A couple weeks ago, The Shops collection was launched at  Target. I think it was an absolute genius move. Lately, I had started avoiding Target for a couple reasons. One – my kids turn into gimmie monsters as soon as we walk through the door. Two- the quality of the apparel had gone down the tubes. I had to return a sports bra that just snapped after one wear and a shirt that pretty much disintegrated upon washing.

But when I walked in and saw all of the new collections I was impressed. They have partnered with speciality stores and local boutiques throughout the country and made it possible for us all to enjoy products we may never have had a chance to be exposed to. From the Privet House in Connecticut to The Candy Store in San Francisco to my personal favorite The Webster boutique in Miami, Target hit the bulls eye (sorry, I had to!). Here are a few of the chic items from The Webster Collection…

Maxi Dress $45

The material is soft and luxurious. I got so many compliments when I wore this out!

Gauzy top perfect for summer nights. $30

Sleeveless Jersey  $30

I tried this on and it was very comfortable. The only reason I didn’t buy it was because the hubs was throwing me the stink eye.

Nautical Cap Toe Flat $30

Decent price for a super cute flat.

Deco Print Romper $15

There are even pieces for your little one!

Go check it out. I am sure you will not be disappointed.

Written by Lea Barlow • Leave a comment

by Alexis Novak

I’ve learned the hard way that when summer hits and your foundation is dripping and streaking down your sweaty head, it’s not a sexy look. So I try to lighten up the makeup when 90 plus temps arrive. Here are my recent must-haves I scored on my last Sephora binge.

1. Benefit, “They’re Real” mascara; my new fave mascara. The weird ball tip is designed to help you coat all the little teeny side lashes and bottom lashes. It also lets you do one-coat natural-looking-car-line-look, to about five-coats-fake-lash-date-night-drama. You know which I prefer! $22

2. Dr. Jart BB Cream, 39 SPF. Remember we talked about the BB creams last year? Well, now everyone makes one. I have tried three and this is still my favorite. The coverage is amazing and your skin can breathe in it better than foundation.  I still love my Laura Mercier tinted moisturizers, but you need this super-charged SPF-ed up balm too. If you overslept and are running out the door with one minute to spare, slather this on. $39

I love a tanned look but don’t want to look like the NJ mom who just got arrested for tanning her five year old….

so I use this…

3. Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel. No self-tanning smelliness, just great color. A little pricey but well worth it. $34

4. Perfekt Cheek Perfection Gel in “blushed” color.  I love a little flushed look and this is it. Gel blush lasts longer if you are a glowy, a.k.a seriously sweaty gal like me.  $28

5. You always need a nice nude lip to complete your Sun Goddess look. This Clinique Long Last Soft Shine lipstick does the trick. We need hydrating lip formulas at this point to combat the heat. Try Creamy Nude and Berry Kiss. $15

6. Murad anything. I’m probably late to discover Murad but if you’re like me then your skin tweaks in the heat and these products, while not cheap, are cheaper than a visit to my dermatologist. I never know what to do with a mix of dry patches, oil-slicked-ness and freakishly sensitive skin so I tried this Soothing Gel Cleanser, $25, and I am already a huge Murad fan. I think we can’t hydrate skin too much in the summer when it starts to feel so dry and tight.

I also loved a sample of Murad Oil Control Mattifier SPF 15 $39.50, which would be perfect before the BB cream.

Those are my summer goodies. Love to hear about your summer beauty rituals. Wish me luck channeling the ultimate BB, beach babe Bridget Bardot.

Written by alexis • Leave a comment

I am an avid hat wearer. Mainly because I LOVE hats but also because my hair is usually a wreck and I live in Florida (read: horrible humidity). Lately, I am getting a little sick of fedoras so I am moving on to the head scarf. I don’t have the best profile for this style but eff it. This look is HOT.

The head scarf will be the focal point of your look so don’t over do it on coordinating. Keep it simple. If you try to steal the spotlight from the scarf you may end up looking like a hot mess.

More Axl Rose than gypsey here but looks amazing with the smokey eyes.

I know I am biased but long-haired brunettes can really rock this look.

Skip the head and tie it around your ponytail.  It’s a very versatile look.

She makes it look extremely effortless. It’s not.

This video will show you different ways to tie your scarf…

and click here for help on a more retro look.

However you choose to wear your scarf just make sure it’s not like this.

Written by Lea Barlow • Leave a comment

I am a big believer in listening to your body. It will always tell you what you need it’s only a matter of paying attention. It turns out that these power food combos are deeply rooted in are instincts. You are probably already eating these foods together and there is a reason why. It’s called ‘food synergy’. Two particular foods eaten together can actually deliver more health benefits than either one could alone. Researchers believe we inherently crave certain food combinations to protect and nourish our bodies. Here is a list of the food combos from the Hungry Beast…

Tomatoes & Olive Oil

Simple and delicious. Tomatoes are rich in an antioxidant called lycopene, which has been proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. But lycopene is also fat-soluble, which means combining it with a healthy, monounsaturated fat like olive oil helps boost absorption even more. Technique: Sautéed tomatoes, olive oil, salt, and pepper make a great fresh pasta sauce; but you can also whip up a quick Caprese salad by adding some mozzarella and basil to sliced tomatoes drizzled with olive oil.

Green Tea & Lemon

Confession: I just started drinking green tea. I have known about its health benefits for some time but avoided it because I just never thought of myself as a tea drinker. It’s a fantastic mid-afternoon pick me up. Green tea is packed with antioxidants, revs up metabolism, and keeps you hydrated. When drunk with lemon, its benefits become turbocharged—your body absorbs 13 times as many more antioxidants than when consumed on its own.  Are you sold?

Orange Juice & Oatmeal

A breakfast classic and the kids love it too! The combination of these morning basics hasactually been shown to prevent heart attacks and clean arteries twice as effectively as ingesting either one on its own. The organic compounds known as phenols (found in both) stabilize cholesterol levels when consumed together. Tip: Instant oatmeal is often processed with added sugars, salt, and colorings, so go for old-fashioned rolled oats.

Apples & Red Wine

This combination puzzled me at first but then I read one way to combine the two foods is with booze. Sounds good to me.  Apples contain an anti-inflammatory flavonoid called quercetin, while red wine contains the flavonoid catechin. Together, they work to prevent blood clots and improve cardiovascular functioning. Try 5-Star Sangria for a healthy bit of boozing.

Beef & Carrots

Did you automatically think of stew? Try this amazing curry recipe instead. When you’re in the mood for a hearty meal, this mix that will boost your immune function. The Vitamin A in the carrots is best absorbed when bound to a protein. Plus, the beef delivers an extra dose of zinc, which protects against weakening of the immune system.

Garlic & Fish

These two flavors were made for each other, and when combined, the cholesterol-reducing fish oils and heart-healthy garlic can act as an anti-inflammatory agent. My family prefers our calamari without breading. Try this grilled calamari recipe to combine the garlic and fish.

Written by Lea Barlow • 2 Comments