Jay Miranda

Good Taste, Mom Life, Homeschooling

The Average Woman

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Jay Miranda, Lauren Downing Peters, and Rachel Kinnard. Photo: Racheal Pena.

I had the pleasure of speaking at CLOTHING & SIZE, a panel organized by Rachel Kinnard along with Sommer Green, Lauren Downing Peters, and Marcy Guevera-Prete. If the subjects of plus size fashion and body positivity interest you, it’s a great read.

The average American woman is said to wear a size 16. Marcy made a brilliant point about the average woman–she has obligations, works, is married, has kids. “She’s always buying the kids shoes!” This made me think the average American woman probably feels like her whole life has been marked by transitions. I have certainly felt this way. Babies, career moves, aging parents, etc.

Then there’s the idea that plus-size women see themselves as a body in transition. This might be true for some, but it’s often used as an excuse against making clothes in our size.

As you grow into your 30s, the meaning of fashion shifts. You might be thinking about or spending more on others than yourself. You might be focusing your energy on other areas of your life. That’s grown woman stuff.

And that’s fine, until you need a dress for an event.

My body HAS changed in the last few years and this HAS been a challenge I haven’t written about. I’m a few sizes smaller. My proportions have changed. Some things don’t fit as expected and I’ve felt a little sad in the dressing room at times. Dressing a different body is an adjustment.

Then, serendipitously, you find an amazing dress. And you get it for yourself, as you are now.

What can I say about Target? There’s no other place where you can buy detergent, play doh, and a dress that makes you feel like you’re falling love in Portofino.

OK, OK, that last part was probably due to the fact that my husband and I had dinner afterwards at SPERANZA, a beautiful little Italian restaurant in Los Feliz, Calif.

Gazing at my husband over a candlelit dinner while he tells how much he loves me in the unrestrained ways of pinot grigio? Um yeah, I could do that every night.

Garden canopy at Speranza.

But. This. Dress.

It’s a wrap dress, which means I got a perfect fit. It’s on-trend with these gorgeous prairie ruffles. It was flirty, romantic, feminine. It was cotton. It was under $40. Let’s all collectively hope that Target’s Who What Wear collaboration endures.

Maybe life shifts more toward experiences than appearances. But the right outfit can always enhance how we feel. And how we feel in the moment is ultimately what we remember.

If you want THIS PARTICULAR DRESS, you might still find it in-store in straight and plus-size.

Wishing you more of those wonderful, unexpected moments. As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Take Me to Texas

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Jacket (here), Shirt: New Look, Jeans: JCP (very similar), Shoes: Jessica Simpson, Sunglasses: Quay

I’ve listened to a lot of country music this summer. It all started with a Blake Shelton spotify playlist I randomly clicked on during one of my walks. Soon after I was listening to Miranda Lambert (don’t get me started on their separation!) Then I found the great George Strait, listened to his entire catalogue, and am still lamenting the fact that I missed his grand farewell tour.

That’s a good example of how I fall into new interests.

Anyway, the Southern breeze, cowboy heartache, and steely (yet fragile) songstresses have inspired my style lately. Been wearing a lot of denim. Sometimes double denim looks like this one. Ankle boots. Then I found this amazing pink suede fringe jacket. It is me—in jacket form. I held off buying it for a while. But when I saw it on major sale, I scooped it up.

Someone take me to Texas, preferably if it’s to a Miranda Lambert concert.

Photos by Jessica Castro

Perfect Match: Kat Von D Foundation x JCPenney

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In collaboration with Sephora inside JCPenney.
#SephoraInJCP #SoWorthIt

I’ve been looking for a great new foundation for a while. Lately, my skin looks kinda blah. Mom life has me sporting that “I haven’t slept-in in five years” look more than ever. My skin issues are: dark circles, uneven tone, redness, and a few breakouts. On top of that, I have a light tan from all those summer hikes (notwithstanding my use of SPF.) So I knew I needed a new shade but I wasn’t sure which one.

Enter Sephora’s Color IQ.

I typed in my old foundation’s brand and color to the Color IQ and was instantly matched to shades at Sephora–including one shade lighter and darker. That’s how I ended up finding my perfect, most up-to-date shade! With this info, I headed to my closest Sephora inside JCPenney. (It doubles as a chance to scope out their cute jeans.) I ended up getting the Kat Von D Lock-It foundation, primer, concealer, and translucent setting powder.

If you’re looking for full coverage foundation, you have to try this!

Here’s how the foundation looked upon application (no additional makeup.) I used the Kat Von D concealer on my nose, forehead, and undereye area.

These were taken 3.5 hours after application:

Overall, I was most impressed by the evenness of my skin and the brightening effect of the concealer.

And here’s the makeup at the end of the night, just before washing it off. I used Sephora’s oil-based makeup cleanser (a new personal favorite.)

A few tips!

  • Use this foundation with a light hand because a little goes a long way.
  • You can make a DIY palette for yourself using a piece of parchment paper on a flat surface. This helps you load your foundation brush evenly. Plus, easy clean-up!
  • If you want your makeup to look really outstanding in photos, finish your look with setting powder. That extra bit of light reflection helps a lot.
  • Don’t feel the need to follow makeup trends if they’re not your style. I like my makeup to look natural and on the minimal side. A fresh face, a rosy lip, and a strong brow are a timeless combination.

Photos by Jessica Castro, selfies my own

 

Starting the Day with the Vanity Fair Sport Bra

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Sponsored by Vanity Fair

I’ve been exercising regularly for the past few years and I find that having routines and familiar patterns before and after a workout help you get through the workout—and your day. My favorite time to exercise is in the morning. I’m NOT a morning person, but I make it work.

I’ve been exercising regularly for the past few years and I find that having routines and familiar patterns before and after a workout help you get through the workout—and your day. My favorite time to exercise is in the morning. I’m NOT a morning person, but I make it work.

My pre-workout routine starts with choosing my exercise clothes for the day. I’m extremely picky about my activewear, but I’m in LOVE with the Vanity Fair Sport bra. It’s hard to find quality (sporty) undergarments in general, and it’s not until you try a really great sport bra that you realize what you’ve been missing. The material on Vanity Fair’s medium-impact sport bra is soft, supportive and flexible. You get full range of motion and nothing pinches or pokes. It’s leaps and bounds beyond than the typical shelf sport bra.

Verdict: highly recommend. Sizes start at 36C and run through 44DD.

What else do you need for starting the day strong? In my case, it depends on the workout.

WALKING

Pre-workout: When I walk I aim to get between 3-4 miles down. Since it’s summer, I like to start early in the morning. On those mornings, I don’t eat breakfast beforehand. I bring about 24 ounces of water along with me and hydrate along the way.

Post-workout: I eat a protein-rich meal because it’s most satiating and replenishing. For my delayed breakfast I like to have a scrambled egg, rye toast, a side of cherry tomatoes (I usually have a roasted batch in my fridge), half an apple or a handful of blueberries, and a cup of peanut butter almond milk with protein.

To make it, I use two scoops of plain unsweetened whey protein, 1 cup of vanilla almond milk, and 1 tablespoon of peanut butter powder. You can add ½ a banana for sweetness. Whir this in a blender and enjoy.

HIKING, TRAINING

Pre-workout: When I train or hike, the workout involves more extra energy—so I don’t do them on an empty stomach. However, I time it so that my pre-workout meal happens and 1-2 hours beforehand.

Mid-workout: This only applies to hiking since we hike for a few hours but about halfway through, we eat. My favorite food to bring along is a peanut butter (spread thick!) sandwich on wheat bread. It’s easy to pack, is a great boost of protein, and tastes heavenly at an elevation of about 1200 feet. For either hiking and training, I always bring plenty of water.

Post-workout: Again, I make sure my next meal is protein-rich. Protein is what replenishes your muscles and these definitely get a great workout after a hike or a good strength training session. Lately, a favorite of mine is 5 ounces of tuna (packed with sea salt and no liquids), 1/2 cup of chickpeas, and a handful of sliced cherry tomatoes. I toss these with a dressing of about half a tablespoon of mayo, a teaspoon of mustard, a generous squeeze of lemon, and sprinkle of salt & pepper.

And yeah, sometimes we get pizza. Food is fuel and it’s all about balance.

You’ll be more likely to have a strong day if you have a strong pre- and post-workout routine. A big part is the foundation pieces you reach for day after day. This has quickly become my favorite sport bra. Go to Vanity Fair where you can get the details on fit and where to buy.

#VanityFairSport #MyBestFit

 

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