Free sponsorship for blog makeover

How many things in this world can you get for free? Well, I've been starting to do a little blog makeover, do you like it sweetie? And I reconnected with my need to support all lovely things. On the left hand side of my blog I'd like to advertise your creations and help get the word out, for free.

So free sponsorship does exist?

I have a love for fashion, food, jewelry, photography, dance, travel and handmade vintage.

Email me with your interest sweetie at shhh.under.the.sheets@gmail.com.

I can't wait to learn more about what your creating and adding your blog banners. Shout it from the rooftops...free sponsorship and advertising on Under the Sheets-shhh.

Are work friends real?

It’s your first day at a new job and you have the usual first day jitters. You’re not sure where to put your lunch, where to sit and then you look up to see a new co-worker smiling back at you. It's your first work friend. These work smiles make my work environment something to look forward to. Yes, work is called work for a reason. I know we're hired for our abilities not because we can play well with others. And yet it’s the one co-worker who can’t share their toys with others that seem to make work life a more difficult experience.

When we are in grade school, we bond with the other students in our class so this seems natural in our adult work settings. Once you've learned to give and take, work friendships start developing.

Which reminds me of a great work memory... (Click here to check out some of my fav day at the office pics).

A couple of years ago I was working in a very fast paced, politically savvy and difficult advertising agency. And yet what made me happy was the friendship I created with my adjoining cube mate. My days were a lot happier with her sitting there. And when things got tough with the group I was working with, she was there to help cushion the blow. Within months, our work relationship turned friendly with dinners and chats. And about a year and a half later I stood up for her in her wedding.

But how did this work friendship develop from a work reference to a life long friend? It’s amazing to me how some work friends become casual followers on LinkedIn and you can never have a conversation with them again. Isn't this the way that social media works?

We feel connected without seeing the person again.

What is it about a work environment that makes you feel so closed off? Is it because we sit behind computers and email each other more then we talk? I bumped into a woman in the restroom today and asked how she was even though she sits across from me!

Some of my past co-workers I think of and smile. Some have gotten married, had babies and moved on to other jobs. Work friends exist because we are in the trenches together, but do you think that these friendships can last throughout time? Do you think work friends are real friends?

Red boutique retro design

What is it about the color red that I adore? I always get a rich and warm feeling when I see it in design. I pulled together some lovely red boutique retro design shots for you to enjoy after Valentine's Day. Who said we had to stop celebrating once the holiday is over...

Actress Scarlett Johansson in the Fall-Winter 2007 . 2008 Louis Vuitton campaign

Scarlett Johansson is stunning with that old Hollywood feel. It looks like she doesn't have a care in the world even though her robe is about to fly open.

Photo Credit: NYMag.com
Red & Pink Tuleh, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Oscar de la Renta dresses.

I love the flow and uniqueness of the contrast of the red and pink. Plus all three of these designers used wonderful material that seem to cascade off the body.

This boutique styled hotel is one of my favs. The beautiful aqua blue accented with the red headboards screams individuality. But do you think you would get a headache if you stayed in the room too long?

I so want to be this woman in her pale pink dress holding a red umbrella. Can someone arrange this for me please?

Red vintage Leuven ourse picture courtesy of Cycle Chic.

D von F

While traveling, I always stop and stare at unique doors. What a wonderful accent to a home. Red and blue doors talk to me. Trust me, if our home is all white one day then I promise my front door will be red!

That was fun and I enjoyed our red boutique design pictures. Every day I seem to be coming up with new ideas for my future boutique. I hope you had a wonderful weekend lovelies. Get up to anything fun for Valentine's Day?

Should men wear purses?

Do you think men should wear purses? Last week, I saw the best segment on the Today Show about men wearing purses or sometimes fondly called a 'murse'. I remember the first time one of my favorite guy friends whipped out his designer man clutch before we went out to dinner. He seriously did! And to top it all off his murse went with his laid back outfit. The Today Show showed that all different kinds of men can be these fashionistas; from sports figures to businessmen to stay at home Dad's. And why not? Men also have a ton of items to carry around with them.

It takes a lot to carry iPhones, keys, headphones, wallet and a planner all stuffed into your pant pockets. Trust me you don't even want to know what I have buried in my DKNY purse right now.



And who are these men that are wearing purses? Are they celebrities and socialites? Sure. But isn't it great that men have another option to the standard backpack? Now you can show your fashion flare.

photo courtesy of Louis Vuitton from their 2009 Spring collection

photo courtesy of Louis Vuitton

I am in love with this picture because of the mixture of strength and masculinity with well, let's called a spade a spade, a man purse.

Can you hear the Aerosmith song playing, that Dude looks like a Lady...

Ah that was fun! Thank you my fellow fashionistas for letting me indulge. I enjoyed seeing these awesome design pictures of men with their murses. And for some reason I now can't get the song out of my head, that dud looks like a lady. Which leads to me to ask you...Do you think men should wear purses?

Explain a guy’s fascination with football!

Sunday football is back and I am surrounded by football on every TV in each room. Is football like the E! Channel for women? Why do the (forgive me) monotone announcers try to explain every play? Before you write me off as a woman who will never get the game, I actually do understand. I cheerleaded my way through high school and enjoyed paring our cheers with the game.

I started off my Sunday with Honey watching football on mute. He stayed glued to the T.V. until about 2:00pm screaming when a play didn’t go his way. Honey has also been known to break remote controls as he throws them at the players or at a referee after a bad call. I left Honey to watch his game (and no, I didn’t get him a beer) and called my little brother to check in with him.

I felt like we were having a one sided conversation. I asked him about school, girls, friends and then the usually chatty P gave back one-word answers to my questions. And then it happened - he screamed at the call in the football game. “Oh no,” I thought. “They have my brother too!”

Why do guys seem to go into a football trance? They are in the kind of trance I go into when I’m watching shows like: Dancing with the Stars, Project Runway and anything on the E! Channel (except for the Girls Next Door). The colors, the commercials and the music all draw me in. Can’t I just let Honey enjoy one or two nights of a game that he loves?

It just turns into more.

One game turns into overtime, which leads to fantasy football leagues, and then Sportscenter and Bill Simmons recaps. And then I hear all this random trivia, like how certain players have to wear sweatpants because his legs are so huge, he can’t fit into any other pants etc. I must admit that I can also surprise my football-addicted friends. While we’re watching the game, they leave the room to grab something. I recap the last plays. Well, I have to have some things up my sleeve? Can you explain to me a guy’s fascination with football?

Eye opener: Dove real beauty and parody

This Dove real beauty video was done on a shoestring budget in Toronto. The concept? Show the inner workings of how even the model featured, doesn't look like the finished product on the billboards.

I love this video! To me its a great reminder, to accept ourselves inside and out. Dove and its Campaign for real beauty worldwide shines as a product that is clean, simple and understanding of realistic beauty.

I'm pretty sure I knew this guy in college! Wait wasn't he on our High School water polo team? Water polo you may be asking? Remember I went to High School in Newport Beach, Ca. Do you think this video could be a cautionary tale to men and women everywhere?

Wear white after Labor Day!

Happy Labor day my blogging friends. If you give me your permission, to continue to wear my white flats from Nine West after Labor Day, then I promise to let you wear your favorite white dress at Christmas.

Can you hear the angels singing? Oh I can!

I love this black and white picture? Maybe she's in Brazil or Argentina getting ready to go dancing.


These ballet flats are too cute! Do you think these Marc Jacobs shoes would be comfortable?

A moment of silence please for this fab shoe! Do you ever think twice about wearing white after Labor Day?

Thursday book giveaway!

Today’s book giveaway is for the enlightening book Ask Me About My Divorce: Women Opening Up About Moving On.

I felt a connection to this book through the 28 authors words because of their warmth, senses of humor and truth. Although I haven't been divorced, I can relate to their stories as I walked away from a serious relationship (eight years ago) that I believed would have ended in divorce and decided to move to San Francisco without knowing a soul to spread my wings.

The women of this book all can see the silver lining in their divorce and in life. I hope you win so you read this inspirational book!

Here's how to enter:


1. Become a follower of Under the Sheets-shhh! If you’re a new follower comment below and say hi. Already a follower, thank you sweetie!
2. Leave a comment below and tell me a silver lining that has happened in your life.

Good luck...

Details:


Two winners will receive this fab book
Winners announced on Sunday, September 6th

*Sorry only U.S. winners can win



Interview: Ask Me About My Divorce

After reading the book Ask Me About My Divorce I felt changed. This book is a collection of essays from many different authors who all have a common thread. They got divorced and came out on the other end of despair enlightened and changed.

Out of all of the writers, one stood out for me. Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant has a way with writing that I aspire to have. Her words (from pg.59 titled Marriage Is A Job) jumped off the page in a funny, warm, smart, quick and caring way. She has 16 published books, had her own radio show and teaches comedy classes. I also love her site The accidental comic.

And as a special treat for my blogging friends, I interviewed Leigh Ann about the chapter she wrote for Ask Me About My Divorce. And without further adieu...I give you Leigh Ann.

~

1) Hi Leigh Ann, I'd love to know more about your background

My professional background: I have a degree in political science and a masters degree in public health. For twelve years I ran the wellness program at The University of Texas Houston Health Science Center. Then I accidentally bought a house while on vacation in Oregon and had to move there to live in it. It was fitting because I had accidentally discovered my sense of humor in a comedy writing class when I was 32 (I tell people I wasn't voted class clown in high school, I was voted most likely to depress people). So I moved across country, having no job and a husband with no prospects, and decided I'd give myself a year to make a career out of humor. 15-1/2 years later I'm still plugging away in the same house.

2) What did writing the chapter for this book mean to you?

I believe that writing is a way of opening yourself up so that you can truly understand the lessons you've learned. It brings things from subconscious to conscious. Writing this chapter helped me truly be okay with the fact that being divorced three times did not mean I was a failure at love or relationships. It meant that I'm a hopeful person who believes strongly in love. And because all of my divorces have made me stronger and more capable (and not jaded in the way many women get), I do see the process as growth and evolution.

3) Can you elaborate on embracing fear and trying to take each day at a time?

I always say you can either lie face down weeping into the carpet, or you can choose to see the brighter, lighter side. Life is full of things we can be afraid of. And so many people choose to live in that fear. I'm not just talking about the fear of the unknown that arises when a relationship falls apart, but every day fears -- will I have enough money to pay the rent? will the kids grow up to be juvenile delinquents? will the next person I meet also treat me badly? will this all matter or will global warming cause the oceans to rise so fast everything gets washed away?

4) In your chapter my break down of your point: "I've learned a lot from my jobs and marriages and it can all be summed up as this: Life goes on." is I believe, all women should be told that no matter what happens in life and what choices you've made everything is going to be fine. It might be different then you had hoped, but you'll be fine as you grow. Your thoughts to my thoughts?

I'd tweak that just a little. "Everything is going to be fine if you decide to make it that way." People can choose to spend their lives wallowing in guilt and sadness or living with anger and resentment. Or they can choose to say, everything happens for a reason, I will find the reason, use it to become a better person, learn from my mistakes (really, it's the only part of life we do learn from), and live a better life because of this.

~Interested in reading this book? Come back on Thursday for the Under the Sheets-Shhh book giveaway. Let me know what you think of Leigh Ann's chapter

Mad Men reviews: Call me Don Draper!

How would I get ready for a date with THE Don Draper? I would set my hair, press my pencil skirt and get my cigarette case ready for a night out on the town. And you may be wondering why does Don Draper make me feel weak in the knees? Well because he’s masculine, always dressed to the nines and a bad boy that seems to have a heart of gold.

“Mad Men” is the kind of T.V. show I was waiting for. It’s the kind of show that once you’re invested into the characters lives, then you’re hooked for the entire season. Believe me when I tell you, the ‘boys club’ feel at their Madison Avenue ad agency is something that still exists in today’s world.

“Mad Men” captures the early 1960’s era with office sets in muted colors, drinks offered at 10 in the morning and pregnant women smoking throughout their pregnancy. The actors have a charm and sophistication well beyond their years. And yet everyone seems so sad and holding back how they truly feel.

It took me several episodes before I was hooked on this show. “Mad Men” episodes have those 'I’ve dropped my mouth and can’t seem to find it anywhere' moments. (I also could have felt connected because I worked for a 600 people advertising agency).

The “Mad Men” wardrobe and set designers should be proud of themselves. These period scenes can simply be created because of their clothes, before a character even says one word. In the new episode last night, the bar scene was staged and dressed so perfectly that I wished I could set my hair like those women, put on a pointy bra and wear my cats eye reading glasses.

(Photo taken of a New York subway)

Recently I read that this season of “Mad Men” will be about shaking up the lives of the characters. Marriages change, companies are bought, promotions are given and then taken away and more affairs will be had. I’m so excited to see what the characters will do next. So, tell me are you hooked on watching Mad Men? Not yet? Can I help change your mind if I tell you I have an in with Mr. Draper…

What's new in my makeup bag today?

Yes to tomatoes moisturizer has saved my face during the hot summer months. I also love the $15.99 price tag.




Kitten Stila eyeshadow works on most skin types. Especially if you like the shimmery look.

To get the best results, try using a couple of drops of Vive pro after you've dried your hair. I find if I use too much, my hair gets weighed down.

shu uemura has to be the best eyelash curler I've ever tried. What's the trick to perfectly curled eyelashes? Well, first lightly heat up your curler with a hairdryer, then curl your lashes and add your mascara last. Click here for my favorite mascara...

Revlon beyond natural in nude (04) has an SPF of 15 and lasts for hours. *Hint: To make your lipstick last longer, try adding some powder to your lips beforehand.

Hanae Mori is one of my favorite perfumes. You're bound to get a rave review for its light vanilla scent.

Laura Mercier kir royal sateen eye colour is lovely when paired with the kitten Stila eyeshadow.

For the sun-kissed look, try shimmer waves (compact on the left) from The Body Shop. I love this on my cheeks, but it can also be used as an eyeshadow.

MAC is a great bronzer to use. I use the bronzer sparingly and my MAC shade is refined golden. Comment below and tell me what product do you use to look sun-kissed? Under the Sheets-Shhhh...what's new in your makeup bag?