Johneen Manning's Blog
Posted by Johneen Manning
In my search for affordable, eco-friendly clothing, I came across Bob Johnson Project, a whimsical, earth-friendly line of t-shirts with beautifully-illustrated imprints, and words to live by.
After 39 years in the insurance industry, eco t-shirt innovator Bob Johnson was eager to lose his corporate uniform and the tie that went with it. As a new retiree, he's decided to spend his next 39 years wearing nothing but his favorite, most well worn t-shirts (and probably pants).
Who doesn't love their old, cozy, worn-in t-shirts? Bob believes you shouldn't have to wait until you retire to live in your most comfortable clothes, so in an effort to express his creative side and help the rest of us have fun with our clothing (and our lives), Bob has taken what he knows best (Insurance and Life), combined them with a lifetime of wonderfully rich experiences, and produced your new favorite (old) t-shirt.
A throwback to Bob's former life in the insurance industry, these fantastic 100% organic cotton, long sleeved, white and witty "green" tees come with their own policy number – since they'll keep you "covered" for life – as well as a positive message to live by.
Six women's styles feature a super-soft finish, and a slim fit, and are imprinted in charming vintage style black-and-red illustrations depicting hands forming origami, circus strongmen effortlessly raising barbells, children playing leapfrog, jockeys charging ahead on horseback, and butterflies fluttering by lady slipper flowers. With "policies" like: "because... you have to take time to enjoy the little things," and "because... you don't need to be young to be youthful," this delightful line is as good for your spirit as it is for the planet.
Posted by Johneen Manning
Who knew that 34 D was such a difficult size to find in a nursing bra!? Thyme Maternity doesn't even make my bra size, and LaSenza (who once carried that size) no longer carries nursing bras, and the ones they did have had underwire (a major nursing bra faux pas that can lead to painful clogged ducts)... all of this left me with few options until I discovered Canadian nursing bra specialists Bravado! Designs. No, they're not Victoria's Secret sexpot-wear, but let's face it: when you have a baby latching onto your boob, day and night, sexy underwear is probably the last thing on your mind.
As a nursing D-cup (C-pre-pregnancy), I suppose I have what's considered a "heavy" breast, so I opted for the Plus Style Original nursing bra. The panels snap on and off easily, and the Plus Style Original nursing bra has a fantastic thick, supportive elastic band instead of nasty underwire, and sizes range from 32B to 46G (including 34D and DD).
I needed to go up a cup size to achieve the proper fit (and avoid the double-boob look) with the Lifestyle Microfiber Nursing Bra, which has a lower neckline and looks a bit more stylish than the Plus Style Original.
I love success stories of entrepreneurial moms! Bravado! Designs was started as a home-based business by two Canadian young moms in 1992. At that time they offered one bra in three sizes and two colours; they now produce 12 sizes in six colours, a Supreme nursing bra for fuller-breasted women, a lifestyle nursing bra and a nursing bra tank. Who else wears these bras? Angelina Jolie, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Jennifer Garner.
Posted by Johneen Manning
I've got to confess that the first thing I bought when I found out I was pregnant just over a year ago with my darling little daughter was a cherry red wrap dress from a local, decidedly non-maternity boutique. I should re-phrase that; the first thing I bought after I found out I was pregnant was a jar of Tums to relieve the killer heartburn I would suffer from for the next nine months. The jersey-knit, rouge, DVF-inspired wrap dress first fashionable thing I bought.
I was determined that I would do my very best to harvest as many of the pregnant-friendly fashions (which have been oh-so-trendy these past few years) for as long as I could. Sporting a wee bump that only my fiancé and I could see (admittedly, it looked more like I had just eaten a large meal), I wore the lovely size small Second wrap dress to a post New Year's party with red fishnet stockings, red peep toe shoes, a chunky red bobble necklace, and crimson lips. Talk about going monochromatic!
Then, almost nine months and thirty-five pounds later, in the sweltering summer heat, I wore the very same wrap dress with just a pair of black flip flops.
The moral of the story? The wrap dress is every woman's best friend. If a size small jersey knit dress can be flattering at four weeks pregnant (which visually looks the same as your pre-pregnancy size) and just a week or two before giving birth, it deserves to win the title of "most versatile, flattering dress ever."
And now, after having lost all of my baby weight thanks to the "too busy to eat" diet, I still enjoy wearing my little red cross-over dress.
Posted by Johneen Manning
You know the saying "Build it and they will come" from the Kevin Costner movie Field of Dreams? Well (during my single days) that was sort of my mantra for dating, except it was more like: "Buy the outfit and you'll get a date to wear it on." Crazy as it sounds, it always worked for me! Usually within two weeks of buying a sweet little number, I'd find myself asked out on a date that it'd be appropriate for.
First date outfits are so important – the way you dress can have a major impact on your date's first impression of you, which can make deciding what to wear difficult (unless, of course, you've got a closet full of outfits waiting for dates ;)
Seriously though, I can remember going on a (blind) first date a couple of years ago where the guy's outfit was a major red flag to the fact that he was very immature. We were set to meet at a local trendy cocktail bar, and as I approached from one direction, I spotted this man who I knew had to be my date – just a hunch. He was wearing blue jeans, bright white trainers, and a wind breaker. It was way too casual for the venue, and – in addition to making him look like a teenager – gave me the impression that he hadn't put much effort into getting ready for the date.
Like my blind date did, you can say so much to your date before you even exchange words! People put a lot of weight on their first impressions of others, so make sure the impression you give is a positive one by wearing appropriate, flattering clothes… you'll be one step closer to having a fabulous date.
Posted by Johneen Manning
I don't know about you, but I find bra-shopping dangerously expensive! Up to sixty dollars for a little bit of fabric and wire! But I can't resist: when I go shopping for lingerie, I'm lucky if I don't leave the store with four new bras, six new pairs of panties, and at least $200 less in my purse. Which is why I make a rule of caring for these delicate garments properly. Here are a few tips that I use to make my bras and panties last longer:
Lengthen the life of your bras by hand washing them in lukewarm water with a gentle detergent – I use Forever New, but there are many great products available. Then squeeze the water out and line dry. Never use bleach, wring dry or expose lingerie to dryer heat; all of these things will cause shrinkage or damage the elasticity and fragile fabric, which ultimately affects fit. The same goes for panties and hosiery.
Finally, know when to say goodbye to a worn-out bra. The manager at my favorite local lingerie boutique told me that you should replace frequently-worn bras every six months. There's nothing worse than a ratty old bra, so throw out those favorites you've been wearing for the past ten years – they probably aren't the right bra size anymore, anyway!
When I find that I absolutely love a particular brand or style of bra, I'll pick up at least two in black and nude (the colors I wear most often), and maybe even spurge on a few other fun colors. This way, I can rotate them and not worry about wearing them out so soon.