There are tissues all around your bed, a cup of tea on your nightstand, and the shades are drawn. Yes, my dear. You are sick. But you have to go out.

Just the thought of getting glammed up will make you want to sink deeper into your blankets, so here are a few tips that I find helpful when my nose is leaking, my head feels heavy, and my body aches like I just ran a marathon:

Stick to the basics. I know almost all my articles say this, but having basic pieces available is truly a life-saver. Depending on where you have to go, you can either pick a Cami and layer a shirt or tunic over it, or just grab a slightly loose t-shirt. I say slightly loose because I sometimes bloat when sick and just don’t feel right when wearing something a bit tight, but I don’t want to look like I’m drowning in fabric. I’d stay away from cool colors or even greens. When sick, my skin gets pale and I want to perk it up. If the color happens to reflect off, it should be a pink or some other warm color.

Short-sleeve V-neck Tee, victoriassecret.com, $24.50

You’ll also need some kind of plain bottoms. A good friend of mine loves the comfortable feeling of leggings. I tend to stick with jean pants or, for a dressier event, a skirt that is no fuss. No matter what you choose, pick something that is comfortable.

Pleated Skirt, forever21.com, $22.80

Dark Wash Skinny Jean, aeropostale.com, $18 (sale)

A sweater with pockets works great. I use those pockets to hold pills, cough drops, and even dirty tissues when no trashcan is available, and hopefully all not in the same pocket.

Ella Moss "Ava" Pullover Pocket Sweater, bloomingdales.com, $150.40 (sale)

Solid Roped V-Neck Cardigan, aeropostale.com, $10 (sale)

Stick with flats if at all possible. The ones shown add a little pizazz and you only have to slip them on. If not, I wear wedges. They are easier to walk in and when you are on medication, you don’t want to be teetering around in 6 inch stilettos.

Cynthia Vincent for Target African Print Ballet Flats sold by greenmandm, ebay.com, $31.96

I am a scarf lover, especially when sick. Pick one out with patterns and bright colors to break up any neutrals and solids. You can even use it to cover your face when napping between classes.

Missoni Zigzag Infinity Scarf, neimanmarcus.com, sold out

A handbag that will fit all your cough drops, medicines, and tissues is a must. Also take with you a small plastic bag that will fit your dirty tissues. It’s really gross to think that there are dirty tissues covering the lining inside of your purse with germs.

Leather Bag, hm.com, $99

If you want to wear jewelry, think about keeping it all simple. A no fuss necklace, or even an easy-to-read watch to know when it’s time to take your medicine would be great.

Neon Watch, target.com, sold out

Now go run your errands, get out to class, or give that presentation, but whatever you’re doing, hurry so you can crawl back into bed and sleep away that illness.

Being a young mom to a one-year-old is tough, especially when it's a fashionista mom. There's spit-up, food, and snot that always seems to end up on clothes. Here are a couple of clothing suggestions for those who don't want to lose their flair but still need to be kid-friendly.

Skinny jeans and jeggings are my go-to staples. I can wear these fall, winter, and spring. Currently, the best fitting jeggings I've found are these from Aeropostale. The only bad part about them is that I haven't been able to find them in a petite size. The ones I have, have to be scrunched up or folded about two to three inches, but I love them anyway!

Super Dark Wash Jegging, aeropostale.com, $23.25 (sale)

Next on my "must have" list are basic tops. Yes, I know. Boring. But they provide a great base for the glamour that you're about to put on! I own a variety of darker colors because these manage to hide stains. Low contrast patterned pieces also provide great coverage for when your little angel spits up milk.

Longline V-Neck Tee, forever21.com, $4.80

Jackets are great to spice up an outfit. I wear basic sweaters underneath and military jackets to finish the base look.

Mango Military Short Jacket, asos.com, $134

Shoes. I love shoes. I used to wear tons of sky-high heels. Now with a one-year-old and a casual dress job, I tend to stick to flats. Choose flats that have a little sparkle, bows, or other types of frills. On the weekends I tend to stick with wedge heels. These booties are both comfortable, stylish, and don't make me fall when chasing an energetic toddler.

Miu Miu Silver Glitter Bow Detail Flats, bluefly.com, $500

Madden Girl Women's Elsiie, shoes.com, $59

Accessories will finish your look. One option is a statement necklace. The piece should be glam enough to balance the basic outfit yet strong enough to withstand pulling from a child.

Island Flair Necklace, forever21.com, $9.80

Scarves can be both durable and washable while still a fabulous piece. There are a ton of colors, patterns, and styles. I love bold, patterned scarves. No matter what I'm wearing, scarves will tie everything together.

Scarf, hm.com, £6.99

Finally, some big sunglasses. Need I say more?

Sunglasses, hm.com, £4.99

A red lip can immediately make you look elegant, sexy, and fun. It's also a great way to show your holiday spirit. But after you've agonized over which shade of red, painted your nails a matching color, and carefully placed the glossy red lip color on, you realize that you have no idea what to wear.

Worry not! A red lip is my winter staple and here are some ideas on what to wear with this bold color:

Do you want to go casual? A shirt similar to this would be great. It's simple but still has a little bit of detail on the pocket. Pair it with skinny jeans and some warm boots.

Ahhh, the little black dress. We all have one. The safest choice for a holiday party. If you decide to throw a cardigan over it, make sure it doesn't clash with the lip by keeping bright colors to a minimum.

A white dress with a red lip is my absolute favorite. Unfortunately, I am always getting some kind of sauce or juice on my perfectly white items. Want to make this a casual look? Wear a white sweater  or turtle-neck. You'll look amazing!

This winter, I am a fan of the sweater dress. Comfortable, warm, and coming in an array of colors, I've started a small collection! I chose this one because it shows a simple gray dress that will help that red lip pop and you won't look too overdressed or under dressed. With this turtle-neck, I suggest adding a simple necklace or pin to break up the gray.

This silver/metallic dress is similar to the white dress. This is more for an evening holiday event with friends. A gold dress would work great too. I'll be applying this by wearing a sequin embellished tank with a long sleeve shirt underneath.

This look is a bit harder. I found that if I wore a red dress, I wanted my lip to match. Dita Von Teese works it perfectly here. She keeps everything simple. The dress is simple and without prints. Eye colors are nuetral and her hair is, like always, perfect. This makes it easier for the red on red to look elegant.

I consider myself a pin-up/vintage style lover. Those beautiful pencil skirts that hug the hips and the bright red lips that seduce! Here's a list for that vintage love in your life.

Black Lycra Contrast Cuban Hell Back Seam Stockings, Sears, $7

These sexy stockings will really delight the pin-up style lover. Search for black seam stockings, preferably thigh high and with a garter belt.

Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles with Step-by-Step Techniques by Lauren Rennells, Amazon, $36.95

Another great idea is a book on how to get those great pin curls! From personal experience, they're hard to recreate unless you have directions. Get her this book and maybe you can get her to practice on you. Who knows, you might start to love pin-up fashion too.

Dixiefried Madison Avenue Dress in Black Vertigo, pinupgirlclothing.com, $90

This little black dress will take her from the office to the nights out with friends. Try not to get her the dresses that look like costumes. She'll only use it for Halloween.

Other ideas include: black leather or lace gloves, red lipstick, and lots of bobby pins (she'll need those for the curls).

As a kid, I hated when people gave me practical gifts like socks, underwear, and plain t-shirts. After forcing a smile and tossing the items in the back of my closet, I'd be forced to actually use them several weeks later.

Older, and hopefully wiser, I now love getting sensible gifts. Here's a list of functional, yet attractive, apparel for the practical girl.

Socks! The most sensible gift. White, black and nude socks are great. If the person receiving the gift is a little more adventurous, you can go a bit crazy. Try patterns such as argyle, polka dots, and hearts. Socks also come in a variety of thicknesses and lengths. I love getting knee highs that peek out of my winter boots.

MukLuks Women's Knee High Socks, Target, $25

Tights are a staple in my winter wardrobe. I tire of pants easily and love this inexpensive way of updating my clothes. Similar to socks, they come in a range of colors, patterns, and thicknesses. But unlike socks, “control top” tights can help smooth extra lumps and make an outfit look great.

Heather Argyle Tights, dressderby.com, $12.99

Plain t-shirts can be dressed up or down, depending on the accessories. I layer tees, especially in cold weather, and my favorite kind is a v-neck style.

Short-sleeve Scoopneck Tee, Victoria's Secret, $19.50

My camis receive a beating. They are worn and washed and worn again. I typically only purchase basic colors like black, white, and nude but there's a variety of them out there that will fit any girl's personality.

Layering Cami, Victoria's Secret, $17.50

Gloves are almost identical to socks, except they keep your hands warm, instead of your feet. They come in different patterns, lengths, and thicknesses with one exception: they now have gloves that work with your touch screen. No more taking off your gloves at the bus stop just to change the song on your ipod!

Echo Gloves, Animal Print Tech Touch Gloves, Macys, $38