How to “spring forward” this season

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Spring Fashion File – Celebrity stylist, host of Style Network’s makeover show “How Do I Look?” and Yoplait Light Two Week Tune Up spokesperson, Jeannie Mai gives you the rundown on how to spring forward this season

Transition from winter to Spring
·         Take the opportunity to do a little spring cleaning.  You can freshen up your wardrobe by adding a few new pieces that follow spring trends, and wearing them with basics and staples like a great pair of jeans. It’s also a good opportunity to get rid of anything you haven’t worn in over a year.
·         Freshening up can also mean a quick tune up if you’re feeling a little weighed down from the winter months. For example, the Yoplait Light Two Week Tune Up plan a quick way you could lose 5 pounds in 2 weeks (find more details on the plan at Yoplait.com) to look and feel your best while rocking spring trends. 

Trends for your tresses – what’s hot for hair
·         My favorite is the low bun. Straight from Guido Palau, who created the look for Nina Ricci's spring show, he recommends starting with a center part. Next, pull hair into a low ponytail, making sure to cover the ears. Then twist the ponytail into a loose knot. Remember, a too-tight style will look overly austere, so keep it loose for a touch of bohemian flair!
·         For a change, try something serious with a more severe side part.
·         Also, from an off-to-the-side swoop to thick, Jane Birkin-esque '70s fringe, bangs are SO back!

Must-haves for makeup
·         DYING over the new makeup trends set for the spring/summer 2011 season! They’re absolutely fabulous if you wish to look dazzling with the gorgeous pastel eye makeup trend that’s so perfect for the warm season!
·         You've probably seen the outbreak of Peacock collections that MAC and Shu Uemura both have launched this season so it is no wonder that color is totally in. Experiment by adding one different color shadow to your look for the day, you don't have to look like a peacock going to work, right? Unless that’s what you were aiming for.
·         Nude has always been pretty much in but this season, try going for bolder lips like fuscia, red, or hot pink. I  love taking a  powerful lipstick and then lightly dab the color onto my lips so it leaves a semi-stain, just bitten look. Take a tip from Fendi's Spring 2011 collection, featuring a matte bright orange. Bright lips are in babe so pucker up!

What to put in your wardrobe
·         Spring 2011's floral trend sees pieces set to brighten up wardrobes in bright botanicals, oriental blooms and ditsy prints. Clash them to make a statement.
·         It’s time to wake up and smell the roses, guys and gals…..and the poppies and the lilies and the peonies too. Bold flower-power prints are hot off the runways from designers such as Jil Sander, Erdem, Jaeger, Kenzo, Vivienne Westwood, Mui Mui, Dries Van Noten and Antonia Marras.
·         Think palazzo pants, sheer blouses, or handbags and shoes, these botanical beauties are here to brighten up our spring and summer.  Also, feminine prints are rediscovered on another one of Mai faves, floaty maxi dresses.

All about accessories
·         If I had to pick one stand out musty that will be mine for the season, it’s the belt purse. There are the years when a particular style of clutch is on trend, and then there's 2011. It's out with the clutch and in with a belted alternative. It’ll be this year’s casual fashion trends, the belt purse is a statement piece of daytime wear that quickly went from the catwalks of Hermes and Pucci to the streets.

Need more style advice?
·         Check out more of Jeannie’s tips for maximizing your wardrobe – like choosing a go-to staple dress or making your accessories work double-time – visit www.Facebook.com/Yoplait

Meet TK Toppin Author of The Lancaster Rule

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So, you wanted to know a little bit about me. Honestly, I’m not that exciting a person unless you catch me with a martini in my hand. Oh, did I just say that out loud? Anyway, hopefully, my books are far more entertaining and engaging. At least, I’d like to think so—and no, I don’t write with a martini in my hand. But that would be interesting… Moving along, as I keep saying when asked about my books, who doesn’t like to read stuff like that?

Okay, so, I’m T.K. Toppin and I’m a gal and not a dude (as some people have mistaken me for) and I’m not quite what you’d expect with a name like that. I’m of Japanese descent and I was born and live, of all places, in Barbados. Life here is relatively idyllic and laid back, so long as you don’t mind hot and muggy for most of the year. But, we do have beaches with lily-white sands and crystal clear oceans…if you’re so inclined to indulge in. I’m more the landlubber who prefers creature comforts like air-conditioning and cool, dry places where the only thing wet is the bar.

I write science fiction, but what is now known these days as science fiction romance or SFR. I chose this genre because, well, I enjoy reading or being entertained by all stuff sci-fi and being transported to a different universe. The same can be said for any genre, but I have to say that I’ve a soft spot for techie stuff.

While I’m not a hard-core sci-fi writer, my work tends to gravitate to more realistic elements. Like stretching the truth a bit. By incorporating some mild romance situations from my main characters, to me, brings a certain amount of realism to it. Since people-watching is a favourite pastime, I like to introduce basic human behaviour into my books. So yes, I write with a bit of humour as well. In the Lancaster trilogy, I tried to capture what normal people do and say, of course by normal, I mean normal in the world I created for them.

The Lancaster trilogy starts off with The Lancaster Rule, then The Master Key and finally The Eternal Knot. The first was released last April, the second is due out this July, and the third, I’m still scrubbing it clean with some Windex.

Also in the works are two other tales, one being a basic spin-off from the Lancaster series. I’m calling it The Grosjean Chronicles since one character—to me—practically jumped off the pages and demanded more airtime. I’d introduced this character, Grosjean, in The Master Key, and truly wanted to write a little more about her. But it wouldn’t have pertained to the story. So, I created a whole new adventure for her.

The other book in the works is To Catch A Marlin. Again, the story is based in the Lancaster-world. After all, the world I created is intact and in working order, so why the hell not, right? This story has absolutely nothing to do with any Lancaster or anything relating to the Lancasters. It’s basically a cop story. I love a good mystery and I wanted to write one but couldn’t quite merge into another genre completely. By incorporating sci-fi with the mystery, it began to come alive. Nothing like an outer space cop-chasing-baddie story!

Would I cross-pollinate into another genre. I think I would, given the right motivation and the right story, and do exactly that. Integrate. I can’t see myself writing strictly a romance book with contemporary themes and situations, unless mixed with something else, like said sci-fi or mystery. But strictly romance? Nope. Nor can I see myself heading into young adult stories (I mean, come on, I like being a little graphic, especially the fight scenes and the cussing!). And well, as for vampires and werewolves, I’ll leave that to the experts. I might consider some dragons, mind you. So some fantasy writing is somewhere up there in the near future.

Well, enough about me. See, not that exciting.

Thanks AJ for allowing me to babble on and on about myself. And if anyone is looking for me on the web, here are my links:

Blog/Website: http://www.thelancasterrule.blogspot.com
Facebook: The Lancaster Rule / Written by T.K. Toppin
Twitter: TKToppin