Posted by: marvelousgirl on: January 11, 2010
If you’re getting married this year, you have to check out these marvelous hair accessories! 2010 is all about the headbands and hairpins:
Spring
Tasha Flower Hair Clip – Lush rose crafted from raw-edge satin for an organic look that can be worn as a hair clip or pinned to clothing. Available at Nordstrom for $28.
Summer
Starfish pinned to sleek locks are a creative touch for a beach wedding; complete this look with a flowing, halter-style wedding dress.
Fall
Golden brown pheasant wing with crochet flowers on white gold metallic band, Windy Freda, $88, windyfreda.com.
Winter
Ice Princess – A large rhinestone gives this white feathered and embroidered organza satin comb an extra icy effect, $75, shopbando.com.
Posted by: marvelousgirl on: August 5, 2009
Instead of reaching for that ordinary glass of champagne this summer, try “watermelon-ade Sangria,” as a healthy, tasty cocktail:
3 bottles of Watermelon HINT water
1 orange, peeled and broken into sections
2 bananas peeled and sliced right before making the sangria
2 cups of seedless grapes, cut into halves
1 bottle of champagne
FYI – HINT water has no added sugar or preservatives
Posted by: marvelousgirl on: July 30, 2009
2 (16-ounce) cartons vanilla low fat yogurt
2 ½ cups Driscoll’s Blackberries
½ cup light-colored corn syrup
¼ cup sugar
½ cup coarsely chopped semisweet chocolate (3 ounces)
In a blender container or food processor bowl, combine half of the yogurt, ½ cup of the berries, half of the corn syrup and half of the sugar. Cover and blend or process until almost smooth. Pour mixture into ice cream freezer container. Repeat. Freeze mixture in an electric ice cream freezer according to manufacturer’s directions. Remove dasher from freezer. Add remaining 1½ cups berries and the chopped chocolate; stir to distribute. Ripen*
*Note: To ripen frozen yogurt or ice cream, after stirring in berries and chocolate, cover top of freezer can with waxed paper or foil. Plug hole in lid and replace lid. Pack outer freezer bucket with enough ice and rock salt to cover top of freezer can, using about 4 cups ice and 1 cup salt. Ripen about 4 hours.
Nutritional Information Per ½ Cup Serving: 175 calories, 3g total fat (2g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 70mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate, 3g dietary fiber, 4g protein.
Posted by: marvelousgirl on: July 21, 2009
Yum! Everything about this salad embodies summer – raspberries, avacado and shrimp…marvelous! July is National Berry Month, so there’s no better time to enjoy this healthy summer salad, courtesy of Driscoll’s.
Caribbean Summer Raspberry Avocado Salad
1 package (6 ounces) Driscoll’s Raspberries, divided
1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
1-1/2 teaspoons honey
1-1/4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/4 cup mild olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 pound cooked whole shrimp, 41-50 count size, about 24 total shrimp
1/4 cup diced mango
2 tablespoons thinly sliced celery
1 tablespoon thinly sliced red onion
4 cups mixed baby lettuce or spring mix
2 ripe avocados, halved, pitted, sliced
Blend 1/3 cup of the raspberries, vinegar, honey and Dijon mustard in a blender or food processor until smooth. Drizzle in the oil while blending. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons water to thin slightly, if needed. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Combine shrimp, mango, celery, and onion in a medium bowl. Gently stir in remaining raspberries.
Divide lettuce onto four plates and arrange avocado slices on top of lettuce.
Top with shrimp raspberry mixture and drizzle the dressing on top. Serve with any remaining dressing on the side.
Fresh raspberries brighten this salad with tropical flavors and color. The raspberry dressing is versatile enough for fish, chicken or mixed greens. Try this salad with a glass of your favorite chilled white wine.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Makes 4 servings
Nutrition Per Serving: 389 calories, 29.39g total fat, 4.20g saturated fat, 15.22g protein, 19.84g carbohydrate, 110.56mg cholesterol, 10.51g fiber, 188mg sodium
Posted by: marvelousgirl on: June 17, 2009
Summer is here and the last thing you want is sun-damaged skin. So, to get a fantastic glow while protecting your skin from the sun’s intense rays, Marvelous Girl recommends these products:
- Murad Vitamin C Infusion Home Facial Kit ($70 for 4 treaments) – this antioxidant-rich thermal mask is to be used once a week and reverses the appearance of aging caused by environmental damage, reduces the appearance of fine lines and encourages cell turnover. You’ll love the warming sensation. It leaves your skin brighter and smoother than ever!
- Murad Active Radiance Serum ($89) – this environmental aging treatment features Resilient-C™ Complex,a unique combination of three forms of Vitamin C that gives your skin 50 times the collagen-building, skin-brightening and cell-protecting power of ordinary topical Vitamin C treatments. You can use this serum daily and leaves your skin looking so good you’ll feel confident leaving the house without makeup. Get a free sample by clicking here.
- Jason Natural Ester-C® Lotion ($15) – this facial cream promotes the natural creation of collagen to smooth away wrinkles and maintain a youthful complexion. You’ll love this lotion because it’s light, but extremely moisturizing without being greasy. You can use it day or night and leaves skin with a smooth, refined feeling.
- Mederma® Cream plus SPF 30 ($30) – The sun’s rays can make any existing scars look worse, but now you can reduce the appearance of scars and protect your skin from sun damage with this sunscreen by Mederma. Recently awarded with the American Academy of Dermatology Seal of Recognition, this is a must-have for the summer. Click here for a $2 coupon.
- EPIONE Signature Series Restoration Firm and Fade ($175) – For those with stubborn sun and age spots, you may have to spend a little more money. This great product was created by a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon and if it were any stronger you’d need a prescription. You’ll love this cream because it improves uneven skin tone, reduce wrinkles, and lightens or eliminates age spots, freckles and scars.
Posted by: marvelousgirl on: May 31, 2009
You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to look fabulous on your wedding day. The true fashionista can find a jaw-dropping dress and still spend less.
vera wang
If you’re a fashion- and price-savvy bride, you have to check out ARIA wedding dresses. With sleek, romantic bridal gowns, ARIA wedding dresses are all under $500!
Marvelous Girl suggests: Styles 107 and 191
Posted by: marvelousgirl on: May 28, 2009
Keys, keys, keys! This summer it’s all about key necklaces. According to the sales woman at Tiffany’s, the key pendants are so popular the store just can’t keep them in stock!
The Tiffany keys come in gold, silver, and platinum with Celtic inspired designs, diamond details and an array of matching chains. Prices start as low as $100.
Because the jewelry industry is having a lacklustre year, expected to decline 3.1 percent according to IBISWorld, shoppers can find some great deals. “…[Tiffany] released a number of affordable key pendants earlier this year in response to changing customer needs…,” explained Toon van Beeck, senior analyst with IBISWorld.
Posted by: marvelousgirl on: May 26, 2009
Summer is finally upon us, and while our favorite celebrities are sipping glamorous warm weather cocktails at the swankiest resorts, cafes, and rooftop bars, we regular people are still dragging that bucket of beer next to the kiddie pool in the backyard.
This year, put down the six-pack and sip in style with cocktails inspired by the A-list’s favorites; compiled by the experts at Three Olives Vodka, whose 16 flavor infusions make it easy to mix up the perfect summer sippers.
Pomegranate Martini:
1 1/2 oz. Three-O Pomegranate Vodka
1 oz. Pom Wonderful pomegranate juice
1 1/2 oz. fresh blackberry puree
1 oz. cranberry juice
Shake well with ice and strain into a chilled
martini glass
Cherry Bomb:
1 1/2 oz. Three-O Cherry Vodka
4 oz. Red Bull
Mix in a highball glass filled with ice
Garnish with a cherry
Blackberry Vodka Collins:
2 oz. Three-O Berry Vodka
2 slices lime
3 fresh blackberriesSavannah,
1 oz. simple syrup
Splash of soda water
Muddle the lime, blackberries and simple syrup, add the vodka and shake with ice; serve on the rocks
First Class Punch:
1 1/4 oz Three-O Vodka
1 oz Domaine Canton Liquor
1/2 oz agave nectar
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1 strawberry
4 basil leaves
In a mixing tin, muddle the strawberry, basil, and Agave nectar. Add the rest of the ingredients, shake very well with ice and strain into a glass. Garnish with a strawberry
Posted by: marvelousgirl on: May 18, 2009
Karen Goldman, Design Director for Foster Grant and Quantum Optics Sunglasses, offered Marvelous Girl her tips for selecting sunglasses for summer:
1. Should you choose sunglasses according to your face shape? What styles look best on different face shapes?
Knowing which shapes fit your face will lead you in the right direction in picking out the perfect pair. The sunglasses should help to create contrast with the shape of your face, so people with round faces should choose square or rectangle shaped sunglasses. Square faces look good with oval or round frames, while aviators, rimless styles, and flat top styles are good fits for heart shaped faces. If you have an oval face, anything goes. However, you shouldn’t feel limited to these styles; the best way to pick the perfect pair is to try on as many as possible until you find the one that makes you feel fabulous!
2. What are the trends for sunglasses this summer?
We’re seeing a lot of two-tone colorations, with an emphasis on dark to light fades. Pastels and translucent colors are creating ultra feminine looks, while bright colors (red, pink, blue) make a bold statement. Cat eyes are making a big comeback, while aviators and wayfarer shapes continue to be popular.
3. When you’re shopping for sunglasses, what factors should be considered?
Comfort and fit are key when selecting sunglasses. The temple tips should rest against your head, behind your ears, but should not press too tightly. The glasses should sit on your nose bridge, high enough so your cheeks do not touch the bottom of the frame. All sunglasses should offer UVA/UVB protection, but check the tag or lens label to be sure. All our brands are 100% UVA/UVB protective.
4. Are there any regulations imposed by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) that require sunglasses to have UV protection?
The AAO recommends that all non-prescription sunglasses block 99% -100% of UVA and UVB light. All of our sunglasses at FGX International meet this standard.
5. What are the different types of lenses out there? What’s best?
The most common lens types are Acrylic (AC), Polycarbonate (PC) and Polarized. Acrylic lenses are used primarily on fashion styles and are scratch resistant. Polycarbonate lenses are shatter/impact resistant and are commonly used on sport/performance styles. Polarized lenses reduce glare and are great for water activities (fishing, boating, etc). A lot of consumers seem to prefer polarized lenses; however, the best type of lens is determined by the needs of the customer.
6. Does lens tint matter?
Lens tints have a variety of uses, from creating fashion statements to improving contrast on the ski slope. Gray/smoke colors are the most popular, as they transmit all colors evenly. Green tints also transmit colors evenly, and are becoming more popular in the fashion categories. Amber, yellow, and orange tints improve contrast and reduce glare and are preferred by hunters, fishermen, and snow sport enthusiasts. Brown tints are often used on fashion styles, but are also good for golfers, as they help highlight the different contrasts in green colors.
7. What makes sunglasses sturdy?
We use high-grade plastics and metals on all of our styles, and build fabulous fit and quality into each pair. Overall, fit and build should produce a “sturdy” pair of sunglasses.
Posted by: marvelousgirl on: May 12, 2009
It’s about to get hot and steamy as the summer months quickly approach,
which can only mean one thing for your baby – a diaper that is constantly damp from sweat. A wet diaper is not only uncomfortable; it also creates a breeding ground for bacteria and transfers chemicals from the diaper to your baby’s bottom. This can cause babies to have serious and chronic diaper rash.
The solution? FuzziBunz. These stylish diapers are reusable, chemical-free and made of microfleece, which pulls moisture away from the skin to keep your baby dry.
The diapers are about $19 each and the removable inserts are three for $15. To find a retailers in your area, click here.
