Leo Bling

Did you know the zodiac signs have their own gems? Me neither!

So, if you need another reason to buy yourself something pretty, here it is.

Your astrological sign (Aquarius, Capricorn, Scorpio etc) has its' own gemstones. Don't confuse these with your birthstone, which is determined by your month of birth.

Leo gemstones are quite lovely as you can see. Quartz, Citrine and my personal fave - turqouise. The gorgeous necklace above was a gift from an educated friend. So I'm smarter and more sparkly. Could there be a better gift?

Royal Granny Glam

Image: BBC

The English media is all in a flap over Princess Anne wearing the same dress twice in a row. Twenty-seven years apart. Sheesh. Tough crowd over there.

I think the dress looked fine both times. I wear clothing my grandmother wore 50 years ago because it's great quality and still looks chic. Princess Anne's quote is exactly right:

"A good suit goes on forever. If it is properly made and has a classic look you can go on wearing it ad infinitum."

Or at least until you get sick of it. Then, you pass it on.

YAYOBA: Fitness for Moms

Image by Carla Fedje

YAYOBA is a new section of the FSC blog dedicated to fitness and health. YAYOBA (You Are Your Own Best Accessory) was an original quote from Vikram Banerjee - who lives by this mantra.

YAYOBA means if you take care of your health, mind and body, the clothing you wear becomes secondary. Everything looks good when you feel good. Everything looks good when your body is in shape. Spend more on your health and you'll probably spend less on your wardrobe because you'll feel good from the inside out.

I believe in YAYOBA but sadly lack the internal motivation to get my butt to the gym. So, I pay for the gym, in the form of a trainer, to come to me. Sheri Horn, pictured above (hello!!), is a personal trainer and a women's fitness expert. Sheri is the sole reason I can see my abs for the first time IN MY LIFE.

Sheri's site, myyummymummy.ca is a wealth of knowledge for pre and post-natal Moms. If you sign up for membership at the site you will receive fitness strategies, nutritional guidance and much more. Or, if you just want someone to come over and kick your butt, Sheri makes house calls in the Calgary area.

Monday's Beautiful: Carole King

Carole King's recipe for beauty.

Absolutely timeless and 100% accurate.




And if you'd like to hear a little more....

An Iron-Free Shirt?

Image: oprah.com

Image: brooksbrothers.com

Whatever your opinion of Oprah, she and her team have keen eyes for the good stuff. So when O recommends, I will often try. Especially when it's an IRON FREE dress shirt.

I have a love/hate relationship with the dress shirt. Love them because they're always classic and look great on everyone. Hate them because every time I take them to the cleaners....I get taken to the cleaners. Eight bucks a shirt is a lot of disposable income. Particularly if you wear dress shirts to work every day.

Clearly, the alternative to dry cleaning (ironing my own shirts) is not a palatable option. Instead, I will wear knits. Call me cheap. Or lazy.

Oprah featured the NON-IRON Brooks Brothers dress shirt on her show this week. Apparently these shirts are crisp right out of the dryer. I was intrigued.

Upon further investigation I discovered that the white dress shirt is only available in-store. I did however, order a standard, blue, fitted model to test-drive. It was on sale AND Brooks Brothers doesn't gouge for shipping to Canada (bonus points).

Review pending. Watch for it.

We're So Vain: Perfect Lashes

Mascara is one of those beauty items you shouldn't splurge on. I've tried many and don't see much difference between the high and low end products. Also, you really should get rid of mascara after 1-2 months. This is not just a marketing gimmick from the cosmetic companies (like "Shampoo. Repeat"). Mascara gets dry and gross quickly. Buy a cheapy and you don't feel guilty getting rid of it.

To follow my recipe for perfect lashes you will need two implements of construction: the MAC Mascara Fan Brush and Maybelline's Unstoppable Mascara.

Unstoppable Mascara will seem clumpy when you open the tube. Apply only one coat, then quickly follow with the Mascara Fan Brush (upward strokes towards your eyebrow). This mascara really doesn't smudge and the fan brush will remove any extra mascara and comb out your lashes. Your lashes will look longer - I promise.

The Beautiful People

Many of you have asked about purchasing photos from the last FSC function. Of course you know the talented photographer is Carla Fedje. Simply email her, with a screen capture or JPG of the photograph you love, and she will contact with you pricing and delivery information.

You are all....
way
too
fabulous!