Kay Hunter - Imagine . . . The Possibilities

Emergency Kits: Being prepared without taking up a lot of space.

There are a few items that would be handy to have at home for "dash out the door" emergencies, last minute meetings, or social events. I recommend keeping them all in one bag or drawer so you are not frantically searching for them, causing you to break into a sweat, rip something more – making you start all over! Some of these items should be kept in your glove compartment and women - have them in your evening bag, if you can without making it look chunky and bulky.

Double-stick (Hollywood fashion tape) is good for those well-endowed at the chest, or a little reinforcement for those places the holiday pounds might settle. It is also good for hems that needs to be stitched but you didn't notice till you were out the door.  The clear tape doesn’t t cover up the skin’s natural color and is more discreet and fabric-friendly than safety pins. Safety pins are also handy for these purposes - but the Hollywood Fashion Tape is more discreet.
 

Image: hollywoodfashionsecrets.com

Tide-To-Go eraser pen is great for getting little spills out fast, such as the wine spill that inevitably happens when you are wearing light colors!

Image: Tide.com
 

Lint roller for the pet hair that has migrated into the front seat of your car and stick to your rear end, or the white napkin lint from the restaurant napkin or tissue fuzz.

image: Target.com

Handkerchief is handier for quick touch up wipes than tissue - no fuzz left on your face or clothes.

 

Cuticle oil or cream for the dry cuticles that the cooler weather causes.  Another alternative is the anti-aging and eye creams that are given as gifts with most cosmetic purchases. Clinique even gives it with the men's shaving gift packs - VERY handy for winter hands and cuticles. 

Image: Clinique.com

 
Ballet slippers for those aching feet from your high heels.  Dr. Scholls is selling portable shoes, but you can get a thin pair of ballet slippers anywhere. This option is far better than walking around a party with your shoes off! You can choose from a few well-known shoe sites: ShoeBuy, Zappos, Nordstrom, Capezio.

Image: Zappos.com

Tweezers - men this includes you as well. Sometimes you catch a glimpse of yourself in the rearview mirror or feel that tickle. Having a pair of tweezers in the glove compartment helps you get that stray Yoda hair from your ears or nose or the one eyebrow hair getting tangled in your eyelashes. Women, you know what I'm talking about with the stray chin or upper lip hair that eluded waxing or plucking earlier in the day. Keep them tucked in the car or home. This is not a "do in public" type of thing. No need to stash the tweezers in your purse.

Breath mints, breathstrips especially after a long stressful day. A glass of water can get rid of the dry mouth and the breath mints and breath strips can freshen up your mouth - assuming you are brushing and using mouthwash before you ever leave your house. This is just for "touch up."

Image: wikipedia

Spare pair of hose for evening events. Sometimes you can't stop by to pick them up if you arrive at an event and then there it is - a run from here until Tuesday. Clear nail polish still can stop it, but if it's too late and you need to replace them, have a pair handy in your most common colors - nude and black. No need to ruin the entire look of your outfit because of a snaggy mishap.

Image: wikipedia

	Home	Car	Purse	Office
Double Stick Hollywood Fashion Tape	x	x
Safety Pins	x	x	x	x
Tide-To-Go	x	x	x	x
Lint Roller	x
Hankerchief			x	x
Cuticle Cream	x	x		x
Ballet Slippers	x	x		x
Tweezers	x	x		x
Breath mints, Breath strips		x	x	x
Spare pantyhose	x	x		x

 

 

Look And Feel Great In 2013: A Special Offer For You!

Look and Feel Great in 2013 

If looking and feeling your best is part your goal for 2013, now is a great time to get started with your Personal Makeover. Small changes get big results and it is a lot easier than losing 20 pounds. Call or email now to schedule your Personal Consultation! 

The first 5 appointments scheduled will receive a 10% discount off their first service! 

Here are a few of my favorite gym products.

Swiftly Tech Long Sleeve *Lace $68

Stay cool, dry and at the top of your game during every workout in the Nike Dri-FIT tee. $22

 

 Verbena Refreshing Towelettes Size 15 Towelettes  $10.00

 

How To Take Care Of Your Shoes and Boots And Extend Their Longevity

Statistics show that 93% of a first impression is based on how you look.The condition of your shoes sends a loud signal about "you"! If your shoes are in prime order, it says you pay attention to details. If your shoes are scuffed, unpolished, tattered or old, it says nothing positive about you. It doesn't pay to have on high-end shoes if you do not take good care of them. A mid-priced selection will look more expensive if it is kept in good condition. With a little knowledge and a few dollars, preventive maintenance can make those nice shoes last a lot longer and save you money in the long run!

Store Boots Properly: I have several pairs of boots and for years did not know how to organize them inexpensively in my closet during the winter months. This was compounded by the fact that the boots "flopped" over and took up more room. The flopping position is also not recommended for keeping boots in their proper shape. Last year I found some good solutions:  

 

 
The Container Store offers inflatable cushion/shapers (left) for $10.Storables.com  offers metal clip (center) that holds the boots together.  Other no cost options are empty water and wine bottles placed inside the boot. Another solution is rolled up magazines (right).  Simply roll up a couple magazines and place them down into your boots and they will stand up straight. 

Treat Suede and Leather with Water Repellent Spray: Before you wear your new pair of shoes, be sure to apply a coat or two of water repellent spray. This process should be applied again after a couple months. Be sure to wipe your shoes with a clean cloth to remove any surface dirt before your spray. On leather shoes, the moisture impacts the elasticity, so keeping moisture balanced is a must; too much moisture causes the leather to stretch, while too little moisture causes the leather to shrink. In both cases, the leather becomes ugly and loses its original fit. Your local shoe repair shop can do this for you, although it is basically the same process you can do at home for as little as $9! This process can dramatically increase the comfort and the lifespan of your leather and suede shoes.

Polish Regularly:  A lot of women think this is something only men should do, but it applies to all of us who wear leather shoes. Polishing your shoes regularly has two benefits: it covers and repairs the damage of daily wear and tear and it nourishes and moisturizes the leather, keeping it flexible and healthy.  

 

Use Shoe Trees:  Placing cedar shoe trees in your shoes right after each wearing will extend the life of your shoes threefold! The shoe tree absorbs the moisture from your shoes and forms the shoes back to its original state. Hence, it keeps the shoes from getting those permanent creases where the foot flexes that makes your shoes look old and out of shape. Ideally, you would have a pair of shoe trees for every shoe you own, but if that is not practical, simply rotate the shoe trees each time you wear a different shoe. Bed Bath and Beyond $19.99.

Heel and Toe Tips: Based on how most of us walk, we wear down one particular area on our toe and heel. Your local shoe repair can place a small tap or tip on these areas and extend the life of your shoe. Nothing looks more tacky than to see a pair of heels worn down to the nail heads. 

Non-Iron Supima Cotton Shirts by Brooks Brothers

Traditional, regular or slim-fit shirts from Brooks Brothers are made of pure cotton and are treated to hold up throughout the day without a wrinkle. Brooks Brothers no-iron dress shirts come in solids, stripes or plaids. Wearers rated these as one of the best shirts to remain wrinkle-free. They also make several styles for women. My clients like these shirts a lot!

Click here for more information

Investing in quality shoes? Invest in quality shoe trees.

Your appearance begins at your head and ends at your toes - this includes your shoes. Investing in a couple pairs of good business shoes is only the beginning. You need to also take care of those loafers, boots and heels. After you are finished for the day and are ready to kick off those shoes, the first thing you should do is to insert shoe trees. Not the plastic type, the cedar ones so they absorb perspiration and help your shoes 'cool down' and go back to their original shape. Wait until morning and it's too late. The wrinkles are in and your shoes start to take on that worn look. Don't forget to love them with some shine and moisture. Find the products that are ideal for your shoe or boot.

Some resources include:

Cedarville Store

Woodlore on Zappos.com

Remember, you don't need shoe trees for all of your shoes, you can rotate one or two pairs as you wear shoes. Put them in right away - when you take off your shoes is recommended.

With the cooler weather comes dry nails.

With the cooler weather come dry nails.  My nails were splitting, peeling, and the cuticles were dry.  I started using AVOPLEX nail and cuticle replenishing oil by OPI twice daily, and my nails became strong and my cuticles soft in two weeks. 

Great for men and women. I purchased my bottle at a beauty supply store for $12.

Another tip I learned from a friend is to use those small "anti-aging" creams that come with most cosmetic "gift packages."  Many of you have those around not wanting to throw them away, but not having enough dark circles and crows feet to use them up. This is the perfect solution, and they drop nicly into your purse or keep in your glove box in the car.

 

Cashmere - Is it worth it? YES!

How to Select, Care and Store your Sweaters

Fall is officially here and Winter is on its way. This means cooler days ahead.  With so many of us dressing "business casual", sweaters and cardigans are a great substitute for the structured jacket. Or, they are a great layering piece underneath a jacket.  A cashmere sweater is a great investment.  Not only are they stylish and beautiful, but they are temperature adaptable.  This means they keep you warm in the Fall and Winter and can keep you cool when the temperature gets a bit warmer. For those of us allergic to fibrous wools, cashmere typically does not produce the same reaction. Cashmere is considered one of the finest of all natural fabrics. Since a cashmere sweater can be expensive, it is important to understand how to select cashmere of the best quality for your money and how to care and store your pieces.