applaudwomen.com Blog

Well we’ve heard that celebs are tweeting but do you wonder what they are saying? Here’s a few of the latest celebrity tweets.

Kirstie Alley: “YOu know that is the # one thing I noticed in biggest loser.How much younger they all looked un-fat..Vanity will lead me to my goal.again!!”

Kim Kardashian: “Should I cut bangs again? I’m getting a hair cut now and can’t decide!”

Ellen DeGeneres: “Gov. Arnold S. said he voted against prop 8 and knows that one day it will be overturned. Thanks for being a govenor to ALL Californians.”

Paula Abdul: “Looking forward to the next couple hours. Going to the spa with the girls, can’t wait to get pampered. We’ve worked so hard, we deserve it!”

Mariah Carey: “On my way to a photo shoot for my new fragrance which comes out in september. I was in the studio til 7 am so I’m a tad sleepy-but,SGSHW!”

Pink: “im staring at a picture of bubba, contemplating asking him to be my 2nd husband.”

Looking for more information of interest to women in NH and MA? Visit us at www.applaudwomen.com

So here’s the latest in reality TV Premiering for the Summer. I’m not usually into reality TV except for dancing, singing and other performances but I just might give this one a try. Here’s the description according to the show website:

A groundbreaking, live event airing throughout the month of June it’s the ultimate “Swiss Family Robinson” as ten celebrities are dropped into the heart of the jungle to face fun and comedic challenges designed to test their survival skills. America is the puppet master, controlling their favorites by putting them into challenges and tasks to win food, supplies and luxury items. In each episode, friendships will be tested, hilarity will ensue and viewers will decide which celebrities stay or leave. While all participants will be playing for their favorite charities, the last remaining star will be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle, winning the largest share of the prize for donation.The new season, set in the jungles of Costa Rica, debuts at 7 p.m. Monday on NBC.

Second City alumni Frances Callier and Angela V. Shelton,Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt (stars of MTV’s “The Hills”), NBA star and TV personality John Salley (“Best Damned Sports Show Period”), supermodel and reality TV star Janice Dickinson (“The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency”), 2007 “American Idol” contestant Sanjaya Malakar, actor Stephen Baldwin (“The Usual Suspects”) and professional wrestler and beauty queen Torrie Wilson.

Love to hear back from you to find out who else will be checking out this new series. For more information and articles of interest to women in NH & MA check out our website at www.applaudwomen.com.

Per Yahoo’s OMG
AT&T May Have Swayed Idol Outcome to Favor Kris Allen
Us Magazine – May 27, 2009 5:32 AM PDT

The New York Times is reporting that American Idol’s Kris Allen may have had a little help from AT&T, one of the Fox show’s biggest corporate sponsors, in winning this year.

According to the Times, AT&T provided phones for free text-messaging services at two Allen parties in Arkansas on the night of the finals. Citing sources, The Times reports that AT&T reps showed party-goers how to “power text” — cast 10 votes at the touch of a button — which violates show rules.

Power texts, according to the Times, “have an exponentially greater effect on voting than do single text messages or calls to the shows toll-free phone lines.”

No similar efforts appear to have been made to provide free texting services to Adam Lambert fans.

Angry Lambert supporters are now claiming in online chat boards that the competition’s voting was rigged.

While Fox has yet to comment, AT&T issued the following statement: “In Arkansas, we were invited to attend the local watch parties organized by the community. A few local employees brought a small number of demo phones with them and provided texting tutorials to those who were interested.”

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette first reported on the possible skewed voting last week.

Normally I don’t make any negative comments or share something of a negative nature. I truly believe that we get back what we give out and I promote positive energy because that’s what I want in return. But every once in a while something happens that I feel needs sharing. If this is true that ATT employees skewed the American Idol results then that is not right. This is supposed to be a talent contest and it is supposed to be determined by fair voting not skewed because of technical capabilities of one company. Big business is not supposed to be in control of this country, TV or anything else. I don’t blame the people who did the block voting but I certainly blame the company that might have made it possible. I would really like to know what ATT and against Adam Lambert. Let me repeat – this is a talent competition, not a lifestyle one. I’m a little embarrassed now to say that ATT provides my cell service.
To leave this on a positive note – I really liked Kris. He seems like a really nice guy and did some great work. I just don’t think he earned the top spot. These are my personal viewpoints not that of Applaudwomen.com
For more information and articles of interest to women in NH and MA and of a positive nature please visit us at www.applaudwomen.com. If you have any comments please feel free to contact me directly at applaud@comcast.net

Summer beauty routines

Peachygirl

Posts: 515
Member Since: 12/6/06
Summer beauty routines
Posted: May 25, 2009 10:06 AM

Now that the hot weather has arrived, is anybody changing up their beauty/hair routines?

I have been practicing updos and will try to let my hair air dry sometimes and put my hair in a fancy updo. I’m going to start with the gradual self-tanner today. I guess this means I have to shave my legs more often, lol.

I like to use a gel bronzer on my face in the summer, too, for an extra glow.

vixen07

Posts: 759
Member Since: 8/21/06
Re: Summer beauty routines
Posted: May 25, 2009 10:26 AM
in response to: Peachygirl
in response to: Peachygirl

Oh yes, I def. use bronzer!! I used to love Bonne Bell’s gel bronzer…it was a great color, the only downfall was it didn’t last very long. I’m really liking Artisry’s bronzing powder but it’s pretty concentrated so I have to be careful not to overdo it! The container should last me about 6 years, LOL!

BJ introduced me to Jergens natural glow for face and I love it (come to think of it, I love BJ too…she always gives me good advice)! I’m a self tanner addict!!! I’m thinking about trying that Costa Rica one that Michelle sells…everyone seems to like it! BJ- you should try it first and let me let me know, LOL!

PhatGirlSlim

Posts: 9,243
Member Since: 4/6/07
Re: Summer beauty routines
Posted: May 25, 2009 10:31 AM
in response to: Peachygirl
in response to: Peachygirl

Ah, yes… summer time skin care! Here in NY/NJ, it seems we went right from winter to summer.

When the weather warms, I pretty much stop cream cleansers in favor of ones that foam/lather. Last year, I did more clay masques, this year it will be dead sea masques (I’m an extra oily gal in the hot weather). I also put a leave in with sunscreen in my hair before bedtime and then again in the morning: in the cooler months, I just use hair sunscreen in the morning. I also do less AHA peels, since my skin kind of “regenerates” more (for lack of a better word) in the warm weather AND since AHA make one more sensitive to the sun. This is the first summer that I have a sunscreen (Burn out) that doesn’t irritate me, so I am fairly excited to see how well it will perform!!!

Again, this is my first summer with my new skin (aka no more acne scars!!!!) so no face makeup for me. I haven’t worn any foundation or powder in months. In the summer, though, I use more oil blotting papers. I think I may even wean blush out of my makeup routine… we’ll see.

Peachygirl

Posts: 515
Member Since: 12/6/06
Re: Summer beauty routines
Posted: May 25, 2009 10:42 AM
in response to: PhatGirlSlim
in response to: PhatGirlSlim

Does that mean no slut red lipstick during the summer months?

I also bought a 1940s style bathing suit this past weekend. I got it at Target – it is so cute. The front and back are ruched – the ruching kind of starts at the outer part and meets in the middle. It looks like mini-dress that Paris Hilton would wear – the ruching just covers my butt. Now I just have to get my legs in shape – that is the other thing I am doing for summer -trying to do lots of squats to get my upper thighs in better shape.

email friend | report thread

Peachygirl
Posts: 515
Member Since: 12/6/06
Re: Summer beauty routines
Posted: May 25, 2009 6:31 PM
in response to: Peachygirl
in response to: Peachygirl

I am also channeling my inner Italian goddess and have bought a bunch of pretty scarfs to wear on my head like Sophia Loren!

PhatGirlSlim

Posts: 9,243
Member Since: 4/6/07
Re: Summer beauty routines
Posted: May 26, 2009 4:42 AM
in response to: Peachygirl
in response to: Peachygirl

Don’t be silly, Peachy! I would never give up slut red lipstick!

I forgot to add to the first post, I also switch from body creme/butter to lotion…AND I use salt foot scrub every day instead of every couple of days. I guess there ARE a lot of “little” tweaks to the rituals. I DO enjoy them so much! It’s fun being a girlie girl!!!!!

Message was edited by: PhatGirlSlim

For more information and articles of interest to women in NH and MA check out our website at www.applaudwomen.com.

Article published Dec 21, 2008 in Fosters Daily DemocratWomen rule!
N.H. Senate hits national milestone for gender
Granted, the words “all men are born equally” were penned June 2, 1784, and since then changes were made to the New Hampshire Constitution to prohibit discrimination, and the section on the Legislature describes the role of its “members.”

But maybe, lawmakers say, it’s time to update some of the wording nonetheless. After all, it’s women running the show now in Concord, marking the first time in United States history women make up the majority of a legislative body, in this case the 24-member Senate.

“I’ve been talking about that with a couple other folks so that it is gender neutral,” Sen. Kathleen Sgambati, D-Tilton, said of tweaking the document’s language. But “all of us have filed our bills this session so I think it may have to wait until next time around when we’re not so focused on the budget.”

Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, had a similar opinion.

For the full article visit our Inspirational Women page at www.applaudwomen.com. Find more articles and information of interest to women in NH and MA

From the New York Times website
Health Outcomes Driving New Hospital Design

By CAROL ANN CAMPBELL
Published: May 18, 2009

The curtain between two hospital beds does not stop noise from the television set, offer privacy during sensitive conversations with doctors or stop germs from spreading. Yet in most of America’s aging hospitals it is the only thing that separates strangers thrust together as roommates simply because both are ill.
HUSHED Rooms at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital in Michigan do not share walls or ceilings, cutting noise.

But in many new hospitals and pavilions, these semiprivate rooms have vanished. Single-patient rooms are now viewed as an important element of high-quality health care.

The benefits of the single room emerged through evidence-based hospital design, a new field that guides health care construction. More than 1,500 studies have examined ways that design can reduce medical errors, infections and falls — and relieve patient stress.

American hospitals started 53 million square feet of new construction and major additions in 2008, according to a report by McGraw-Hill Construction, a company that tracks industry trends. Promoters of evidence-based design say that a building exerts a powerful force on the delivery of health care, and that the best new health centers are light-filled, quiet and easy to navigate.

“Some hospitals are taking evidence-based design seriously,” said Roger Ulrich, director of the Center for Health Systems and Design at Texas A&M. “Other institutions use pretty traditional design that pays lip service to the evidence. There may be high style, but the hospital is still noisy. Or the windows are too small to let much light in. There are missed opportunities.”

Besides privacy, research shows that single rooms reduce infections and patient stress, and improve sleep. In 2006, the American Institute of Architects called for single rooms in all new hospital construction…………

For the balance of the article please go to www.applaudwomen.com to our Health page. For more articles and information of interest to women in NH and MA please visit us on this website.

From American Chronicle

Two Local Companies Partner to Spread Goodwill
Josee Archer
May 05, 2009

Umademyday.com and BeanTowne Coffee House of Cambridge, Massachusetts and Hampstead New Hampshire today announced a unique partnership with the intent of raising spirits and spreading goodwill in a time when both are severely lacking.

Umademyday.com, launched in October of 2008, is a website designed to motivate people to do something nice for one another without the expectation of something in return. Through the site, over 600 random acts of kindness have been performed. Unique to Umademyday.com is the ability of recipients of these acts to post thank you notes to the strangers that made a difference in their day.

“It’s amazing how even the smallest acts of kindness can make such a significant impact on both the person who did the good deed as well as the one receiving it. The happiness you experience when doing random acts of kindness is like no other feeling, and it can truly make someone’s day,” states Josee Archer, creator of UMadeMyDay.com, “and it doesn´t have to be much; the most common random act of kindness is purchasing a cup of coffee for the person in line behind you at the coffee shop.”

BeanTowne Coffee House of Cambridge and Hampstead are rooted in the concept of brightening people´s days and lives. Since 1993, employees have created an atmosphere in which customers are made to feel truly welcome. The company operates under the premise that if a way to forward the lives of others through their efforts exists, then it is their responsibility to do whatever is within their power to make it happen. To that end, the company donated 97% of their marketing budget over its´ first 24 months of operations in Hampstead to local charities and community groups.

“It´s a fantastic feeling to be able to make a difference in the lives of others through your work, ” said Goyette, “and to be able to take it to the next level is something that we are all very much looking forward to.”

“The perception is that it involves a lot of time and money to make a true difference in the world. The reality is that $2 left on the counter for the next customer´s order at a coffee shop could do more than you could ever imagine,” adds Mrs. Archer.

A recent thank you message posted to the site shows how a small gesture can make a great impact, “…This past year has been SOOOO stressful that I guess without even realizing it, I had let it get to me. I just want to say thank you to the women who not only gave my daughter and I a much needed treat, we got dessert, YUM, but more importantly a huge wake up call to take time to smell the roses, appreciate what we have and do a good deed…”

In addition, the two companies will combine efforts to educate, inspire and motivate others to make small but meaningful differences in people´s lives. The long-term goal of the partnership is initiating a cultural shift through a “Random Acts of Kindness Day” both locally and beyond.

“At this moment in our history, there is a great opportunity to have folks reconnect with what is truly important. What we are trying to do is help make that happen, one person at a time.”

Mr Goyette can be contacted via email at Goyette.ed@gmail.com or 603-275-6341

Mrs. Archer can be contacted via email at josee@umademyday.com or phone 603-234-1537

For more information and articles of interest to women in NH and MA visit us at www.applaudwomen.com

Provided by Yahoo News

By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer Deb Riechmann, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 4 mins ago

WASHINGTON – It’s not all doom and gloom in the U.S. economy. Some products are bucking the recession and flying off store shelves.

Sales of chocolate and running shoes are up. Wine drinkers haven’t stopped sipping; they just seem to be choosing cheaper vintages.

Gold coins are selling like hot cakes. So are gardening seeds. Tanning products are piling up in shopping carts; maybe more people are finding color in a bottle than from sun-worshipping on a faraway beach.

Strong sales of Spam, Dinty Moore stew and chili helped Hormel Foods Corp. post a 6 percent increase in first quarter sales in its grocery products unit.

Consumers have trimmed household budgets and postponed buying cars, major appliances and other big-ticket items. Yet they still are willing to shell out for small indulgences and goods that make life more comfortable at home, where they are spending more time.

Recession shoppers also are drawn to items that make them feel safe, both personally and financially.

“The focus on the family hearth is something that has happened in nearly every recession. It’s, `How can I have more fun at home?’” said Paco Underhill, whose company, Envirosell, monitors the behavior of shoppers and sellers across the U.S. and in other countries.

“People are much more focused on their homes and their immediate happiness and they’re buying things that they can use themselves — seeds, fishing equipment. Lipstick and chocolate are small rewards that make you feel better.”
Profits in the first three months of 2009 at Hershey Co., the nation’s second-largest candy maker, surged 20 percent and beat Wall Street’s expectations. Kraft Foods Inc. reported double-digit growth in macaroni and cheese dinners — the consummate comfort food.

Recessions, it seems, are good for love, too. Over the final three months of 2008, condom sales rose 5 percent and Match.com reported its strongest performance in seven years.

But economic woes are as rough on the tummy as they are on the wallet. Chicago-based market researcher Information Resources Inc. reports that sales of laxative liquids and powders rose 11.5 percent for the 52 weeks ending April 19. Sales of stomach remedy tablets, including Pepto-Bismol and Phillips brands, climbed 8 percent.
As expected during any economic slump, recession shoppers looking for deals have boosted sales at discount chains such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Dollar Tree Inc. sneaked into this year’s Fortune 500 for the first time, at No. 499.

There’s a general tendency to trade down, according to Leo J. Shapiro & Associates, a consulting firm in Chicago. That means eating dinner at the kitchen table instead of restaurants, buying used cars and shopping at do-it-yourself auto parts stores. It means spending less on clothes. Sales at luxury retailer Saks Inc. fell 32 percent last month. Sales at Goodwill Industries International stores in the U.S. and Canada jumped by 7 percent in March.

“If you’re used to eating out, maybe you’re now buying a high-end steak at the supermarket,” said Bill Patterson, a senior analyst in Chicago with Mintel International, which supplies consumer, product and media intelligence. “If you eat at home mostly, maybe you are going down from the branded product to a private label.”

People are not drinking as much beer or wine at bars and restaurants, but they haven’t stopped drinking. The Wine Institute says that despite the recession, U.S. sales of California wines totaled about 467 million gallons last year — 2 percent more than the year before. But people are looking more closely at cheaper selections: The overall retail value of California wine sales fell slightly from 2007, the institute said.

Those on the go are not shying away from footing the bill for sturdy running shoes. Sales increased 2 percent in 2008, said Tom Doyle at the National Sporting Goods Association in Mount Prospect, Ill.

“Runners aren’t going to hurt themselves to save a few bucks,” he said. Likewise, sales of bicycle helmets are up as parents continue to spend money to protect youngsters, he said.

The financial meltdown produced more interest in home safes. Coin dealers are awash in customers as investors big and small see the safety of gold.
Sunshine Minting Inc. in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, which supplies gold blanks to the U.S. Mint, doubled its work force in 2008.

“It just came on like gangbusters,” said president Tom Power, who struggled to hire, train and get new equipment to handle demand that doubled, then tripled. “You can’t just flip a switch and jump up production overnight.”

Guns are selling well, too. Total firearms sales rose 27.5 percent at Smith & Wesson for the three months ending Jan. 31. It’s not a sudden interest in hunting behind the increase; hunting firearm sales at the company declined during the quarter by 46 percent.

Gun sales are being driven by concern that the Obama administration will tighten gun laws. But people also are feeling a level of fear and heightened interest in self-reliance as they weather the recession.

“They are looking down the road going `What could happen here?’” Underhill said. “I think a lot of Americans are truly scared. One of the things that tickles is our pioneer ethos, which is, `I feel better with a year’s supply of toilet paper’ and `Maybe I should start canning and pickling.’”

Many people already are.
The number of home vegetable gardens is predicted to jump more than 40 percent this year, compared with two years ago, according to the National Gardening Association. Sales of vegetable seeds such as green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and lettuce climbed 30 percent as of March at W. Atlee Burpee, a large seed company in Warminster, Pa. It organized a basic training course called “root camp” for hundreds of would-be gardeners this month outside Philadelphia.

Still, when the economy grinds to a halt, people clench their teeth. That could mean spending money at the dentist.

There’s no statistical evidence, but dentists such as Dr. Matthew Messina in Cleveland, Ohio., are seeing more people with tooth-grinding injuries.

“The body responds the same way to a real threat, `There’s a burglar in the house,’ as it does to a perceived stress like `I’m worried I’m going to lose the house,’” Messina said.

Fro more articles and information relevant to women in NH & MA visit our website at www.applaudwomen.com

photo/Tom Gorman Valerie Sullivan of the Weymouth Health Dept.

From Weymouth News and Patriot Ledger
By Maureen Walsh
Valerie Sullivan has been caught working nights and weekends at Town Hall. She has been spotted in schools, senior housing, health centers and social halls at all times of day and night.
She has clearly exceeded the 35 hours a week she was hired to work as Weymouth’s Community Health Program Coordinator.
She may have thought no one would notice. She was wrong.
Today Sullivan is being honored at the State House as one of 100 Unsung Heroines recognized by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women for their outstanding contributions to their communities and organizations.
“Our Unsung Heroines are women who don’t make the news, but make the difference,” said Kira Dunn, MCSW Executive Director. “They are women who use their time and talent to show us the meaning of the saying ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’”
Sullivan was nominated for the honor by Weymouth Councilor-at-Large Michael Molisse.
“She just does so much for the town of Weymouth that she isn’t noticed for,” he said. “If you go to Town Hall at eight at night, she’s still in her office researching grants, trying to promote a healthy Weymouth.”
“She’s out at different events trying to reach out to people. She puts so much of her own time in. She has been a huge asset to the health department.”
Sullivan has worked to promote wellness for all citizens, Molisse said, with programs on such issues as substance abuse, stroke awareness and weight loss, and free blood pressure and cholesterol checks.
“These days we’re engaged with so many health issues, we’re very fortunate to have Valerie and her programs in the town of Weymouth.”

‘A great team’
Sullivan said she was “shocked” to learn of her selection as an Unsung Heroine.
“I’m really am kind of a low-key person. I try just to do my work,” she said. “Sometimes it’s the nature of trying to get grant funding that you have to put in extra hours, but when you do receive it, it’s a wonderful thing.”
“Especially in this economic climate, you have to go for that type of funding, so you can keep your initiatives moving forward.”
Sullivan graduated from the UMass/Boston College of Public and Community Services with a degree in Human Services.
She took the position of community health programs Coordinator four years ago to help address the findings of Weymouth’s 2003 Health Needs Assessment.
A key part of Sullivan’s job is grant money to fund health programs, but she also helps to implement the programs and coordinate with town departments and community groups.
“I am passionate about what we’re trying to do, but I’m only one,” she said. “I do have a great team.”
That team, which completed nine months of training through the Massachusetts Forum for Creating Healthier Communities, includes members of the public health, parks and recreation, elder services and school departments, as well as mental health, hospital and community groups.
“We learned a lot of wonderful things to bring back to the town. We became a cohesive team,” she said. “Now we’re trying to keep the momentum going.”
On Thursday, Sullivan is coordinating the town’s first “Healthy Wey” Forum for professionals and community representatives involved in all aspects of health care, wellness and public safety.
“We’ll talk a little bit about what we’re trying to do to create a healthier Weymouth,” she said. “We’ll touch on some of the challenges and try to build on our assets to create opportunities for people to work together.”

Health tips
A firm believer in practicing what she preaches, Sullivan said she tries to eat healthier foods, take stairs instead of elevators and walk from the far end of parking lots.
“I do enjoy yoga, and it helps clear the mind,” she said.
And lest anyone label her a workaholic, Sullivan said she rarely makes work-related calls or goes online when she’s home. She enjoys leisure reading, watching “silly sitcoms” and spending time with her husband Gary and their three adult children.
“We’re all just constantly on the phone or the Blackberry or e-mail,” she said. “How much can you fit in one day? Are we taking enough time for ourselves to regroup and have a little fun?”
She has “the travel bug” and has enjoyed recent trips to Martha’s Vineyard, to New York City to visit her daughter, and to Europe for a cruise down the Rhine River.
“I think one of the most important things is you need to have good health. It affects all aspects of your life,” said Sullivan. “You have to take time for yourself.”
“Weymouth is a wonderful community with a lot of resources in town. The mayor is doing a wonderful job. A lot of the leadership in the town is wonderful.”
“Economically, it’s tough out there, but if we continue to work together, good things can happen.”
For more information on health and wellness programs, visit www.weymouth.ma.us/health. Sullivan is working on a new “Healthy Wey” website to connect people to programs and resources in Weymouth.
For more information on the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, including a list of all 100 Unsung Heroines, visit www.mass.gov/women.

For more articles and information of interest to women in New Hampshire and Massachusetts visit us at www.applaudwomen.com.

From the May. 2009 issue of Allure Magazine.

How to Dress For a Wedding
An Interview with Monique Lhuillier

A Los Angeles-based fashion designer, Lhuillier has made wedding gowns for Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Jewel.

A wedding is a celebration, and your clothes should reflect that. The pictures of that day are going to be in the bride’s and groom’s lives forever, and beautifully dressed guests really help set the mood.

Dress Up. Being underdressed is the worst feeling, so I’d rather overdo it. Even if an invitation says “casual attired,” the furthest you should take that is a floaty cocktail dress or simple sheath. For a black-tie wedding, a long, formal dress is always appropriate, but if you’d rather go short, choose something knee-length in an opulent fabric. Silk charmeuse has a glamourous, ‘30s vibe and looks effortless but still fancy.

Take a hint. The location of the event is a big clue about what to wear. If the wedding is on a beach in Mexico, it’s pretty obvious that you should stay away from heavy beading. I love chiffon for a resort wedding. It’s romantic, dreamy, and elegant. If the party is in a more traditional setting, like a ballroom or a country club, chances are the dress code will be more conservative.

Embrace color. All black on a wedding guest is too severe. Jewel tones like a peacock blue and emerald green and omber patterns are sophisticated and vibrant. Stay away from white, not just at the reception but at any wedding event, from the rehearsal dinner to the day-after brunch. That’s the bride’s territory.

Stay focused. Choose one item to build your outfit around, whether it’s your shoes or an amazing piece of jewelry. You want to avoid looking as if you piled on every accessory you own. If you have a complicated dress with a lot of ruching or a bold print, keep the jewelry minimal. And those dyed-to-match shoes are a definite no-no—not everything needs to coordinate exactly.

Don’t go flat. Heels are tricky at an outdoor wedding, but flats don’t feel right with a formal dress. Wedges are great for lawn receptions. If a wedding is on sand, I wear embellished sandals, though I often take them off and go barefoot.

For more articles and information of interest to women in NH and MA visit our website at www.applaudwomen.com.