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Hi Darlings, Stitched9 has restocked the Front Slit Maxi, the floral print is very limited but now it’s also available in Pink and Black! Click the link below to go to Stitched9 if you have questions please visit the site or email info@stitched9.com as Mimi G Style does not handle orders. ORDER NOW #stitched9

Hi Darlings, well it’s Thursday and I am getting ready for a photo-shoot (I’ll tell you more about it when I can) but for now I will just say that it’s so cool and different from what I normally do. So, I am leaving you with my BCBG dress and good wishes for a wonderful day! Oh, I almost forgot….tomorrow I will be posting the Mimi G for Michael Levine free tutorial! BCBG Dress (old) Similar in black HERE / Steve Madden “Deeny” (sold out) / MK Bag (similar) HERE #colorful #bcbg #michaelkors #bodycon #stevemadden

The Mystery Demystified. We have all heard that we need to walk 10,000 steps per day. Where did this come from? Who and when was this decided?  What is the science behind this? How did they come up with this 10,000 steps per day number? Fact or fiction?  Today’s post will provide some history and hopefully demystify the mystery of the 10,000 steps per day notion. Early in the 1960’s the first “pedometer” originated.  According to US News, Catrine Tudor-Locke from the Walking Behavior Laboratory said the Japanese device was called a “manpo kei”.  Translated this means “10000 steps meter”.  So was there science behind the 10000 number at that time, suffice it to say – it was not.  The idea of 10,000 steps became popular with walking groups at the time in Japan and slowly crossed continents. Today there has been research conducted to determine from a health perspective, what happens when 10000 steps per day are taken. Most of the research centered on the health benefits that people obtained from walking 10000 steps.  The average number of steps walked was around 5000 and with increased steps beyond the 5000 health benefits occurred. According to US News, across many studies, researchers found blood pressure and glucose levels improved as the number of steps increased towards the 10000. What I expected to find as I read articles is research indicating what the exact number of steps were for optimal health and weight loss.  To my surprise that is not the information I found. Is 10000 a magic number? Not really.  There is no official recommendation on 10000 steps however the CDC recommends engaging in 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, including brisk walking for health benefits.  Keep in mind everything I read continued to talk about health benefits and did not specifically focus on weight loss when discussing 10000 steps especially if the 10000 steps was the only activity one would get in a day.  No study that I read, officially declared sustained weight loss to be an outcome of walking 10000 steps per day.  Although fascinating, I would think that someone currently doing nothing, or walking far less than 10000 steps per day could benefit and possible see some weight loss by increasing there daily step count to 10000.  10000 steps are roughly equal to 5 miles.  Five miles is a substantial amount of walking any way you cut if, especially if you are someone that is just starting back into physical activity. If you are not at 10000, the first step is to get to 10000 steps per day.  There is no single strategy in how you get there. What works for you is what will work.  Get some type of measuring device so you have some idea of the number of steps that you take and start logging your steps. Some strategies that I use to accumulate steps: At home I walk whenever I can i.e. if a store is within 1 mile of my home, I walk to and from (provided I am not doing the weeks grocery shopping at the time) – anything that makes you walk – gardening, cutting the lawn, playing with the kids all count At work I walk to the bathroom in another building for 1200 quick steps – this means I don’t wait until the last minute to go I keep a 3 cup water bottle on my desk to make sure I have to get up 3 times and walk to the furthest water fountain in the building to get refills (any larger and I would have to refill less times) When I have a 15 minute break, I take 10 minutes to walk in a loop outside (whenever possible) around the campus back to my starting point I always take 30 minutes so of my lunch time and walk I try not to do conference calls and walk to the meeting for a face to face If I have to do a conference call, if I am in my office I stand and march in place the entire meeting (and only stop if I have to talk) Saturday and Sunday I get a long walk in early morning over 5 miles with my BFF and walking partner – we catch up with each other during this time I walk my dogs daily 1.5 miles (Hubby does mornings and I do evenings) At work I try to use email very little and just get up and go talk to people Each day I try to do a personal best with my steps, even if I take 1 more step than I did yesterday it is a PR (personal record) and I do a little happy dance celebration (ok this makes me laugh and smile) You will be amazed at how fast the numbers add up on the step counter.  So it is FACT that 10000 steps per day is a level of activity sufficient for gaining health benefits. The theory is to get people up and moving. If you are not doing 10000 steps daily, set short term goals and slowly increase by 1000 steps per week.  Continue and build up to the 10000 steps per day.  Just continue to do your best to make a conscious effort to do something, if just a little more than the previous day, EVERY DAY. The most important thing is to increase your activity level beyond what you were doing before.  Note, that any amount of activity that you can do today that you didn’t do yesterday, you will benefit from. Remember consistency is key – life happens, live it, love it, embrace it and make a daily workout part of your plan. Until we meet again.. yours in fitness Cynthia #Fitness #Health #walking #workouts

Hi Darlings, well we got through an entire day with no glitches or issues….yay!!! Now I can breath better. With only one month left until the conference, I am up to my eyeballs in to-do’s and planning. I can’t wait for July to meet all of you and have a wonderful time! I am especially excited because I will have the bestie with me to help me get through it all. Today’s look is pretty casual and comfy for all the running around I had to do. Before you ask, yes the shoes are comfy, and the high platform makes them even more comfortable, lol. I picked up the denim shirt dress earlier in the year at GAP and since it was a little cooler out today it was the perfect thing to wear. The heels I got at DSW this past weekend because when the hubby saw them he said getting them was a must 😉 GAP Shirt Dress (old) / Zigi Platform Heels HERE / Target Bag (old) / Necklace (old) /MK Runway Watch Follow my blog with Bloglovin #denim #DSW #shirtdress #zigi

Hi Darlings, I am so EXCITED that the new website issues have been fixed, and we are up and running. I have so much catching up to do due to the almost week delay, so I thank you for your patience in advance. This website has been months in the making, and I am so proud of it. If you are ever in need of an amazing app developer or web designer, please make sure to visit Demarus at www.phreshapps.com and tell him Mimi sent you. Aside from being stoked about posting on the new platform and hearing all your great feedback I am also excited to post the details of the DIY neon pink dress I teased you guys with last week. Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think of the new site and don’t forget to watch the “Navigating The Site: A Guided Tour Video” Dress Pattern HERE / Steve Madden Heels HERE / Target Leopard Belt HERE/ Fabric (below) Pattern Description: Vogue 8849 Pleated Peplum Dress, Lined, Center Back Zipper Pattern Sizing: I cut size 6 and graded down because it was too big all around. Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes, for the most part. Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, I reviewed them so that I could answer this question and the steps are clear and easy to follow. I did not use them since I have made so many dresses I could sew this with my eyes closed but I did read them. What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I loved the strapless/peplum version as soon as I saw it because it reminded me of a dress I wanted to make but the back peplum in this pattern was not appealing to me so I changed it. Fabric Used: I used a rayon/wool blend in neon pink HERE and THIS yellow would be amazing too! (note: the neon pink color on the website is not correct depending on your screen, the more accurate color is shown in my images) Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I used the same peplum piece for the front for the back. I added 5/8″ seam allowance and did not cut on the fold for the back. Would you sew it again? No, I have so many other things to sew that I only need one of these but it is a great pattern to use as a sloper to create other design options. Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I suggest this for an intermediate or advanced beginner only because it does require a little know-how  in creating structure aside from the boning they have you insert, especially if you have bigger boobies than me…which is most of the female population, lol. #leopard #peplum #Pink #stevemadden #DIY #Dress #neon

Hi Darlings! I get asked this question a lot so I thought it was time for another post on my favorite online fabric stores. I am lucky to live in LA where I have a vast assortment of fabric stores, but for those who rely on online shopping only I know it can be hard to know where to buy good fabric. Here are my top 5 picks. #1 Michael Levine: It is no secret that Michael Levine’s is my favorite store in LA, I go there all the time and we have a great relationship so I know first hand that they really care about making you happy and for those who don’t live here you can shop their online store!! www.lowpricefabric.com and don’t forget that there is always a monthly coupon code for my readers just under my header. #2 Gorgeous Fabrics: Man o’man does Ann have a great selection of fabrics on her site. There is always a great selection of designer prints and she has a great eye for buying on trend fabrics for us. Customer service is always top notch and Ann has a blog where she makes amazing garments and shares her knowledge of sewing too. #3 High End Fabrics: This ebay shop is close to my heart because I know the owner and his wife and they are just salt of the earth people. If you want great knits, modal, knit prints, bamboo and so much more this is the place! The owners name is Juan Carlos and he is just the sweetest. Prices are amazing! and let him know Mimi G sent you. #4 Fabric Mart Fabrics: I dont know them on personal level like the top 3 but I have ordered from them and have always recieved it quickly. They have a great selection of designer fabrics from Marc Jacobs, Maggie London, Anna Sui and sometimes even a bit of J. Crew #5 Trim Fabric: I really like this online shop and have purchased from them a lot over the years. They have A HUGE amount of fabrics and in almost every category. The wool and knits are great but they have great silks at amazing prices and a great clearance section as low as $1.99 a yard sometimes. DONT FORGET THE INTERFACING 😉 Fashion Sewing Supply: You need to always have the right interfacings for your fabric and I will be doing a post on it’s importance soon but I always buy my interfacing from the best place online by far. The quality is outstanding, the variety is amazing and Pam has a wealth of knowledge on the site. #fabric #stores #toppicks

Hi Darlings, I am SO EXCITED to finally be able to post on the new site. There will be some updating on the back end over the next few weeks trying to get all of the posts categorized properly and tagged, but you won’t notice much of that while it is being done. The site is fully up to date and ready for you all to enjoy! Now with all new things there comes a learning stage, and anytime we experience change our brains get a little wonky, so I decided to make a video tour guide of the new site! Click play below for a quick tutorial of the site. Thank you so much for the amazing support you all show me. I am humbled and thankful to God for the gifts he has given me and the ability to share that gift with all of you. If you are in need of a web designer or app developer you can reach Demarus HERE See you tomorrow with a new DIY OOTD! #launch #new #tutorial #website

Hi Darlings, having given birth to four babies I have been through every stage of oral hygiene with my kids. I remember the days of teething, trying to teach them to brush, reminding them every morning and sharing how important is it to have a clean mouth. I always found it interesting that they could remember to clean their room, put away their toys and take a bath but when it came to brushing they suffered from mild amnesia. This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Orajel Orajel has always been my go to brand for the kids. I even remember using it on myself during a tooth ache when all I had handy was Chastidy’s Orajel teething relief, lol! Whether your baby is teething, training, or just starting to brush on his/her own, Orajel has you covered during every stage. My son is always excited to brush with his Bubble Guppies toothbrush and toothpaste. Since he looks forward to it, he doesn’t forget to brush so it makes my job much easier. He also just a lost another tooth and was excited to show it off. Since my youngest has been brushing on his own for some time now, I have had to keep him entertained and interested. So, although he knows the importance of oral hygiene he needs a little fun and good tasting toothpaste. Orajel’s Anticavity Flouride Toothpaste, according to him, is “tasty” and Orajel’s Soft toothbrush keeps him from brushing hard. The Bubble Guppies toothbrush he loves also has a rubber grip and longer bristles for hard to reach areas. Orajel wants to celebrate your child’s “Smilestones” Share your favorite Smilestones HERE – from your baby’s first tooth to the first day of brushing alone. You can be entered to win a grand prize trip for a family of four to Beaches Resorts! This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Orajel #brushing #family #Health #Orajel

Hi Darlings, I have put together a short list of things to help you get started on your path to learning a new and fantastic skill! Sewing with ME! There are some things you should know that I have covered below so read through everything and if you still have a question just post it in the comments and I or a staff member will try to respond quickly. First, I have set up an easy to navigate and shop site with amazon where I have carefully chosen my picks in starter sewing machines, books, dvds, notions, etc. So please use THIS link to navigate the shop. The affiliate commission is not much but it does help to keep things going on the blog so I appreciate the support!. Mimi G’s Picks and Recommendations Store I am also frequently aked the same questions about what I do, what the blog is about, if I sew for others etc. so I have put together a post on my most FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, you can find that post HERE. I am often asked if am self taught or if I went to school and my answer is…Both, I learned to sew when I was 12 years old by watching my aunt, who was an amazing seamstress, and I fell in love. I started teaching myself to cut, sew and copy items I had in my closet which is how I taught myself construction.  In my 20’s I decided to go to “Fashion Design” school and after the first year I hadn’t learned anything I hadn’t already taught myself and found my “se;f teaching methods” worked better for me. 3.Do you think anyone can sew? Yes. I am a true believer in that you can do whatever you want to do as long as you apply yourself. It takes time and PATIENCE because sewing can be quite frustrating sometimes but you have to remind yourself that any skill worth learning takes practice. This is a skill that will last you a lifetime and that you can pass on to younger generations so don’t give up. If you could see some of the horrible things I made during those first several years you’d laugh, lol. 4. How long did it take you to get to the level of sewer you are today? I have been sewing since I was 12 years old but it was only within the last 13 years that it really became my “all I can think about” hobby, and TRUST ME when I say that I had moments when I cried, yelled, and wanted to chuck my dumb machine out the window from frustration. I had bad fitting garments just like everyone else that starts sewing for the first time, but with time you start to learn your body and what works for you. You will start to learn how to measure yourself properly and how to pick patterns that are at your level. I have thrown out so many #fail projects it’s not even funny, but I also had moments of sheer happiness when I was done with a dress and it looked great and I knew that I had made it MYSELF, there is something really special about that and that is what kept me going.  It took me a long time before I could make things that I knew NO ONE could tell I had made it on my bedroom floor and so can you! What do I need to get started? 1. Imagination, willingness to learn and Creativity 2. Patience, patience and more patience 3. Basic sewing kit: Scissors, measuring tape, ruler, pins, chalk markers, seam ripper, fabric marking pens, saftey pins. Now that I have given  you a list of the bare basics, here are are a few details: Sewing Machines: I have heard some people say that they want to learn to sew but can’t afford to buy a sewing machine. This may have been the case back in the day but now you can get a great starter machine for less then $200. One of the first machines I purchased for myself was a Brother that cost me $175 and it lasted me for YEARS! I have listed a few machines that I know first hand are solid machines for a newbies HERE. Patterns, Projects and More: There are so many online tutorials (mine included) for simple and easy projects that you can use to get started without a huge investment. Sign up for pinterest and have a good time looking up DIY’s that peek your interest. I have a FREE 4 week sewing 101 course that you should certainly watch and follow to get you started. After the basics sewing 101 class videos you can also do my EASY as pie Pencil Skirt Tutorial, Maxi Dress Tutorial or any of my “created for newbies” step by step video tutorials found HERE There are also patterns made by the Big 4 companies geared toward newbies. Simplicity has a “sew simple” pattern collection, Butterick has the “See & Sew” collection, McCalls has the “Stitch & Save” collection and Vogue has “Very Easy Vogue” If I were a complete newbie I would stay away from Vogue until you have  become comfortable with your sewing abilities. Vogue is fantastic but even their “easy” patterns are not so easy if you are not at least an advanced beginner. Fabric: Most people will tell you not to start with knits, but I disagree. If you are using the right tools and trick for working with knits you will be just fine (I give tips on working with knits in my DIY Pencil Skirt tutorial) I will advice against starting with slippery fabrics such as silks and chiffons as they will slip and slide and you don’t want to ruin perfectly good silk. Start with cotton fabrics, denim, twill, gabardine, linen, wool, bootom-weights, broadcloth stable knits and matte jersey, these fabrics are more stable and easier to work with. I purchase fabric from many different sources but a good place to start would be www.lowpricefabric.com (use coupon code MIMI10 for 10% off your purchase), www.gorgeousfabrics.com + www.fabric.com Now, go spend sometime browsing the blog and get started!

Hi Darlings, The Mimi G blog and social media sites are growing at such a rapid pace that I keep receiving the same questions over and over from those new to Mimi G. So, I wanted to take a moment to answer some of the most frequently asked questions. Thank you so much for your interest and support!! Q. Do you sew for other people? A. Kind of, this is a yes/no sort of answer. I dont sew for hire, meaning I don’t take orders from people for items shown on my blog or custom work. BUT I do have a “Made To Order” business “STITCHED9” with my partner and we add items I have worn or designed for purchase. These are small production runs so they sell out quickly and are all limited quantities. You can follow Stitched9 to stay up to date on new items added or read more about the site HERE Q. I want to start sewing but don’t know where to begin. A. Go to the “Sewing 101” section of the site where you will find a free FOUR Week sewing basics course to start with. I also give recommendations on starter machines, tutorials, books, etc. Q. Are you a stylist? A. Yes I work in Los Angeles as a stylist to private clients and also with clients out of state as part of my Virtual Styling Program (site coming soon) Q. Do you make stuff for men? A. In 2014 I plan to add styling ideas for men as well as sewing tutorials for mens apparel. Q. Do you make children’s clothing? A. No. I don’t do kids clothing…at the moment anyway. Q. What is your site about? What does DIY mean? A. My main focus is and always has been to share my knowledge of sewing with the world! I teach via my blog and inspire people to pick up a new hobby even if just for fun or to make a quick item or two. Sewing is fun and should not be a dunning task so I specialize in making ALL my tutorial beginner friendly, easy to understand and most important fun and rewarding. I also offer OOTD’ (outfit of the day) and fashion/style tips via the blog. DIY means “Do It Yourself” Q. Are you on other social media sites? A. Yes. My instagram handle is @mimigstyle my Twitter handle is @mimigstyle I am on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/mimigood My blog is http://mimigstyle.com/ My youtube channel is http://youtube.com/mimigoodwin2

Hi Darlings! I have been meaning to share these pics with you for weeks but with the crazy schedule, DIY’s, the conference, “outfits of the day” I hadn’t been able to squeeze it in so in lieu of a fashion post I am going to share these family pics. You may remember I posted about the Picnic Backpack I received from RedEnvelope (you can read that post here) so I thought that I would test out my new gift and share the pics. I wish it were a picture of all of us, but I gotta tell you, it seems my kids have busier schedules than I do! trying to get all of at one place at one time is getting harder and harder to do! and ever since my oldest moved out over a year ago we are lucky if we see her a few times a month, mostly when she needs to do laundry, LOL! I am so into this picnic backpack because first of all it is ADORABLE and second it is so much easier to carry than the square baskets. It had everything we needed and we had a great time using it. It is certainly going to get a lot of use this summer, especially during our church beach trip in August. Isn’t this the cutest picture EVER!!! #backpack #family #picnic #RedEnvelope

Hello! Today, I wanted to give you a quick read of some useful tips, that you can start using today, to help in fat and weight reduction.  Short, simple and to the point. Boosting metabolism is what we all want to do to step up our efforts for body fat reduction and weight loss.  This is a very quick journey through some tried and true (TnT sound familiar) techniques to help you succeed.  Each of our bodies burns calories at a different rate, but how fast your body burns calories depends on many things. Some people inherit a fast metabolism – not me but I am not mad! Men tend to burn more calories than women, even while resting due to the muscle mass they carry. And for most people, men and women, metabolism slows steadily after age 40.  Since we cannot control our age, gender, or genetics, there are other ways to help improve your metabolism. Below are a few easy tips to incorporate. Use as many or as few as you want. Build Muscle When you have muscle, your body constantly burns calories, even when you’re doing nothing.  The resting metabolic rate of your body is much higher with more muscle. Every pound of muscle uses about 6 calories a day just to sustain itself, while each pound of fat burns only 2 calories daily. That small difference can add up over time. After a session of strength training, muscles are activated all over your body, raising your average daily metabolic rate. So ladies this is the number one reason to do resistance training. Water, Water and More Water Your body needs water to process calories. If you are even slightly dehydrated, your metabolism may slow down. In one scientific study, adults who drank eight or more glasses of water a day burned more calories than those who drank four. To stay hydrated, drink a glass of water or other unsweetened beverage before every meal and snack. Also, snack on fresh fruits and vegetables, which naturally contain water, rather than pretzels or chips. Step Up Those Workouts Aerobic exercise cannot build big muscles, but it can rev up your metabolism in the time during and the hours immediately after a workout. The key is to push yourself as hard as YOU can go.  Remember this is all relative to where you are.  If you can walk, then walk but if you can run add some running cycles to the workout. High intensity exercise delivers a bigger and longer rise in resting metabolism than low- or moderate-intensity workouts. High intensity interval training is a wonderful addition to your regular workouts 1 -2 times per week. Eat and Snack Smarter with Smaller Size Meals Eating smaller meals, more often can help you lose. The body stays fueled.  Having a small meal or snack every 3 to 4 hours keeps your metabolism revved, so you burn more calories over the course of a day.  When you eat larger meals with more than 4 hours in between, your metabolism slows down between meals. Studies have also shown that people who snack regularly eat less at mealtime. Drink Black Coffee or Green Tea Taken in moderation, one of coffee’s benefits may be a short-term rise in your metabolic rate. Caffeine can help you feel less tired and even increase your endurance while you exercise. If you’re a coffee drinker, you probably enjoy the energy and concentration perks. Ummm I love black coffee. Drinking green tea provides the combined benefits of caffeine and catechins (type of antioxidant), substances proven to rev up the metabolism for a few hours. There is scientific evidence to suggest that drinking 2 cups of either tea or coffee may push the body to burn more calories during moderately intense exercise for a short time. Changing Your Protein Profile Digesting protein takes more calories than the digestion of fat or carbohydrates. As part of a balanced diet, replacing some carbs with lean, protein-rich foods can boost metabolism at mealtime. Good sources of protein include lean beef, turkey, fish, white meat chicken, tofu, nuts, beans, eggs, and low-fat dairy products. Spice It Up Some spices have natural chemicals that can jump start your metabolism into a higher gear. Adding a tablespoon of chopped red or green chili pepper to foods can boost your metabolic rate. The effect is temporary, but if you eat spicy foods often, the benefits may add up. For a quick boost, spice up pasta dishes, chili, and stews with red pepper flakes. I also find I cannot eat as much as there is something to be said when you cannot feel your tongue or your lips while you eat. No Crash Diets Crash, starvation or deprivation diets — those where you are eating fewer than 1,200 (women) or 1,800 (men) calories a day — are bad for anyone trying to rev their metabolism. These diets may help you to drop pounds, which comes at the expense of good nutrition, however the weight lost is rarely sustainable. The downside of this is that you will loss precious muscle, which in turn slows your metabolism. The final result is your body burns fewer calories and gains more weight faster than before the diet. WORK IT WEDNESDAY BONUS VIDEO – XHIT with Kelsey Lee and Cynthia Dallas Full Body Fat Burner #healthfitness #metabolism #tips