Coral Melon

Coral, Cool, and Classy are the 3 C's you must have in your closet this summer. But if you're going to pull off that cool and classy melon shade, you have to be in a dreamy state of mind.  This elegant hue makes a woman feel sophisticated and vibrant. With the sun beaming on us we have to find ways to stay cool while looking fabulous. Here are some fresh fashions that will keep your body temperature down but still make you look hot!  For this amazing coral melon trend, look for light fabrics like chiffon.  How about this Haute Hippie cowl neck blouse. Another great fabric that will help you stay cool is cotton, so here is a must have lightweight cotton dress with a cute textured neckline.  At the bottom of it, you'll find a ruffled hem by Elizabeth and James. This dress is to cute for words. 

Accessories are so fun anytime of the year especially in the summer when you get to show off so many colors. Why not coral melon? If you're out and about enjoying your local summer concert series at the park in your neck of the woods, wrap this ultraweight wrap in ultrasoft cashmere from "Eyelash" around your neck. Add some colored stone bangles like these by Cara. Also try these floral marquis stone beautiful teardrop earnings to add the right shimmer to that evening out under the stars.

And of course if your are wearing the cool coral shades you should be eating them as well. Cantaloupe provides more beta-carotene than any other melon. It's A-list benefits are due to Vitamin A which helps maintain good vision, fight infection, support cell growth and of course keep skin healthy. We know that is so important for us divas! Here's a quick tip as you enjoy this delicious fruit: Cantaloupe's rough surface makes it susceptible to bacterial contamination. But ladies I got you, and did some research for you all. USDA scientists also give a few helpful hints for us to eat this fruit and put the worries away.  Placing a cantaloupe in hot water at 172 degrees Fahrenheit for three minutes can significantly reduce levels of harmful bacteria without compromising fruit quality.   To cool off sometimes, I like drinking some cantaloupe water, otherwise known in Mexico as Aqua fresca de Melon. Just peel and chop cantaloupe, put it into the blender with ice and H20 and blend away. If the cantaloupe is ripe you don't need to add sugar, but tasteit, and if needed add a dash of sugar and 1/2 lime for a more tangy twist. 

Until next time ladies! As for me, I am here chilling with my Aqua fresca de Melon. Aaahh so fresh and so cool!

Don't forget with Palette 2 Palate color is in all year 'round!

A Twist of Lime

Time to add yet another twist to your wardrobe....How about lime? If someone's showing you their sour face, add some sweetness to their day by showing up in this gorgeous dome-button coat from Talbots. This is one way to really go green, especially if June gloom goes beyond June! You can also wear the cool coat on a cool summer evening and then carry it right into fall. And for a fresh new look on a summer day, squeeze into a little citrus with these lime green blouses also from Talbots: a cotton silk pinwheel print, and a lady-like loop-trim poplin shirt.

And of course, you can always dress up your favorite summer attire with lime accessories like this Ted Baker logo flap clutch from Nordstrom's and the always elegant Kate Spade who showcases her own twist on lime with this fabulous birds of a feather bangle at Piperlime.

Wear what you eat and eat what your wear....that means Lime is on the menu. Vitamin C in Lime keeps your gums healthy, so you can flash those pearly whites with confidence. And ladies, as we've learned from previous posts...the Vitamin C helps rejuvenate your skin. Lime juice and it's oils protect skin from infections and reduces body odor. Some tribes even use it as deodorant. But if you're not living in a primitive village, sweetheart, please, please keep the deodorant! Still, you can squeeze some lime into your water to help with digestion and constipation. And did I mention weight loss? Citric acid in lime is an excellent fat-burner. A glass of warm water with lime juice can help reduce your weight as well as provide a brilliantly refreshing anti-oxidant drink. Anti-oxidants eat up the bad cells called free radicals that can be harmful to your body. The best time for lime is May through October so you'll be able to enjoy them on the cheap for a few more weeks.

That's it for now. Keep puckering up with lime, and remember with Palette 2 Palate, color is in all year 'round!

Love in Lavender

I can't help but stop and take a look at my surroundings this spring. Everywhere I turn I see lavender flowers blooming. Those pretty purple flowers, not to mention the gorgeous falling jacaranda leaves remind me of a beautiful, fresh, new spring romance.

This spring, fall in love with lavender, and who knows, someone may fall in love with you. Painters are often inspired by lavender as they create masterpieces based on this amazing color. Lavender is a great color to add to your wardrobe and you have lots of shades to choose from depending on your taste. You can find a solid lavender top just like the eight sixty ruffled silk top above at Nordstroms for $88.00. You can combine it with any black or white bottoms.

This color is great to accessorize with silver, gold, or other metallics. How about metallic sandals and lavender toes? Next time you get a pedicure, think lavender!

If lavender's not your favorite color to wear, try using it as an accessory. Dooney and Bourke makes a gorgeous lavender pocket sac. Look for the medium zipper hobo. If you have the pocket book for it, they've dropped the price from $235 to $176. This little handbag makes a great accessory you can carry all spring long. You can even take it with you while wearing a plain white t-shirt and jeans. The lavender will make your whole outfit "pop!"

Also, look for dresses with lavender inspired prints. Above is a great space-dyed little dress I fell for from BCBG. It's a little pricey at $138, but well worth the love you'll get when you wear it.

Don’t just keep the lavender garden outside. Bring it inside to your dinner table, or take this mouthwatering color as part of a raw purple cauliflower salad to your next potluck. It'll be the talk of your table. They won't know what just popped out of the garden and landed on their dinner plate. If you're palate is craving cauliflower, why not go purple? It has the same flavor as the traditional white, but will add pizazz at your next dinner event. It also makes for a great, low-calorie snack, but make sure to eat it raw to get all the nutrients it has to offer.

Purple in this veggie comes from anthocyanin which is basically the pigment that appears in red, purple, and blue fruits and vegetables. It's a great source of vitamins C and K, as well as dietary fiber, which you need to stay regular. We don't want our fashionstas to get verklempt (emotional) because their system's all clogged up.

You might not find this purple broccoflower at your local grocery store, but you, as the health-conscious fashionista probably already have your local farmer's market programmed into your GPS. If not, you better get on it, girl! Imagine searching for the perfect purple cauliflower while carrying your cute little pocket sac. Wow, I think I'm in love!

That's it for now. Don't forget with Palette 2 Palate, color is in all year 'round!

Orange Crush

A true fashionista loves to make a grand entrance. Orange is the color you can wear to make heads turn, and before you leave, you can bet everyone in the room will have an orange crush on you.

Bold, bright colors can inspire and uplift anyone's mood. You might even get a smile from Oscar the Grouch. So go ahead, add some bright, bold citrus colors to your wardrobe this spring and summer, starting with orange.

When wearing this fantastic color, mix it up with something white. How about white shorts, or a white pair of pants or skirt?

Another great combo you can pair it with is brown. I'm not a fan of black and orange, unless, of course, you're going to a Halloween party. When it comes to accessories, silver is good, and also wood jewelry. Try wooden bangles and earrings to give it an ethnic look. If you're daring, combining turquoise jewelry with your orange will grab even more positive attention.

You can find eye-popping orange outfits in different price ranges from BCBG to Forever 21. We found a gorgeous sheer-pleated top at Forever 21 for under $30, and for those with a bigger budget BCBG has your orange crush for around $220.

I always say wear what you eat! So if you're wearing orange, then you're eating oranges. And you're also eating other popular citrus fruits like tangerines, lemons, and grapefruits, which are high in Vitamin C and good for your immune system.

But since we already talked Vitamin C, let's check out an exotic orange fruit...papaya! I love papaya because it's chock full of Vitamin A. Vitamin A is good for your eyes, skin, and nails. And if you're talking skin, fresh papaya has active enzymes that can give you healthy skin. Don't go for over-the-counter papaya lotions and scrubs. Step up your beauty regiment a notch and create your own natural treatment by not only eating the fruit, but using it on your skin. Over the counter products are processed to give them a longer shelf life. That means they lose the enzymes that give you that glowing summer skin. So go ahead and get the full effect of all papaya has to offer...and prepare for others to start crushin' on you, because your fabulous skin and your gorgeous orange ensemble will light up any room.

That's all for now. Don't forget with Palette 2 Palate color is in all year 'round!

Spring Fire!!

Spring is in full bloom, so add some fire to your wardrobe with some bright reds. But be careful not to walk out looking like a red hot chili pepper. As a true fashionista you're setting the trend so don't make me blush by catching you in red from head to toe. When wearing your red dress, mix it up with other colors...great metallic sandals, high heels, or even jewelry. And for the night out on the town you can dress it up with a black clutch purse, belt and high heels. You can find this hot little number at Forever 21 for under $20. What a great buy!

Now let's add fire to your dinner table. I told you earlier never to dress head to toe in red, looking like a chili-pepper, but you can definitely spice up your dinner table with one. For the palates that can handle it, you can enjoy a red chili while wearing your red spring dress. The good news is that chili peppers are off the charts in Vitamins A and C. They provide 174% of your daily value in Vitamin A and 83% of Vitamin C.

The downside is that they're super high in sodium if you eat to many; but one or two shouldn't hurt. For those with high blood pressure you can add red bell peppers to your spring dinners instead. One small red bell pepper has only 2% sodium and 100% of your daily value of Vitamin C. These two Vitamin C rich veggies are good for your smile and your skin. That's because vitamin C helps make for healthy gums and healing cuts and bruises. Vitamin A is good for good vision and helps boost your immune system. And as a health-conscious fashionista, you always want a pretty smile, glowing skin, and great vision as you walk down the street in your fiery red dress.

That's it for now...Don't forget with Palette 2 Palate color is in all year 'round!