Well the polls are in on who the best dressed was for the evening and I wanted to throw in my two cents about who I loved. This is the one out of a few times a year our dear celebrates declare who they are by wearing the world’s best designers. So here are my top 10 picks for the best dressed ladies, make sure to click links to view pictures.
My number one choice for the night was Angelina Jolie in that amazing black Versace gown she looked absolutely stunning! When she hit that stage she owned the night and she knew it. As a side note I will say that I thought she was too thin and I would have loved to see more meat on her bones. While she is absolutely beautiful I feel that it sends the wrong message to young women. You can be thin and in great shape but being healthy and strong is the most important thing.
My next pick is Gwyneth Paltrow. She looked gorgeous in white hot Tom Ford, it literally made me say, “wow” out loud. I’m in love with her gown and feel it really made a statement on the red carpet. Her gown had a cape which cascaded down to the floor. Gwyneth has such an amazing sense of style and I usually love what she shows up in especially lately. She has the ability to do minimalist, fresh, classic, and chic just perfectly!
Next for me was Cameron Diaz she looked fit, healthy and her body was jaw dropping. I love how the Gucci dress hugged her frame to absolute perfection. Well done, Cameron!
The next dress I loved was one of my favorite models and action stars, Milla Jovich. Her classic beauty always shines and wearing that stunning Elie Saab gown made her look like the ultimate Hollywood leading lady. Everything about her look at the Oscar’s worked!
When Jessica Chastain hit the red carpet in that glamorous Alexander McQueen dress I thought the gold and black was perfect. The dress seemed to embody what the Oscars are all about. What an amazing young actress she is her performance in The Help was wonderful and I’m excited to see what she does next. I think she is a stunning Red head!
Sweet and lovely is what came to mind when Michelle Williams stepped onto the red carpet in her coral colored Louis Vuitton gown. She has such a delicate and soft beauty about her I thought it was the perfect choice for her and totally different than anything else I saw that evening.
I have to say that I was disappointed that my next pick for best dressed of the night Viola Davis was not presented with an Oscar! What an amazing performance she gave in The Help and I love how she showed up on the red carpet looking like a Siren in the gorgeous green Vera Wang.
Now my last three picks are Maria Menounos in the sea foam green dress by Maria Lucia Hohan. I thought it was goddess like and extremely feminine in fact that would be a dress I would wear if I ever attended the show.
Next, was new comer Ellie Kemper who was breathtaking in her totally unique Armani Prive’ she looked flawless!
Last but not least is the beautiful Stacy Kiebler she caught my attention in that stunning off the shoulder dress by Marchesa. She looked amazing and actually looked like an Oscar herself perfect for her handsome leading man George Clooney.
I hope you had as much fun as I did watching these beauties walk the red carpet and grace the stage! There is always inspiration we can draw by viewing fashion in this way. Till next year!
Enjoy,
Tara Brooke
It’s that time again as the season begins to turn the runways are heating up with the hottest looks for Spring and even if you are still bundled up for the winter here is a peek at the newest items that I have chosen from one of my favorite places on line to shop Net-a-porter.com they are always on the cutting edge with all of the top designers and have their fingers on the pulse of the fashion Industry.
If you are like me and you love fashion then allow your senses to soar with these hot picks!
Dresses are super-hot this season so now is the time to focus on your work out Pilates, yoga and strength training to get your legs looking sexy and don’t forget about your arms because these dresses will defiantly show off your hard work!
Dress pants are also in so definitely look into purchasing a few I would go with a black wide leg pant with a flare as well as a pair in white. Add some gorgeous colored bright tops and you are ready to go! As for shoes I am living in both Chanel ballet flats along with the gorgeous mui mui flats embellished with ringtones I LOVE them add a dark skinny jean with a white t- shirt.
I also love the wedge for all of these looks black, camel and maybe a snakeskin tone will be all you need for this season. And as for bags I am looking into a beautiful Blue bag possibly Prada or even Celine. Blue is so hot I think it can be considered a classic and plum is another one that you know you can pull out almost any year.
The most important thing is to be confident and wear what you know looks great on you.
Always dress in clothes that high light your best assets so if you have amazing legs show them off this season in a flirty dress or a great pair of shorts and you can even be bold and wear the wedge with them why not! Fashion is about feeling great and also having fun I love the colors that are coming out because you just can’t help but smile when you are wearing many of these gorgeous colors.
Take a peek at Net-a- porter I think you will love how they put everything together and provide great looks that you can use for yourself every day.
Go forward and be beautiful!
Tara Brooke
XOXO
Hello everyone this is for all you moms out there that seem obsessed with getting it right all the time! Believe me I struggle with the desire to be perfect, especially when it comes to my kids. I want it all to be right all the time. But we all know there is no such thing as “Perfection” and although I really understand that I still set high standards for myself and sometimes I feel the pain of disappointment when things don’t fit into my “Perfect little Tara mold.”
Here is a prime example and one that I am choosing to laugh about and find the joy in even though I wasn’t thrilled with the outcome!
I pride myself on coming up with great Christmas cards I mean why not this is the chance to let all of your friends and relatives see your and you want it to be great! Well this year my kids were not having it at all.
No matter how hard I tried they simply were not willing to comply and give us the shoot we wanted. Below are the two pictures that describe it all. Having twins is so much fun but yes it’s a lot of work and there are always days when kids simply will do the absolute opposite of what you want. Being that I am a first time mom with our twins I am still learning everyday what’s right and wrong. I think that’s what parenting is all about. We are not perfect far from it but we are trying to find ways to make it all flow and work.
My goal with my children is to have them grow up knowing that they are ”God’s Loved Child” and that they have two parents that love and adore them as well as one another. I want them to have a great education but also have a heart for others. Of course we all want our kids to be leaders and I see those qualities’ in both of my kids but at the same time I have to remind myself not to put so much pressure on them. I think as mom’s we want to do it all and somehow we do feel like we can make everyone happy!
Here’s the good news just like everything in life parenting will offer us good days and bad days. There will be days that I feel like I hit a Home run in the parenting department and other days where I feel like I totally struck out. What I remind myself of now is to enjoy those moments more when I am feeling like I won the game and let myself off the hook a little sooner when I feel like I blew it. Moms don’t be so hard on you! I know so many moms’ that are doing incredible jobs with raising their families and they simply don’t give themselves enough credit. Well today treat yourself to something fun, that’s just for you. Maybe meet a girlfriend for a mani/pedi or get a message. Sometimes just going to a Starbucks and reading a good magazine for 20 minutes if that’s all you can spare will lift your spirits. Find comfort in knowing that we all go through learning curves with our kids. Not all of our experiences are the same but we still have struggles and challenges when it comes to shaping the life of that little person we love and care about so much into being GREAT! As the season of Christmas is upon us may you love each and every day with your family, try not to sweat the small stuff, set the boundaries that you need with your kids and stick to them and laugh as much as possible. Laughter can heal you and its hard to be mad or sad when you are laughing, try it I bet you can’t do it! Have a blessed and treasured season with your loved one’s.
From my family to yours,
Tara Brooke
Take a peek at my favorite looks and see how you can add them into your wardrobe for less!
It’s time to go buy your favorite September issues of fashion magazines like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, W, Elle, Marie Claire and more. They’re usually the biggest issues of the year, and magazines compete for cover models and advertising revenue. So what’s in this year’s?
Here are some of my favorite looks for fall everything from handbags, jeans, dresses and the hottest looks that you can actually wear every day or to that special event!
Here are trends to watch out for:
1. Safari/Military-inspired Styles: You’ll be seeing a lot of army green and camel. A lot of utilitarian styles, big, tall boots that look more like they belong to your dad than to you. Also messenger bags, cross-body bags and trench coats. Alexander Wang is Hot right now with amazing bags( he is pushing a great backpack as well yes I said backpack) Chloe is having a HUGE year with its crossover bags and the Hot must have “Marcie” bag .
2. All Things Animal: Animal prints, animal fur, (faux as well) leather and bird feathers are all hot trends we’ve seen on the runway this season.
3. “Mad Men” Look: Very late ‘50s, early ‘60s. Red lips, kitten heels, full skirts, handbags that you actually hold in your hand. Suits with a very tailored look. Also, look for tops with collars with ties on them.
Here is the thing, as you know you certainly don’t have to buy these high end clothes just take a look at what you love and there will be plenty of great designers that are looking out for your pocket book. Watch how the items are put together and then make it your own. You will know as soon as you put it on if you feel comfortable that really is the most important thing!
If you are going to splurge this is what I would recommend. Put your money into more of the Classic pieces that are going to remain timeless.
I love coats and I think that every women should have an amazing trench coat, a pea coat and a few versions of leather jackets for the upcoming season.
If you see something that you know is an obvious trend but you love it check to see if you can find a more reasonable price. I love to mix and match items not everything you wear has to cost a fortune. I have no problem paring a beautiful Chanel handbag with a white v-neck jersey Gap t-shirt and neither should you! Always buys what fits you the best and again the items that make you feel beautiful.
If you don’t feel confident wearing high wasted jeans then go for a flared jean that sits below the waste and rock it with an amazing heel.
There are things every season that I fall in LOVE with and of course lots that I know I would never wear. Regardless I Love fashion and I have picked lots of looks below to check out that I would wear this season. Each look is complete with bags and shoes that I adore and I would encourage you to have fun with it and see what you like and make it your own. Fashion is fun and everyone has their own unique way of putting things together.
So here we go my picks for the hottest fall looks!
Thanks to Net-A-Porter.com for allowing me to use their great site and pictures! You can click on any picture to be taken to their site for more information.
Time to go Shopping
Alkaline and Energize NOW!
Take the sevenpoint2.com 72 day challenge and bring in the new year with a brand new healthier you!
As the weather shifts and we begin to put away the swimsuits and pull out the sweaters I don’t want you to put away your weight loss and health goals along with the swimwear.
You may not know it yet but you are now in the perfect time of year to get in shape. You are about 3 months away from holiday season, and with this time of year comes parties and celebrations that you want to look Haute for!
The first thing I want you to do is log onto sevenpoint2.com and take the 72 day challenge. This site is amazing and the products are second to NONE. I mean that. Check out the ingredients, you just won’t find anything better on the market that tastes this good. Sevenpoint2 is committed to helping you reach your goals and you can learn about the importance of creating an alkaline body. This company makes it so easy to get healthy change your PH and at the same time this challenge will whip you into shape and have you ready for the New Year!
Imagine coming into 2012 with your perfect weight and starting the year off right! Don’t wait until January to get serious about this start now. I know you can do it. This company has a different approach, they are not just about losing weight. They want you to lose it but also be HEALTHY Take my word for it and watch the Dr. video and get on this challenge TODAY. Everything you need to know about how to eat and what to eat has been done for you. The products make it easy to Alkaline which is normally a very difficult thing to do and even harder to maintain.
I promise that if you can commit to this 72 day challenge it will change your life forever!
Hello moms this one is for you. I thought I would write about this because I see it all the time.
As a mom we are constantly given advice that we don’t ask for, right? The fact is that motherhood is so incredible and wonderful that we can’t help but dish out advice about what works best and we think that everyone should do it our way. Well I believe that we all have our own unique and special way of parenting and that it’s important to do what comes natural. Don’t get me wrong when we found out we were having twins I read everything that could get my hands on that would help me gear up for this ever changing journey called motherhood. But as the days got closer I realized that one can never really be ready and that while learning the basics is great, it really comes down to who you are and how you want to mother. It’s a beautiful experience for you and your child.
While none of our children are totally the same the same could be said for being a mother.
I know for my own personal journey having a boy and a girl twin I really wanted to create a sense of individualism. It’s important to me because I knew that there would already be such a strong bond between my kids I didn’t have to focus on building that it was already a given. For us I wanted to build up who they are as unique individuals so I have always been careful not to do too much of the same. The fact that they are not the same sex does make it easier for me not to fall into dressing them a like all the time and while I think it’s cute for a short time while they are small toddlers, I really think it’s important for them to begin to dress according to their personality’s (this again is just my opinion) Don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t mean that I don’t try to coordinate the colors once and a while, I do and its sweet but here’s the thing if my son wants to be bat man for Halloween I am not going to make my daughter be bat girl or persuade her to be a female super hero. I ask her “what would you like to be honey” and there it is!
I love to empower my kids to be their own person. Yes they are twins and they have an amazing and beautiful bond but they are always strong individuals and I want them each to have a sense of self confidence, not raise them to be totally co-dependent on each other but to be strong and still enjoy their amazing bond. Watching the Kardashians it’s so funny to see them all have the same letter in their name. Again I think it’s a personal thing. I wouldn’t do it but they love it and GOOD FOR THEM
I think you should be who you are and there really is no wrong or right way there is just your way. Just because I do it differently doesn’t mean my way is best it’s simply just my way.
The same can be said for activity’s and schools that we put our kids into. It’s about understanding your kids what’s truly best for them and how you and your husband decide you want to guide them. I would encourage young mothers to do what they feel is right for them don’t get sucked into doing what everyone else does for the wrong reason’s be the best mom you can be and be proud of that! As mom’s we will always make mistakes and if you have great advice that you can provide a new mother go for it but ultimately it is up to them to decide and I love the idea that instead of judging them we can just say “hey to each her own” we all know that motherhood is the best job while at the same time one of the most difficult jobs.
So to all you mom’s out there keep following your instinct. I believe that they can serve you well, and pat yourself on the back regularly, you have earned it!
I am so blessed to be a mom and it really is the greatest accomplishment of my life.
I have found no greater joy, deeper meaning and a better understanding of who I am while on this amazing journey called “Motherhood”. I hear myself almost daily telling my kid the same things that I heard growing up and I simply have to laugh for a moment knowing that my kids are going to give me just about the same response I gave to my mother( which was normally a hard time). [READ MORE]
To my little handsome prince Jaden you are a dream come true. I feel so blessed to be your mom, You are strong, caring and wonderfully affectionate. The bond we share can never be broken. I always want you to know that being your mom is my greatest joy in the world.
I love you with all of my heart.
Love Mommy
My sweetest princess Skye, you are my special gift. Our relationship is so tender and incredible it blows me away. I look at you and I feel so proud and honored to be your mom. You really are my princess and each day spent with you is like walking through a wonderful fairy tale. You are my girl and I love and adore you with all that I am.
Love,
Mommy
The one thing that I have learned from my kids is how to have a good time. If we could all just go back to being children for a day. When I am with my family I make a mental note to myself to” have fun and let things roll”. My kids, like yours I am sure have so much fun and imagination I just play right along with it. That does not meant that I am not responsible but I have learned to pick and choose my battles and allow things to roll off my back more often then not. [READ MORE]
