Jenny's Mouthwash: Masako Mizutani

 Hello, lovelies! It's Jennifer Fabulous here to introduce you to more glamboyant fabulousness!

I was searching for beauty tips the other day, when I stumbled upon a blogging icon from Japan. Her name is Masako Mizutani. Isn't she pretty?











Oh, and did I mention her age? Masako Mizutani is 43 years old.

Yeah, that's right. This Asian model is a housewife with a 20-year-old daughter! And she has NEVER had plastic surgery.

Masako's doll-like appearance, ethreal aura, ageless skin, and big brown eyes have made her an object of obsession for millions of men and women all over the world.

There is even a Chinese blog dedicated to her, which has already reached more than 10,000 followers.

In interviews, Masako has stated she spends five hours per day taking care of her skin.

Now that is true dedication to being gorgeous! Would you spend that much time on your face?!

In several interviews, Masako has graciously given tips on how to look younger. She follows these simple, everyday rules, which I have paraphrased here:

Get off your butt: Exercising is not only good for your health, but does wonders for your appearance. It helps tighten skin and give your face a healthy glow.

Get rid of the other butt: Smoking has been proven to speed up the normal aging process of skin, causing premature wrinkles. Looking for a more scientific answer? Mayo Clinic states, "The nicotine in cigarettes causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin. This impairs blood flow to your skin. With less blood flow, your skin doesn't get as much oxygen and important nutrients, such as vitamin A. Many of the more than 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke also damage collagen and elastin, which are fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity. As a result, skin begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely because of smoking."

Eat healthy, fresh food: Eat three to four balanced meals per day. More specific foods designed to help you look younger include sweet potatoes, salmon, tomatoes, citrus, leafy greens, and red wine.

Drink lots of water: Well, um, duh.

ALWAYS APPLY SUNSCREEN IF YOU'RE GOING IN THE SUN: Your mother warned you and now this hot Japanese chick is doing the same. Listen, girls, listen.

Moisturize like it's your job: Masako prefers vitamin-E based creams or lotions. She cannot emphasize enough the importance of keeping your skin (all over your body) soft.

What do you think of these tips? Do you follow some of these already? And what do you think of Masako?

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Miss Jennifer Fabulous is both a dear friend and regular guest poster on Amber's Mouthwash! Every month she has a feature Jenny's Mouthwash, where she posts on any and all things amazing and fabulous. Be sure to check out her blog too! A monthly dose of her just isn't enough!

Happy Cyber Monday! Amberie

Hello dear readers! 

I wanted to wish you all a very happy CYBER MONDAY!

As some of you may (or may not!) know, I have an online boutique, Amberie. It is a fun collection of vintage leather, and designer pieces (such as Coach, Lockheart...there was a even a Valentino!!), and then handmade jewelry.

Shop Amberie 

In celebration of today, I'm hosting an awesome sale! 

Free domestic shipping, and even freebies with orders over $50!

Sale starts 11pm Nov 27th (CA time!)

And as a bonus (and a thank you!) for being readers of Amber's Mouthwash - when you make a purchase, be sure to let me know you're a reader in the "note to seller" section, and I will be sure to include a special gift!

Happy shopping!

Amber's Mouthwash Black Friday Gift Giving Guide

Aaah, Black Friday! Did you start your shopping at 9pm last night with Toys R Us?! Personally, I find that ridiculous: tradition dictates that shopping starts at 3am Friday morning, not 9pm Thursday night!!

Anyway, in egar preperation for the ultimate mayhem that is Black Friday - I have prepared three Gift Giving guides. Enjoy!

For your Quirky Best Friend:
She loves the slightly strange things in life: those moustache earrings? She "needs" those in her life! Those crazy Jeffrey Campbells that bewildered you? She owns three pairs. 

Gift Giving Guide, Your quirky best friend by ambersmouthwash featuring a wool dress

For your Fashion Blogger Friend:

We've all probably got a fashion blogger friend by now (ahem). She seems to always be one step ahead of the fashion curve: so how do you shop for the girl who seemingly has everything? Simple. Stick to these two rules and you'll always have a hit: vintage, and if it seems a little too quirky to wear, chances are she'll love it.

Holiday Gift Giving Guide: Your fashion blogger friend by ambersmouthwash featuring 14 karat gold jewelry

And of course, for yourself!!
Look at you! You're a champ! Selflessly shopping for others. You deserve a treat - Alexander McQueen style. Can't afford it (like me)? Truth be told: I just saw something very similar to this in Forever 21. Promise. Hurray for you!

Shopping Gift Guide: For Yourself by ambersmouthwash featuring black jewelry

Happy shopping my dear readers! Watch out for those shopping carts!

Vintage Plaid, New Bag

Aldo bag

 

Target dress (old), Target suede boots, Vintage belt, Aldo bag, Piko jacket // PS - the photos are supposed to look like this! I was experimenting with shutter speeds and exposure.

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Today I went shopping after putting together the menu for the big day: Cornbread dressing (with veggie sausage and granny smith apples), baked yams with marshmallows, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry compote, mulled/spiced wine, turkey (pre-baked - vegetarians don't cook turkeys!) pumpkin pie, dinner rolls... Whew!

It is a holiday tradition that I make the entire dinner, by myself.

What's on your Thanksgiving menu? Any last minute dinner ideas?

Also, today is my boyfriends birthday!! Happy Birthday my love!

French Lessons: Say Quoi?

For today's French Lesson, I thought it would be fun to share with you some funny and interesting facts about French culture, history and statistics. I was sharing these with one of my friends from France, and even she was surprised by a few ("Non, pas possible..."). 

Enjoy!

France has changed its form of government 9 times since the French Revolution in 1789, including 5 republics, 2 empires and 2 constitutional monarchies.

Which is quite interesting, considering France has only had 4 presidents in the last 37 years (since 1974) : Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, François Mitterrand, Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy !

The Languedoc-Rousillon city of Nîmes is the birthplace of jeans. The distinctive fabric was imported to California by Levi Strauss in order to make tough work trousers for gold diggers. Denim is short for “de Nîmes”

French people are the second biggest consumers of alcohol per capita in the Western world - after Luxembourg...

French people have the highest female and third highest male life expectancy in the European Union.

French literature is very popular and well known. Charles Perrault was one of France’s most influential children’s writers. He wrote books such as Cinderella (well, re-wrote, it's actually a translation of a Chinese tale; but in the Asian version she has slippers of fur [vair], not glass [verre], Sleeping Beauty and Puss in Boots.

Under laws that no-one has ever got round to removing from the statute book, it is illegal to call a pig Napoleon.

In 1607, the longest gallery in the world, the Grande Galerie of the Louvre was built for King Henri IV. On wet days, the King and his court held miniature fox hunts inside, riding up and down the centre.

Rocks, trees and grass were moved indoors to make it as real as possible.

In France, in exceptional cases it is possible to marry a deceased person with the authorization of the President of the Republic.

A bientot mes amis!!

New [vintage] Coach Bag with Blue and Yellow

Why, hello there lovelies! How are you? Me, well...I'm having a bit of an issue. You see I'm rather sick of myself at the moment. I'm with myself all day. Everywhere I go, there I am. I'm in my head all day, and sometimes, blogging, keeping up on twitter, facebook etc, only makes it worse. I am actually quite literally, tired of seeing myself.

This has to be some sort of condition.

You see, it seems that no matter what I do, or how hard I try I'm always disappointing someone. Did so-and-so see that awesome job I did on such-and-such? No; but they did make it pour acid rain for that little mistake I made. Did I plan out my day to be super productive, only to change it at the last minute so I could meet up with a friend, only to have said friend push back impromptu meeting by 2 hours (which left me with a completely unproductive day)? Yes and yes. 

Wait what's that? You've experienced this too?

Well, shit. There goes my whole "poor little victim" me speech.

Guess we're all in this together.

Forever 21; dress, top and sunglasses (how??!), my new [vintage] Coach bag, doll necklace from recent trip to Mexico.

One thing is for sure; the fall colors are absolutely amazing this fall. And, doesn't my little doll just make you smile?!

A Shoppers Guide to Shopping; The Do's and Don'ts

Well dear readers, as I sit here on a gray and rainy morning in my newly purchased "fluffy clothes" (my new, completely mis-matched set of pajama pants that are so wrong they're right, zipper robe and house slippers that are so fluffy they look like a small animal), one thing is certainly clear: the holiday season is upon us! It is now time to head out to your nearest coffee shop and grab peppermint-chocolate something, re-locate your favorite pair of gloves, and dig out your weather proof boots. Oh, and your wallet.

Because dear readers the holiday season also means that you are going to be performing copious amounts of shopping. Shopping for you, your best friend, your mother, your father, your sister, your brother (maybe), your boyfriend, your cousin, your co-worker who may or may not be plotting against you ( buy her a gift to throw her off), and then that cute boy who works next door. And then you. Again. In other words plenty of shopping, at plenty of stores. 

It is in this acknowledgement that I have decided to issue a public service announcement of sorts: A Shoppers Guide to Shopping; the Do's and Don'ts. Follow the shopping tips below (all of which come from personal experience and observation), and I can personally guarantee you an awesome holiday shopping experience.

Don't shop drunk.
Now, I know that you and your girlfriend haven't seen each other in a while, and you just wanted to "catch up". I also know that you skipped lunch at work in order to make up for the calories you planned on drinking with her: the fact that you're using the clothing racks to prop yourself up is a dead giveaway.  But here's the thing: when you ask the sales girl to get you that "amazing" pair of boots - again - and she has to point out that she already did, and that they are on your feet, you know it's time to call it a night. Also, just imagine how you're going to feel the next morning when you find your receipt: $400. And guess what? No returns.  Which leads me to...

Do know the shops policies before you buy.
Do they accept returns? If so, how many days do you have? Do the tags have to remain attached? If they do take returns are there any exceptions? If they don't take returns, is exchange or store credit an option? Always ask before you buy. Ignorance is never a winning policy.

Do look your sales person in the eye.
When the sales person approaches to ask you a question, take items from you, help you with a size - anything - make eye contact. I cannot stress this enough. Many people who are perfectly polite in their day to day lives seem to forget all basic manners when shopping. Your salesperson is just that - a person. Treat them like one. Make eye contact, say "please" and remember your "thank you"s.

Don't bring your entire group of girlfriends.
Why do you need all 17 of your girlfriends to voice their opinion on a pair of jeans that you like? It will take 20 minutes for them all to decide if they really like it, and they will all end up having the same question: "Well, what do you think?" And you know what will happen? You'll have Jane take a picture of your butt, and you'll send the picture to your boyfriend, and since he's always been bad with texting you back right away, you'll put the jeans on hold, and leave without them. Bottom line? Shop alone. Or, bring one or two girlfriends with you (at the very most).

Do place your items back on the hanger.
From the young age that a child first gains their dexterity, they are held responsible for putting things back in their proper place. You know who doesn't have dexterity? A newborn. Newborns also poop on themselves. The proper place for that dress you just tried on is the hanger, not the floor.

Do keep keep your proper under garments on.
When trying on anything that comes close to your crotch (which in this case is anything and everything), please for the love of all things holy, keep your underwear on. Saleswomen notice everything. That snail trail you left on the body suit? Yes, she noticed. She also told all of her coworkers, and there was an e-mail sent out about it too. Also, you've been blacklisted. It would be in your very best interest to avoid that store for the rest of your life. Folks, wear underwear.

Do leave your children at home.
Unless you are shopping for the child and you need to see how a will garment fit them, or it is a shopping trip for them, leave your children at home. The super trendy boutique that you love shopping at? They don't carry children's clothing. That was on purpose. Those small dressing rooms that don't fit a stroller? Yes, that was on purpose too. The saleswomen know that when you enter with your children, it will only be a matter of time before little Jimmy is playing with the rings, little Suzie is hiding in the clothing racks, and mom is pretending to be blissfully unaware, hiding in the dressing room

Don't make the salesperson play charades.
In other words, when you enter the store please put your cell phone away.

Don't be a last minute shopper.
It's 7 minutes before the store closes, and you just want to :

        A. shop the denim wall: you are the hunt for the perfect pair of jeans.

        B. Buy an outfit to your coworkers wedding. Which is tomorrow.

        C. Shop.

      D. See if they have that thing you've been wanting, by that brand, that kinda looks like that one thing that famous girl was wearing in that magazine last month. In blue. Or navy. You haven't decided yet.

Correct answer? None of the above.

If you just want a quick look around, if it's your first time seeing the store, or if you have finally found the boutique that your best friend has been talking about non-stop, than by all means, poke your head in. But if you are coming in to actually shop - don't. The only exception is if you know the exact item, it's location, color, and the size.

But wait - what if it's not the customer? What if it's the salesgirl?!
Oh We have all been there, haven't we? We enter a boutique, or a high end store and the saleswoman thinks she knows everything about us: and her conclusion is that we are not worth her time, or manners. If you're just there to browse, and not really intent on purchasing anything, don't worry about it. Sometimes working in a high-end retail environment can go to an employee's head.
However if the salesperson goes out of their way to be condescending or rude, take action: Quietly, in a calm and controlled manner, tell the sales person exactly what you are experiencing: their judgmental attitude, and their rude behavior. By being perfectly direct, and remaining emotionally in control, you will most likely have one very surprised, apologetic, and suddenly very helpful sales clerk on your hands.

And there you have it! So what you do you think? Any that I've forgotten?

Happy shopping!
Also read my 7 Ways to Shop like Kate Middleton for tips on how to politely behave yourself in stores!

PS A nice warm welcome to my newest readers, Ani of The Fluorescence of Adolescence, and Ele! Thank you for becoming readers!

Seeing Red: My new Lush Dress

Lately, I've really had the desire to go camping. Why, just a few weeks ago I was hugging trees promising to return with a tent. But alas here I am once again surrounded by trees, with no tent in sight. (It didn't fit in my clutch.) Perhaps next time.

The grey skies, and on-and-off rain made taking these photos rather challenging. However, I did have fun romping through the suburban green hills. Interesting fact? I actually had to dust off these shoes! I honestly cannot remember how long it's been since I've worn them! They've got a bit of a "witchy" feel to them, wouldn't you say?

Forever 21 blazer, Lush dress, Michael Kors shoes, asos clutch

The dress-shirt hem of this dress (from Liv Fashion Boutique) and slight scoop in the back totally make this dress a winner for me. It's got a '60's-esque feel to it, but the unique hem keeps it modern. Plus, I'm absolutely in love with the color. The perfect color injection for a day like this one!

Psst!! Come join me on my Facebook page to see the rather hilarious outtake from this post. It's awesome.