Organizational Solutions for Your Makeup Drawer

August 8, 2012 by Denise McGrail Leave a Comment

Full disclosure time. I admit I am a little scared to share with the public this unorganized, completely disgusting mess. Sharing pictures with you of my vanity drawers is almost as revealing as walking around in my underwear. But I am counting on the pure truth that I am not the only woman out there that can stand some organization. Am I right?

Okay, so here it goes. Here is what I find each morning I go to put my make-up on, brush my teeth and get ready to face the world.

My bottom drawer. Yes, embarrassing. I know!

And this is where we find our toothbrushes to brush our teeth each day. Disgusting? Yep. I am cringing!

I hope I haven’t offended anyone or made you vomit, but I the first step in getting organized is admitting you have an organizational problem. I have an organizational problem!

I was browsing on Pinterest the other day and came across unique ways to get organized. Let me share them with you now!

I LOVE this idea! I especially like the individual spaces for toothbrushes. More hygienic for sure. I don’t have a large enough bathroom for a floor to ceiling cabinet like this one, but on a miniature level it could work, too.

If your bathroom storage is minimal like mine, utilizing wall space is the way to go. This magnetic makeup organizer is both home decor and home organization in one!

Keep your make-up brushes handy and clean in a decorative vase. Cheap vases and vase fillers can be found at craft store. An inexpensive way to add some bling to your bathroom.

If you prefer to organize your makeup products for discreetly, a drawer organization is the way to go. This one here does the job seamlessly. A classic example of bare bones makeup organization.

What does your make-up drawer or vanity look like? Share your before and after pictures (or just after if you prefer) on our Facebook page!

Filed Under: Style/Beauty Tagged With: bathroom organization, bathroom organizations, makeup organizing

Top 10 Fashion Mistakes After the Age of 40

July 20, 2012 by Denise McGrail Leave a Comment

Nothing ages a person faster than dressing inappropriately for their age. Teenage girls often try to dress years older to impress and appear desirable, while grown- adult women (notice I did not say older women?) try to dress half their age for the exact same reason. It would seem that eventually we would figure it out.

When you wear styles that are flattering to your body-type, lifestyle and personality you will shine. Here are The General Gazette’s top 10 fashion mistakes that ages a woman instantly.

Fashion Mistake 1

Exposed bra straps. Showing your lingerie outside of the bedroom is not sexy. It is tacky and says that you do not know how to dress yourself. Ten years ago bra choices may have been minimal, but a quick stroll through Victoria’s Secret and you will find a bra for every type of top or dress you may own. There are no excuses for exposed bra straps.

This classic look works for any age. No bra straps in sight.

Fashion Mistake 2

Denim. Denim is going to make an appearance in our top 10 list a few times for different reasons. While denim is a classic, casual style do not go overboard. Dressing in a denim shirt and denim jeans is a disastrous faux pa as head-to-toe denim is never attractive. Stick with one denim piece and in our opinion denim should stay on your lower body.

A streamline denim look that doesn’t go overboard.

Fashion Mistake 3

Frumpy Tees. Many women who are self-conscious about their bodies tend to think an oversized t shirt will hide their flaws. In reality, the exact opposite occurs. A larger top makes you appear larger than you are. Dressing in a classic fit t-shirt that doesn’t hug too tight will slim you and make you appear the age you are, not like Mama in a Muumuu.

A flattering, casual style

Fashion Mistake 4

Bows and Ruffles. After the age of five, bows and ruffles loose their appeal, especially if you are wearing them in mass quantities. Keep bows and ruffles out of your hair, but if the girly flair appeals to you wearing a small bow on a peep toe pump would be a perfect accessory to your wardrobe. Slight ruffling on one shoulder of a dress is a classy statement. Even a small bow on your handbag is fine. Anything more than this and you risk looking like you are trying play
dress-up.

Super-cute, stylish and fun. A great work shoe!

Fashion Mistake 5

Trendy hairstyles. When we say trendy hairstyles we mean no feathers, no strings of rainbow color cascading down from the crown of your head. Ponytails, french braids, classy up twists are fine, but stay away from pigtails and braids. Again, this does not make you look younger. It makes you look childish and immature. Acting your age is a good thing.

A low ponytail can be flipped over your shoulder for a playful, yet not too girlish look.

Fashion Mistake 6

Colored Jeans. This is a 2012 summer trend. A pair of cute, non-denim shorts in a bright, summery color paired with a neutral top is fine, but spending enormous amounts of money on colored jeans is a waste of your money. Colored jeans are almost the same (in our opinion) as the colored polyester pants that church-going grannies sometimes wear only tighter. Avoid them like you would avoid the highway during rush hour.

If you want to go with a color on the bottom, stick with a neutral on the top.

Fashion Mistake 7

Fake Tans. As we age, our skin tends to become dull, less youthful in its’ everyday appearance. In a quest to reclaim that sun-kissed glow, women tend to flock to the bronzers and sunless tanning beds. While a bronzer may not harm your skin, a tanning bed will. Too much tanning will damage the skin, eventually reversing the effects of what you were originally trying to achieve. Over applying a bronzer will make you look orange, like a character from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. If you want a youthful glow, regular exfoliation and a healthy diet will do more for you than a fake tan.

Eating right and exfoliating daily will keep your skin youthful

Fashion Mistake 8

Leather Jackets. Unless you belong to a motorcycle club, do not even think about wearing a leather jacket. While some of these jackets are tailored, the majority hang off a person’s body doing nothing for their figure or the ensemble underneath. A more flattering, classic style is a trenchcoat with a mid-knee cut that is tailored at the waist. You will feel like a million bucks every time you wear a tailored trench coat.

Trench coats come in all colors, patterns, and lengths. Choose the best one for you.

Fashion Mistake 9

Long dresses. Unless you are extremely tall, long dresses pull you down. Yes, it is said that women over a certain age shouldn’t wear short dresses or skirts, but we tend to disagree. Of course, your hemline shouldn’t be so short that we have to worry about panty exposure, but keeping your hemline an inch or so above the knee is sexy and flattering for a woman of any age. This is especially true for all you who love your yoga, pilates and cardio. After the age of 40, there is no reason to hide your legs

This dress is a flattering length and even though it has some ruffles it is a subtle style, not over-the-top.

Fashion Mistake 10

Oversized, trendy handbags. You know what we mean. We mean the big, Grandma bags that seem to store everything from lipstick to the kitchen stove. Is it really that necessary for you to have all that clutter in your life. A mid-size shopper or a tote that falls mid-torso when hanging from the shoulder is classy.

Straw Dangle Tote natural.Opens in a new window

This straw tote available at Target is nice summer accessory to add to your wardrobe.

What are some your fashion mistake pet peeves? What is the worst fashion mistake you ever made?

Filed Under: Style/Beauty Tagged With: dressing your age at 40, fashion blunders after 40

Exfoliate Dull, Tired Skin with a Tomato Face Mask

July 16, 2012 by Denise McGrail Leave a Comment

Is your skin looking tired and unappealing? Do you feel washed out? Have you been mistaken for years older than you are? Today on the Dr. Oz Show, a simple at-home remedy was presented to help sloth away your tired, dull skin with products that you have at home.

Who has tried an exfoliating wash or mask? Store bought masks can work wonders. They smell nice. They leave your skin feeling soft like butter. But the downside of drugstore masks is the expense. While drugstore masks are not nearly as expensive as their department store counterparts, they will still run you nearly $20 for a small tube that doesn’t last as long as you would imagine. Nor are the ingredients as all-natural as we may desire.

The Tomato Face Mask on the Dr. Oz Show promises to treat dull skin that has been brutalized by the sun, lack of sleep and stressful days. There are only three ingredients in the home-made concoction; tomato, sea salt and honey. I bet that all of you reading this right now have those ingredients in your kitchen.

The mask is easy to make. You mush up (my terminology, not Dr. Oz’s. I am certain he said this in a more eloquent fashion) one large tomato and stir in 2 tsp. of sea salt, 1tsp. of honey. Apply to your face for 5 minutes and then wash off. The results? You should have smoother, shinier skin. The cost of this mask comes in at just cents compared to store products.

Tomatoes have been known to possess anti-aging capabilities. They have antioxidants and moisturizing qualities. The lycopene in tomatoes has also been proven to be a natural, internal agent that provides a sun protectant quality. This doesn’t mean that you should start wearing tomato on your face to prevent sun damage, but it does mean that eating tomatoes can provide you with protection inside and out.

A word of caution for those of you who are going to immediately try the Tomato Face Mask, tomatoes have acidic qualities. What does this mean for you? It means that you should test a small area of your face first to determine if your skin will be sensitive to the acidity. Some people may experience a tingling sensation, but others could have a burning reaction which would counter-effect any benefits of the mask. Use common sense and listen to your body. But if you use the mask and get great results, let us know. We would love to hear your experiences with this natural, inexpensive option to an exfoliating mask.

Filed Under: Style/Beauty Tagged With: exfoliating with tomatoes, unusual face masks for your skin

Hair Color – Instant Relief for Menopausal Symptoms

July 12, 2012 by Denise McGrail Leave a Comment

When Gloria Steinem turned forty she was complimented on the youthfulness of her appearance. Instead of dismissing or refusing the compliment, she poignantly stated, “This is what forty looks like.”

What a simple, yet inspiring reaction. Think about it for a moment. Why is it when women reach a certain numerical age we are expected to appear in a pre-defined mold? Forty, fifty, sixty each of these ages have traditionally been assigned a certain number of wrinkles, a few more gray hairs with each added year and a few more inches around the waist. When a woman breaks this mold, appearing more radiant and less decrepit that we are told we should be once we hit middle-age then we equally praise her and hound, demanding to know her secrets that will lead to the fountain of youth.

If the fountain of youth exists, it exists merely in a good gene pool and the commercialized beauty industry. There are vast amounts of products that help women feel better and retain youthful appearances. Hair color is one of them. Have you noticed how older couples’ appearances drastically differ between men and women of the same age? Blame hair dye. Hair dye has transformed how women are perceived. A quick jaunt to the beauty salon will take ten years off a woman as soon as the dye penetrates those ill-received silver roots.

Hair dye is my instant relief for menopausal symptoms. A lousy morning fueled by out-of-control mood swings, followed by a waistband that is snugger than the previous day, will instantly be more bearable with a trip to the salon or my local CVS drugstore. Hair dye is gross, smelly, messy and quite resistant to at least three gray hairs each time I dye it, but the results are a head full of shiny, non-greying hair and a happy woman even in the midst of a hot flash.

I suspect Gloria Steinem may be less than thrilled by the way that I applied her empowered feminist statement to promote my own vanity, but I can’t help it. I agree that a woman is not defined by her appearance, but by intent and achievements. However, every once in a while when I feel the menopausal monster brewing inside me, I could care less about the true nature of oneself. Instead, I throw on a pair of gloves, slather my hair with that fountain of youth product and step out into my life ready to hear someone say, “Wow! You’re how old?”

Filed Under: Style/Beauty