TASTY TRENDS FOR SPRING 2011

ARE SKINNY JEANS STILL IN FOR 2011?

Yes. It is my prediction that they are going to stay around for at least another season. Skinny jeans are sexy, show off your figure and they come in a wide variety of colors and styles. The only problem that I am currently seeing is a small uproar of people debating if men should wear skinny jeans or  not. I personally think that the same rules that apply to women, should apply to men, when calling who should wear skinny jeans into question. All women should not wear skinny jeans, just like all men should not wear skinny jeans. I however, have noticed a lot of men that should not be wearing skinny jeans more then I have noticed women.

Flared Jeans and Flared Bell Bottoms are making a comeback for 2011, for both men and women and that is just fine with me. In fact this entire season seems to have gone back to the 70's. There is no need to worry or sound the alarm, the color palette for this season are full of rich, vibrant Earth tones and quiet shades, accented with brightly colored accessories. I seriously doubt you will be seeing pea greens, mixed with oranges and floral patterns this season. In 2011, designers were only inspired by the 70's look, not trying to recreate it all over again, so we should all be okay.

ARE NERD GLASSES STILL IN?

Nerd glasses are definitely still in right now. I am honestly not sure how much longer this trend will go on , but I am really digging it. Nerd glasses come in all different colors, shapes, sizes and designs. There is probably a pair for any shape face that is interested in purchasing a pair or two. For rule of thumb when purchasing Nerd glasses it is always to pick glasses that are similar to the shape  of glasses that you would normally purchase.

Cat Eye Glasses are also coming back into play. Basically, anything that would be considered vintage looking is what seems to be really popping this Spring.

The major thing to keep in mind when searching for any trends is to be realistic about the price. There is no need to invest a large wad of cash into a trend that you are not totally in love with. It would be FASHION ABUSE to spend a lot of money on something you only 'kinda' liked. So be sure to shop responsible. 

No matter what anyone else says or thinks, at the end of the day, whatever makes you feel good is the latest trend. Dare to be different!

 

MUFFIN TOP MADNESS

Okay, so we all know that there is nothing attractive or for that case comfortable about the infamous Muffin Top. We try our best to pretend it is not there and sometimes hope that people will see it and decide to ignore it. It is almost like the elephant in the room that no one wants to admit is there. Well, it is time that we stop covering it up and do something about it. Muffin Tops are nothing but excess fat that hangs out around the abdominal area in a 360 motion and it is seriously unwanted. Here are a few things that you can do to tackle the problem with almost minimal effort. 

CAN U SAY CARDIO?!

Most of the time when women workout , if they do work out, they focus on everything except the sides of the abdomen. The fastest way to attack the Muffin is by participating in cardio activities such as: jogging, power walking, cycling, aerobics, swimming or anything that gets your heart to pumping, excluding sex. The key to getting the Muffin Top down is to have conditioned muscles all the way around the mid section.

CUT OUT THE CRAP

Please step away the sugar. Your diet should be rich in vegetables, nuts, whole grain and plenty of water. Water will help flush out toxins that are found in processed foods, caffeine, alcohol, dairy, acidic foods, sugar and smoking. 

KEEP YOUR STRESS LEVEL DOWN

There are many benefits to keeping your stress down. Being stressed out causes us to eat improperly and make the refrigerator our best friend. I personally am a sucker for Lay's potato chips and I can not just eat one. Finding ways to destress will improve the blood and oxygen supply to cells, which will improve rejuvenation and help expel toxins. Less toxins = less Muffin Top!

SCRUBBING

While in the shower be sure to spend a little more time scrubbing the muffin top with exfoliant. This will stimulate cells and improve circulation, getting nutrients in and toxins out. This method is also good on areas of the body that have started or have cellulite issues. Increasing the circulation allows the nutrients in, which will decrease the appearance of cellulite. Just be sure that you scrub for at least 5 minutes to ensure that the circulation has been adequately stimulated.

Following these simple steps will have you well on your way to kicking that Muffin Top to the curb and embracing a sexier, slimmer, more fit you.    

HIGH HEEL HAZARDS

Although high heels may be super cute they can be extremely taxing on women in a variety of ways. Heels force thigh muscles to work harder, putting extra strain on knee joints and the tendon that runs from the knee cap to the thigh bone. Overtime, this increased pressure can lead to osteoarthritis.

The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society considered a heel high at 2 inches or more. This is due to the fact that any heel over 2 inches creates 3 to 6 times more stress on the front of the foot. As a result, heels lead to bunions, heel pain, toe deformities, trapped nerves and a shortened Achilles tendon. The problems that high heels cause can also travel upward on the body, which can lead to stiffness, pain and injury on the hips and lower back.

It doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to know that regardless of the potential health hazards that can take place due to wearing high heels, women will NEVER stop wearing them. Beauty and pain go hand in hand, or at least that has been my experience. I am just glad that platform heels have started to make a comeback in the last few years and Dr. Scholls has started to take notice with it's Metatarsal Pads. These pads help prevent or relieve foot, lower back and hip pain that is caused by the extra added pressure on the ball of the foot when wearing high heels. If you have not purchased a pair of these pads, drop what you are doing right now and buy them. Your big toe will that you later. Of course it is not like walking in gym shoes or wearing flats but it does lessen the pain.

While learning about the hazards of high heels I found that there has been a lot of research done on the subject. On that note, no one has done any research on the nightmare the fashion world would become without high heels. I personally don't even want to imagine.