The Pretty Pear

Update your hair and make up

Have you been using the same products and getting the same hair cut for the past decade? It's time for a change. And you don't have to go drastic! I've had pretty much the same hair for the past fifteen years, red and curly, but I try different shades of red and slightly different cuts each season. I use the same basic make up items day to day, too but trying a pretty lip gloss or checking out new products is fun and keeps you looking fresh.

You don't have to do a heavy, full face of make up or spend a lot of money. It can be as simple as trying a trendy shade of nail polish (deep, dark navy blue is awesome right now, FYI). Even if you're not super girly, I'd bet a trim would perk you right up. Try something new and modernize your look.

This is also a good time to go through your drawers and cabinets and throw away any cosmetics and products that are old, outdated, or unusable. I know you hang onto cosmetics because you spent money on them and tossing out an unused $20 lipstick feels so wrong but if you haven't used it yet, you probably never will. Toss it and make room for new stuff that you will use.

Some more beauty-related tips:

Skincare and cosmetics absolutely do not have to be expensive. My favorite moisturizer is good ol' Cetaphil. You can make body scrub out of sugar and olive oil. Most salon haircare products have the same ingredients as their drugstore counterparts. Expensive products don't always give the best results.

Educate yourself! The Beauty Brains and Makeup Alley are great resources for inside info about beauty products. You'd be surprised at what really goes into your makeup! And reading reviews before buying can save you so much time and money.

But if you do love a pricey product, use it! Little luxuries that make you look and feel gorgeous are worth it, in my opinion. I adore philosophy products and while the price does make me wince a little, the results are so great that I keep coming back.

Assess your undergarment situation

I know you're sick of hearing about it but well-fitting undergarments really do make a huge difference, not just in how your clothes fit but a great bra can change the way you carry yourself and boost your confidence. So it's time to go through your lingerie and ask yourself some questions.

Do your bras fit well? Are they in good shape or is the elastic begging for mercy? Are they the right style or is it time for a different shape? Do you have comfy every day panties, sexy panties, and flesh toned seamless panties? Do you have the right pieces to get you through any situation that might come up?

If you stripped down to your skivvies right now and walked outside, would you be embarrassed about that state of your undergarments? Sure, you might not be parading around in your panties but you know what's under your clothes and wearing great bras and panties can make a world of difference.

It's time to throw out any old or worn out panties and bras that are past their prime. It's also a good time to get a bra fitting, which we've talked about a zillion times, and fill out your lingerie wardrobe. If you take proper care of your undergarments, they can last a good, long time but it's important to start out with quality pieces that can carry you day to day.

Resolution: Stock up on proper undergarments that fit. I have tips for that here and here. Once you have a collection of well-fitting bras, take good care of them by hand washing them. Full Figure Plus has a great tip for using OxyClean to wash your bras without damaging them here. It takes almost no time to toss your bras into some water to soak and you can save yourself loads of money by replacing your bras less often. And I guess you could stick that extra cash into a retirement fund (cough) so that covers your "be more financially responsible" resolution.

Let's get 2008 started!

So hey, it's 2008! Happy new year to you! I bet you're thinking about the goals you're setting for the upcoming year, right? I'm all for long-term goals and resolutions but I think it's also important to get a new year off to a good start. Over the next few days, I'll be sharing five really easy (or maybe not, we'll see) ways that you can get 2008 off on the right foot. The first point is the most important!

Get real about your body and your clothes
I know that a good percentage of the people reading this post have resolved to lose weight this year. That's your business. Your clothing, however, is my business. I'm about to get a little bossy, so hold on tight.

Stop putting off buying new clothes until you lose X pounds. Stop believing that you don't deserve nice things because of your size. Your money is just as good as anyone else's. Stop buying clothes in smaller sizes as motivation. It has never, ever worked for anyone, ever in the history of the world. I don't know that for a fact but for the purposes of this post, let's just say that it's never worked because even if it has worked for someone, somewhere it won't work for you or me. It just leads to guilt and regret.

Go out and buy a fabulous outfit, head to toe, in YOUR size and see how great that makes you feel. Isn't that better than deluding yourself? Having a closet full of clothes that are perfect for you is about a million times healthier for your self esteem than having a closet full of crap that you either hate or can't wear. If you do lose weight, you can have good quality garments taken in or you can sell them to a consignment shop. Stop using your clothes as weight loss motivation. It just won't work and it's unfair to the clothes. Won't anyone think of the clothes?!

Ok! Now that I have that off my chest, I'll have more tips and resolutions all this week. Happy new year!