I am a *bit* of a makeup junkie.  Which is a good thing to be when you're going to be a Frump Fighter!  One product I cannot live without, that makes EVERYONE look less frumpy, is a good MASCARA!  You gotta love your lashes, ladies.  And if yours, like mine, are stubbly and less-than-dramatic, you need a good mascara and possibly a good eyelash curler!

I just got this heated eyelash curler from Sephora, and it is rockin' my world, girls.  It takes like 2.2 seconds to get my lashes all nice & curly!

Then, I finish off with the Best Mascara Ever, also known as Mary Kay's Ultimate Mascara.

Using these tools to make your eyes look bigger really opens up your whole face, helps you look less tired, and says, "I eat frump for breakfast!"

So love your lashes!

Now it's your turn!  Tell us how YOU fight the frump!  Link up your fashion and beauty posts from this week, and link back to this post.  Mr. Linky (and the world) is waiting – link up!

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Photo Credit

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Happy Friday, my lovelies!  It's almost Christmas, and as my holiday gift to you, I am going to give you a fabulous piece of holiday fashion advice: DO NOT WEAR A HOLIDAY-THEMED SWEATER!

"Christmas Sweaters" (or Thanksgiving,  Halloween, Valentine's Day, ETC. sweaters) SCREAM "frumpy" like nothing else. So don't do it.  Unless, that is you are:

1) A small dog

2) A small child

3) Going to an Ugly Christmas Sweater party

Then, and only then may you wear a holiday sweater!  But only if you purchase it at a thrift store! No spending lots of money on Christmas sweaters!!

If you DO want to add a little festivity to your holiday wardrobe, choose a sweater with lovely rhinestone buttons or crystal detail – or even better – a scarf with silvery threads in it. Those things say "holiday" and "style" at the same time!

Now it's your turn!  Tell us how YOU fight the frump!  Link up your fashion and beauty posts from this week, and link back to this post.  Mr. Linky (and the world) is waiting – link up!

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Photo: Paperladyinvites on Flickr

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Ok, ladies, I need to confront you about something serious.  Because I have been seeing you in the grocery store and the mall playplace and even for goodness' sake at CHURCH, and some of you are wearing very. ugly. shoes. And from this moment on, you cannot claim ignorance, because I am telling you that one of the Sacred Commandments of Frump-Fighting is Thou Shalt Not Wear Ugly Shoes. And in case you were going to try this one next, another Commandment is Thous Shalt Not Wear Thy Slippers Out of the House.

I KNOW your vintage 1994 Birkenstocks are comfortable, girlfriends, but they are UGLY.  And they are not doing much for your appearance!

I have really flat feet, and most "regular" shoes hurt my feet.  But I have found some VERY fashionable, affordable options that are also very cute!  Mainly, Crocs and TOMS.  I always get comments when I wear these babies out:

My cashier at Kroger LOVED them the other day.  And frankly, they added a lot to my jeans-and-sweatshirt.  They let all the people at Kroger know I was a Frump Fighter!

I also get a lot of compliments on these Crocs:

They are the epitome of comfort and style!  A plain black tee, a pair of dark jeans and these shoes make a very chic outfit to run around in all day!

So ladies, now you know.  Throw out your ugly old sandals, your orthopedic-looking Grandma shoes, your Sketchers from 1997, and your comfortable old sneakers.

Get yourself something CUTE that won't hurt your feet, and rock 'em in the kindergarten pick-up line, at the drug store, and on playdates.  You're worth it!

Now it's your turn!  Tell us how YOU fight the frump!  Link up your fashion and beauty posts from this week, and link back to this post.  Mr. Linky (and the world) is waiting – link up!

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Birkenstocks Photo by Kables on Flickr

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Ladies, I am here to put an end to the question men and women have been asking for years: does size matter?  NO!  Size doesn't matter!  At least when it comes to your clothes, that is.  In that case, it's FIT that matters. Not the number on the tag in your pants.

Recently I was shopping with someone who didn't want to try on a size larger than she normally wears just because she identifies her self-image with the size of her clothes.  But different clothing lines adhere to different sizing charts.  It's just the way it is.  Some designers make you happy because you wear a size 10 in them, some you hate because you wear a size 12 in their line.  Don't let that number get to you!  Try on a couple of sizes, and get the one that fits.  Trust me, nothing looks frumpier than a woman in too-small or too-large clothes – no matter what the quality! You could buy a dress at Ann Taylor that's too big and it'll look like it came from Dollar General.  This is the only kind of person who can get away with baggy, ill-fitting clothing:

And no one, I repeat, NO ONE can get away with clothing that is too small. It is the SUPER-FRUMP!

So, if you're going to the store, try on clothes until you get the right size.  If you're ordering online or from a catalog, measure yourself against that specific retailers sizing chart.

And remember, it's not the number that matters!  It's the way the clothes fit YOUR body!

Now it's your turn!  Tell us how YOU fight the frump!  Link up your fashion and beauty posts from this week, and link back to this post.  Mr. Linky (and the world) is waiting – link up!

_________________

Photo: konsvi on flickr

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Because I am your friend, I will be honest with you.  If you are a chick, and you have birthed a child, you most likely need to get yourself some shapewear. Whether you are a size 8 or 18, you've probably got some jiggle that you don't want putting on jell-o show for everyone when you are wearing your pretty new dress to your cousin's wedding,  your best friend's Christmas party, or that blog conference you've been excited about for months.

You can get it away with "letting it all hang out" if you are pregnant, or if you are this guy:

(Ahh, forgive me! Fat cats are funny!)

I've tried a few different types of shapewear over the past year, and ladies, these things are not your grandma's girdle.  Modern shapewear keeps everything tucked in and smooth and makes it as comfortable as possible. I SWA-AIR!  Last year, prior to BlissDom, when people asked me what I was wearing I always mentioned that I'd be wearing "so much under-armor I'll KLINK when you hug me!"  I need shapwear!  I'm not ashamed!  Shapewear will make you feel much more confident about yourself, and will make your clothes look and feel better. GETCHA SOME.  I'll even lay out some options for you!

I like this bottom by n-finishape, it's really comfy and freezes my jiggle as long as I have it on:

And I LOVE all the options for up-top that Slimpressions offers.  I tried three of them last year and loved them all.  And I know several reputable and very fashionable people who are big fans of Yummie Tummie.  (And may I say, that I *adore* the fact that Yummie Tummie has a nursing tank available! Shapewear for the nursing mama? Yes, please!)  OF course, there's also the original that inspired this decade's shapewear craze, Spanx.  Maidenform Shapeez is also a good one that I've tried, and I hear that Dr. Rey's, sold at Sears, is great also but I've never tried it.

So, what I am saying is, you have lots of options!  Invest in some shapewear!  It will become a beloved wardrobe staple and will go a looooong way in helping Fight the Frump!

Now it's your turn!  Tell us how YOU fight the frump!  Link up your fashion and beauty posts from this week, and link back to this post.  Mr. Linky (and the world) is waiting – link up!

________________________

Photos: threefatcats on flickr, n-finishape

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Happy Friday everyone!  It's the last Friday in October which means I'd be remiss if I didn't mention – your BREASTS!! It's breast cancer awareness month!  So Fight the Frump by doing your self-exams and getting your mammograms if you are over 40 or have a family history! Because let's face it, breast cancer can lead to lots of tragic things, including frumpiness!   (I jest, but I'm serious about the self-exams part!! And the Mammograms!!)

Another important thing you can do for your breasts to Fight the Frump is put those babies in the CORRECT SIZE BRA.  Wearing the wrong size bra can lead to the dreaded "quadri-boob" – two boobs in your bra, and two that don't fit in there poking out the top – OR the dreaded "Boobs at your waist" when your bra is too big and your ta-tas are waaaaay lower than they should be. Neither of these looks are attractive in ANY WAY!  So get the right size bra!

How??? You ask?  I'd say, at least once, go to a nice departments store and let the nice lady that works in Lingerie measure you. She's a professional and will get you the right size!  If you're too skittish to go this route, try the method outlined below in this super-sweet video from Video Jug.

Underwear:
How To Measure Your Bra Size

Ok, now that your breasts are in the right place and lookin' good, tell me how YOU Fight the Frump!  Leave your linky below, all we ask is a link back to this post. Let's go Frump Fighters!  It's time to make the internet a prettier place!

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Bra Photo by DOS82 on Flickr

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It's Friday again!  Time to put on your satin-trimmed boxing gloves and Fight the Frump!  Today's topic: Under-eye circles. Perhaps when some of you roll out of bed in the morning you resemble this:

The picture of femininity and grace! (Ok, this is a dude, but you all know we ladies can look a lot like this after a long night up with the baby!) The puffiness around and the darkness under our eyes is NOT CUTE. Nothing will make you look more tired and run-down, and yes, FRUMPY than big ol' under-eye circles.  I mean, THIS GUY can get away with it, but you and I ladies, CANNOT rock this look:

So, what's a girl to do?  Well, the answer is: PRODUCT!  Lots of companies make  products today that actually DO help relieve puffiness and under-eye circles.  My favorite is this one:

Mary Kay Eye Revitalizer.  It's like a little roller-ball you roll under your eyes (or any on the lids if there's puffiness).  You just gently pat it into your skin and – voila!  Puffiness and circles are greatly reduced.  It has long-term repair benefits also.  I've been using this for two years and I now use approximately 1/4 of the amount of concealer under my eyes that I used to. I used to have to SPACKLE concealer on in layers!  This stuff really works!

Other under-eye circle fighting products I've heard are good but haven't tried are those marketed by Clinique  (All About Eyes) and Patricia Wexler, MD (available at Bath and Body Works).   Whatever product you use – make sure you USE it!  These under-eye circles are not a battle we can fight alone. And we gotsta Fight the Frump!

Ok, ladies, go get your product on!  And now it's your turn!  Link up and tell us how YOU Fight the Frump and stay fabulous! And while you're at it, pick up the code for our beautiful button!

<img title="Fight the frump friday at Blissfully Domestic" src="http://blissfullydomestic.com/wp-content/uploads/Fight-the-frump-friday-at-Blissfully-Domestic-247×300.png" alt="Fight the frump friday at Blissfully Domestic" width="247" height="300" />

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Photos: Photo Munki on Flickr, cj berry 2009 on Flickr

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Well, hello there beautiful ladies!  It's Friday and it's time to Fight the Frump!  This week we'll be a-talking about a sadly neglected feature on many of our faces: eyebrows.  I was an eyebrow FAIL until the ripe old age of 31, when I finally realized that I looked like an orangutan and got the nerve up to get those babies waxed.  It changed my life, my look, and my grooming habits forever! Here's what my hairy monkey eyebrows USED to look like:

Yikes! Look at all that HAIR growing on my eyelid! Why didn't somebody TELL ME!?

Here's what my brows look like these days, with an occasional plucking and a once-a-month sugaring (which is like waxing, except not hot, so you don't burn your face off.)

My advice on brows ladies: Get it done by a professional at LEAST the first time, maybe the second, so you get the idea of what your brow should actually look like. Figuring it out for myself just wasn't going to happen!  I needed some guidance.  After a few trips to the salon, I can now sugar my own brows and finish up with a little bit of plucking and they look just great. (The sugar product I use can be found at sugarmesmooth.com) If I'd tried that at the get-go, I probably would have ended up having to draw my eyebrows in with a pencil because I am sure I would have ripped them both off entirely!

So, my advice today: Fight the Frump by taking care of those brows! What's your advice?  Leave a direct link to your post (not your home page) in the Mr. Linky and share your frump-fighting wisdom! And don't forget to link back to this post! Can't wait to read what you all have to share to help us Fight the Frump!  To add our beautiful FTF button, you can use this code:

<img title="Fight the frump friday at Blissfully Domestic" src="http://blissfullydomestic.com/wp-content/uploads/Fight-the-frump-friday-at-Blissfully-Domestic-247×300.png" alt="Fight the frump friday at Blissfully Domestic" width="247" height="300" />

Link up!  Happy Frump Fighting!

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