Five Mom-Inspired Driving Tips

Mothers say it everyday. Watch where you're going, be careful and don't rush around. It's almost like a mantra as kids scurry here and there in a haphazard fashion. This sage advice also benefits moms on the road.

Watch the road, not the clock. Mama said there would be days like these. One kid has soccer practice at the same time another has to get to dance rehearsal. Dad is working late and mom is in a bind. Forget the clock and watch the road. Hurrying and clock-watching causes accidents. Dare to be five minutes late and get there safely. Nobody will really mind.

Signs, signs, everywhere signs. Avoid the urge to slide through stop signs, coast through yield signs and rush toward yellow lights. Safety is more important than time. The demands of rushing home from work and taxiing kids to activities get overwhelming. Take a deep breath, look for signs and you'll still get everything done in the long run. Accidents happen when people fail to observe signs and traffic signals.

Take a back seat. Each state has different laws about children riding in the front seat. Mothers know the familiar refrain, “I've got the front seat!” Unless the child is age appropriate, they need to take a back seat. This protects children in case of an accident as little ones can be crushed by air bags. It may also prevent mom from breaking the law and getting a ticket.

Sit on it and clamp it. States also have various laws about putting children in car seats. Know the law before you hit the road with children in tow. If you're driving kids that belong to someone else, make sure you have the right car seat. Babies one year and under are typically placed in a rear-facing car seat. Older children need front-facing car seats and booster seats. Check for recalls, read reviews and verify local laws. Know how to properly buckle the child into the care seat. Be aware of car seat laws when you travel, too.

Check yourself before you wreck yourself. Mothering is a 24-hour job and sometimes other tasks fall through the cracks. Make sure none of them are related to driving legally. Always know the expiration dates on your drivers license, automobile registration, car insurance and inspection. Check yourself before you wreck yourself and wind up without proper coverage.

Bottom line: Slow down, you move too fast. Stop, look and listen – just like you tell the kids. Know the laws, take your time and always put safety first. Your kids are precious cargo and so are you.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Esurance blogging program for 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Holiday Makeup Tips 2011

Feeling and looking good comes from the inside out.  If you don't look your best and want to cover it up with makeup, consider:

-Did I get enough sleep last night?  Anything less than 6 or 7 uninterrupted hours will show on your face and body.  Weight gain, stress, fatigue and darkened eyes are the result of ongoing sleepless nights.

-What did I eat or drink?  Salty foods make you bloated.  Sugary snacks put on the pounds.  These treats are everywhere during the holidays, so try to resist as much as possible.  The rule of one helps - just take one (but don't take one of everything!) so you don't feel deprived.

-Did I get any exercise lately?  Marathon shopping for the holidays does not count as exercise.  If you feel tired from holiday running, try yoga or a simple walk around the block.  It energizes you and boosts your appearance.

Now that we realize Venusity comes from inside, we want to dress up the outer package a bit.  Here are a few ways to perk up your look for the holidays:

-Red lipstick is a great way to brighten your face.  Try pale reds with shimmer or deep burgundy if you don't like the traditional clarity of red.  Another alternative are golden beige tones, especially for darker skin tones.

-Use a good concealer to hide those imperfections under your eyes and breakouts from holiday snacking.  Lancome and Dermablend are good choices.  On a budget, try the classic Maybelline cover stick.



-Add sparkle to your holiday face.  Bronzing powder with metallic nuances and mineral eye shadow with shimmer light up your face without being obvious.

-Dare to add a bold touch to your eye makeup.  Apply two coats of mascara - Maybelline Great Lash is always an excellent choice.  Try dark colored eye liner such as navy blue or hunter green.  Neutral eyes have pizzazz when you apply a bit of color to the outer eyelid.


- Primer makes your makeup last through all the holiday partying.  Too-Faced Shadow Insurance is my favorite to keep shadow from creasing and wearing off.  For the face, try Maybelline Primer Skin Transformer.  Your foundation glides on smoothly and stays all day.  Add a dusting of mineral powder to complete the look.

Happy holidays from Venusity!  When you look fabulous, you feel fantastic!

Holiday 2011 Fashion Trends with Venusity

Hot holiday fashion trends for 2011 are already being considered at businesses plan corporate parties and people plan their annual holiday bash. Wearing the right dress makes you stand out from the crowd. Of course, an unattractive dress can do the same thing for all the wrong reasons.

Now is the ideal time to shop for your fabulous holiday evening wear. As Black Friday approaches, the stores become more crowded. Shopping online is another way to beat the crowds and find the perfect holiday dress.

The little black dress is livened up with white for a delightful contrast. Rachel Zoe recommends "black and white and chic all over." Alternatively, bold jewel hues are a top choice for holiday 2011 cocktail dresses. Choose eye-catching colors such as ruby red, emerald green, turquoise blue and fuchsia.

No holiday season is complete without a bit of sparkle. Choose an evening dress with embellishments, embroidery and sequins. Helen Terzyan of Elegant Mart said, "Old Hollywood glamor is making a mod comeback for the 2011 holiday season."

Always remember to accessorize. Choker necklaces, cuff bracelets and dangle earrings add an extra touch of glitz to your holiday look. Add a pair of high-heeled pumps or low boots to finish off the look.

Makeup trends include smokey eyes in blues, silver and gold with drop-dead long eyelashes. Several coats of mascara is the choice over fake eyelashes this season. Lips are pouty with metallic gloss or shades of red and burgundy. Hair this season is big, smooth and shiny to finish off your holiday 2011 look perfectly.

Bring Venusity to any party and show your ability to shine!

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Elegant Fall 2011 Evening Wear Fashion | Bizcovering

Can you believe that summer is over and fall is upon us already? I wasn't quite ready for it but I do love the cooler autumn season.

It also means time to revamp your formal wear closet. Check out this article to find out how:

Elegant Fall 2011 Evening Wear Fashion | Bizcovering

Yes, attending fall parties will definitely help me get over the end of summer. Anyone ready for a Halloween costume ball yet? Alright, off to shop for my cocktail dresses and evening wear!