How to Care for Your Swimsuit

I've mentioned before that Sister Honey Bunch helped me find a swimsuit this year. Because of this Fight the Frump post I was able to find the perfect suit for me.

Let me say that again. I actually found a swimsuit that I like. On me.

Finding a bathing suit that actually fits all of my criteria is akin to me winning the lottery. Back in the days of my youth, I wasn't so picky. But, then I went and had three kids.

That changes things.

A lot of things, if you get my drift.

I need a swimsuit that makes "The Girls" look like they haven't nursed three babies. I need tummy coverage. I need a suit that affords me freedom of movement, because very often I'm picking up toys, bending over to pick up children, etc. I can't have things riding up and/or falling down. So, this suit is a winner on all accounts. Here it is in all its glory:



Because it is so hard to find a bathing suit that I feel comfortable in, and because bathing suits cost a small fortune, I'd like this one to last forever a few years. So, I did a little research on swimsuit care. Here's the best way to care for your swimsuit and ensure you get the most wear for your buck.

1. Rinse the swimsuit with tap water after swimming and hand wash with a mild detergent in cold or warm water after every wear. (Just rinsing your suit will not remove all the chlorine and/or salt.)


2. After washing, roll the swimsuit in a towel to absorb extra water. Then lay it flat to air dry indoors. Laying your suit out to dry in the sun with discolor and toughen the fabric. Never wring it out or put it in the dryer. Never.

3. Only store your suit when it is completely dry (storing it slightly damp will affect the color).

4. Skip the hot tub. Chemicals and high water temps will do your suit no favors long term.

5. Take care with tanning oils and sunscreens. Some of them can stain. Others can deteriorate the elastic in your swimsuit. To prevent this, be sure to wash your swimsuit in warm water with a mild detergent.

6. You can machine wash your suit on a gentle cycle after every three or four wears. This will help remove a lot more of the chlorine, sand, salt and sweat than can be removed by hand washing. Just be sure to put your swimsuit in a mesh lingerie bag while laundering.

7. Before storing your swimsuit for next season, wash it in a washing machine as outlined above. Residual chlorine and/or salt can deteriorate the suit over time.

8. Try to always place a towel beneath you if you're going to sit on the side of the pool. Rough surfaces can snag, pull or tear the fabric.

9. Consider buying two suits if you're planning on being in the water frequently, as it will take a bathing suit a good day to completely dry and return to it's original shape after washing.

10. I don't really have a tenth tip. It just seemed weird to only have a list with nine. :)

For more Frump Fighting Tips, head on over to Fussy's Place!

How to Choose a Sunscreen

I have a confession to make: I only began applying sunscreen daily within the last couple of years. I have olive skin, which means that I tan without trying. Burning has never been an issue for me. And, for years, I never gave sun damage a second thought.

Until I turned 30 and looked in the mirror.

Ah. There it was. All my hours of sun worship taking up residence on my face in the form of hyper-pigmentation and even a few wrinkles. All that to say, I've been on a bit of a mission to preserve what's left of my skin. Which brings me to the point of this post: not all sunscreens are created equal.

There was a time, not too long ago, when buying a "good" sunscreen meant choosing one with a high SPF number. Well, in recent years there's been a bit of research done. They've determined that while UVB (burning) rays are responsible for sunburn and most non-melanoma skin cancers, it's the UVA (aging) rays that penetrate the skin more deeply, causing the majority of wrinkles and photoaging, as well as the more aggressive skin cancers. (As a side note, tanning beds primarily use UVA rays, another reason to avoid them.) SPF only measures UVB protection. So, if you're buying sunscreen only based on the SPF number, you may not be as protected as you think you are.

What's needed is a broad-spectrum sunscreen. One that blocks out both UVA and UVB rays. Even if the bottle says "broad spectrum" you've got to check the ingredients. (Federal regulations allow sunscreens and daily moisturizers with sun protection to be labeled "broad spectrum" even if they provide only partial UVA protection. They are working on a UVA-rating system that will eventually be implemented). Here's what to look for:

1) an SPF of 15 or higher for UVB protection

2) contains at least one of the following: Mexoryl, Helioplex, avobenzone (aka Parsol 1789), titanium dioxide or zinc oxide

While all the above ingredients block out some degree of UVA rays, the only one that blocks UVB, plus all (meaning long and short wave) UVA rays is zinc oxide. It's the closest thing to a total sunblock available. The good news is that zinc oxide has come a long way in the last few years. The latest formulations use a microfine form, which means you won't look like Casper at the pool. What's more, zinc oxide is non-irritating (there are no known adverse reactions) and it's safe for sensitive skin. (I use it on my kids.) Another added benefit is because it's a physical block (like titanium dioxide), you don't have to wait 20 minutes before going out in the sun. Once it's on, you're protected.

I am still on the lookout for a daily-wear zinc oxide sunscreen. So, what I've been using is a broad spectrum with avobenzone for daily wear. When I hit the pool or know that I'm going to have significant sun exposure that day, I use the zinc oxide lotion that I put on my kids.

Invest in a good sunscreen this summer. Apply it liberally and often. (And be sure to protect your neck and chest, as well as the back of your hands as part of your daily routine, whether you're at the pool or not.) When it comes to sunscreen, the old adage holds true: an ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure.

For more frump fighting tips, head on over to see Karla, who is generously hosting Fight the Frump Fridays while Fussy snuggles her brand new baby!

Shaking Things Up

Sometimes, feeling "frumpy" has as much to do with what's happening on the inside, as what's happening on the outside. I don't know about you, but there are some days when I feel stuck in a rut -- each day seems like a repeat of the day before.

Change diapers.

Clean the kitchen.

Do laundry.

Clean the kitchen.

Run carpool.

Clean the kitchen.

Cook dinner.

Clean the kitchen.

All of those things need to be done. All of that is good.

But it's not everything.

I take my job as a mom very seriously. But while it's a 24/7 kind of job, with no sick days, it doesn't mean that I can't take an occassional "coffee break" to recharge myself.

One of the best ways I've found to "fight the frump" is to shake things up a bit. Try doing something you've never imagined doing before. Pursue an interest that you've always wanted to try. I'm not saying chuck it all and join the circus. I'm just saying, step outside of your normal routine for a moment.

I've just taken up tae kwon do. It's something I've always wanted to do. I went to my first class this week. I felt like a dork. I punched like a girl. But you know what? I'm going back next week. Because it's new. It's a challenge. It's something that seems so out of my comfort zone (maybe even a little risky) that it gets me excited. I'm not dropping everything to become a black belt. I'm just taking one or two hours a week and setting them aside to do something that stretches me.

So, what's it going to be? A writing class? Salsa dancing lessons? Planning a trip you've always wanted to take? We need to take risks. If we don't take them, we don't grow. When we don't grow, we end up feeling stagnant.

We end up feeling...well... frumpy.

So go ahead. Try something new. And let us all know how it turns out.

For more tips on Fighting the Frump, head on over to Fussy's place.

Perfect Summer Skin

Science is not my strong suit.

Chemistry class gave me nightmares. For nearly a year.

Ditto for Physics, only those dreams didn't last quite as long because I dropped the class after a semester.

Really, I'm convinced my poor performance went back to practical application. If classroom experiments had been more applicable -- like, say, which self tanner gives the most natural looking tan -- I would have been all over it. Because, apparently, vanity motivates me like nothing else.

Last weekend, while catching up on all the world and political news celebrity gossip, I ran across this article: The Secret to Perfect Summer Legs.

Curious, I clicked on over. The article interviewed Dermatologist Amy Wechsler who was preaching the benefits of safflower oil. According to Dr. Amy, the solution to dry, ashy skin is as close as Aisle 3 of your local supermarket. You can take the same safflower oil you use for cooking and apply it directly to your skin as a moisturizer.

Now, let me just be clear for a second -- I would consider buying a bridge from just about anyone if they promised me it would a) reduce fine lines and wrinkles or b) improve the way I look at the pool. So, naturally, I hopped over to Publix and picked up a bottle of safflower oil just as soon as I could get there. My dry, ashy legs were depending on it.

And so began the first science experiement I've conducted in about 15 years.

For the past five days or so, I've been making an effort to use the oil both morning and night. I apply it to my legs and arms. The oil is actually a lot thicker than one might imagine, so the application is pretty easy and not too messy. (You do want to be sure you apply the oil when you're not in a rush, as it does take a little while for it to be absorbed fully into the skin.) The hardest part of the whole process is getting over the fact that what I'm smearing all over my body comes out of a bottle with a recipe for Vegetable Pasta Primavera on the side. If you can get beyond that, you've crossed the biggest hurdle.

Honestly, the results so far have been very favorable. My skin is soft and feels very moisturized. I purchased 32 ounces for around $6 -- and I've barely made a dent in the bottle. If you look at the comments on the article (there were nearly 800 comments, last time I checked), a lot of people already use safflower oil or olive oil on their skin. Safflower oil has the benefit of being odorless, and some were even suggesting adding essential oil to it for a kind of "make your own" perfume effect.

I'm going to stick with the whole oil thing because it really seems to work and because my glowing white, dry legs need all the help they can get, if only for the sake of the other poor people at the pool. (I may even try it on my daughter, who has stubborn eczema -- has anyone tried that before?)

And by the way, if you're looking for a dinner idea, I just happen to have a great recipe for Vegetable Pasta Primavera.

For more frump-fighting ideas, head on over to Fussy's place.

Favorite Drug Store Beauty Finds

It's Friday and time to once again Fight the Frump! After you read this post, don't forget to check out Fussy's place for more great tips!

I don't think I've mentioned it before, but I live in the country.

I'm defining "country" here as being over an hour away from the nearest Target, Starbucks, Panera and shopping mall. When a "country girl," like myself, is looking to steal away for a few quiet moments without kids in tow alone, there aren't too many places to hide out go.

All that to say, I spend a good chunk of my free time aimlessly wandering the aisles of CVS, searching for my sanity fun products to try out. Did you know there are a wealth of fantabulous frump fighters stocking the shelves of your local drug store? Here are a few of my favorite finds as of late:

Covergirl lashBlast Mascara:

I've written about this mascara in detail over here. For this post, I'll give you the cliff notes version: I used to buy expensive department store mascara (a.k.a. Lancome), but finally found a drug store brand that's a third of the price, doesn't clump, isn't sticky and looks incredibly natural. I love it more and more each day. You need to buy some. Today.

Sunsilk Shampoo, Conditioner and Styling Product:

I've been using Sunsilk's Daring Volume for a few weeks now, and I've been pretty impressed with the way it manages to volumize my fine, stick straight strands (no small feat, I assure you). I will say, however, there is a significant difference if I use just the shampoo and conditioner and forget the styling product. The styling product is key -- it adds a ton more volume than if I go without it. So, if you're looking to try the Sunsilk line, I would recommend using the shampoo, conditioner AND styling product. There are five varieties available to suit a wide range of hair types (including curly, wavy, straight, fine and chemical treated). You can actually request a free sample here.

Clean and Clear In-Shower Facial:

I first read about Clean and Clear In-Shower Facial at A Mom in Red High Heels, a great beauty and fashion blog (thanks, Jo-Lynne!). The In-Shower Facial is a mask you apply in the shower. The steam from the hot water activates the ingredients to help deeply cleanse your pores. The best part: it only stays on for one minute. Yep. Just one minute. Before rinsing it off, you gently massage it into the skin. Exfoliating beads help to slough away dull skin and extract impurities. I love the way the mask feels on my skin -- it's tingly and refreshing and leaves my face feeling really soft. When I'm out of the shower, I just finish off with some moisturizer. I feel like I really pampered my skin and it took no time at all. The bottle says to only use it three times a week, max. I love it so much, I wish I could use it every day.

Those are my favorite drug store beauty finds. What are yours?

What to Wear on an Airplane

My parents are leaving next Thursday on a two-week European vacation. My mom has been very busy of late, running around doing all the things you do before a trip like that, including purchasing some new clothing for occassion. I was on the phone with her yesterday and we were discussing her recent purchases. The conversation went something like this:

"I got this great raincoat for 75% off. And, I also picked up a black sweat suit for the flight."
"I'm sorry, you picked up a what for the flight?"
"A black sweat suit."
"You're not really going to wear that on the plane, are you?"
"Michelle, it's a 10-hour flight."

Now, I love my mom. She has excellent taste, but I've got to take this opportunity to espouse my opinion on travel attire. If you board a plane in anything vaugely resembling pajamas, you have crossed the line, my friend. Sweat suits (even the ones especially the ones with "juicy" emblazoned across the bottom) are never appropriate in-flight attire.

Now, lest you go thinking that comfort is not a priority for me, there are plenty of comfortable travel options that will have you looking well-rested and put together upon landing. Not to mention the fact that you stand a much better chance of being upgraded to first class when you wear something a little more polished versus something that looks like you just rolled out of bed.

If you are fortunate enough to have an upcoming trip planned, here's what I would suggest:

* Consider fabrics that have a little stretch in them. The "stretch" is for comfort, while also ensuring you don't look like a wrinkled mess when you arrive wherever you're going. Trouser jeans in a dark wash with a hint of lycra would be perfect here. These are from J. Crew:



* Think layers -- Airplanes are notorious for wide temperature shifts. Start with a comfortable basic tee. Target always has some great options, like this:

* Top the t-shirt with a bright-colored cardigan. The cardigan is a great layer because it's lightweight. You can easily stash it in your carry-on bag if you don't need it or even use it as a pillow in a pinch. Here's another Target option:

* Wear flat, comfortable slip-on shoes. Note that I did not say flip-flops. Flip flops are not going to do you any favors in an emergency situation. And, if you have my luck, your gate will always be the one furthest from baggage claim. That usually means you're in for a bit of a hike.

* If you're looking to invest in a new wardrobe piece for your trip, consider investing in an a pashmina. You don't have to go super expensive, but for about $60, you'll have a quality piece that will work as a scarf, a shawl, or a blanket (do you really want to use the airline issued blankets, anyway?) If you have kids, you can get something similar in a more washable fabric.

* Depending on the weather when you land, you'll want to bring a coat. A short trench like this one would also be a good investment that you could wear regularly, even after you return home.

* Finally, carry all your in-flight essentials in a great bag. Here's another winner from Tar-jay. You gotta love that store.

There you have it. Those are my tips for stylish travel. Now go ask for that upgrade.

For more Fight the Frump tips, head on over to Fussy's place!

Tackling the Hidden Frump

Have you ever noticed how we spend a good chunk of time dressing for people we don't know that well or don't see regularly? Maybe it's just me, but (for the most part) when I go to the grocery store, I try to look relatively put together. When I go to Bible study, I make sure I put on a little makeup, wear a nice outfit, whatever.

But today, I'm going to talk about the frump we expose our dearest loved ones to every day. Your spouse. Your kids. Your good friend who picks up your child for school every morning. Your cat. You might call it the "hidden" frump -- our pajamas and loungewear.

I hear the groans. I know what you're thinking. I am not proposing that we need to get all spiffed up just to kick around the house. I am not proposing that you don some uncomfortable evening wear just for the sake of looking good. But what do your pajamas look like? Do they flatter you? We spend all this time wondering if our daily clothes "work" for us and then don't give a second thought to the clothing the most imporant people in our life see us in every day.

Now, here's a confession. I have not been wearing flattering pajamas as of late. My excuse has been that it's chilly in the morning and I just want to be warm. I have been wearing a velour lounge suit that was bought for my grandmother. Oh, yes. You read that right. For those of you wondering, I'm 33.

Fortunately, Mother's Day is just around the corner. Every Mother's Day my sister and I exchange gifts and it's always the same each year -- a new pair of stylish p.j.s. (Somehow, I fell off the wagon with last year's stylish selection and switched to the velour number. But look out, ladies -- I'm turning over a new leaf!). I'm convinced that it is possible to be comfortable and still wear something that would make my huband think, "Wow, look at the beautiful woman I married." Even at 7 a.m.

There are a lot of pajama sets on sale at the moment. I did a little browsing and look what I found...

This set would be great for my sister:

I love this one:

Look at this pair:

And another option:

Frump Fighters, it's time for a pajama upgrade. Consider it a gift to the people you love.

For more frump-fighting tips, head on over to Fussy's place.

Baring My Sole...

After I hit a certain age, I began noticing that my feet were not staying as soft and supple as they had been in the halcyon days of my youth. I remember looking down toward my toes one morning and thinking, "When did that happen?" The skin was dry. My heels were cracked. My feet looked old.

So, I did what I'm assuming most people do -- I went on with my life. I mean, I have kids. I don't have time for weekly pedicures and -- if I'm going to spend the money for a pedicure it will be at the height of summer when everyone else can enjoy it too, thankyouverymuch.

A few weeks ago, however, my husband said, "Wow. Your feet are really dry." This is when I knew the foot situation was serious. My husband never notices things like that, so clearly, I had a problem. I started digging under my bathroom sink and pulled out an unopened jar of Bath and Body Works Heel of Approval lotion that had been given to me a year ago as a hint gift. I began slathering it on my feet every night before bed and then putting on a pair of cotton socks while I slept. After doing that for a couple weeks, I began to see results. The cracked, dry heels were gone. My feet felt softer. They looked great.

Now, if you're planning on giving this "Fight the Frump" tip a try, you don't need to use the particular brand I did. But, you do need to use a lotion that has an alpha hydroxy acid in it, such as lactic acid or glycolic acid, which will really help get rid of the dry skin.

Once your feet are back to looking fabulous, go ahead and paint your toenails a crazy new color. I always go for a pale pink, but while cruising the aisles of CVS the other night, I stumbled upon this:

That's Wet n' Wild "Deep Wine" -- and a flying leap out of my comfort zone. But I bought it, went home and painted my toenails. And I must say, the results have me feeling decidedly un-frumpy -- even a little sassy -- these days.

For more Fight the Frump Tips, head on over to Fussy's place!

The hardest working piece in my wardrobe

I'm a terribly scattered person. Between managing a home, changing diapers, running carpool, organizing playdates and figuring out what to make for dinner, I can look like I was run over by a Mack truck at the end of the day. However, I have found that getting dressed in the morning makes all the difference, and here's the one piece that will help you look like you've got it all under control: a denim pencil skirt. I promise, it will change your life.

Stay with me here.

A denim skirt is comfortable to wear, especially as the temperatures get warmer. It can take you from school to the park and home again. It's classic, doesn't wrinkle and, if you choose a nice dark wash, it does a pretty good job hiding stains.

Let's talk about length for a second. Because length is key.

Option #1:

Don't do this to yourself unless you're 18, not my daughter and have great legs. I have three people that call me "Mommy" at home, so for me, this ship has sailed. A long time ago.

Option #2:

This is too long, hits at the widest part of your calves and makes you look heavier than you really are. 'Nough said.

Option #3:

Hits right around the knee, sits just below the waist, perfect all the way around. It takes no more effort (in fact it's easier) to throw this on instead of a pair of capris or sweats. I add a t-shirt, a lightweight cardigan and a pair of ballet flats. I'm dressed in five minutes and, though the reality is usually very different, I end up looking like I have my act somewhat together.

And friends, when you're fighting the frump, looking the part is half the battle.

For more frump-fighting ideas, head on over to Fussy's place!