Three Haute Mamas

Let a little light shine through

Forget everything I said about color yesterday, and let's go metallic today. Golds and silvers can go with nearly everything in your closet and add a touch of glam to even the simplest swim suit. Just because you're at the beach doesn't mean you can leave the accessories at home! Au contraire-have fun! I know you're slathered in sun block so no tan lines to worry about from all those stacked bracelets, plus who needs an excuse for a fun sun hat? Peruse the goods my self tanned friends-there's something for everyone here..

Items in this set:
Monaco Bling Flat Leather Sandals, 30 GBP
Monsoon Accessorize - Leather Flip Flops, 30 GBP
Gold Faux Leather Beaded T-strap Flat Sandal clipped by salvsnena, $19
Braided Gladiator Sandal, $16
Sea Bags Anchor Beach Bag, $305

Swimsuits + you= Happy

No, really.  This is the year. You WILL enjoy a swimsuit. Why not? I've made every imaginable bathing suit mistake for you.  I have done the work for you. And here is the knowledge I have gained:

-First off, take a long, cold look at your swimsuits.  Unless you painstakingly hand wash, and line dry your suits, anything older than a year or two most likely needs replacing. You really don't want a baggy swimsuit that's lost all signs of lycra.  Unless you're a man.  Men. You definitely want a baggy swimsuit. Please.

 

-While black is certainly slimming when it comes to clothing, let's close our eyes and picture a black swimsuit against a very pale, slightly chubby body.  Black against pale, white skin=paler, whiter skin. Paler, whiter skin=adds 5lbs (I made that last part up, but I think you catch my drift). This year, aim for color.  Turquoise, hot pink, bright orange, nautical navy.  

Victorias Secret

The first bathing suit is $29.00 total.  Two words.  A. Dorable. I love the 2nd suit because the top can function as a top with a long skirt for an apres beach cocktail, or a swing by the convenience store for milk on the way home.  Suit #3..I've got a little secret-white looks fabulous with a Mystic tan.  Your secret's safe with me;) And that ruching (the wrinkle-y stuff that looks like..wrinkles) around the belly..HIDES the extra you know what..again..secret's safe with me.  

-Don't think the bigger the bottom, the smaller the your fanny looks.  In fact, quite the opposite.  Plop a skirt on and it's like a giant billboard advertising "Hello! Guess what's under here!".  

-Bathing suits run small-I know it hurts to buy a larger size, but trust me, it hurts me more to see a fellow mama sporting muffin top in a bathing suit.  Size is just a number. 

-Face the facts, we're not what we used to be..call in support if you have to.  Under wire, Miracle Bras, Bikini Buddies.  It's ok. You'll be glad you did. 

-And yes, I agree with Kim that investing in a good suit is key. However I am at a pool or beach every day in the summer.  Wearing the same suit everyday is not an option. So I leave you with some bargains I found on line:

  

Not a piece over twenty dollars.  You can go here to find them. Yes. i was just as surprised. 

Summer prep (cue in Jaws theme music)

Hard to believe but here in the Northeast it could be a mere 3 more months before we see the sun. 

So maybe that's a little sarcastic but in all honesty the truth is you have two choices.  Get caught like a deer in headlights on that first sunny, 80 degree beach day, or gently ease into summer starting now.  I like to take an organized approach, and think ahead.  Some things to start thinking about:

-Bikini waxing and/or hair removal. Not fun. Must be done. Repeat after me..Must.Be.Done.

-Exfoliation. Oh winter dryness, you have not been kind.  

-Selftanning.   I do not sun tan.  At all. Period. 

There are no words.

However, I am a huge fan of the Mystic tan.  A well bronzed friend introduced me to this genius invention and I've been a huge fan ever since.  Let's face it, stretch marks/cellulite/5 extra lbs. look a gazillion times better tan.  Skin cancer never makes anything look better so please stick to a bottle or a spray.  hint:Start self tanning now.  Don't beleive me? Think it's easier to hide mistakes/streaky legs in a swimsuit or under pants? Not that I'd know.

-Pedicures.  Here in Boston there's always a surprise 80 degree day in April where everyone whips off their Uggs + SURPRISE! no one's been tending to their toes..It's a sad day.  

-Bathing suits! The fun part.  No, really.  It's not pretty, all the time, but once you get the right fit and color, you CAN and WILL feel good.  (PLEASE read Kim's post about embracing your curves!)

-A rockin pair of sunglasses.  Go large and in charge.  Who wears makeup to the beach and/or pool especially if you're schelpping 3 kids, and 47 lbs of kid beach gear.  

-the part no one wants to hear..stop picking from your children's plates.  cut back on the wine.  walk more. trade that latte for water. do not keep m and m's in your house under any circumstances.  they are NOT for the children no matter what you tell yourself.  eat lots of vegetables. then eat more.   and on the first day of summer when you are rocking the big glasses, fake tan, well fit bathing suit, and svelte bod, you can toast your friends at 3 haute mamas for your beach prep boot camp! 

cheers mamas!

Kate

Kate is right on Haute Mamas!! It is time once again!! 

However, If you are a Haute Mama in our hometown of Mattapoisett we have just hit a temporary detour to Swimsuit Bootcamp. A much anticipated Chinese Food Restaurant just opened up...... DAMN YOU!!!! YING DYNASTY!!! Okay, I will make one stop and order all my favorites and then..... I will drop... give myself 20 and then move on!!!  hahaha!!!

I wanted to touch on swimsuits once again. If you have read my blog before you now know my size swimsuit and have learned that I am curvy!! What I have learned through the years is that it helps a lot to invest in a really good swimsuit. Big names like Gottex, Anne Cole, La Blanca to name a few... they are sold in department stores and I always have good luck finding these names at TJMAX and Marshall's.  They use the best fabric and they fit you like a glove. No saggy bum's or saggy boobs!!! YUK!!!! I know I feel a bit more confident when I am in a well made swimsuit. If well cared for you can also get a few summers out of them as well!! 

Below is the Mystic One Shoulder by Gottex. Very flattering on a lot of bodies!!! 

Pair your swimsuit with a great coverup, Loreal Sublime Glow Self Tanner, shades and BOOM BOOM POW!!!! You are one Haute Mama!!!! One great tip to take a quick inch or so off your waist  always remember good posture!! 

 I have to admit Kate..... I still apply the makeup for the beach with all bazillion of my kids!!! Always and Forever!!! :-) Life is short!! GLAM it up!!!!!!! So remember this.... when you are well put together and ready for the warm weather no one will notice any of your flaws they will be impressed by your sense of style!!! You can breathe that collective sigh of relief and smile!!!! 

XOXO Kimberly

Haute Mamas Check this out!!!

Sephora Sun Safety Kit ($95 Value)

This set contains:
- 0.14 oz Murad Essential-C Eye Cream SPF 15
- 0.23 oz DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew UV Moisturizer SPF 15
- 0.10 oz Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 in Lemon and Chamomile
- 0.25 oz Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Lotion SPF 30
- 0.16 oz Kate Somerville Protect SPF 55 Serum Sunscreen
- 0.27 oz Clarins Delectable Self Tanning Mousse SPF 15
- 0.16 oz Cover FX BritePrep FX Brightening Foundation Primer & Photo-Aging Defense SPF 50
- 0.34 oz Bliss Best of Skintentions Daily Moisturizer SPF 15
- 0.23 oz Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 60 PA+++
- 0.25 oz Ole Henriksen Herbal Day Cream SPF 15 
- 0.25 oz Smashbox Photo Finish UVA/UVB SPF 15
- 0.02 oz Bare Escentuals BareMinerals Multi-tasking Face SPF 20 in Summer Bisque
- Pink Sephora makeup bag
- 2 x single-use UVSunSense UV monitoring bracelets

American Made Haute Mamas... Embrace Your Curves Old Hollywood Pin Up Style!!

American made Haute Mamas embrace your curves!!! Remember back to the days when Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, Raquel Welch and Christie Brinkley made a man's knees go weak. These woman had healthy bodies and were considered beautiful and sexy!!!

So why do we beat ourselves up over a body image that we will never have. I am 5' 8" tall and a size 8, 10 pant, size 12 blouse, size 12 dress and a 14 swimsuit!!!! UGH!! I could cry at those numbers and never mind the weight... I joke to my friends that at 13 I think I weighed 120 and at 18 years old my thinnest a size 6 I weighed 140 lbs. I remember when I was 20 years old I entered a modeling contest and was picked by Ford in Boston and I remember Candy Ford telling me I needed to lose some weight. She had me thinking I was overweight before I even entered the business. I remember thinking.... hmmmm grandma's pasta or this? I chose sunday dinners with my family!! :-) Today I love to exercise, Spinning is my favorite! It really helps me keep the weight off my waist and thighs not to mention my behind!! I have definitely learned a lot about how my body reacts to food so I know what to eat in moderation. So now I am going to work on body image.. I know I am healthy and I am the size I am meant to be so this year like all those beautiful Hollywood Siren's of yesterday, I am going to stand tall and embrace my beautiful curves!!!


Here are some styles that I wear.... remember I am curvy...

Remember this as well... when venturing out to try on swimsuits a spray tan before helps boost your self image a lot!! Also, I once read that men don't care what size you are they just like to see a girl who is confident with herself. Who is thoughtful of the way she looks in a positive and healthy way. So always remember to make some time to take care of you!!!!!

XO Kimberly

Seen it on Saturday

I see this coverup and somewhere in the background...  Somewhere in the background, this song plays.

 

-Let's see..purchase a fun summer color polish..and they make a donation to the Lung Cancer Foundation of America?  Now that's definitely haute.

-So I have all these random spaghetti dresses, + v-neck tops that are just a little bit "too low" if you catch my drift.  They don't really work with tanks, and there's always the support factor.  Enter:

I had swung by my favorite local boutique to buy a gift card when out of the corner of my eye I spotted this baby.  It almost came to life, lifted itself up off the table + said "buy me", we were such a match.  It works so well under the big swing tanks everyone's wearing now, under a hoodie, under a tank, you name it.  Sure you can sport a strapless bra underneath, but go small.  Runs big.  Super comfy! Like everything Velvet-soffftttt.  You will die.  But come back + thank me first.