Autumn Trends 

Oh, autumn! You are my season. The leaves are changing, the air is crisp and clean but the sun is warm--in fact, the weather is perfect. At last I can sport my fall jackets and tall, sexy boots. Scarves, sophisticated ponytails, designer jeans.options never fall short for autumn wear.

Having just inventoried my closet and dresser drawers, I believe I may safely say that I have everything for the perfect fall look. (At least to begin with, one can never have enough cashmere.) And this year is going to be to even more perfect! Not only do I have the most gorgeous raincoat and darling full-coverage umbrella (and much else to make me look fabulous and therefore worthy for She She Me to claim as her favorite--albeit only--sister-in-law), my darling little honeymoon cottage is getting a fall makeover. Thanks to generous wedding gifts, even my kitchen is ready for the change of season. Thank heaven I thought ahead when creating my gift registries. I have sophisticated dinnerware, stylish home decor items, and colorful kitchen towels in fall hues -deep reds and browns (with a little turquoise tossed in to bump up the volume). FYI: luscious scents add to the ambiance of any home. Am having a very hard time leaving behind my beloved summer oils (possibly because they remind me of my honeymoon), but edging my way to aromatic spices and fall berries.

Sidetrack: By the way, Hawaii was amazing. The wedding was beautiful, as was I, in my chiffon wrap-waist gown (which, by the way, survived the heat and humidity with nary a yellow pit-stain thanks to newly-discovered incredible deodorant). My bouquet was not so lucky (didn't even make it past airport security), but all was forgotten as soon as we flew off to Maui.

What an Island! My Stud Muffin and I saw the Banyan Tree in Kaanapali (bought our own baby tree to commemorate the experience), thought about going to Hana and the Iao Needle but never quite made it, saw an original Hawaiian musical, shopped in Wailea (on the lookout for a good deal on designer sunglasses), shopped in Lahaina (became regulars at the mall, greeting shop owners by name.so 'local' of us), shopped at the resort (had to purchase large rolling suitcase to transport newly acquired items back home), and shopped at the airport to make the security wait seem more bearable (mostly magazines, but Stud bought a Harry Potter book to see what all the fuss was about). Oh, we also attempted to snorkel. This activity could possibly have been an oceanic adventure of sorts, had I been able to stand water in my ears. All said and done, it was a honeymoon to remember, I'll give you that.

Back to my obsession with autumn, now that I have my new favorite sweater (fringe and pom-poms are all the rage this season), the only thing that has me just the tiniest bit anxious as the weather turns nippy is my hair. Not that it's grungy or the consistency of straw, but I have my concerns. After having spent so much time in the sun, salt water and chlorine in Maui, my lovely locks are in desperate need of a little TLC. As with any emergency, such special care calls for an investment (time and money), but help is on the way...

Girly's Guide to Hair Revival

• Trim Time: No matter what length your hair may be it will always thank you graciously for a good trim. You can say goodbye to that enemy-of-all-that-is-silky-and-lustrous, those evil Split Ends. These guys are mean, and they only get worse the longer you leave them. Cut them off at the first sign of splittage (is that even a word?); if you don't, the 'one inch' you request from your stylist may turn into two or three, leaving you with more of a cut than a trim. But at least your hair will feel and look great. Sometimes length must be sacrificed for beauty (though this does not hold true for skirt length).
• Masking: You will never regret investing in a great hair mask. Though there are do-it-yourself-using-cooking-ingredients-remedies to bad hair situations (honey is never pleasant or simple to apply), I always opt for the ready-made--and professionally researched, developed and tested--products. You can use a mask for shine, strength, moisture, and a myriad of other hair wants and needs. Also, adding a little protein to your diet will naturally enhance the strength and shine of your hair.
• Deep Condition: An absolute must for healthy, happy strands. A good rule of thumb, deep condition once a week (the perfect excuse to light a few candles and soak in a tub full of bubbles). Slather on a luscious deep conditioner, cover hair with showercap, wrap warm damp towel around cap and let conditioner penetrate for 5-10 minutes. Then rinse completely. Deep conditioners can run the gamut as far as price goes, but I found a really fabulous all-in-one restoring treatment that I absolutely swear by.
• New Style: This is completely up to you, girls (though it is beneficial to consult with the man in your life before taking the dive). I am personally struggling in this category. Long or short? Long or short? I grew these coppery-brunette tresses out for the wedding, but wedding's over. Short is sexy. Long is sexy. Mid-length: also sexy. This really makes life tough. Though, I suppose whatever length I choose will, in fact, be sexy. So, moving on; take note that if you have extremely dry hair that will not respond to your attempts at rehabilitation and re-moisturization, you may have reached an impasse: the hair must be cut. Whatever length you resolve to wear this fall, be sure to add volume and curl--sexy waves or extra volume will definitely get you noticed.
• Bits & Pieces: Of course, there are many miscellaneous small ways by which to improve the condition of your hair. For instance, invest in a nice hair brush. Large paddle brushes will silken your hair, while round or oval brushes add volume. Never use rubber bands for styling, as they split and break hairs. Instead, use fabric coated bands or those great no-ouch hair elastics. Don't overdo it with hairspray, mousse, or other damaging hair products. Keep the hair dryer at least a few inches away from hair to avoid burning/heat damage. And of course, go easy on the straightening, coloring, perming, and swimming (that one's easy; it is autumn-time to pack up the bikinis).

I'm off to fix my locks. Hubby is taking me out to dinner for our anniversary (seven weeks!) so I need to look smashing. Sexy new dress, shiny hair (all the better to run his fingers through) and kissable lips (perfect occasion for favorite new lipstick); an unbeatable combination!

Ta ta, all!

Girly

Think Pink in October

She She Me would like to introduce our newest stationery notecard style, Pretty in Pink, in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Show your support by purchasing a set of these darling new notecards, and during the month of October we will donate a portion of the proceeds to breast cancer research.

5 New Notecard Styles in the Chic Shop

The Chic Shop has "5" new notecard styles! I'm not fat, I'm pregnant clears up a few questions for friends who thought you had a few too many slices of pizza. I believe in manicures makes a personal statement about your stylishness. It's a beautiful shoe shopping day let's the world know your intentions. Let's talk about me is the perfect way to update your friends on your favorite topic of conversation. Pretty in Pink says it all.