Flexibilty and Family First for Busy Moms that Want to Work. Social Selling Offers Opportunities.

Yesterday I worked really hard delegating, decorating, downloading and making quick decisions.  Today, the only decision I want to make is “Pedicure?” Or “Deluxe Pedicure?”   To me, flexibity is the best part of owning a small business like Angel Toes Inc. or being self-employed as wardrobe stylist and Patch writer.      This week, meet two busy moms that feel fortunate to have that sort of flexibility. Both in the bobble biz, Kris Paul and Nikki Weber share their insights with me.  PATCH ARTICLE LINK

BTW, I did the “Deluxe,”  (had a coupon)  The second decision of the day was an easy one;   OPI’s pinky-orange color named,  “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”  Tuffy inspected and approved.

I’d like to write a Patch Article on BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING and would love some input and feedback from those of you who do it.   Please email me if you’d be willing to be included. beputtogether@comcast.net

Great, very timely article! I am an Edina mom, home with 2 small boys, and have been a rep for Stella & Dot for the last 2 years. They are reinventing the idea of ‘home parties’ and are confident that the combination of e-commerce  and social selling will change how we shop in the future. Liz Couchman- Edina.    www.stelladot.com/lizcouchman

Freshen Up Your Swimsuit Cover Ups. Easy Ideas for the Beach and Pool.

Santoori Dress Available at Hot Mama. Throw on over a bathing suit and you’re ready to run from Byerly’s to the beach! On sale through July 17.

Horrified by the “back to school sections” popping up in stores everywhere, I wrote this article to PROTEST loose leaf PAPER and PROMOTE  the POOL!  Raise a glass of ice tea to the second half of summer!  The glass is still HALF FULL.

Knowing you may have already logged plenty of pool time this season,  you might be a little bored with your beachwear.  If that describes you, here are some ideas to freshen up your cover up.

I wrote this article for Patch:

SPICE UP YOUR SUMMER SWIM ENSEMBLES

What to Wear and What NOT to Wear to a Back Yard Bash.

Monica Mero is wearing a cute, but casual maxi dress from Anthropologie. Wedges are good in grass and the belt shows her personal style.

There’s a new, navy blue sun dress in my closet that has been patiently waiting for weeks for its namesake to make an appearance. (the sun ) Thank goodness the heat is here!

My friend Monica also debuted a brand new nautical number at her recent summer solstice party.  She wore it well with a wide belt and wonderful little wedge, perfect for a party hostess.     What to Wear to a Back Yard BBQ is the name of my Patch piece this week.  Click on the purple link to check it out for ideas on what to wear, as well as what NOT to wear.

By the way…. “What Not to Wear” (the tv show) is taking a look at the Twin Cities this week.  Nomination info in also in the article.  Eek.

Amore & Fede Gets Cowgirl Tuff, while Boutique Owner Maintains a Soft Heart.

Writing this week’s Patch story was especially enjoyable.  Digging for info on the new denim line at Amore & Fede, revealed some cool connections to Cameron Diaz, the Coen brothers (of major motion picture fame), and an ambitious cowgirl in small town Minnesota.  It was like peeling an onion…lots of layers. And I love that in a story.

I had the same enjoyable experience digging a little deeper into The House of Amore & Fede and it’s owner, Kim Parmater.  The name of the boutique means “love and faith” in Italian.  Kim chose the name because that is what she’s  all about.   While the store shares a meaningful portion of its proceeds to care for the hungry, the poor, the addicted and oppressed,  Kim shares the motivation behind it all in a moving  story of love and faith story on her website.

Kim’s story

Trendy Boutique Gets Cowgirl Tuff  story.

Tips to Help You Clean Out Your Closet… Or at Least Get You Motivated.

Sticky, muggy… heading toward 90 degrees! (THANK YOU LORD!)      It finally feels like summer today, which actually doesn’t begin until June 21.

Lucky you!  That means there’s still time for spring cleaning…or at least cleaning out your closet. Weeding out your wardrobe is often waaaaay down there on the priority list, especially when you know you can just close the closet doors in denial.  That’s why I called my friend Gretchen, to see if she wanted to clean her closets too.  Together, we’d set a date to be done with it:  take our clothing to a resale destination and drop off the rest at a donation location.

Glamorous, we know...

The accountability was good. It was a lot of work; washing and ironing all those items for resale. I’m pretty sure my ironing arm has a muscle now.

Top two tips from both of us:

1)    Have a can of spray starch handy.  Makes all the difference.

2)    Inspect your resale items under bright light.  (I ironed in a dimly lit room and didn’t notice tiny some tiny specks until after it was out in the light.  FOR PETE’S SAKE!)  

While the cash that we received for the clothing was nice, it was the clean, cleared-out closet we appreciated most.   That and perhaps the chance to celebrate our accomplishment at Pizza Lola, where Gretchen ordered a  Surly.  Better sip a Surly than be surly… too much ironing can do that to you.    Lots more to learn about weeding out your wardrobe in my Patch article:   Make Money while Weeding Out Guilty Garments       

Model Citizens of Morningside

When the Morningside Woman’s Club puts on a Fashion Show,  the members put on the clothes.  As  the well-heeled women worked the runway, onlookers loved the colorful collection, which included a vibrant  ”Corral.”    See photos of the model citizens in my story posted on Patch:   THE FASHION FILES/EDINA.PATCH    Featuring Judith McGrann & Friends

Summer Dresses! featuring Hot Mama

Every Tuesday morning I attend an absolutely awesome cardio blast, dancy-dance style class at Lifetime Fitness. (fun music, fun choreography and fun  teacher –Marybeth- if you want to check it out!)  Anyway, on a recent Tuesday morning two regulars stood chatting outside the studio- One of them visibly giddy. She was describing a little tank dress she picked up at Hot Mama. She was excited that this comfy, cotton, dress with ruffles was absolutely flattering.  It hid the areas we we’re trying to work off while accentuating any attributes. “Go check it out,”  she said– so I did.

I couldn’t imagine a tank dress with full-on ruffles. Sounded sporty, yet feminine.   I described it to Abby, my Hot Mama sales associate.  She knew it instantly and said it flew off the racks in a matter of days. Apparently it looked good on a lot of people!  (Sundresses tend to do that— that’s why we love them!)  I resorted to looking at a photo and indeed this heather gray tank dress was sporty, yet girly too.   It was called the Cha Cha Dress- how appropriate to learn about it in my dancy-dance style class.

Summer dresses are so fun and easy to wear!    They are, by far, the most flattering garment to grab, get ready and go.  Buy them in bright colors or florals.  Feminine details like flowers, ruffles,  etc are fresh for spring and can be worn by all ages. (in moderation)   Check out my article for Edina.patch featuring Hot Mama styles and advice regarding wearing girly styles without looking girlish. Click here for link     (article posted on Patch earlier this Spring)

What to Wear for a Family Photo

In many of my childhood photos, my head is missing…or at least the top of it.   My mom was not great with Kodak Instamatic (she’ll readily admit  it—won’t you mom?)    But I kind of like those “Uh oh” pictures… as they inadvertently capture good memories of the unexpected silliness in daily family life.

Earlier this spring, I teamed up with Little Bean Photography and put together outfits for a family photo.  The studio’s tag is Smile Big. Live Silly.   I like  that, and with that in mind,  my goal was to create individual ensembles that work together, but feature the family more than the fashion.

Little Bean Owner /Photographer, Elissa Kadue captures “real life” in her family photos and suggests the family members wear clothes that they’d actually WEAR…as opposed “dastardly sweater vests and ties on little boys and overly frou frou dresses on the girls.”

Great tip.  For more tips from Little Bean & Jilly Bean (my nickname back when I was wearing those nylon knee highs) click here: What to wear for a family photo.

(Article for Edina.Patch.com   -Finding the Right Attire for a Family Photo/ Dressing for family photos can be an epic battle, so Jilene delivers some strategies for creating a cohesive look)

Love this Local Designer Any Day of the Week.

Last Thursday was my first Thursday to “First Thursdays”…and it won’t be my last. “First Thursdays in the Arts District” happens at the Northrup King Building, where sculptors, painters, photographers, jewelers and artists of all kinds open their studios to the public.

Since this is a fashion blog of sorts—a “jeweler”  gets the mention, and a well deserved one.  Designer, Karin Jacobson is known for her use of big shapes, clean lines and bright color in her metals and gems, but it’s her laser cut leather I’d like to feature.

The designer creates these incredibly cool, super stylish leather bracelets. They’re laser cut so cleanly that they look like metal! I’ve got my favorite one on in the photo. The laser cut bubbles make a lacy pattern that snapped around my wrist.  They’re so comfy and light you barely know they’re there!  (I have just the client for this—she’s not fond of bracelets clanking around, and her wrists and hands are so slight that bracelets slip off anyway!)

A great addition to your casual accessories, this bracelet is art. 

You need not wait for the First Thursday to lock in on this leather.  Available 24/7 at: http://superkarin.myshopify.com/collections/leather

The “BE” Bugs Me.

Earlier this week while walking my dogs, I discovered a pair of sunglasses on my head.  These were in addition to the pair I was wearing.  Oops. 

A few days before that, I discovered a two-week-old temporary tattoo on my back.  I’d put it on at an over-the-top costumed “rock star” event and totally forgot it was there (and it didn’t occur to my hubby to tell me.)  

And a month ago in Mexico, I threw my swimsuit cover-up on … inside-out AND backwards.  Imagine my surprise when I looked in the  mirror and saw the tag  staring back at me.

Do you find it ironic I have a blog called Be Put Together?  I do.  

This presents the perfect opportunity to clarify the BE in front of Put Together.  Put  Together Wardrobe Styling is indeed the name of the business.   I love to “put together” outfits and wardrobes, but I don’t like the ”Be” in the domain name. It makes it seem like an expectation.  (The plain old puttogether.com domain was taken)  

The BE in PUTTOGETHER  bugs me because I often identify most with the FALLING APART in all us of us! I embrace the wonderful women that are as falling apart CRAZY as me.  So  don’t apologize for your mismatched socks – it’s probably what I love MOST about you!  Beauty’s only skin deep– right?  And clothes are just another layer BEYOND the skin!    It’s all about the inside!!  

To BE, or Not TO BE?     Just  be yourself:)