Accessories and Jewelry

They can make a simple black dress breathtakingly sophisticated. Think about Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) in that beginning scene of Breakfast at Tiffany’s… what would that black dress be without those lovely pearls, the tiara barrette in her perfectly coiffed hair, or those fabulous opera gloves? Just a sheath dress in black. They can instantly take a v-neck tee and khaki capris from backyard to date night with a few lobster clasps.

Accessories. Since Cleopatra’s time women have been adorning themselves with jewels and trinkets to enhance their ensemble. And they change with the tide, but a few key pieces will translate well regardless of what’s coming out of Paris or New York this season.

1.  A simple strand of pearls. They don’t have to be real, just make sure they’re real good looking. Sometimes fake pearls are just plastic beads covered with a pearescent foil… this can chip off quite easily, sometimes with prolonged exposure to the moisture from your skin, body oils or lotions. Simulated pearls are more commonplace and last a bit longer. And good places to get quality costume jewelry is QVC.com, HSN.com, or a big box store.

2.  A nice pair of stud earrings. These don’t go below your earlobe, and you can wear them any time, with anything. The traditional choice- diamond (or nice looking CZ). Don’t take this to rap star level (extra large), it’s not ideal.

3.  A simple pair of hoops. Mayonnaise jar hoops are still gauche, but it’s your choice if you want silver or gold. (See NOTE below about how to choose silver or gold.)

4.  A nice cocktail / “right hand” ring. This is a nice looking ring that might be a tiny bit more flashy than your wedding/engagement ring(s), hence worn on the right hand. Rings are always personal choice. Some people get irritated by wearing them, and they’re not as noticeable as a necklace or earrings, so if you really don’t like them, you can skip wearing them.

5.  Statement jewelry. This is where you’d have a piece or two that states who you are or what your outfit says. For Christians that so choose, it would be their cross. Trends like the toggle style necklace that Tiffany released a couple years ago, the diamond circle pendant, etc.

6.  Trendy pieces. With the 80s making a comeback lately, this is where you’d have your thick bangle bracelets with interesting designs, piles of jelly bracelets, etc. This should be the least amount in your jewelry wardrobe, because what’s in for 2009/2010 may be completely yuck in 2011.

A general rule of thumb- don’t try to pile on your jewels just because it’s what you have. And it’s along the same lines of makeup- big and attention-getting in one area and leave the rest simple. Big earrings, keep the necklace simple.

NOTE: How to choose if you’re a Silver or Gold person- hold something silvery or gray next to your skin (face or neck is usually easiest), and with the other hand, hold something gold or yellow/orange up. Whichever side of you looks more “lit” up, that’s what you are. I look best with silver, as I feel gold makes me look a little jaundice.

Stay tuned for Erin’s new fashion and beauty column next week, Fringe- purses, scarves and shoes.

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Eyebrow Threading

From Marlene Dietrich pencil-thins to Brook Shields’ Au Naturales (and back again), we all have personal preferences as to how we want our brows “done”. The newest way (to the local mall nail shop in your area, at least) to do that is through eyebrow threading.

The way a particular esthetician will set up their threads depends on the method they learned. Some are very ornate and theatrical while the service is being rendered. But the idea is the same.

Regular, cotton (in most cases) thread is made into a rounded rectangle shape, twisted into itself three or four times (forming two triangles), and depending on what your particular hand-dominance, is placed before each hair to be removed, the fingers in one loop opened, causing the wrapped part to literally tangle the hairs into the wraps, pulling them out.

Confused? I used the video below to figure it out for myself, instead of paying $7 or better to have them done by someone else (subscribers will have to click through to this article to watch the video).  Especially if it was supposed to be a particularly painful experience.

How to Thread Eyebrows Video

Personally, the jury is still out for me if I’d use threading or trusty ol’ razor stick from Sally’s. Threading is a cleaner technique… It’s must easier to plot out the shape of your brow, and less margin of error. However- the pain factor is great (more so than tweezers, in my opinion), especially if you accidentally catch some skin in the thread, as I did my first attempt.

A razor stick (most drug stores and Sally Beauty stores carry them) is economical, and to me, the least painful way to do brows. But you have to be much more careful with razors than tweezers or threading, or else you end up with brows a la Vanilla Ice.

The most important part is to do SOMETHING to your brows. If you wear not a smudge of makeup, your eyebrows being properly groomed is a very quick way to look better, and a little more put together.

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Summer Makeup for Moms

Summer’s started, and pretty much anywhere you live, you’re dealing with heat… put on top of that the collective thirty seconds you have to yourself as a mom (hello- two preschoolers!), and summer seems like the season you do without, put your hair in a ponytail (or claw clip) and away you go.

It doesn’t have to be that blah just because you’re a mom. I have five of my favorite, go-to products to keep you looking fresh, revived and with-it, and all within 5 minutes. I do have to say- you will notice I’m a big fan of mark. cosmetics. (I am not a representative, I just like the product). But I’ve given you some drug store alternatives for a get-it-right-now purchase.

5 Must Have Summer Makeup Products

1- mark. Get a Tint (appx $8.00). Truly beautiful for a quick pick me up for your skin without going crazy with coverage! I’d definitely put this on before any concealer you need. (I’ll explain later!)

Option- CG Smoothers. Always a favorite on my mecca website- makeupalley.com. I’d go a shade darker than you think you need on this one… it can make you look ashy if it’s too light.

1 ½ – mark. Good Riddance Hookup Concealer (appx $6.00 meetmark.com). If you have a non-sleeping 2 year old like I do, “Say haloh to my little frien’”. LOVE this stuff. And it’s a pencil that I have “hooked up” to my lip gloss. Can’t go wrong- they wedge right in that skinny little pocket in the diaper bag.

Application tip: if you need a LOT of coverage, ‘draw’ right on your areas and tap/smudge until it disappears into your skin. If you just need a little, draw a little bit on your RING finger and apply that way. The ring finger is the most seldom used finger on the hand, therefore the best for applying to the face- it’s less callused, and tends to be the cleanest.

The drug store favorite for me- Revlon New Complexion concealer.

2- mark. Good Glowing powder blush (appx $6.00 meetmark.com). Golden Glo and After Glo are the ones I use the most… and does well across the board with skin tones. Option- Jane mineral blush- I’ve used this on photoshoots. Colors do well across skin tones too. Also apply blush/bronzer in the crease of your eyelid. Instant eye shadow!

3- Physician’s Formula Lash in a Tube. Has been and always will be my favorite. Bad Gal Lash by Benefit was my favorite until I couldn’t afford it anymore. This product does the SAME thing, without the huge-gantic brush gimmick (yes, Benefit was the first!)… for summer, stick with the waterproof. Sweat or jumping into a pool will have you all Tammy-Fayed out. Not pretty!

4- Lip Gloss. No real recommendation on this one. I wouldn’t go too frosty on it, or you look too 60’s B-Movie Sci-Fi queen… just a little sheen, and stick to whatever looks closest to your bare lips… so you can do your lip gloss without looking in a mirror (especially in traffic!)

Next week- I get my eyebrows Threaded for the first time! It’s supposed to be less painful and longer lasting than plucking. We shall see!

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Basic Skin Care: Prep Your Canvas!

The biggest thing about makeup isn’t the actual cosmetic itself- it’s what’s under it. You can put the best foundation on, but if your skin is bad, your makeup will look bad too.

But you don’t have to go to the spa weekly for beautiful skin- a few simple steps twice a day will help keep that canvas ready.

Skin Cleansers

First- get a good cleanser. Good doesn’t always mean strongest. Truly oily skin is not just oily through the t-zone (forehead, nose, sides of nose and chin), but the entire facial surface. Sometimes with foundation, your makeup will take on an orange-y tint or seem to disappear by midday. For this, you need good astringent properties. Proactiv is a popular choice, but I hear good things with Clean and Clear’s new line also. Problem with Proactiv- it dries your skin out the minute you stop taking it.

For Normal/Combo Skin - (shiny/oily in the t-zone, but no real “issues” through the cheeks), this is when things get easy. You pretty much have pick of the litter as far as what you can use.

For Sensitive Skin- things get tricky. It seems like everything you put on yours skin burns or itches. A favorite (of mine and dermatologists alike) is Cetaphyl. It’s a gentle, non-detergent cleanser that I also use at photoshoots to remove makeup between looks. Great at removing waterproof mascara as well.

Exfoliating

No real need to buy an exfoliator – your regular cleanser and a soft washcloth does the trick. Once or twice a week, use the cloth in circles around the face, paying attention to the creases in the nose, along the brow, and on the chin line.

Skin Toner

The jury is still out about toner. Some people, especially with oilier skin will need additional astringent, but the majority of us don’t need it… clean skin is clean skin- why add a step?

Skin Moisturizer

Please please please- if you have any intention of wearing makeup- moisturize! It’s the biggest thing I ask my brides to do when they want makeup on their special day… especially if the bachelorette party entailed many a cosmo!  Makeup will change color, cake and “glop” together if the skin is flaky and dry. You can even put a few drops of your regular foundation into your moisturizer to make your own tinted moisturizer. And a note: night/day creams are a myth. I just wouldn’t recommend wearing an spf moisturizer to bed. But it won’t melt your face off either… so use your own judgment.

Lip and Eye Treatments

And last, but just as important- don’t forget your lips! A good (and cheap) treatment for exfoliation- a dime-sized dollop of Vaseline with 1/8 tsp sugar. Mix together, and apply to the lips in a circular motion. Remove with a damp cloth.

For your eyes, if you don’t have wrinkles unless you’re squinting, a small little dab of Vaseline at the outside corners of your eyes takes care of that. For more pronounced lines, I really like Lacura in the pink tube… or Hope In A Tube by Philosophy (a bit pricey, but SO worth it!). If you have dark, pronounced circles (some of the East Indian heritage, pregnant darker skintones, etc), anything with vitamin K. I like Jason Naturals K Crème Plus. There are also a lot of off-brands at your local health food store… look in the beauty section.

Taking care of your skin will pay for itself in about 8 weeks. It’s where you should invest the most money- drug store makeup will (for the most part) look just as good as the most expensive, if the skin is right.

Next week, Summer Makeup! My favorite time of year (for makeup anyway), because it’s the one that I use the least product…

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The other day I was going for a walk with my boys and I noticed a woman, about my age, chatting with a friend in her front yard. At 37, I’m no spring chicken, but when I digested what it was she was wearing and how she looked, I thought, gosh, I hope I never let myself look like that! Is that mean?

Listen, I’m not a fashionista, I like a bargain, but I appreciate style too. There is no reason why someone needs to let themselves go to the point of looking frumpy, dirty, dated and older than they should.

Hey, I’m not a size 4 anymore, and I accept this. It’s easy to let yourself fall into a slump when your trying to get into that ideal size again. It’s understandable why someone wouldn’t want to make an effort to update their wardrobe if they know they are losing weight…but you need to have enough respect for yourself to take care of yourself.

Here’s my theory. It’s a vicious circle. You feel fat, so you don’t buy new clothes. Then you look bad, so you feel miserable. Then you decide to have a snack to make yourself feel better. Oh and by the way, you skip working out because you’re too bummed because it’s not having any effect…so you still feel fat.

Break the cycle.

Go to Target or some store that offers trendier apparel at discount prices. Buy a few staples for the new season. A few tops, a couple of pants/shorts, and a dress or skirt. Definitely buy some shoes (no need to go cheap on these…feet don’t lose weight) and maybe a new purse too. H & M is a great place for what I call “disposable” clothes. After a season, they usually are ruined by stains or wear – so you can just get rid of them without the guilt associated with overspending.

Most importantly…buy your size. Buy clothes that fit, because even if they’re a size 14, you will always look better in your real size than if you try to squeeze your size 14 buns into a size 8. You’ll look like a muffin top/sausage…and that’s just not attractive no matter what.

Here’s the deal, you’ll feel better if you try my suggestions above. The funny thing is that when you feel better about yourself, you take better care of yourself. So, you might actually watch what you eat with a little ease and lose a few pounds to boot. Also, people will notice and give you positive reinforcement that in turn which make you feel even better.

One note, get rid of any granny panties and buy something cute as well as a proper fitting cute bra. You need to feel good about yourself all over. Good luck.  Renee

Sweatpants sign by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com. Fashion don’t models photo by I See Modern Britain.

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How to look beautiful is a fun subject for moms, especially when you can vamp up your looks without using lots of chemical filled beauty products on your hair and skin.

I’ve been on the lookout for a new natural hair conditioner treatment to try for some time, so I’m anxious to try a honey rinse recipe that they describe in the beauty tips article.

Here is one of the coolest natural beauty tips from the list- a natural way to whiten your teeth:

“Brighten your smile with strawberries & baking soda. First mash a fresh strawberry and add a tsp of baking soda. Spread on toothbrush & rub strawberry mash onto teeth. Leave for a couple minutes then brush teeth clean. Because the fruit is naturally acidic, don’t use this method more than once a week to protect your teeth from damage.” 

Read the rest of the article here: 12 Simple Beauty Hacks From The Kitchen    [Mommy Style]

Photo by BdwayDiva1.

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Mandee is holding their StyleStar contest, perfect for your teens (or yourself).  The winner not only gets a $250 shopping spree, but also wins a modeling photo shoot at Mandee this June. 

To Enter:

You simply model your favorite Mandee outfit, and have someone snap a few photos of you.  Submit your photo by email at stylestar(at)Mandee.com, along with a description of how much your outfit cost and why you think it’s the best. 

Hurry to enter, because this contest ends tomorrow, 5/15/09.  Get more details at Mandee.com.

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You need to know how to look beautiful without a lot of fuss and without spending a lot of time or money.  These simple tips will help you keep up with the current trends and look beautiful as a mom, without actually spending much time as you expect.

9 Tips for How to Look Beautiful as a Mom

1.  Take up simple and natural ways of beautifying your skin at home. Some home beauty remedies are:

• Use grapefruit before applying moisturizer to your skin.
• Mix honey, egg white and lemon juice and apply to you skin as a mask.  Allow to sit for a while, before washing it off.
• Use jojoba oil to soften and moisturize your skin.

2.  Choose the right clothes.  If you have just finished a pregnancy, you will still need to wait until you are back in shape to wear your pre-pregnancy clothes.

Until then, wear clothes which suit your body structure, and avoid the body hugging ones. Learn to cover up the unshapely parts of your body with flowing and longer tops over pants.  Make sure to include structured clothes to give your body the shape you want.  For help making good choices on mom clothes, read 8 Quick Rules to Grow Up Your Wardrobe.

3.  Take time to shop once in a while. Don’t shop in a hurry, like in your earlier days. Carefully pick and try on outfits which fit well.  If possible, go clothes shopping without the kids so you can focus and make good clothing decisions without being distracted.

4.  Get your nails and hair done from time to time. If these aspects are taken care of, you will automatically look groomed.  Both of these tasks are easy beauty DIYs you can do yourself at home without spending much at all.

5.  Rethink your hair length and stop cutting it short.  Many moms cut their hair short to make maintenance easier.  However, if your face has become round and full due to previous pregnancies and weight gain, then avoid short hair dos.  These will only emphasize the extra weight you’re still carrying. 

Instead, go for long or shoulder length hair. (You can still pull it back into a ponytail or hairclip when you need to.) Also use a side parting of the hair, rather than middle parts, so that your face looks long and slim.

6.  Buy stylish yet comfortable shoes. No matter how much you may have loved them before having children, you will not be able to wear high heels during most of or immediately after your pregnancy. So go for flat or shoes with comfortable heels, which have attractive designs.  You can find stylish shoes that will also be comfortable for walking or spending lots of time on your feet.

7.  Add dresses to your wardrobe. Dresses are great for the warmer months, and also will look good on you, even if you on the plumper side now.  They can camouflage a lot of what you don’t want seen as you work on your trouble spots.  Dresses are easy wardrobe additions that always let you look put together.

8.  Team up your outfits with complementary jewelry. Jewelry gives a completely different and stylish look to your outfit on the whole. You can consider using bracelets, long earrings and stylish pendants.

9.  If you work demands you to wear professional clothes, avoid suits. Try mixing and matching using jackets and skirts or pants in different combinations to add variety and break out of the boring “suit” look.

These 9 tips about how to look beautiful as a mom will help you get your fashion and upkeep back in check, even if you’ve been slipping since having children.  The more thought you put into how you look, the better you’ll feel, leaving you a happier mommy and wife.  Are you tired in the mornings, but still want to look great?  Learn how to look beautiful even on little sleep in Don’t Look Like a Tired Mom: 13 Quick Mini Makeovers.

Photos by nathalielaure (top) and spaceodissey (bottom).

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Spring is in the air, and the warmer weather can definitely bring on cravings for a spring wardrobe update. We want to pack away the heavy, bulky fabrics from winter and dark, jewel tone colors. It’s time to give your closet a little makeover by filling it with lightweight fabrics, tender prints, and bright, spring colors.  Ready to update your wardrobe for spring?

Since we know budgets are on all of our minds right now, we’re bringing you 7 thrifty tips to spruce up your wardrobe for the change of season without spending a fortune. Our tips will have your daily outfits looking like you got a whole new wardrobe, even though you’ll really only be spending money on key pieces to pull this off.

7 Thrifty Tips to Update Your Wardrobe for Spring

1. Add in spring accessories to create the illusion of a bigger wardrobe. You’ll spend much less on accessories than on all new clothes, but the brighter colors will let you create new outfits. Choose bright colored headbands, purses, cell phone/ Blackberry/iPhone covers, bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Having bright punches of color coordinated together will make an existing outfit look new and springy. Make sure the color is balanced and evenly spread, such as a headband with a matching purse, or a necklace with splashy bracelets.

2. Switch out 2 black or dark long-sleeved tops for bright vibrantly colored tops. These new tops should be in lightweight fabrics and saturated colors- think fuschia, teal, and coral. Stick with solid colors so they can be accessorized to add variety. These stand-alone shirts shouldn’t set you back too much, just look for inexpensive tops that can be worn alone or in layers.

3. Scarves. Scarves are the ultimate budget fashion accessory that can play many different roles in a modern wardrobe. They can be tied through belt loops to add a spring look to jeans, pants or capris. Scarves can also be worn on your head for the ultimate vacation look. Here’s a tutorial on how to tie a scarf in 3 different ways.

4. Get a few pairs of springy fashion shoes at budget stores, like Payless or Walmart. These inexpensive shoes will add an update to any existing outfit and are usually modeled after the season’s hottest styles. You’ll be trendy without spending a fortune while switching out old winter shoes and boots for spring sandals and hot heels in juicy colors.

5. Buy 2-3 tanks in summer colors to replace shells under jackets and sweaters. Thrift stores and vintage stores are great places to find awesome tanks at a budget price. Rich spring colors and must-have patterns are the key here. The perfect tanks will be able to be worn under jackets for professional daywear or on weekends with shorts, jeans or skirts in casual outfits.

6. Find 1-2 designer pieces at a rack store, outlet store, or department store sale that are high quality and marked down. Not all your wardrobe update pieces have to come from second hand or discount stores. If you’re dying for designer pieces, don’t deny yourself, but don’t go overboard. Choose only 1 or 2 pieces that are very versatile and have high quality construction (meaning they’ll last more than one season). Only add pieces that are not too trendy so they can be used again next year. Check rack stores and eBay first to see if you can score your favorite designer brands at a better price.

7. Opt for skirts in lightweight fabrics instead of shorts. Shorts are cute and can be tempting, but buy skirts instead. Skirts will be able to transition to fall/winter by dressing up with a denim jacket or turtleneck sweater and tights, getting you more wardrobe mileage for your money.

By using these strategies and looking for key pieces to transition your look, you can update your closet for spring without breaking the bank on a whole new wardrobe! Find more beauty and fashion tips and tricks in Mommy Style, including 8 Quick Rules to Grow Up Your Wardrobe  and Don’t Look Like a Tired Mom: 13 Quick Mini Makeovers.

Neck scarf photo by Mickael Casol.  Headband photo by yarnovermovement.

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Are you prepared for anything life might throw your way?  Keeping calm in emergency situations depends greatly on your  preparation to deal with them.  We all know that a woman’s purse is her arsenal of tools that help her take on the world, but there are things you need in your purse that probably aren’t in there.  There are many items that might be in a typical homemaker’s purse right now, from makeup to pacifiers, but it’s probably missing some of the essentials that will make her invincible! 

“Be Prepared. That’s the motto of the Boy Scouts. “Be prepared for what?” someone once asked Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, “Why, for any old thing.” said Baden-Powell.”

                 -Excerpt from the Boy Scout Handbook

The list below of 13 Things You Need to Have in Your Purse contains not only emergency tools, but also items to make you more productive and allow you to use your time more effectively. 

13 Things You Need in Your Purse

1.  Allergy medicine.  Allergic reactions – to foods, animals, materials, or anything else – almost always come on unexpectedly and when you are not at home.  I have used the Benadryl in my purse on multiple occasions, not only for myself, but for my children also.

2.  Swiss army knife (or other multipurpose tool).  There is a pink multipurpose tool in my purse which has been used to extract a broken key from a lock, among other things.  The multitude of tools packed onto this gadget, such as tweezers, knife, bottle opener, and more, come in handy all the time.

3.  Address labels.  Never fill out this repetitive information by hand if you don’t have to!  Save the time and energy by carrying your preprinted address labels (remember the ones that come unsolicited in the mail?) in your purse.  Whenever you need to fill in mailing info (movie store, drawings/giveaways, registrations, etc.) just peel and stick an adhesive address label.

4.  Traveler’s check.  Everyone knows that carrying cash in your purse is not only a security risk, but a spending temptation as well!  Many people don’t want to carry credit cards or cash with them, and traveler’s checks are a great alternative.  If you really need money for an emergency (not a clearance sale – those are NOT emergencies!), you’ll have a traveler’s check that can be spent like cash.  An added security bonus is that traveler’s checks are refundable if lost or stolen.  If you’ve never used them before, you can learn more about traveler’s checks.

5.  Spare car key and house key.  Locking your keys in the house or car is a huge inconvenience, and can be expensive if you have to hire a locksmith.  Do yourself a favor and keep an extra set in your purse that is not attached to your keychain.  Chances are good that even if you lock your keys in the car, you’ll still have your purse on your shoulder.

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6.  Pen and paper.  You never know when you’ll need to write something down (think directions, address, phone number, insurance information).

7.  Cell phone and/or address book.  Accident, flat tire, lost… with a multitude of possible circumstances, it’s not practical to be away from home without either your cell phone or at least a mini address book with important phone numbers.

8.  Lighter or matches.  Anything can happen, and you never know when you’ll need to make fire.  If you don’t carry around flint and tinder (aside: I don’t in real life, but in World of Warcraft I do- and it takes up 2 bag slots!  Hey- you never know when you’re going to need to cook something!) then it will be nice to have matches or a lighter to make a quick fire.  Uses: Burn off a leech, create smoke signal, scare away angry bees, etc.

9.  Emergency snacks.  Stranded?  Hungry?  Having food in your purse will protect your finances and health by keeping you from hitting a drive-thru.  Having food if you are ever stranded away from businesses/people will keep you from going hungry.  Lastly, having snacks in your purse can prevent a serious toddler melt-down in public for a hungry little one!

10.  Tissues.  Nose bleeds, runny noses, crying child, liquid spills, oily skin – tissues come in handy all the time.

11.  Book, magazine, or blog posts.  How often do you spend time waiting- time that is wasted because you just sit or  stand there thinking about the fact that you’re waiting?!  You could be doing something productive with that wait-time.  Bring along a book or magazine that you haven’t had time to read.  I personally print out blog posts from my feed reader in the morning and take them in my purse to read throughout the day when I’m waiting.  The time I spend waiting at school to drop off/ pick up my daughter, in the bank drive-thru, at the doctor’s office, at the pharmacy, and in line at the post office is spent catching up on reading my favorite blogs!

12.  To do list.  You’re constantly thinking, and usually remember things you need to do while you’re away from home.  Sound familiar?  Keep your to do list with you, so you can add items to it when you think of them.

13.  Safety pins.  Buttons fall off, zippers break, seams come apart, hems fall down.  Having a spare safety pin in your purse can save you from a wardrobe malfunction when you need it the most!  

Purses come in all shapes, colors and sizes, but you can never judge a purse by it’s cover – er, outside!  If it’s going to go everywhere with you, it may as well serve you as a storage spot for useful tools.  The above list of 13 useful items that probably aren’t in your purse right now should get you started in your purse contents-makeover.  Print out this list and get your purse up to speed today! 

Get more Thursday Thirteen.  Purse photos by stock.xchng.

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