affordable pieces. Either way, everything else is guaranteed to be worth the price. Fri.-Sat., 11am-7pm. Sun., 11am-5pm. Free. @ Rittenhouse Square
If you’re having trouble finding the perfect Mother’s Day gift (and somehow PW Style’s incredibly awesome and comprehensive Mother’s Day Gift Guide didn’t help), why not just mom out to the KOP Mall so she can pick out something herself? While there, be sure to stop into Free People where they’ll offering complimentary tea, coffee and other refreshments as well as a free flowers for the mommas (unless you show up late). You may want to also grab something for yourself since you’ll receive an exclusive soy candle by Candles with Love with a purchase of $250. Sunday, 11am-6pm. Free @ Free People, King of Prussia Mall (452 Mall Blvd.)
Art Institute Student Creates An Award-Winning Wedding Gown
The Art Institute of Philadelphia is swarming with talented young people and Adriana Maria is one of them.
Currently enrolled in the Institute’s Fashion Design Program, Adriana officially made a name for herself last month having won Philadelphia Wedding’s “Sew in Love Fashion Showcase. Philadelphia Wedding, a publication of Philadelphia Magazine, asked design students to create a one-of-a-kind wedding gown that cost under $500. The dresses, refereed by Fashion Icon Nicole Miller, Project Runway winner Jay McCarroll, Danielle from Bridals by Danielle, Pattie Lamantia from The Wedding Shop, Mary Dougherty from MKDA Agency, Danielle Hoysa from Bridal Garden and Philadelphia Wedding’s Editor-in-Chief, Carrie Danny, were judged in three categories including creativity, execution, and emotional response.
Having been deemed the best of 21 entries (all from five local design schools including, Drexel, University of Delaware, Philadelphia University, and Moore College of Design), Adriana not only will have her dress (pictured left) featured in the Fall/Winter 2013 issue of Philadelphia Wedding, but the budding new designer also won the chance to work closely with the Bridals by Danielle owner on her brand new eveningwear line.
Making the competition even more exciting, 50 percent of ticket proceeds from the April 20th reception event went to the non-profit organization, Wish Upon A Wedding, which provides wedding renewals for couples who face life-threatening illnesses.
Great job, Adriana!
~Michelle Mass
DIY Nail Stickers
I’ve never really been into making a big deal out of your nails. It always seemed like way too much effort for something that would look just as good with a simple coat of red polish. But, it’s like you can’t avoid the tricked-out nail trend right now, so you might as well pick one and at least try it. You never know, you might like it.
I found this super simple DIY for nail stickers of Lauren Conrad’s Beauty Department and I thought it was such a cheap and easy way to make a super special nail, that I had to share it with you guys.
Something New To Do With Your Instagram Pics…
While I’m not one of those obsessive Instagrammers who literally see the world through potential Instagram pics, I do appreciate any technology that can transform an otherwise uninteresting photo into a work of art with the click of a button.
Even better, now your instant masterpieces don’t just have to live and die on your phone—they can be transformed into an awesome piece of décor.
Using digitally printed versions of your favorite Instagram shots, Stitchagram (aka. brother/sister team Dou and Rachel Pfeffer from Washington, DC) will create a custom, 100 percent handmade throw pillow.
Once on their site, all you have to do is log into your Instagram account, choose from one of two layout designs then drag and drop your desired photos into the designated spaces.
Each of the 15 inch pillows come with a soft and fluffy removable insert and the back is a dark navy color with an envelope-style closure. Though normally $94.50 (plus shipping), right now they’re having a spring sale, offering folks their awesome creations for just $64. Not only are the pillows likely to last long after you inevitably drop your iPhone into a toilet, but they would make a really great, deceivingly thoughtful gift.
I’m already picturing one on my couch.
DIY Wall Murals
Let’s be honest, most wall murals and decals are pretty cheesy. I don’t think people really think it through when they have a family photo blown up to monstrous proportions and use it as wallpaper. Pretty soon, the sight of your own smile will start to creep you out. Or, those terrible city sky-line murals. What is it with people (especially New Yorkers) who need to constantly remind themselves that they live in a city? Just look out your window! Personally, I like my city apartment to be super tranquil and remind me of being out in the country. Which is why I find these wall murals so appealing.
If you aren’t the handiest with a paintbrush, here’s some methods you can use to make your own wall mural.
1. Use PosteRazor to slice an image into squares that can be printed out to make a large poster size image.
2. Construct a make-shift projector from a box, a lamp and some tape.
Hunger Games’ Nuptials: May The Odds Be Ever In Your Wedding Favor…
Unless you live under a rock, you are at least somewhat familiar with the newest literary and cinematic phenomenon, The Hunger Games. In a nutshell, the book/film is about a post-apocalyptic world where 24 tributes are picked to fight each other to the death in a specialized arena. As a fan of the book trilogy, I can confidently confirm that it is absolutely as awesome as it sounds.
Kylie Carlson, owner of the Wedding and Event Institute, has decided to take her love for The Hunger Games to the next level by devising a contest using another popular phenomenon, Pinterest. A group of twelve talented wedding planners, stylists, and designers will compete against each other (in the Pinterest Arena) to see who can produce the best mood board and concept for a bridal couple who want The Hunger Games as their wedding theme. The victor of the contest is destined to win quite the bounty including a course of their choice from the Wedding and Event Institute, a signed copy of Signature Sasha-Magnificent Weddings by Design, an iPad2, a one year subscription to WedLock Magazine, and a one year membership to the Wedding Industry Professional Association.
Carlson states that “One of the main jobs of a wedding planner, stylist or designer is to come up with concepts and designs based on the requirements of our clients, however unusual they might be. Our own personal taste shouldn’t come into it. And this can sometimes be a challenge”
Beginning April 13th, interested applicants will have seven days to enter the contest. Just like the Suzanne Collins blockbuster, at the end of the application process twelve tributes will be chosen, assigned to a district, interviewed and featured on their own Wedding and Event Institute page. The Districts are appropriately named after design themes including Color (District 1), Venues (District 4), Floral (District 9), Hair and Make-up (District 12) and more.
The tributes will have to do their best to gain the love and interest of the public to get votes. After a week of rallying for their Pinterest boards, the two tributes with the highest votes will be put through to the next round where they will be judged by a panel, including Kylie Carlson, celebrity wedding designer Sasha Souza, Editor of Event Solutions Magazine Ann Turner, and Event Designer Lindye Galloway before a winner is chosen on May 1st.
If you have a knack for wedding planning and design and want to enter the arena before Reaping day, fill out the registration form before April 19th. Good luck to all of the tributes and, say it with me, “may the odds be ever in your favor…”
~Michelle C. Mass
DIY Bow Tie
Lucky for us tomboys, borrowing fashion from the boys has been super “in” for the past few seasons. It all started with the brogues, then the collars, the ballcaps, now, the latest addition, the bowtie! Bowties on chicks are super adorable and sharp. Just check out our exhibit A right here:
Via lifetrendy.com
You can go out and buy a bow tie from the men’s or little boy section, but it’ll set you back almost 50 bucks. Oh, and those over-sized jawns from American Apparel? Too costumey. What you need is a neat, little bow that will look polished and cool and not like water could squirt out of it.
The ladies at Honestly WTF have a super easy tutorial on how to make a bow tie yourself from scraps of fabric.
Start by drawing a horizontal and vertical line on a 6″ by 3.5″ piece of fabric. Pinch the fabric where the lines intersect and pick it up.
Flip the fabric over and place a drop of hot glue where you are pinching. Fold it in half lengthwise, pressing it together. Then, put a dab of glue on the backside, on the horizontal line, right next to the fold.
Fold the fabric back again and press down where you just glued. We will continue this process to form the middle accordion shape of the bow.
Turn your finished bow over and glue the tip of a .75″ by 2.5″ strip of fabric to the center. Wrap it around and seal with glue.
Glue a pinback to the back of the bow.
Voila!
The Better Way to Get Rid Of Chocolate Cravings
It’s late, and you’re lazily draped over the couch watching re-runs of Fashion Police after a long day. Just when you least expect it, it hits you – the inevitable late night chocolate craving. Don’t be that cheesy woman in the Special K commercial who allegedly satisfies her chocolate cravings with a cup of Special K Chocolatey Delight cereal. Nobody does that. Even if they did, it surely wouldn’t get rid of their persistent chocolate craving.
If you’re trying to satisfy your stomach’s desire, you have one of two options – spend the rest of the night slaving over a batch of double chocolate fudge brownies using your grandmother’s prized recipe, or whip up a chocolate mug cake in two minutes or less.
Not much of a baker? Not a problem. It’s entirely possible to make a serving of delicious, moist chocolate cake in the microwave with just three ingredients that you might already have lying around in your pantry and minimal or non-existent baking skills. Yes, this is real life.
As someone who’s spent a good deal of time making various confections with painstakingly long lists of ingredients and steps, I was a bit skeptical when I saw there were only three ingredients. My initial doubts quickly subsided, as well as my seemingly insatiable craving for chocolate, once I tried the recipe out for myself on a lazy Sunday afternoon. If someone made this for me without informing me that only three ingredients went into it, I wouldn’t have been able to tell.
Even the greatest of bakers need a break sometimes, and chocolate cake in a mug is the perfect alternative for when you’re low on time, or, motivation. Plus, because the recipe fills exactly one mug – no more, no less – you won’t be tempted to snag another slice (or ten) of cake and go overboard.
Try the recipe out for yourself, because I can only muse about it for so long. If you’re feeling more adventurous, the article includes nine other mug cake recipes, like cookie dough, nutella, and chocolate peanut butter, though they do call for more ingredients. Happy baking, and may your chocolate cravings disappear!
-Lauren Arute
DIY: Phillies Nails
With the Philadelphia Phillies officially kicking off their 2012 season this Thursday (at 1:35 p.m.) in Pittsburgh, we here at PW Style would like to help all you lady fans out there show your team spirit in style. In fact, we’re going to be dishing numerous Phillies-centric fashion and style tips leading up to the first pitch of the team’s home opener next Monday—we do have a long six-eight months of baseball ahead of us, after all.
First things first, a Phillies-inspired manicure is definitely in order.
Depending on your desired level of skill and creativity, there’s a bunch of different ways to go about it. The easiest: using a fine-tip brush, toothpick or polish pen to create the Phills’ logo on one of your nails while painting the rest solid red or white…
Photos: diynaildesigns.com//spoliedpretty.blogspot.com
From personal experience, I can tell you that a basic white “P” on top of a red nail looks great. But should you want to really master the Phillies “P” you can find more detailed instructions on this DiyNailDesigns.com post.
Yet, seeing as though you’ve still got nine perfectly good little canvases left, why not incorporate a few more things into your design like stars, pin-strips, you’re favorite player’s number, polka dots, Crackle or some blue polish?
Photos: megsmanicure.blospot.com//alllaquredup.com//lazybeautiful.com//livylulu.blogpost.com//sabrinasnailblog.blogspot.com
Rather than attempting to paint the stars yourself, see if you can find star nail gems, a confetti polish with stars in it or basic star stickers in your nearest drug store.
For the slightly more adept nail artist, try sporting baseballs on one or more of your digits…
Photos: blogs.nailsmag.com//recipeforbeautiful.worpress.com//nailartgallery.nailsmag.com//thedailyvarnish.com
The stitching may be a bit too hard with even a fine brush, so you’ll probably want to stick to a toothpick or polish pen. And like with most nail designs, you want to go real slow, creating a series of small dots and connecting them little by little.
Here’s one of a million tutorials for baseball nail art (but the only one by a real Phils fan):
