Mother of the Bride Dresses That Your Mom Can Actually Wear After the Wedding
By Jason B Dixon

At a wedding, all eyes should be on the bride. After all, it’s her day. But just because the bride does not want to be upstaged, does not mean the mother of the bride should be out of fashion. Today, mothers of the bride are no longer willing to blend in with the wallpaper. They put in as much time as the bride to find the right look. Frump is out and style is in. They wear dresses that are well-tailored and age appropriate. Their shoes, bags, jewelry, and other accessories are expertly coordinated with their dresses. As they should, since wedding pictures are forever. Today, mothers of the bride are more than just mothers, they are style icons. They want dresses that perform in more than one function. Today, mothers of the bride want dresses they can actually wear after the wedding. Today, mothers of the bride can find all this, and more.

To get the perfect dress, mothers of the bride should follow five rules when picking out dresses for before, during, and after, the wedding:

Choose an outfit that respects the wedding color(s), however remember colors come in all palettes and hues. Bold does not always mean loud.
Simple is timeless. Following the latest fashion or runway trend limits the time and wearability of an outfit.
Tailored outfits for your body type will flatter your figure. Off the rack is fine, just remember to nip and tuck.
Accessorizing with lightweight outerwear not only is figure slimming, it takes an outfit from morning to night.
Let your accessories bring the detail. Busy dresses are generally bad decisions.

By body type, here are some Mother of the bride dresses that rule during and after the wedding.

Small top, Wide bottom or Big top, Small bottom

A small top, wide bottom woman has a small to average bust, a slender waist, and full thighs and hips. To create a sense of balance with your body, wear two tone dresses with bright tops and darker bottoms. A-line skirts are slimming. Consider blousy and off the shoulder necklines which give depth. Adding matching or coordinated outerwear to the dress also brings balance. Here are styles that bring style to women with small tops, and wide bottoms.

Two two-toned dresses are flattering as well as functional. Choosing a dress with a white portrait collar or white strip of fabric outlining the neckline, as well as one with an embellished cinched waist bands, take emphasis away from the bottom.

If the mother of the bride is big on the top, but has a small bottom, do the reverse – bold colors on the bottom, with darker, muted colors on the top.

For either body type, a stunning Jacquard and sleeveless Shantung are attractive. Their embellished top dress can be worn alone or with its matching Jacquard jacket. The three-quarter jacket sleeves complement small or heavy set arms.

Tall and Slender

Tall and slender mothers of the bride have small busts, narrow waists and hips, and long lean arms. Choose light and soft colors, as well as pleats and full skirts, to round out your frame. If you add outerwear, choose one with large colors and cuffs.

Flattering styles include soft colors, like lilac. Hammered tiered round neck dresses, one-shoulder tiered long dresses with matching cover ups, and angled tier, empire style, cap sleeve dresses slim and bring attention to all the right places.

Full-figured

Round figured Mothers of the Bride have full busts, round midsections, and heavy arms. To bring balance buy dresses that create a line that gives height. If you’re petite or tall steer away from long flowy dresses. Knee length dresses are the most flattering. Combining a dress and outer coat of the same length, as with a Shantung coat and dress, or a two piece suit of the same color, as with this metallic brocade two piece, will also give a smooth line.

Curvy Body

Petite or tall, curvy mothers of the bride can wear almost anything because their bust, waist, and legs are in proportion. Fitted dresses are the most becoming. V and scoop necks show off the bust-line. Don’t hide your curves behind ill, loose fitting dresses, or blousy necklines.

This halter top, buckled waistline dress comes with a matching cover that can be worn over both or one shoulder. After the wedding, shorten the dress to just above the knee to create a flowing sophisticated dress wearable for many occasions.

Jacquard and Shantung broach detailed dresses with a three-quarter sleeved bolero or a two-piece black bolero and ruffled tank dress, can be worn with the bolero at the wedding, and without when the Mother of the bride needs more freedom.

Weddings are auspicious occasions. Today, mothers of the bride have a vast selection of dresses and ensembles that are stylish and fashionable. Selecting a well-tailored and ageless designed dress that complements your body type, mothers of the bride dresses can be worn after the wedding to all types of special occasions.

Jason Dixon is a freelance writer who writes about weddings and specific products such as mother of the bride dresses.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_B_Dixon

Moms Aren’t Exempt From Fashion
By Scotty Henderson

Often guilty of fashion neglect, many moms take casual to the extreme. Stay at home moms often wear the uniform of a ponytail, sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt, and no makeup. Stay at home moms are undoubtedly busy and stressed. Even if they were quite fashionable before, many moms tend to forget fashion in favor of convenience and comfort. Stress, lack of funds, lack of time are all common excuses for failing fashion, but none of those excuses should get you off the hook. Dressing casual can still be fashionable, and when you look good, you feel good. Moms could gain a lot of confidence and energy if they made it a habit of trying to look good. Even if you don’t care about looking good for anyone else, looking good for yourself is actually good for your health.

Chasing after kids, cooking, running errands, carpool, and housework are daily tasks of the stay at home mom. It’s easy to get into the habit of just throwing on something that can you don’t mind getting dirty. When you’re doing housework or gardening, that makes sense, but the rest of the time, running around the time with baby food on your shirt is not acceptable. You don’t have to spend hours getting ready to go to the grocery store, but if you take a few minutes to make yourself presentable, you will have more energy, and your shopping trip will be more enjoyable. A few simple things you can do each day will make a big difference in your outlook on your look. Start with exercise. It doesn’t seem like that has much to do with fashion, but wearing baggy clothes to hide your extra pounds makes you look frumpy and tired. Take extra steps any time you can to get a little exercise. Look for clothing that is easy to maintain, like jeans and cute custom t-shirts that flatter your figure. Rather than getting up and donning sweatpants, dress for the day right away. It won’t take any longer than your normal morning routine.

Hair and a touch of makeup can go a long way to making you feel great too. If you just don’t have time to do anything with your hair, maybe you need to consider a more low maintenance style. Something that you can just brush and go will make you feel more presentable every day. If you really don’t have time for full makeup, analyze the biggest challenges on your face and address those. If your skin needs a little help, make concealer and foundation a priority, even if you do nothing else. If your lashes are wimpy, mascara only takes a few seconds. A lash curler alone can make a big difference in your appearance instantly. Throughout the day and before you leave the house, do a quick check and touch up. Even when you aren’t going anywhere, a little maintenance will have you prepared for any unexpected visitors.

Making time for your appearance as a mom may not have ever been a priority for you, but the confidence a good look gives you will make a huge difference in how you feel, and in your mood. Moms neglect themselves too often by not making time for themselves. Consider it a treat for yourself that you can do every day. Even though you’ve already got him, your husband or boyfriend will still be pleased with the prettiness he saw when he met you. Your family will love your happier demeanor, and your increased energy.

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Best Eyewear Designs For Mom
By Paula Preston

Wearing trendy eyewear can do more than just improve your attire and eyesight. Whether you are a fashion-forward woman or not, there is definitely no reason why you should shy away from a Mother’s day eyewear shopping spree today.

If you are a busy mom who deals with tons of paperwork daily, stress could get the best of you and too much of it could contribute to premature aging. However, if you know how to match clothes and eyewear accessories with colors that tend to make a woman look younger than her real age, dealing with the natural processes of aging could be the last of your worries. As a woman grows older, her eyesight could deteriorate and the need for proper correctional glasses could come into light. The good thing is, an optometrist can attend to this need easily; but more often than not, your prescription could result to a pair of grandmother glasses.

If grandmother-chic is not your style, there is an effective way to counter the downside of wearing eyeglasses and that is by wearing eyeglasses that tend to deduct years from your face. Light colored rims, for one, could make you look like a sophisticated young adult than a mom with paperwork to finish. The most important thing to keep in mind before purchasing eyeglasses is to know the shape of your face. Your eyewear should not be an obstruction but an accessory that can enhance your facial features. There are five common face shapes which you need to be familiar with: the round face, oval, oblong, diamond, and square.

After selecting the right eyeglasses that compliment your facial features, it is time to consider the color of your eyewear. Although bright, popping colors can attract attention, they don’t always go well with formal clothing and they tend to tear the attention away from your clothes. First, you need to know if your skin tone falls under the warm color category or the cool color category. To identify which is which, you have to do is identify your skin undertone color. For those with pink and blue undertones, you fall under the warm color category while those who have creamy or peach skin undertones belong to the cool color category.

Aside from your skin tone, it is also important to consider your eye color. Eye colors that fall under the warm category are: blue, gray, and ash, while those that belong to the cool category are: brown, light chestnut, dark brown, and black.

Everything else becomes easier after you have identified your face shape, skin and eye color. You should pick your eyewear depending on the shape of your face, and decide on the frame design and color using your skin and eye color as basis. Find colors that tend to compliment your skin and eyes, and not go against their colors. More importantly, choose designs that are right for your attire. Don’t pair formal looking frames with funky, outdoor clothing, or overly designed eyewear with formal clothes.

Let these eyewear fashion tips help you pick the best, trendy eyewear gift for yourself or your mom on Mother’s Day as well as for any other occasion. This special celebration comes only once a year-better make the most out of it!

It is possible to dress like Hollywood celebrities but shell out lesser than they do. Finding trendy eyewear for your attire is only a click away. Browse through affordable designs from http://PoshEyewear.com and take your pick from tons of designs that are not only affordable, but stylish and durable as well.

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Lessons From a Soccer Mom
By Nicole Wardell and Gordon Kay

As a mother of a young, energetic five-year-old son, I found myself looking for something he could do to use up his energetic enthusiasm. Like most parents I turned to sports to see if that might be a good match for my son. I found that AYSO was holding registration for fall/spring soccer in my city. I found myself somewhat nervous over the prospect of signing him up. I’ve seen the stories in the news where some overly fanatical parent gets arrested at a recreation league sporting event for assaulting another parent, referee, coach or child. I worried that my son might end up with a coach who approached the sport with a military drill sergeant enthusiasm, taking the joy right out of it for his players. I was also concerned that if and when my son lost games, missed goals, or messed up in some way; it might hurt his self-esteem along with his feelings. Regardless of all the worries, he was excited at the prospect of playing and I was determined not to let my anxieties get in the way of his childhood. We are now in our second season of recreation league soccer and have found the experience much more than we hoped for. In fact I have found a handful of lessons that I was able to teach my son about not only soccer and team sports but about life in general.

1. Having fun is what sports are all about. Last fall we joined the ranks of thousands of soccer parents. We got up early and filled our son with a nutritious breakfast. We dressed him in his royal blue and black uniform, complete with soccer cleats, shin guards and socks, and headed off for the 9:00 AM game. We found the soccer fields which were teeming with soccer players, coaches, parents, and onlookers. We found our son’s field and set up our camping chairs on the sideline. Watching the 4 person team of four and five-year-olds was a fun experience. Some of the little players had been kicking soccer balls around since they could walk while others, like my son, had never seen a soccer ball before the first practice a few days earlier. Some were quick with the ball and had excellent reflexes. Others were aggressive towards the other team and some were shy and awkward. We were pleasantly surprised as parents that our son seemed to have good mechanics and scored a couple of goals in that first game. At the end of the twenty minute game, our son came up to us all smiles and at that moment I knew our reaction to that first game was important. I thought of all the things I could say to him…”Great game!!”, “Good job scoring!”, “You won, congratulations!” However, when he came up to us I decided the thing I most wanted to reinforce was, “You look like you had so much fun!!!” He smiled enthusiastically and nodded vigorously, agreeing that he had indeed had fun. He has now learned that scoring and winning is fun, more fun in fact than losing. He never complains about losing though and always seems to have fun at Saturday games. At half time, he can be seen kicking the soccer ball around while others are sitting on the sidelines After the field has cleared and the other players are packing up and leaving, he will stay as long as he can kick the ball with anyone who will kick it around with him. He loves the sport for the pure fun of it. He doesn’t play to win. He plays for fun. How happy I am as a mom that he has found a talent he loves and has fun with.

2. Treating others with respect and kindness is more important than the game. Inevitably about half way through that first season, my son’s team encountered a team that was highly aggressive and was filled with very good little players. My son’s team was outscored badly. One of the players on the other team seemed to revel in his superiority over other players. He would “talk trash”, so to speak, calling names and pointing and laughing when his team scored. He would push and even grab jerseys’s and pull other players down. After enduring this treatment for the better part of the game, my son decided he would return the same to his opponent. He began calling the boy names and getting in his face. As the quarter ended I asked the coach if he could pull my son out. I then sat him by me and asked how it felt to be bullied and teased. He responded that it didn’t feel good. I then explained that if at anytime in the future I saw him teasing or bullying back I would ask his coach to pull him out and he wouldn’t be allowed to play the rest of the game. We talked about how name calling and teasing takes the fun out of it for everyone. He quickly realized that the fun he finds in soccer is not worth sacrificing. We have since talked about different techniques for bullying on the field, including walking away or just saying good job to the bully. Once in a while I still may catch him pushing but overall, his lesson to treat others with respect was well learned early on.

3. Family support and unity are important. The next lesson is one for not only my son but our whole family. Our son has an older sister and younger brother. They are his biggest cheerleaders and will sit on the sidelines yelling encouragement to my son and his teammates. Soccer games on Saturday morning are a family affair. We all load up and we all go. At times, I admit, I would love to send off my little soccer player with his dad while I stayed home with his siblings. But I want my children to know they are supported by a caring family. My other two children, who don’t play soccer, get a chance to encourage and show their support while my soccer player feels that his sister and brother care for him and his interests. In return, when it is time for his sister to perform a piano recital, my soccer player knows that the support he receives from his sister needs to be reciprocated. Does recreation soccer solve all the problems between siblings? No, of course not. However, it does offer an opportunity to teach them to support each other.

4. A team working together will accomplish more than one great player. This lesson seems to be the hardest for all the soccer players to grasp. When this little team first started out, the only thing on the mind of the players was to kick the ball into the net. They would push and kick wildly, regardless of whom else was in the huddle kicking with them. We often saw a huddle of only our team players, fighting over the ball. I find myself still having to gently remind my son that it is okay to kick or pass the ball to one of his teammates if he is surrounded and they are open. He still tries to throw the ball in to himself and forgets that he has teammates who can help out. However, anytime I see an assist at the goal, I reinforce to him how much easier it was for him to score with an assist. Anytime I see him struggling with too many opponents and the ball, I encourage him to pass it to a teammate.

5. It is okay to recognize the strengths in himself and others. Lastly I have found that soccer gives my son the opportunity to find his own strengths. He finds a little bit of self esteem that he is good at scoring from far away. We ask him what he feels he is best at and what he thinks he could work on. He is learning through the process that he is good at some things and that he can improve in areas if he works at them. We also encourage him to cheer on players on his team for their strengths. We point out when other players are good at ball handling and tell him to let them know. We have him notice when the other team is good at teamwork or defense and once again, ask him to let the other players know. He is able to focus on good in others and not be as critical of himself as he realizes that everyone is good at different tasks and skills.

Our recreation soccer experience has been nothing but a fun and learning experience for us. As a parent, my influence is still stronger than a coach’s, other parents or other players. I can help to infuse my son with more than just soccer skills and a desire to win. I can help him to learn lessons about life and getting along with others. As he grows and as long as he continues to play, I hope these first lessons on soccer are the ones he retains. I hope the game is always fun and he treats others with respect. I hope he appreciates the support from others and finds in himself strengths he can be proud of and weaknesses he can work on.

Nicole Wardell is a mother of four and writes for http://www.greggsports.com in her ‘spare’ time.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Wardell

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Traveling With Kids in the Car

Traveling with kids in a car can be challenging, but also can be fun with the right tools. If you make sure you are prepared for a long drive, it will make it much more enjoyable for everyone in the car; no matter what their age is. You need to think ahead and plan accordingly to the age group that is traveling in the car with you.

First, make sure that you have plenty of snacks and drinks packed. Depending on what ages you have in the vehicle, will determine exactly what you will need. For toddlers, make sure you have snack cups handy and already filled. Also make sure you have Sippy cups ready to go. It is nice to have an ice chest nearby, that way you could have the Sippy cups pre-filled and ice cold, when you need them.

You will also need things to do in the car. A portable DVD player is a great item to have! Toddlers and older children will love it and it will keep them busy for awhile. There are all different kinds of games that you can play with older children, like looking for certain things out the window, counting cows or some other animals, playing cards, and much, much more.

With younger kids or toddlers, things like little dolls, books, stuffed animals, puzzles, music games, and singing works better. Younger kids tend to get restless faster, so it is a good idea to have a variety of things to do. That way when they get bored with one thing, there is always something else to do. It also helps to have some new things that they have never seen, that way it will keep their attention longer.

If you are going on a very long trip, it is a good idea to find out ahead of time, where you can pull over and get some energy out. Look on the internet to find out where things are, once again, depending on the ages of the kids traveling with you. If you have little kids, find out where all the parks are, along your route. With older kids, museums or miniature golf is a good way to get some energy out. Whatever you and your family are into, try to find it along your route so you can plan ahead of time where to stop.

If you prepare ahead of time, your trip can be great fun for everyone in the vehicle! Just remember to pack food, drinks, toys, and stuff to do for all ages in the car. The more things you have prepared and ready to go, the easier it will be when you are on the road.

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Parenting a Teenager – This Can Be Scary

Parenting a teenager, wow, ‘in this day and age,’ this is a tough proposition. Although some are able to handle it well, many parents are overwhelmed with worry. Because of the availability and easy access in our fast-paced culture, teens can hear, see, and participate in activities that can give parents grey hair.
What is the best way to accomplish this daunting job? Read on; you just might discover some tactics to help you be successful in parenting a teenager. Make every effort to establish workable communication between you and your teenager. This will be one of your best strategies, while parenting your teenager. This can be somewhat difficult, if you have let your previous relationship with your teen fall away, or you never really had a workable communicating relationship previously. An open line of communication allows you the ability to listen to your child’s life though their perception, through their eyes. With communication open, your teen may be willing to ask for help, or at least you will be able to discern when help is necessary. Teens usually go to peers for help. This can be the ‘blind leading the blind.’ With communication, you will be able to be an active part in your teen’s support system and networking. Your teen may even listen to you occasionally. You will most likely find it easier to set appropriate limits and boundaries and to explain your perspective.
Here is another tough task; spend time with your teen. I realize that your teen usually runs out of the house to be with friends. How else will you be able to discern the type of adult your teen is on the path to become? Take some time to consider this task; it is so important in parenting the teenager. You should aim for this especially if you are a busy working parent. You will find the time spent with your teen invaluable. Use what you have at hand to encourage your teen to spend time with you and the family. Here is an example; your daughter wants to redecorate her room in red and white. She says the lilac is so grammar school. Ah, what might be involved in this project? Maybe getting the carpet cleaned, purchasing throw rugs, buying new bed linens, sorting through hundreds of paint swatches, deep discussions about painting the walls red, and setting a limit for the teen to put in as much ‘sweat equity’ into this project and you do. Here is where you have an opportunity to use your new communication skills in parenting a teenager. Your teen will beg, get angry, attempt to manipulate, pout, and give you the silent treatment during this project. As always, use your patience. Remember what you have learned about your teen’s perspective on life.
Another of your tasks is to remain calm. Set your expectations for this project and allow your teen to identify his/her expectations.
Another task is to have the project be ‘fun.’
Spending time with your teenager after work will offer opportunities to see some school assignments, or to help with new assignments. If you ask, “How was your day?” Just accept the answer of ‘fine.’ Now if you get an attitude, such as “Mind your own business!” That is a different issue altogether.
Maximize the weekends. Plan some activities or trips based in your parenting goals. These activities are best if both you and your teen can tolerate it, at worst, and enjoy it, at best. Do not force your teen to attend a family activity on a weekend when you knew your teen planned to spend the night with her best friend. The object is to know each other better, not drive each other crazy. Use this time not only to help parenting your teenager but also to allow you to relax and take your mind off work. While parenting your teenager with goals, the importance of the family will shine through.
Do not forget to show your love and appreciation to your teenager as well. Never be phony, but do give praise for even the behaviors that you expect. “Thanks for taking the garbage out; it was really beginning to sink!” Through actions, words, and deeds, let your teen know that you and the whole family are his backup. No matter what happens, there will be support and guidance for him/her.
These are just some of the basics of parenting a teenager.
Life is full of challenges, and parenting your teenager is a big one. It is the most important challenge we face. You are the best judge of your strengths and your weaknesses. Don’t let this frustration cause you to lose sight of your parenting goals for your family. Create your own goals with an online parenting coach. There is value to increasing and improving each parenting skill and getting new ideas for parenting a teenager. Get new ideas; learn how to be the successful parent that I know you are with Parenting 101 Success
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