Positively Positive



Ah the smell and flavor of a freshly brewed cup of coffee while I catch up with my friends in the Facebook world.  It's one of my morning rituals, one that when it's interrupted, I feel a bit out of whack.  One of the first pages I must check every day on the social network is Positively Positive.  It's where I get my mojo for the day along with a good dose of positivity. 

From inspiring video's to motivational quotes, this page will help jump start your day too!

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these." - George Washington Carver

Jennifer

Road Trip Fashion

Every once in a while we all hear the call in our heads: Road Trip! The name alone reminds us of several movies and the first one was Animal House. Who could forget all those drunken guys piling into a car and driving to a bar to see Otis Day and the Nights!

Then the gals jumped on board with Thelma & Louise taking the perpetual road trip that launched the term into pop culture. Now taking a road trip means many different things and looking the part has become important, especially since you probably have a destination in mind and some things to do once you get there. How many road trips have you been on that lead you to Vegas and the term "Whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." The slogan itself is based around the road trip mentality.

Jumping in a car and driving somewhere cool and fun with a group of close friends takes you back to the road trip roots and being comfortable and looking fantastic when you get there is a must. Chances are you're going to be late and you won't have time to change unless you're digging deep into road trip lore and can change in the car.

Try these riding boats from Diego Di Lucca for a comfortable fashion choice for the car ride as well as this Susana Monaco sweater. Not only that, you will look amazing in them wearing skinny jeans and tall boots when pumping gas and getting the head turing looks and occasional snide comments. Those comments are great conversation pieces for the next leg of the trip.

Even if your road trip is a shopping excursion to Chicago or some other big city looking the part is important because you're going to have to eat something and going to a great spot after the day is done is probably in your itinerary. If you're not checking in to a hotel you have to be comfortable all day long and the above out fit will fir the Road Trip Fashion dress code perfectly.

J. LaMore

The Miraculous UMF Manuka Honey

UMF Manuka Honey was first introduced to me a few years ago when I got some as a gift. It is a honey that comes from New Zealand. I did some research on it and found out that it was supposedly "medicine."

Unique Manuka Factor, or UMF, is the only worldwide standard in identifying and measuring the antibacterial strength or quality of some strains of Manuka. It guarantees that the honey has the special UMF antibacterial property and a UMF rating of 10 is the minimum recognized. The honey has both natural hudrogen peroxide antibacterial property and its own natural antibacterial property, and these are very stable, unlike the antibacterial property common in most honey.

You can use the honey for wound dressing, it may be effective in helping relieve stomach ulcer symptoms, gastritis, sore throats, and when applied topically, in assisting the natural cure of skin ulcers, wounds, burns, boils, cracked skin.

The higher the UMF, the more expensive it is. The jars are labeled with a registered trademark UMF label in New Zealand. I absolutely love it. I always have a jar, and use it whenever I have a sore throat, cough, cold or flu symptoms. It's better than pumping oneself with over the counter medicines that don't even work. Try it. I think you'll be amazed. Lila.

My New Little Black Jacket

I'm truly obsessed with this little number from C.C. Couture.  It will be perfect over all of my LBD's, that's for sure, but I also see myself wearing this gorgeous piece with my favorite pair of skinny jeans and over-the-knee boots.  This one's definitely going home with me today! 

Jennifer

Gorgeous!

Not only is she absolutely gorgeous and a fabulous actress, she can sing!  Gwyneth rocked the stage at the Country Music Awards, singing her hit "Country Strong."  You have to love a gal who has accomplished so much and it still working to achieve more.  Kudos!

Enjoy!

Jennifer

Finally.... A Great Leather Jacket for Fall 2010!!

I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone say they are looking for a hot new leather jacket this Fall. They must be hard to find, which is why it's even MORE exciting that J. LaMore has this new absolutely amazing Truth & Pride Rocker Jacket! I love the neckline and cross body zip. Totally "rocker" but still a flattering fit.

I'd love this jacket worn open over this tunic, my skinnies and those Diego di Lucca Boots! Hot hot hot!!!

Julie

Madison, WI

You Decide:Time Traveler?

Prior to today, I'd never given the theory of time travel much consideration.  Sure I had heard of it, but only in science fiction type movies.  While having lunch with two friends today, one mentioned a story she had read earlier today regarding an Irish filmmaker who believes he has spotted a time traveler in a vintage Charlie Chaplin film...from 1928.

The filmmaker, George Clarke, posted the clip from the 1928 film, "The Circus" which shows a very manly looking woman talking on a cell phone.  Cells phones didn't hit the market until the early 1980's, so how could he/she be chatting on one in 1928?  Perplexed by the appearance of the modern device in the very dated film, George Clarke took his discovery a step further, suggesting in a YouTube video that the cell phone-toting futurist is a "time traveler."

I've watched the video several times, and while it is a bit long, it's definitely worth pondering.  Theories are rampant, saying she's talking to herself, or perhaps she's clutching her hearing aid in an effort to hear better?  In my opinion, she (actually I think it's a he) looks like he's talking on a phone.  What do you think?

Enjoy!

Jennifer

Genius Idea

Fruit of the Loom's "Pick Your Perfect Pair"

Listen to this great concept - a bra with cups that are sold individually, for asymmetrically busted women like you and me!  I've always just "dealt" with my uneven cleavage, comparing breasts to snowflakes, no two are alike!

Fruit of the Loom has been around for generations and they seem to be reinventing themselves with this genius idea.  "Pick Your Perfect Pair" bra allows you to mix and match cup size to get the perfect fit.  With front hook closure, getting an exact fit is a snap.  Available in basic black and white plus cute polka dot patterns for only $5 a cup.  http://www.shopfruit.com/. 

Jennifer

Reedem Your Groupon & Let the Fun Begin!

Congratulations on scoring a great deal with J. LaMore and Groupon!  Your Groupon can be redeemed online or in-store starting Thursday, September 30th.  Either way, the deal is yours!  Shopping in-store?  Stop in with your Groupon, have a glass of wine, and shop until your hearts content.  Please know your Groupon is not valid on sale items or with any other offers. 

Follow these simple steps to redeem your Groupon online:

If you don't already have an online account, create one by clicking on this link:

https://shop.modernretail.com/login.asp?type=myAccount&sid=119&shopperID=43520AEB9CBF4CD38D7A11F1731E9EDF

Once you've entered in your email address, create your own personal password for your new account.  Now, get out there and go shopping!  Add all items you would like to purchase to your shopping bag.  When you're finished shopping, click on checkout.  Remember, your Groupon is not valid on sale items or with any other offers.

At checkout, redeem your Groupon by adding your unique Groupon number (found on your Groupon) in the "coupon" section.  Please know, the unique Groupon number is NOT the bar code number.  If you're one of the lucky ones and purchased two Groupon's and would like to redeem them at the same time, only enter one code in the coupon box.  Please enter the second code in the comment section.  Your updated total will be emailed to you prior to your card being charged.

Have questions?  Give us a call, 608-238-2119, or send us an email!  We'll do everything we can to help make your J. LaMore and Groupon shopping experience fantastic!

Jennifer

Fashion

You know, I have always loved fashion. Ever since I was a little girl and then into my teenage years. I used to babysit a lot because my father wouldn't let me date, but at least I had money to buy clothes, which, of course, I had to change into, in the car, when my mother would take us to school. But, I had an interesting conversation with a co-worker the other day. By the way, my love of fashion has never ceased, and this conversation led me to really think about why I love clothing so much because, after all, it is only a materialistic obsession.....NOT.

So, my male co-worker just came up to me and told me that he didn't understand why I liked to dress up every day because it was a waste of my time since men don't really care what a woman is wearing. They basically just care what is underneath and just want to tear a woman's clothes off. Well, this was disturbing news to me, so I started asking many of my male friends on their thoughts on this view. It definitely varied.

One man who has been married for 25 years agreed with this theory and told me that women "only dress for other women". Another man, who is in his fifties, from L.A., completely disagreed, and said that maybe it was only a Wisconsin theory. I had no clearcut answer. I know that no one will ever change my opinion.

I am now 41 and have two children, and I have realized that I don't dress for the public or for my husband, who might not care, but for myself. Everyone has a vice or chooses to spend money on certain things, HD TVs, video games, etc. I love walking out of my house feeling good about myself, and that has a lot to do with how I dress myself. And I don't necessarily think that a woman needs to spend thousands of dollars; I could go to Goodwill and come out with a cute outfit. For me, I feel confident and beautiful and like a woman when I dress stylishly, and style is so subjective. I like my style. With all of the stresses in life such as kids, a job, etc., I get excited to pick out my outfit for the day and wear it confidently.

I remember when I had kids I told myself that I would not turn into a slob, since I stayed at home. I went out and bought a Juicy Couture velour sweat outfit, and my husband freaked that I spent $200 on a sweat outfit. Well, for me, personally, that outfit helped me stay confident as a new mother, not knowing what the hell she was doing, and I really believe it prevented me from developing post partum depression. I am not knocking PPD because I know that it is real, but I think that taking care of myself, including my baby, helped me from developing it.

So, just food for thought. I love studying designers and their train of thought as they create their new lines, and I really love creating a new look for myself.....for myself...and no one else.

Lila

Mixing Prints

I am a child of the eighties' fashion, and I have always loved mixing prints as well as textures, if done in the right way. I know that this can be tricky, but that's why I think this is fun. I think it looks amazing when disparate patterns click, and the result is an artful collage.

There is definitely a method to this mad plaidness. I like to find tops and bottoms linked by a common color scheme or mood. I also like it if the top and bottom are paired together in different proportions and definitely different textures. A loose top with slim pants or jeggings and vice versa. This may sound weird, but sometimes I think of animal prints as almost neutral. Mixing textures is also important, such as wearing a chunky cable knit with a simple cotton top that is thin and lightweight.

The outfit on the left is an example of the perfect match with color scheme and texture. This is a ruffle tweed pencil skirt by "Sine," and it is paired with a silk top by the same designer. The top also has hints of purple in it, but the overall look works. Both of these pieces can be found at my favorite boutique in the entire world, J. LaMore. Yes. In Madison, Wisconsin. Lila.

Tim's Rules to Dress By

One of my favorite fashion personalities is Tim Gunn. I absolutely love Project Runway. He brings such spark to the show. Recently, I came across a little blurb that he wrote in regard to dressing, so I thought I'd share.

1. SILHOUETTE: "When getting dressed, think of your body as a series of thirds; the worst thing you can do is cut yourself in half. Pair a top that ends at your waist (one third) with long pants (two thirds), or wear a knee-length dress that goes no longer than the bottom of your kneecap.

2. PROPORTION: "If you have something loose and blousy on top, whatever you wear below should be sleek and well fitted to serve as a counterpoint, and vice versa".

3: FIT: "Most women wear clothes that are too big--that's the comfort trap. Women don't want to feel constrained, but I say, if you want to dress to feel as though you never got out of bed, then don't.

Lila

8 Things You Need to Know About...You

I came across this short, witty article in the October issue of Glamour Magazine and thought it was brilliant.  After navigating through a health crisis, author Wendy Shanker (pictured left) discovered the secret to happiness is getting to know yourself.  Here (in her words) are the things she's learned that every woman should know:

The number of a doctor who knows your name and listens to you.  "Your grandma was right: If you don't have your health, you got nothing.  The truth is, I used to think I couldn't live without my weekly manicure; now I know I can't live without my health.  Getting ill taught me how important it is to always have a team of people around me."

A way to think about someone other than yourself.  "You don't need to build an orphanage or throw money at a charity (not that I'm stopping you).  You can help out the new girl at work or babysit your big sister's kids.  Focusing on someone else will help drown out the loop of blahs in your head.  For me, it was better than Xanax."

Whom or what you're addressing when you cry out, "Oh my God!" "Is it a spirit or a feeling you get in nature? A person, like the dude at Geek Squad? Gwyneth? Maybe the phrase is just a Valley girl expression to you, but exploring your spiritual path could be one of the great adventures of your life."

Emily Rossum in linQ!

I love it when stars are seen wearing pieces we carry at J. LaMore!  Emily Rossum is wearing one of our favorite's, the linQ "Dawn Snake Print" dress!  She's so adorable! 

We styled the dress with black tights and pumps, but it also looks amazing worn with the cute suede shoe bootie Emily has on.

I had already planned on getting this dress, now it's a must have in my book!  If it's good enough for Hollywood, it's perfect for me!

Jennifer

Manicured Brows?

Lately, to my surprise, fashion magazines are showcasing models with unruly eyebrows.  The first time I saw a young model with a bushy band above her eye, I immediately thought she must be a relative or friend of the designer.  There's no way anyone would intentionally feature those caterpillar like brows.  Silly me, I'm the one who's clueless. 

It appears this is a "hot trend" in makeup right now.  Not only are the brows bushy, they look like they've not been touched with wax strip or tweezers, ever.  Feathery and untamed are gracing fashion runways and magazines at a blazing speed.  I have to be honest, I just don't get it.

Compare for yourself, which style do you like better?  Overgrown, over penciled and thick?  Or refined, waxed, and shapely?

Is it time to reschedule our waxing appointment for the year 2012? 

Jennifer

More Sizes Available Soon!

This Bec & Em top almost completely sold out the first day we received it.  No surprise, it's gorgeous on and the price is easy on the pocket book.  If you missed out and your size is gone, I was able to order a few more pieces and will have more stock by Thursday.

Email me if you'd like me to put your size aside!

Jennifer

Fall fashions

The perfect fall jackets:




My favorite time of year is fall. And the greatest part of fall is seeing what's new in fashion. The beginning of fall is so beautiful, not yet very cold; well, in Madison ,Wisconsin. The transitional pieces for fall are so much fun.

I welcome back the jackets, coats, and blazers that are still lightweight enough to wear over those summer tank tops or pretty blouses. These jackets are simple, but have such beautifully tailored details: sharp lapels, well-defined shoulders, finished cuffs, and nicely tapered at the waist. They aren't the traditional business-like wool jackets/blazers, but the new fall jackets are professional, yet functional. They translate from day to evening perfectly.

The second trend that I have seen on the runway has been animal print. Actually, this is nothing new. I have seen some sort of animal print every season, in the fall, winter, spring, or summer. It is a fashion staple that will never go out of style. I've seen animal print in cocktail dresses or in blouses. I love anything animal print. I would wear this particular animal print blouse with shorts for now or wide-legged trousers in the fall, which looks perfect since the blouse is tapered at the waist.

OK. I can go on and on forever with the new fall trends, but I'll stick to what I find to be the trends that have struck me as most important.

I love the simplicity of clothes in general. A great black dress, a classic animal print blouse, the classic blazer or wrap in great fall colors to wear over those summer tops or dresses that you're not ready to put away.

However, I think that a woman can be chic without going over the top. Simple. But I also love luxury. Even if your outfit isn't screaming typical luxury with fur, leather, or something else that is typically considered luxurious, I think that you can add luxury to your outfit, especially with a great piece of statement jewelry.

The following are my favorite pieces. Appropriate for any season and any fabric or color.



















Everything in this post is available at J.Lamore.com or at J. LaMore on Monroe Street in Madision, Wisconsin.

Lila.

Trader Joe's Baked Salt & Vinegar Chips!

I'm not sure why I chose to buy a bag of the Baked Salt & Vinegar chips on my last visit to Trader Joe's.  Generally, I'm not a fan of baked chips.  I love the idea, but they never taste great.  I think I must have been incredibly hungry and thought, eh why not give them a try? 

After checking out, I got in my car with the bag of chips and promptly opened them up.  To my amazement, they were absolutely delicious!  Crunchy, salty, and  tangy with no hint of being a baked chip.  They taste like their oil fried buddies but have a fraction of the fat and calorie content.  I believe there are other varieties of the Trader Joe's brand baked chips, which I will definitely be trying the next time I shop.

Yum!

Jennifer

Love this top

Hi Jennifer & Friends! I know it's been a few months but I'm back and need some fall fashions. I was just going through the "what's new" page and saw this gorgeous sweater and had to write about it.

It's getting cool at night in London and that is the first sign of fall and I have an itch to buy some clothes. The color and the look is so me!

Anyway, I thought I would get back to writing on the friends blog and this was a great place to start.

Clare
London, England

Skin Care Goodies- From Acne to Wrinkles!

As I've talked about many times before, I'm a Sephora addict. I went in the other day to get an express make-over on my eyes, and I came out with a gorgeous new eye pallet by Urban Decay (called Naked... the best colors ever, and it comes with eye liner and lid primer), and some other goodies!

I got talking with the girl, and I mentioned how I wanted to find a product that gave the same results as a chemical peel, but that I could do at home. I normally get chem peels about 4 times/year and I've always loved them, but they get expensive and it's so hard to get an appointment (my doctor is booked until the end of September)! She recommended this "Peeling Groovy Facial Serum" by Bliss. It's $65 for this little bottle ( I know, that's a lot)... but, the product supposedly evens out your overall skin tone, minimizes pores, and clears up skin, all while you wear it overnight and underneath your normal moisturizer. I've only used it one night, but I can't wait to keep using it and let everyone know of the results! The product reviews on sephora.com are all AMAZING. There are a few negative reviews stating that the product hurt when applied. It sure didn't hurt my skin, and helllloo, pain is beauty ;)

"I NEVER EVER thought my skin could look this good. Just finished my first bottle, moving onto my next :)"

This other product that she recommended, but that I did not buy yet, is this microdermabrasion exfoliate from Dr. Brandt. I felt it in the store, and the crystals are so fine and it feels like a great quality product. I used to get microdermabrasion in the doctors office, and for $75 you can get this small jar of it to use 1-2 times a week that is supposed to last 6 months! Although it's expensive, the benefits and the ease seem worth the money. Again, the reviews on sephora are amazing.

'Hands down.. the absolute best product on the market. Fine grained granules gently clean & don't irritate. Excellent!'

'After used Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion exfoliating cream skin becomes lively, it has natural color breathing again. Nice massaging removes all dirt, stains and pimples from skin ... the best product I've ever used'

So hopefully I've found some truly wonderful products. I'm really excited about the peeling groovy, and I'm hoping to get the Dr. Brandt product soon! I will let everyone know when I do and how it all works.

P.S. I'm a week and a half into using my Nivea "goodbye cellulite" lotion. So far I haven't noticed anything dramatic, but the results are supposed to take at least 2 weeks with full results in 4, so I will keep everyone in the know!

Julie
Madison,WI

My Laquette Set on Polyvore (www.polyvore.com)

Laquette by Lover_of_Fashion on Polyvore.com

Some fashion tips for fall!!!

I love ruffles. Sometimes ruffles can be too much, such as looking like a "pirate" shirt or a little girl's shirt. I love tops that keep the ruffles to your collar. I would definitely pair a cute top with jeans or a fitted jacket. I wear the beautiful top above with denim cutoff shorts and camel heels.

For the transition to fall, I would start with a cute, favorite summer dress. I would wear a t-shirt under it or a cardigan or wrap over it, pair it with a huge, colorful scarf. Drape it, whatever, and wear the outfit with high wedge boots. The first three looks would be perfect for just draping over a summer dress that you're not yet ready to put away.

Also, t-shirts and jeans are always in style. I would pair any of the three top looks with your great tees and jeans, especially skinnies, with different distressing, with ankle boots, high heels, wedges, or platforms. 90% of the designers this season for fall sent leggings down the runway. I am so happy that leggings are still the "bomb" and hopefully will never go out of style.



I love the jeans on the left. The wash is perfect. It matches bright colors as well as grey or black. Just remember that if you have fitted jeans, you can wear a more slouchy, deconstructed top, and vice versa. Speaking of deconstructed, most of the blazers for the fall are, such as the one on the left. Reminiscent of the eighties!!!!

All of the fashions here are available at www.jlamore.com. Check it out. Lila.

Your Fashion Calendar: What to buy when

Being fashionable sometimes involves some work. Today, MSN Beauty & Fashion posted this monthly schedule to aid in building and maintaining a fashionable and functional wardrobe year-round. It shows you when to stock up, look for end-of-season sales and spot new trends.

One of my favorite shows.

I used to watch this show as a kid and one of my friends recently sent me this. I just had to share it with everyone.

Hollywood Squares
-------------------------

These great questions and answers are from the days when theHollywood
Squares game show responses were spontaneous, not scripted, as they are now.

Peter Marshall was the host asking the questions, of course.

Q. Paul, what is a good reason for pounding meat?
A. Paul Lynde: Loneliness!
(The audience laughed so long and so hard it took up almost 15 minutes of
the show!)

Q. Do female frogs croak?
A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.

Q. If you're going to make a parachute jump, at least how high should you
be?
A. Charley Weaver: Three days of steady drinking should do it.

Q. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years.
A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.

Q. You've been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a
woman?
A. Don Knotts: That's what's been keeping me awake.

Q. According to Cosmopolitan, if you meet a stranger at a party and you
think that he is attractive, is it okay to come out and ask him if he's
married?
A. Rose Marie: No wait until morning.

Q. Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?
A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency.

Q. In Hawaiian, does it take more than three words to say 'I Love You'?
A. Vincent Price: No, you can say it with a pineapple and a twenty.

Q. What are 'Do It,' 'I Can Help,' and 'I Can't Get Enough'?
A. George Gobel: I don't know, but it's coming from the next apartment.

Q. As you grow older, do you tend to gesture more or less with your hands
while talking?
A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll
give you a gesture you'll never forget.

Q. Paul, why do Hell's Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.

Q. Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries. Are you going to get
any during the first year?
A.. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries.

Q. In bowling, what's a perfect score?
A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.

Q. It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps.
One is politics, what is the other?
A. Paul Lynde: Tape measures.

Q. During a tornado, are you safer in the bedroom or in the closet?
A. Rose Marie: Unfortunately Peter, I'm always safe in the bedroom.

Q. Can boys join the Camp Fire Girls?
A. Marty Allen: Only after lights out.

Q. When you pat a dog on its head he will wag his tail. What will a goose
do?
A. Paul Lynde: Make him bark?

Q. If you were pregnant for two years, what would you give birth to?
A. Paul Lynde: Whatever it is, it would never be afraid of the dark.

Q. According to Ann Landers, is there anything wrong with getting into the
habit of kissing a lot of people?
A. Charley Weaver: It got me out of the Army.

Q. It is the most abused and neglected part of your body, what is it?
A. Paul Lynde: Mine may be abused, but it certainly isn't neglected..

Q. Back in the old days, when Great Grandpa put horseradish on his head,
what was he trying to do?
A. George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.

Q. Who stays pregnant for a longer period of time, your wife or your
elephant?
A. Paul Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?

Q. When a couple have a baby, who is responsible for its sex?
A. Charley Weaver: I'll lend him the car, the rest is up to him...

Q. Jackie Gleason recently revealed that he firmly believes in them and has
actually seen them on at least two occasions. What are they?
A. Charley Weaver: His feet.

Q. According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed?

A. Paul Lynde: Point and laugh

Too Many Changes on American Idol

I truly don't know how many more changes I can take with the American Idol show.  I just read an article mentioning the Kara DioGuardi AND Ellen will not be back for the new season.  Come on Fox, who's left? 

When Paula left the show, I was disappointed I wouldn't get to hear her senseless ramblings, but didn't feel it was a show ending departure for me.  Heavy sigh, Simon left.  He was at times quite cheeky, but that's what we expected and loved about him.  He was the one all of the contestants wanted approval from.  Without him, it was going to be up to Randy and Kara to dish on the Idols.  Heavy sigh, Kara's leaving.

Reports say she was fired by execs in an effort to continually mix up the show.  Boo.  Kara has a music resume second to only a few producers.  Her critiques of the Idols were more than simple words, what she had to say came from the bottom of her note singing heart.  Beyond her expertise, she added so much panache to the judging table.  Why?  Why Kara? 

The role of Ellen on the panel was a humorous one.  She lightened the mood, lifted the spirits of the contestants, and made us all laugh.  I enjoyed her as the newest addition to the crew and will miss her jokes and smiling face.

Rumors have it Steven Tyler from Aerosmith and J. Lo will be replacing Kara and Ellen.  Granted, both newbies have incredible music talent, I just wish it could go back to the good old days.

Jennifer

Nivea Bikini Challenge

Ok so that image isn't the most appealing to look at... but it's what I believe to be true results shown on the Tyra show from the Nivea Bikini Body "Good-Bye Cellulite" Challenge! The challenge includes a healthy diet, working out, and using the Cellulite reducing Nivea lotion and serum for a month. 86% of women noticed tighter and firmer skin and less cellulite!

I'm not doing the specific challenge, but I am using the lotion! I'm not sure if I'll be posting any before pictures on here... but maybe some after shots if it really works. I'll be sure to share my positive or negative feedback of this product after I've been using it for a while. A product like this could change the way women feel about their bodies (if it really works!)

Julie
Madison, WI

Jessepalooza

On February 3, 2010 my best friend's daughters' brother Jesse died from complications of type 1 diabetes.  He was only 13 years old.  There are no words to describe the incredible sadness his passing has had on all of his family and friends.  In honor of Jesse, this Saturday at the Capital Brewery, will be the first ever "Jessepalooza."

Jesse's mom Michelle explained her motivation for Jessepalooza was threefold.  "First, we wanted to honor Jesse the way he would want to be honored which is through music and people laughing and having a great time remembering him. Second, to raise money to find a cure for this hideous disease and third, to have a way for his friends and family to get together and remember him each year.”

I truly believe this will be a wonderful day and such a great way to celebrate the life of Jesse.  Jessepalooza runs from 12pm to 9pm this Saturday at the Capital Brewery in Middleton, WI.  Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.  There will be plenty of music, plenty of refreshments, and lots of laughs.  Hope to see you there.

Jennifer

Odd Beauty Products, No Thanks!

Remember press-on tattoos? Now there’s press-on eyeshadow—promising makeup artist quality shadow in a matter of minutes. How does this concoction work? According to the Eye Envy directions, you smooth the applique over your eyelid; tap it into place to ensure even color transfer and peel back to reveal the shadow creation. There are dozens of looks to choose from: the trendy smoky eye, bold leopard print to zebra. 

The smell of bacon can make even a vegetarian’s stomach grumble. What about bacon lip balm? Sound too weird or delicious? You decide! Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow, the originators of the bacon-based J&D’s Foods and products like BaconPOP microwave popcorn and Bacon Salt, believe everything should smell like bacon—and that includes lip balm. The Bacon Lip Balm, $3.99, which they claim is the original, is described as “a constant reminder of the awesome power of bacon.”

Sparkle and sequins are all the rage in fashion. Now, you can put some sparkle in your smile—literally. How? DecoDent Tooth Jewelry makes jewelry—such as ruby-colored crystals or sapphire blue crystals—specifically for your pearly whites. Just like in fashion, a little sparkle goes a long way; one jewel stone is all you need to jazz up your smile. Interested? Talk to your dentist about DecoDent, which are applied with adhesive and can stay in place from six months to three years.

I don't know about you, but these odd beauty products are a definitely no for me!  The last thing I need is leopard eyes that go with my bacon lips and diamond teeth.

Jennifer

Rodarte x Ballet x Natalie Portman = Black Swan

Black Swan is a new ballet-thriller film (I know, reserve judgement for a second) starring Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. Reasons this excites me: I love Mila Kunis and especially Natalie Portman, I LOVE ballet (Center Stage remains one of my most-beloved DVDs), and the costumes for the film were designed by Laura and Kate Mulleavey, designer sisters of fashion label Rodarte. Rodarte's main aesthetic is an intricate layering of textured and distressed fabrics, which produces a sort of goth-romantic look. Their label has quickly been recognized by fashion critics as one to watch and they recently reached out to mass-market customers through a Target collaboration collection (of which I own much).

Rodarte makes perfect sense for a dark film revolving around ballet and I can't wait to see what they've produced for it. (Costume at pictured at left is the first one to be released.) As far as the film itself, the trailer has yet to come out, so whether it's any good remains to be seen.


Mandy
Creative Director

{via Fashionologie}

Your daily funnies: The Zoeinator

Funny or Die regular Amy Phillips has become the ultimate Rachel Zoe impersonator in her hilarious spoof videos of "The Rachel Zoe Project". If you haven't seen them yet, check the series out here.


In the most recent episode, "The Zoeinator," Rachel Zoe makes a cameo to combat her robot impersonator and save the fashion world. Its baananaas.

The Zoeinator - watch more funny videos

Mandy
Creative Director

Tassel's the thing

Trend alert! At the 16th Annual SAG awards, Kate Hudson made the sartorial decision to highlight her gorg backless dress with a diamond tassel necklace by Cartier. Kate is not the only one to embrace the vintage-inspired trend, Ivanka Trump has created various tasseled pieces for her own jewelry line and it has also been seen on the likes of Rachel Bilson and Kristen Bell.

Sautoir (French for long, opera-length) Tassel necklaces were popular during the 1910's and 20's, which is why they have a refined, antique feel.

If you're feeling the trend, check out our "Tassel" Necklace by jenny designs. This necklace can be styled many different ways as it is open-ended with two tassels, allowing it to be tied at any length.

Mandy

Creative Director

Cute Animals

I’m a sucker for cute animals. I love them, and I even love the ones that are so ugly they are actually cute. Dogs, cats, bunnies, birds, even bugs can be cute. I love the website dailysquee.com for my “cute animal fix” of the day. They have the funniest videos and photos with captions that are always ADORABLE. I also love cuteoverload.com. If you love cute and funny animals, I highly recommend these blogs!

Look how cute this guy is. Guilty!!

Julie
Madison, WI

San Diego Ocean's Foundation

I'd like to shamelessly promote an organization that my sister is working for in San Diego! We all like to help out in one way or another, but if you are in the San Diego area, or if you just feel like helping a good cause, check out http://www.sdoceans.org/!

From their Facebook page:

The mission of the San Diego Oceans Foundation is to promote ocean stewardship by leading community-supported projects that enhance the ocean habitat and encourage sustainable use of the oceans resources.

What does this really mean? SDOF recruits and trains community members to assist with our marine programs. These volunteers work at the grass-roots level where they learn new skills and become educated in marine conservation efforts.Then the magic happens! Our volunteers become ocean stewards and begin personalizing their commitment to the sea. We've hooked them (not literally) and that's how we spread our message of ocean stewardship!


Whether you help out an organization like this, or donate towards efforts to clean up the gulf of mexico, anything you do to save the ocean is a wonderful gift! After living in Australia for 5 months and seeing how beautiful the ocean can be (I admit, I used to be scared of getting in,) I now know the importance of programs and non-profits like San Diego Oceans Foundation and their huge contribution to protecting and saving the wildlife and our oceans in general.


Follow them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/sandiegooceansfoundation for some thoughtful, and some hilarious, updates.


Julie
Madison, WI

Drew Barrymore on the cover of Elle.

Hi Friends: One of my favorite celebrity personalities is Drew Barrymore. She just has a down to earth attitude and doesn't believe she's the greatest thing in the world like so many celeberity types do. Most celebrities just kind of annoy me and if you live in LA you would know what I mean. Here's a portion of the interview she gave Elle.

On taking stock of where she is now: “For three years straight, I’ve been burning the candle at both ends, and as of last December, I just didn’t have anything left. I’ve been so aggressive about living life to the fullest and being plugged into everything, but now I’ve ripped the plug out of the wall and put it on the floor for a while. I’m thinking about the same things as when I was 15, about spirituality and who I am, who I want to be. It’s cocoon, pupa, larva, and fuck, I’m reborn!”

On the media’s misconceptions of her: “I make movies. I have a passion. Puppies and daisies don’t accomplish anything. That’s not me at all.”

On being single: “If you’re 35 and single and it’s a choice, it feels fine. So I didn’t settle with the wrong person yet. Big deal!”

On her upcoming role in Going the Distance: “I like that it’s not a traditional romantic comedy, with the story line of, ‘Oh, I slept with this guy, but when I woke up, I found out he’s the CEO of my company, and we’re going to live happily ever after once we go through all these crazy perils. I talk shit with my girlfriends. And it can get dirty.”

On why she’s not afraid to get older: “I don’t want to be vain or fearful, and I don’t think I’ll do anything [in terms of plastic surgery], but if I want to do something, I will. From my perspective, there’s no reason to be afraid of aging, because if you age, you’re lucky! The alternative is death.”

On child stardom: “I was raised in unique and trying environments, but they were also amazing platforms for me to have an extraordinary life. Going through hell as a kid made me sensitive to what others in this world go through too.”

Lynn
Los Angeles, CA

Kombucha Revenge

Since Lindsay tragically suggested that Kombucha had something to do with her SCRAM anklet going off , which led to the fermented brew being pulled from shelves, I can only say happy trails to the news she's heading off to jail.  Ouch! 

After violating her probation by missing some of her mandatory alcohol education classes, Lohan has been sentenced to 90 days in jail followed by 90 days in rehab.  “I did everything I was told to do, I thought I was being compliant,” Lohan told Superior Court Judge Marsha Revel through tears. “I'm not taking this as a joke, it's my life and career. I don't want you to think I don't respect you and your terms.”

Lohan said she had a tough time making the classes because of her work schedule, but Revel wasn’t buying her story. “I couldn't have been more clear [about my orders],” Revel said. “There are no excuses.”  Lohan will have to surrender to serve her sentence on July 20. She will continue to wear her SCRAM anklet until then. The good news for Lohan is that due to prison overcrowding, she’ll probably only serve a fraction of her jail sentence – then it’s on to three months in rehab.

Sorry Lindsay, I know I've been bit harsh on you, but seriously...you messed with my Kombucha. 

Jennifer

Jonny Lang in Madison at the Overture Center

I love music, pretty much any and all genre's.  A few years ago my friend Joanna introduced me to an incredible artist, Jonny Lang.  We saw him perform live at the Barrymore Theater, here in Madison and it was truly amazing.  Jonny is brilliant on the guitar and his vocals are soulfully mesmerizing. 

Naturally, when we heard he was coming to Madison again, we knew this was a must see event!  We've rounded up a group of girlfriends and are heading to the Overture Center this Sunday, July 11th for a guaranteed fantastic time!  Here's a glimpse of Johnny at his best:



Hope to see you there!

Jennifer

Independence Day Sale!

Wow, the 4th of July has arrived at lightening speed.  It got all of us thinking at J. LaMore how quickly the summer is going to pass us by, which prompted us to run a summer sale!

Shop today through Monday, July 5th and save 20% on your entire order, in-store and online.  Just use promo code "july4" at checkout to receive the extra discount. 

Have a great holiday weekend! 

Jennifer

4 Must-Have Beauty Tricks from Carmindy

One of my longtime favorite shows is TLC's What Not to Wear, which features makeup artist Carmindy who is known for giving WNTW participants natural-looking, real world-ready makeovers. In this month's Glamour I found some tips from the makeup artist herself:

1) You can pull off red lips.
"Try a gloss and don't swipe it all over. Put some on your pinkie and dab it onto your lips--you'll get color and shine, but it won't look gooped on."

2) Look fresh after a long flight.
"Hydrate halfway through by spritzing your face with water, then reapplying moisturizer and lip balm."

3) Customize your moisturizer.
"Add a couple of drops of essential oil and liquid luminizer to any bottle of unscented body lotion. It smells great and gives your body a glow."

4) An easy skin refresher:
"Fill up your sink with [lukewarm] water, add a cup of apple cider vinegar, then splash your face about 10 times. Rinse with cold water. It's the best toner!"

{Source: Baze Mpinja @ Glamour}

Mandy
Creative Director