Today's Woman

Easy Steps to Gear Up for Back-to-School

There are only days left to prepare for the return to school and there is so much to be done!  From buying school supplies, clothes, cleaning out closets, planning for meals and organizing schedules, the tasks can be overwhelming!  

Take it one step at a time and your transition back-to-school will be easy peasy!  Follow a few of these tips for back-to-school bliss:

1.  Shift sleeping schedules to allow the body to get used to the new schedule.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  Clean out closets & study areas to make it easier to find items and provide an inviting place to work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.  Create a checklist of things you will need:  supplies, clothes, to do.

4.  Create a household master calendar and place it for everyone to see in the Kitchen.  The schedule should include all sports events & practices, days off, holidays, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.  Purchase colorful binders & folders in different colors for each subject.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.  Label all items for school with cute labels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.  Get papers in order for vaccines, health forms, sports forms.  

8.  Get the physical exam out of the way.

9.  Create a filing system for papers "To be Signed", "From School" and "To School"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.  Do a morning routine run-through.

11.  Plan meals ahead of time for breakfast & lunch with healthy, nutritious choices!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12.  Prepare the day ahead.  Lay out 5 days worth of clothes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13.  Teach your child to use a daily planner.  Set a routine to check it daily.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.  Set your clocks ahead 10-15 minutes, just in case!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To keep your kids on task, be sure to keep everything organized and clean to provide them the best atmosphere for continued learning.  Clean out & clean up weekly.  Do homework as soon as your child gets in in the same designated space.  Provide healthy snacks during homework times.  Avoid overload.  Teach your child to write everything down.

When you create the right environment a child will thrive!

~Wendy Anguiano

 

Summer Chillers

Are you always looking for that perfect recipe for your next party?  Something that tantilizes the tastebuds, sparks fervent conversation, and is oh, so yummy?  I've found two great recipes that will do just that!  Smooth, creamy & sensational, the pineapple yogurt dip will be a crowd pleaser!  Sweet, tangy and toe-tickling the cold melon salsa sends a smile to everyone's face.  

Pineapple Yogurt Dip

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

1 (8 ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
1 (8 ounce) container fat-free plain yogurt
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained well
1/2 cup sugar

Directions:

Process cream cheese, yogurt, pineapple, and sugar in a food processor or blender until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides.  Spoon into a serving dish (try using the lower half of a fresh pineapple as the serving dish); cover and chill. Serve with assorted fresh fruit.

Via: splenda.tastebook.com

 

Cold Melon Salsa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

1/2 honeydew melon
1 cantaloupe
1/3 jalapeño
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 jar TOSTITOS® Salsa

Directions:

Finely chop first four ingredients. In large serving bowl, mix salsa, lime juice and chopped ingredients. Drain and refrigerate before serving with Baked! TOSTITOS® SCOOPS!® Tortilla Chips.

Via: fritolay.com

Two great recipes for any great Olympic party!  Enjoy...

~Wendy Anguiano

Fashion London Style

With the Olympics starting this Saturday, many are headed over the big pond to take it all in.  Not everyone can go, however, but are equally as excited as we all are!  Stepping out to celebrate in London style is key whether you are travelling abroad or staying at home!

On a recent trip to London I took note of two primary differences in style.  The first is that most of the women wear black tights or leggings.  It is well known that black is the key color worn, but I saw black tights everywhere with every thing.  Men will wear suits, dark or grey suits.  Typically the suits are tailored to a perfect fit.  Oh, and don't forget the man-bag!

Layers are also key due to the climate being quite colder than what we are used to.  Another element that is a must to everyone's wardrobe, whether male or female, is an umbrella!  It rains A LOT in London.

Take a look at some of these pics of London Style:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are headed over, stop by Harrod's and say hello for me!  :)

~Wendy Anguiano

Enhance Your Natural Beauty...

Where would we be without makeup?  I love me some makeup!  It hides my blemishes, enhances my facial features and covers my freckles.  When applied correctly, makeup will enhance your natural beauty.  When applied incorrectly, you'll look like a makeup counter walking down the street (just like this picture)!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Too much makeup is unattractive.  The rule is to NEVER highlight more than ONE feature of your face at a time.  If you choose to highlight your eyes, then go soft on the lips and visa versa.  Your cheeks and foundation should look as natural as possible.

Let's face it ladies, makeup is a woman's best friend!  Without it we are beautiful, but with it, we are gorgeous!  We've seen pictures of celebrities and models with and without makeup and there is quite a difference.  It is intended to enhance, beautify, bring out your natural beauty!

Jennifer Lopez with & without makeup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halle Berry with and without makeup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kristin Heigl with and without makeup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jessica Biel with and without makeup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These woman are beautiful both ways and so are you, but how would you rather be seen?  Personally, I rarely walk out the door without at least the basics on!  

When I was a model I learned how to contour my face.  Contouring is using a dark highlighter to reshape parts of my face to where they naturally should be.  For example, if my nose is too wide or too long, I can contour the sides of my nose with a dark highlighter to make it appear thinner or on the bottom end of my nose to make it appear shorter.  This contouring can be done with any feature of your face.  Take a look at the picture below to see how you too can contour:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now of course you wouldn't walk around like this.  You simply contour and blend, blend, blend so that it looks like a shadow.  You should NEVER see lines on your face, not on your lips, your sheeks and especially not a makeup line at your jaw!  Eyeliner is the only exception.

Remember - beauty comes from within!  Makeup will only enhance your natural born beauty!  For more makeup tips, tune in daily to this blog.

~Wendy Anguiano

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weekend Warrior: Fiberglass Door Stain

FADED TO FABULOUS!  

Staining projects can be time consuming and messy.  Typically when you think of staining you think about wood, however, when I took on the project of staining my front door I discovered it was fiberglass and it required something a bit different.  To my surprise, I learned that fiberglass stain uses a gel, which is much easier to apply and easier to work with.

My front door had faded by the sun and looked white-washed.  So this weekend I decided my weekend warrior project would be to restore it to its former glory!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I stopped by Home Depot to talk with someone about the door.  He showed me exactly what I needed.  (SIDE NOTE:  I just love Home Depot because the people are so helpful and really know their stuff!).  All I needed was a gel stain and a sponge brush to apply.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The gel is thick so the sponge brush picks up only a small amount to apply at a time.  Apply the gel generously and evenly.  Be sure to get into all the crevices and wipe off any extra.  Allow to dry for 6-8 hours.

Here is the result...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This project only took me about 1 hour.  So simple almost anyone can do it.

~Wendy Anguiano

Get ready....Get set.....Back-to-School!

In just one month or less our children will be returning to school.  Taking time to plan ahead can save you time, money, stress and headache.  We've done some homework to help you out a bit with the latest fashions, supplies, gadgets and some great lunch ideas.

FIRST DAY FASHION

Plaid is a hot trend for boys this year.  Choose your favorite color combo, match with a graphic T-shirt or Henley and jeans for an on-trend look.  Elijah and Samuel are wearing outfits from Children's Place at Greentree Mall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colorful skinny jeans mixed with fun contrasting shades is a definite DO for girls this season.  Moriah is wearing a cute pair from Justice at Greentree Mall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing but NEON stands out this season with bright, bodacious hues mixed together for fantastic flair.  Hannah is wearing a neon rocker chic outfit from Justice at Greentree Mall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luxe Layers is always on trend for the teenage girl.  Pair with a work boot and layers of bangles for best results.  Jennifer is wearing an ensemble from Buckle at Greentree Mall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boho Chic is another great way to make a statement.  Casual, comfy & oh, so chic!  Billyeta is wearing an outfit from American Eagle Outfitters at Greentree Mall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What outfit is complete without some SPARKLE?  Add a touch for a daytime trendy look.  Sam is wearing a great look from Maurice's at Greentree Mall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out Greentree Mall's KIDS DAY on Saturday, July 28th from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.  Storytelling, crafts, activities, goodie bags, special offers & a bouncy house.  Go to www.greentreemall.com for more information.

SUPER DUPER SUPPLIES & GADGETS

Finding the right supplies can be a chore!  There are lists and then there are the lists.  You know what I mean.  Sometimes you think it will never end and sometimes it is hard to find some of the items on the lists.  I found some stores locally owned to help you in this process.

The Parent/Teacher Store (located on Westport Road next to Michael's & Home Depot), www.theparent-teacherstore.com. 

Giving your children tools to get them excited to learn is key.  The Parent Teacher Store has teaching aids, games and toys that can't be found anywhere else in town!

Check out these items:

Lefty Notebook (for the left handed student)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First through Third Grade Writing Tablets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Primary Journal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Magnet Men

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shaheen's (with 3 locations:  Breckenridge Lane, Portland Avenue & Outer Loop) is a staple in our community!  With quality made uniforms at every day low prices that can't be beat!  The selection of uniforms is unmatched!  Ava and JJ are wearing some of the uniforms from Shaheen's.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not only can you find uniforms at Shaheen's but you can also find unique back packs and lunchboxes for all age students.  Spiderman, Hello Kitty, Camo, Transformers, Dora, and more are just waiting for your child.

 

 

 

 

 

It won't be difficult to find one your child will love!  For more information about Shaheen's go to www.shaheens.com. 

KID FRIENDLY HEALTHY LUNCHES

Let's face it, if a child doesn't like what he/she see's it won't be eaten.  Coming up with creative lunch items that are nutritious is key.  The saying is true, "you eat with your eyes first".  I went to my friends at Home Cuisine here in Louisville to help me.  Here are some recipes they gave me:

STICK-WICH (sandwich on a stick)

bread
cheese
lunch meat
grape tomatoes
lettuce
pickles
olive

Instructions
Cut up cubes of bread, cheese, and lunch meat (we ordered
1/2-inch-thick slices of ham and turkey at the deli counter).
Slide the cubes onto a skewer with other foods your child likes, such
as a grape tomato, a piece of lettuce, a pickle, or an olive.
Set out a side of mayo or mustard for dipping.

HAPPY PIZZA

1 jar Low Sodium, Organic pizza sauce
6 Whole Wheat English Muffins English muffins
shredded cheese Mozzarella Cheese
Sliced Black Olives
Fresh Tomatoes

Cut English muffins in half. Spread pizza sauce over the tops. Cover
with cheese,
Make a smiley face with the olives as the eyes, crescent shaped tomato
slice as the smile

Bake in 350 oven for 5-10 minutes. Then enjoy!!!

FUNWICH

Almond Butter
Peanut Butter
Sugar-free Preserves
Bread

Make a sandwich the way you would with two slices of bread.  Find some fun large size cookie cutters and cut the sandwiches into shapes for a spin on the typical sandwich.

 

 

HULK OR PRINCESS DIP with VEGGIES OR WHOLE GRAIN CRACKERS

HULK DIP

1 cup plain yogurt
8 ounces low fat cream cheese, softened

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried parsley
2 cloves garlic, pressed

1 package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

Combine yogurt and cream cheese in food processor or stir until smooth
in a mixing bowl. Stir in onion, celery flakes, thyme, parsley,
garlic, and pepper. Transfer to mixing bowl. Stir in spinach. Chill
for several hours before serving. Serve with vegetable dippers and
whole grain crackers.

PRINCESS DIP

1 (12-14 ounce) jar of roasted red pepper
1 cup walnuts, chopped
1 garlic clove, peeled
1-2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
salt, to taste
Instructions
In the food processor:
Add roasted red peppers and garlic clove. Turn on to puree.
Then add your walnuts and turn food processor back on to make a paste.
Add olive oil, onion powder, and salt. Puree all until you get the
consistency you like.
Serve or chill first before serving.

Home Cuisine specializes in providing healthy, fresh, ready-to-eat, portion-controlled meals.  They can be delivered to your home or picked up at any Rainbow Blossom market.  To to www.homecuisineonline.com for more information!

Making a statement with style is extremely important to a child.  That includes the lunchbox and containers.  To save yourself money over time, I recommend opting for some Tupperware!  I went to the local Tupperware store at Oxmoor Mall and spoke to Bobbi Canfield, Legacy Executive Director (502.425.0608).  She provided me with a ton of information and showed me some amazing products that are perfect for the boy or girl returning to school.

Not only is the Tupperware cost effective, it is durable, microwave safe, dishwasher safe and most products come with a lifetime warranty!  Check out some of the great products available for your kids lunch:

Crystal Wave Divided Dish

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandwich Keeper

 

 

 

 

Healthy Salad on the Go set

 

 

 

 

 

New Eco friendly His & Her lunch sets

 

 

 

 

Disney Sets

 

 

 

 

Round Sandwich Keeper with Smidget for dips

 

 

 

Take a few to get ready for back-to-school for a smooth transition!

~Wendy Anguiano

Back-to-School

Tune in today to WAVE 3 Listens Live from 12:00 - 1:00 pm for Back-to-School fashion, fun lunch ideas & cool supplies!

Details to follow....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Delicious Hearty Irish Porridge

It packs a punch, fills your belly and satisfies you well into mid-day, Irish porridge is not only healthy but great tasting too!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recently I spent a few days in Ireland touring the countryside.  I stayed at a quaint little Bed-N-Breakfast (there are bed-n-breakfasts everywhere in Ireland) in the town of Killarney.  Each morning I went down for a full breakfast and on my first day discovered porridge.  I had never eaten it before, but I was curious.    

The porridge came with a variety of toppings:  apricots, blueberries, raisins, dried cranberries, nuts, seeds and of course warm whole milk.  Oh, and instead of using white bleached sugar, they provided pure cane sugar to add a touch of sweetness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I discovered was that porridge is delicious!  It was just sweet enough to satisfy my sweet tooth, robust with the flavors of fruits and nuts and creamy smooth!  Porridge quickly became one of my favorite breakfast foods.  In fact, I had it every morning while in Ireland.

When I returned to the States, I decided to make my own porridge.  I found some quick Irish steel cut oats at the grocery, bought a few of my favorite fruits and nuts and gave it a run.  To truly do it the Irish way, steel cut oats should be slow-cooked in milk overnight.  I am not one to take that much time with cooking, so I opted for the quick version.  If you use quick steel cut oats, your porridge will be ready in about 15 minutes. (NOTE:  the recipe calls to mix with water, but I used milk to get it as close to the Irish version as possible.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The result was a close second, hard to compare it to the true Irish porridge with all the ambiance over there?!  However, I have added it to my weekly regimin of breakfast meals!

~Wendy Anguiano

Weekend Warrior: Wardrobe Rehab

Does the thought of your closet strike panic into your heart?  Do you have clothes piled floor to ceiling dating back to 1985?  When you walk into your closet is it hard to get out?  Are there items of clothing you have totally forgotten about?  Do you have pieces hanging in your closet with the tag still on it? Does this remind you of your closet?

 

 

 

 

 

 

If any of these scenarios describes your closet, then you are at the right place!  Welcome to Weekend Warrior:  Wardrobe Rehab!  In the next few minutes you will read simple it is to go from frenzy to fabulous; from messy to meticulous; and from worn out to wonderful!  Follow these simple steps and in no time at all your closet will  be headache free!

STEP #1:  TOSS THE OLD, WORN & UNWANTED

The rule is if you haven't worn it in ONE year, it MUST go!  No excuses, no exceptions and DO NOT BREAK THIS RULE!  We all have pieces in our closet we try to hold on to for sentimental reasons OR because we will SOMEDAY fit into them again, but let me tell you from experience, that day may come but you won't want to wear something old, but rather NEW!

Make three piles as you scour through your closet:  donate, toss & clean.  You might need someone there for moral support as you begin this process.  Think of it as if Stacey & Clinton were there!

Write down all the items in the donate pile for tax purposes, bag it & take it to the car immediately.  If it lies around for a day or two you might be tempted to put it back in the closet.

Toss anything that is showing wear, such as pills on sweaters, stains, armpit stains, tears, fraying or thinning.

Don't forget accessories either!

Keeping your clothing clean & pressed will ensure its longevity.  Always read the care tag before you clean and follow it implicitly!

 

 

STEP #2:  COLOR CODE & ORGANIZE

How many times do you stand in front of your closet and say, "I don't have anything to wear!"?  Most of the time it is because we don't know what we have in front of us.  By color coding your clothes it becomes easier to locate items and put them together.

Start from lightest colors to darkest colors, left to right.

Organize as you go.  KEEP PIECES TOGETHER (i.e. all your shirts together, all your skirts together, and so on...).   Again, this makes it easier to find items and put things together.

Separate Spring/Summer from Fall/Winter.  Having a separate closet that can be swaped from season to season is ideal.

 

STEP #3:  INVEST IN CONTAINERS OR CLOSET ORGANIZERS

The best way to get a closet looking neat and organized is to invest in a closet organizer.  These range in price and can be purchased at specialty stores or at Home Depot.  If a closet organizer is not in your budget, try buying a few containers to store your clothes in.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchasing clear shoe boxes is a great way to store your shoes and cut down on the odor.  

Drawer containers is a great place for belts and scarves.

Wicker lined containers are great for sweaters, sweatshirts or bags.  

 

 

 

 

Three simple Weekend Warrior steps to a rehabilitated closet!  You'll feel better and your clothes will thank you!  

Send me your pics of before and after and I will post them on this blog!  Send pics to wlanguiano@yahoo.com 

~Wendy Anguiano

 

Pony Perfection

Carefree, flirty & fun, the new ponytail brings a new twist to the old staple.  Whether looped, braided, or twisted, this pony is a simple way to look chic and on-trend for today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's how to do it:

Pull the hair back into a ponytail at the nape of the neck.  Loop it around your fingers and secure again with a hair band or barrett.  Be creative with stray strands of hair making an artistic statement by securing with bobbypins.  Smooth the hair with a smoother and hold in place with your favorite hair spray.

~Wendy Anguiano