Rachel gave me a sneak peek behind the scenes at Funktional’s Fall/Winter 2013 collection.

The creative force behind the brand is Jennifer Park. Known for her edgy, forward-thinking designs, Jennifer’s latest collection takes on the theme of Evolution – particularly with regards to women in an ever-changing world. Let’s look a little closer:GLITZY GLAM  This LBD comes with just the right amount of sparkle – perfect to dress up or down, depending on your mood. In this range, Jennifer aimed to create wearable pieces that could be worn from work to play to just about any occasion. (Thank you to the beautiful Rachel for being such a cool model!)EASY EMBELLISHMENTS  This is the perfect grey sweater that shines but doesn’t shout. With classic, elegant lines and simple sparkly embellishment, here is a piece to fit perfectly alongside everything from basic black pants to trendy boyfriend jeans. SHINE BABY!  Jennifer set out to introduce bold embellishments and rich jewel tones to her collection to add subtle sophistication. This classic sweater is the perfect example of elegant meets trendy.TAILOR MADE  The overall effect is one of style and sophistication. Jennifer made use of classic, earthy fabrics for her line, with textures like silk, jersey, twill and leather creating comfortable, wearable pieces.GLAMOUR FIRST  One stand-out characteristic of this collection is the use of futuristic elements such as metallic prints and cosmic inspiration, as can be seen in this easy-to-wear dress. And with bold bejewelled applique attached to the neckline, this number is sure to make a statement.COMFORTABLE CHIC  The classic styling of the dress means you can easily switch it up – wear it on its own or layer it over tights and ankle boots complete with a biker jacket. NEW YORK STYLE  Inspired by the unique character of the city, this dress is  truly one of a kind. Abstract and digital prints are a signature mark of this line, as Jennifer incorporates a retro shape and figure into this dress with a futuristic, eye-catching pattern. Groovy baby!DENIM DIVA  No city line would be complete without a little denim. This effortless number puts comfort first and is ideal for easy daytime dressing. Plus you can be sure that this timeless style and fabric will last you for many seasons to come, making this one a solid investment!  COOL CAT  Expanding on the denim inspiration, this edgy sweater is great for layering over tights or skinny colored jeans. With its basic, blank structure, you can accessorize to your heart’s content!FUNKTIONAL FASHIONS  A little taste of the Funktional Fall/Winter 2013 range – exclusive to WMS!CELEBRITY FOLLOWING  Funktional is renowned among Hollywood fashionistas, with the Kardashian sisters often seen sporting the New York brand. Here Kim is wearing the Black Velvet Power Shoulder Blazer. ICONIC SHOPPING  Bloomingdale’s has its roots in New York City, with its very first department store opened in 1861 on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.STREET TALKING  With Rachel’s office located in the trendy Broadway suburb, I felt right at home among the fashionable set milling about outside. After viewing the gorgeous range, I headed onto the street to indulge in my most trusted form of fashion inspiration – street style!

So let’s take a look at some of the top tips and snooze news from Hästens Dubai.

10 Top Tips To Get Your Kids to Sleep

Anyone who has become a parent will read this post with feelings of wisdom, humor and even some elements of dread! The one defining point that unites us all as parents is lack of sleep during those first few years.

So if you’re going through this sleepy phase right now, rest assured – it will get better. But until then, here are some tried-and-tested techniques from parents in the know to help you take back the night. Hopefully these 10 tips  will send your little night owl to sleep so that you too can rest easy.

Tip 1: Consistency The most suggested piece of advice to new parents is to keep your child’s sleep routine consistent. And with good reason – a sense of routine will help your baby fall asleep without trouble at set times. And when baby goes to sleep, so can you!

Tip 2: Partake It’s a well-known fact that a glass of warm milk promotes a restful night’s sleep. But that’s not the only super sleep enhancer. Try snacking on yoghurt, bananas, peanuts and even turkey before bed to benefit from the sleep stimulant tryptophan. Simply give your child one of these tryptophan-rich foods about 30 minutes before bedtime and they’ll be happily snoozing away in no time.

Tip 3: Soothing environment Promote a calm, soothing environment for your child by adding some gentle lavender-scented soap to his bath. It is simply lovely, and works just as well on frazzled, tired parents too!

Tip 4: Massage Use whatever little tricks and pampering techniques your child enjoys to help them relax and unwind before bed. Maybe it’s a gentle foot massage, a head rub or a back scratch. This is also a wonderful way to bond with your little one before they drift off to sleep.

Tip 5: Temperature Don’t underestimate the effect of your child’s bedroom temperature! A room that is too cool may keep your child awake for longer; warmth, on the other hand, is known to be a natural human sedative. Also check that their pajamas are comfortable and appropriate for the weather – not too cool nor too warm.

Tip 6: Stretching Get their limbs, as well as yours, loose and limber before bed. Try some gentle stretching movements with your children – focus on  easy stretches and poses to soothe their tired muscles. Just be careful not to get them too excited or energized or this might have the complete opposite effect! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbe-oIehMDM

Tip 7: Calming music Classical instrumental music is great to soothe and relax both parents and children before bed. A good suggestion is Fisher Price’s Lullaby Baby Bedtime music. Whatever you do, don’t give in to any requests for Hannah Montana or High School Musical, or you may have a dance party on your hands!

Tip 8: Narrate An old favorite is reading children a bedroom story. How about adding a personal touch and telling them a story instead? Tuck them into bed, turn out the lights and let them drift away as they listen to your voice.

Tip 9: Night Light A night-light is not only ideal to ward away any fears of the dark, but also helps to calm kids down before bed. Choose one in your child’s favorite Disney character.

Tip 10: Love Bedtime rituals should be all about hugs, kisses and wishes of sweet dreams. Be sure to always send your kids to sleep with a big dose of love and of-course with a Hästens experience.

So there you have it, I thought this was a beautiful little post care of the Hästens Dubai blog.

I hope you enjoyed today’s post!

Janelle xoxo

Not being in a demanding  job I had the chance to research what I needed to be fully protected as a new mum. And this thinking lead to an ever growing interest into wealth creation and living rich!

So for those who are time poor and feel that their credit card bill is bigger than them  - here are my top 8 tips to get you back in a position of control before its too late!

Enjoy

Janelle xoxo

Eight tips for not playing the victim in the debt cycle

The National, Janelle Malone, June 8, 2013

Many have labelled this generation the She-conomy. The industries experiencing the most growth these days are geared primarily towards women – think fashion, beauty and entertainment as just a few. But this financial independence comes at a price and if not handled with care, our money matters can quickly head downwards.

Often it takes a major life event to start taking our money seriously. My “ah ha” moment came when I took a career break to have a baby. Whether it was the influx of hormones or a new-found need to protect, I saw parenthood as the catalyst to focus on our financial future.

And so I launched www.womenmoneyandstyle.com. Initially it was an outlet to blog about the transition in a language women could understand. Much to my surprise, I found I wasn’t alone. One recurring theme with my readers is debt – avoiding it, but more importantly, getting out of it. Ending the debt cycle begins with empowering ourselves with our minds; shifting away from victimhood and acknowledging that we are capable of change.

When managing debt, I believe in starting with these eight tips:

1: Your health is your wealth

There are two types of insurance you should focus on – life insurance and critical illness insurance, whether you are married or single. Should an unexpected illness or accident occur, you’ll rest easier knowing your money matters are in order.

2: Automate your savings

Wealth creation begins with organising your finances. By opening an offshore saving structure and a locally held e-saver bank account, you can cover all of your fixed quarterly costs with a slightly better interest rate. Most banks offer both a savings as well as a deposit account – this is essentially a way of budgeting your money to improve your cash flow.

3: Do your credit check

Credit card debt can quickly get out of control if misused and misunderstood. Ask your bank about every specific charge you are paying, such as interest rates on late payments. Nearly all those with bad debts are guilty of not reading the small print.

4: Work out your budget

Think of having a budget as doing a monthly stocktake of your financial status – knowing what’s going out and what’s coming in each month will enable you to live a better balanced life. Budgeting beginners should try iWallet, a free iPhone app that tracks monthly expenses or note your spending in a small diary.

5: Activate DCA

Dollar cost averaging or DCA is a regular investment or saving strategy, which takes the form of investing regular amounts into a particular investment or portfolio. How does it work? When you invest in regular monthly instalments (say US$100 monthly for 10 months), you are purchasing more shares when prices are low and less shares are purchased when prices are high.

As the markets go up and down, you benefit from the market changes in the long term. These fixed investments take the worry out of investing as, over time, regular saving could help average out any market volatility.

6: Understand how compound interest works for you

As Albert Einstein said: “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it. He who doesn’t, pays it.” Compound interest refers to interest added to the principal, so that from that moment on, the interest that has been added also earns interest.

A bank account, for example, may have its interest compounded every year. So an account with Dh1,000 initial principal and 20 per cent interest per year would have a balance of Dh1,200 at the end of the first year, Dh1,440 at the end of the second year, and so on.

For the shopper, this unfortunately works against you if your credit card is not paid off. If you knew that a Dh2,000 top will cost you Dh10,000 by the time you finally paid for it, would you have bought it? Probably not.

7: Educate your kids

Money lessons should start earlier than high school. How early? Well, consider starting the topic as soon as they turn five or realise money buys things.

8: Smart style

Be efficient with your clothing budget. Identify your signature look – clothes that fit your lifestyle and look great. Divide them into categories – evening wear, daywear, around-the-house, casual and smart casual.

Next, pick out five outfits under each title and organise your wardrobe accordingly. You’ll soon find less need for the latest trends, but rather a mere update of what you already own.

At the end of the day if you are in debt, do something. Don’t bury your head in the sand; it will only get worse!

Janelle xoxo

Today I am pleased to share this look with you as it’s flirty, fun, and ever so easy to wear! By using her staple uniform as a backdrop, we have created several unique looks with the help of 5 stunning jackets. It’s incredible how a little bit of color combined with basic staples can totally recreate your wardrobe!SHE’S GOT THE LOOK  The first of Rasheda’s ensembles combines her uniform of tailored white pants and vest with an aqua-themed printed jacket. The beautifully patterned neck scarf adds a relaxed, laidback air to the look.STEP IN STYLE  Rounding off her classic ensemble are tan peep-toe heels – the perfect footwear to add height and glamour to a sophisticated day look.LEARNING THE BLUES  And simply by swapping her previous jacket for this royal blue number, the entire look is transformed. From easy-going and laidback to polished and poised, Rasheda’s look gets a makeover.

FINER TOUCHES  The mood is cool and sophisticated with Rasheda’s elegant day look, equally suited to the office or a casual lunch date.OVERALL CHIC  Recognize the decor in the background? Rasheda’s refurbished apartment provides the perfect backdrop for her style transformation.

PINK SCHEME  The outfit combinations get a pink twist as Rasheda tries on this rose-colored jacket with pretty flowery lapel. Offset against her stark white wardrobe staples, the effect is feminine and chic.

PLAYTIME IN STYLE  As the color palette switches to a cool watermelon, Rasheda finds a giggling little playmate ready to test out her new wardrobe choices.

LAIDBACK COOL  And the outcome is a success! Every piece in her ensemble is light, effortless and comfortable, providing movement and style at the same time.

UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE  With each outfit change, Rasheda could keep her hair and makeup in the exact same style – perfect for busy women on the go with no time to spare.

CHIC KALEIDOSCOPE  This jacket choice channels the best of contemporary retro. The bold pattern looks trendy and stylish against the crisp white in the rest of her outfit. The turned-up cuffs of the jacket also add a fun pop of color for summer.

Isn’t it great to be inspired by someone else’s style? I love Rasheda’s clean lines, effortless simplicity and “real woman” style, something she admitted she loves about WMS. Rasheda confessed that she always believed that, to have fun with fashion, you needed to be a model with a size zero frame.

These pics prove the exact opposite! Her new style mantra is: have fun with fashion, embrace your beauty and wear it with style!

I hope you enjoyed today’s post!

Janelle xoxo

With the expert help of my friend and beauty scientist, New York-based Nancy Ilaya, I have compiled my 7 top tips for keeping your makeup in place during the hot summer months!

TIP 1: Our skin produces more oil during the summer months, so be sure to grab an oil-preventing cleanser and blot before you apply.

Nancy’s top tip: “A cleansing oil, such as Shu Uemura’s cult cleansing oils, will remove facial oil and sunscreen in a cinch or, if you fear a breakout, go with a foaming cleanser.”TIP 2: Apply foundation only where you need it – and if you can, skip it altogether! Especially in the summer, do not over-apply.

Nancy’s top tip: Switch out your liquid foundation and opt for concealer where you need it. Or else use a powder foundation dusted over a tinted sunscreen for complexion perfection. 

Not a fan of physical sunscreen? Try Clairns tinted sunscreen, La Roche Posay Anthelios Tinted sunscreen and Chanel’s SPF lotion. Each are lightweight and extremely breathable. None of these will cause you to look ashy or ghastly as the sunscreen components are virtually colourless and blend beautifully into the skin.TIP 3: Light, sheer coverage is best – choose a tinted moisturizer and use concealer where you need it.

Nancy’s top tip: “A tinted sunscreen such as Avene Tinted Compact Sunscreen and Invisible Zinc’s tinted sunscreen/foundation sunscreen stick are good choices, as well as Shiseido’s SPF Powder foundation, MAC Studio Careblend powder with SPF or Becca’s Mineral Compact Foundation with SPF.”

TIP 4: If you can’t skip foundation, use a primer first, and then apply the foundation with your fingertips. This will warm it up and, once you hit the summer sun, it won’t be such a shock to your skin.

Nancy’s top tip: “BB Creams are another good option for eliminating the amount of product on your skin. As the temperatures rise, you want to limit the layers on skin as it can send oil production into overdrive.”TIP 5: Cream and pressed powder eyeshadows are best because they’re less likely to move.

Nancy’s top tip: “Translucent powder can also double as a light, natural highlighter to open up the eyes. This creates a great fresh, bare-faced look for summer.”TIP 6: When applying mascara, first coat the lashes with one swipe of mascara followed by a fine dusting of translucent powder; alternate between mascara and powder depending on how dark you wear your lashes.

The mascara first has to stick to the lashes – the underlying principle here is that the chemistry of the mascara is more attuned with your lash make up. The powder doesn’t stick as well to the mascara and lash and will cause it to slide.

Nancy’s top tip:  Another alternative to the traditional mascara formula  is the tube-based variety. This type only comes off when the eyes are gently rubbed during washing.  Good ones to try are – Kevyn Aucoin Volume mascara, Kevyn Aucoin Curl mascara, Blinc Mascara, Imju Fibrewig mascara, and Clinique High Impact mascara.”

TIP 7: Wear Linen. There is something elegant and effortless about wearing linen fabrics in summer. They let your skin breathe naturally and, when air is free to circulate, you sweat less. This makes it a great way to ensure that your makeup stays put!

If you’re the type of woman who is constantly on the run regardless of the weather, today’s post is aimed at you! So make the time to give yourself a cooling mask and aim to wake up 5 minutes earlier so you can apply your make-up with care rather than in the car !

Here is the gorgeous Nancy & I in NYC – dinner on a beautiful summers evening in Central Park!

And I am sure you’ll enjoy a more breathable summer with melt-proof make-up in place!

I hope you enjoyed today’s post!

Janelle xx