4 Great ideas to get you fab moms ready for your next girls night out!

I know, I know! There's hardly enough time to finish a cup of coffee, and planning a date with your BFF's seems like an impossible task. This is especially true for working moms. By the time you get home at night and caught up with the kids,  your husband and cooking, you'd much rather prefer spending any free time you get thereafter, doing absolutely nothing at all!  and that's okay, but time spent away from hubby and the kids might actually be just the boost you need to get back onto the domestic bandwagon, feeling more refreshed and a much happier you!

It's vital that we make time to connect with our girlfriends, even in...no, especially in the midst of our chaotic lifestyle as Supermoms. Besides, only girlfriends really understands our nagging concerns about looking and feeling good and only girlfriends truly understand and share our reasoning behind why it's just SO important to get a wardrobe make-over, as in yesterday! Also, it's been said that spending time with your girlfriends, improves your physical and emotional well being. So many times we are left angered and shattered because our better-halves simply don't "get us",when truth be told, they will never really get us the way our girlfriends do. For, 1 - they are not women and 2 - men really are from Mars!

With that cleared up, I hope you are ready to have some serious fun hanging out with your besties. If simply going for a coffee at a bookstore every now and then is more your thing, by all means, go for it. I love a cosy catch-up session at a tiny coffee shop or restaurant, but while preparing this post for all you fabulous moms, I realised just how much more there is to enjoy together as girlfriends. Now all you have to do, is convince hubby or grandma to see to the kids for just a couple of hours while you go out and recharge.

Here's just a few GNO (or girls day out) ideas every fab mom and her girlfriends should try:

1. Active mom

Charity runs happens throughout the year and it's just so much fun! with the added bonus of getting fit and helping others in need. Enter yourself and a group of girls into one of these and put on some silly costume (if permitted). Whether running or walking, prepare yourselves for some serious laughter. If you hate running as much as I do, try cycling, hiking or helping out at a shelter.

2.Creative mom

For the more creative group, there's just so much to do! Join a mosaic class and create fabulous artwork for each other and your homes. If working with glue is not for you, maybe paint is. Join an art class together. If paint doesn't tickle your fancy, try clay and sighn up for pottery. for the bookworms there's literary festivals and literary group meetings. Enjoy exploring your creative skills!

3.Shopaholic mom

Here's a GORGEOUS way to get the girls together, dress up and do what you do best. Shop! Find out whether there are new boutiques opening in your area or which fashion stores have red carpet events coming up, and attend. If you are not there to spend money, just browse. Living the fab life (on a budget)...shhhh, no one needs to know!

4. Fine dining mom

High tea to me, is so....sex and the city! It's one of the few occasions you get to dress up glamorously in the middle of the day, to have tea, with friends. What better way to catch up on some long overdue gossip and eat cake till it comes out your ears. If on the other hand, high tea is not for you, then surely drinks at Camps Bay or wine tasting in Stellies are.

We are so lucky to live in the most beautiful city and country in the world. There seriously are so much to do, to put them all down here will be impossible. Find what works for you and your girls and have fun!

FabMom Tip: Make sure you meet up with the girls at least once every season. If you can more often, great! But always keep the contact.

Girl Power!!
FabMom xoxo

The timeless Audrey Hepburn look in less than 30 minutes!

FabMoms, can you believe Valentine's Day is just a few hours away! Why am I so excited you may ask, it is after all just another day and besides, celebrating V-day just means spending more money we just don't have, right. Not if I can help it! I've been sitting here, wondering just how I am going to make myself look absolutely fabulous tomorrow and spend the least amount of time and money doing so. I know that as mothers, we don't have that much time at our disposal and even less time to spend on ourselves. So I went and found a look, absolutely gorgeous, costs very little to no money at all and will take you less than 30 minutes to do.

I don't know about you, but I love the classic look. It's both timeless and elegant and with my help, wont need a make-up artist or hairstylist. You can do it all by yourself and fool everyone by thinking you've just spent the day shopping and being pampered ;-)

Remember,we're moms, but we're women first. And a happy woman is a happy wife is a happy mom!

Happy Valentine's Day FabMoms!!! xx

Get the Audrey Hepburn look in less than 30 minutes: 

Smokey Eyes (5 minutes)

See, it does not have to be difficult and time consuming at all! Next...

The perfect Red lips (5 minutes)

Guaranteed to be a show stopper no matter where you plan on going!

The Audrey hairdo! (10 minutes)

                                                                                       Works on:

:

· Medium to long hair
· Blow-dried straight hair that has some volume

Stuff to have handy:
· Sectioning clip (see photo)
· Lots of bobby pins
· Hairspray
· Shine spray

How to:
Step 1

Split hair in half, creating a top and a bottom section.
Step 2
Clip the top section out of the way.
Step 3
In a messy, rough way, create a mini-French twist using the bottom section (see inset photo No.2) and pin with bobby pins. Don't worry about what this looks like; it will be covered eventually.
Step 4
Once the bottom is secured, release the top section and create a side part.
Step 5
Tease the crown area of your head to add volume. Spray hairspray underneath that teased area for hold.

Step 6
Gather the top section as if you're going to make a ponytail, but don't. Instead, tuck and roll the section inward into a French twist.
Step 7
Using several large bobby pins, slide them along the inside seams of the twist to secure. Using smaller bobby pins, secure the outside of the French twist seam by tucking them into the hair.
Step 8Smooth out the front if it looks messy then do a spritz of shine spray followed by hairspray. 

The Vintage Vamp Hairdo! ( 10 minutes)

Works on:
· Medium to long hair
· Unwashed hair

Stuff to have handy:
· Bobby pins (large and small)
· Hair elastic
· Hairspray
· Shine spray
· Large-barrel curling iron
· Fine-tooth comb

How to:
Step 1
Using a large-barrel iron, curl the bang section of your hair forward.
Step 2
Clip the section into place (see inset photo No.1). We'll revisit it later.
Step 3
Pull the rest of the hair into a tight, low, side ponytail. Make sure that it's bump-free.
Step 4
Using the curling iron, curl the whole side ponytail in an upward angle.
Step 5
Once the ponytail is curled up, spray it well with hairspray, then roll it up toward your scalp and secure it with 

bobby pins. You'll need lots of bobby pins, large and small, to be sure that the roll stays in place.
Step 6
Once the roll is secured, take the clip out of the front bang area, allowing the big curl to fall.
Step 7
Using a fine-tooth comb, smooth the front section over to the side the roll is on (see inset photo No.2). After combing it a couple of times, it will turn into a nice retro wave. Once that happens, spray with hairspray, then bobby-pin the ends to the roll.
Step 8
Finally, spray all over with hairspray and 

give it a minute to dry.

For more of these quick and easy and beautiful hairstyles visit Totalbeauty.com

Yours in fashion

FabMom xx

Great boobs! Just a bra size away.

Many years ago I worked in an exclusive lingerie boutique. The money wasn't great, the hours were horrible and before you even ask, no, we did not get the stuff for free and certainly did not walk around with matching bra's and panties. But I loved working there for one reason, and it was that every single day, I was given the opportunity to help women feel more confident about their bodies and more specifically, their boobs. Women would walk in there completely lost and leave feeling as though the world had suddenly become a better place. Men would walk in there and not even know what a "push-up" was and they'd return a few days later thanking us for helping them make their women feel so special. I literally felt like the wizard of Oz! It was the best feeling knowing, while locking up at 9 at night, that we've made a few people really happy that day.

I realised then, and even more so now that I'm a mother, just how many women are walking around with the wrong bra size, not knowing that they are and as a result are feeling uncomfortable with their bodies and the people around them.Whether we like it or not, our boobs are part of what makes us this special specie - a woman. And we need to treat "them" with care. Almost like we would the hair on our head. You wouldn't just get any products for your hair, don't get just any old bra to support your breasts either. 

So with the experience gained and now also being a mom and able to place myself in the same position as my clients back then, I'm hoping to once again make a few of my female readers very happy today.

Here are the facts no one bothers to tell us women:

- Statistically, a whopping 70% of women wear the incorrect bra size. Remember, your dress size does NOT determine your bra size.

- It's important to get yourself professionally measured at any lingerie store. That's the first step to better looking boobs. It's FREE and PAINLESS!

- Remember, a woman's body changes constantly, at least 6 times in a lifetime! Measurements should be done frequently.

- A woman should ideally be measured WITHOUT her bra on. This makes the measurements and bra size more accurate.

- The bra's band should be comfortable under your shoulder blades. If it rides up, the band is too big. 

- If your breasts spill out of the bra either on top, from the bottom or the sides, the cup size is too small.

- ALWAYS make sure your bra straps are adjusted properly. pressure on the shoulders and under the arms are an indication that your straps needs adjusting.

- Once the bra is on, lift both your arms in the air, bring them down and move your arms from side to side. Does the bra feel uncomfortable even after you've adjusted it properly? GET RID OF THE BRA!!

-Tip: Always make sure the newly purchased bra is on its most comfortable when tied on the widest band. With time, as it gets worn and washed, your bra will stretch. This enables your bra to last longer as you can then just adjust the band tighter every time!

- Speaking about washing your bra. HAND WASH ONLY!!! this prevents the under wire from bending and poking through the fabric (OUCH!) and it also ensures your bra looks and feels new for longer. Admit it, these things are pricey!!!

- Yet you can't go without them! NO BRA CAN CAUSE SPINAL STRAIN OR MUSCULAR DYSFUNCTION.

- For the bigger bust - good news!!! Playtex’s D to G collection can be found in almost any department store (Edgars, Foschini etc), Woolies' Distraction range goes up to 44E and Milady's has sizes up to 46E. Amazing,right!

Hope these little facts helped you FabMoms, even if, just a little!
For any further questions, I'll be at your disposal ;-) 

Goodluck perking up!

FabMom xx

Chunky Junky

We're already well into February! Seriously, where is the time going?! Although us Cape Town folk are lucky to still be soaking up the sun, there is already a slight chill slowly creeping up on us. If you are anything like me, you've already started scavenging the shops for those fab items to keep you warm during the Autumn months ahead. My crush item this year is the over-sized sweater or funky chunkies as I like to call them. Not only are they good at keeping one nice and toasty, but if worn the right way, they can be super chic too! And not just for when you're lounging in front of the TV catching up to your favourite episode of Vampire Diaries, but for work also and just about any other occasion. If you're pulling up your nose right now in confusion, here's a few ideas that might just get you too, hooked on this trend.

Such a great combo! Here, the chunky and my other style crush, the maxi. It's just one of those styles that work so well for both work and play.

                                                   

The Chunky and Shirt. A relaxed look great for work!

Get out of your comfort zone and pair your chunky with shorts and leggings or high boots. Otherwise, if you prefer playing it safe, just a pair of smart shorts and your chunky will do just fine!

Now that you know what my Must-have item of next season is, I hope you'll go out and find your own or better yet, I hope I've managed to convince you how gorgeous these funky chunkies really are and that you'll give them a go yourself!

Either way...Happy shopping!
Yours in Fashion
xoxo Fashion Butterfly

My tribute to Mandela - Remarkable father of our nation!

This morning, for the first time since his death, I really felt emotion and started to cry. I am the type of person who connects emotions to experience. This morning when I turned on the TV and heard late president Nelson Mandela's long time friend, George Bizos, speak about what a truly incredible man, friend and confidant Mandela was, emotion and experience finally collided inside me. I thought to myself WOW, where have I been all this time. Here was one of the best, not only politicians or leaders, but man, living right under my nose and I never took the time to really get to know his struggle, apart from the little they taught at school.

Like everyone my age, I was lucky to grow up in a free South Africa. By the time I realised what was going on around me, Apartheid was already banished. And as it is, until you have experienced something for yourself, you'll never understand nor appreciate the sweetness of its rewards. 

I do not like speaking politics, I just don't understand enough of it, but I believe this post Is so relevant. So many young mothers like myself don't understand the struggle our parents and our parents' parents had to go through to give us the "convenient" life we are afforded today. It makes my respect and love for them so much greater. There is a reason we can get up every morning and take our kids to school, go to work or have a lavish breakfast with our friends and not have to look over our shoulders every time, and that reason is Nelson Mandela. 

Thank you Tata for all you have done, including creating such a beautiful country! May your legacy live on in the hearts of our children and the generations to follow.

Ubuntu

xoxo Fashion Butterfly