Rags to Rita Writes...

And for the guys...

2012-02-06T12:42:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Gifts..all under $100

2012-02-06T12:39:00.000-08:00

DOUBLE DUTY CLOTHING

2012-01-27T05:24:00.001-08:00

DOUBLE DUTY CLOTHING

2012-01-27T05:14:00.000-08:00

Guys, let's spruce up your winter wardrobe!

2012-01-10T16:55:00.001-08:00

Ladies, let's spruce up your winter wardrobe!

2012-01-10T16:52:00.000-08:00

HOLIDAY STORE WINDOWS

2011-12-28T05:55:00.000-08:00

Check out these photos from the Chanel window in Paris.

Totally Awesome!!

MUST HAVE TRAVEL ACCESSORY

2011-11-11T18:51:00.000-08:00

Yup it's that time of year again, travel season. Whether you're going on vacation or visiting family, you need to pack appropriately without over-packing. My favorite must have for travel is a big comfy scarf!

Not your old fashioned skinny scarf.......but the big pashmina style scarf.

It's functional, adds color and texture to an outfit and I always end up using mine as a blanket on the plane.

Check these out:

LOOK FOR LESS

2011-11-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

Lux

M Missoni $834.90 at mywardrobe.com

Less

INC International Concepts $62.99 at Macy's.com

YEAR OF THE VEST

2011-10-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

It's the year of the faux fur vest. We saw this trend last year and it is even bigger this year!
Faux fur is everywhere.....vibrant colored furs, neutral furs, long furs, short furs.

If you live in a warmer climate, you want to make sure your vest is not too bulky or heavy. We found this really soft one by Wyatt for $90.00 at Bluefly.com.

Wear it over a dress; wear it with a t-shirt and wide leg jeans;
wear it with a gorgeous silk blouse and skinny jeans.
It has so many possibilities!

However, if you live in a cooler climate you can go with a warmer option.

Like this Alberto Makali Faux Fur Vest from Nordstrom, $218.00.

You can even layer it over a thin jacket or blazer on those really cold days.

And for the bold and adventurous, we love this animal print faux fur vest
by Calvin Klein from Macy's at $149.oo.
Wear this with your jeans; long dresses; and your winter whites!

CALLING ALL GODIVA CHOCOLATE LOVERS

2011-10-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

The Godiva stores are running an in-store special. You get a small tin to fill with as many chocolate truffles as you can fit (about 25 pieces), seriously! Choose from dark chocolate or milk chocolate truffles some even have caramel and vanilla filling.

The tins are only $7.50 and the offer is only good until October 31st!

THINK PINK - IMPROVE YOUR WARDROBE AND STYLE AND FIGHT BREAST CANCER

2011-10-04T06:24:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, these days we all know someone who has been affected by cancer. October is breast cancer awareness month and RagstoRita is giving to the cause.

If you've been thinking about a closet makeover or wardrobe makeover what better way to do something for yourself while giving to someone else. RagstoRita is donating 10% of any service during the month of October to the Susan G. Komen Foundation!

Rags to Rita
www.ragstorita.com
561-703-2211

RAGS TO RITA'S THREE KEY WARDROBE PIECES FOR FALL

2011-09-18T08:12:00.000-07:00

Quick update for your Fall Wardrobe!

The 3 must have pieces

Corduroys - Any color will do...but if your bold, try a berry or blue tone.

Tie Front Blouses - they work great with corduroys and leather skirts.

Anything with leather - these skirts can be dressed up or down which makes them so versatile!

SUMMER MUST HAVES THAT FLATTER EVERY BODY TYPE

2011-06-22T12:52:00.000-07:00

The Maxi Dress
C&C California.com

The Stretch Bracelets
We found these at Dress Barn

The Wedge

The Wedge by Stuart Weitzman regularly $395

on sale at endless.com for $291

DOUBLE DUTY DRESSES

2011-05-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

Tired of wearing the same tops? Give your dress new life by wearing it as a tunic.

Try belting your favorite dress and pairing it with a pair or jeans or pants for a fabulous new top.

For a more formal look, just add some heels, jewelry and a great bag!

For a more casual look, put on a pair or flats or wedges!

2011-04-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

Accidental Discovery!

We all crave copper sun kissed skin. So we lay out under the scolding hot sun baking and inevitably overdoing it. Instead of looking like a Brazilian tan goddess we resemble the lobster special at Legal Seafood. It’s not only annoying but painful, itchy and flaky. After experiencing this exact situation last week, I attempted to clean my face with my daily regimen: rinse, exfoliate, and lather. Ouch!
I began looking through my medicine cabinet for relief and found nothing. Then in my daughter’s medicine cabinet I accidentally stumbled upon Clinique’s anti-redness solutions cream. It said “redness solutions,” and my skin was in fact red. So I slathered a quarter sized portion on my face and waited for a second… Voilà! No burn, no sting, my skin felt hydrated and cool. The texture is light, not greasy or heavy and is supposed to calm irritation while reducing redness. It retails for about $40 and is sold at almost every major department store.
So ladies next time your tan looks more red than golden bronze, just lather on some Clinique Redness Solutions!

If your Bra Doesn’t fit – get rid of it!

2011-03-26T14:09:00.000-07:00

We’ve all heard the term “UNIBOOB,” yes that’s what happens when women wear sports bras! Sure they’re great for the gym but that’s exactly where they should be worn. Or what about a bra that’s just too small and you have spillage or the “THIRD BOOB?"

Studies show that "70%-85% of women are wearing the wrong bra."

Wow that means only about 20% of us are in the right bras! Could you be one of those 70%-85%? Remember styling is all about the perfect fit. If you don’t have the proper foundation, you can’t have a fabulous overall look.

No wonder we have issues when it comes to finding great fitting clothes.

Let me put it this way, without the proper undergarments, celebrities wouldn’t look so perfect in their tiny couture dresses.

So ladies do yourselves a favor and go get properly fitted for the perfect bra……..it’s free! Nordstrom and Bloomingdales have professionals who specialize in fitting women in proper undergarments.

My personal picks are Wacoal and Chantelle (see photos above).

"Hysterectomy vs. Myomectomy"

2009-04-30T09:00:00.001-07:00

After watching the "Oprah" show on Medical Mistakes, I felt compelled to tell my own story...Living with annoying and painful uterine fibroids has become the accepted norm for many women in this country. But, there are options, other than HYSTERECTOMY!!! I hope this helps all those women who share the same frustrations as I did when searching for alternative procedures for FIBROIDS.

My story goes something like this….I was 36 years old, had three kids, major cramping and extremely heavy bleeding all because of fibroids. It had taken only a year for my grapefruit size fibroid to morph into a bowling ball. It had grown so aggressively and I was so anemic that my OBGYN insisted I have a hysterectomy. He repeatedly stated that his patients actually felt better after hysterectomies. I remember begging him to remove my fibroid while leaving my uterus intact. He would just look at me and say “no, we just don’t do that, there are too many risks associated with that procedure.” Hmmm…too many risks?? What about all the side effects associated with removing an entire organ and severing hundreds of nerves? This made no sense to me at all. I was frustrated, angry and felt completely let down by my doctor of eight years. Was it really necessary to remove a healthy uterus instead of just the fibroids? I consulted 4 other gynecologists (1 male and 3 females) and they basically all agreed. Except, they had the nerve to say “THE UTERUS IS FOR HAVING KIDS OR CANCER.” Really?? What medical school taught that? Wow, now I was really steamed and began questioning womens’ healthcare in this country.

After countless hours of research, there it was, in black and white: “if your doctor says you cannot have a myomectomy, find another doctor because they are done every day.” One quote by a doctor whose name escapes me on a website which I cannot recall. I truly believe that sentence kept me going in search of another doctor. At least now I had an alternative that had never been mentioned by the other doctors, a “MYOMECTOMY.” Wow, the removal of fibroids…just the fibroids, not your uterus! So why wasn’t I given that option immediately? Well, research shows that about 600,000 hysterectomies are performed in the U.S. each year. Gynecologists, hospitals and drug companies make more than 8 billion dollars a year from the business of hysterectomy. Furthermore, many doctors simply are not trained in procedures other than hysterectomies and may not want to refer their patients to competitors for other procedures. They are trained to perform hysterectomies and taught about cancers in medical school and the uterus is treated as a disposable organ.

Please understand, I am not blaming the doctors. That is simply what they are taught in medical schools in this country. I am also not against hysterectomies when absolutely necessary. However, I am against hysterectomizing every woman with a fibroid and suggesting they don’t need their uterus! We need to educate ourselves, question our doctors; get the facts; do research; and most importantly, trust our instincts. Without that, I wouldn’t have found my amazingly brilliant surgeon (whose name is listed below). He performed my myomectomy and removed my gigantic fibroid along with several little ones and saved my uterus. I hope he knows just how grateful I am.

I am undoubtedly glad that I refused the hysterectomy and chose instead to have a myomectomy! After all we trust our instinct when it comes to our kids and loved ones everyday. How many times have we questioned our kids’ pediatrician? So why don’t we trust our instincts when it comes to our health? I hope this information is helpful to all women looking for alternatives to hysterectomy.

Doctors and Websites

Steven J. Ory, M.D.
IVF Florida Reproductive Associates
2690 N. State Road 7
Margate, FL
1866-770-2168
Dr. Ory is the brilliant surgeon who performed my myomectomy

Dr. Stanley West, MD
1015 Madison Avenue
5th Floor
New York, New York
10021
Tel. (212) 628-2100
Email: Drswest@gmail.com
Dr. West would have performed my procedure had Dr. Ory not been available.

HERSFoundation.com is crucial in explaining the female anatomy and function of the uterus.

Important Links:
http://www.repmed.com/6.html?sm=56919

http://www.hersfoundation.com/anatomy/index.html

Recession Wear

2009-04-24T12:38:00.000-07:00

New looks for old duds...think outside the box!

Get out that t-shirt and jeans, dress, or jumpsuit that have been hanging in your closet and tie on a colorful scarf..wrap it around your neck or simply let it drape. A pop of color is an instant outfit pick-me-up!

Dress down a really dressy skirt with a simple tank top. Or instead of one tank top, layer two different colored tank tops. Either way, you'll look like you put a ton of thought into your outfit.