Closet Inventory

Do you find yourself turning to your closet and realizing that you have nothing to wear? None of your separates match, and your dresses seem outdated. If you have this problem, it’s time that you build a better closet with clothes that you can wear for a long time rather than looks that seem like they can only be donned until they’re out of style. Build a closet you can be proud of with looks you’ll love for a long time. Check out my tips for building a better closet.

 

Do An Inventory- Have a dress that you haven’t worn for a long time? As much as you want to keep it, it might be time to let it go. Send it to a direct-give charity or an organization like Goodwill. You can even sell those pieces you don’t wear anymore on apps like Poshmark or at stores like Beacon’s Closet. Make a profit from those pieces you once loved.

End Fast Fashion- Stop shopping at fast fashion stores. Your Forever21 cotton jersey dress may look good on the rack, but do you really think it’ll last the test of time? Fast fashion is a dangerous road to go down so stay away from those stores and be more willing to pay higher prices for pieces that will actually last.

Staple Pieces- Aim for some staple pieces that you can wear with more than one look. Get some nice button downs and some pencil skirts along with a good pair of jeans. These are pieces that you can build on while sticking to your personal style.

Create A Capsule- Create a uniform so you have go-to pieces. This way, you’ll never look at your closet and decide that you have nothing to wear. There are plenty of ways you can do this. I like to play with a color palette. Then, I buy a certain number of looks to build upon that color palette. Eventually, I have enough items in my closet to make a uniform for any occasion.

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Angelika
(credit: L.R.)

Natural S.O.S Solutions for EYES

Winter has finally passed and spring has blown in full force, leaving many of us battling the first allergies of the season – and, you know what that means? Tired and puffy eyes. Whether you have itchy, allergy eyes, you’ve had a bit of a cry or you’re just super tired, puffy eyes can be totally frustrating. There are many causes for tired and puffy eyes including: drinking a bit too much the night before, sinus issues, seasonal allergies, struggles with diet, stress, genetics, hormonal changes – you name it – but don’t worry! Here’s a look at some natural treatments for combatting tired and puffy eyes.

Chilled cucumbers. Oldest trick in the book, but you know what? It works! Simply place slices of chilled cumbers over each eye, lay back and relax for a few minutes allowing the enzymes in the cucumbers to do their magic and leave those eyes looking totally refreshed.

Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. It seems water is a solution for so many things, and – truth be told – it is! Staying hydrated is the name of the game when it comes to being in tip top shape, but especially when dealing with puffy eyes. Water flushes the system, moving any sort of fluid retention through and out of the body.

Cold spoons. Sounds like such a simple trick, right? It absolutely is – and it works. Simply chill some metal spoons in the freezer (about 15 mins) and place the rounded part of the chilled spoon against your closed eye. This will relax the blood vessels and tighten the skin around the eye, reducing any signs of puffiness.

Green or black tea. While drinking this tea might also have healing properties, placing warm, soaked tea bags over your closed eyes will help reduce swelling. Be sure to let them cool just a bit before placing them on your eyes!

What’s your secret for tired and puffy eyes? xo

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Angelika
www.styleupbyangel.com
(credit: L.R.)

Healthy Friendship

When it comes down to it, your friends are often just as important as family. In many cases, your friends become your family – while the relationships may not be exactly the same, they’re often the closest people in your life. Your friends are your utmost confidants – you have conversations spanning everything from work and daily life to your most intimate thoughts on love. Despite all the good times, just like any relationship – friendships take work. From your besties to your newest friends, keep reading for the must-have qualities of any healthy friendship.

1. You challenge one-another. While it is pretty nice when your best gal-pal showers you in compliments, it’s best when there’s a healthy balance of telling you how wonderful you are and challenging you to be even better.
2. Neither friend in the relationship is afraid to speak up when someone is wrong. Giving one another constructive feedback is a healthy, good practice – it keeps you honest after all! The best policy is openness, always.
3. You’re both great listeners and great talkers. Sharing is one of the best parts of a solid friendship and that means listening when you’re needed and speaking up when you need a listening ear.
4. You’re able to help keep one another’s stress under control. A good friend knows when someone isn’t acting like him or herself – and all too often that’s a sign of stress. Helping to stop that stress before it gets out of hand is the sign of a truly committed friend.
5. They are your biggest fan and always have your back. Sometimes you just really need that person in your corner and that means standing up for you when you need it – even if it’s not the easiest situation.
6. You’re both able to forgive. Friends are going to have their moments of tension – just like any loving relationship – and being able to forgive and move forward is absolutely essential for growing together.
7. Your friendship means the world to both of you. Whether or not you’re able to see one another all the time or just once-in-a-while, when a friendship takes priority, it feels good.
8. You’re accepting of one another even when you don’t have the same opinions. Just because you’re friends doesn’t mean you have to agree 100% of the time, but you do have to understand and support where the other person is coming from.
9. Above all else: you love each other and have a blast together.

What are the best parts of your most cherished friendships? xo

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Angelika

(credit: L.R.)

Beauty Tips for Every Woman in Her 30’s

Have you recently hit your 30’s and are finding out that all those beauty tricks you were using in your 20’s just aren’t cutting it anymore? Perhaps your tastes are changing – and you’re just starting to realize that it’s time to change things up just a bit. Not sure how to adjust your daily routine to your new 30s lifestyle? Here’s a roundup of some of the best beauty tips for women over 30.

1. Wash your face every night. In your 20s, there were probably loads of late nights out on the town where you came home exhausted and totally crashed without even thinking about cleansing the makeup off your face. Well, once you hit that 30 mark, it’s really time to start paying attention to your skin – and returning it to clean slate status every night is essential.
2. Don’t be afraid to treat yourself to the occasional facial – after all, you’re in your 30s now. There’s nothing as wonderful as giving your skin the refresh that comes with all the fabulousness of a facial. And, keeping up with that routine will keep your skin looking dewy and fresh – exactly what keeps you looking forever young.
3. Think about going to the dentist for a professional teeth whitening. Glowing and gorgeous teeth will help keep your whole face looking brighter, younger and just gorgeous. Skip the drugstore treatments and see your dentist about getting the job done right.
4. Don’t skip out on moisturizing. When you start to age, so does your skin and that means keeping it soft and supple is up to you. Finding a moisturizer you love is essential – and sticking to that routine will save your skin in the long run.
5. Add essential fatty acids and antioxidant rich foods to your diet. It’s time to fuel and cleanse your body from the inside out – and that means stepping up your diet to be more focused on the good-for-you foods that will keep you looking young and add some extra pep to your step.
6. Make protecting your skin from the sun a number one goal. Now is definitely not the time to add sun damage to your skin’s resume – it’s time to protect it and keep it looking just as young as when you were in your 20s. Utilize sun protection every day – and get into hats with wide brims as part of your new 30s style.
7. Hydrate. Hydrate. Your skin will thank you for this one. Keeping your skin hydrated and young actually starts from the inside – and that means loading up on water every day.

Have you recently turned 30? What beauty treatments have you found to be vital these days? xo

Keep styling

Angelika

(credit: L.R.)

Make Your Own Baby Food

Have you ever wondered about making your own baby food? While it’s super convenient to rely on pre-made and packaged baby foods, making your own is actually easier than you think. Homemade baby food is natural, packed with nutritious ingredients and less expensive than pre-packaged items. Not to mention, you know exactly what ingredients you’re feeding your special little loved one. With a little creativity, a food processor and a sauce pan, you’ll be on your way. Take a look at these tips for how to make your own baby food that you can feel good about. 

Start by choosing the right tools.  You’re going to need a few things to get the baby food perfectly soft and pureed – there are a few good options out there.

• A regular kitchen food processor or blender. You probably already have one of these on hand and each will definitely get the job done, though might be more useful for making large batches of baby food.
• A food mill. This traditional kitchen tool is actually portable and non-electric; it’s a great option and has been used for years to puree.
• A hand blender. Pretty convenient and easy to use, this tool requires electricity and works the opposite way of a blender.
• A baby food maker. These tools steam and puree all in one. You can use this for veggies, fruits and even meat.
• A fork! Sounds so simple, but steamed veggies and fruits are easy to mash up with a fork (think banana, avocado or sweet potato) and you can typically find one anywhere.

Select the best ingredients for your baby, like fresh organic produce and locally sourced meats. Start out simple with fresh fruits like bananas, apricots, apples, plums, peaches, pears and mangoes. And for veggies, try carrots, sweet potatoes, squash and peas.

Wash and cook the fruits and veggies to be sure they a soft before pureeing. You can easily steam, boil or bake produce and meats and even add a bit of the liquid when pureeing the food. Be sure to peel any skin, remove pits, seeds and any fat or skin on poultry or meat.

Simply add the cooked and softened ingredients to your pureeing device (or use a fork!) and mash to a soft, smooth consistency. The homemade baby food can be frozen in small containers or even ice cube trays and will actually last up to six months (meat and poultry about two months).

What do you think? Now that you know how to make your own baby food, will you give it a try?

Keep doing

Angelika

(credit: L.R.)